04-20-1998 - Regular
-- .....,
CITY COUNCIL OF EDGEWATER
REGULAR MEETING
APRIL 20, 1998
7:00 P.M.
COMMUNITY CENTER
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Allman called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in
the Community Center.
ROLL CALL
Mayor Randy Allman
Councilman James Gornto
Councilman Myron Hammond
Councilman Gary Roberts
Councilwoman Judith Lichter
City Attorney Nikki Clayton
city Manager Kevin Grace
City Clerk Susan Wadsworth
Police Chief Lawrence Schumaker
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
Present
INVOCATION. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The invocation was delivered by Pastor Timothy McCardel,
Friendship Baptist Church. There was a pledge of allegiance to
the Flag.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Special meeting of March 23, 1998
Councilman Roberts made a motion to approve the March 23, 1998
minutes, second by Councilman Hammond. The motion CARRIED 5-0.
B. Regular meeting of April 6, 1998
Councilman Roberts made a motion to approve the April 6, 1998
minutes, second by Councilman Hammond. The motion CARRIED 5-0.
CITIZEN COMMENTS REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS ONLY
David Ridner, 2804 Unity Tree Drive, presented a document to
Council pertaining to the sign franchise they are about to engage
in.
City Manager Grace informed Council when they approved the pilot
program, we did not enter into any contract or franchise at this
point. We authorized them to put in a pilot project for the City
to observe for up to 120 days after which we could decide if we
want to enter into a franchise.
Councilman Roberts spoke of concern with their being too many
vacant signs. Councilwoman Lichter spoke of concern with the
price being cost prohibitive.
Mayor Allman asked what the handout received from Mr. Ridner
pertained to. City Attorney Clayton explained it is a claim of
lien that was filed for failure to pay according to a contract.
Nancy Ridner has filed a claim of lien for $5,648.00 against
Porta USA of Central Florida. She assumed it was given to
Council as indication that their experience was the bills were
not paid with their contractual arrangements. Mr. Ridner
informed her that is correct. City Attorney Clayton passed the
information to City Clerk Wadsworth.
Jeanne DelNigro, 3130 Tamarind Drive, read a prepared statement
regarding the reorganization proposal. She asked the Council to
vote no.
.....
....."
Ben Vasquez, 2807 Needle Palm Drive, spoke about asking one of
the girls in the front of City Hall to put his water bill in his
wife's name. She told him the only way she could do that would
be if she saw a copy of the will. He doesn't feel this is any of
the City's business including the City employees. He would like
this to be corrected and his utility bill sent in his wife's
name.
City Manager Grace stated he would look into this. City Attorney
Clayton asked Mr. Vasquez for the name it is to go in and the
name the account is in now. City Manager Grace instructed Mr.
Vasquez to get with Terry Wadsworth, utilities Director.
Andy Anderson, 1730 pine Tree Drive, spoke about the streets
being closed off and kids walking through his yard. He asked if
it would be possible to put foot walks on Indian River Boulevard
and Riverside Drive over the places that have been dug out that
have water in them so they could walk around the block.
City Manager Grace asked if he was talking about bridges over the
retention ponds. Mr. Anderson stated no, bridges over streets
that don't have retention ponds that are just closed because the
big pipes were taken out and there is water down there now. City
Manager Grace asked if he is talking about over the canals. He
spoke of the expense to do this.
Councilman Roberts feels it would only be feasible if it is a
very heavily traveled area with pedestrians. Mr. Anderson stated
there aren't many situations in town that have these
circumstances. He feels there would only be three or four.
city Manager Grace stated that is something they could look at.
CITY COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilman Gornto spoke about a letter that was received at City
Hall from a lady that was concerned that he was proposing they
raise the electrical rates by switching back to New Smyrna Beach.
He clarified that the FIND project could be a separate and
distinct project with regard to power supply. We are not bound
to allow FP&L go in there and give commercial power to that
project. He spoke about the City of New Smyrna Beach is going to
be buying power from Duke Power and that their utility bills are
going to drop as much as 35%.
Councilman Hammond spoke about trying to get the gymnasium built
and the vandalism reports. He expressed concern with what
happens with people that are caught vandalizing.
Councilman Hammond spoke about looking for a contract for banking
and engineering. City Manager Grace informed Council they are
working out an RFP on the banking and the copy machines. They
are going to try to get those out in the next couple of weeks.
The other we are working on to bring back to Council for action,
specifically on the aUditing services.
Councilman Gornto spoke about other cities that have had problems
with vandalism in parks and videotaping the vandals. He asked if
Councilman Hammond would be willing to go that far or put
undercover agents in the parks for a while.
There was a brief discussion regarding juveniles causing the
mischief in the parks. Parks & Recreation Director Jack Corder
informed Council most of the cases where vandals have been caught
in the act, the District Attorney's office adheres to it and they
have to pay restitution for the damage that is done.
Page -2-
Council Regular Meeting
April 20, 1998
.......
...."
Councilwoman Lichter spoke about some possible solutions to
vandalism. City Attorney Clayton explained she and Mr. Corder
had asked if they could help with supplying ordinances from other
jurisdictions that have more teeth in the enforcement end of
things. They are looking around to see if they can get some good
ideas.
Councilman Roberts asked why it is taking so long to go through
the land acquisition for the Fire Department location on Hibiscus
Drive. If the volunteers are having trouble with purchasing the
land or deeding over the land, they need to find an alternative
solution.
City Manager Grace explained they have been negotiating on that.
They anticipate having something to bring to Council at the next
meeting. He elaborated on problems they have run into. They are
looking at buying the land directly from the Association rather
than in-kind services.
Councilman Roberts asked for an update on the FIND project. City
Manager Grace explained they were hoping to have the
reimbursement agreement at this meeting. He explained they are
very close to having that ready to go.
Councilman Roberts asked how long before they anticipate hearing
from the federal government. city Manager Grace would ask for a
decision from them within the next 45 days or so.
Councilman Roberts feels FP & L owes this city after what they
have put down on the main street. He feels they owe us some sort
of compensation for the City having to deal with the poles. He
is glad Councilman Gornto got this started and feels Council
should pursue it.
Councilwoman Lichter spoke about losing nine parking spaces at
the Library when SR 442 is widened. She asked if they are going
to make up for those nine spaces when the addition is done. City
Manager Grace explained they are in the process of redesigning
what they want to do there. They are doing everything they can
to get as many spaces as they can out of that site.
Councilwoman Lichter spoke about the cost of paving Industrial
Road would be $19,000 and Pelican Lane would cost $10,000. She
spoke about combining a few streets to decrease the cost. city
Manager Grace explained they have $40,000 budgeted for
resurfacing.
Councilwoman Lichter spoke about meeting with the Beautification
Committee regarding the murals. She further spoke about
vandalism of these murals and possibly using something to protect
these murals.
Councilman Roberts asked about an extension drawn up by the City
Engineer regarding the parking lot for the Library that was
presented to Council around four months ago. The planning for
the widening of SR 442 has been going on for a year and a half to
two years. Why didn't the city Engineer take that into
consideration before this effort and time was wasted. This
should have been known before all the effort was put in to design
something that is now not going to work. City Manager Grace
explained at this point they need to move forward and get
something designed and get the parking places replaced. In City
Engineer Fegley's defense, the design of what they were going to
do and which way they were going to go has only recently been
concluded.
Page -3-
Council Regular Meeting
April 20, 1998
'-'
-."I
Councilwoman Lichter asked if there are any other hidden agendas
they don't know about with regard to the widening of SR 442.
City Manager Grace stated he can't tell them there won't be
because there may be. with a project like this, there are going
to be issues that come up. There probably will be additional
items.
Councilwoman Lichter asked if there is a bike path in the works
with that project. City Manager Grace explained there will be
sidewalks.
Councilman Hammond asked about the thirteen homes being taken
from the east side of the tracks but there isn't going to be any
retention pond to the west. city Manager Grace informed him
there will be one out by the horse farm. Councilman Hammond
feels this is a long stretch to pump all that water.
Councilwoman Lichter asked if there is any possibility of using
vacant lots. City Manager Grace spoke about there being
practical restrictions on what they can do. They have agreed to
look at it and do whatever they can to avoid impacting any more
people than they have to. He thinks it is a foregone conclusion
that most of those people are going to be impacted by the
project.
Mayor Allman had nothing at this time.
PUBLIC HEARINGS. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
There were no public hearings, ordinances or resolutions to be
discussed at this time.
CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approve transfer of $2,500 from Special Law Enforcement Trust
Fund into the General Fund
B. Interest adjustments on Street Projects 1, 2, and 3
C. Affirm appointment of Jim Jollie as member-elected
representative on Firefighters Pension Fund Board
Councilman Roberts made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda,
second by Councilman Hammond.
Councilwoman Lichter asked about Item B.
accrued interest of the money the people
happens if they don't pay. City Manager
item.
If we wipe out the
owed originally, what
Grace elaborated on this
The motion CARRIED 5-0.
OTHER BUSINESS
A. Parks and Recreation request to purchase Thor lightning
prediction system for $3.950
City Manager Grace stated this money would come from Parks and
Recreation Impact Fees.
Councilman Gornto asked if this device is movable. Mr. Corder
explained it could be moved but the way they are looking at it
because of the antenna set up, usually their games are running
together so if they have a game at Whistle stop and it is
detected they could call the other parks to let them know. They
have it set to put in the budget next year an external system
that goes with it which is a horn system.
Page -4-
Council Regular Meeting
April 20, 1998
'-"
...,
Councilman Roberts asked if there is any kind of maintenance that
they would be spending money on down the road on this system.
Mr. Corder stated he would like to say this wouldn't need
maintenance for ten years but as any piece of equipment goes it
could cause to be a failure or not. He explained this system was
used at the Atlanta Olympics, ABC Sports, and the PGA and LPGA
golf courses. It is a very sophisticated piece of equipment.
Right now they pass the word if they hear there is a storm near.
Councilwoman Lichter asked if there is money available in the
impact fees. Mr. Corder explained they have about a $60,000
balance in impact fees at this time. City Manager Grace
explained if this is approved, they would be amending the budget
to add this.
Mayor Allman asked what they would be getting for the $3,900.
Mr. Corder explained they are just getting the one piece of
equipment with the antenna. It doesn't include the external horn
system at this time. They are looking at budgeting that into
next year using impact fees.
Mayor Allman asked what the horn system costs. Mr. Corder
believes that is also around $3,900. Mayor Allman doesn't
believe they should get it without the horn.
Councilman Roberts asked if this is just basically an alert
system for heavy lightning storms. Mr. Corder explained it
measures the atmosphere and when you get to a 30% probability of
a lightning strike within that area, that is when the system goes
off. Councilman Roberts questioned if this information should
also be given to the Police and Fire Departments. Mr. Corder
explained it is not set up on a phone line. There is a special
antenna set up for it.
Councilman Roberts feels if they are going to spend that money to
have the technology to have an early warning system, it would be
wise for public safety officials to be aware of something coming
in. Mr. Corder stated he believes they could set up some type of
phone system warning to dial into the police or fire department.
Councilwoman Lichter spoke about putting an additional $8,000 in
the budget throwing off the budget. City Manager Grace explained
he and Mr. Corder spoke and decided until they saw what other
expenses might be coming their way through the budget process,
they would hold off on the horn piece. If Council feels that is
something we need now, the moneys are there.
There was a brief discussion regarding the impact fee money being
available if something comes up for the new rec building.
Councilman Gornto moved to amend the motion to include the horn
system, second by Councilwoman Lichter. The motion CARRIED 5-0.
B. Professional services agreement for design, permitting and
construction phase services associated with Park Master Plan and
Gymnasium Complex located off Turgot Avenue
City Manager Grace explained they weren't able to get everything
nailed down but received a draft late this afternoon. He and
City Attorney Clayton spoke and feel there are still a few loose
ends that need to be tied up so they aren't asking this be
approved this evening. Hopefully they can get that on the next
meeting agenda.
Mayor Allman asked if this needs to be tabled until the next
meeting.
It was the consensus of Council to table this item until the next
meeting.
Page -5-
Council Regular Meeting
April 20, 1998
.....
..."
C. Wastewater Treatment Plant reclaimed water system
improvements proposed change order number 2
utilities Director Terry Wadsworth presented an
Wastewater Reclaimed Water Improvement Project.
this is $12,953.35, $500 of this to be used for
with some of the analyzers.
overview of the
The cost for
training involved
Councilman Gornto asked if all of the wastewater is turned into
bright water in our system. Mr. Wadsworth explained it is either
discharged in the reclaimed water system or we still discharge in
the river when the demand on the system isn't sufficient. They
are hoping to be able to store water in the lake when there isn't
the demand in the system.
Councilman Gornto asked if there is a problem with the reclaimed
water going into the Indian River. Mr. Wadsworth explained they
have an annual daily average limitation which is in excess of
800,000 gallons which is based on 30% of the capacity of the
plant overall.
Councilman Gornto asked if it could be minimized if they increase
the reclaimed water system throughout the City. Mr. Wadsworth
explained right now they have about 1,500 active connections in
Florida Shores. There is a remaining 4,500 potential hookups out
there without expanding the system that they can make. It is
basically good economics for them to go ahead and optimize the
hookups in that area before they expand the system.
There was further discussion regarding discharging reclaimed
water into the river.
Councilman Gornto asked if other cities discharge into the river
also. Mr. Wadsworth explained New Smyrna does but they will
minimize it quite a bit when they build their new plant out west
of I-95.
Councilman Gornto asked
people should not swim.
about 150 feet out into
water.
about the signs at the parks that say
Mr. Wadsworth explained the outfall is
the channel. It is not a dangerous
Councilwoman Lichter asked if they ever get water into the
medians on u.S. #1, will it be reclaimed water. Mr. Wadsworth
explained it is a lot more expensive. They estimated it would
cost approximately $20,000 to extend it to the southern most
median. The northern most median is not worth estimating at this
time because there is nothing close and all of the things in the
way to get there.
Councilwoman Lichter feels another option could be a truck. Mr.
Wadsworth stated they did check with DOT about the possibility of
using a well there. Our local district doesn't allow it.
Councilman Roberts feels using potable water on a few islands on
u.S. #1, even though it is more money per gallon, it's probably a
lot cheaper than running reclaimed water out to those particular
medians.
City Manager Grace explained those are all items that will be
coming back to Council in the future as far as how they are going
to approach those beautification projects.
Councilman Gornto moved for approval, second by Councilman
Hammond. The motion CARRIED 5-0.
Page -6-
Council Regular Meeting
April 20, 1998
.......
....",
D. New Smyrna Beach Rotary Club request to hold charitable
carnival on u.S. 1 south of Barnett Bank May 6-10, 1998 and waive
administrative fees
Councilwoman Lichter asked Chief Schumaker if there were any
concerns from last year. Chief Schumaker stated last year it
went reasonably well.
There was discussion regarding there being a cost to the City to
provide personnel at the carnival.
Bill Jennings, 109 Magnolia Street, New Smyrna Beach, explained a
majority of the revenue from the carnival and other projects is
to support a scholarship program for the high school students.
The last two or three recipients of the scholarship have been
Edgewater residents.
Mr. Jennings spoke about having the same provider of the carnival
this year as they did last year. They are a very good local
contractor.
Councilman Roberts asked about the dollar figures regarding a
deposit for police service overtime. He asked if this is part of
the fee they are asking to be waived. City Clerk Wadsworth
stated that was a possible fee.
Mr. Jennings stated it is somewhat common for a government agency
to waive fees on a charitable event. The fees were waived last
year.
Councilman Roberts spoke about citizens being concerned with the
people who are running the carnival. Mr. Jennings explained they
are very strict. The personnel are not allowed to go to the
shopping center and at night they stay at the owner's house on SR
415. There is no overnight camping.
Councilman Gornto moved for approval, second by Councilwoman
Lichter. The motion CARRIED 5-0.
GENERAL CITIZEN COMMENTS/CORRESPONDENCE
Andy Anderson, 1730 pine Tree Drive, spoke about curfews for
minors and vandalism that has occurred by his home. Councilman
Roberts feels it is probably juveniles causing the mischief. He
went on to speak about neighborhood watch programs and parents
taking better care of their teenagers.
Councilwoman Lichter further spoke about having neighborhood
watch in Edgewater Landing. She feels they need to get the youth
involved and that there are other options they could look at
before resorting to curfews. She feels it is not just the parks
being vandalized. She is sure many homeowners are in the same
boat.
Doris Hill, 112 Lincoln Road, asked if she would be able to get a
list of the properties where the interests are being abated.
City Manager Grace thinks there is a list of them in the agenda
package. He asked her to see him afterwards and he would get it
for her.
Ben Vasquez feels they are going to have a very serious problem
with traffic on Indian River Boulevard by the shopping center and
at the Post Office.
Mr. Vasquez asked about what happened to the $1,100,000 of
surplus they had on the road program.
Page -7-
Council Regular Meeting
April 20, 1998
......
....,
city Manager Grace explained there wasn't a $1,100,000 left over.
There was about $900,000 left over, about $300,000 of that was
from the stormwater side which went back into the Stormwater
Fund. There is a little less than $600,000 that came out of
moneys the General Fund was contributing into the program. He is
in the process of laying all of that out clearly for the Council.
City Manager Grace explained preliminarily those moneys are part
of the $600,000 or part of the moneys that would go toward the
recreation center and the fire station that are being planned.
Councilman Roberts thinks the people would like to see a close-
out statement on the capital improvements program for the paving
and stormwater system.
Andy Anderson, 1730 pine Tree Drive, went on to speak about
vandalism taking place between ten and twelve at night. The kids
are out there pretty late.
There was a ten-minute recess at this time.
OFFICER REPORTS
City Clerk Wadsworth had nothing at this time.
City Attorney Clayton had nothing at this time.
City Manager
1) Reorganization proposal
City Manager Grace is requesting Council take four specific
actions: 1) renaming the Community Development Department to the
Planning and Development Department, 2) authorize leaving the
position of Planning and Development Director vacant
indefinitely, 3) change the Assistant Finance Director position
to Finance Director effective August 1, 1998, and 4) eliminate
the Assistant City Manager/Finance Director position and replace
it with an Administrative Services Director position effective
August 1, 1998. This reorganization proposal will save the City
approximately $110,000. He asked for Council's approval of those
specific actions.
Councilman Roberts stated Lynne Plaskett has been handling
Planning and Zoning since the former department head has left.
She is doing a pretty good job. He feels she has a lot of good
common sense and should be in charge of that department. He
feels she deserves to have some sort of recognition that she is
in charge of that department now, even if it isn't the same exact
description as the prior department head or the same money.
Just some sort of recognition and some sort of modest increase in
salary for taking the reins of that department.
Councilman Roberts went on to speak about the Administrative
Assistant. The whole idea of getting rid of the Assistant City
Manager position was because it really isn't necessary. He
thinks if you are going to eliminate it, you just eliminate it.
There is another $64,000 that could be saved. You let department
heads coordinate things at staff meetings to centralize
purchasing and come up with things that need to be done on a
group basis.
City Manager Grace is concerned with getting things done. He has
outlined a number of things that aren't currently being done and
the reason for this is because people are all busy doing the
things that are in their job descriptions already. He feels the
City is not going to be successful in securing grants if they
don't put the efforts and resources to it.
Page -8-
Council Regular Meeting
April 20, 1998
.,.,
...,
City Manager Grace explained the reason he is suggesting the
Director of Community Development position not be filled is
because looking at budget preliminarily, it looks to be very
tight. That factored heavily into his recommendation to leave
that vacant indefinitely.
Mayor Allman stated until he gets someone totally objective to
look at what our budget is going to be, they were told they were
on a bare bones budget when they took office and they found
money. He doesn't have complete trust in his Finance Department
at this time. until he develops that trust, he doesn't know that
our millage rate can't be reduced. He finds it difficult to
Obelieve we are going to be bare bones when we were told that
last year and we weren't. As far as he is concerned, he is not
ready to vote on a reorganizational proposal until it is more in
depth. He believes the Finance Department needs to be given a
different direction. Maybe some people need to come out of there
or be transferred out of there. The Assistant Finance Director
becoming Finance Director he doesn't have a problem with. Karen
is quite apt and very, very professional. As far as the budget
and the money in the City is concerned, he doesn't trust the
figures he sees. He would get an independent auditor to go over
that and show that to him.
City Manager Grace stated he was hired 90 days ago. He took that
to mean Council placed certain trust in him to do exactly the
things he is doing tonight which is to present his recommendation
of what needs to be done. He has put a proposal in front of
Council that saves the City $110,000 over what it is today. He
feels that is, from a budgetary standpoint, a conservative
approach. He can't deal with the personality issues in the past
or fix all of those. All he can ask of Council is to put their
trust in him, that he knows what he is doing, when he brings a
recommendation to Council like this.
Councilwoman Lichter informed City Manager Grace he was hired in
good faith. He was a selection by a very large selection
process. Some how in the end the Council came together and put
their trust in him. She has trust in him from what she has seen
him do so far. She feels he is straight as an arrow and calling
it as it is. She agrees with what he has done with Planning &
Zoning and the Finance Department. She went on to speak about
putting an emphasis on Economic Development. She feels grants
are an important area they have to look into. She would be in
favor of his reorganization proposal.
City Manager Grace feels if in the future Planning and
Development needs a department director, he will be the first one
admitting that. He explained this approach was devised because
of his concern about the budget and the uncertainties going into
it. He feels it is best to hold off now in filling that
position. Lynne has been doing a good job and he is comfortable
she can handle that part of the organization very well.
Councilman Roberts has no problem with splitting Planning and
Development and the Building Departments. The Building Official
should have to report to the city Manager. He feels Lynne should
get some sort of recognition for what she has put into that
department in Planning and Zoning and leave a title hanging above
her that she can't use or that may never be filled, it seems kind
of foolish. He feels she has earned her keep around here. He
feels they should eliminate the position and redefine Lynne's
authority and duties in Planning and Zoning and let her run that
department.
Page -9-
Council Regular Meeting
April 20, 1998
....
......
Councilman Roberts has no problem with Karen Rickelman in
Finance. From what he understands, Karen is very bright when it
comes to numbers. She has been handling bookkeeping for 26
years. He is sure she is very good at what she does. He sees no
sense in paying for another person in management. He feels the
Assistant City Manager's position was just set up to justify
giving the Finance Director more money when the McMahon
administration was in place. He feels this was somewhat of a
farce.
City Manager Grace stated this was not a new position, there was
already a Finance Director position there. Councilman Roberts
feels it just meant spending more money and if you can save over
$64,000 by not hiring someone, that is a large savings. Instead
of saving $110,000, you will be saving close to $175,000 a year
out of the General Budget, which is a considerable savings. If
the City grows and there is a demand for having more management
personnel down the road, then that may be the time to incorporate
that kind of position. He can't see it right now.
Councilman Hammond asked how they derived the $64,000 salary for
the Administrative Service Director. He feels $64,000 is real
good money for this area. city Manager Grace feels you have to
consider right now, the City is paying out $96,000. He is asking
to take 2/3's of that and take that position and direct them
towards something that needs to be done that is not being done.
There is no additional position being created. We are
essentially taking the Finance Director position and changing it
to this and reducing the amount of resources going toward it. He
does not have anyone within the organization in mind specifically
for that position. We would recruit for that.
Councilman Hammond stated right now with Lynne, they are catching
up. From what he understands, Mark Karet left a whole lot of
stuff hanging out there. City Manager Grace stated she is doing
a good job. He is not convinced they need that department
director position.
Councilman Roberts feels they should eliminate Mr. Karet's old
position but establish something that gives Lynne some
recognition for what she is doing there. City Manager Grace
feels Councilman Roberts is raising a legitimate point. It would
be his intention, if Council does what he asks, to go back and
look at Lynne's job description and address responsibilities she
did not have as a Planner.
Councilwoman Lichter spoke about residency requirements in the
Charter for department heads. She doesn't believe Mrs. Plaskett
lives in Edgewater or has mind to. Councilman Roberts feels that
is a minor issue and has nothing to do with dollars and cents.
City Manager Grace feels the bottom line is Lynne is doing a good
job and under his proposal, he thinks she will continue to do a
good job. His intention would be to sit down with Lynne and
Debby and look at her job description under the new scenario
compared to what it was before.
Councilwoman Lichter feels grants have been neglected in this
community. She went on to speak about economic development and
bringing it in to Edgewater. She thinks you wouldn't be locked
into such a position. You reevaluate in a year.
There was a brief discussion regarding what duties the
Administrative Service Director would entail.
Mayor Allman doesn't have a problem with the Administrative
Service Director. He has a problem with going about this at this
time while they still have management in place that they will be
replacing. He feels they are jumping the gun.
Page -10-
Council Regular Meeting
April 20, 1998
'-'
~
City Manager Grace stated his recommendation is to make these
positions effective August 1, 1998.
Councilman Gornto asked City Manager Grace to elaborate on the
issue of grant writings. He wants to know where that expertise
comes from. City Manager Grace feels grant writing is lacking.
We have gotten grants in the past but we certainly haven't
maximized that by having someone who that is a primary focus of
what they do. He spoke about grants that are out there that are
available. He stated you need to have horsepower that is pushing
for the projects and putting the proposals together. Councilman
Roberts feels that is what effective department heads are for.
Councilman Gornto spoke about the City having one sidewalk, parks
with no pavement, a City Hall that should be bulldozed and what
he considers a top notch city Manager. He is hoping the
undercurrent of what he is hearing is not something that is left
over from the previous City Council where there was especially
one person who did not run for office that was very much
interested in running this City himself. He is for the City
Manager form of government. We come here as part-time
councilmembers. He doesn't have time to manage the departments.
We hired the best we could find and what he has done is present
to council something that some of Council doesn't like. He finds
nothing at all wrong with it and feels it makes a lot of sense.
Councilman Gornto proposes they support the City Manager and what
he is doing. A year from now if it doesn't work, we know what
can happen. We can change it again.
Councilman Gornto made a motion to approve all four items in the
reorganization proposal.
Councilman Hammond still has a problem with the $64,000 position.
Councilwoman Lichter spoke about City Manager Grace eliminating
the Finance Director with that kind of salary and putting a few
less bucks where he needs help to have this community grow.
Councilwoman Lichter seconded the motion.
City Manager Grace elaborated on the salary and duties of the
Administrative Service Director position.
Councilman Roberts feels they should be voted on individually.
The motion CARRIED 3-2. Councilman Roberts and Mayor Allman
voted NO.
City Manager Grace met with a gentleman from the Community Map
Company. They are interested in doing an update of the City Map.
He suggested they do an update due to it being a community
resource they could use.
Councilman Gornto asked where the maps go once they are made.
City Manager Grace explained they provide the City with several
thousand copies the City can do with what they want.
Councilwoman Lichter asked if there are supposed to be five or
seven members on the citizen Code Enforcement Board. City
Attorney Clayton informed her there are seven members. You have
a quorum and then you have a board that can be comprised of a
certain number.
It was the consensus with Council to go ahead with the updated
maps from the Community Map Company.
Page -11-
Council Regular Meeting
April 20, 1998
''-'"
.""."
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to discuss, Councilman Gornto
made a motion to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.
Minutes submitted by
Lisa Kruckmeyer
Page -12-
Council Regular Meeting
April 20, 1998