The Palm Beach Post from West Palm Beach, Florida • Page 38

2R. THE PALM BEACH POST THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1991 Lake Worth Kiwanis president resigns under pressure Man denies accusation that he lost club's records Worth Herald, said he didn't write the letter and said there had not been any break-in at his home. LaMothe said he saw Kravetz write the letter and in September, said he hopes to keep the group together despite threatened resignations if LaMothe stays on. However, Al Howell, a member with perfect attendance since 1970, said he is considering membership in the Greenacres chapter because of the incident. The 43-year-old Lake Worth Ki- wanis Club is one of 8,600 chapters in the Indianapolis-based organization whose name derives from an Indian term meaning "get together and do things," a spokesman said.

According to the memo and members familiar with the issue, LaMothe said the club's membership records, dues ledgers and weekly lunch receipts were stolen from former Kiwanis member Elliott Kravetz's house. LaMothe provided the board with a handwritten letter, signed "Elliott S. Kravetz," that said: "Two book (sic) Kiwanis were destroyed and some of my own valuable material in a break in at my home." Kravetz, a writer for The Lake By BARTHOLOMEW SULLIVAN Palrh Beach Post Staff Writer LAKE WORTH The presided), of the Lake Worth Kiwanis Club has been forced to resign after the disappearance of the group's records. In a five-page memo, the board of directors of the 52-member club accused George O. LaMothe of being inept and "blatant disregard for many established Kiwanis prac tices." "His continuation in this office would further degrade, if not destroy, the effectiveness of the club's ability to serve the community," according to the memo.

LaMothe, 49, resigned as president at a business meeting Friday after ballots had been distributed to club members to decide whether he should be voted out. The board of directors already had voted to sus LaMothe sign it. Board member Thomas Ramic- cio, who is to take over as president pend LaMothe. On Wednesday, LaMothe said he resigned for personal reasons and said the allegations against him were untrue. "I wasn't forced," he said.

"I think it's distressing, after putting in so much time, that someone would take that kind of a swing." LaMothe, a mayoral candidate in 1989, said he intends to stay active in the club. (, -cliff Vair EUt- Change indigent defense system, judge urges county Panel OKs bill that might limit county use of fees Local governments fought plan By KIRK BROWN Palm Beach Post Staff Writer WEST PALM BEACH Chief Circuit Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley on urged county commissioners to hire groups of lawyers to represent scores of criminal defendants who cannot afford attorneys. Under the proposal, there would be' seven groups of lawyers who would handle most types of involving indigent defendants. Each group would be paid $100,000 annually.

plan could save nearly a year from the current practice in which judges name private lawyers to represent poor defendants when the Public Defender's Office has a conflict, according to a report issued last month. The report was compiled by a panel appointed by county commissioners in 1988. The county pays the bill for these attorneys, and the cost has soared during the past decade. Jn 1981, private lawyers representing indigent defendants collected $440,000 from the county. Projections show the county will spend about $2.4 million on more than 1,000 cases in the next budget year.

"Unless we step in and try do something, we are agreeing to pay fees that will keep escalating," Hurley told commissioners at a budget workshop. While no decisions were made, commissioners expressed support for contracting with groups of lawyers. But critics say the proposal is flawed. Nelson Bailey, a West Palm Beach lawyer who has handled numerous court-appointed cases, said the proposed system would encourage attorneys to plea bargain instead of taking cases to trial. The annual $100,000 stipend would be inadequate, Bailey said.

Hurley said he doubted the high percentage of cases already resolved through plea bargains would increase further by contracting with groups of attorneys. The changes that county officials are considering were adopted by Broward County officials in 1983. Though substantial savings were achieved by contracting with groups of lawyers, the system was scrapped in 1988 at the request of judges who wanted to resume appointing attorneys. Staff writer Christine Staple-ton contributed to this report. have to conform to the bill.

But the bill is so narrow that governments could use impact fees only for such basics as roads and bridges, Krause said. Officials couldn't develop other, more innovative solutions to handling growth, he said. "It stymies our ability to consider future creative solutions," he said. "You go from a world of very few restrictions on the government to a fairly significant set of confines." Rep. Harry Goode, D-Mel- bourne, said opponents were wrong the law merely creates minimum standards.

Still, opponents argued that the language is restrictive. Bob Rhodes, Florida Home Builders Association lobbyist, supported the proposal, saying that statewide standards are needed because many cities and counties are just beginning to impose impact fees. With minimum standards, de- velopers would be better able to calculate their costs before they begin to build, Rhodes said. A similar measure is pending in the Senate. In Brief By ANGELA BRADBERY Palm Beach Post Staff Writer TALLAHASSEE A proposed law that would create minimum state standards for impact fees would prevent Palm Beach County officials from expanding the use of such fees, a county lobbyist says.

For under the bill the county would not be able to use impact fees to hire sheriff's deputies or invest in mass transit systems to solve future growth problems, county lobbyist Bob Krause said. Krause and other local government representatives pleaded their cases unsuccessfully Wednesday before the House Community Affairs Committee, which approved the bill by a 9-7 vote. Under the proposal, which is supported by the Florida Home Builders Association, local governments could use fees only for specific capital improvements and for improvements in a set geographic area. A grandfather clause would protect existing impact fee rules, but if local governments wanted to change those rules, they would code enforcement officers cited Spot for violating a new sign code passed in January. That code prohibits three-dimensional figure signs such as the 8-foot-long bull in front of businesses.

Hettiger has until Tuesday to get Spot to the back of his shop. If Hettiger doesn't, then Bob Bosso, who owns the Villager Shopping Center that houses Hey Mister Butcher, will face daily fines of $250. Code Enforcement Chief Scott Blasie, who cited Spot in 1989, did a double take when he sighted the outlawed longhorn two weeks ago Crash Through The Glass DELRAY BEACH Shafiul Alam, manager of 7-Eleven on Federal Highway, cleans up Wednesday after a car, driven by a Delray Beach woman, crashed into the window. No one was injured. Damage was estimated at $5,000.

Boynton, butcher lock horns over mascot Judge: Delray police violated records law WEST PALM BEACH The Delray Beach Police Department violated the state's public records law when it denied records to a paralegal for the American Civil Liberties Union, a judge ruled Tuesday. ACLU paralegal Michael Barfield went to the Delray Beach Police Department on March 8, 1990, to look at the internal investigation files of an officer. Barfield let Lt. Scott Lunsford copy his driver license and then he looked at the file he had requested. When Barfield tried to ask him for another file, Lunsford pressed him for his interest.

Barfield explained that under Florida's public records law, he was not required to explain why he wanted a file. Lunsford said he assumed Barfield was finished and told him he should leave. Delray Beach police spokesman Mike Wright said the department never intended to withhold records from Barfield and will in the future refrain from asking for identification. Barfield wins no money as the result of the judge's ruling but Delray Beach will be required to pay Barfield's attorney's fees. PBCC president to speak at Harvard forum LAKE WORTH Palm Beach Community College President Edward Eissey has been invited to speak April 25 at a Harvard University Graduate School of Education forum entitled "The Role oi Community Colleges in Higher Education." Eissey will speak on "Managing Growth at a Multi-Campus By JOE CAPOZZI Palm Beach Post Staff Writer BOYNTON BEACH Spot the Bull is being banned from public view in Boynton Beach again, and the owners of the 300-pound fiberglass bovine protested Wednesday by herding him around City Hall in a pickup.

"He's not hurting a thing. Now, we're going to have to put him out to pasture," said Collette Lavoie, who stood by the black and white statue, holding protest signs, in the back of a pickup that rounded City Hall from noon to 2 p.m. The mascot of Hey Mister Butcher the shop Lavoie's father 1 v' CAROLINE E. COUIGStaff Photographer owns at 1403 W. Boynton Beach Blvd.

beat City Hall in 1989 when his owners did some creative hoofing around a city ordinance that had outlawed Spot. Shop owner Ed Hettiger appeased city officials two years ago by replacing the bull's bolted footing in a pickup with magnets, which were not prohibited by city code. Spot has been greeting passers-by in front of the butcher shop periodically since then, but he has been on full-time display for about two weeks. Last week, Hettiger got word he was in for another fight when city Island. By the time Cunningham announced his travel plans, it was 15 minutes into the longest uninterrupted speech he had ever made as a councilman.

"Mr. Cunningham just showed me what to do when I lose: Talk for two years," Wade said. But Wade was speechless with tears when her 24-year-old daughter, Edwina, stood up and cried during the meeting, telling the audience how much her mother meant to her. "Now don't you go calling me no water bag," the councilwoman said, after she had recovered her composure. "That's the shortest speech I've ever heard Ms.

Wade make," McGann said. Rick Bachman, then-marina director, said: "It was not until the police showed up that everything got a little out of control." Statements from witnesses backed Napier's claims he did not fight back and was only protecting himself, Bachman said at the time. Napier, who was charged with battery on a police officer and obstructing an officer without violence, was found innocent in a nonjury trial last year before County Judge Robert Schwartz. The suit alleges that Napier suffered physical handicaps as a result of the beating and that his working ability has been impaired. It also accused the policemen of malicious prosecution because there was no probable cause to charge Napier.

Riviera council takes office with speeches, happy tears FinnFest Schedule The festival lasts from today through Sunday in Bryant Park, on Lake Avenue at the Intracoastal Waterway. It will include music by Finnish bands, food, arts and crafts, a tour of Lake Worth, "Evening on Lake Avenue," plus lectures and worship services. Admission to the festival is free, but there are fees for special activities. Admission for entire event: $40 per person, $80 per family. Day passes for Thursday or Sunday is $5, $20 for Friday or Saturday.

TODAY 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Registration at Bryant Park noon-5 p.m. Tori (marketplace) 2:30 p.m. FinnFest USA Annual Meeting, Finlandia House 6 p.m. Opening Ceremony, Lake Worth High School Football Field 8 p.m.

FinnFest Mixer with Eero Piirto Combo at the American Legion Hall; Ameriikan Pojat at Calvary Church on Federal Highway and Eino Gron at the Casino at Lake Worth Beach By ELIZABETH AOKI Palm Beach Post Staff Writer RIVIERA BEACH There were the longest of speeches and the shortest of speeches Wednesday night after the city clerk swore in the newly elected City Council members. The longest speech was given by Councilman John Cunningham, the only incumbent not re-elected; the shortest by returning member Liz Wade. The other newly elected members Bruce Guyton, Bucky McGann and Mayor Clara Williams fell somewhere in between. First, Cunningham told the council an anecdote about his campaign. Then he vowed he would keep in touch.

Then he congratulated his opponent, Guyton, and warned him to "work for the benefit of the west side," not just Singer on his way home from City Hall. "There he was, bigger than life," Blasie recalled. "We're not saying (Hettiger) can't have it in town. He can park it behind the shop." Hettiger, who paid $900 for the display in 1988, vowed to keep Spot in his special spot and fight the city. "He's not hurting anyone," Het; tiger said.

Neal Kelly, a Melbourne roofer who rolled his eyes when Spot cruised by City Hall, agreed. "If the guy wants to display the bull, he should be allowed to. I think it's kind of silly." tors, organizers say. The Lake Worth-Lantana with an estimated 17,000 year- round Finns, is the largest concentration outside Finland, said for-, mer Lake Worth Mayor David Hinsa. Aarne Aaltonen, editor of the Lantana-based American Uutiset, a Finnish-language newspaper, said the event probably will be the.

biggest gathering of Finns ever held in North America. Hinsa said the average family will spend $1,200 to $1,300 locally Keeping up foreign relations, Lake Worth Mayor Ronald Exline had lunch Monday with Mayor Jarmo Kolhi of Lappeenranta, Lake Worth's "sister city" in Fin-'. land. sues Ilalian festival them more than $26,000 in bills from January. The third annual festival was held for the first time on Flagler Drive this year.

Previous festivals were held in Palm Beach Gardens'. It is sponsored by the Justice An-tonin Scalia Lodge No. 2235 of the Order of the Sons of Italy. 4 Finnfest USA opens, drawing estimated 10,000 to Lake Worth community college in uncertain economic Times. Moore sues Boynton for back salary BOYNTON BEACH Former Mayor Gene Moore kept his ipromise Wednesday and sued the city for refusing to give him in back pay.

Commissioners, however, questioned the suit's validity since they have not decided whether to pay Moore the salary he had declined during his two years as mayor. The commission Tuesday night delayed the decision while City Attorney James Cherof investigates whether the city can legally ideny Moore the money. Seven deputies hurt in jail free-for-all WEST PALM BEACH Seven deputies were injured late Tuesday trying to break up a fight between inmates in the day room a cell block at the Palm Beach County Jail, according to a Sheriff's Office statement. No inmates were injured in the fracas, which began just after 9 p.m., the statement said. Various corrections officers had hot water thrown at them and were pinched, kicked or punched in the nose by inmates.

One deputy dislocated a shoulder, and another chipped a knee when he slipped on water, the statement said. The deputies were treated at a local hospital and released. Sheriff Richard P. Wille described the incident to county commissioners gathered for a budget workshop Wednesday. Wille, who was pitching for raises for his employees, said the incident demonstrated the stress under which deputies work.

Study: Okeechobee lung cancer rate high A statewide study shows an unusually high rate of lung cancer in Okeechobee County, especially among whites. Smoking was cited as a possible explanation for the high cancer rate in Okeechobee County, which ranked first among the state's 67 counties in the occurrence of lung and bronchus cancer for white women, second for white men, and fourth highest for black men. In contrast, the cancer rate for black women was extremely low for Okeechobee County, with fewer than six cases reported in the seven years of the study. truck carrying tar catches fire on 1-95 BOCA RATON A tanker truck carrying about 30,000 gallons of tar caught fire in the emergency lane of Interstate 95 near Glades iRoad about 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, closing two lanes of northbound traffic for about 30 minutes.

Firefighters extinguished the fire in five minutes, officials said. No one was injured. Truck driver Henry Johnson, 38, of Pompano Beach, said he left Fort Lauderdale to deliver the tar to an asphalt company at Century Village off Lyons Road. Johnson pulled off the road when he saw smoke coming from the tanker and separated the cab from the tanker. The fire apparently was started by excess tar, Johnson said.

Ex-guard sues Riviera, officers over alleged leating at marina By BARTHOLOMEW SULLIVAN Palm Beach Post Staff Writer LAKE WORTH Rauno Aro-maki says the snow skiing is perfect in Lapland right now, but Florida is drawing thousands of Finns to Florida for today's opening of Finnfest USA. The 9th annual celebration of Finnish music, crafts and culture has come to Lake Worth this year. Motels are packed, streets are crowded and businesses are booming. Finnish-Americans are traveling from as far away as California and Alaska for the four-day extravaganza that starts at noon today. Lake Worth's Bryant Park on the Intracoastal Waterway will attract up to 10,000 out-of-town visi company WEST PALM BEACH A Stuart company that rented tents, tables, chairs and other equipment to the Italian Street Festival has filed suit to collect payment.

Phil Kathy Spier Promotions Inc. filed the suit against the festival in Palm Beach County Circuit Court on Wednesday. The Spiers claim the street festivastill owes By JOE BROGAN Palm Beach Post Staff Writer RIVIERA BEACH A former security guard at the Municipal Marina has sued the city and Riviera Beach policemen Jeff Weisend and Ed Brochu, saying the patrolmen beat him without cause during a disturbance. The suit said the officers arrived at the marina at about 1 a.m. June 5, 1989, after party boat passengers started a disturbance.

As John Napier tried to explain the situation, the patrolmen beat him to the ground with fists, flashlights and batons, according to the suit. Napier is seeking damages of more than $10,000. At the time, City Council member Liz Wade questioned whether excessive force was used and called for an investigation..