01-25-1990 CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING
THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 1990
3:00 P.M.
CONFERENCE ROOM, CITY HALL
Councilmember Gigi Bennington called to order the meeting of the
Charter Review Committee at 3:12 p.m., Thursday, January 25,
1990, in the Conference Room of City Hall.
Members present were Councilmember Gigi Bennington, Jack Hayman,
and Dominick Fazzone. Mary Martin arrived at 3:14 p.m. City
Manager Elly Johnson and City Attorney Jose Alvarez were excused.
Also present were Jake Lodico, Norman Billups, Tom Sheridan, Paul
Biggerstaff, Ken Millard, George Ewing, and Lisa Kruckmeyer,
Secretary.
Concilmember Bennington commented that they needed to discuss the
Council changes. She also mentioned she had asked for some money
for public relations and was told a budget was needed.
There was some discussion on the Final Draft. Jack Hayman
commented that a citizen wanted some of the legalise taken out
to make it more understandable and there was also some concern on
staggered terms. Councilmember Bennington said the Council
wanted the draft presented with the questions that are wanted on
the ballot. Dominick Fazzone stated that he represents the
citizens of Edgewater and nobody wants a four year term for
anybody, nobody's come forward to defend the three year term, no
one has come out and said they want staggered terms. He said the
way he sees it the citizens of Edgewater want the elections held
in November and they want a two year term as it is today. He
also said the citizens want to be able to talk at the beginning
of the meeting and at the end of the meeting. He proposed that
these changes be made and sent back to the Council. Jack Hayman
agreed. He felt they need to inform the public that if they
really want all of these things they have to start letting people
know. He also said it should be given back to the Council and
they should be told that this is what the citizens want. Mary
Martin commented that no feedback was received until it was being
presented to the Council.
Mr. Ken Millard, of 238 N. Riverside Drive, stated he is afraid
of losing the whole Charter over one thing. Councilmember
Bennington said that comments at the beginning and at the end of
the meeting should be made an option and the citizens should
decide.
Mr. George Ewing, of 2923 Royal Palm Drive, stated he had talked
to two Councilmen and they don't want the option of comments at
the beginning and at the end of the meeting. Councilmember
Bennington said the biggest thing that has to be decided is what
is going to be done with the items that are controversial, how
are they going to be addressed and then do it. Jack Hayman said
the citizens are starting to ask a lot of questions about what is
in the draft and that is great. Mr. Millard commented that
anything that gives more freedom and more power to the people is
the correct road to be on and anything that takes away from the
people's right to decide something is questionable. He felt Mr.
Fazzone was correct when he said that the lengthening of terms of
elected officials takes away from the public's power to control
those same elected people.
Mr. Ewing stated you have to find out who are the majority and
what do they want. Councilmember Bennington said that is why you
put it to the referendum and let the majority rule. Mr. Norman
Billups, of 1860 Pine Tree Drive, mentioned that we live in a
democracy and not a dictatorship, and that should apply city
wide.
Councilmember Bennington asked the Committee what they wanted to
do, if they wanted to go with Mr. Fazzone's suggestion or do they
want to go with the public relations. Jack Hayman said he
thought they should do some public relations work. He feels that
if something isn't done, they are going to be in a situation
where the Council will turn to them and say thanks but no thanks.
He also mentioned that they did everything they could to be
invited guests to different organizations and only one
organization responded. Mr. Millard suggested the way to get a
valid poll is to hire a local market research firm to interview
the citizens and ask objective, non -bias questions. He also said
there are three motivations for any elected person. The first
one is ego, the second is the urge to be re- elected, and the
third is doing what is right for the people based upon high
principles. Councilmember Bennington mentioned that the proposed
budget has to get out to the people in non - legalise terms so
that they understand. She also mentioned a letter to the editor
written by Tom Sheridan, of 1911 Willow Oak Drive, in reference
to getting information out to the people. She explained to Mr.
Sheridan that it costs money to get information out to people.
Mr. Sheridan was concerned with what happened to the newsletter.
Councilmember Bennington said the Charter was going to have to be
advertised and cable channels are very cheap. Jack Hayman
mentioned the media, city organizations, city resources, meter
reader, and supporting organizations as ways of geting the
information to the public. Mary Martin said what has to be done
is to determine exactly where the questionable parts of the
Charter are and those are the questions that have to be
addressed.
Mr. Ewing commented that in his opinion the Charter as a whole is
a good Charter.
Mr. Jake Lodico, of 302 N. Riverside Drive, brought up the
subject of the voting machines. Councilmember Bennington
explained that twice as many people will fit in them and the
citizens will have the information available before they get
there so they won't have to stand in the booth and read
everything. Mr. Fazzone stated there are four items in the
draft that are in question. The first one is rules & journals,
the second one is time of elections, the third one is terms of
office and the last one is compensation.
Mr. Ewing was concerned with department heads that do not reside
in the city. Councilmember Bennington said it is
unconstitutional after they have been employed for a certain
amount of time to put this kind of requirement in.
Mr. Sheridan mentioned background research and check on all
employees. He asked if there is anything in the Charter that
mentions there should be a background check on the City Manager.
Councilmember Bennington said no. Mr. Sheridan felt it should
be included. Mr. Ewing questioned if City employees get a
medical exam, and Councilmember Bennington said yes. Mr.
Sheridan mentioned there should be something in the Charter to
protect the tax payers from bringing somebody in that is not
capable of doing the job.
Mr. Millard asked if it was possible to put aside any thought of
changing the present election process and make that another issue
that could be discussed and decided at a later date at another
referendum. Mr. Hayman suggested getting some additional
feedback, trying to get some of the public relations and some of
the survey done. Councilmember Bennington came to the conclusion
that they have to decide how to determine what to do on rules &
journals, time of elections, terms of office, and compensation.
Mr. Fazzone explained that nothing is going to be rushed into
that shouldn't be done. He commented that he has gotten input
from the people that he represents. Mary Martin said they have
gone out of their way to prevent a one word defeat by pulling out
some of these questionable items.
Councilmember Bennington stated she is going to ask the City
Clerk to get information on prices for ads in the newspapers and
on cable television. A meeting was scheduled for Thursday,
February 15, 1990. With no further business to discuss, Mr.
Fazzone moved to adjourn the meeting and Mary Martin seconded the
motion. The Committee adjourned at approximately 4:41 p.m.
Minutes submitted by:
Lisa Kruckmeyer