Vote set forMarch 11

Lauderdale Lakes to decide whether to reduce size of commission to save money

LAUDERDALE LAKES — Residents will decideMarch11if less is more when it comes to city government.

The city is holding a special election asking voters if the City Commission should be reduced from six to four members, while making the mayor a voting member of the commission.

Proponents say the reduction will make the city more efficient and save money by reducing the costs associated with two commissioners. They project the city will save $ 94,000 a year with the change.

“I have had residents say to me, you have too many opinions on your dais,” Commissioner Edwina Coleman said. “It’s a nobrainer. The less people you have on the dais, the more money you will have going into the general fund.”

But opponents question why residents would want less representation on the commission and say the potential savings are exaggerated. They said if the city was really being cost- conscious, it would have held the referendumduring the regular election cycle in November and not have to pay nearly $ 70,000 to conduct the special election.

Commissioner Levoyd Williams said the savings include about $ 10,500 for a healthcare benefit for each commissioner, but most commissioners have their own health insurance. Thecity could eliminate the perk for all commissionersandsave$ 73,500annually, he said.

“If you want to save money, be honest, by asking us todothat, notby asking the citizens to lose representation,” Williams said. “Where did we get the figure that because you have seven people up here, you have bad government.”

Resident Byron Maylor is upset that the commission decided to put the issue on the ballot, when a petition effort was having trouble gettingenoughsignatures of support.

“Itseemslike thecommissionis not listening to the people and they’re forcing it down our throats,” Maylor said.

But community activist Beatrice Esdelle is tired of the frequent bickering on the commission and supports the change.

“Youwon’t have the same controversy on the commission,” Esdelle said. “It won’t be six commissioners that are fighting out there. It will only be four commissioners fighting out there.”

In Broward County, the size of the Lauderdale Lakes commission is second only to tiny Sea Ranch Lakes, which has a mayor andsevenelected commissioners. Most local governments have a mayor and four commissioners.

Under the proposal, the commission would lose one seat this November and the second inNovember 2016. Themayorwould become a voting member in 2016. Commissioner EricHaynes is term- limited this year, so he can’t run for re- election. Coleman said shewould be term- limited in 2016.

Commissioners are elected citywide from individual seats. The mayor currently presides over commission meetings but only votes when there is a tie.

The current set- up stems from the days when the city didn’t have a city manager and each commissionerwas incharge of running a city department. In 1998, voters approved moving to the city manager form of government, but never changed the number of commissioners.