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06-29-1984 - Special/Workshop ~ . ~ - ~ v o / CITY COUNCIL OF EDGEWATER SPECIAL MEETING AND WORKSHOP JUNE 29, 1984 MINUTES Mayor Ledbetter called the Special Meeting and Workshop to order at 1:00 P.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 Jose' Alvarez City Clerk Connie Kinsey Excused Excused Present Also present was Gene Johnson, an applicant for the Police Chief position. Mayor Ledbetter stated the purpose of the Meeting and Workshop is to continue the selection process for Chief of Police. Councilman Asting moved that the Council consider reinstating Earl Baugh as Chief of Police of Edgewater. He added that a large segment of the population favors this and he thinks Earl Baugh should be given the opportunity to implement those comments in the audit which was denied him by Council action. Motion DIED for lack of second. Mayor Ledbetter reviewed the selection process up to this time and noted that there are still about 100 applications on file for this position. Councilwoman Bennington noted that based on the last interviews, Gene Johnson was their first choice and there has been a lot in the newspapers lately but they haven't talked to Mr. Johnson about it. Councilman Asting said he was impressed with David Shaver and Charles Sexton during the first interview and he'd like to interview them again before a decision is made. Councilwoman Bennington disagreed with bringing them back on~the basis that all five Council members decided that none of them were qualified for what they want in a Chief. She suggested they call back the three that couldn't be contacted or go back into the ones they picked before. Councilman Wargo suggested calling back those three and go back through the list and consider four or five of those they didn't select the first time but that got at least one vote. He said he didnlt think they should re-interview those that were interviewed before. Councilwoman Bennington noted that there were 25 that got one vote. Councilman Asting read the list of the top ten selected and Councilwoman Bennington pointed out that five of those dropped out because the pay is too low. Councilman Asting noted that David Shaver and Charles Sexton would accept the pay. Councilwoman Bennington suggested they talk to Gene Johnson before they decide how to proceed. Mr. Gene Johnson recalled that he was called back after the original meeting and he appeared and the meeting was cancelled due to lack of quorum and then he appeared the next day and was met with silence. He said that later in the day he determined that there was a barrage of anonymous calls concerning this. He said he felt angry and then hurt and then remembered that public officials have to take the bitter with the sweet and they are constantly in the public eye. He added that he'd made mistakes is his personal and professional life but he never intentionally harmed or injured anyone or group of persons but it had happened unintentionally and he apologized for it professionally and helll have to live with the mistakes in his personal life. He said he learned from his mistakes and won't make them again. He stated that he has no problem with the press but they should have looked at his record for 16 years versus the mistakes he made. He said he heard a lady in the audience call him a criminal and she has his respect for that since she was brave enough to stand up and say it aloud. He noted that he had an accident and it wasn't reported until six months later when it was politically advantageous and that he chad nothing to do with Snow White which had a lot of publicity. He added that an off-duty minor accident is not job threatening and that wasnlt why he resigned from Deland. He then offered to double the probationary time and would agree to the salary advertised and he waived any rights under State and Federal Regulations regarding the termination of Police officers and he just asked for a chance. Mrs. Mary Opal, from the audience, stated that she hadn't called Mr. Johnson a criminal. ~ ' ~ o Q ~ Councilwoman Bennington asked Mr. Johnson if he would waive his rights that the State gives him regarding releasing Police offi~ers and Mr. Johnson said yes. Councilwoman Bennington asked if he would sign a statement to that affect and Mr. Johnson said yes. Mayor Ledbetter asked him if he felt he had a loc~in on the job by being called back for an interview and Mr. Johnson replied that he didn't feel that way, and he was called back to discuss wages and terms and conditions to employment. Councilman Wargo asked Mr. Johnson why he didn't explain these things so Council could be aware of them. Mr. Johnson replied that he answered every question and he was aware that Council has asked for a review of his records by the City Attorney and he gave him that authorization. Mr. Johnson added that he has nothing to hide. Councilwoman Bennington said her decision regarding Gene Johnson would not be influenced by the press and what they wrote but she didn't feel because they asked him to come back and talk salary and benefits that they were offering him a job. Councilman Asting suggested they interview additional applicants but he wouldn't consider Gene Johnson out of the running. Councilwoman Bennington suggested they pick the top four with Gene Johnson being one of these and re-interview before offering the position. Mayor Ledbetter stated that nobody has been offered the job of Chief of Police. Councilwoman Bennington said she'd like to bring back Chester Kowalksi, James Kolbinskie, and Tony Raimondo for another interview. Councilman Asting suggested they bring the list of applicants up to date with those still in the running and those receiving _ at least one vote. Councilwoman Bennington asked that the three that couldn't make it before be included, and suggested that the City Clerk contact all of them and schedule them for interview and if they can't make the appointment, they'll be out of the running. Councilman Wargo moved that they go over the list of all those that they had voted for but have not interviewed and select ten out of that group to be interviewed and then have a meeting to compare the ten and then go that route. Councilwoman Bennington seconded for discussion. Councilwoman Bennington suggested they schedule all 28 and Councilman Wargo pointed out that it would be 31 with the three from before. Council- woman Bennington noted that they'll have to go through the process again if they just pick ten and don't select one of them for the position. Motion CARRIED 3-1. Council- woman Bennington voted NO. Mayor Ledbetter stated that they have a letter from Larry Westfall requesting a change in hours of work and reassignments in the current work schedule to enable him to be available during r.egular City hours so there won't be overtime charges. Council- woman Bennington pointed out that he's scheduled to work a regular shift and he should serve as a regular duty officer but handle any problems as they come up. She added that they gave him the increase in salary to cover this. Mayor Ledbetter said he had no objections to him working 8 to 4:30 the same as the Chief worked, and he'd be on the day shift and in uniform. Councilman Wargo agreed that the accessibility during the day is important. Councilwoman Bennington agreed that he shouldn't be on night shift. Mayor Ledbetter suggested he be on day shift and after he does his paper work, he could join the two men out on the street. Councilman Wargo said to express their confidence in him and the Police Department, he moved that they grant this request. Councilwoman Bennington said he should be working his 12-hour shift and should be on the road after his regular shift, and she seconded the motion for the sale of harmony but said she doesn't agree with it. She asked that they call Larry Westfall to come to the meeting to discuss this with them. Mayor Ledbetter called a recess at 1 :45 P.M. to request Larry Westfall to come to the meeting. Meeting was called back to order at 1 :50 P.M. by Mayor Ledbetter when Larry Westfall arrived. Councilwoman Bennington asked how many officers they have now and Sergeant Westfall replied there are seven. Councilwoman Bennington asked how they could cut down on overtime if he's off the 12-hour shift and Sergeant Westfall reviewed the manner in which he'd make the changes. Sergeant Westfall added that he's asking for volunteers to work on July 4th but they'll be paid overtime. Councilwoman Bennington asked if anyone is on vacation now and Sergeant Westfall explained that Sergeant Britain is due back now and nobody else will be given time off for this temporary period. Motion to grant his request CARRIED 3-1. Councilman Asting voted NO. Councilwoman Bennington stated that she voted yes based on the information that was given them. -2- Council Special Meeting & Workshop Minutes June 29, 1984 ~ , ~-' f ,/ o o There was a discussion regarding when the meeting to review the next set of appli- cations could be held. Councilman Wargo moved that they review the list Monday at 10:00 A.M. and recess this meeting until then. He then withdrew his motion and moved to recess this meeting until 10:00 A.M. on Monday morning. Councilman Asting seconded the motion. Meeting was recessed at 1 :58 P.M. CITY COUNCIL OF EDGEWATER RECESSED MEETING - JULY 2, 1984 MINUTES Vice Mayor Bennington called the recessed meeting to order at 10:00 A.M. in the Community Center. ROLL CALL Mayor David Ledbetter Vice Mayor Gigi Bennington Councilman Melbourne Wargo Councilman Neil Asting Excused Present Present Present Councilman Jack Spencer City Attorney Jose' Alvarez City Clerk Connie Kinsey Excused Excused Present Vice Mayor Bennington stated the purpose of this recessed meeting is to continue the selection process for Chief of Police. Council had copies of the list of 32 names of those who had received at least one vote previously and had not been interviewed by Council. Councilman Wargo moved to recess the Special Meeting into a Workshop. Councilman Asting seconded the motion. Motion CARRIED 3-0. Councilman Asting read his list of names selected as the following: Michael Handley, Craig Humble, Gerald Hytry, Glenn Lungarini, C. F. Myhr, Thomas Nevins, Alan Richards, William Sidoran, Rex Stevenson 111, Richard Stone, W. Gerald Thompson, Dennis Velte, Thomas Wall, and Thomas Watkins. Councilman Wargo read his selections as: E. J. Becker, Douglas Betts, Paul Frost, Jr., Michael Handly, Ron Kazoroski, Henry Koder Jr., Jorey Krawczyn, C. F. Myhr, Alan Richards, W. Gerald Thompson, Carl Valentine Jr., and Thomas Watkins. Vice Mayor Bennington read her selection as: Douglas Betts, J. D. Eunice, Paul Frost Jr., Michael Handley, Gary Hogeland, Ron Kazoroski, Thomas Nevins, T.J.Quinlan, Alan Richards, W. Gerald Thompson, Dennis Velte, and Thomas Watkins. Vice Mayor Bennington stated that there are 24 on the list and Councilman Wargo pointed out that only 8 had more than one vote. Vice Mayor Bennington suggested they contact all 24 so Council will have a pool. Council members discussed when they would conduct the inter- views and it was agreed to have 15 minute interviews beginning on Friday, July 6 at 9:00 AM and continue into Monday if necessary. Councilman Asting moved to go back into the Special Meeting. Councilman Wargo seconded the motion. Motion CARRIED 3-0. Councilman Wargo moved that they call a Special Meeting for 9:00AM on Friday morning for the purpose of interviewing for a selection for Police Chief. Councilman Asting seconded the motion. Motion CARRIED 3-0. Councilman Asting moved to adjourn. Councilman Wargo seconded the motion. Meeting was adjourned at 10:18 A.M. Minutes submitted by: Lura Sue Koser [}u~ MAYOR ~/krA4<</t/~" COUN r ILMAN - ZON NE - c1 ATTEST: f/k- ~ ~ ~~ CITY CLERK Approved thi s ~ I/~ -3- Council Special Meeting & Workshop Minutes June 29, 1984 and Recessed Meeting of July 2, 1984 Minutes