03-09-1992 - Public Meeting
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CITY COUNCIL OF EDGEWATER
PUBLIC MEETING
MARCH 9, 1992
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Wessler called the public 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
City Attorney Krista Storey gave a summary of the Charter
Committee Meeting.
CITIZENS COMMENTS
Gigi Bennington, 121 Virginia Street, speaking as Chairman of the
Charter Review Committee, thanked the Council for hearing their
recommendations. She commented on the sections concerning
Procedure, Residency Requirement, and Terms. She requested this
election be held as soon as possible, and if it can not be held
by May, it should be done at the November election, because so
many of the citizens are not here after May.
Judith Flicker, 826 Navigator Way, commented on the sections
concerning Composition, Compensation, Vacancies, Filling of
Vacancies, Residency Requirement, and Terms.
Ken Millard, 238 North Riverside Drive, spoke in opposition of
staggered terms.
Norm Billups, 1868 pine Tree Drive, spoke of the instability of
our City government and the need of a strong City Charter. A
strict Code of Ethics should be demanded.
Montv McMullen, 502 Halyard Circle, spoke on the legality of the
Residency Requirement.
Georqe Naill, 1604 Royal Palm, spoke on the sections concerning
Compensation, Transition Schedule, Personnel System.
Doris Hill, 112 Lincoln Road, spoke in favor of the need to have
staggered terms for the Council.
Georqe Ewinq, 2923 Royal Palm, questioned the sudden rush to get
the Charter through. He commented on the sections concerning
Financial and Purchasing Procedures and Regulations, Terms of
Office, City Manager and City Attorney compensation upon termin-
ation, Bond issues, Police Department, Board/Committee
membership,and the millage rates.
Don Benninqton, 121 Virginia Street, suggested letting the people
decide regarding the terms of office. He objects to the consent
agenda.
Dominick Fazzone, 302 Paradise Lane, gave history of the Charter
Review and how this draft came to be. He explained some of the
sections are now obsolete and covered in the State Statutes and
don't need to be in our Charter. There are also sections that
need to the voted on by the citizens.
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Alice Murphv, 230 North Riverside Drive, stated we are growing
too fast and have growing pains. Suggested mailing out a
questionnaire to the public to get public input.
George Ewinq, asked if Mr. Fazzone could tell him where Sections
72 and 73 are in the Florida Statutes.
Dominick Fazzone, answered this was explained to the committee by
the attorney who was working with them at the time, not the
current city Attorney.
Norm Billups, pointed out that we live in a unique city and
things should be addressed in a strict Code of Ethics and the
public should be aware of it.
Mary Martin, stated she is a member of the Charter Review Com-
mittee,she owns property in the City and does have interest in
the city. In answer to the previous comments that we are moving
too soon on this; the committee started working on this in
January of 1989 and it is not too soon. She asked that this
Council take their work into advisement and keep moving with it.
Dominick Capria, 606 Topside Circle, asked if the City Attorney
could give some input regarding the supposed obsolete sections.
City Attorney Storey answered that Mr. Fazzone's comments are
correct. She stated the Florida Statutes addresses several
areas, specifically in Chapter 166.
city Manager McMahon substantiated the previous comments, adding
the financial section is set by law and has been for years.
Councilman Jones suggested putting Chapter 166 in the different
sections of our Charter that it addresses, then if the public
wants to refer to the Statute for the information, they can.
Councilman Hays thanked everyone for their comments. He agrees
with letting the public decide. He reserved his comments as far
as changes until the hearing on Saturday.
Councilperson Gillespie stated we have an educational problem.
She gave some history regarding working on the charter; there
have been 76 public meetings held by the Charter Review Commit-
tee, it is not that the public hasn't had the opportunity to be
aware of this. She went over some areas that are not being
understood by the public and added she will be glad to go over
any section with anyone.
Councilperson Martin spoke on the section regarding the Councils'
compensation. She pointed out that this Council as a complete
new Council got the CIP program underway.
Councilman Jones stated the bottom line is the citizens are going
to make the final decision. He thanked people for their comments
and added he agrees with a lot of them.
Mayor Wessler thanked everyone for their comments. She also
feels we should have options and all the citizens should have a
say. She appealed to the people attending the meetings to take a
stronger, more possitive look at the City Council. This Council
should be appreciated for the hard work they are doing for your
City.
ADJOURNMENT
Councilperson Martin moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilwoman
Gillespie seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 8:15
p.m.
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Minutes submitted by:
Debbie Sigler
Council Public Hearing
March 9, 1992