Former town police chief dies — The South Palm Beach Town Council held a moment of silence at its May 16 meeting to honor former Police Chief Carl Webb, who died April 16. He was 71. Webb served as chief from 2014 to 2018 and was with the town’s force for 30 years. The town switched in 2019 from having its own police department to having the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office provide police services.
Council members also acknowledged the recent passings of former town Police Commander Rob Rizzotto, who died in February; Rene Canning, a member of the town’s Community Appearance Advisory Board who died in April; and Pope Francis.
Town manager’s contract extended — The Town Council approved a two-year extension of Town Manager Jamie Titcomb’s contract through June 2027 with a 9.8% hourly wage boost.
Titcomb receives no fringe benefits, insurance coverage, pension, retirement contributions, or other provisions a town manager usually has in a work agreement. A special contract was created so Titcomb could serve under a “part-time” status, as he came back to work out of retirement.
He is compensated at a higher hourly rate, with his total hours capped at an average of 25 a week. Titcomb was paid $82 per hour; the council amendment increases Titcomb’s contractual hourly compensation to $90 per hour, which would amount to as much as $117,000 annually at 25 hours a week for 52 weeks.
A1A sidewalk in need of repair — Residents complained to council members at the May meeting about the condition of the State Road A1A sidewalk in town. The path has been described as “ugly” and “dangerous” — even after some repairs were completed.
Resident Olga Serafimova provided proof that she has been in contact with several people at the Florida Department of Transportation, who she said kept referring her to other people. Resident Rafael Pineiro said the sidewalk is “non-compliant with ADA. We have people who fall weekly.” He asked who has the responsibility to ensure that the sidewalk is in compliance.
Mike Melendez, an FDOT District 4 representative, was invited to attend the meeting. Although he said he is sensitive to the concerns, he stated that if the intent is to have maintenance replace the entire sidewalk, there may be intermediate measures the department would say meet the requirement.
Council member Raymond McMillan told Melendez that “I don’t really care how it gets done; I want it all done.”
— Hannah Spence
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