How I would enhance accountability, transparency, and ensure greater community input
Recently, I was asked how I would enhance accountability, transparency, and ensure greater community input in our town's decision-making. Below, I’ve highlighted three key observations along with the specific actions I plan to take to address these issues.
First:
Our town posts job openings on its website, but transparency in hiring practices needs improvement. About two and a half years ago, a job was posted with a low salary range, making it unlikely to attract qualified candidates. According to public records, only six applicants applied, and only one met the qualifications. Rather than re-advertising the position at a higher salary to attract more candidates, the Town Manager hired this single applicant at a salary 40% higher than the maximum posted. This individual had also faced disciplinary action and was fired from another city in Miami-Dade County for “conduct unbecoming a city employee; failure to follow a superior’s direct lawful order; incompetence and negligence in performance of duties.”
The Town Manager is responsible for appointing, hiring, promoting, supervising, and removing town employees.
As your candidate for Council Seat 2, I will propose a resolution to establish guidelines for the town’s hiring practices. My goal is to ensure we actively seek out qualified applicants by re-advertising positions at more competitive salary rates when needed to attract more qualified applicants to the pool. Additionally, I will advocate for giving preference to qualified candidates from Cutler Bay, reinforcing our commitment to building a stronger, more connected community.
Second:
The March 2022 election in Cutler Bay involved a mail-in ballot for a General Obligation Bond (GO Bond) of up to $37 million to fund Legacy Park, a community center, and a municipal complex. The project spans 16 acres east of Old Cutler Road and north of SW 212th Street.
Ballots were mailed in early March 2022, with returns due by March 22. Despite a low voter turnout of 19.68%, the bond passed with 65.84% approval (3,720 votes in favor, 1,930 against). As a result, property taxes are expected to increase by approximately $89 per year over 30 years to support the project.
This low turnout raises concerns about whether such a significant financial decision truly reflects the will of the broader community. While the vote adhered to the town charter's majority rule, I believe there's an opportunity to improve representation in decisions with long-term financial implications. One solution could be scheduling such votes on dates with higher voter participation or requiring a quorum for major financial matters.
As your candidate for Council Seat 2, I will advocate for future votes on major financial issues to coincide with higher turnout elections or require a minimum percentage of eligible voters, ensuring decisions represent the entire community.
Third:
While the Town of Cutler Bay has made some improvements to its website, accessing key information remains a challenge for many residents. The process can require hours of watching video recordings or sifting through numerous attachments. Most people don’t have the time for such an exhaustive search when seeking answers.
Currently, the website's search function does not work well. Searching for specific ordinances or resolutions often yields no results, and finding ordinances can involve a tedious search through the Municipal Code or browsing by year. Additionally, the website does not provide a searchable list of adopted resolutions.
As your candidate for Council Seat 2, I will push for further improvements to the town's website. This will enhance transparency and make it easier for residents to find essential information. Options include adding more documents, like adopted resolutions, to the Municipal Code and introducing a properly programmed AI chatbot to assist users in locating the information they seek.