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09-09-1992 - Special (I ~ ....., CITY COUNCIL OF EDGEWATER SPECIAL MEETING SEPTEMBER 9, 1992 Minutes Mayor Wessler called the special meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the community Center. ROLL CALL Mayor Tanya Wessler Councilman Kirk Jones councilperson Louise Martin councilperson NoraJane Gillespie Councilman Michael Hays City Attorney Krista storey city Manager George McMahon City Clerk Susan Wadsworth Police Chief Lawrence Schumaker Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Public Hearinq on proposed millaqe rate of 4.600 and Res. 92-R-16 tentative FY-1992/93 city budqet No comments Mayor Wessler read the resolution: Res. 92-R-16 A Resolution adoptinq a tentative budqet for the city of Edqewater, Florida, for the fiscal year beqinninq october 1, 1992, and endinq september 30, 1993: settinq forth revenues and expenditures for the General Fund, the Water and Wastewater Fund, the Refuse Collection Fund, the stormwater Manaqement/Maintenance Fund, and the Internal service/self- Insurance Fund: repealinq all resolutions in conflict herewith and providinq an effective date. Councilman Jones moved to accept Res. 92-R-16. Councilman Hays seconded the motion. Motion CARRIED 5-0. city Attorney storey advised Council, pursuant to Chapter 200, to publicly announce the proposed millage rate and the rate that would exceed the rolled back rate. Mayor Wessler stated the 1992/93 millage rate is 4.60 mills per 1,000 assessed valuation which will exceed the rolled back rate by 1. 69% . Final plat approval for Woodrick Subdivision Mr. Mark Karet, Director of community Development, briefly reviewed the final plat approval request. councilperson Martin moved to approve this request. Councilperson Gillespie seconded the motion. Motion CARRIED 5-0. Res.92-R-19, establishinq a personnel system, adoptinq personnel "pay for performance" plan. and establishinq a Personnel Advisory committee. Mayor Wessler read the resolution: Res. 92-R-19 A Resolution of the city council of the city of Edqewater, Florida, establishinq a Personnel System, adoptinq a personnel "Pay for Performance Plan", and establishinq a Personnel Advisory committee to assist the city Manaqer in accordance with the city Charter: repealinq all resolutions in conflict herewith and providinq for an effective date. Councilman Hays moved to approve Res. 92-R-19. Councilperson Gillespie seconded the motion. Motion CARRIED 5-0. Amendment 1 to State Revolving Loan wastewater Treatment Aqreement Mr. Terry Wadsworth, Director of utilities, explained this proposed agreement. , ..... ...., councilperson Martin moved to approve Amendment 1. Councilman Hays seconded the motion. Motion CARRIED 5-0. Authorize emerqencv purchase order at estimated cost of $6.200 for eiqht IBM CRT's. labor support. and repair of two Dickens boards due to electrical damaqe with severe storm Mr. Fred Munoz, Finance Director, explained there has been a lot of work done on the computer system due to the storms. City Manager McMahon explained we have been taking every precaution possible and will continue to look for safety devices to avoid such damage. Councilperson Martin moved to approve this emergency purchase. Councilman Hays seconded the motion. Motion CARRIED 5-0. Authorize purchase bv Fire/Rescue Department of nine Motorola Minitor II paqers from Communications services Company in Davtona Beach with five-year extended warranty for total cost of $4.167 City Manager McMahon stated the bidding was already approved. Councilperson Gillespie moved they approve this purchase. councilperson Martin seconded the motion. Councilman Hays questioned the warranty and the typical life span of this type equipment. Mr. Bill Vola, Fire Chief, stated the initial warranty is one year and the life span is approximately seven years. Motion CARRIED 5-0. Hurricane Relief Trust Fund Mayor Wessler read the memo from City Manager McMahon regarding this fund. Councilman Hays suggested this be coordinated through the Florida League of cities Relief Center, they seem to be very organized. City Manager McMahon explained we are trying to work as closely as we can with the Florida League of cities. Councilman Hays moved for approval. Councilperson Gillespie seconded the motion. Motion CARRIED 5-0. Councilman Hays shared his experience of visiting the hurricane victims. He specifically recognized Jay R. Orlando, a police officer in Hialeah Gardens, his chief is Chief Serio. Two Highway Patrolmen, Manuel Nunez and Pete Cohen. He requested a letter of appreciation be written to these people. Mayor Wessler also suggested a letter of appreciation be written to Councilman Hays for going down there and representing us. Councilman Hays urged people to assist as they can. He also suggested Mr. McMahon schedule a workshop so we can go over a plan should something like this happen to us. City Manager McMahon stated he is working on such a procedure and he will be getting back to the Council on it. Councilman Jones agreed with Councilman Hays' comments and the idea of a brainstorming session. He stated he knows the help is appreciated and also urged people to continue helping. Councilperson Martin mentioned the problem down there with the building construction. She stated we should be sure we are complying with building code regulations. -2- Special Council Meeting September 9, 1992 ( ..... """" City Manager McMahon assured that we are following the current standards. He would like to review the standards with the city Attorney and initiate additional meaningful requirements. City Manager McMahon made a statement regarding the threats being made to and about city employees through the campaigning for the coming election. He stated the City Charter spells out exactly how the powers of hire and fire will be. city employees should not be political targets. He explained that the City Attorney has never even worked in the City which individuals are accusing her of bringing to its demise. The statements being made about her are false and erroneous reports. He also mentioned the ethics charges that have been filed which have been dismissed. These charges were political and totally unfounded. He explained that nepotism is not an issue in the city, the people involved have been with this city for a long time and they do not work for one another. Under state Law there is no provision against this. He emphasized that our city employees have a great deal of integrity and they do not deserve the political punishment that they have been taking. He criticized anyone who has been making these statements about the employees. He explained that at least 80% of his and the City Attorney's time is spent responding to inquiries which are nothing more than rumors. This interference with administration is improper. He added that they work for the entire community. He hopes that the citizens will look at the issues of the forthcoming election and they will ask the people making these comments where they got their facts. He invited anyone to come in and ask for the facts. city Attorney storey reported the reason these complaints filed with the Ethics Commission have not been discussed previously is because it is not legally appropriate to have public discussion until the matter was resolved. She briefly summarized the complaints were filed against the Council generally, and the Mayor and Councilman Hays allegedly related to the city Charter election. She explained the findings and dismissal. City Manager McMahon again expressed that the complaints were unfounded and not healthy for the community. He asked for Council backing on this. Mayor Wessler polled the Council, every member supported his stand. The Mayor asked if the names of those making the charges could be made public. city Attorney Storey stated the complaint was filed with the Commission on Ethics on June 23, 1992 by Edward J. Keenan. Mayor Wessler stated Mr. Keenan is the president of the united Taxpayers of Edgewater, pointing out that city tax dollars have been wasted in an erroneous complaint. City Attorney Storey explained the process which these complaints went through. She added she did not doubt the conclusion would be as it was, but this is a reflection on the entire Council. City Manager McMahon expressed his opposition towards actions like this. -3- special Council Meeting September 9, 1992 f "w' ....." Mayor Wessler made a statement regarding the local politics and how it effects individuals personally. She complimented the City as being a fine community to live in; the only problem being the constant bickering caused by the united Taxpayers of Edgewater. She complimented the City staff that she has been working with for the last two years. She urged the citizens to listen carefully during the elections for the facts and to not form opinions without hearing all the truths. She warned the current politicians about the accusations they are making against people they don't even know. She expressed her hopes that Edgewater continues to go forward and thanked the community for letting her serve them for the past two years. City Manager McMahon reported that the City will abide by State Law concerning the political signs. A number of the signs do not include paid political advertisement. The city Clerk will be notifying them and if they do not comply, the signs will be removed. At this time City Manager McMahon introduced Mr. Kyle Fegley, Edgewater's new City Engineer. He was welcomed by the Council. ADJOURNMENT Councilman Jones moved to adjourn. Councilperson Martin seconded the motion. Meeting adjourned 7:45 p.m. Minutes submitted by: Debbie Sigler -4- Special council Meeting September 9, 1992