04-08-1974 - Workshop
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WORKSHOP MEETINGS MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING HELD
APRIL 8, 1974
Mayor Severance called the Special meeting of the Workshop
to order Tuesday, April 8,1974 at 7:00 P.~1. in the r1ayor's
office.
The Mayor then turned the floor over to the City Attorney.
City pttorney Joseph E. Weaver stated that he received a
copy of the letter from Mr. Mathews, and called the Mayor
at the Cape Friday and requested that he set up this Special
Meeting tonight with Mr. Mathews and his client~ to discuss
the settlement of the case that has been pending against the
City. The important thing for tonight is that we are really
not here to discuss the merrits of the case, just what Mr.
Mathews said in his letter, a settlement and to hear what he
has to say.
Mr. Mathews stated that he has Mr. Ray and Mr. Gillis with him.
Mr. Ray and Mr. Gillis are stockholders of Faith Brothers, Mr.
Caldwell is their Business Manager. He stated that when publicity
gets stirred anything that seems to be of a scandelous nature
just continues to grow. These men desire to continue to build
but based on information, there has appeared to be a lot of
harassment, th~t they were having to go through. We are here
for not only a settlement of the smit, we are here for settlement
of knowing just exactually what policy is going to be in the
City.
City Attorney Weaver asked if this harassment has been made by
City Officials or who, this is speaking outside of the lawsuit.
Mr. Mathews stated that before Mr. Ray could get back to see
what was wrong with these houses, to check them, it had to
be corrected, it didn1t even fit the doors, then the City
Commision made an inspection, there were several others.
City Attorney Weaver seated that it would be the policy of the
City at this point, that as long as all buildings are passed
by the building inspector at this point and in conformance with
the Building Code there will be no harassment what so ever and
if there is the City would order whoever is harassing them to
seise forth "lit.
Mr. Mathews stated that he wouldn1t ask the City eommisston
or anybody in the City to do special favors for these men, they
are in the business and they have got to conform to the Code.
He stated that he thinks that the publicity was unfortunate
not only for the Faith Brothers Co. but for the City too.
Then he would certainely expect to do what is expected of them.
City Attorney Weaver stated there are 20 homes under construction
right now. The problems that were really the basis of this
whole ruckus, were three homes. We have had no communications
with the buildinq inspectors, who have been on the job since
March, of any further problems. He is the man that we have
delegated this responsibility to. He is the one that is going
to arrest you if there are any more violations. But there has
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been no reports back to us of any violations of the program
at this point.
Mayor Severance stated that they have the full right to carry
out the ordinances in the code and then report back the violations
and we have received none form any sorce at this point. They
also were instructed to reinspect or inspect at the stages that
eachhome was left in when Mr. LaBonde left our services.
City Attorney Weaver stated since we have had County people
on as inspectors, we have heard no bad complaints and we
assume that they are doing their job, this is for all contuactors
and people doing construction in the City, including Faith
Brothers.
One of the Faith Brothers men stated that they are still not
sure as whether the City Council expects something more or what.
They are not too sure where they stand with these particular
homes.
City Attorney Weaver stated that Faith Brothers should get
with the County Inspectors on the job now and have them check it
out. The house is there. if they can work it out with the inspectors
and make it come up to the code it will be acceptable. If the
building inspector finds no violations in this house then it
should be acceptable.
Mayor Severance stated that if the contractors in Edgewater
all contractors, as far as he is concerned if they go according
to the code that we have and the Ordinances that we have that
either strengthens it or stretches it, as long as they stay
within these boundaries, everybody is treated the same.
City Attorney Weaver stated that we can not
action, This is a Special Workshop meeting.
any action until there is a Spetial Meeting
Special purpose or a regua1r meeting.
Mayor Severaoce stated that we had asked Mr. LaForce upon
his completion of the corrections that he was planning to make
to contact us and let us know those corrections had been made.
Then we would have the inspectors go out there and inspect
to see whether or not the corrections had been ma~e. To his
knowledge we have not received any correspondance that he has
made all of the corrections, he did make a statement at one
Monday night meeting of March the 1st or 2nd, that some corrections
had been made but not all of them. We requested that he give
us a letter when he had all of them made, then the inspec~crs
would go out and use this letter as a guide line for the corrections.
tale any formal
We can't take
calles for a
City Attorney Weaver stated,that if Faith Brothers has any fu rther
problems of what they feel in their minds are harassment, they
should let the Council know about this.
The Faith Brothers men stated that one of the items that he can
remember that was on the letter was the straps instead of anchor
bolts. He stated that they feea feel that it is the best way
to anchor the wall, because after you put an anchor bolt in, a
lot of times you don't get as good of job. These straps are
approved by the Southern Standard Building Code. It is in the
wall, there is no way that you can change it. If the City wants
a bolt then it would be alright with them. It is a matter of
opinion as to how strong the'strap is. He stated that the siding
was renai1ed. The vapor barrior has to be on the inside of the
wall.
City Attorney Weaver stated thatif Faith Brothers contacts the
building inspector and possibly he can make some recommendation
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and it is acceptable to him then it will be acceptable to
us. We are willing to ER~B~ coorporate with Faith Brothers
in any way that we possilby can.
Mayor Severance adjourned this Workshmp Meeting.
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