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06-12-1989 - Workshop \ ^" '-" ...., CITY COUNCIL OF EDGEWATER WORKSHOP JUNE 12, 1989 MINUTES Mayor Mitchum called the Workshop to order at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall conference room. He stated the purpose was for interview of Mr. E11y Johnson, an applicant for the City Manager's position. ROLL CALL Mayor David Mitchum Councilman Dan Hatfield Councilwoman Gigi Bennington Councilman Russell Gold Councilman Thomas Fish City Attorney Josel Alvarez Acting City Manager Susan Wadsworth Chief Lawrence Schumaker Present Present Present Excused Present Excused Present Present Mayor Mitchum introduced those present to Mr. Johnson. Councilman Fish asked his experience with large construction projects. Mr. Johnson reviewed his experiences with construction of a sewer plant in Cocoa Beach at $2 million dollars and a large project in Cape Coral. Councilman Fish asked if he was associated with the operation of the various utilities. Mr. Johnson replied he was associated with natural gas, water, sewer, and garbage and at Cocoa Beach the sewer utility was selected the best plant in the State for 2 or 3 years. Councilman Fish stated that it looked like he started at the bottom and worked his way to the top. He asked how many of the cities held worked at were extremely fast growing and if he's had experience with the type of growth welre about to experience. Mr. Johnson replied in Cocoa Beach in 1977 it was going through rapid growth, Tamarac had quite a bit of growth, and Cape Coral probably had the most growth. Councilman Fish asked if was exposed to road projects. Mr. Johnson replied yes. Councilman Fish asked how held describe his management philosophy. Mr. Johnson replied he's a hands-on type Manager and is strong, with Council as the policy maker. He added that he expects strong Department Heads and he's responsive to citizens and the Council. He said with the true form of City Manager government the Manager is the Administrator and Council makes the policies. Councilman Fish asked if he encourages employee participation in major organizational decisions. Mr. Johnson replied that he looks to Department Heads and staff for comments when making decisions but doesn't think he should get input from employees and they should give their Department Head input. Councilman Fish asked how he feels interpersonal conflicts are best dealt with. Mr. Johnson replied one on one, and if he has a problem with a Department Head hel11 call him to the office and he expects him to do that in his department, or his supervisor. He said when a laborer comes to him about a supervisor, he'11 refer him to the supervisor first as it's not fair to the Department Head to short circuit him. Councilman Fish asked the role of the City Manager, his relationship to the Council, and to what degree and through what method or level the City Council should be advised of the goings on of the City. Mr. Johnson replied each person on Council should tell the Manager what he expects and if he's selected, he'11 work with all five and see what they want to know, and if it's anything major, he'11 tell them. He added that they have to tell him how far they want him to go, and if they don't communicate, it won't work. Mr. Johnson stated that if there's a problem, he wants them to come and talk to him and ask him to look into it and hel11 respond to them if the problem needs an answer. Councilman Fish asked his major accomplishments in his role as City Administrator in Miami Shores. Mr. Johnson replied he maintained the status and the community is located in an area thatls slowly being taken over by low income property owners and renting. He reviewed a block barricade project they'd done and the security problem regarding cars in a country club being broken into. ... ..",., Councilman Fish asked what types of decisions held delegate to others on the staff and why. Mr. Johnson replied day to day would be delegated to Department Heads and if there's a problem, theyld come to him. He said the policy decisions would go through the Department Heads to him and to Council. Councilman Fish asked what aspects of this position interest him. Mr. Johnson repl ied getting back to a full service community with a lot of action and potential. He added that whoever comes here, it will be beneficial to him and the City. Councilman Fish asked what aspects concern him most. Mr. Johnson replied not being familiar with the budget, seeing so many things that need to be done, and not understanding the Department Heads, which will take 60 to 90 days. Councilman Fish stated the City doesn't have a Personnel Director. He asked if there would be a problem being Personnel Director and City Manager. Mr. Johnson replied not for the present time, but with what he sees happening in the next three years, the City Manager will be a full time position. He added that now he's a City Clerk and is a Certified Municipal Finance Officer and City Clerk. Councilwoman Bennington asked for a brief rundown of his experience. Mr. Johnson reviewed his start in Georgia in 1966 as a Finance Officer and progression to various positions to taking the position of Village Manager of Miami Shores two years ago. He noted that Miami Shores has a private country club owned and operated by the municipality. Councilwoman Bennington asked if they knew he was applying. Mr. Johnson replied two know, and if selected, he'll give them names of Council members they can talk to. He added that held like to locate in Central Florida. Councilwoman Bennington asked how he views his role between City Council and staff. Mr. Johnson replied that if they operate as the ordinance stipulates, it's plain. He noted that he has problems with staff having lunch with a Mayor or Council member because it creates problems with the rest of the staff. He added that 3 of the 5 Council he has now will come to him and say they have to speak to someone and he has no problem with that. Mr. Johnson added that he's been almost 23 years in City government. He asked how strong a Manager they want and stated if they want him to operate professionally, they have to support him. He asked they give him the opportunity to do the job and keep them informed and if they don't want that, he'll leave. He added that he's always got along with Council because hels kept them informed and he's strong for his Department Heads and will support them as long as they do their jobs. Counc ilwoman Benn i ngton asked about the re 1 at i on of the City Manager to the advisory boards. Mr. Johnson replied that advisory boards are advisers to the Mayor and Council and he's never had a problem dealing with the boards and he periodically attends their meetings. Councilwoman Bennington asked how held handle an advisory board that gives him documented statements or evidence that has come to their attention through the review process of a City employee or department within the City not functioning. Mr. Johnson replied that if it's administrative duties, he'll handle it, but if it's another type of matter, helll call the Chief in if itls illegal. He added that held have it checked out thoroughly and if it's proven to be wrong, he'll go back to them and tell them it was wrong. He said if the documents are there and they can prove it, he'll have no problem with it. Councilman Hatfield asked what he felt his work schedule or hours would be and if he has a problem with staying later than 4:30 to talk to a Council member. Mr. Johnson replied he has an open door policy and will stay until they get here or meet them anytime as he thinks it's very important. Councilman Hatfield asked what his working relationship would be with the County and other municipalities and State governments. Mr. Johnson said held sit down and discuss it if they had a problem but his first responsibility would be to Edgewater. Councilman Hatfield asked if held have a problem with speaking at the County if the County mandates something that would be detrimental to the City. Mr. Johnson replied he has no problem with that. Councilman Hatfield asked if the public should deal with the Department Heads or City Manager when they have complaints. Mr. Johnson replied that if it's a pot hole or something, he'll call the Department Head or tell them to call him and he'll fill in a Citizen Complaint form and expect a response back. -2- Council Workshop Minutes June 12, 1989 ~ ...., Councilwoman Bennington asked what held do if a citizen is not satisfied with the response hels getting and is badgering the employees and gets to the Manager. Mr. Johnson replied that nobody who works for the City needs to be cursed and he'll stop it, and if that doesn't work, he'll call the Chief for help. He added that he'll be respectful to the people and will tell them when they cannot do something but Council will get telephone calls and they can call him and helll te 11 them why he to 1 d the person what he did. He sa i d there wi 11 be some problems they won't be able to resolve. Councilman Hatfield stated they need to create stability within the government for the citizens and he feels they should train employees. He asked what training programs held recommend. Mr. Johnson replied he was at the Institute of Government for Central Florida and is now Chairman of a Steering Committee and he's a strong advocate of training of employees and there are programs in the Community Colleges for training. Mayor Mitchum asked if he's aware of the Capital Improvements Program. Mr. Johnson replied yes. Mayor Mitchum stated it's a $35 million dollar project and asked if that concerns him in any way. Mr. Johnson replied held like to read about it, see how far along they are in the process and the plans, and what's involved to understand it better. He said he understood it's in the design process and held like to see a time table, who will supervise the construction, and who will represent the City. He referred to a building in Cocoa Beach, and said this project is great and he's very interested in what's going on. Mayor Mitchum asked if hels been through a water and sewer plant expansion and paving. Mr. Johnson replied yes, suggesting they go to Cocoa Beach to see that plant. He added that he's familiar with the process and has been involved in various plants. He pointed out he won't be in the office 8 hours a day and part of his schedule is to be out to see what's going on. Mayor Mitchum asked what his first couple of months would be. Mr. Johnson replied that the first month he'll be meeting with Department Heads and becoming familiar with them, doing a lot of reading and seeing what projects they're involved in, and status of Comprehensive Plan and that the projects are done in the time frame they want them done. He expressed concern with the situation between the wellfields. Mayor Mitchum stated they'd short listed to three but are taking more appli- cations because of the deadline. He asked at what point they could contact the people. Mr. Johnson replied that if he's first choice he has no problem but he has commitments. Councilman Fish asked what type of benefit package held look for if he were hired. Mr. Johnson replied held look for vacation and sick pay the employees have, whatever they contribute to the employees' retirement held like to have contributed to ICMA, for the City to be a recognized by ICMA, a term insurance policy of double his salary which would be about $200 a year, participation in the Association, next year held like to go to the ICMA Conference, participation League meetings, and a car allowance as he doesn't want a City car, and it would be anywhere in Volusia County. He said held like them to consider moving expenses and they can negotiate that and salary. He said for severance pay after a year, six months, the first year for the first three months you get 6-1/2 weeks, the second six months you'd accumulate that, but you'd have to be here a year before you got the full amount. He said there's an alternative with a society called the American Executives and they have a policy they're trying to get approved by the State where 1/2 of 1% of his salary would be contributed which would be around $30 or $40 a month and after a year's time, they'd pay the severance pay. He said for a time frame, it would be two or maybe three weeks, but there's a problem because he's been notified that there's a possibility he'll be a finalist in another job. He said he also has a problem with his landlord and has to give him notice as soon as possible and he doesnlt want to go into signing another lease and lose a deposit. He expressed concern with becoming familiar with the budget so that he could give the budget presentation with full knowledge. Mr. Johnson commented on the potential of Edgewater with programs that will benefit the community. He hoped they'd tell him what they expect and if he's selected, he hoped they'd make a commitment and give him the opportunity to respond if they have a question and if they don't understand items on the agenda to let him know. -3- Council Workshop Minutes June 12, 1989 : . ...... ...... Mayor Mitchum thanked Mr. Johnson for coming and told him held be advised of the decision. Councilman Fish moved to adjourn. Councilwoman Bennington seconded the motion. Workshop was adjourned at 6:47 p.m. Minutes submitted by: Lura Sue Koser ~</I/'/4/L- /MA YOR EXCUSED COUNCI AN - ZONE THREE ATTEST: ~ /;r~ MANAGER -4- Council Workshop Minutes June 12, 1989