04-26-1968 - Special
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SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF EDGEWATER, FLORIDA
HELD APRIL 26, 1968.
The Special Meeting of the City Council" of the City of Edgewater,
Florida held April 26, 1968 was called to order by Mayor William
H. Cairnie in his office at 9:30 A.M.
The meeting was called by the City Council for the following pur-
pose:
Amending Resolution No. 233
Appoint a Police Chief by Resolution
ROLL CALL
Mayor William H. Cairnie
Councilman Francis H. Norman
Councilman David C. Ledbetter
Councilman George M. Dimm
Councilman Calvin R. Dietz
City Attorney Charles A. Hall
City Clerk Elsie L. Ward
Deputy Clerk Gertrude B. Dunn
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Mayor William H. Cairnie opened the meeting by stating the purpose
of the Special Meeting was to hire or appoint by resolution a new
Police Chief, and to amend Resolution No. 233 to read that Officer
William F. Quirk be raised from $350.00 to $375.00 per month.
RESOLUTION NO. 234 AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 233 SO THAT THE SALARY
OF PATROLMAN WILLIAM F. QUIRK BE RAISED FROM $350 to $375 PER MONTH,
AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE THEREFOR.
The above Resolution was read in full by City Attorney Hall and
upon motion duly made by Councilman Dimm this Resolution be adop-
ted, seconded by Councilman Norman and passed by vote of the City
Council of the City of Edgewater, Florida at the Sp~cia} ~eeting
of said Council held April 26, 1968.
Councilman Ledbetter made a motion to hold Officer Quirk to his
$350 per month until his probation period of three months is up.
Councilman Dim, "I think that with a new Chief and a new program
for our police force, all patrolman should start at"the same rate."
"That was our intent when we passed the first Reso1ution". There
was general discussion as to the probation period of Officer Quirk,
and it was pointed out that the Resolution hiring Officer Quirk
did not set up a period of probation.
Mayor Cairnie, "Gent1emen, a motion should be made to hire a Police
Chief, who ever he may be; salary should be named, a time limit put
on his taking up residency in Edgewater, and an effective date.
Councilman Dietz, "Does this time limit apply to so many days after
a probation period; does a probation period entail an increase in
salary?" Attorney Hall, "You need not mention a probation period
in this instance because the man will be working at the will of the
Council. As for salary, it should be understood that the salary
named will be stable through this budget period."
The City Attorney then ascertained that there was nothing in the
City Charter which said an employee had to be a resident of the
City of Edgewater. It was then pointed out by the Chair that it
had always been the policy for the Council to hire a Police Chief
with the understanding that he would live in the City of Edgewater.
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Motion was duly made by Councilman Norman that a Resolution be
drawn up hiring Clyde W. Heath as Police Chief for the City of
Edgewater at a monthly salary of $500.00, Mr. Heath to move to
the City of Edgewater within ninety days, and to serve at the
will of the Council, seconded by Councilman Dietz.
Mayor Cairnie, "Question?1I
Councilman Dimm, IINinety days is too long; we should make it
sixty days. II After a discussion, Councilman Norman agreed to
amend his motion to read sixty days instead of ninety days.
Councilman Dimm, "Why is the salary to be $500.00 instead of
the $400.00 Chief Witmeyer received?1I
Councilman Dietz pointed out that you had to offer a decent
salary to get a good man with excellent qualifications as Mr.
Heath had. There was further discussion as to where the money
was coming fr,om to take care of this difference in pay.
Councilman Dimm presented a short resume of savings accrued
with doing away with the dispatching system. Councilman Dietz
pointed out that the salary of the Police Chief hadn1t been
paid in almost two months. It was also brought to light that
the fines and forfeitures collected by the Police Department
have exceeded the anticipated revenue written into the budget.
Councilman Ledbetter, "I haven1t been consulted about anything.
It is obvious that you have already made up your minds about a
new Chief. Just last week we had a conference with the auditors
and we are running on a tight budget the rest of the year."
Mayor Cairnie, "At the conference with the accountant, he
assured us we could make an addition in the salary of the
Police Chief."
Councilman Dimm, "I was not consulted either. I just met this
man this morning and so did Mr. Dietz. This is the first I have
heard about the sum of $500.00 mentioned. I proposed a man to
take the job at a salary of $350.00 per month, and got no sup-
port." Councilman Dietz, "lf you are talking about Quirk, he
was never under consideration as Chief of Police. He was men-
t~ned to be acting chief, and it went no further because he just
doesn1t have the qualifications we want.". liAs for $500.00,
most cities this size pay their Chief of Police $750.00 per
month.
Councilman Ledbetter, "Well, this man lives in Deland. Until
we can get him over here, you mean he will light out of here
at 3:00 P.M. for Deland." Councilman Dietz, "We have no can-
didates locally who qualify. Mr. Heath is the best man we now
have in mind. He and his wife have already started to look for
a house, and have said they will rent one immediately if one is
available."
Councilman Norman, "I doubt if there will be many days when the
Police Chief will quit at 3 P.M. Police Chief is really a 24
hour job." Councilman Dimm, "~1r. Heath has already assured us
that if an emergency arises he will stay the night if necessary."
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Councilman Ledbetter, "This whole thing seems to me to be cut
and dried, and apparently I haven't been consulted or included
in some of the meetings. What happened with that fellow McQuaid
that was so good, and we all liked?"
Councilman Dietz, "Your right, we all liked the background of Mr.
McQuaid; he was very good; however family commitments necessitated
him living in New Smyrna Beach. He couldn't move to Edgewater for
the salary offered. That is the only thing that eliminated him,
his qualifications were excellent."
Councilman Norman, "We won't get any man this good to start for
less than $500.00".
Mayor Cairnie, "Gentlemen, may we have a motion?"
Motion duly made by Councilman Norman that a Resolution be drawn
to hire Clyde W. Heath as Police Chief for the City of Edgewater,
to serve at the will of the City Council and to be paid the sum
of $500.00 per month, effective May 1, 1968, that Mr. Heath take
residence in the City of Edgewater sixty (60) days from the ef-
fective da~e, seconded by Councilman Dietz and by roll call vote
CARRIED. Councilman Ledbetter abstained from voting.
There being no further business, motion duly made by Councilman
Ledbetter, we now adjourn, seconded by Councilman Norman and
there were no objections.
Time of Adjournment 10:20 A.M.
Minutes taken by Gertrude B. Dunn
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Mayor"
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ATTEST:
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City Clerk
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