HomeMy WebLinkAboutMayor's Veto MessageMr. City Clerk, I hereby veto SR.1 an ordinance limiting term of office of Board members,
discussed and passed at the City Commission meeting agenda of May 26, 2016. Following is the
veto message:
Service on a City of Miami Board is a privilege and an honor but not a right by appointment. As
such it must be subject to, and guided by, well -thought out and reasoned standards and
guidelines governing our board members and the pursuit of the board's mission.
While I respect the intent of this legislation, I do not believe that its mandatory provisions
governing how long members may serve is the best practice to achieve and maintain effective,
experienced and well-balanced board governance. Further, it does not address the threshold issue
of what constitutes a reasonable length of cumulative service by board members nor how to cure
valid concerns regarding specific board related issues. While some criticisms of not having term
limits may be valid in specific instances, these -in and of themselves- do not justify a broad
mandate which affects all boards and their members. Some boards may need a performance
review of policies and procedures but most are highly effective and their members have shown
dedication and commitment by adhering to established rules governing board service.
In addition, the mandate before us ignores the overwhelming benefits that long-standing
members bring to bear in every collective decision made in furtherance of the board's mission.
We cannot dismiss their professional expertise, institutional memory, passionate interest in the
board's particular function, intricate knowledge of the community and the history of its issues.
Any term limit evaluation must be guided by the facts and circumstances of each individual
board as well as the mission its members have been entrusted to accomplish. By holding
themselves to such articulated policies and periodic internal self -evaluations members
themselves may assess performance and address board concerns such as the need to infuse new
energy, succession plans, enforcement of attendance policies, ineffective members, "business as
usual attitudes" and other valid issues which periodically affect the work of boards.
By doing so, I believe that all boards will be able to grow in strength,vision,maintain operational
continuity and strive for a prudent and clear balance between new and experienced members.
c: Chairman Keon Hardemon
Vice Chairman Ken Russell
Commissioner Willy Gort
Commissioner Frank Carollo
Commissioner Francis Suarez
Daniel Alfonso, City Manager
Victoria Mendez, City Attorney
CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA
INTER-OFFICE MEMORANDUM
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Todd B. Hannon
TO:
June 3, 2016
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City Clerk
DATE:
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Veto Message
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SUBJECT:
FROM:
REFERENCES:
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Tomas P. Regalado
Mayor
ENCLOSURES:
Mr. City Clerk, I hereby veto SR.1 an ordinance limiting term of office of Board members,
discussed and passed at the City Commission meeting agenda of May 26, 2016. Following is the
veto message:
Service on a City of Miami Board is a privilege and an honor but not a right by appointment. As
such it must be subject to, and guided by, well -thought out and reasoned standards and
guidelines governing our board members and the pursuit of the board's mission.
While I respect the intent of this legislation, I do not believe that its mandatory provisions
governing how long members may serve is the best practice to achieve and maintain effective,
experienced and well-balanced board governance. Further, it does not address the threshold issue
of what constitutes a reasonable length of cumulative service by board members nor how to cure
valid concerns regarding specific board related issues. While some criticisms of not having term
limits may be valid in specific instances, these -in and of themselves- do not justify a broad
mandate which affects all boards and their members. Some boards may need a performance
review of policies and procedures but most are highly effective and their members have shown
dedication and commitment by adhering to established rules governing board service.
In addition, the mandate before us ignores the overwhelming benefits that long-standing
members bring to bear in every collective decision made in furtherance of the board's mission.
We cannot dismiss their professional expertise, institutional memory, passionate interest in the
board's particular function, intricate knowledge of the community and the history of its issues.
Any term limit evaluation must be guided by the facts and circumstances of each individual
board as well as the mission its members have been entrusted to accomplish. By holding
themselves to such articulated policies and periodic internal self -evaluations members
themselves may assess performance and address board concerns such as the need to infuse new
energy, succession plans, enforcement of attendance policies, ineffective members, "business as
usual attitudes" and other valid issues which periodically affect the work of boards.
By doing so, I believe that all boards will be able to grow in strength,vision,maintain operational
continuity and strive for a prudent and clear balance between new and experienced members.
c: Chairman Keon Hardemon
Vice Chairman Ken Russell
Commissioner Willy Gort
Commissioner Frank Carollo
Commissioner Francis Suarez
Daniel Alfonso, City Manager
Victoria Mendez, City Attorney