March 10, 2015  Election Update # 1  Dear Hillsboro Beach Neighbor, The next Hillsboro Beach election is March 10. Your vote will determine who wins three of the five Commission seats that need to be filled for a term of two years. This is your opportunity to decide who will be spending your money and managing our town.  These 6 Hillsboro Beach residents (In alphabetic order) have entered the race: Lee Craine Victoria Feaman Jim Lambert Carmen McGarry Claire Schubert Deb Tarrant Because your vote is so important this year, please review the following critical election deadlines for voting. When you cast your vote you help determine the future of Hillsboro Beach.  February 9, 2015 - Last Day to Register to Vote for the the March 10 election. You can check your current voter status or register to vote by clicking here. February 12, 2015 - Meet the Candidates Night at Opal Towers, 1147 Hillsboro Mile, at 7 pm. This is your chance to meet the candidates who are seeking a seat on the Commission. Candidates will each have 5 minutes to introduce themselves and their platforms to the voters. After the presentations you will be invited to ask the candidates questions. Following the question and answer period, each candidate will be available for informal chats and to provide additional information to help you decide whom to choose.  March 5, 2015 - Absentee ballots due at election offices at least 5 days before the election. Order now to give plenty of time for mail delivery. Click here to get an Absentee Ballot.  March 10, 2015 -  at Town Hall, 1210 Hillsboro Mile. Remember to request an Absentee Ballot if you will not be able to vote March 10.  Hope to see you at the polls, Your Hillsboro Beach Advocates* neighbors *Hillsboro Beach Advocates is a non-partisan group of citizens dedicated to protecting your beach and your tax dollars. Subscribe to our email updates by sending an email with subject “Save our Beach” to hillsborobeachadvocates@gmail.com. Click here for Voter Information or to get an Absentee Ballot

Proposed Town Manager Charter Amendment fails the 'smell' test

Fellow voters and residents of Hillsobro Beach,

We are sad to report that the Town Commission is on the verge of potentially passing a Town Charter amendment to hire a Town Manager, but in name only. The Manager would have neither the Police Department nor Town Clerk reporting to him/her, thus making the position inconsequential, ineffective and a waste of their salary. The Pelican newspaper summed up the Commission workshop meeting over this issue like this.

The Commission will vote on this charter amendment on December 2. Because we believe that this position, without the required authority would simply be a waste with little if any benefit, we sent the following note to the Commissioners:

Dear Commissioners,

We, the HBA, urge you to REJECT the Town Charter amendment to hire a Town Manager as it is currently written. We strongly endorse the idea of a Town Manager with full responsibility, but we believe that a manager whose portfolio includes roughly half the Town's budget and staff would not make financial or administrative sense. It would be a waste of taxpayer funds while potentially setting up organizational conflict.  

The Town Manager should have all Town departments and staff reporting to that position. Without this provision, the charter amendment should be voted down. Without it, it is a bad change which is much worse than no change at all.

Many of the Town's citizens agree with this position.  

Should you reconsider and approve a vote for a Town Manager with full authority, enclosed is an updated Charter amendment with that verbiage.

Respectfully yours,

Hillsboro Beach Advocates

Most residents we have talked to agreed with this stand. Please help by voicing your opinion to the Commission to either fully authorize the 'Town Manager' in the Charter amendment or to reject the amendment as it is currently written. You can find a copy of an updated Charter amendment that would be acceptable here, which we also shared with the Commission.

A great commentary describing where we are now and why a Town Manager should be hired by Hillsboro Beach was written by the Pelican staff in the Friday, November 21 edition, titled "Government in Hillsboro Beach must step into the present". It is worth a read.