News

By Steve Plunkett

    The town is on record that it still wants no part of paying for the county’s Inspector General Office.
    In a resolution passed Aug. 11, Gulf Stream commissioners said they do not support contributing town tax dollars to pay for the countywide IG program “since Gulf Stream residents already pay for and support the program through payment of their county taxes.”
    County voters in November 2010 approved a referendum creating the Inspector General Office, and the following May county commissioners passed an ordinance that required municipalities to pay for part of its operations.
    Cities and towns sued, and last December the 4th District Court of Appeal ruled that the county’s attempts to collect money were barred by the municipalities’ having sovereign immunity.
    But, Gulf Stream’s resolution said, “the county recently has requested that all municipalities voluntarily pay their ‘fair share’ of the costs.”
    Not every city joined the suit, and in March, Briny Breezes, Boynton Beach, Hypoluxo, Lantana, Ocean Ridge and South Palm Beach were given refunds of what they had paid for the inspector general.
    Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Gulf Stream, Highland Beach and Manalapan had refused to pay and so were owed nothing.
    In other business, Vice Mayor Thomas Stanley noted the July 25 passing of former Police Chief Garrett Ward and said Commissioner Paul Lyons attended the graveside service at Long Island National Cemetery in New York.
    “We just wanted to say great thanks to him and our prayers and best wishes to his family on the record,” Stanley said.
    Ward’s successor, Chief Edward Allen, introduced the department’s newest member, Officer Brad Fidler, who spent 27 years with West Palm Beach’s police force.
    “He brings a wealth of experience to us,” Allen said.