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07-10-1984 - Special/Workshop -~ u ~ CITY COUNCIL OF EDGEWATER SPECIAL MEETING AND WORKSHOP JULY 10, 1984 MINUTES Mayor David Ledbetter called the Special Meeting and Workshop to order at 10:00 A.M in the Community Center. ROLL CALL Mayor David Ledbetter Councilman Melbourne Wargo Councilwoman Gigi Bennington Councilman Neil Asting Present Present Present Present Councilman Jack Spencer City Attorney Josel Alvarez City Clerk Connie Kinsey Excused Arrived Later Present Mayor Ledbetter stated the purpose of the meeting and workshop is to review all candi- dates selected at earl ier interviews to be considered further for the position of Pol ice Chief. Councilman Asting moved to go into a workshop for discussion of the appl ications. Councilwoman Bennington seconded the motion. Motion CARRIED 4-0. Councilman Wargo suggested they go through the 1 ist one by one and poll Council to decide if they want to consider that person further. Mayor Ledbetter and Councilman Asting agreed to this suggestion. Pat Lamee, from the audience, called a point of order that these should be verbal repl ies so they will be on the tape. City Clerk Kinsey read the 1 ist of names and Council members voted yes or no. The following are the number of yes votes by appl icant: Gene Johnson - none; Chester Kowalski - two; Anthony Raimondo - one; David Johnson - none; James Kolbinskie - none; Will iam Sidoran - four; Dennis Velte - one; Douglas Betts - three; C. F. Myhr - one; Craig Humble - one; Thomas Watkins - none; Thomas Wall - none; Gerald Hytry - none; Henry Koder, Jr. - none; T. J. Quinlan - none; Gary Hogeland - two; and Paul Frost, Jr. - none. Councilman Asting noted he voted no on Gene Johnson because he felt there are others more qual ified as Chief. Councilwoman Bennington noted that eight received at least one vote of Council. Tom Sheridan, from the audience, recommended that three items be taken into consideration before employment, one is indepth background investigation, second is a complete physical examination, and third is a psychological profile. Councilman Wargo noted that the background and physical are done already. Councilwoman Bennington said it would depend on whether the selection is an existing Chief. Mr. Sheridan stated that there may be something in their backgrounds such as stress that is prompting their looking elsewhere for employment. Councilman Asting stated that since the situation in the Pol ice Department is rapidly deteriorating due to the action previously taken by Council which he didn't agree with, helll vote for a candidate. There was a discussion about the termination of the former Pol ice Chief. Councilman Wargo moved to go back into the Special Meeting session. Councilwoman Bennington seconded the motion. Motion CARRIED 4-0. Councilwoman Bennington stated that Will iam Sidoran had all four votes and she moved to hire Will iam Sidoran at $22,500. Councilman Asting asked that they inform him first that they're offering him the job. Councilwoman Bennington rephrased her motion to be that they offer Will iam Sidoran the job at $22,500. Councilman Asting said held 1 ike to 1 ist at least two choices with Will iam Sidoran as #1 and Douglas Betts as #2, as Mr. Sidoran may turn them down. Mayor Ledbetter suggested if Will iam Sidoran is the first choice that they recess and instruct the City Clerk to call him and make him the offer and he can accept or reject it. Councilman Asting agreed with the suggestion. Councilman Wargo seconded the motion. Councilman Wargo suggested for the sake of procedure they should choose first, second, third, and fourth choices on another motion. Motion CARRIED 4-0. Mayor Ledbetter stated that he voted yes even though that isnlt his first choice because there are people with better credentials, in his opinion. Councilman Asting stated he voted yes because he feels the Pol ice Department needs guidance and a professional person should be selected to do it that has had administrative experience since a large part of the Chief's job is administrative. ~ , u o Councilwoman Bennington moved that Douglas Betts be their second choice, Gary Hogeland the third, and Chester Kowalski the fourth because of their voting. Councilman Wargo seconded the motion. Councilwoman Bennington noted that she picked Mr. Hogeland over Mr. Kowalski because he's in the immediate area and she 1 iked the way he answered questions. Motion CARRIED 3-1. Mayor Ledbetter voted NO. Councilman Wargo stated that it should be impressed on the candidates that Council is doing the hiring and Council will determine the conditions and if it's a matter of a small amount of money, it could be brought back to be considered further. Mayor Ledbetter asked if the money is in the depository for the Pol ice Chief's salary. City Clerk Kinsey stated that funds are available in the overall budget. Councilwoman Bennington moved to recess to make the telephone call. Councilman Asting suggested they mention a probationary period when the call is made. Councilwoman Bennington withdrew her motion. Mayor Ledbetter suggested probation be six months rather than the three months because that isn't enough time to evaluate a man. Councilman Wargo agreed and he moved that the probationary period be six months. Councilman Asting seconded the motion. Motion CARRIED 4-0. Councilwoman Bennington moved to recess for the telephone call to be made. Councilman Wargo seconded the motion. Meeting was recessed at 10:23 A.M. City Clerk Kinsey returned to the meeting and Mayor Ledbetter called the meeting back in session at 11 :10 A.M. City Clerk Kinsey stated that she left a message for Mr. Sidoran but he hasn't yet returned the call. City Clerk Kinsey suggested they review the requests of Sergeant Westfall that were presented at the July 6th meeting regarding his vacation and the hiring of new Pol ice officers. Councilman Wargo moved that they appoint Sergeant Lenz as a replacement for Sergeant Westfall while he's on vacation. Councilwoman Bennington asked if that would be just while he's on vacation or until a new Chief is appointed. Councilman Wargo added that" it would be until he returns or the new Chief is hired. Councilwoman Bennington seconded the motion, and she noted that Sergeant Lenz is next in line and they need to do something. Motion CARRIED 4-0. City Clerk Kinsey read the July 5th memo from Sergeant Westfall requesting authorization to hire three new Pol ice officers. Councilwoman Bennington said there was confusion about the number of patrolmen they are down now but with Sergeant Westfall IS vacation and Sergeant Lenz taking the officer-in-charge position they have to do something to have more on patrol. Councilwoman Bennington moved that City Clerk Kinsey sit in on the oral review and Council authorize two officers to be hired but not at the same time, one at one time and another within a week or two weeks, and their probation be extended to six months so they will come under the new Chief. City Clerk Kinsey pointed out that their union contract may enter into this. Councilman Wargo said the new Chief should be able to evaluate them with the 90 days that is required now. Councilman Asting asked who would be sitting in on the oral review and City Clerk Kinsey repl ied it has been two dispatchers, a detective, and sergeant that conducted them and she sits in and 1 istens to the answers. She added that a Chief was also present. Councilman Asting suggested they ask a Chief to sit on these interviews also and suggested Chief Cody Gear from New Smyrna Beach. City Clerk Kinsey noted that he'd refused to assist with the Chief selection before. Councilwoman Bennington stated that Chief White of South Daytona used to sit in on this and he's far enough away it shouldn't be a problem. Mayor Ledbetter suggested two sergeants, the City Clerk, a representative of Council or a citizen for the oral board. Councilman Wargo stated that he has no objection to Council sitting in but doesn't have the time right now. Councilman Asting pointed out the Chiefs ask questions that Council wouldn't think about and they look for specific answers. City Clerk Kinsey suggested a retired Chief who might be available. Councilwoman Bennington agreed a Chief is needed. City Clerk Kinsey noted that Joe Nasser of County Civil Defense was present at one of the oral boards. Councilman Asting agreed any of the three suggested would be satisfactory. Councilman Wargo seconded the motion. Motion CARRIED 4-0. Councilwoman Bennington stated she voted yes due to the situation they're in now but she wouldn't otherwise want an interim officer-in-charge to do any hiring. Councilman Asting asked if Chiefs would be included and Councilwoman Bennington and Councilman Wargo agreed. Councilman Wargo stated they need a waiting 1 ist of people. Councilwoman Bennington noted that Sergeant Westfall had told her there are several they've already done background checks on and a 1 ist to go through. Councilman Asting suggested a Police Reserve to draw from and Council should direct the new Chief to organize a Reserve. -2- Council Special Meeting & Workshop Minutes July 10, 1984 " ~ o '~{ City Clerk Kinsey asked if the intent is to have one Chief, one Sergeant, and the City Clerk on the board. Councilman Wargo said it could be a dispatcher and someone else from therepartment and Councilwoman Bennington agreed. Councilman Asting stated that the City Attorney had told him that in addition to noti- fying Will iam Sirodan that the other choices be notified and a final interview take place and based on that, they could select one and take into consideration the salary and possibly moving expenses. Mayor Ledbetter stated that they shouldn't offer anyone moving expense. Councilman Wargo suggested they start background checks on the first two candidates. Councilwoman Bennington agreed it's not too early to start them and asked who will do it and how. Councilman Wargo suggested contacting the FOP in the area in addition to the references they gave and the Firefighters and contact the executive in charge,whether it be a Mayor or City Manager. Councilwoman Bennington suggested they instruct the City Clerk to write the letters to these people and perhaps get newspaper clippings. Councilman Wargo moved that they commence the background check on the four candidates through the City Clerk. Councilwoman Bennington seconded the motion. Councilwoman Bennington suggested they check the supervisors of their previous experience that's 1 isted. Councilman Asting suggested other officials also be con- tacted. Councilman Wargo suggested if the necessity arises that they need to have a personal contact, then the Council should be notified for further action. Motion CARRIED 4-0. Councilman Asting moved to recess until 1 :00 P.M. Councilman Wargo seconded the motion. Meeting was recessed at 11 :30 A.M. RECESSED MEETING JULY 10,1984 MINUTES Meeting was called back to order by Vice Mayor Bennington at 1 :00 P.M. in the Community Center. ROLL CALL Mayor David Ledbetter Councilman Melbourne Wargo Vice Mayor Gigi Bennington Councilman Neil Asting Excused Present Present Present Councilman Jack Spencer City Attorney Jose' Alvarez City Clerk Connie Kinsey Excused Present Present City Clerk Kinsey said she received the return call from Will iam Sidoran and he rejected the offer as he's making $28,000. now and would only accept it for $30,000. She added that Mr. Sidoran asked that she inform Council that he was very impressed with them and felt he would have been able to work with them. Vice Mayor Bennington suggested they contact the other three and tell them the salary and ask them all to come back for final interview. Councilman Wargo made that a motion. Councilman Asting seconded the motion. Vice Mayor Bennington suggested it be Thursday afternoon after the already scheduled meeting and Councilman Wargo agreed. City Clerk Kinsey asked how far apart to schedule the interviews and Vice Mayor Bennington suggested they ask all to be here at 3:00 PM and they can wait at City Hall while the interviews are being held. Motion CARRIED 3-0. Councilman Wargo moved that they meet with them at 3:00PM on Thursday. Councilman Asting seconded the motion. Motion CARRIED 3-0. City Clerk Kinsey asked for a motion to clarify the oral review committee since it was already scheduled to be held on Thursday. Vice Mayor Bennington and Councilman Wargo agreed the date should be changed since the City Clerk has meetings that day. Councilman Asting suggested the first chief contacted to be used. Councilman Wargo moved that the 1 ist as presented re' accepted and be done other than Thursday. Councilman Asting seconded the motion. Motion CARRIED 3-0. Councilman Asting moved to adjourn. Councilman Wargo seconded the motion. Meeting was adjourned at 1 :02 P.M. -3- Council Special Meeting & Workshop Minutes July 10, 1984 Note: Signature page is -4-. . ~ C.J ': o Signature page for July 10, 1984, Special Meeting & Workshop Minutes: r/~00 MAYOR ~ C1/~ C7 ?icM tY~ ATTEST: ~ d"~ CITY CLERK Approved thiS/~~ Of~.1984. ~,A~~ MAYOR . FOUR -4- Council Special Meeting & Workshop Minutes July 10, 1984 \