Blasting Advisory Board elects leadership; members debate notice and attendance policies

The Town of Miami Lakes Blasting Advisory Board elected its slate of officers and spent a substantial portion of the meeting debating meeting-notice practices and member attendance expectations.

The board formally elected Rudy Blanco as chair during a roll-call vote. The meeting also confirmed officers for the vice‑chair and secretary positions; votes were recorded by roll call during the session.

Members then discussed whether special-call meetings that are posted with short notice should count as unexcused absences for members who could not rearrange schedules on short notice. Several members said they were notified less than 24 hours before a prior special meeting and asked for more advance notice. The town liaison explained that agendas are published according to town rules (three business days before a meeting), and that a separate “courtesy” reminder can be issued after the agenda is published. Members requested the liaison raise the issue at the town’s committee chair meeting and to seek a standard practice for distributing reminder notices to volunteers.

Board members agreed on two measures to reduce friction: they asked the liaison to continue sending published agendas to board members as soon as they are available, and they agreed that absences caused by late-notice special meetings would not be held against members.

The board also discussed attendance records, clarifying that some historical attendance data is incomplete and that certificates of appreciation previously approved should be limited to the timeframe for which the town has reliable records.

The session concluded with the board setting its regular monthly meeting times and dates; members decided to hold regular meetings in the evening at 7 p.m. going forward.