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06-21-1989 IWO 1 1100 June 28, 1989 CITY OF EDGEWATER JOINT MEETING CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE MERIT BOARD WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 1989 7:00 P.M. EDGEWATER LIBRARY Chairman Gigi Bennington called to order a joint meeting of the Charter Review Committee and the Merit Board at 6:57 p.m., Wednesday, June 21, 1989, at the Edgewater Library. Charter Review Committee members present were Gigi Bennington, Jack Hayman, Mary Martin, Domminick Fazzone, Susan Wadsworth, and City Attorney Jose' Alvarez. Members from the Merit Board present were Harry Jones, Karen Grasberger, Marvin Owens, Cece Stevens, and Sherry Young. Also present was Beverly Kinney, Secretary and various members were represented from the other Agencies and Boards of the City. The summary from the May 24, 1989, and June 14, 1989, meetings were presented for approval. Mrs. Martin moved to approve, seconded by Mr. Fazzone. Mr. Fazzone noted on the June 14, 1989, summary, page 3 should be ARTICLE VII not ARTICLE VI. Motion Carried unanimously. There was much discussion regarding Section 4.04 Personnel System as it pertained to the Merit Board. Members of the Merit Board and some of the other participants believed wording from the current charter should remain in the proposed charter, ie: "The decisions and recommendations of the merit board shall be final, unless appealed to the city council, which may reverse such decisions or recommendations only by the unanimous vote of the city council." It was also noted that the vote of the council had been changed, by ordinance, to four - fifths (4/5). The charter review committee believed this wording was not needed in the charter, but should be handled in ordinance form. The merit board and members of the audience believed ordinances could and have been changed, and they did not want to lose any authority they have at the present time. Mr. Jones cited Section 13 -22 which addresses the merit board's role in the administration of the City's personnel program. Page 1 ■ 400 400 There was also discussion regarding the role of union representation vs the merit board. Everyone seemed to be in agreement that some issues should go directly to court if an employee had a merit grievance with the city instead of appealing to the council. It was noted that with the proposed charter the employees would have greater representation than they currently have. There was some discussion regarding issues between the former city manager and the merit board. The Charter Review Committee and members of the audience discussed 3 year staggered terms for council vs 4 year staggered terms with the Mayor having a 2 year term. There was also discussion regarding redistricting. City Attorney Alvarez was excused at approximately 8:30 p.m. Transition: ARTICLE VII (to become ARTICLE VI) Mr. Fazzone offered new proposed wording for Section 3.03 (2 options) as the current proposed wording seemed to be in conflict with ARTICLE VI. Option 1: The general election of the city council shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March, and on the corresponding day of each electionA ereafter in the manner prescribed in ARTICLE V of this charter. The term of office shall be for three (3) years, beginning on the third Monday in March. Option 2: The general election of the city council shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday 4d each odd numbered year, in the manner prescribed in ARTICLE V of this charter. The term of off ice for mayor shall be two (2) years. The term of office for council members to be four (4) years. Each term shall begin on the third Monday in March. After some discussion Mrs. Martin moved to accept the wording presented by Mr. Fazzone for the proposed charter, Section 3.03, seconded by Mr. Hayman. Motion Carried unanimously. The members discussed hovi -g a straw ballot for the proposed staggered terms in the upcoming newsletter. All agreed it would be a good idea. Charter Review Committee Regular Meeting Wednesday, June 21, 1989 Page 2 ; 60 1 0100 Mrs. Bennington read the 19ti2 ballot regarding adoption of the charter and options to vote for mayor. The members discussed the time frame for having the proposed charter ready for adoption by the council and the electors of the city. It was agreed the November deadline would be putting too much pressure on the committee and more time would be needed to do the job right. They agreed that March seemed more realistic. ARTICLE VI: Transition Schedule Section 6.01: Continuation of Former Charter Provisions (proposed wording -model charter) All provisions of chapter , Laws of Florida (the former charter) as amended by special law or otherwise which are not embraced herein and which are not inconsistent with this charter shall become ordinances of the city subject to modification or repeal in the same manner as other ordinances of the city. Section 6.02: Ordinances Preserved (proposed wording -model charter) All ordinances in effect upon the adoption of this charter, to the extent not inconsistent with it, shall remain in force until repealed or changed as provided herein. Section 6.03: Rights of Officers and Employees (proposed wording -model charter) Nothing in this charter except as otherwise specifically provided shall affect or impair the rights or privileges of persons who are city officers or employees at the time of adoption. Elected officers shall continue to hold their offices and discharge the duties thereof until their successors are elected. Section 6.04: Pending Matters (proposed wording -model charter) All rights, claims, actions, orders, contracts and legal or administrative proceedings involving the city shall continue except as modified pursuant to the provisions of this charter. Charter Review Committee Regular Meeting Wednesday, June 21, 1989 Page 3 Section 6.06: Schedule (proposed wording -Mr. Fazzone) Option 1 - (a) First Election. At the time of its adoption, this charter shall be in effect to the extent necessary in order that the first election of members of the city council and mayor may be conducted in accordance with the provisions herein. The first election shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March, A.D., 1991. The city council elected under the former charter shall prepare and adopt by resolution temporary regulations applicable only to the first election and designed to insure its proper conduct and to prevent fraud. At the first election under this charter, all four (4) council members and mayor shall be elected; the two (2) council members receiving the greatest number of votes and mayor shall serve for terms of three (3) years and the two (2) council members receiving the next greatest number of votes shall be for terms of '" (2) years 4 The terms of council members and mayor shall begin on the third Monday in March, A.D., 1991. Lv ��q3 - Section 6.0 Schedule (proposed wording Mr. Fazzone) C 1 Option 2 - (a) First Election. At the time of its adoption, this charter shall be in effect to the extent necessary in order that the first election of members of the city council and mayor may be conducted in accordance with the provisions herein. The first election shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March, A.D., 1991. The city council elected under the former charter shall prepare and adopt by resolution temporary regulations applicable only to the first election and designed to insure its proper conduct and to prevent fraud. At the first election under this charter, all four (4) council members and mayor shall be elected. The mayor to serve a two (2) year term. the two (2) council members receiving the greatest number of votes shall serve for terms of four (4) years and the two (2) council members receiving the next greatest number of votes shall serve for terms of two (2) years. Thereafter, all elections for council members shall be for terms of four (4) years, and the mayor's shall be two (2) years per charter. The terms of council members and mayor shall begin on the third Monday in March, A.D., 1991. Charter Review Committee Regular Meeting Wednesday, June 21, 1989 Page 4 IMF Section 6.06: Schedule (proposed wording -model charter) (b) Time of Taking Full Effect. This charter shall be in full effect for all purposes on and after the third Monday in March, 1990. (c) First Council Meeting. (d) Transition Ordinances. (e) Initial Salary of Councilmembers. This is not to be included in Article VI, as it is already covered in Section 3.04. Section 6.07: Deletion of Obsolete Schedule Items (proposed wording -model charter) The council shall have power, by resolution, to delete from this ARTICLE VI any section, including this one, when all events to which the section to be deleted is or could become applicable have occurred. Mrs. Martin moved to accept the proposed wording for the new charter subject to legal review, seconded by Mr. Hayman. Motion Carried unanimously. It was agreed by the committe to have the City Attorney look into all matters pending. The committee agreed to meet on Wednesday, June 28, 1989, at 3:00 p.m., in the conference room of City Hall, and begin reviewing the current charter. There being no further business, Mr. Fazzone moved to adjourn, seconded by Mrs. Martin. The meeting adjourned at approximately 9:25 p.m. Charter Review Committee Regular Meeting Wednesday, June 21, 1989 Summary Respectfully submitted by: Beverly Kinney, Secretary Page 5