Final Public Budget Hearing

Lake Park Town Commission, Florida Final Public Budget Hearing Minutes Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 6:30 PM Commission Chamber, Town Hall, 535 Park Avenue, Lake Park, FL 33403 Roger Michaud — Mayor Kimberly Glas-Castro — Vice-Mayor John Linden — Commissioner Mary Beth Taylor — Commissioner Judith Thomas — Commissioner John D’Agostino — Town Manager Thomas J. Baird, Esq. — Town Attorney Vivian Mendez, MMC — Town Clerk PLEASE TAKE NOTICE AND BE ADVISED, that if any interested person desires to appeal any decision of the Town Commission, with respect to any matter considered at this meeting, such interested person will need a record of the proceedings, and for such purpose, may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations in order to participate in the meeting should contact the Town Clerk’s office by calling 881-3311 at least 48 hours in advance to request accommodations. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL 6:32 P.M. PRESENT Mayor Roger Michaud Vice-Mayor Kimberly Glas-Castro Commissioner John Linden Commissioner Mary-Beth Taylor Commissioner Judith Thomas PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Employee of the Year Janet Miller led the Pledge. Regular Commission Meeting September 20, 2023 Page 1 SPECIAL PRESENTATION/REPORT: NONE PUBLIC COMMENT: This time is provided for addressing items that do not appear on the Agenda. Please complete a comment card and provide it to the Town Clerk so speakers may be announced. Please remember comments are limited to a TOTAL of three minutes. NONE TOWN ATTORNEY, TOWN MANAGER, COMMISSIONER COMMENTS: Town Attorney Baird had no comments. Town Manager D'Agostino read the budget message into the record (Exhibit A). Commissioner Linden thanked everyone that worked on the budget. He wanted to set the record straight. He agrees with pay raises, but would like to see between $15.00 - $20.00 for all starting employees. He would not support the budget as a result of the disparity in pay raises and the funds that are available and the increase in the stormwater fees. Commissioner Thomas had no comments. Commissioner Taylor made comments regarding the budget and agreed with Commissioner Linden. Vice-Mayor Glas-Castro thanked the Town Manager for the important budget message. She explained the salary compensation study and what the market shows. She explained past practice and prior overpassing of the senior leadership raises. She thanked staff and is in support of the budget. Mayor Michaud agreed with Vice-Mayor Glas-Castro. He sees what other municipality’s scales and raises are and is in support of the budget and that staff should be fairly compensated based on the study. Town Manager D'Agostino expressed his concern with the negative comments. Commissioner Linden stated that he supports the budget but would have liked to have seen some changes made that he could have been in full support of. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Resolution 75-09-23 Adopting a Final Millage Rate for Fiscal Year 2023-2024. Town Manager D'Agostino explained the fiscal year 2023-2024 millage rate. He explained what lowering the millage will provide the residents of the Town. Item 2. 7 Item 2. 8 Item 2. 9 Item 2. 10 Item 2. 11