The following speech was given at the West Palm Beach City Commission Meeting on Tuesday, October 15, 2013.
Picture: left to right: Ray Liggins, Royal Palm Beach Village Manager, Rich Reade, Palm Springs Village Manager, Ed Mitchell, Peter Elwell, Palm Beach Town Manager and Richard Radcliffe, Palm Beach County League of Cities Executive Director.
Good Evening Mayor and Members of the City Commission…
My name is Rich Reade, I am the District IV Board of Director, for the Florida City and CountyManagement Association (also known as FCCMA).
Before starting, I wanted to mention that I have personally known Ed for more than 18 years when I worked here (for the City of West Palm Beach) in the Finance Directors Office and then later in the Mayor’s Office. He has helped me throughout the way and I am forever grateful…
With that being said, I am here on behalf of FCCMA to honor Ed for his efforts as an exemplary local government manager and for his outstanding service to our organization.
Just a quick note about FCCMA…
FCCMA, which was established in 1946, is the state of Florida’s premier association to promote professional local government management throughout the state’s 477 cities and counties. Our organization, which Ed has helped to build and grow to more than 550 members, is nationally recognized for our efforts in promoting and requiring the highest ethical standards from our membership.
Quickly, I wanted to share some of the highlights of Ed’s 26 years of service to FCCMA:
- President – 2008/2009
- 4 years as an Officer of the Board
- Board Member (prior to becoming an officer) – 2004/2005
- Ethics Committee member
- Past President’s Council
- Conference Planning Committee Chair
- Membership Committee Chair (with myself)
- MIT Chair and promoted outreach of members in transition. He has continually served in this capacity even when he did not have the title or was on the committee responsible for this task
- Professional Management Committee and Task Force
Ed was also recognized for his significant efforts in promoting career development of young professionals by receiving one of the Association’s highest and most honored awards – the Mike Roberto Award in 2011.
Ed has been a great professional, mentor and friend to all of us in Palm Beach County as well as many others from around the state. In fact, there are a number of managers from around our county and district that are here to honor and thank Ed for his years of service and his dedication…
Ed has truly represented this organization, the Mayor and Commission, the West Palm Beach community, your staff extremely well. In fact, West Palm Beach is considered around the state as a well-managed city in large part because of Ed’s efforts.
Also, before I go further, I wanted to mention that last week more than 17 managers from around the county came together to honor Ed. This just shows the type of man and professional that Ed is and how revered he is as local government manager.
With that being said, Ed, on behalf of our President, Board of Directors and all of our 550 members, I am honored to present you with this important plaque that I hope you will accept.
