With Miami Springs, Virginia Gardens and Doral all on the move when it comes to the recent revitalization of annexation boundaries, Medley was not about to be left behind.

    That’s why annexation was a major topic at the top of the agenda list at last Monday night’s March 4 monthly meeting. And 30 minutes after it came up, the council voted unanimously to agree on new boundaries and give Town Attorney Michael Pizzi the green light to move forward.

    The most recent dispute came up a few weeks ago when Doral, led by Mayor Luigi Boria, contested its northern boundary of Northwest 58th Street between Northwest 87th Avenue and the Palmetto Expressway.

    Medley was in line to scoop up everything from 58th Street north to 74th Street, but Doral was trying to stake its claim to “Section 15,” as it is referred to.

    Thanks to a conference call between Medley mayor Roberto Martell and Boria last week, a deal was struck and a compromise reached when they both agreed that 64th Street would be the boundary, with Medley taking everything north of that.

    Pizzi went before the council on Monday night to explain the situation to all council members and look for direction as far as what to do.

    “Both cities recognize that a protracted battle over the boundaries might just delay the process,” said Pizzi. “Mayor Martell and Mayor Boria reached agreement to go to their respective councils that Section 15 be split accordingly, and that’s what we are doing tonight.”

    Pizzi also went on to explain that “mudding up the waters” and beginning a squabble with Doral could be highly detrimental to the process.

    “At this point, proceeding with the annexation initially proposed by Medley with the one modification would appear to be the way to go,” said Pizzi. “We need to move forward because if we don’t move forward, we send a signal that we’re not ready and want to have more discussions. Then it’s possible that Miami Springs and other cities will move forward in the next few months and the cities that are not in agreement will get left behind and perhaps for many years.”

    Martell then chimed in.

    “I have talked to all the mayors and think this is a done deal,” said Martell. “I had a conference the call the other day with the mayor of Doral and he gave me his word that they would agree to take everything up to 64th street and we would then take everything up to 74th. I think it is important to come to some kind of an agreement so that we can move forward with this and not risk getting left behind.”

    Vice Mayor Griselia Digiacomo was not thrilled with how the entire process had gone down as far as Doral going after an extra chunk of land but reluctantly agreed that backing the mayor was the only way to go.

    “Even though I don’t entirely agree with having to compromise some of the property lines with Doral, I still agree with and support the mayor’s idea because moving forward with this is extremely important at this point,” said Digiacomo. “I just want to make sure that we have something in writing and not going on just the word of the Doral mayor.”