Call it Showdown at the Charter Change Corral.
Mayor Bernard Featherman and Commissioner Doris Trinley split sharply with Vice Mayor Ron Brown and Commissioners Dennis Sheridan and Louis Stern on how big an expense has to be to trigger a town referendum.
The Highland Beach Charter requires voter approval on any project costing more than $350,000. The Charter Review Board recommends making the limit 7 percent of the town’s general fund budget, or about $777,000 in the coming year.
Featherman noted at the July 31 workshop the charter proposal comes while commissioners are also considering a $750,000 renovation of Town Hall. “This is a bad, bad time to be putting money out,” he said.
Brown said the renovation project and the charter change are separate issues. “It has nothing to do with this building,” he said.
Commissioners scheduled a vote Aug. 7 on the proposed change. – Steve Plunkett
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