04-20-1984 - Special/Workshop
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CITY COUNCIL OF EDGEWATER
SPECIAL MEETING & WORKSHOP
APRIL 20, 1984
MINUTES
Mayor Ledbetter called the Special Meeting and Workshop to order at 1:00PM in the
Community Center.
ROLL CALL
Mayor David Ledbetter Present Councilman Jack Spencer Present
Councilman Melbourne Wargo Present City Attorney Josel Alvarez Excused
Councilwoman Gigi Bennington Present City Clerk Connie Kinsey Present
Councilman Neil Asting Present Police Chief Ed Overman Excused
Mayor Ledbetter stated the purpose of the meeting and workshop was to discuss the
Police Chief applications. Councilman Spencer moved to recess the Special Meeting to
a Workshop for the purpose of receiving and compiling the results of the review of
the applications. Councilman Asting seconded the motion. Motion CARRIED 5-0.
Mayor Ledbetter opened the Workshop session. Councilman Asting suggested they each
callout the names they1d selected and mark them on the tally sheet. Mayor Ledbetter
said he didn't go through the applications yet. Councilmen Spencer, Wargo, Asting,
and Councilwoman Bennington read off the list of names they1d selected. Councilman
Spencer suggested Mayor Ledbetter list names of any he wants to have considered and
Mayor Ledbetter did so. There were ten with three votes or more. Five votes were
received by: Samuel Allen of Tallahassee, Thomas Nevins of Hialeah, and Robert Senk
of Miami. Four votes were received by: Charles Sexton of Orange City and Dennis Velte,
of Homestead. Three votes were received by: Charles Forrest of Hollywood, Alan
Richards of Miami, Joseph Roder of Oviedo, David Shaver of Miami, and Robert Shires of
Punta Gorda. Councilman Wargo said held like professional help with the interviewing
and they could ask the questions and Council could list them on the rating sheet
recommended by Councilman Spencer at a previous meeting. City Clerk Kinsey asked if
the professionals should also mark them and Councilman Wargo said no.
Councilwoman Bennington noted that if they don't find someone in the top ten listed,
they could go to those who had two votes, which would include eleven more. She said
sheld like background information before the interviews. Councilman Wargo suggested
the references be verified. Councilman Spencer said the background check would reveal
if there was something that would be an embarrassment to the City and this could be
done in a confidential manner. He suggested the professionals screen the applicants
and submit five to Council for final interviews. Councilwoman Bennington said the
Council could sit in but let the panel interview them and recommend the top five to
Council. Councilman Wargo agreed with that. Councilwoman Bennington suggested for
the panel Chief Cody Gear of New Smyrna Beach. Chief Liquori was also suggested and
Chief Ray Berry of Winter Park. Councilman Asting suggested Chief Richard Slaughter
of Deland and Council members thought he could be used as an alternate. Councilman
Spencer suggested City Clerk Kinsey for the committee since she's Personnel Officer
and Councilwoman Bennington agreed.
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Mayor Ledbetter asked the starting salary and Councilman Spencer noted the advertise-
ment was for the low $20's. Councilman Wargo suggested the applicants be told this
when contacted and Councilwoman Bennington agreed.
Councilman Spencer suggested someone on the professional team be designated as a
leader or spokesman and he recommended Chief Cody Gear be asked.
Councilman Spencer asked if the applicants would travel to the interviews at their
own expense and Council members agreed they would.
Councilman Wargo said held like to get at least fifteen years with this person.
Councilwoman Bennington suggested they offer him at least a year's contract.
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Mayor Ledbetter said he felt Council should change the 90-day probationary
period to six or nine months because 90 days isn't long enough. Councilman
Wargo said he didn't think there'd be a problem with changing the contract to
the six months. Councilman Spencer noted that for 90 days probation a man can
make a move into temporary quarters and leave the family in the previous area
until it's determined that helll be here for a period of time. Councilwoman
Bennington said that's one of the reasons why she suggested a year's contract
after probation. Councilman Spencer pointed out that no other department heads
have a contract. Councilman Wargo noted the "just cause" dismissal would apply.
Councilman Spencer said he felt the new Police Chief should hire the Deputy
Chief or anyone who works in his department and Council shouldn't try to fill
the slots. He added that he prefers it be a Lieutenant as second in command
instead of a Deputy.
Mayor Ledbetter said he doesnlt like to have two men in one car. City Clerk
Kinsey said they only have one man to train them. Councilman Asting asked if
the Lieutenant's position had been decertified and City Clerk Kinsey said no,
because it had been vacated.
Councilwoman Bennington said she agrees with Councilman Spencer regarding the
new Chief structuring his department the way he wants with Council approval
and he could call the second in command a Captain, Deputy, or Lieutenant.
Councilman Asting asked if the Lieutenant's position would be in the bargaining
unit and Councilwoman Bennington said that's why it should be Deputy or Captain.
Councilman Wargo said they should retain the right for final approval and
Councilman Asting agreed he could make a recommendation.
Councilwoman Bennington asked if City Clerk Kinsey could contact the people and
make arrangements. City Clerk Kinsey asked if the background checks should be
done prior to the ten being contacted and Council members agreed. Councilwoman
Bennington said if Chief Gear will be on the committee, he could be given the
names to do the background checks. City Clerk Kinsey asked if itls a full back-
ground check and Councilwoman Bennington said yes.
Councilman Asting moved to go back into the Special Meeting. Councilwoman Bennington
seconded the motion. Motion CARRIED 5-0.
Mayor Ledbetter called the Special Meeting back in session. Councilman Spencer
moved that the ten people they named are to be candidates for the Police Chief's
job, pending a background check. Councilwoman Bennington seconded the motion.
Motion CARRIED 5-0.
Councilwoman Bennington moved they set up a committee made up of Chiefs Cody Gear,
William Liquori, Ray Berry,with Richard Slaughter as alternate and City Clerk
Kinsey to do the initial oral board of the ten candidates after the background
checks come through and make their recommendations for the top five to Council.
Councilman Spencer seconded the motion. Motion CARRIED 5-0.
Councilwoman Bennington moved that after the committee does the interview and
recommends the top five to Council, the Council will then interview those five.
Councilman Wargo seconded the motion. Motion CARRIED 5-0.
Lura Sue Koser
Councilman Spencer moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilman Asting seconded the
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motion. Meeting was adjourned at
Minutes submitted by:
ATTEST:
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Council Special Meeting & Workshop Minutes
Apri 1 20, 1 984