12-03-2007 - Special
CITY COUNCIL OF EDGEWATER
SPECIAL MEETING
DECEMBER 3, 2007
5:00 P.M.
COMMUNITY CENTER
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Thomas called the Special Meeting (Closed Meeting) to
order at 5:00 p.m. in the Community Center.
MEETING PURPOSE
Mayor Thomas read guidelines that were presented to him by
City Attorney Ansay. The City Attorney has advised the
Council at a Public Meeting that she desires advice
concerning litigation between the City and Jane & John Doe.
The subject matter of this meeting shall be confined to
settlement negotiations, strategy sessions and the latest
in litigation expenditures. The entire session shall be
recorded by a certified court reporter. The reporter shall
record the commencement and termination of the session, all
discussion and proceedings and the names of persons present
at any time and the names of all persons speaking. No
portion of this session shall be off the record. The court
reporters notes shall be fully transcribed and filed with
the Council's clerk within a reasonable time after the
meeting. The Council shall give reasonable public notice
of the time and date of the attorney/client session and the
names of the persons who will be attending the session.
The session shall commence in an open meeting where the
Mayor shall announce the commencement and estimated length
of the current attorney/client session and the names of the
persons attending. No final decision on any litigation can
be voted during a private attorney/client strategy meeting.
The decision to actually settle a case for a certain amount
of money under certain conditions is a decision, which must
be voted upon in a public meeting. At the conclusion of
the attorney/client session, the meeting will be reopened
and the Mayor shall announce the termination of the
session. The Attorney states that she needs advice from
the City Council concerning litigation. They will have a
closed client session between the City of Edgewater,
Council, and the City Attorney. We will commence and those
not authorized to attend will be asked to exit the room
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Council Special Meeting
December 3,2007
during the course of the meeting. He expected the closed
session to take approximately one hour. The names of those
in attendance shall be Mayor Michael L. Thomas, Vice Mayor
Harriet E. Rhodes, Councilwoman Debra Rogers, Councilwoman
Gigi Bennington, Councilman Ted Cooper, City Manager Jon
Williams, City Attorney Carolyn Ansay and Aaron Wolf.
Staff is not permitted at the closed attorney/client
session.
City Attorney Ansay stated they had the court reporter set
up in the Conference Room just in case folks started filing
in for the Regular Council Meeting. They thought it would
be better for them to go to over to her in the Conference
Room and conduct the private session there. They would
then come back and start up the recording so the Mayor
could conclude the meeting on the record.
The meeting recessed at 5:03 p.m. at which time everyone
went to the City Hall Conference Room.
Mayor Thomas stated the closed attorney/client session had
concluded and the public meeting was hereby reopened.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Thomas adjourned the meeting at 6:15 and announced
the Regular Meeting would be held at 7:00 p.m.
City Manager Williams informed Council that Item 9B, the
discussion relating to buyouts and early retirement
options at the Regular Meeting was being pulled from the
agenda.
Councilwoman Rhodes asked why they were pulling that. City
Manager Williams informed her he and Carolyn had more
discussions to take place.
Minutes submitted by:
Lisa Bloomer
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December 3,2007