WMG Volume 7 • Issue 22 November 5, 2020
Wilton Manors Gazette FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/WMGAZETTE
COMMUNITY
WILTON MANORS COMMISSIONERS COMPLAIN ABOUT LACK OF DIVERSITY ON CITY BOARDS By John McDonald The lack of diversity on Wilton methods of outreach to constituency Manors’ civic boards and community groups. Henderson said the board is advisory committees is an issue the city planning to present the commission with its definition of diversity at the second is struggling to solve. Commissioners belabored the lack meeting in November. “Let’s go ahead and set up a protocol,” of minority involvement at last week’s commission meeting as they appointed Commissioner Julie Carson said. “I am completely in a new member to the favor of increasing planning and zoning board. diversity, making sure Michael Siemer, a gay man it is experiential, color, and retired telephone race, religion, sexuality, company engineer from gender orientation, St. Louis, was voted to gender identity — all of the board, replacing the things that comprise restaurateur Nick Berry, our great city.” who had chaired the board. Other notes from the “It’s troubling me a Oct. 27 meeting include: little bit about the lack Michael Rajner, of diversity that we chairman of the charter have,” Commissioner review board, said the Paul Rolli said. “We talk city’s election process about attracting diverse is archaic and proposed candidates and what we’re - Michael Rajner ranked voting. going to do to get diversity CHAIRMAN OF THE “Wilton Manors really on these boards and I’m CHARTER REVIEW BOARD needs to catch up with not so sure we’ve done the times,” Rajner said. everything we can do to get some extra reach out and I think we “The current process lends to bullet voting which I think is unethical and really need to do that.” City Manager Leigh Ann Henderson shady.” A new three-year contract was said the Community Affairs Advisory Board is working on making unanimously approved with the Broward recommendations into different County Police Benevolent Association.
“WILTON MANORS REALLY NEEDS TO CATCH UP WITH THE TIMES.”
Wilton Manors City Hall. Photo credit: Carina Mask.
Commissioner Gary Resnick called attention to the contract, bringing up the Defund The Police movement, which he said some in the community had vocalized out of popularity and not out of a sense of what is best for Wilton Manors. Resnick said the city does not need a citizen grievance board. “No one in Wilton Manors complains
about our police department,” said Resnick. “They think the service is first-rate and very professional and very responsive.” The city also renewed its health care benefits contract with United Healthcare and is currently $160k in the hole. Carson asked for exploration into government reimbursements due to the COVID-19 pandemic. WMG
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