Riviera Beach board declines to rescind $1,000 monthly stipend after public objections

On Feb. 5, 2026, Commissioner Kishambha Miller Anderson moved to rescind a $1,000 monthly stipend reinstated for members of the Utility Special District board. The motion was seconded and taken by roll call. The motion failed with two votes in favor (Miller Anderson and Dr. Spiritus) and three votes against (Priscilla Davis Peneer, Bruce Guyton and Chair Shirley Lanier).

Several speakers during general public comment urged the board to rescind the stipend, framing the issue as a matter of fairness while residents face rising utility bills. Julie Botel, a former city councilor who said she had previously moved to eliminate the stipend when serving on council, told the board: “Rescinding this stipend would not solve every challenge, but it would send a clear message that this Board is willing to put the community first.”

Supporters of rescission emphasized seniors and residents on fixed incomes are watching rising rates and urged leaders to forego additional compensation. Some speakers asked the board to instead keep funds in the utility district to offset rate pressures.

Board members who voted to retain the stipend argued procedural and policy reasons for their vote; the transcript does not record extensive debate on fiscal offsets beyond public comment and the rescission motion itself. The clerk recorded the roll call and announced the item did not pass.

Why it matters: the stipend debate surfaced wider community concerns about affordability, transparency and priorities as the city embarks on a multi‑hundred‑million‑dollar water project. Although the rescission failed, the exchange signals ongoing public scrutiny of board compensation alongside major capital spending decisions.

Next steps: no further action on the stipend was recorded in the meeting; the vote result stands as recorded on Feb. 5.