Village Council - Regular Meeting

Alright. Alright.

Thank you all for coming. We're gonna call to order this meeting of the Wellington Village Council for Tuesday, March 24. And this is a significant meeting because this is the last meeting of Vice Mayor Tony Siskind and former Vice Mayor John McGovern. And we will miss you. So we'll get to that later. So we're gonna start off with an invocation from Deacon Payne followed by the pledge. Please rise.

Let us pray. Heavenly father, we come before you this evening with grateful hearts. Thank you for the blessings of our community and for the opportunity to serve one another in truth and love. Send your spirit upon the village of Wellington Council. Grant them wisdom to discern what is just, courage to do what is right, and compassion for all who call Wellington their home. May their decisions promote peace, fairness, and common good. Reflecting upon your love for all people, Keep us mindful of the needs of the poor, the vulnerable, and the voiceless among us. Bless this meeting, o lord, and bless all who labor for the well-being of our community. Amen.

Amen.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, undergone, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Alright. Mister Barnes, let's shuffle some things around.

Yes. So let's start first with the approval of the agenda, and then we'll have some shuffling right after that. Staff recommends approval of the agenda with the following amendments. One is to add item 26 add item, which is the authorization toward contract for 120th Avenue South and Lake Worth Road intersection roundabout improvements, including item to execute task order for construction phase services and also approval of Resolution twenty twenty six-twelve amending the Gas Tax Capital Fund budget for fiscal year twenty twenty five-twenty six, allocating monies from contributions to Gas Tax Capital Fund balance for the Lake Worth Road 120th intersection improvement project, and we want to add that to the consent agenda as item 7d. And next item modification is to remove item 8b, Ordinance No.

Twenty twenty six-eight, which is Lake Worth Road annexation from public hearings, and that'll be postponed to a future meeting date. With those modifications, that would be the approval of the agenda. What I'd like to do is recommend also that counsel then consider reordering some items. And in lieu of taking presentations and proclamations as the first section after the approval of the agenda, let's go ahead and move forward with the approval of the consent agenda and then move on to public hearings. And at that time, then bring back presentations and proclamations wherein we'll hear both the resolutions for recognition of both Vice Mayor Siskind and Council McGovern as well as the fire rescue report. With those recommendations, I would make that recommendation to approve.

That works for me. Anyone want to?

Move to approve as amended. And everything Jim Barnes said.

Moved and seconded. All in favor?

Aye. Agenda is approved. That brings us to the approval of the consent agenda.

Do you have cards on the consent agenda? Probably. What

number is it on here? Seven?

Consent agenda is seven. Look for your sevens.

I don't think so.

Six, six, eight, nine. Nope, nothing.

Okay. Is

there a

motion on the consent agenda?

Move to approve. Second.

All in favor? Aye. Consent agenda is now approved. Takes us to public hearings.

That's correct. First public hearing items, ordinance number 2026Dash10, ordinance increasing council salary.

An ordinance of Wellington, Florida's council We're

not doing the priority report.

We're doing all the proclamations later.

Got it. Okay. Thank you, sir.

Ordinance number 2026Dash10, an ordinance of Wellington, Florida's council increasing the council compensation as permitted by Wellington's charter and amending chapter two article two section two dash salary additive of council members effective 04/01/2004 of the code of ordinances providing for conflict, providing for severability, and providing for an effective date.

Who's leading this item?

I'll address it. This is a second reading of an ordinance that would increase the council salary, which has not been increased since 2003. Currently, council members earn a salary of $300 per month plus an additive of $500 a month, and I believe the mayor gets slightly more. That is far below any other municipality in Palm Beach County, and it has remained stagnant for more than twenty over twenty years. And so staff brought this forward at the request of Councilman McGovern for your consideration.

It would not take effect until the new council members assume their seats.

Do we have any questions on the item?

We have a common card

on It's the a public hearing.

It does require

All right, let's move to let's have a public hearing.

Okay, so moved.

It does require a super majority.

Public hearing is now open. We have one card, Madam Vice Mayor. And here he comes.

Bruce Tooman.

Good evening. My name is Bruce Tooman, and my primary and homesteaded residence, zero lot line property, is at 752 Lake Wellington Drive in the village of Wellington. This ordinance was added at the last minute, two meetings ago, by a term limit member. And the mayor allowed you all to vote without a public comment. Only after the attorney corrected the mayor did you allow public comment.

Not only are you voting to increase your salary by more than three times, but you're also increasing your attitudes, whatever that is. Isn't voting on your raise a conflict of interest? Shouldn't this be affected after your term limit is over next month? You all knew what salary it was before you took was elected. Now you wanted to raise three times more of our taxes on your personal finances.

Anyone voting for this big raise should be embarrassed. Maybe some increase but three times? If any one of you have a conscience, if approved, you should donate your increase to a local charity, a good charity like Meals on Wheels. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Any more cards?

Not on that

item.

Any more comments? Is there a motion to close?

Move to close.

All in favor? Aye. Public hearing is now closed. Any questions or comments from anyone up here on the item?

I think there do need to be some comments before we take the motion. I think that Mr. Thuman's comments, the math is wrong. But the fact of the matter is this. When we talk about counsel's salary, I brought this item forward. Mr. Toomey, you can sit down.

If you read by name, I do have a chance to discuss

it, though. No, you don't. We're not public comment's over. We're talking now. It's not a presidential debate. Your name is said you don't get to talk.

The fact of the matter is this. We have not no counsel has addressed the matter of counsel salaries in well over two decades to the extent that when you look at the 10 largest municipalities in Palm Beach County, there's a range of council salaries that goes from $38,000 in Boca Raton, dollars 47,000 in West Palm Beach, all the way to, at the very bottom, the Village Of Wellington salary at $9,000 just over $9,000 The salary increase that we are discussing here still brings the Wellington salary to the very bottom of the list of the 10 largest municipalities in Palm Beach County and puts us in line with the village of Royal Palm Beach that has a residency of approximately twothree the size of the village of Wellington. And I think it is important that this be taken seriously, that everyone look at it carefully. But the fact is that this is a job that requires time and effort. And it is true, Mr.

Toomin, that no one does this for the money. But it should be also commensurate to the job being done and commensurate and in line with every other municipality in the top 10 municipalities of the county. And so while I think this is a challenge, while I think there are certainly issues of voting for things that ultimately will benefit oneself, the fact is that I vowed to make sure, as I leave, that matters that require redress that I knew about did not remain unaddressed as I leave. And that is why, after much discussion with Ms. Cohen, Ms.

Gibbons, and Mr. Barnes, I ask that this be brought forward. And we are talking about a small change that would bring us in line with Jupiter and Royal Palm Beach, the folks at the very bottom of the salary range for the 10 largest municipalities of Palm Beach County.

I also want to add that the charter specifically permits you to vote on this type of item, and so there is no conflict because it does not take effect until the next term.

Well, it's not that it allows us to. We're required to. The only one that can raise our salaries is us the way the charter is written. No one else can do it. So you have to only people that can ever do this are the people sitting up here.

That's correct.

So it's you know, that's the only way this ever happened, which is why this has probably never happened before. But this is where we are at the moment. So anyone else want have a discussion about it? I mean, I've talked to other municipalities, and they're always shocked at how little we get paid for this job. When we do civics one on one, the high school kids always say, how much do get paid? And when we tell them we get paid $800 a month, they laugh at us because they make more than that doing their part time jobs. MR.

Never mind. I'll do something else. MR.

Correct. Right. So I mean, this salary basically will help cover the expenses when we go to events that are not covered by the village, which are many, that we come out of pocket for to attend. So if we ever bring our spouse to an event, we have to pay for that out of pocket. So to supplement our salary from $9,000 to bringing us to just under just above Royal Palm Beach at about $19,000 a year for this job is it's not it's a percentage big increase, but in the scheme of things, it's a very small amount of money still, and it's a very small amount of money in the overall budget of Wellington. And so that's all I have to say.

And and and and in this, the mayor now gets the same thing as the other council people.

So I lose my extra $40 a month. It's really disappointing.

Yeah. Okay.

I will move to approve Ordinance Number twenty twenty two.

Is there a second? Okay. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Hearing none, passes five-zero. Thank you all.

Next item is? Well, I'm keeping that actually as a end of our public hearing items since we moved to a future meeting like we're throat annexation. And in keeping with the rearrangement of the agenda, I would recommend we move on to the regular agenda, which is resolution number twenty twenty six -fifteen, which is Project Tango and the consideration of counsel for resolution opposing the project. I'll go ahead and get us started on that item. Earlier today, based on our discussion yesterday, I provided additional versions of a resolution for counsel's consideration on the project.

At our last meeting, we had one resolution that was largely based on a boilerplate template that was provided by the assistance group with some modifications that I crafted into it. Since that time, what I provided you today is that version, a version of that resolution with Councilwoman Silvestri's recommendations and the brief discussion we had at our last meeting, as well as a third option that's largely looking more at a pause, requesting a strategic pause in the project until more data is available since that is one of the key items that has been the focus of the discussion related to the project is studies that were forthcoming and needed to be reviewed as it relates to noise impacts, environmental impacts, water consumption, electrical demand, etcetera. So those are the options you have before you. Happy to discuss any of the options that we provided.

Barnes, how do we distinguish the versions?

Language. The language understood. There are two versions that are very similar. One has the red line modifications that were recommended by councilwoman Silvestri. And Right. The one with the red if

you find the one that looks like the red line without the red line, those are the same ones. That was the one we had the last meeting, and then councilwoman Silvestri's changes to that. So those are the two. Then there's the one that Mr. Barnes did, which if you printed it, it was Item B. That has no red lines because that's what Mr. Barnes created. I've made some suggestions to that one. And then there's some template one, which I don't think we need to really look at, that's got some if you want to pull some language from that, we can maybe do that. But that, as a standalone, is not really something I think we'd be looking to do. I made comments on the one that Mr. Barnes had drafted, which they can go in either and any one we want. So I guess, which one do we wanna talk about looking at? Because I I prefer the version of that mister Barnes put together as compared to the one we got

And that's the version that on the third line, it's the Palm Beach County pause approval. That is the version that was the latest version that was provided today.

That's a good way to identify them. Thank you. So do we want to work from that one and then add and delete? Or do we want to work from a different one and add and delete? My preference is to work from the one that has the pause in it. But we need to pick something that's a starting point.

Yeah, that's good. Let's go Okay. Over that

if we could break it up where let's focus on the whereas's first and determine if there's any modifications that we choose to consider for the whereas clauses.

I had a suggestion in the third whereas clause of the one that says pause. I was going to add the language on line 21 after where it says substantial electrical demand. I was going to add also significant water use for cooling systems.

And that would be between electrical demand and extensive mechanical equipment? Is that correct? Yep.

Can you say that one more time?

Significant water use for cooling systems.

Water use for cooling systems.

We all good with that?

Mhmm. Yeah.

I have no other warehouse changes.

I have no warehouse changes.

I have changes in the resolution portion.

So let's go to those.

I've changed section one to now read, which is very different than what it says now. It says, the Village Council respectfully opposes the approval by the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners of Project Tango or any equivalent hyperscale data center development on the proposed Southern Boulevard site that does not satisfy a minimum five mile siting buffer from residences and schools. I still think that language should have stayed in the bill up in Tallahassee because I think that is some of the most important language is keeping these letting them be developed, but not putting them within 2,000 feet of a school or someone's home. I could read that again if you didn't hear it the first time.

Are you ending tell me how would that so are you That's

a new section one. I've deleted nothing else. I have another

So you're adding a new section one and leaving the old section one, or you're taking that's

one switch and replace? Becomes section two and so on.

Okay. So read me section one again. Your section one.

The village council respectfully opposes the approval by the Palm Beach County school board by the Palm Beach County think of me, John. Opposes the approval by the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners of Project Tango or any equivalent hyperscale data center development on the proposed Southern Boulevard, I can't talk today, site that does not satisfy a minimum five mile siting buffer from residences and schools.

And then we would go on with that we request that they pause and defer the final approval until

Correct. They

approve But then

I have an additional change.

Okay.

Okay. Keep going. What would

what is called section four now, I have a new section after section four, so they'd have to renumber them. And that reads, the village council urges the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners to adopt a moratorium on the approval of any new hyperscale AI data center applications within Palm Beach County until A, the board has formally amended the land development regulations to establish appropriate minimum siting distances from schools and residential communities and, b, a comprehensive environmental health impact study has been completed and published for public review.

If we do that, is what would now be Section two, the old Section one, still needed? If we have the new Section one and you've added that, is what would be the old Section one, the new Section two redundant or vague

or unnecessary? Think both would be needed only because one would be a moratorium on anything new. The moratorium wouldn't be retroactive to Project Tango, is already in process should they choose to move forward with it.

So you would still leave

I would keep them both in there. I don't think that I mean, I went back and forth about it and I tried to make my new section different enough from the other section because it calls for a moratorium and a study to make sure these are cited correctly and we know what the impacts are going to be before we allow them to be built. GREGORY Look, and I

think that that is the key to the whole thing, is that we need to know what the impact of these is before we have them in our backyard next to a school, next to newly annexed or adjacent, roughly adjacent to newly annexed Wellington land, We need to be clear that this pause must happen so that we can get better answers to these questions before we just say that we're okay with this. Mean, I think that's exactly right.

Any other questions, thoughts, comments?

We have cards on this.

I'm sure we do.

Just two.

Do you have any other changes? That's all I had. Just those those three.

Do you want to open the comments?

Do we do comments now on this? This is a public hearing. This is a regular agenda item.

Is a regular agenda item.

All I have cards. Okay. We just call them

up then? Sure.

On do the

9A, Bruce Tooman.

My name is Bruce Tooman, and my primary and homestead at 0 Lot Line property is at 752 Lake Wellington Drive in the village of Wellington. People are concerned about these data centers, not really knowing what they're all about or even comparing them with other occupancies. These data centers may be a better occupancy than retail, residential or medical facilities. All require more traffic, more noise and more village services. When land is developed, the local government should ensure that impact fees cover additional services like water, sewage, electrical noise, and traffic.

The noise from the traffic on South Southern Boulevard can be heard nearly a mile away. And the concerts I can hear two miles away. These data centers, when finished, will have minimum increase in traffic. Not much staff going there. Unlike retail, residential, and medical facilities.

While water demand may be more, the sewage should only add a little to our system. And for electrical needs, well, they should pay their fair share. Finally, will this facility increase the tax revenue more than retail and residential? A Bedman community is defined as a small community that has no major industries, and that is lived in by, and people who go to another town or city to work. Thus, the residents pay all the taxes.

Don't let fake news influence your decisions on data centers. A couple of things I've misheard that was the latest version that you all decided. Was that the one you voted on last time, or was that totally a new one, and it got to be voted on again? Second, you shouldn't discriminate against certain occupancies. And third, do you do you require all setbacks to be the same? Five mile setback? I don't think Wallace and Green has a five mile setback. And I don't know why you're trying to dictate to other communities what we want. It's their community. Now, we annex it would be a different story, but we're not annexing this, are we?

It's a separate community. And you're telling the Palm Beach County that you don't want it. Well, it's a shame because this could be a great access to the tax revenues in whatever municipality it's in. Thank you. Thank you.

And one more card. Sue Loiselle.

Good evening.

Sue Ellen Loiselle, 19711 Weathervane Way. Thank you, counsel, mayor and counsel. And you are going in the right direction. I know what this gentleman said, but I'm going to give you a different version. This is going to affect miles and miles wide the water, the sound, the low frequency sound, the high intensity sound, our environmental, our wells anyone that's on wells in the surrounding areas, the water will be drained.

You're on the right path. I applaud you for your efforts. You're doing a fabulous job in researching this. The current project is approved in 2016 for a data center and processing. That's very different than hyperscale AI, and you all know that. So hyperscale AI doing this resolution is critical, and thank you so much for your support.

MR. Thank you. Any more cards?

MS. Not on that item. MR.

Okay. Any more comments or discussion or a motion?

Look, I think what we're saying here is that there is an absolute difference between what was previously approved in a hyperscale mega data center. And we don't know the electrical, water, noise, frequencies. We don't know the risk or the benefit of these. When we talk to Mr. When we hear, for example, public comment and we hear there could be great benefit, there could.

And there could be great, great risk. And so what we're saying is that this should be paused because we have very few of these in the state of Florida. There are other states that have hundreds of these potentially coming. So it's not harmful even to the business and technology needs of our community to wait briefly, which is what we were hoping that the bill in Tallahassee was going to do, to let it be better known what the impact of these is going to be, let's say, on a residential community, on a school, etcetera. And that's really what we're saying here.

We're saying to the county commission that we oppose this unless they are absolutely sure and that they can change the county's codes to give clear direction to the data center as to how those groups can be protected, meaning residences and kids. So I support the resolution. And if nobody else has comments, I'll move to approve.

Second. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Hearing none, approved, five zero. What's next, Mr. Barnes?

Next regular item, although we do have some of our visitors here, we're still gonna go ahead and keep going with the reordered agenda, is accept acceptance of the 03/10/2026 village of Wellington municipal elections?

Mister Barnes, are we doing I think we should be doing

needs to be last.

I think we should be doing item 26 dash seven five three three next. Next.

Yes. And then the acceptance of the results

Which to one? Go So

that would be the item in the blue folder, the contract for 120th Avenue South That's

on the consent agenda.

That was on that agenda was ready. Okay. Sorry. What's left, Ms. Cohen? Then there's something else left.

Just the presentations and then

No. Isn't the did we what did we do with the item relative to Isla Carroll? Is that approved in that sentence?

That was on consent. That's done also.

Alright. Moved it yesterday.

It's your last meeting, man. Lost your game.

I know. Well, then there there I know. Have so many folders of things here. I know.

There's a lot of stuff.

You just want to draw

it out.

Didn't we do

that yet? It's eleven years. You've I would suggest you move to

the presentations next.

Hello? Chief O'Mearo and her team are here and we can move presentations. We're flexible that way. I'd like to go ahead and call up Chief O'Mearo.

Come on down.

Rest of her team, we're switching back to presentations, proclamations.

Good evening, mayor, council, residents. Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to present to you tonight the annual fire rescue report. But before I get started, I would just like to say to Councilman McGovern and Vice Mayor Siskin that it has been an absolute honor and pleasure to have gotten to work with you the last three years. And I'm sad that this is the third and final report that I will be presenting to you, and I will truly miss seeing both of you up here. You both have been very kind individuals.

You're both just amazing people. And you've always been so inclusive of Fire Rescue and PBSO that it really truly feels like a true partnership. So thank you very much for that. And I wish you both the best of luck in your endeavors. With that, without further ado, I am going to start with a little video, and then I'll get into the specifics statistics for the village of Wellington.

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue is one of the largest professional fire departments in the state of Florida, and we're here when you need us the most. Responding to just about every emergency you can imagine. With 51 strategically located fire stations crossing more than 1,800 sq miles we serve the visitors and residents of Palm Beach County in their greatest time of need with integrity, unity, compassion, accountability and dedication as our core values. Our units respond to roughly a hundred and fifty two thousand nine one one calls a year and growing. We are an all hazards, all emergency response twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.

All of our first responders are cross trained in firefighting and emergency medicine which means a more efficient system to mitigate. Fires of all kinds buildings, cars, fresh fires and wildfires. Vehicle accidents. Fire department. So what does that gold number one stand for?

For the community it means peace of mind knowing you have the highest level of fire and life safety protection available. We score among the top point o 1% of fire departments nationwide. As always we are poised and ready to continue breaking new ground in emergency medicine, meeting the communities need time and time again. We now administer whole blood and plasma transfusions in the field. Our cardiac arrest survival rates are higher than the state average.

And that's not all. We respond on land and in the water. With an airboat, dive rescue teams and ocean rescue lifeguards at 14 beaches across our coast. In the air it's Palm Beach County Fire Rescue paramedics and nurses that treat patients on both of the Palm Beach County Health Care District's two Aeromedical helicopters known as Trauma Hawk. We have highly skilled advanced hazardous materials teams that handle special operations, chemical or fuel spills and leaks, strange chemicals or white powder substances, biohazardous conditions, explosive devices or explosions working directly with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office bomb squad.

We conduct high angle rescues rescuing someone stuck up high or down low. In ditches it's called trench rescue. We rescue small animals and large animals everything from ducks to horses. Our 911 inside the emergency operations center answers more than 236,009 11 calls overall each year while dispatching for an additional 13 municipalities. Our highly trained dispatchers can walk you through CPR over the phone or even delivering a baby.

Operators always immediately dispatch the closest trucks while still on the phone with you using a high-tech mapping and GPS system. And after a 09:11 call, our mobile integrated health team, community paramedics and medical social workers follow-up to connect patients with resources that provide long term solutions. Florida knows storm seasons all too well and Palm Beach Fire Rescue is an integral part of everything from hurricane preparation to response. Clearing roadways and down power lines to going door to door to get people out of areas with structural damage or floodwaters. We want you to feel safe.

We're here to help you get prepared and we're here to rescue you if you get stuck. Our emergency management division prepares and advances our involvement in everything from storms to pandemics and homeland security. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue's 100% staffed and funded urban search and rescue team and our swift water teams have deployed at home for tornadoes and they've traveled to other parts of the state to assist neighboring counties with disaster response. At our state of the art training complex, we host large scale disaster exercises preparing for active shooter, terrorist attacks, fire and law enforcement working hand in hand. It is our duty to protect you.

Palm Beach International Airport has been pretty busy lately and fire rescue is a big part of safety during presidential escorts. At the airport, we have a full fire station to respond on the tarmac and in the terminals. We carry specialized fire suppression systems specific for jet fuel on these unique airport firefighting trucks called dragons. And we have a new tool to fight electric vehicle fires at the airport. The cold cut cobra uses 457 miles per hour of high pressure water to cut through everything including steel and concrete.

Our Palm Beach County Fire Rescue fire investigators are deputized with PBSO carrying weapons and arresting arsonists. Fire investigators dig through hundreds of fire scenes each year closing more cases than the national average. We also run a youth at risk program, intervening when kids are involved, teaching them about the dangers and the repercussions of starting fires. Our community risk reduction division also inspects more than 33,000 buildings for fire and life safety hazards, keeping you safe. We work with local businesses before and after construction to make sure buildings are safe and up to code.

Our community educators deliver safety presentations on fire safety, hands only CPR, carbon mon oxide awareness and how to properly install a car seat just to name a few. The Drowning Prevention Coalition works with Palm Beach County Fire Rescue to provide free water safety education and free and reduced cost swim lessons. We wanna give you and your family the knowledge to prevent bad things from happening in the first place. We wouldn't be able to make all of this happen if it weren't for all the work done behind the scenes by support services at our administrative complex and at the shop, maintaining our fleet of more than 500 vehicles. It is an honor to serve the citizens of Palm Beach County.

We do it with dignity, compassion for each other and for our community and pride in our country and our mission. The men and women of Palm Beach County Fire Rescue are so proud to be your fire department. Our vision for serving Palm Beach County, excellence today, improving tomorrow.

Great. You. That was great.

I know that you all are very much aware of a lot of the services that we offer. But I think it's also very important that the residents know exactly what their fire department does for them. And I think it's so great that the scouts are here tonight. So maybe we have some future firefighters in the room. It's exciting, right?

Thank you. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue has 51 fire stations with 171 frontline units. And we have a minimum daily staffing every day of three fifty four people. And why that's important to the village of Wellington is because, as you know, you are never without coverage. So we're able to do that because of the size of our department and how many resources that we do have, that if your fire stations that report to the village of Wellington are out at training or out on other significant emergency calls, you always have coverage.

So we are able to do move ups. The village of Wellington is predominantly served by Station twenty, Station twenty five, Station twenty seven, and Station thirty. And you are immediately backed up by Station twenty eight, Station twenty nine, Station thirty four, Station twenty one, and even sometimes Station forty eight command staff runs in the village of Wellington. Let me see. This year we had, I'm sorry, fiscal year twenty twenty five we had 6,863 calls.

That was four forty more calls than last year, and our response times went down about four seconds. So that's very good. Of the 6,863 calls, 5,016 of those were medical calls. So roughly 73% of the call volume is from emergency medical calls. The EMS call statistics, we had 3,749 transports.

And the critical calls of those 3,749 calls, you had sixty three trauma alerts. You had fourteen STEMI alerts, or MIs, heart attacks. Sixty two stroke alerts, and sixty four sepsis alerts. There was, as you know, in 2022 we started doing customer service surveys, randomized customer service surveys. And of the 126 Wellington residents that chose to participate in the customer service, we have a 100% overall customer satisfaction rating.

So that's on page three of your book, you want to look at more of that. It's very impressive. Our community risk reduction. As you know, they do the inspections, existing inspections, pre construction inspections. They did fourteen forty seven inspection activities in the village of Wellington, six sixty nine plans reviews, five forty eight construction, other construction inspection activities, and 156 community activities with 14,823 participants from our Community Risk Reduction Division.

What's new this past year? So we've implemented a couple new services, one of which was the installation of traffic preemption. And so I think that that does help significantly, and the longer that we have it, we'll see an additional increase and improvement in response times. And so the traffic preemption, it works by lights and sirens and the sound and the lights, and it gives you 50 yards out where the light would change to keep traffic flowing for fire rescue emergency units to continue to the calls. And so we have that along four forty one parts of Forest Hill Boulevard and Southern Boulevard.

Another thing that was added to our bag of tricks, I guess, you know we started carrying whole blood a couple of years ago, and now we are also carrying plasma. So we have 10 EMS captains that carry plasma, and seven EMS captains that carry plasma and whole blood, and the Trauma Hawk carries both plasma and whole blood. Our urban search and rescue team got an upgrade from a type four team to a type three team last October, and what that means is, is that we now have additional specialized equipment and personnel added to the team. You get two canine dogs. You get an emergency medical physician that can actually do field operations and treat patients out in the field.

And then you also get a structural engineer that's part of the team. We are the only urban search and rescue team in Palm Beach County. And then next closest would be our neighbors in Miami.

Any questions? Well, first, again, thank you for your presentation. And thank you more for the service you guys provide to Wellington every day. We really appreciate the partnership we've had with you for all these years. We loved working with you. I'm going to largely defer to my departing colleagues to give their comments. But I do want you to mention a little bit about, because we all watched with particular interest, the horse rescue from the canal, which So was maybe talk a little bit about that process and how that worked and what that was for maybe people who don't know what happened.

Yes. So in February, we had a horse that was reported to have fallen in a canal. It broke through a fence and fell in the canal. And the canal bank was quite steep, and the horse wasn't able to get out. And we were having a cold spell, so the poor horse was scared and cold. He was shivering. But he this bank was too steep, and he was just stuck in the mud up to his chest. So our units responded. Station twenty seven was first due to that call, and then special operations team followed up. We have a special tripod harness.

I didn't bring pictures, but I did present to the Equestrian Preserve Committee the whole call. But they do have a tripod rigging system that is like a winch, where they hook the horse up to a harness and they start to winch the horse out. And so thankfully, this particular call, the horse just needed a little help getting his front out, and then he was able to jump up and out. And so, you know, it's very easy for us to get updates on our human patients, but not so much on our horse patients. But I was able to find out that the horse's name is Thomas. And he was not injured at all. And he was doing very well. So it was a very interesting call.

We all saw the video. It was amazing what your team did to get that horse out of the canal. Thank you for that. On top of everything else you do, we have some unique challenges in Wellington, not everyone has. So with that, I'll turn it over to whoever else has questions or comments or observations. Do want to go first, Vice Mayor?

Just thank you so much. I can't believe this is the last presentation I'll be sitting up here for. But you guys do the most amazing job. And we just love working with you, the community outreach things that you do, just above and beyond. And we're just so happy to have partnered with you. And I know it will continue to go on and on long after we're gone. But just thank you for everything. You guys are amazing.

UNIDENTIFIED you. Same Our pleasure. Here.

Thank you for everything that you do. You guys are incredible and great partners for Wellington. And we enjoy having you here to keep us safe. Thank you.

On my right?

Thank you.

Councilwoman?

I do have a couple of questions. Sure. What would be an instance that we would have to use outside stations from well aside from the Wellington stations? Royal Palm, Belvedere? So you have very large structures in

the village of Wellington homes. And sometimes your homes are large enough, if there were to be a structure fire, you would have to have a commercial type response, which would be additional units. So you might empty out a couple fire stations on a major structure fire, and then we would backfill from another battalion or another neighboring station that would come in and move up and cover the rest of the zone or any other calls that would drop in the area during that time. If station thirty, for example, is at required training, then we would move up another station that would run Station thirty's calls so that they can go to training and get their their required hours done. Those are couple examples.

And then the new equipment that drills into concrete? Yes. That was that intrigued me. And what would be a use for that?

Electric vehicle fires. Electric And vehicle I do have some SMEs in the room that can help if you want. But electric vehicle fires pose so many challenges because they just don't go out. And they take thousands and thousands of gallons of water to be extinguished. That thermal runaway. And they just constantly so this that cobra would pierce through, and I believe it puts it out with 800 gallons of water, I think is what it was. Is that correct?

It could be a lot less.

Could be

a lot less.

So we are looking at purchasing more of those, because as you know, electric vehicles especially are getting more and more popular and in the Wellington area as well.

Well, Councilwoman Antoony is going be at Fire Office 101. Maybe she can test one out Yeah, while she's it's

going to

be fire.

Yes, I'm

so excited. Can't

I wait. Can't wait. Thank

you so much. Thank you for all of you and your team and everyone that works together. It is because of you that Wellington is who we are and safe. You do a great job leading all of your people and your teams. And thank you for and this was a great report. It looks like we're in really good shape. And I have no problem you keeping this picture and, you know, continue

using it. I thought you all would enjoy the photos. And Captain Adazio as well, my partner over there.

Councilman, close it out.

First of all, I want to again thank you for this report, and thank you for all that you do each and every day. I want to thank Chief Kennedy for being here. He's the second night in a row. It means the world to me, the partnership that I have had with Palm Beach County Fire Rescue for eleven years. When we see the patient satisfaction survey at 100%, when we see the new initiatives like the traffic preemption, we know that this is 100% a partnership, number one.

And number two, it is you all being responsive to making sure that our residents are protected each and every day. We have, over these eleven years, had the chance to be with you all after hurricanes, to be with you all after a tornado and see just shocking things. But you all see them first, and you all make sure make sure that every life that can be protected and saved is saved, whether that is building inspections, responding to crashes, or going to people's homes, you all do it each and every day with the ultimate in professionalism and technology and training. And on behalf of my family and all the families of the Village Of Wellington, we are thankful. And I love you all.

Thank you. It's our pleasure to serve you. Mr. Barnes, this is your turn to tell us how great we are.

Fun fact. So everybody looks at the toys and all the equipment that's on the slideshow. And you'd wonder, when would we use urban search and rescue? We had urban search and rescue here shortly after those tornadoes touched down. And they were critical, as mister McGovern said, to that initial response before anybody else could get out there. So we're thankful for that and thankful that we have fire rescue to provide the services here in the village.

Thank you.

Thank you. I think we have one comment on the presentation.

Oh, we do. Bruce Tooman.

My name is Bruce Tooman, and my primary and homesteaded zero lot line residence is on 752 Lake Wellington Drive in the village of Wellington. My engineering company incorporated back in 1887 provides fire protection, forensic and civil engineering, not only to mention co compliance, ADA compliance and life safety evaluation. I'd first like to thank our brave firefighters. You guys are heroes in my book. A little crazy, but you're heroes in my book.

In reviewing the report though, I do have the following comments. Fire rescue enforces strict adherence to the NFPA one and one hundred one fire prevention code, and use of smoke detectors minimizes human casualty and property loss. Well, that's not really true. The Florida Fire Prevention Code does adopt NFPA one and NFPA 101 with political changes. Therefore, you're not enforcing the strict adherence of these national standards because of bad politics, which in my opinion, it jeopardizes public safety.

And smoke detector doesn't really minimize property loss, but it does save lives. Structural fires are located inside buildings and can be categorized as high rise, commercial, apartment, or residential. Wellington doesn't have any high rise. Is fire rescue is prepared to respond to each type of structural fire called with adequate personnel and equipment to mitigate damage as quickly as possible, it says. Has the fire rescue developed written standards, operating procedures addressing hurricane shuttered homes house fires.

I addressed this at the last meeting, and apparently there's no written guidance. So, I think you can do a lot better there. I understand that we're going to get a new fire station coming up that will probably respond to the Artisserie Lakes putt annexation. I only hope that it's built before that project is finished and occupied. As for that new Cobra, be very careful. That would take somebody's limb right off. And, of course, I hope you respond to Lake Wellington as fast as you respond to other places. Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Did you wish to speak on this item, Ms. Lozell? Okay. Because it says 6A, but we have

a card.

So go

ahead. I wrote the wrong one.

That's Okay. I just wanted to double check.

Sorry. No? Hi. Sue Loisel, 19711 Weather Vein Way. I wanted to thank the fire department for providing their report and the counsel for your lovely comments.

I wanted to talk about the temporary fire station that is going to be going up within twelve to eighteen months, which will also help Artistry Lakes. It will be right by Saddleview Elementary School. And I was wondering if you could talk about or I don't know if I'm allowed to ask them to talk about it. But as to the progress, is that still on timeline? Because that temporary fire station would allow residents of Artistry Lakes, as well as where I live, to get insurance.

We're having difficulties getting homeowners insurance because it's twelve to fifteen minutes to get fire to those areas. So this is a critical piece, and we're very happy that it was announced at mayor Baxter's town hall that a temporary fire station would be up within twelve to eighteen months. So I wanted to bring that to your attention for Artistry Lakes as well.

Okay. Thank you. Appreciate that.

No more cards on that.

Okay. Thank you for your presentation. Appreciate it.

We done? No? With this presentation, we have one more presentation.

No. We're not done? Okay. Go

ahead. All right. This brings us to the original first presentation and proclamation item. This is the recognition of Vice Mayor Tanya Siskind and Councilman John T. McGovern for their service to the village of Wellington. I think the mayor has some items there, but I think we also have some speakers on this item.

A proclamation of the village council of the village of Wellington, Florida, recognizing Tanya Siskin on her service as vice mayor. Whereas vice mayor Siskin was appointed to the village of Wellington council in April 2016 and was elected to her first full term in March 2018. She served as vice mayor in 2020 and 2025 and won reelection in March 2022 for her final four year term on the council. And whereas vice mayor Tanya Siskin is a twenty two year resident of Wellington, in 2015, she served on the village of Wellington's education committee. She also served on the village's affordable housing advisory committee in the elected official role.

Vice mayor Siskin has been extremely involved in the community through leadership roles with the Junior League of the Palm Beaches, local and Palm Beach County parent teacher associations, school advisory committees, and numerous committees in Wellington's public schools, including Project Graduation. And whereas Vice Mayor Siskin and her family have been avid equestrians immersed in participating and supporting the industry. And whereas vice mayor Siskin has been married for thirty three years and all three of her children, Scarlett, Jack and Samantha attended Wellington's public schools. And whereas Ms. Siskin is a realtor with Keller Williams, Wellington, and serves on the government affairs committee for Broward, Palm Beaches, and St.

Louis St. Lucie realtors. Vice mayor Siskin also serves on the board of directors for the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County. In 2023, she was appointed to the board of trustees for HCA Florida Palms West Hospital. And whereas vice mayor Siskin has been instrumental in the continued success of the village of Wellington.

Her focus for the village was creating community partnerships, strengthening education for Wellington students, public safety for residents and visitors of Wellington, quality of life initiatives, and investing in the village's infrastructure to remain cutting edge. Now, therefore, the village council of Wellington, Florida does hereby recognize vice mayor Siskin and expresses its sincere appreciation for her years of dedicated service, numerous contributions, and commitment to Wellington, and extends best wishes to miss Siskin in her future endeavors. In witness thereof, I have hereto set my hand and cause the sale of the village of Wellington, Florida to be affixed this March 2026, signed Michael j Napolione, mayor.

We have one more resolution.

We do. I think this is for you.

Tonight. A proclamation of the village council of the village of Wellington, Florida, recognizing John McGovern on his service as councilman. Whereas councilman John T. McGovern was first appointed to the village council in February 2015 and in March 2016 was elected without opposition to complete the remainder of that term. He was then reelected to a full term in March 2018 and March 2022.

Councilman McGovern previously served three terms as vice mayor from 2016 to 2018, from 2021 to 2022, and from 2024 to 2025, and whereas Councilman McGovern is a native Floridian who first moved to Wellington in 1986. Councilman McGovern was a member of the first graduating class to have attended Wellington High School for all four years. Mister McGovern holds both a Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Florida, where he served as president of the student body. After graduating law school in 1999, Councilman McGovern returned to Palm Beach County and began his career as a trial attorney. McGovern is managing partner at the Western Communities based law firm, McGovern Gerardi Law, PA, dedicated to the injured.

And whereas Mr. McGovern, along with his wife Michelle, and their daughters, Emilia and Victoria, returned home to Wellington in 2011. And whereas since 2012, Mr. McGovern has served on the Board of Directors of the Palm Beach County Justice Association, the three fifty plus member Professional Association of Palm Beach County's Plaintiff's Trial Attorneys. Mr.

McGovern was PGCJA President in 2017 and is currently a member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors. Previously, Mr. McGovern was founding member, incorporator, and served on the Board of Directors of the West Palm one hundred Inc, a young professional service organization. Mr. McGovern is also an active supporter of the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County and the Palm Beach County Democratic Party.

In addition, Councilman McGovern serves as chairman and Wellington's representative on the Western Communities Council. And whereas Councilman McGovern is committed to ensuring Wellington's continued greatness for our children, residents, and future residents. As a resident and a leader, he continued to look for ways to improve our already great hometown. During his tenure, Wellington has achieved numerous accolades, accomplished critical projects, implemented new programs modernizing the village's processes and infrastructure, maintained outstanding fiscal status and transparency, continuously supported staff and the community through the pandemic, initiated and implemented paid parental leave, and enacted policy that ensures quality of life for Wellington's residents. Now, therefore, the village council of Wellington, Florida does hereby recognize councilman John T.

McGovern and expresses its sincere appreciation for his years of dedicated service, numerous contributions, and commitment to Wellington, and extends best wishes to mister McGovern in his future endeavors. In witness thereof, I have hereto set my hand and cause the seal of the village of Wellington, Florida to be affixed this March 2026. Signed Michael J. Napolione, mayor.

And I think we have at least one special guest here who would like to address you guys. Two cards. We have two cards and a special guest. So let's do that. Let's do them first. Okay. And then we'll then the rest of us can chime in. Okay. So let's do that. Who is let's start with councilman Dreyhaus. Former councilman, former vice mayor Michael Drehaus. Come on up.

Former everything. Are you sure?

Thank you, mister mayor.

Welcome back.

Yeah. Well, let me let me start with that, actually. Take my eye off this place for for two years, and you start to time differently, and you give yourselves a raise. There you go.

But if you left. You lose

that raise. No, but actually, I do want to start by apologizing. I really did want to be here yesterday. And mister Barnes can tell you I reached out, I don't know, two months ago to try and lock down the date that this was gonna be. I would have never guessed Monday. I thought Tuesday. I did try and get back in time, I was maybe two hours late yesterday, which is really a good thing with this travel culture the way it is. But I'm sorry I missed it, and I'm glad I'm here tonight to be able to honor two people who I hold in such extreme high regard. And, you know, I've talked about this before, Vice Mayor, but I do want to say it again. It is so exceptionally difficult to win an appointment.

And fortunately, we won't have that anymore. I mean, you two really are the last of your kind. We won't see that again. And I think for a good reason, because we have to, as council members when we did that, pick among 30 people. And you were among at least, well

38.

The councilman elect can tell us exactly. What was it, 30? It was more than 30.

Was 38.

Eight, something Okay. Like most of which I didn't know. And I did not know you yet, Ms. Vice Mayor. But what I tried to do when we went through that process was I want to pick the person who I think is the most qualified, who really earned the spot.

And your community service even way back then was extraordinarily impressive. I mean, at this point, they should have a statute of you at Binks Elementary School for all that you've accomplished. But seriously, I've said this before and I'm gonna say it again tonight. I truly believe that my best vote in all eight years that I was on the council was the very first vote when we picked you because I couldn't have asked for a better really? I have one minute left?

We'll give you a little more time. You're a former council member. Have little more time. Were supposed to be here yesterday, so yeah. We're not going past eleven. Yeah, yeah.

We're still happy

to talk

about That's John. Very fitting. All right, I get the message from here. Thank you. I'll wrap it up. No, but I do say this a lot and I really have truly meant it because I couldn't have asked for a better partner up here. And there was so much about what I appreciated in working with you, I couldn't say it in three minutes. I tried to narrow it down, but let me emphasize this. And I don't know if anybody talked about this yesterday, but it really is something that goes overlooked. When you ran for reelection in 2018, 75% of the vote, you garnered 75% of the vote which is unheard of.

It just goes to show the level of confidence the public had in you because then even in your next reelection you got 60% which are unheard of.

I had two opponents then. And you had

two opponents. Let's make that clear. Even more it just

your skills in communicating to the public. It was the way you interacted up here. And I got to see behind the curtain, which I felt extraordinarily privileged to be able to do that. And what I would like to remind people of as they're thinking back on your time on the council is that you are always prepared every day. In the eight years I worked with you, I never had a doubt when we came up here that you had not read everything.

And what I admired the most about you was you were never frivolous with your words. And that meant that every time you spoke, I listened to every word you had to say because I knew you weren't saying it just to be heard. You were saying it because you had a purpose to it. And that was a really effective way to lead. And I wish I had that same skill.

But

that wasn't the trait that I admired the most. I I think what I admired the most was that in all eight years that I worked with you, I never once saw an ounce of p. M. To you. And when you're working in this job and you have the level of authority that you have, sometimes that's difficult to control. I mean, I'm guilty of grandstanding. We all know that. But I never saw you do it. You were always happy to go fifth if we were racing up to the podium. I never once saw you throw your authority around or abuse that level of power that you had.

And, Tanya, I just can't tell you enough how much I respected you and I admired the time that you put into the community. It was a real privilege to be able to say that all eight years that I was on this council, I got to spend them with you. So thank you very much for

that

experience.

JON Oh my god. Thank you. Thank you so much.

I'll give you a little more time for John. JON Yeah.

No, this one's not easy. I was not ready two years ago for this. And I'm not ready now. And honestly I don't think you're ready for this. I don't think I've ever seen Councilman McGovern get the agenda wrong. But he could add another thing on here so he could be on this council for two more seconds, he's gonna do it. Talk about appointments. I think the McGovern appointment in 2015 is now infamous. Because when you think about the people that are in the room then, myself, the mayor, so many others who really wanted that spot at the time. And I didn't know you.

And so I sat in the audience and did my speech and I heard Mayor Napolien talk. And honestly, I looked at it and I said, Napolien's the guy to beat. He's really good. But then you got up and I heard you talk for the first time. And you won.

And you said two years ago when it was my turn to to leave, you thought I should have got that spot. I I disagree. And I disagreed with you then, and I just didn't have really the ability to say anything that night because it was so emotional. But they got it right that night. And one of the stories I've told before, it's one of my stories about favorite stories about you is that shortly after Councilman McGovern was appointed, he invited me to his house.

And what's so strange about that is not only did I not know him, but I didn't even know he lived three houses down. So I thought, oh my god, not only do I have to live in a world where this guy beat me, but now I have to see him every day. And so I came down and I think it's the only time the McGovern house was ever empty, which now I know and I only need to. He definitely consulted with his wife, they talked about this. And everybody cleared out of the house because nobody knew how this was going to go, including me.

So I showed up and if you can imagine, I'm standing in the kitchen of the McGovern house and neither one of us would sit down. I didn't sit down because I wanted to be able to leave if he said something that upset me. I don't even remember what we talked about. But what I remember is, as soon as I left the house, I thought to myself, I'm gonna be friends with this guy. I really admired the courage it took to invite me into his house, have a very frank discussion about what both of our interests were and whether or not I was gonna be a problem for him or he was gonna be a problem for me.

And on paper, John McGovern and I should not be friends. We are very different. He's the plaintiff lawyer. I'm a defense attorney. He went to an average college. I went to a great one.

Your time is up.

Say that one last

time. But

there's a million reasons why I can say that fast forwarding ten years later, John and I are the best of friends. We're both amazing girl dads.

He

tries to take credit for introducing me to my girlfriend, but he had no role.

I do do take credit for it.

All he told me was where and when.

You don't know about the behind the scenes part of

that. Yeah. But there's a story that I've never told about John that I think is the best example of John McGovern. It was shortly after I had been on the council, our friendship was already well underway, and I just got a new car. And I drove home, and he's down the road, I can see him, like in his driveway. And he sees me pull up and he does that like McGovern walks down the road. Know. And I get out of the car and I just got it washed. And he's standing there and he's looking at it with me and he like, you know, this is thing with his glasses. And I'm standing here and he's probably like standing right here.

And he

taps me

on the

We know that too. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

He taps me on the shoulder and he looks at the car and he goes over to it real angry and he takes it do you remember this? No. Okay. I do. He takes his hand and he goes, I hate it when they don't dry this part. And he dries the water underneath the rear view of my car. I I mean, I'd washed cars my whole life. I'd never noticed that part, but he was really upset about it. And I can't wash cars now without noticing that. And the reason why I talk about this is because John McGovern has an opinion about everything.

Mean, I challenge any of you to come up with one example where you go up to him and ask him a question and he says, you know, I don't know. Never thought about that. His attention to detail is extraordinary. And his passion for everything is what sets him apart and why I like him so much. I can say this because I was up there with you all, but he's the most passionate public servant to ever sit in that seat.

I haven't been to a budget meeting in two years, but I guarantee you in one of them, he has said the following, Ms. Quickel, walk me through. The fact that you're laughing, Councilwoman Antuna, means I'm probably right. Walk me through is his thing. So walk me through page 32, line 11, where you say you're going to spend $0.11 a gallon on lime.

Why is it that you're spending that much money on lime? We were lucky, all of us, the community, to have somebody like John McGovern looking over the budget that carefully. And you all know, having worked with him, how extraordinary details he is about that. He's at every ribbon cutting. I think I saw him once at a hair blowing ribbon cutting. And I said, John, what are you doing? Why are going to those? Well, they asked me to go. I mean, he loved this job. Whenever we had to speak publicly, he took the most verbose speech.

In fairness, it was gonna be that way anyway.

Guess what? He still does.

I don't think his favorite day is Christmas. I don't even think it's Niselle's birthday. I think his favorite day is visioning, where I've seen him speak for seven out of the eight hours about Wellington. His quasi judicial disclosures were always the longest, and that's because he met with the most amount of people. If ever there was somebody who cared about Wellington more than John, I don't think I can give a better example than the first storm we had while I was on the council.

I remember waking up and calling Paul Schofield and asking him, hey. What's the damage? And he said, well, John's already been out here. He was out here at 05:00 in the morning. He's been on every street and told us about every broken branch available.

I could go on and on and on. I mean, I have so many examples of of how amazing John was at this job and how much of a role model I saw him as and how he made me work harder because I didn't wanna be embarrassed because of how good he was at this job. You all can probably understand that as one of John's closest friends, we've had many discussions about his political aspirations. And during the time that we were together, there were always a lot of comparisons. People would say, oh, you guys are like Batman and Robin.

I didn't like that because I knew I was Robin. Robin's not very cool. He doesn't dress well. So I would always say, well, I don't wanna be Robin. We're more like Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. Know, I could, like, throw the ball to him and he'll score. But there was an analogy that I used to use privately that I think was the best one. And don't groan when I say this. But if you've seen Good Will Hunting, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. Now, I'm not saying that Ben Affleck is as good looking as I am or that Matt Damon is as smart as John.

That's not what I'm saying. But there's a scene in that movie that I can relate to really well when it comes to John and I because it's towards the end of the movie and Ben Affleck is saying, look, you know, the best part of my day is when I walk up to the front and I hope that you're not gonna be there. And that's kinda like a shocking moment. How could you say that about your best friend? But the point he was trying to make is this is as good as I'm gonna get, but there's so much more that you can do with your talent.

And I've always felt that way about this job. I was kind of the Ben Affleck of this relationship where this is the best I'm gonna do and I'm really proud of the time that we spent together and all that we accomplished. But there's so much more for you. And I've always told you that. I am worried about you.

I'm worried about you tomorrow and the next day. And I'll check-in with you and make sure that you're all right because this is gonna be an adjustment coming off of here. But there's so much more, John. And you're gonna be amazing on the school board. And when you're done with that, whatever that ends up being, I will be there to support you. I'll be there to support you in whatever endeavor you have because I know that whatever that is, you're gonna do a fantastic job. Thank you all. Appreciate the time.

Well, that's a tough act to follow, but let's try. We have a card. Wait. Oh. Have another card. Don't worry, we have plenty of time, too.

Yep. Bruce Tooman.

My name is Bruce Tooman, and my primary and homestead at 0 Lot Line Property is at 752 Lake Wellington Drive in the village of Wellington. Some of the actions of the council that I remember are $12 plus million of a sales tax, service tax spent on school board district property, not Wellington. Dollars 8,000,000 plus on town Center phase two with porta potties instead of fixed bathrooms, and a couple of parking spaces. 12 and a half million dollars annually on an education grant for some of our teachers, but not all. Changing the experience qualification for the construction board adjustment appeals because members because two members that they appointed did not meet the construction requirements.

$20,000,000 plus on a new swimming pool without a referendum, and apparently without adequate parking. And failure to challenge our manager's statement that the public should not expect privacy at our events. And the alleged retaliation by its staff, including, but not limited to, cyber bullying, vandalism, videoed my contents of my cooler, abuse of power, resulting in a property lien on my property, and threatened to foreclose my property. Just because I complain. And I hope our scouts listen to this. Don't be afraid to complain. Thank you.

Thanks for your rebuttal. Mr. Barnes, we

have one

more speaker. We have one more speaker.

Michelle Smith?

Oh, okay. Come on up, Michelle. Top that. Tell the truth. Truth.

I don't

know if I love

you enough, honey. After I went after a nap after

a I think very house. Michael loves him more than you, perhaps.

No. That was really amazing. My name's Michelle McGovern. And I'm pleased to be here on behalf of the McGovern family. And just thought I would say a few words because this has been a journey for us and for our family.

And the other day when I was pulling up pictures to kind of commemorate these eleven years, Amelia and Victoria were eight and nine, and they are now 18 and 19. Do not correct me because I refuse to accept that the oldest one is 20. And I think as you live it, you don't realize that they'll look back and say, my dad was on the city council when I was a kid. But the testimony that Victoria gave yesterday and what the girls did for Draghouse on his last day tell you that we took this on as a family. And I think at the end of the day, the girls were better for it because we made best friends in this process, and they referred to themselves as the council kids.

The council kids grew and shrunk and grew and shrunk, but they were always together. They always knew where to find the fun activities and which events that they should go to and which were the sweaty events. And so you all, the staff, and all of the council members are like family to us. And so we are going to miss that. But first to Tanya, let me just say, when they were looking for a person for the council, I was active in the PTA.

And I basically just did whatever Tanya told me. And we were a fun group of moms just trying to make things happen for our school on our SAC and on our PTA. And I could think of no one better. And I couldn't be happier that you got the position and we got to get closer as a result. And happy birthday to Scarlet today, by the way.

Today is 20 today.

No, she's not. And to John, you took on this job with the passion that I know you to have and the persistence that we all love about you. Your experience working when we worked in many of you don't know that or some of you do know that John and I met because we were in student government. We were student government geeks. And that's how we met and fell in love and became passionate.

I had no care for politics. And John loved politics since he was little. And we had a lot of fun working in student government when we were in college and giving back to the community once we got married. When it came time for John to run for city council, he divided up the city the way he divided up campus at the University of Florida. There were fraternity and sorority houses there.

There are HOAs here. There were different constituencies. And he just tackled it the way he did his campaigns in college. And it worked because, first of all, the man can't go to Publix without coming back forty five minutes later than I expected, because he ran into somebody who needed to talk to him. But the connection that you've made with every single person that helped to make a difference in this community was felt last night and is always felt amongst so many people that we run into.

And so, honey, we couldn't be prouder of you. And I couldn't be prouder of you for all of your work and for the partnership that we have that is what we do to give back to the community. And so I hear about everything that happens on this council afterwards, not at the end of the night, usually the next day when your meetings go late. We talk through the issues that have been of contention here. And he walks me through the arguments on both sides.

And it's been with thoughtful consideration and deliberation that he's made every decision, and I can tell you that personally. But I will end by handing it off to the cleanup gator, who has sent her message from Gainesville.

Hi, dad. I'm so sorry I couldn't be there for you last night, but I thought a video from one of our favorite places, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, would be the next best thing. So hi, everybody in Wellington from Gainesville. I first wanna start off by congratulating both you and Tanya on all the amazing things you've accomplished during your tenure as council people. I've been so grateful to be on this journey with you all, and it's been amazing to see all the things you've accomplished for our great hometown.

Dad, where do I even start? I've gotten to be on your side by your side with this since I was nine years old. Growing up, going to events like the holiday parade, fourth of July fireworks, rotary peace day, getting to sit on the dais and take your child to work day for a meeting about canal clearings that was a marathon and everything in between, I wouldn't trade being on this journey with you for the world. You're my person,

my rock, and my role model,

and I'm so grateful that I've gotten to learn from you, watching you lead with heart, lead with purpose, and really truly show me what it means to care about the community in which you represent. I would not be the person I am today without you and without watching you on this journey. I'm so incredibly proud of you and can't wait to see all you do in the future. I love you so much. Have a great last meeting. And as always, go Gators.

You you know, it's not fair when your kid makes me cry. That's really that's not fair. Mr. Barnes, who up here wants to speak for the staff?

You guys go first. No. I'm sorry. Okay. We

haven't heard

from Staff

was last.

No. You guys go ahead.

Yeah. Please. We talked last night.

Right. We're all

talking now.

I would like to say to Councilman McGovern and Vice Mayor Singer, I have enjoyed serving as clerk during your tenure. I came about a year after you were appointed. And what I have enjoyed is watching the synergy of counsel and how you all work together even during the times where you all may not have agreed on everything the same way. You still found a way to make it cohesive. So have appreciated working in that type of environment.

And I wanted to say, and councilman former councilman Drehaus hit the nail on the head as I was thinking about councilman McGovern leaving. I was like, wow, Who's going to ask that question or say that comment? Will you walk me through or now walk me through? Whether he was asking mister Barnes to do so or an applicant. But underneath that question was the fact that he wanted to make sure that all of the details that were necessary to be heard by his fellow colleagues, and as well as anyone in the audience who was attending those meetings at the time, that we knew exactly what was going to happen and what was going on.

So that's something to be appreciated, and that is going to be missed. And just your caring nature, you were always everywhere attending everything just like everyone has said. So I've appreciated that you are a good, good man. For you, vice mayor Siskin, I appreciate your grace and your poise and the way you would frame your questions. Same thing, wanting to make sure that you understood the details, that you understood how this was going to impact the village, any decision that you all have made up here.

And that is not always the case. Sometimes people sit on daisies, and I had a previous career before coming here. So I went through numerous mayors, various council people. So I've seen the different side of how it can look with infighting or divisiveness. So what you added was that grace and that poise, those questions you weren't afraid to vote differently if that's what you had to do, if you thought it was for the best of Wellington. So we appreciate that. And I'm gonna miss you, and it's gonna be hard not seeing you sit up here. But we know that Wellington is in good hands and that the success will continue.

Thank you.

Ms. Cohen?

Well, it has been I've been with you for the whole ten years. And I feel like we've become friends, not just, you know, colleagues. And I have admired Tanya, you know, for her pragmatic approach to decision making and her thoughtfulness. She's a terrific mom, has been able to balance her family life and the demands of this, plus a career. And I agree with Ms.

Hall as to the grace that you've brought and the ability to rise above. So thank you for that. And John, don't make me cry. Your intellectual ability, your analytical skills, you know, your negotiation skills. There is not a single project that has come through this village that you have not made better because of that ability.

You have every single project, you know, whether it's asking for concessions, whether it's wordsmithing conditions, whether it's, you know, any number of things, you have made it better. And that is going to be tremendously missed, you know, on this council. And I do hope that the new council members are able to rise to that and to ask those hard questions. I do feel that we have become friends. And I will miss both of you terribly.

And although I know that the new council members will learn and grow, just like Councilwoman Antonia and Councilwoman Savessri. But what you gave to this community will be remembered for a long time, both of you. So thank you.

Mr. Barnes. All right. So I'll be brief, because I know you guys have a lot more time and the clock's ticking. But so I've been in this game a while, despite my youthful appearance. And for over two decades, been here in Wellington. And Mr. McGovern and Ms. Siskin have been with us, with me, for at least more than half of that, almost half of that. And just as a fun note that I thought about as I was listening to Ms.

Cohen, is that they've been serving for a third of the village's time and incorporation, which we can't really say for a whole lot of people. Okay? And so, I mean, and I think everything's already been said, but generally, Tanya, you brought thoughtfulness to every decision that we had to make up here, and always thinking about the larger community. And John was always calm, steady. I'm I'm not finished yet, so don't.

And focused no matter there could be he could be working on like 16 different things. So let's be clear. But he somehow managed to always focus on whatever that question was that was gonna be asked, because he was ready with either another question or an answer. So I think, you know, ten years up here, eleven years in some case, in John's case, that's a lot of time to dedicate to the residents. And I think it's people underestimate how much time it does take up here and to serve.

And some days are good, some days are bad, but I think at the end of the whole process, I think ultimately your heart was in the right place. You cared about the residents, you cared about the community. And all you can do is drive around town and see all the things that you impacted for the better in Wellington, whether it's the parks, whether it's the roadways, whether it's the projects, whether it's the fact that we have systems in place that keep us continuing and punching above our weight class. So that's a credit to the council. For ten years, you guys have been doing And we're grateful.

So on behalf of the staff and the rest of the team here in Wellington, I want to thank you. We want to thank you for that service. And we're grateful for it. And as Ms. Hall mentioned, earlier on, I've told mister Delvig and mister Stillings, we're gonna meet miss these guys. Not no offense to councilman elect 11 and councilman elect Meyer, but ten years is a long time. And over time, everybody's figured out their role. And everybody up here definitely has a role. It's going to take some time to get new folks in those roles. And we'll have to all pull together to do that to make up for that absence that Tanya and John will provide.

But in all seriousness, learned a lot. Ken, if we could bring up one more video. And this is how we get through some of these meetings.

There's no telling what this is. I'm

so nervous. Didn't name it. It's something

that you would know.

So just It's a it's it's it's G rated. Family friendly.

Walk me through what staff's understanding of that is. Walk me through part four of this Oh. Of this condition. Walk me through the second prong of this. She is my favorite phrase, walk me through walk me through the five Sure. 3,000 how it helps. You walk through the Veterans Day, walk me through what you mean. Can you walk me through what these what each of these resolutions is? Can we walk through the highlights of the conditions of approval on the master plan? They will walk through the whole thing, the garage, the school, how it would operate, the way the stacking would go, all that different kinds of things.

So I'm happy that you were able to walk us through all these things for eleven years. And councilwoman Antonia, councilwoman Silvestri, mayor Napolione, councilman elect Levin, and councilman elect Meyer when he watches this, need to figure out who's gonna be walking us through some of the next Great stuff. All I've got.

That's great stuff.

That's

Well, now it's council Cerner. So why don't we go to councilwoman Silvestri? Why don't you walk us through your comments about John McVeigh?

Alright. Well, everything was beautifully said tonight. Last night was amazing. You guys are very loved. You're gonna be very missed. I'm not going to I brought my speeches from last night. But I'm not going to repeat everything that I said last night. But Tanya, again, you really are beautiful inside and out. And you're a wonderful woman. And I know whatever you do next is going to be wonderful. And again, we will have Prosecco to celebrate. Absolutely. And I'm going to miss you very much. And it won't be the same in Tallahassee without you. John, you're a very special person to me.

Mr. Drehaus said it right, whatever you do next, you're gonna do amazing. There is so much more for you. And again, you know you have my full support in your campaign for school board. And thank you so much for everything you do. And I know you'll be great on planning and zoning. And we'll still have your questions and everything we need. And it will be wonderful. So thank you.

Councilwoman?

This is going to be tough. He's been my neighbor for two years.

He is very special.

I've never known anybody that can text, talk and let you know he's listening

to you. He's always got one ear here and one ear here. He's just

thank you, John. Thank you for being my friend. They say that you cross path for a reason. I've known John for about probably about eleven years. I've never had the opportunity to sit beside him and work like we have had for the last two years. I've it's been an honor. You've been a good friend, a good mentor. I've so enjoyed your your friendship, helping me through the first two years of being on counsel. And I just Tanya. Hello,

darling. She has been

right there.

As I said last night, you're a beautiful soul. A lot of good times with you, Tanya. A lot of good times and a lot of girl talk, a lot of girl power that us three have had. No offense, but it's going to be a two, three now. Three men and two women, as it was three women and two men. However, we've learned to be powerful, so we will be overpowering you all.

But

it truly has been an honor to serve with you, and I feel very fortunate that I was able to serve it with both of you for the first two years.

I realize now when you go last, everything has been said. And Mr. Drehaus took a lot of what I was going to say, but I'm probably going to say it anyway because I plan to say it. How do you sum up ten years of friendship and leadership in just a few minutes? It's almost impossible. I mean, you're the two people I've served with the longest, and we've been here ten years together. Like Michelle said, when our our kids all my kids were 10 and two when I started this, and your kids were all the same age. Now our kids are all old, and they're tall, and thankfully, we look exactly the same as we looked ten years ago. We haven't aged a day, so that's fantastic. And from the outside to everyone, this job looks really easy.

It looks like you just get up here, you vote on stuff, and you go home. But when you sit in these chairs, as our two new people have realized, there's a lot more to this job than it looks like when you're watching it on TV or sitting in the audience. It's not just council meetings and agenda reviews. It's meetings with staff. It's meeting with applicants. It's meeting with residents. It's attending events. It's traveling to Tallahassee. It's traveling other other places. It's serving on boards and committees and representing Wellington in all you do. It's a tremendous commitment to be a public servant. And it takes even more effort to be a great one. And you guys were both great. I mean, I think together, we and Mr. Dreyas see, I'm going get emotional.

Don't want to be emotional have made Wellington a better place. Decisions were always made putting the best interests of the residents first. We always knew why we were here and what we were here to do. And you can't always make everyone happy. Sometimes you get a room full of people and they're going to leave upset. But the job is not to make everyone happy. If you're trying to make everyone happy, you're not doing this right. And I think the proof in that is what Mr. Drehous said. I mean, you guys both took similar paths. You both got appointed and then you had to face the voters. And you faced the voters twice, and you did it together because you both ran at the same time. And in those elections, you know, in 2018, Tanya got 75% of the vote, and John got 84%. 84%. Kinda ridiculous.

In in '22, when they ran again, Tanya got 59%, and John got 63%. I mean, that's what a mandate is. That's when everyone says, you guys are doing a great job. Keep it up. We want you on council. And, you know, we've accomplished a lot, the prior counsel and this current counsel, in the last ten years. And yesterday, read a really long list of things we did. And I think it's important to mention it again for those who weren't here yesterday and to just understand what this group, the prior group and this current group, have accomplished by working together. It's a little bit of a long list. I've shortened it from yesterday. That's good. But it's still a lot. Love it. So let me go through this. Over the past ten years, Wellington has been named to Fortune's list of best places to live for families.

Money Magazine's list of 10 best places to live, top 10 safest cities in Florida, an all American city finalist, a certified Tree City USA. We maintained accredited public works and parks and recreation departments. We increased Wellington's monitoring to AAA. Property values have increased each and every year for the past ten years. Property taxes have been held flat and are at a sixteen year average, the same rate they would have been in 2009. Wellington is one of the safest cities in Florida and America. We acquired an additional 45 acres of land and integrated into our environmental preserve, which we did partly with grant funding. That's now over 400 acre environmental preserve. We planted thousands of trees. Sometimes the scouts were there helping us with that.

50% of those were native species, and we have multiple tree canopy and forestry grants and awards in process to continue our sustainability focus. We supported our schools like no other community supported our schools. We've increased our Achilles Spinelli grant every single year, and the total investment we've made in our children in this community is $5,000,000, which is what helped keep Wellington schools A rated and continue and continues to increase the property values. We fought and won on the issue of keeping Wellington's kids together in Wellington's public schools, and thank you councilman elect for helping lead that charge from a hospital bed no less. We expanded the tennis center twice.

We're adding Padel and more tennis courts. We've added pickleball indoors and out. We opened a new state of the art aquatic center this year. We partnered with Wellington Athletics to open the Wellington Sports Academy. We're working with related Ross to make K Park the dining and retail destination our residents have asked for for years.

We're adding a private school to Wellington so that parents who choose that option can keep their children in Wellington and not drive forty five minutes twice a day. We've renovated and upgraded neighborhood parks, including Dorchester, Field Of Dreams, Hawthorne, Farmington, Folkstone, Brampton Cove, and Margate Park. We expanded, upgraded, and renovated the fields at Village Park, Greenbrier Park, and the Dog Park. We created Greenview Shores Park behind Wellington High School to create more opportunities for youth sports like lacrosse and rugby. We renovated and reopened the 17 acre South Shore Park for unprogrammed play.

We created the lakefront promenade and expanded the amphitheater so we can continue to host great events and concerts, including food trucks, the Green Market, Wellington Brew Fest, Bacon and Bourbon, Italian Fest, Irish Fest, Juneteenth, and so many more. We maintain miles of equestrian trails, bike trails, multimodal pathways. After years of talking about it, we are the council that finally passed Wellington's first golf cart ordinance. We designed, passed, and funded the first paid parental leave policy in Palm Beach County government, supporting our employees as they became new mothers and fathers. We expanded community services and youth outreach to specific and targeted programming.

We created the SWAG program, students working to achieve greatness, in partnership with the Crown Pearls. We created a youth council, which has been composed of amazing and active students from our high schools. We have a robust and active program programming for our seniors. We host lunches, parties, and events on a weekly basis. To the finance team, we received the Government Finance Officer Association's coveted Triple Crown in financial reporting for our annual budget and our financial reports.

Every year, we get audited by an outside agency, and every year we get back a clean report because our budget is clean. Our people are the best. We made a $50,000,000 investment in modernizing our village's essential water, utility, and infrastructure. We got a $10,000,000 water meter replacement project going on. We did $20,000,000 in ACME flood control projects, $3,000,000 in neighborhood stormwater pipelining. We implemented a community partners program with so many wonderful organizations to help make Wellington the great hometown that it is. And we did all this with three hurricanes, a tornado, and COVID. So, you know, Wellington is a better place because of all the hard work you guys did for ten years. But beyond the accomplishments and the votes, what I'll remember most about all of you is our friendship. And now I'll talk to you guys directly, but I wrote it down so I wouldn't mess up.

Tanya, like like councilman said, I remember the meetings when we selected you to fill the seat by Anne when she when she was mayor. If we need to, we can go to the tapes for that. There there were lots of people who applied for that position, but as we all know as we all know, it's easier to apply than to be elected. That's a that's a whole different process. But you were clearly the best person for that job, and I think we're all correct on that. That was a great vote. Our first vote as this council was to pick you. I mean, you had deep roots in the community. You had unmatched dedication to our schools. And you brought that same passion and dedication to your service on council.

You led with a quiet confidence. I remember one of the first things I said to you, you probably don't remember, is that just because you have a microphone in front of you, you don't have to use it all the time, right? And I think you took that to heart. Because you speak when you have something to say. You don't speak just because you have an opportunity to talk.

And that makes your words that much more important and much more powerful. You never put yourself above the job. You knew why you were here, and you did the job as it was required to be done, not maybe how you wanted it to be done. And you, of all of us, probably had it harder than most up here. You had a lot more personal attacks against you than I think anyone has had before, and you've developed probably thicker skin than you thought you needed, but you've always handled this job with grace, a smile, and a great attitude.

You led by example. You've been a great mom, a great council member, and above all that, a great friend. So I'm going to miss working with you and traveling with you and spending time with you. But I know we're not moving away, so I'll still see you around, but just not for photo ops and stuff, for more fun things. John. It's been great to have you here. I know that's like a running joke between us, but you know that it's also sincere. And, you know, like Councilman Drehaus said, when Howard Coates' seat opened up, 20 something people applied. And among those were Councilman Dreyhaus and myself. And last night, you read your letter.

You submitted with your application. And I was like, damn, that's a good letter. And then I went back last night to see if I had my letter. And shockingly, still did, and I found it. And I read it, and your letter was better than mine. But you had a cheat code. You grew up here. You had all that extra stuff you could build into your letter as to why you were a better person and, you know, a better fit for the job. And I agree. I mean, fortunately, Michael and I got to join you up here a year later. I never got the kitchen invite, by the way. I don't know why. Maybe I didn't live close enough to you. But I didn't get to come to the kitchen

for a meeting. Maybe you're more

concerned about him than I was. But having the three of us up here, and I'm sure it wasn't easy for staff, and certainly not for a lawyer, to have three other lawyers up here who have the affliction of looking at everything from a lawyer's view. And it was hard. It's hard to be up here and not try to be the lawyer for the counsel, but I think we did a really good job being the lawyers, being interrogators for Wellington when things came before us. And, you know, we went one year to the Wicked party. We dressed up as the Three Amigos. It was still my favorite costume we ever did. And it was more than just a costume, because we really were. We were great friends for those eight years. It was a fantastic time.

But like Drehau said, no one has worked harder at this job than John. You have a ground game second to none. And when we do ex parte disclosures and we all make our statements and then you start yours, and my gosh, the number of people you spoke to about every single issue. And you did that because you wanted to make sure you got a wide range of opinions and you didn't just hear from people who were specifically interested in that project. You wanted a broad assessment of the community so that way when you came here for those meetings, you were prepared and you knew what the community said.

And I'm very going to miss, I'm very much going to miss being able to cross examine applicants with you. Because, you know, we were often on the same line and page and I could look over to you, was like, know John's going ask that question, so I don't need to ask it. He's got that one covered. And those questions and the challenges we put to those applicants always made their applications better, and it improved the results for our residents. I'm going to miss, not so much from this seat, but from when I was sitting over there, being able to look over you when someone would make a particularly surprising comment. And I could hear your eyes rolling at the same time my eyes were rolling. And you would do the just the glasses down and the pushback. And like, I'm like, I know. I'm with you. I got it.

I heard the same thing. I can't believe we heard it. And I'm going to miss that look on your face when we both had the same conclusion, like, what are we listening to? It was priceless. I don't know what else to say. Everything's already been said. I think Michelle is still probably my favorite McGovern. But you're a really tight 1B at this point. You're right there. You're right there. And it's true. It really has been great to have you here. And I love both of you, and I'm going miss you guys tremendously. So thank you for your service.

That's it. Are you going to do a picture? No, we're going to let my assistant go.

Gosh. We've speaking too.

We're getting emotional to go past eleven when job starts off.

I know, right? It's not going to be good.

Wow. Early for that.

Really

We have faith in you.

Said it all last night. I want to thank former Councilman Drehaus for coming and speaking. That's the best thing I've ever heard spoken at the podium in my entire ten years. So thank you for that. And I just I did my best. I've been here for ten years. My kids were little when I started this job, and my youngest just turned 20 today. And I've just always approached this position as a public servant and not as a politician. Not that there's anything wrong with that. But I've learned so much from all of you.

Councilman Dyer House, we had eight years together, which was really unprecedented. And then we stayed together for another two. And most, I think, elected officials don't get that opportunity. And I think it really is what made a big, huge difference here and set us apart from a lot of other places. But I enjoyed my time with all of you. I mean, I'm going to talk to you all individually and not up here, because I could go on and on and on. But, I mean, Ms. Cohen, it's been wonderful. Like, you know, our meetings, we would sometimes just be laughing out loud about stuff. And you made it a real pleasure.

I'm not a lawyer, so you would have to walk me through things. But it's, you know, I love our relationship, and I'm sure we'll still be continuing to be friends in the future. So I'm not going anywhere, but I'm going to miss all of you so much. Mr. Barnes, it's been incredible. You're a fantastic village manager, and hope that people know how lucky they are that they have you. And I hope to keep you for a very long time. Miss Addy, thank you. You always bring professionalism up here and doing a fantastic job and always represent Wellington wherever you go in the best light. So thank you for that.

And just thank you to everybody. I mean, could go through on and on. Every department head, everybody has been fabulous. And it felt like a family, more of like a family after ten years of doing this. So to the two new ladies, I really love getting to know you and your families and enjoyed working with you. You hit the ground running. You're doing great things. I know your future is bright. And whatever you want to do, I will support you. So it's been fantastic. And I don't know what else to say. I'm overwhelmed with emotion, because it's such a huge time that we've been together. And we've accomplished a lot. The list is amazing. You've to send me that list.

And I think that says a lot, too, about how we worked so well together, because that's a lot of accomplishments in a decade. So I really appreciated being here. Thank you to the residents who elected me twice. And thank you to previous counsel who appointed me out of about 38 people. I did not go looking for this position when I was a PTA president and a mom of three young children. It's just thank you, Michelle McGovern. I think I sought you out to get you on our advocacy committee for PTA. And look what you did there for you got me. But yeah, I knew you before I knew John, I knew your wife before I knew you, because we played tennis together. So it definitely feels like family.

And I'm going to miss being with you guys, but I know we're still gonna be doing social things together. So thank you.

Walk us through.

One last time. Yes. One last time. Definitely to walk us through one last time. I want to say a couple of things. First, just to Tanya. Michelle and I only lied to you once when we told you that this job wasn't that hard.

That it was just one meeting a month?

It was just a couple meetings, and you'd be fine. And I waited a decade to apologize to you for that lie.

Apology accepted. But

Councilman Drehaus and the mayor have it right. It is your presence that ultimately restored the calm, brought the peace, and made that list possible. So thank you for being my partner. As to everybody else, I wanna say, first of all, I know tonight there are three great people looking down on us. Bob Basehart, Mike Arena, and the legendary mayor who loved this place maybe more than I do, Tom Winam.

Tonight, we also think about Paul Scofield and Kathy Foster, both of whom wish they could have been with us in the last couple of days. You know, and I promised that I wouldn't cry today until I got Michelle and Millie, and then Mike. But, you know, I have had four jobs in my adult life. This is the one that I had the longest, and this is the one that meant the most to me. But that wasn't because at all of me or anything that I did.

But I did it with Michelle and the girls. And that partnership and support is something I will forever be grateful for. I love you all so much. And you all are what is most important to me always, even if sometimes it doesn't look like it. I want to talk about the village Wellington staff.

Because really when we talk about it, we all, every person that's ever sat up here and the people that sit up here now, look great, sound great, get to take all the credit for all of you and for all the work that our staff does tirelessly, invisibly, day in and day out. And I am eternally grateful to have been part of your team, the team village of Wellington. I am forever thankful for three other groups. And I talked about a lot of things last night. I don't want to review them again tonight.

But I just want to say that our friends at Fire Rescue, PBSO, and every teacher, administrator, and principal that works in the Palm Beach County public school here in the village of Wellington, We could never be the community we are without the work that you all do every day. There is no Wellington without this being the home base to PBSO, Palm Beach County Fire, and the Palm Beach County School District. I did talk about our staff and how much I love them. The amazing thing about our staff is that no one leaves. We come to service lunches, and people stay for two, three, four decades, some of them longer than the incorporation of the village.

But in my time, there's been very little staff changeover. But we have four people that came into new positions. We got Chuck Gill at the tennis center. We got Angela Pants in utilities. We got Eric Jukett in Parks and Recreation.

We got the best clerk anywhere in Chevelle Hall. And we got our village manager Jim Barnes. And I think there's a lot of people who thought that Paul Schofield couldn't be replaced. You have replaced him and surpassed him. And the things we've done because of the people that went before us have put us in this place today, This place where we know as a village, the next thirty years is even brighter than the thirty that we've had before.

To my colleagues, all of them that I have served with, I am thankful for every minute, because I knew in every person that served on this dais that the thing that mattered to the most was getting it right for Wellington. Not getting it right for themselves, not getting it right for their family, not getting it right for their friends, but getting it right for all the residents of this, our great hometown. I do have a couple of moments. My colleagues have talked about their moments. But I will tell you that I too told the story about the appointment in twenty fifteen last night.

And I said last night, and I'll say now, we'll just agree to disagree. And I'll say it to both of you. Because probably in truth, not only I've told the Councilman Drehaus part many times, but you too, Mayor. You both do it better, did it better, your questions are better, your speeches are better, Your precision is better. And I have been proud to be in the three amigos of the lawyers that were on this council.

You are two of my best friends, two of my most trusted advisors, and I know that forever I will be friends with the two of you. And when we talk about memories, the memory is this. There's really two of them. And I know the three of you. Tanya, you were there, and you remember it well.

It was the night in the Wanderers Club in 2022 when we got the election results, an election that we weren't so sure. The mayor has given numbers where we win by a lot, but we weren't 100% sure of that. And what was important about that night in 2022 when Tanya and I were reelected for the second time is that that was the time that the mayor had been reelected. Councilman Drehaus had been reelected twice. Councilman Napolioun had been reelected twice.

And now Tanya and I had been reelected twice. And it is the confidence that the residents put in the five of us to reelect us twice and let us have that uninterrupted eight years together that allowed almost all of the good things on that list to happen. So that memory is the one that I take away the most from our time. And then to the five that are here now. Anybody want to guess what the memory is?

The photo? I'm afraid.

The photo?

The photo.

Photo. You won.

The photo.

Got

it. When we came in with this new five, a new mayor and two new councilwomen, we, right down here, they had set up for us to take our first council photos. And we didn't all know each other. We didn't know how it was going to go. We were getting along, and everything was good. But we weren't sure. And somewhere along the way, it had gotten lengthy. And we were arguing over how we were going to seat the people. And should the women stand behind us? Should Michael and I sit in the front?

How should it go? And somewhere in there, I think it was Amanda that said, let's try this photo, or Tanya. And we tried this now infamous friends photo.

I think I said, let's do a friend's.

Right? It was one of you. Right. And it's not that we took the photo. It's that a month later, to the great chagrin of so many people who really hoped that there was going to be some kind of animosity and debate and rancor that was going to break out on this dais every single month at every single meeting.

We all posted that photo to our social media pages simultaneously. And it was the moment in this new council that I knew that every tough decision could be made and that you two, as new as you were, as different as it was with your elections, that you had the courage to make really, really tough decisions, and that you were going to do it. And so all I can say is I am deeply proud to have had the confidence of the voters, the confidence of my colleagues, and I am deeply proud for whatever small part I played to leave the village better than it was when I arrived. And so my last thing to Councilman elect Levin and Councilman elect Meyer and to the three of you that will stay, remember to be fearless, to be tireless, to be true to Wellington, to do your duty every day to the residents. And that does mean, as my friend reminded them, sometimes that is to protect them from themselves.

And I know that you all will do that. So I am confident for the future of Wellington, and I am proud to watch you all work in these coming years. I love you all.

Well, now that everyone's eyes are all red, we have photos to take. That will look out well. Should have done them first, perhaps. No. That'll We've got a plaque. Just so you know, this is bigger than the plaque we've gotten I by a know. Just saying. Just saying. Someone might have requested a bigger plaque.

It like twice the size. Right.

This is your plaque and proclamation.

Oh my gosh. Thank you.

Yours are the same size as Tanya's.

I'm thinking we're

in the same thing in the photos I'm wearing today.

Your plaque. And all the nice words. How did we do this yesterday? In You

the middle?

Okay. Cancel

me online. Yeah. Right.

That's it.

That was it. That

was quick.

Wanna get one with Mr.

Dreyhaus? I want Mr. Dreyhaus to come for the four of us in the group of Hey, come on.

You've got to shoot on fire. Mr. Barnes, are we done? Do have anything else on this agenda? We are almost there.

We're almost there. We have one more thing

to do. At the Anderson site. Stay with me on this. We're almost

there. All

right. As we follow the merry-go-round of the agenda, we are down to the last regular agenda item, which is acceptance of the 03/10/2026 Village

of Wellington Municipal election results. Before you is the certified copy of the election results as provided by the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections. And it states that for council member seat two, the winner is council member elect Johnny h Meyer, and council member seat three is council member elect Steven Levin, as well as the fact that both of our referendum questions passed pertaining to our canvassing board as well as our qualifying period. So we are asking for your acceptance of the election results.

We have a card on the item? We have a challenge. Come on up. Who's got the card? I can take a guess.

It's Bruce Tooman. My

name is Bruce Tooman, and my primary and homestead at 0 Lot Line property is 752 Lake Wellington Drive in the village of Wellington. I'd like to thank the newly elected members of our council. One's here. And and you gave We The People the opportunity to vote. And I thank you for that.

However, only 14% of the registered voters voted. Less than 7% voted for Johnny Meyer and 5% elected mister Levin. Based this on a population, Meyer received only 4%, while Levin received only 3%. This does not sound like a constitutional republic, but is atypical for a communist state like Cuba. Does our village of Wellington want public input?

Why did the village decide not to mail out sample ballots Like other cities. Did we the people vote for spending $20,000,000 plus on our our tax dollars on our new swimming pool that apparently did not have enough parking spaces? Like the 8 and a half million dollar phase two of our town center? Our mayor is a king of Porty Pottyville in the town center, in the Villas Of Wellington. I hope our new members, new council members, and existing members who take the three branches of government seriously, and not cave in to the big state.

That is part of your job. Hear no either, see no either, speak no either, is a pull attitude for an elected official in a constitution of republic. And I hope the new members, as well as the existing members, remember the Florida State Sun Sign laws. It sounds like you guys are really friendly together. Thank you.

As always, thank you. What else do we have? Mr. Barnes?

That is the end of our regular agenda, and that brings us to public comment.

Bruce Newman.

It's your last card for the evening, because we're done.

Mind. My name is Bruce Tooman, and my primary and homesteaded Red Cedar Lot Line property is 752 Lake Wellington Drive in the village of Wellington. Our attorney responded to my concern about co compliance treating private right of ways like public right of ways. Quote, she said, thank you for your raising this issue. We've confirmed that the HOA owns the roads, and we will work with the HOA going forward with any violations.

All previous cases have been resolved. There is no action being taken regarding the previous cases. Does there legal ease mean that public right of way codes do not apply to private properties? Because I don't understand what you said. Therefore, co compliance is an error and the village should compensate those affected homeowners. Has the village contacted those involved informing them of this error? My neighbors haven't heard anything. Although one of them was clear before I even raised this issue, even though he didn't remove all the paint from the sidewalk. Did the manager know about this issue before I raised it? Maybe he doesn't tell you everything.

Code compliance does make mistake. We all do. While some are human errors, other is for a lack of guidance or definitions. Ordinances need to be changed and or added by this council to help our staff. I request the council to waive the liens fine penalties on my property and accept my landscaping plan for the following reasons. All codes do not define the front plane. How can you find when you don't define? Do your jobs counsel. The landscape demanded demand was added after I discussed several issues. I believe it was in retaliation.

Code enforcement manager apparently pursing himself saying no to caps on a number of open cases when the officer documented that they do. My landscaping exceeds the number of shrubs required for my front plane, but they are in pots, not planted in the ground. Apparently, potted plants are allowed, but not all. Even our village had three branches of government, which are intended to help control each other. Our executive branch had made up definitions and retaliated after I complained about selective enforcement and misinterpreting the code.

I asked my legislative branch of Wellington to defend my rights by waiving my liens, firing penalties, and on my property. Like you all have done before with other properties with a higher lien than me. Thank you. Thanks.

That concludes our public comment period. We're ready for the attorney's report.

Okay. I do have a matter to raise with you tonight. We discussed it yesterday. As you know, we are trying to move forward with constructing a roundabout at the intersection of Lake Worth Road and 120th. As part of that, we will need some of the property that is currently titled under the name of the Grand Isles Master Homeowners Association.

And so we discussed the terms of a settlement yesterday at our agenda review. And I would like authorization from you tonight to file the complaint that I have drafted and to enter into the stipulation with Grand Isles for the conveyance of or not the conveyance, but the taking of that property, including all of the other terms that were discussed yesterday. And so if you would authorize that, I would appreciate it.

So I

want to make a motion to authorize the attorney to handle that, to resolve that issue the way we described it?

Ms. Cohen has described it correctly. We have had a very robust discussion with the Grand Isles HOA. And this is the best and quickest way and the most cost effective way to resolve the issue of us getting the land that we need so that we can most expeditiously build the roundabout at Lake Worth Road And 128th. So I'll move to approve.

Do you want to make

a second? Second.

All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Hearing none,

you are authorized.

Thank you.

That concludes your report.

That concludes my report.