MARK SCHUMANN

Describing as “an affront to democracy” Pilar Turner’s proposal to change rules governing the makeup of the Utilities Commission, Richard Winger last night led the debate and successful opposition to her plan. Turner sought to change City Code to ensure a majority of the Commission’s members would be out-of-city residents. Turner’s proposal would also have stripped each City Council member of their right to appoint one member to the seven-member board.

Pointing out that 60 percent of the City’s utility customers (electric, waters & sewer and solid waste) are city residents, Winger argued it would have been unfair to shift the balance of power on the Utilities Commission to county residents.  (Indian River Shores customers are already represented on Vero Beach’s Utilities Commission with a member appointed by the Shores Town Council.)

Turner’s proposal was prompted by current Utilities Commission Chairman Scott Stradley’s move outside the service territory of Vero Electric. In part, Turner sought to enable Stradley to remain on the Commission.  Winger contended her other objective was to enable a future council majority to decide on all seven appointments to the Utilities Commission.  Currently, one member is appointed by the Town of Indian River Shores, one by each of five City Council members, and one by majority vote of the Council.

Several years ago, Turner, along with Tracy Carroll and Craig Fletcher, dismissed several members of the Utilities Commission. At the time, Turner said she wanted a Commission that would back the Council’s plan to sell Vero Electric. Members who raised questions about the deal were dismissed.

Jay Kramer and Randy Old joined Winger in opposing Turner’s proposal. Harry Howle supported Turner.

On another proposed change to City Code, Howle broke with Turner and voted with Kramer, Old and Winger in moving general public comment later on the Council agenda.  Vero Beach now joins Indian River Shores, Fellsmere, Sebastian and the Indian River County Commission in receiving public comment after its regular business agenda items are covered.  Members of the public are still able to address the Council before each agenda item requiring a vote.

Acting on recommendations from the Finance and Utilities Commissions, the Council last night also approved doing away with electric utility impact fees.  Vero Beach has been the only city in the state collecting such fees.  City Manager Jim O’Connor explained that the approximately $200,000 to be raised in any given year can only go to capital projects. With the decommissioning of the power plant, O’Connor said there will be less need to fund capital projects.