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"As Broward County begins to reopen from the coronavirus shutdown, serious cracks are emerging in how local government works. For starters, County Administrator Bertha Henry has yet to relinquish the emergency powers she assumed March 10 after four local people tested positive for the coronavirus. From what we saw at Tuesday’s county commission meeting, it’s time for commissioners to take back their rightful role as our elected leaders, not continue to let this county of 2 million people be led by someone unaccountable to voters. As it stands, Henry’s commission bosses appear out of the loop, foraging for basic information and pleading for answers the public has a right to know. If not for the actions of a single commissioner, the commission would not have received timely medical guidance on whether it’s safe to open gyms in the manner that Fort Lauderdale has. Short answer: no. After listening to his colleagues’ opinions and concerns about gyms, beaches and certain small businesses, Commissioner Mark Bogen pleaded with County Mayor Dale Holness to call a vote. Holness is this year’s ceremonial mayor, a position that rotates among commissioners once a year. “My understanding is that the county administrator has reached out to everyone, sending emails out, advising you in advance as to what is being planned,” Holness said. “At the end of the day, the county charter gives her the right … to make a call. I don't think, even if we voted one way or the other, it forces her.” Broward’s comprehensive emergency management plan, adopted in 2015, says: “The Board of County Commissioners by policy has delegated to the County Administrator the executive authority for all emergency operations and the powers of emergency government.” But a lot has changed in the two months since Henry signed the emergency order giving her office “all powers and authority granted to said position during the existence of the State of Emergency.” Broward has re-opened. The governor has lifted his statewide shelter-in-place order. And judging by the traffic on the roads, people are out and about. And during the lockdown, a whole new structure of local government appears to have formed. Out of the sunshine, the county is orchestrating secret votes with city mayors to guide its decision-making — and keeping the press out. If that’s not illegal, it should be. Take the debate over whether commercial gyms should stay closed or re-open. Broward County last week gave the go-ahead for cities to re-open gyms at condos and homeowners’ associations, with safety protocols in place, including a 50 percent limit on capacity. Fort Lauderdale wanted more. It also wanted to open commercial gyms. And Monday, citing Gov. Ron DeSantis’ declaration of “full Phase 1,” the city allowed gyms to open, despite the county’s order. Holness polled Broward’s 31 cities and towns about the gym question in a recent private conference call. He said 13 mayors voted yes, 11 voted no, two were undecided and the rest did not vote. There was talk Tuesday about “majority rule.” “The discussion that we had was, if we’re going to gradually open these beaches, we should not do it on a holiday weekend and the majority of the mayors on that call agreed with that,” he said. The Sun Sentinel editorial board asked to listen in on that call last Thursday, but we were denied. Holness said that since it was not advertised as a public meeting, it would “blindside” the mayors to open it. The public got blindsided, instead. If this is the new normal for local government, it’s alarming. A lot of people and business owners have a stake in these decisions and have a right to be heard before votes are taken. What are the concerns of coastal and inland cities? What are we not being told? Other concerns: * Where is Broward’s health director? To inform the discussion about opening gyms, Vice Mayor Steve Geller brought to the telephone Dr. Stanley Marks, medical director of Memorial Healthcare System. Marks said six feet of social distancing at gyms is insufficient because people who are exercising breathe faster and deeper and it’s easier for the virus to spread. Getting expert medical advice should not take the initiative of a single commissioner. Why isn’t the commission hearing from Dr. Paula Thaqi, the county health director? Is she confident that six feet is sufficient? Does she think it’s safe to reopen the beaches? * Dog groomers and tailors: Commissioner Michael Udine said business owners are confused by “arbitrary” rules on why some businesses can open and others can’t. For example, hair salons can open, but pet grooming shops can’t. Henry said the governor’s executive order created confusion about whether businesses beyond retail and restaurants could open, but Miami-Dade had cleared that up. She plans to follow Dade’s lead and issue an order listing only those activities that are off-limits. Commissioner Lamar Fisher asked: “Can we get a copy?” To ask that question is to acknowledge a problem. * When will beaches reopen? Fisher, who represents six coastal cities, asked Henry point-blank whether Broward beaches will open May 26, the day after Memorial Day. The administrator said that’s a “target date,” if “it can be done safely.” Fisher didn’t get the straight answer he and others want. Henry should have made clear what needs to happen for the beaches to re-open. If her concern is that beachgoers won’t follow social-distancing rules, what is being done to address that challenge? Letting people see the timeline and action steps — and where progress lies — would go a long way toward creating public confidence in her leadership. At the same time, we’d ask: where is the public education campaign she said last week should come first? We are five months into this outbreak. The county has re-opened. The public education campaign is long overdue. Tuesday’s meeting opened with Henry telling commissioners that 281 people have died from the coronavirus in Broward, and 8.5 percent of residents continue to test positive. As Dr. Marks said, that means eight of every 100 huffing-and-puffing gym rats could be expelling the virus into the room. Henry is a hard-working public servant who is trying to delicately balance nine strong egos and a multiplicity of cities. And this is a highly stressful crisis, unprecedented in our lifetimes. But lives and livelihoods hang in the balance. From what we saw Tuesday, it’s time for the commission to take back their leadership reins. Editorials are the opinion of the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board and written by one of its members or a designee. The Editorial Board consists of Editorial Page Editor Rosemary O’Hara, Sergio Bustos, Steve Bousquet and Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson."
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