VOLUME 48 • NO.

8
FEBRUARY 25, 2010
West Wellfield residents ring in 4
DELIVERED TO: Dixie Flyover, groundbreaking March 19 7

Observer
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OF INTEREST

PROGRESS
between City and
Haiti relief
page 2

Blue Collar union

Deerfield Beach Little
League officially started its
season Sunday, Feb. 21
with festivities at 11 a.m.
Opening day ceremonies
began at 2 p.m. Games be-
Black History Month gan at 4 p.m. for the farm,
minor and major leagues.
page 3
District 3 meeting
page 9
The Brunswick Door Scrappers won opening
day against the Crabby Jacks Hooks. The score
was 12 - 3 DBLL Minor’s Division.
In attendance were Mayor
Peggy Noland and the
Deerfield Commissioners
(sans Sylvia Poitier). Pub-
lisher David Eller, a pitcher
and first baseman for
Deerfield’s first Little League
team in1954, threw a strike as
Publisher David Eller throws first pitch.
the first pitch. For more
information on Little
League, visit www.deer
fieldbeachlittleleague.com.
Additional Opening Day
photos, see pg 12
Photos by Corinne Tillman
By Diane Emeott
The first negotiation ses-
sion of the New Year went
quickly and concisely with
City Attorney Andy Maurodis
as chief negotiator for the City
of Deerfield Beach.
During the under two-hour,
Round 7 of negotiations first
thing Monday morning, Feb.
22, Maurodis encouraged
Non-Uniform Employees Lo-
cal 1010 IUPAT DC 78 to try
and narrow exactly what their
must-have issues are. Result:
• Article 26, Section 4,
Wages: Paid leave hours for
part-time employees to be
increased from 44 to 48.
[This would pertain to part-
timers working a schedule of
20 to 34 hours. Original re-
quest from the union was for
an increase to 50 hours paid
leave per year. The city said
“no” in a letter to the union
dated Sept. 25, 2009.
• Article, 26, Section 1,
Soll of Miami: March 11, with
a back-up date of March 23.
“We made some progress –
I think,” said Maurodis.
Following the meeting, Hall
said: “We’re all talking the
same language here. These
are our issues to take to the
city commission first. If
they’ll agree on those, we re-
ally don’t have any issue [re-
quiring a Special Master].”
Negotiations
Maurodis began the ses-
sion going over a couple of
areas where there was move-
ment on the part of the city:
Articles 9, 19 and 30. He
said he did not have the au-
thority to change the dura-
tion of the contract from 2
years. He also said he did not
have the authority to change
COLA.
“It’s not like there was a
vigorous debate. To most of
the points [the commission]

Ren Fest Wages: Inclusion of “me

End of Ely season
page 11
Founders’ Parade winners
page 15
ALSO INSIDE
Opinion ............................ 6
Business .................... 8, 10
Sports ................. 11,14, 21
Schools .......................... 12
Dining & Entertainment .. 15
Happenings ................... 17
Religion .......................... 20
Classified ....................... 22
By Corinne Tillman
The Florida Renaissance
Festival kicked off its
18th year of medieval enter-
tainment Feb. 13. Every year,
the Renaissance Festival at-
tracts thousands of visitors to
Quiet Waters Park in
Deerfield Beach. This year’s
16th Century production fea-
tures over 100 costumed per-
formers, 12 stages and more
than 20 stage acts.
Remaining themed week-
ends are Pirates Weekend,
Feb. 27 to 28; Wenches Week-
end, March 6 to 7; and Celtic
Weekend, March 13 to 14. Ren
Fest takes place from 10 a.m. -
sunset.
The stage shows offer some-
thing for everyone, from
the musical stylings of Bright-
on Brass to the acrobatics/cir-
que performance of Tribal Cir-
cus. Those looking for a bit of
humor can stop by and see
Christophe the Insulter or the
Washing Well Wenches. A
word of warning: Leave the
too” language. “If a cost of
living adjustment (COLA) is
said “no,” he said.
Assistant City Manager Ma-
con Sammons did not return to
granted to any other collec- finish negotiations. The tem-
tive bargaining unit, it is to be porary employee is no longer
granted in an equal percent- under contract with the City of
age or amount to employees Deerfield Beach.
in Local 1010 IUPAT.” In During previous negotia-
previous negotiating sessions, tions, Sammons repeatedly
Business Representative said he did not have the au-
kids at home for Christophe
Steve Hall, representing the thority to change the city’s
the Insulter and Iris & Rose,
union, wanted language to terms. The city’s stance on the
as their work runs a little
include all city employees. unions has been discussed at a
risqué. According to Renais-
On Monday, Hall said the number of closed-door Execu-
sance literature lecturer Dr.
union is prepared to accept tive Sessions attended by the
Sarah Knight in an interview
the city’s terms on COLA and City Manager and the City
with the BBC, this risqué
frozen Longevity pay for cur- Commission. On Jan. 28, an
humor was common for the
rent staff (Lump Sum Plan for Executive Session was sched-
period and much of it still
new hires) as long as the “me uled by Interim City Manager
translates to funny today.
too” language is added, and Burgess Hanson regarding
Many of the performers
the 2-year freeze is not per- Non-Uniform Employees
have worked other festivals
and have been doing this with
manent. Union, Local 1010.
The city and the union also The last negotiation between
family for many years.
selected dates for a hearing the City and Blue Collar union
Zachary, 15, has participated
with Special Master Martin was held Dec. 11, 2009.
for three years. “My brother
was dating a girl who was
involved with the Renai-
sannce Festival and I got
Fire Union Hearing TOMORROW
On Friday, Feb. 26 at 9:30 a.m. in the Public Works
involved,” he explained.
Building, there will be an Impasse Hearing with a
For more on Ren Fest,
Special Magistrate for Fire Union Local 1673. Informa-
visit www.ren-fest.com.
tion: 954-480-4263 or www.Deerfield-Beach.com.