Minutes 03-21-07
Excerpt, March 21, 2007 Code Compliance Meeting Minutes
Requested by Diane Springer
Case #06-193
238 SW 5th Ave.
Omari Murray
Code Compliance Administrator Scott Blasie reviewed this case and explained the property
owner of record at the time the case was processed was Omari Murray. This was originally
sited January 30, 2006, for not having a City of Boynton Beach Business Tax Receipt for renting
a residential property. It came before the board March 15, 2006, no one appeared and a date
and fine of 3-30-06 or $100 a day was imposed. Mr. Blasie announced they had documented
compliance as of March 20, 2007, even though they had reason to believe possibly the tenants,
the rental situation, had ceased before then. The home was showing water usage, the house is
empty and we verified that. In fact, he reported the back door was open. Mr. Blasie
summarized there was 354 days of non-compliance at $100 per day, plus administrative costs.
He pointed out the applicant was not the owner of the property and they would explain what
angle they were coming in on. He had no pictures, it was a license case but reported the yard
was mowed, it was not velvety green due to the water deal but was alive and the property was
basically in good shape.
Sheri Bornstein, 7136 Taylor Wood Drive, Lakewood, was present and put under oath. Ms.
Bornstein explained she was trying to purchase the property, but because of the fine, the liens,
there was not enough money in the situation to do it and the house was in foreclosure. She
advised if something was not done soon, everyone would lose and she already had $1,200 of
her own money invested, plus her children and she had been out there cleaning and mowing
the lawn and trying to take care of it so they could acquire the property.
Chair Costantino: Are you going to move into it or you gonna rent. Ms. Bornstein responded
she would inhabit the dwelling. Chair Costantino: Oh wonderful.
Motion
Based on the testimony and evidence presented in Case #06-193 and having been advised that
the Respondent has complied with all lien reduction procedures set forth in Section 2-84
through 2-89 of the City of Boynton Beach Code of Ordinances, Ms. Carroll moved that this
board reduce the fines instituted in Case #06-193, by virtue of this board's order date of March
15, 2006 to an amount of $250 including administrative costs. The motion was duly seconded.
Attorney Tolces asked if Ms. Bornstein knew where Mr. Murray was. Ms. Bornstein explained it
was her understanding from the title company, that they spoke to one of the people he owed
money to, and everyone else was looking for him. Attorney Tolces asked if she had a signed
contract to purchase the property. She responded, she had a signed contract to purchase the
property from him. Mr. Foot was concerned the board would be setting a precedent if they
reduced the fine.
Mr. Foot thought the board was being too sweet in this instance. Ms. Carroll explained Ms.
Bornstein did not create the problem. Mr. Foot expressed he understood, but conversely, did
not know what the board was doing to deter the situation from occurring over and over again.
Ms. Carroll responded she was advising the people of the world they wanted good people to
move into Boynton Beach and take over bad properties and fix them and live in them.
There was a vote on the motion that passed 6-1 (Mr. Foot dissenting).