01-05-1983 - Workshop
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CITY OF EDGEWATER
City Council Workshop
January 5, 1983
Minutes
The Workshop for discussion of the referendum was called to order by Mayor
McKillop following the Special Council meeting.
The City Attorney opened the meeting by explaining that there are three
basic forms of municipal governments, and the council needed to determine
when they wanted to have the referendum, keeping in mind that it will take
about 45 days to"hold the election. He said that the Charter does not set
forth clearly what type of government or combination of the three is to be
had. He suggested that if they go to referendum they should put there what
form of government they are voting on. He also read the descriptions of
each form of government: the Commission form, the Mayor and Council form,
and the Commission/Manager form. If the Council form is chosen you have
to give specific powers.
Councilman Asting said that the coordinator form which they had previously,
worked well. The Councilman was just a liaison between the department and
the Council.
Discussion was had on the various forms of City government. The Mayor
wondered if Council shouldn't decide on the form before it went to refer-
endum. He suggested they first agree on the jobs and the job titles. To
go to referendum before making these decisions would be neglecting their
jobs. He suggested having a public hearing to get input from the people,
then go to the people with a referendum with a positive choice for them.
Councilman Spencer said he believed if they are going to have a referendum
they should give the people the opportunity of choosing the form of govern-
ment they want.
The City Attorney pointed out that the Charter says that certain things.
must be changed only by referendum and others may be changed by Ordinance.
The Charter is the only thing that gives stability and continuity.
Mayor McKillop asked the City Clerk what duties she is performing now as
administrator/city clerk, and what duties she has relinquished. She said
she was now doing the agenda, which was the City Clerk's duty. Elections
are the City Clerk's duties. Before City Manager form the finance office
reported to the City Clerk; basically the past two weeks have been admin-
istrative - getting caught up.
The Mayor asked for suggestions from Council as to what is going on the
referendum. It was the opinion of Councilman Asting and Councilman Ledbetter
that the only question was, Do you want a City Manager form of government
or not?
Councilman Ledbetter said there has been a question on the ballot and refer-
endum many times pertaining to the City Manager form of government. He
suggested that Mrs. Blazi pull those and give Council a copy.
The City Attorney said the suggestion of the Elections Department in Talla-
hassee to make a valid Charter amendment is the voters should be informed
by mail what is going to be on the ballot because in order to put it in
the ballot, the question will be "Select one of the following forms of
government to amend Section 9 of the City Charter of the City of Edgewater."
Then it will say, "Vote for One Only", which will be "City Manager Form",
"City Council Form", or "Strong Mayor Form". Posted at the polling places
will be a description of the three forms, similar to the descriptions sent
to the people beforehand, to their homes and similar to what will appear
in the newspapers. The one with the highest number of votes gets it; it
doesn't have to be 51 percent.
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There was further discussion about what should go on the referendum.
Councilman Spencer said he was opposed to a referendum, but if there is
going to be one he thought it should be on all the reasonable forms of
government. Councilman Ledbetter and Councilman Asting both agreed that
if the people voted for the City Manager form of government on referendum
they would support the City Manager form.
Council wanted the City Attorney's opinion as to whether or not they could
attend meetin~ favoring or opposing certain forms of government prior to
the referendum.
The Council members directed the City Attorney to prepare a description
of the three forms of government of which he spoke earlier so that they
could review it at their leisure and come to an agreement.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 p.m.
Minutes submitted by Joan Taylor
- 2 -
Council Workshop
Referendum
1/5/83