Town manager reviewed — Town Manager Jamie Titcomb received positive remarks from Town Council members as part of his annual evaluation on Aug. 12. Unlike previous managers, Titcomb, who earns $82 per hour, is part-time and limited to 25 hours a week. His two-year contract expires in June of next year.
Council members rated him in various administrative categories from one to five, with five being the strongest. His overall scores from the four council members ranged from four to five.
Mayor Bonnie Fischer called for better communication and said Titcomb needed to do a better job of keeping the council apprised of details, such as the new people that are working in Town Hall.
Fischer also wanted to know how the manager was doing with hours, since early on he was spending more time at work than his contract allowed.
“I’m pretty much staying within my cap,” Titcomb answered. “There are some weeks when the sewer main breaks, or I have to come in after hours for something, that can bump my hours. But averaging out, I think I’m in pretty good shape.”
Titcomb thanked the council for the good scores and said he would take to heart the areas for improvement. The review won’t affect his salary but is a condition of his contract.
Virtual attendance allowed — The council voted to amend town law to allow its members, as well as members of town boards, to occasionally attend meetings virtually, by phone or other digital means. However, a quorum must be established in person, according to Town Attorney Ben Saver.
The amendment, Saver said, puts into words what is already the practice. No definition was given for what “occasionally” meant.
Even though the Town Council was reduced to four members after the resignation of former Vice Mayor Bill LeRoy in April — and the council is choosing to leave the seat vacant until the 2026 elections rather than fill it as the Town Charter provides — it still takes three council members to make a quorum.
Council member Ray McMillan, who attended the Aug. 13 meeting by phone, wanted to know if virtual attendance had any effect on salaries. Saver said it did not. Members receive $600 a month, with the exception of the mayor, who is paid $1,000.
Deputy honored again — Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Deputy Donna Korb was recognized as Deputy of the Month after her lifesaving efforts involving a resident who cut her left arm while moving a glass tabletop in her condo. Korb arrived at Southgate Condominiums on May 21 ahead of paramedics and applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding.
When paramedics arrived, they applied another tourniquet and administered additional care.
“Deputy Korb’s quick action was instrumental in the lifesaving effort,” said Sgt. Mark Garrison, who made the presentation.
In May, Korb was honored after rescuing a 68-year-old swimmer who struggled to stay afloat off the shores of South Palm Beach.
New Community Affairs board member appointed — Elenora Levin was appointed to serve a two-year term on the Community Affairs Advisory Board. Levin, who lives in the Barclay Condominiums, has held leadership roles at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and St. John’s University in New York and has experience in grant writing. In her application, Levin said she has a strong ability to take initiative and make decisions based on facts.
— Mary Thurwachter
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