I am honored to have been selected by my fellow commissioners as the county mayor of the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) at our annual reorganizational meeting on November 16, 2021.
Every year, the BCC selects a mayor to preside over commission meetings and serve as the ceremonial head of Palm Beach County government. A vice mayor is also selected to assume these duties in the absence of the mayor. Consequently, I would like to extend my congratulations to fellow commissioner Greg Weiss who was selected to serve as vice mayor.
The county mayor, introduced by former commissioner Steven Abrams, was created in 2013 and replaced the title of chair. The reason for this was to heighten the board’s visibility by increasing public awareness of the role of the commission since the general public identifies more with a mayor than a board chair.
Having a county mayor benefits us regionally when partnering with the mayors of Miami-Dade and Broward counties and provides a stronger voice in Washington and Tallahassee. The three most populous counties in Florida are a powerful force when united together on common issues such as economic development, transportation funding and environmental issues including Everglades restoration.
Surprisingly, a lot of residents are not aware of the role of county commissioners. The BCC adopts ordinances (local laws) and resolutions to establish policies and programs aimed at protecting the health, safety and general welfare of Palm Beach County residents.
Following are some of the BCC’s duties:
- Set property tax rate which has not been increased in 11 years
- Oversee the $5.6 billion budget which includes three airports (including PBIA), waste disposal plants, potable water, 8,000 acres of parks and so much more
- Provide law enforcement, fire-rescue protection and disaster relief services
- Construct and maintain county-owned buildings, roads, bridges and utility systems
- Provide programs for housing and community redevelopment
- Manage programs for 31,000 acres of conservation lands, flood and beach erosion control and air-pollution control
- Adopt and enforce building and housing codes and regulations
- Construct and operate cultural, recreational and library facilities/programs
- Coordinate policies with other governmental agencies for the joint performance of duties
- Provide services for over 500,000 residents living in unincorporated Palm Beach County
I am looking forward to serving the next year as your mayor and addressing a number of issues such as mental health, food insecurities, housing, inflation and opioid use.
Best wishes for a happy and healthy Thanksgiving holiday!
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Palm Beach County’s mask mandate for county-owned buildings was lifted. This is the last of the emergency orders in effect since the start of the pandemic and the decision was based on the steady decrease in positivity rates.
Consequently, anyone entering county-owned buildings will no longer be required to wear a mask.
Face coverings will still be required at the county’s airports including PBIA and on public transportation pursuant to federal regulations.
State constitutional officers such as the Tax Collector and Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller have independent and separate authority over their offices.
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Florida has over 1.6 million veterans, the third-highest number in the country, with over 90,000
living in Palm Beach County. Whether they served in active combat or in a support role, military veterans are at a high risk of mental health and post-traumatic stress disorders, and many are living with disabilities, chronic pain and other service-related illnesses.
The county's Division of Human and Veteran Services has a dedicated team of professionals, including many retired veterans, who work closely with local veterans to help them get assistance through resources such as local nonprofits and state or federal agencies. Some examples include financial and housing assistance, mental health/wellness therapy, housing, disability compensation, employment opportunities and other resources for life after discharge.
Additionally, the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VA) in West Palm Beach provides a full range of services including mental health, medication and rehabilitation. The VA also has outpatient clinics in six cities, including Boca Raton and Delray Beach, that offer mental health assessments, nutritional consultations and management of chronic illnesses.
For more information, click here.
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Nonprofit highlight: The Connected Warriors Outpatient Behavioral Health Treatment Center |
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Connected Warriors Outpatient Behavioral Health Treatment Center in Boca Raton recently opened and is a welcomed addition to our community!
The nonprofit will offer customized treatment plans for veterans which will include yoga, hyperbaric chambers, equine therapy, adaptive sports and aquatics training. The mission is to provide lasting therapeutic intervention to help veterans overcome the trauma experienced in combat and related military service.
For more information, click here or call (954) 278-3764.
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Benjamin Ferencz, a World War II veteran who served under General Patton, was recently honored by the Board of County Commissioners, and the honor was truly ours!
Mr. Ferencz, who is 102 years old and lives in Boca Raton, served in major campaigns in Europe and witnessed the Nazi’s atrocities while liberating numerous death camps such as Dachau and Buchenwald.
He would later transfer to the newly created War Crimes Branch of the Army and become a key prosecutor at the Nuremberg War Trials. Later, Ferencz became an advocate of international rule of law and for the establishment of an International Criminal Court.
Mr. Ferencz received a proclamation proclaiming Benjamin Ferencz -- Law Not War Day, and Ben Ferencz Way was named after him in the new Canyon District Park in West Boynton Beach.
To learn more about Mr. Ferencz, click here.
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With the holidays fast approaching, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning of the many ways consumers and donors could get scammed this season.
The BBB released its "Naughty List" which details the top scams that are most likely to catch people off guard during the holidays.
Be mindful of these scams that could cut into your holiday cheer, and tips to avoid them:
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Fake charities: verify a charity at BBB's give.org
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Alerts about compromised accounts: an email, call or text message that explains there has been suspicious activity on Amazon, Paypal, Netflix or a bank account
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Free gift cards: emails requesting personal information to receive free gift cards
For the full "Naughty List", click here.
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Here’s a look at some of the activities and events happening this holiday season in Palm Beach County! |
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Mizner Park
327 Plaza Real
Boca Raton
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Boynton Beach Senior Center
1021 S Federal Hwy.
Boynton Beach
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Downtown Delray Beach
51 N Swinton Ave.
Delray Beach
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For more holiday activities throughout December, click here.
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Cros Ministries is looking for volunteers for food sorting, meal preparation and distribution and gleaning through December 4.
In 2020, Cros Ministries served over 32,000 meals and recovered nearly 635,000 pounds of fresh produce through gleaning for distribution to local food programs in Palm Beach County.
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Please see the links below for various COVID-19 resources, including the vaccine card replacement form and vaccination sites. |
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The Department of Health COVID-19 Call Center is available 24/7 at (866) 779-6121 or email: COVID-19@flhealth.gov
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Out and about with Mayor Weinroth |
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Mayor Weinroth presented local Hindu American community leaders with a proclamation declaring October 2021 as Hindu Heritage Month. |
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Mayor Weinroth with local officials at the third annual Breakfast with the Chief event |
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Mayor Weinroth presented a proclamation recognizing the 30th Anniversary of the Boca Raton Police Department Police Athletic League to President Tom Vladimir. |
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World Kindness Day Beach Cleanup with State Senator Lori Berman, Delray Beach Deputy Vice Mayor Adam Frankel and other local officials |
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Florida was one of 30 states formed from public domain land that was owned by the U.S. government and transferred to individuals under the Homestead Act of 1862.
On Palm Beach, the homestead claims filed by early settlers often stretched from Lake Worth to the ocean. Much of the middle and wider parts of the island was a swamp full of alligators and mosquitoes.
Not all land was acquired through homestead claims. Many early settlers purchased their land for about $1.25 to $1.75 per acre from the state of Florida through the Internal Improvement Trust Fund created in 1855 to manage land transferred to the state by the federal government. To be continued ...
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Call or email us if you have any questions or need assistance.
561-355-2204
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