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NEWS
Cutler Bay SERVING SOUTH DADE
JANUARY 27, 2009
Town Council OKs modified security camera ordinance BY GARY ALAN RUSE
uring a regular monthly Cutler Bay Town Council meeting on Jan. 21, which ran past midnight due to the controversial nature of the issue, members of the council passed by a 3-2 vote an ordinance requiring area shopping centers to install security cameras in the parking lots. Mayor Paul Vrooman and council members Peggy Bell and Ernie Sochin voted in favor of the measure, while Vice Mayor Ed MacDougall and council member Tim Meerbot opposed it. The ordinance was what some called a “watered down” version of the original plan, requiring fewer cameras, which would be placed at the entrances and exits of the parking areas. There also was a last minute amendment to the ordinance that provides partial funding by the Town of Cutler Bay to mall owners or merchants in the amount of 25 percent of the costs of implementing the plan. A parade of people representing the centers and merchants took the podium to address the council on their concerns about the potential cost of the camera systems, how it would impact their business and whether it was even an effective means of reducing crime. The amount
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Town presents proclamation to Palmetto Raiders Club
BY GARY ALAN RUSE
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SECURITY, page 4
he Town of Cutler Bay’s experimental program, the Holiday Season Circulator Bus, turned out to be a great success. Although primarily designed to help seniors who needed transportation for holiday shopping, the free service was provided to all town residents during the holiday season, Dec. 9 through Jan. 9. Rafael G. Casals, Public Works director of the Town of Cutler Bay, was pleased with the large number of people who made use of the program. “The circulator bus averaged 19 to 23 patrons per day,” Casals said. “Some days were heavier than others. Once the word got out, the bus ridership reached capacity levels — 25 seats — on a daily basis.”
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Cutler Bay Mayor Paul S. Vrooman is joined by other town council members in the presentation of the proclamation. (Photo by Bill Meiklejohn)
BY GARY ALAN RUSE
ayor Paul S. Vrooman presented a proclamation to the Palmetto Raiders Youth Development Club during the Cutler Bay Town Council Meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 21, to “express our sincere appreciation to the Palmetto Raiders Youth Development Club and encourage community members to work together to ensure quality youth sport experiences for our young people.” The organization was commended for its devotion to children and given recognition and thanks for the mem-
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Pictured is the parking area of Southland Mall.
Town’s holiday season shuttle bus a success
bers’ dedication to “maintaining the high quality standards of youth sports in Cutler Bay and responding to the growing needs of our community.” Recognized were Clarence Moss, Lula Moss, Tyrone Williams, Michelle Clarit, Craig Clarit, Cathina Burth, Craig Finley, Thomas Fryer, Arties Knight and Elmarie Williams. The Palmetto Raiders Youth Development Club was founded as the Palmetto Raiders Optimist Club in 1965 by Richard Brown, Ron Scholer, Malcolm Parrish, John Emerson and a group of dedicated
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PROCLAMATION, page 4
The Holiday Season Circulator Bus, operated through an agreement with the Village of Palmetto Bay, proved to be very successful.
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SHUTTLE BUS, page 4