Residents initially directed most of their ire at Kiley, who sat on RiverBea's board and approved the land sale at the same time he was serving as association president. He later apologized for his actions and acknowledged it was an error in judgment, but residents still demanded his impeachment.
On Tuesday night, residents proposed stricter guidelines for how the association spends the community's tax money and limits on how great a role RiverBea's president can play on the association's board. At the end of the meeting, several of the old board members, including Vice President John Mullins, who had been acting as president after Kiley quit, tendered their resignations.
One member who did not step down is John Robbins, president of RiverBea. He said he plans to stay on the board and added that RiverBea is not changing or reversing any of its actions.
"The sale of the land is over and done with, and there's nothing [Squires] can do about it," he said.
RiverBea was established in 1961 to hold title to virtually all the shoreline property in Riviera Beach. Robbins said it is RiverBea's role to prevent development on the land, including additions from homeowners living along the shoreline. It sold the Triangle, he said, so it would have funds to legally challenge resident development on the shoreline.
But Squires said the company has violated its contractual obligation to preserve the shoreline for community use by preventing residents from using the land.
"It's been a constant battle. Some can get piers, some can't," she said. Residents have also had trouble building new playgrounds and hosting community events on the shoreline, she said. She and other residents said they want to free up this land for community use.
Residents also want a judge to reverse the sale of the land and break up RiverBea's board.
david.zenlea@baltsun.com
