Condensed: Live Updates From The Town Council Meeting

Tried my hand at live updates tonight, sneaking out reports as major decisions were made via my iPhone. I thought it would be useful if anyone who couldn’t attend wanted to follow along. Here are my six updates, edited together in one post; the times reflect when I managed to post, not the exact time of the decisions.

8:39: The chairman of the town council, Michael Henrick, started off 
with an impassioned defense of the proposed pay raise for the mayor, calling out Dom Costello in particular, who’d called the suggestion an outrage in open forum earlier tonight. Mr. Henrick suggested Mr. Costello would not be able to afford 
the position if he did not have the residual income from his business. Currently the council has gone into a closed discussion regarding Long Beach West with a rep from the Fish and Wildlife service. You read it here first--more updates to follow!

8:53: As I sit here twiddling my thumbs because talking specifics about property values might compromise the sale of LBW (isn't this the main 
purpose of a public discussion, hold the deliberations in public?), I 
notice the three cameras installed on the walls of the room. A great idea, as are the speakers installed nearby that allow for much-improved audio so that the audience can now clearly hear their neighbors in open forum. I can only hope they get the video from this meeting online faster than the last two (which still aren’t up).

9:58: The council has taken another recess before a vote on whether to send the decision to sell the beach to a referendum, which is looks like it has majority support on this council tonight. They split along party lines, sadly, and go to different rooms to discuss the vote. The folks who attended this meeting in the hopes of seeing the matter resolved seem frustrated that the issue has changed to whether to sell to whether to allow for a referendum vote. It is not often that the council takes this much time in private during these meetings.

10:14: The council came back and the majority vote favored a referendum, but the mayor vetoed it. He listed the other major decisions made by the council (budgets, Shakespeare, charter revision) that had not gone to referendum. Some members of the council attempted to overrule but could not get the necessary votes. The sale 
of LBW will not go to referendum. Wow, I should have seen that coming!

10:57: Nepotism discussion very contentious as Mayor Miron accused some in council of making it a political issue, and Mr. Kubic in particular arguing that it was an appropriate measure. In the end, it was sent to the Ethics Committee. They are currently in recess after discussing the issue of the raise for mayor. Proposals for 95k, 105k, and 125k discussed, but Mayor Miron stressed that cost of living increases are much more important than a higher starting salary. The current cost of living proposal calls for a 1.5% raise each year. Think it's time for me to go home and get some sleep. Hope this was helpful!!

11:05: Majority vote was for an increase to $105,000 with a 1.5% cost of living increase each year. Mayor Miron vetoed. Motion to override lost 6-3.
Need to get outta here and get some sleep!!

Addendum: The meeting adjourned at 11:15, with members of the council exhausted from an adventurous session.