12-12-2011 - Special CITY COUNCIL OF EDGEWATER
SPECIAL MEETING
DECEMBER 12, 2011
4:00 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
MINUTES
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Thomas called the Special Meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. in the
Council Chambers.
ROLL CALL
Mayor Michael Thomas Present
Councilman Justin Kennedy Present
Councilwoman Gigi Bennington Present
Councilman Michael Ignasiak Present
Council Seat District 4 Vacant
City Manager Tracey Barlow Present
City Clerk Bonnie Wenzel Present
City Attorney Aaron Wolfe Present
City Clerk Wenzel identified Council Seat District 4 seat was vacant
due to the passing of Councilman Ted Cooper.
INVOCATION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
There was a silent invocation and pledge of allegiance to the Flag.
2. PUBLIC HEARINGS, ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
A. Resolution No. 2011 -R -24 - Calling a Special Election -
Primary & General, if necessary, to fill the vacancy in
Council Seat District 4 for the unexpired term
City Attorney Wolfe read Resolution 2011 -R -24 into the record.
City Clerk Wenzel made a staff presentation regarding the way
elections are outlined in the Charter. She also presented dates for
the primary and general election if necessary and qualifying. The
City Clerk, City Manager and Mayor would be serving on the City's
Canvassing Board and would have to go over to Deland after the
election. They were suggesting opting out of Early Voting. The last
election handled by the City was in 2007 before it was turned over to
the County at a cost of $24,543, which was approximately what they
were looking at in terms of cost for the Special Election for which
they would need a budget amendment.
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Council Special Meeting
December 12, 2011
Ann McFall, Volusia County Supervisor of Elections, stated anything
the Department of Elections can do to assist the City, they stand
ready, willing and able. She then identified City Clerk Wenzel as
being the Supervisor of Elections in this City election. The City
contracts with her department to perform the election process. She
also commented on the early voting issue and estimated only 1,300
voters would turn out based on the 13,553 registered voters in
Edgewater. She then identified the turnout from other cities at being
between 9% and 15 %. She estimated an early voting site would cost
approximately $5,000.
Councilman Ignasiak asked if only one person would qualify would that
negate the need for an election. Ms. McFall informed him it would
because the assumption is they would vote for themselves.
Councilwoman Bennington asked if the $24,000 included early voting.
City Clerk Wenzel informed her it did not. Councilwoman Bennington
stated they weren't dong the early voting because of the turnout and
the timeframe. City Clerk Wenzel stated that was her suggestion for
that reason. Ms. McFall commented on the turnout being somewhat
constricted in that they have a countywide election on January 31S
Councilman Kennedy questioned where the costs come from. City Clerk
Wenzel provided the costs for the primary and general elections based
on the 2000 election. She further informed Council the County would
be taking care of the absentee ballots if anyone requests those.
Councilwoman Bennington asked about only have three days for
qualifying. City Clerk Wenzel informed her it was four. City
Attorney Wolfe informed City Clerk Wenzel he saw in the resolution on
Page 2 Section 2, it indicated qualifying would be from Monday,
January 3r and he believed it should be Tuesday. City Clerk Wenzel
informed him it should and made note of the correction.
Councilwoman Bennington felt anybody that wanted to run better be
ready. City Clerk Wenzel informed her that was a normal qualifying
period. Ms. McFall identified State Law dictates four days but people
can pick up packets any time.
City Clerk Wenzel pointed out they were originally going to do an
ordinance but due to time constraints they changed it to a resolution
due to not being able to have an ordinance adopted in time for the
deadline of resign to run. She informed Council they would not need
to have the second meeting that would have been required if they had
done an ordinance.
Mayor Thomas asked for public comment. There was none at this time.
Councilman Kennedy made a motion to change the day in the resolution
from Monday to Tuesday, second by Councilwoman Bennington.
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Council Special Meeting
December 12, 2011
The MOTION CARRIED 4 -0.
Councilwoman Bennington made a motion to adopt Resolution 2011 -R -24,
calling a special election - primary and general (if necessary) to
fill the vacancy in District 4 and to approve the necessary budget
amendment, second by Councilman Kennedy.
The MOTION CARRIED 4 -0.
Mayor Thomas thanked Ms. McFall for coming.
3. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to discuss, Councilwoman Bennington
moved to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 4:09 p.m.
Minutes submitted by:
Lisa Bloomer, CMC
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Council Special Meeting
December 12, 2011