By Rich Pollack
A decision by Delray Beach City Commissioners to add a 20 percent administrative fee to a proposed 10-year fire service contract with the town of Highland Beach is causing a rift between the two neighboring communities and leading some town leaders to consider starting their own fire department.
On Feb. 2, Delray Beach commissioners refused to accept a long-negotiated agreement to continue providing fire service and equipment to Highland Beach for an estimated $3.3 million, saying the city would likely lose money under the proposal.
Instead, after much discussion Delray Beach city commissioners voted to add the administrative fee along with a laundry list of conditions that would allow the city to recoup any unplanned costs.
Delray officials had planned to bring their counter-proposal back to Highland Beach, but commissioners in the smaller town say they’re no longer interested in talking to anyone from Delray Beach about the contract.
“We should close this by saying ‘Delray, goodbye,’” said Commissioner Carl Feldman.
Feldman and other Highland Beach commissioners said they were outraged and insulted by Delray Beach’s decision to reject a contract that had been negotiated over the course of 18 months.
“This is nothing but an attempt by, unfortunately a sister city, to utilize Highland Beach resources to cover their own internal mismanagement and debts,” said Vice Mayor Bill Weitz.
During the discussion in a special commission workshop held two days after Delray’s decision, several members of the Highland Beach commission said it was Delray Beach that brought the agreement to their town and thus should have an obligation to accept it once town leaders signed off on it.
“I feel this is completely immoral,” said Highland Beach Mayor Bernard Featherman.
Town commissioners said they were offended by a reference to their community as “a town with wealthy people,” made by Delray Beach Vice Mayor Shelly Petrolia.
Town attorney Glen Torcivia, who was deeply involved in the negotiations rejected the notion that Delray Beach would lose money with the agreement.
“To say they’re losing money is a farce,” he said. “The agreement fully covers the administrative costs.”
With the current contract expiring in about 18 months, Highland Beach town officials are now looking for an alternative fire-service provider or the possibility of creating their own fire department.
“I say we have to go on our own,” said Commissioner Lou Stern.
Under the current agreement, Delray Beach provides fire-rescue personnel to the town, which has its own fire station and fire truck. The town also pays Delray Beach $8,500 a month for use of a ladder truck.
In addition to instructing Torcivia and Town Manager Beverly Brown to begin exploring other options, commissioners also gave Torcivia the green light to explore the possibility of recouping the town’s legal expenses incurred during the drawn-out negotiation process.
“We should take action,” Feldman said. “We’ve been negotiating for a year and a half.”
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