Abrams named vice chairman of Palm Beach County Commission

At its Nov. 15 meeting, the Board of County Commissioners meeting reorganized, electing District 3 Commissioner Shelley Vana as chairwoman and District 4 Commissioner Steven Abrams as vice chairman. The terms are for one year.

In other business, the board took the following action:

Roads – continued to the Dec. 1 Zoning Board meeting a series of amendments to the county’s five-year road program.

Nuisance properties – adopted a resolution enabling the county to recoup actual costs and expenses associated with cleaning up, improving or eliminating nuisance or unsafe conditions on a lot, parcel or tract in unincorporated Palm Beach County.

Restricted-use properties – adopted an ordinance waiving the annual renewal application requirement for restricted-use properties if such classification has previously been applied for and granted.

Inspector General – postponed for 30 days a request by the Office of the Inspector General to add six positions to accommodate expansion of its jurisdiction.

Vehicles for hire – adopted an ordinance extending for another six months a moratorium on new vehicle-for-hire companies wishing to do business in Palm Beach County.

HUD – accepted a commitment from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for a new Section 108 Loan in the amount of $10 million. These are federal funds that require no local match. No county funds will be pledged to complete any Section 108-funded projects.

Palm Tran – received Palm Tran’s 10-year 2011-2021 Transit Development Plan prepared by Kittelson & Associates, a consultant for the Florida Department of Transportation.

Gambling – directed staff to draft an ordinance for first reading on Dec. 6 for a voter referendum to allow slot machine gaming in Palm Beach County.