By Brian Biggane
A major drawback for a government board with an even number of members is that any vote can end in a tie. That’s just what happened when South Palm Beach Town Council members attempted to add a fifth member to their board at their March meeting.
The seat was open because of the resignation of Robert Gottlieb in December. He cited health issues and an unwillingness to comply with new state financial disclosure requirements as his reasons for leaving.
His successor could have been decided by voters during the March 19 elections, but Gottlieb’s resignation caught would-be candidates by surprise. Not only did Gottlieb not file to run for re-election during the November qualifying period, no other candidates came forward either.
That put the decision on a replacement in the Town Council’s hands, to appoint someone to serve for two years until the March 2026 election.
Three applicants came forward in January, but Council member Raymond McMillan informed the body that applicant Arnelle Ossendryver had decided to drop out to tend to her ailing mother.
The council’s March vote then ended in a 2-2 tie, with applicants Elvadianne Culbertson and Jennifer Lesh splitting the vote equally. Vice Mayor Bill LeRoy and McMillan voted for Lesh while Mayor Bonnie Fischer and Council member Monte Berendes went with Culbertson.
Town Attorney Ben Saver said that since the appointment was to take place at the April meeting, the council could put off the decision, which it did. If the deadlock can’t be broken then, Saver said the council can carry on with its business with just four members — and can continue trying to find someone who can win the support of at least three council members.
LeRoy offered a forceful and animated endorsement of Lesh, who has lived in South Palm Beach for 22 years, spent 25 years working with students with exceptional needs in the Palm Beach County school system and is now in charge of the special education program at Lynn University.
“I’ve been trying to get her but she’s been busy doing other commitments,” LeRoy said. “But now her time is free. And when I asked her to run again — and I’ve asked her many times — she said now she had time for civic involvement. Now she wants to do this, and she’d be great.”
McMillan, who was supporting Ossendryver, said he changed his vote to Lesh when Ossendryver informed him she wouldn’t be able to make the time commitment to the council.
McMillan lives in the Southgate condominium, home to both Lesh and Culbertson.
McMillan’s vote surprised Fischer, who assumed McMillan would vote for Ossendryver, LeRoy would vote for Lesh and Culbertson would get the two remaining votes.
Nodding to Culbertson, the only candidate who was at the meeting, Fischer said, “We have someone sitting here in Elva who’s missed one meeting in 18 years or something like that. She’s been on the council.
“I know some members didn’t like her (attention to) detail, especially with the minutes and all that, (but) detail is important and we make decisions that affect everybody in this town.”
Berendes said another plus for Culbertson was her background with building plans as the town prepares to construct a new Town Hall and community center.
“We need somebody with her expertise,” he said. “I’m very much in favor of her being on the council. Very much in favor. I do think the other women are capable but she is head and shoulders above what we need right now.”
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