12-09-1961 - Special
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MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDGEWATERI
HELD ON SATURDAYI DECEMBER 91 1961 at
12:30 P.M.'
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The meeting was called to order by Mayor Hussey at 12:30 P. M.' on
December 91 1961; upon roll callI the following answered present: Mayor
Hussey; Councilman Siller; Councilman Seng; Councilman Palmateer;
Councilman KennedYI Deputy Clerk O'Connell and City Attorney Dan R.
Warren; City Clerk Dippree was absent.
Mayor Hussey announced the purpose of the Special meeting was to make
a decision on. Police Chief Norman who had been arrested for Grand LarcenYI
and called upon City Attorney Dan Warren to explain the present situation.
City Attorney Warren stated that the matter was still under idvestigation
by the State Attorney's Office and that the only thing he could say was that
which had already been printed in the newspaper. That on the 30th day of
Novemberl A. D. ~ 19611 at the Halifax Law Center in Holly Hilll informationl
under oathl had been given to the State Attorney's Office gave that office no
alternative but to file charges against Chief Norman. City Attorney Warren
stated that the investigation would take approximately three weeks to a month
to complete.
Mayor Hussey then asked the pleasure of the Council on the report of
City Attorney Warren.
~epg Jas instructed to correct)~~jQ
Councilman P~.e'et' moved that under the circumstances that Mr. Norman
be suspended as Chief of the Police Department of Edgewater until disposition of
the case by the State Attorney's Office.
Before calling for a secondl Mayor Hussey asked the Deputy Clerk O'Connell
to read a letter from Chief Normanl which was read as follows:
"Edgewaterl Florida. December 81 1961. City Councill
City of Edgewater I Edgewater I Flor ida.
Gentlemen: Due to unforseen circumstancesl the under-
signed hereby requests a leave of absence from his duties
with the City of Edgewaterl Floridal effective immediately
for a period of sixty days. Thank you for your favorable
consideration of this request.
Very truly yoursl F. H. Norman."
Mayor Hussey then spoke against the granting of the request contained in
the letter and stated that Chief Norman had amazed and very much disappointed
him. At the conclusionl Mayor Hussey recommended that Chief Norman be dis-
charged of any service in the city of Edgewater.
Seng (as instruc.ted to correct ~ hli JJ. .
Councilman .~ spoke agamst the Mayor s recommendatIOn and stated
that Chief Norman had not been tried and until he' is tried he is not guilty of any
thing whatsoever. He also moved that the Chief be suspended until the disposition
of the case by the State Attorney's Office.
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City Attorney Dan Warren then stated that the Council was not ObligafJ
to suspend the Chief~ or take any action against him. That the choice was
strictly at the pleasure of the Council. He also stated that the man had not been
proven guilty at this point.
Mayor Hussey then stated that his reason for recommending that Chief
Norman be discharged was his belief that at the end of sixty (60) days he would
be up for re-instatement.
Councilman Siller re-iterated that the man had not been tried and felt
that he should be suspended until the out-come of the trial.'
There followed a statement by Mayor Hussey that in view of the record
before the Council~ they could not suspend the Chief.
c:.e~~ th ~ conclUs~. on of WhiC~h _Councilman Siller seconded Councilman
~. as tJ.nstructe htQ cor.rec t:r:JJ. b d d .1 f h
F~,' ,.e-r/$"motlon at cnIer orman e suspen e untl the outcome 0 t e
trial.
Upon roll call~ the following vote was had upon the motion:
Councilman Siller - yes
Councilman Seng - yes
Councilman Palmateer... yes
Councilman Kennedy - yes
Mayor Hussey - No
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Mayor Hussey then stated that he voted true to his convictions.
Councilman SiThr then remarked that he had never heard anyone make any
of the remarks which the Mayor had said had been made against him and that he
felt that the Mayor was very conscien!ious in his work.
Mayor Hussey announced that if Chief Norman ever comes up to be re-
instated and is reinstated he was going to resign as Mayor.
Councilman ' ',seYl'dt' ....... remarked that if he was proven. not guilty~
the Council would have no her choIce.
It was then moved that the meeting be adjourned until December l5~ 1961
at 7:00 P. M.
The above minutes were approved by the Council this 'f +h day of December~
A. D. ~ 1961.
~ t3 [1' (I g,;',4e.
Depu City Clerk
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