Loading...
03-27-1979 - Workshop I u u ~ CITY OF EDGEWATER CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP March 27, 1979 Mayor Christy called the City Council Workshop to order at 6:30 P.M. in the Shuffleboard Clubroom. ROLL CALL Mayor Robert H. Christy Councilman Louis J. Rotundo Councilman David C. Ledbetter Councilman Walter B. Sikes Councilman Neil J. Asting City Attorney Judson Woods Police Chief Earl Baugh Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Mayor Christy said that the first item on the agenda was the bus service. Mr. John Coffee, Director of the Smyrna Transit System of New Symrna Beach, Fla. was also present at the meeting. The Council discussed the proposed route and the cost to the City. The proposed route would leave from Canal and Live Oak to U.S. 1 to Ocean Ave., west to Flagler, south on Flagler, west on 12th St. then south on Mango to 16th, east on 16th to Juniper, along Juniper to Indian River Blvd. west on Indian River Blvd. to Royal Palm, south to 30th St., east to Juniper then north on Juniper to Indian River Blvd, east on Indian River Blvd., to U.S. 1, south to Silver Ridge, circle Silver Ridge then north on U.S. 1 back to the terminal on Canal St. in New Smyrna Beach. The regular fare would be 75i, 35i for students and the elderly and handicapped, 25i extra for dial-a-bus service which means that the bus would leave a route to pick up a passenger (or drop a passenger off) at their house. There would be three round trips a day a total of 45 miles at $1.00 per mile or $45.00 per day less fares collected from passengers. The Council discussed this route with Mr. Coffee. Mr. Coffee said that this seemed to be the most feasible route at this time. It will also be necessary to get permission from the D.O.T. because they lease the busses to New Smyrna Beach. Mr. Asting added that the cost to Edgewater covers all maintenance, drivers salaries, paperwork involved, etc. There is no responsibility to Edgewater other than the payment of the daily charge. Councilman Rotundo asked if this was still being considered for a six (6) weeks trial basis. Councilman Asting said that seemed to be a good lenath of time and then the Council will have some idea of how successful this bus service will be. Councilman Sikes said that he did not believe that Edgewater could support a transit system on their own. The only way we might be able to provide this service would be through New Smyrna Beach extending their service for a reasonable charge. The Council continued discussing the cost and also the possibility of some government subsidizing later on. Councilman Asting said that he would like the Council to present this proposal to the New Smyrna Beach City Commission on a trial basis. Mayor Christy said that a joint workshop will have to be arranged with NSB Commissioners to discuss the extension of their bus service. i o o The Mayor will contact the Mayor of New Smyrna Beach to set a date for a joint workshop to discuss the proposed extension of the transit system into Edgewater on a six weeks trial basis. The next item on the agenda was Job Classifications. Mayor Christy said that the Job Classifications should be done by the Merit Board. The next item on the agenda was changes to the Merit Ordinance. Councilman Asting suggested certain changes to Ordinance No. 874. (see Attached). The Council discussed these changes. Councilman Asttng said that Ord: 855~provides for the establishment of the Merit Board but it does not say anything about the hiring or firing of City employees nor does it say that it will administer the personnel program. He believes that the Merit Board has assumed too much responsibility to the extent that a statement was recently made that the City Council is responsible to the Merit Board. It is just the opposite, the Merit Board should be responsible to the City Council. Mrs. Martin, Chairman of the Merit Board, said that she did not believe that the Merit Board ever stated that they wanted to hire or fire any employees. They did ask that the Merit Board be notified concerning changes in personnel. There was a lengthy discussion between Mr. Asting and Mrs. Martin. Mrs. Martin accused the Council of not allowin~ the Merit Board to do the job that was assigned to them by Ordinance. Mr. Gross, a member of the Merit Board, said that during all the hiring, firing and transferring of city employees, the Merit Board has never been notified,in advance or even after action has been taken by the Council, of any changes in personnel. Mr. Woods said that it seems as if the Merit Board was turning into a personality conflict with the City Council. The Board does have certain duties to perform and these duties are clearly spelled out in the ordinance. Mrs. Martin said that she had accepted this position because she felt she could be of real assistance to the City Council and the City employees. However, she has not been able to accomplish anything because there has been very little cooperation from the Council. It does not seem as if the City wants an active Merit Board. She will be sending in her resignation. Mr. Gross said that he believes the Council is taking most of the responsibility away from the Merit Board. The Board should go over these proposed changes in the ordinance and be able to make some recommendations concerning any changes in the ordinance. Mayor Christy said that the Merit Board could make their recommendations. Councilman Sikes said that we should have an opportunity to check over these recommended changes. The Merit Board should also receive these changes so they can study them. They should all have time to look over these changes and then come back in a couple of weeks with any additions or suggestions they might have. It might be necessary to have another workshop. Mayor Christy said that when the Council is satisfied with the changes in the ordinance and the Merit Board has sent in their recommendations, they should notify City Hall and they can set up a date to put it on the agenda. 2 o (J The next item on the workshop agenda was the Zoning Board By-Laws. The Council went over the By-Laws and made the following recommendations for changes: Article IV: C. Secretary A member of the Planning Department staff should be changed to read - A member of the City Administration staff. Article VI: Meetings A. Regular Meetings: Add: The City Administration should be notified, in advance, of all Board meetings and all meetings must be taped. B. Special Meetings: Add. There must be adequate public notice of special meetings. C. Workshop Meetings: Workshop meetings may be held, as necessary, to gather information and examine proposals relating to the powers and duties of the Board or other special projects not primarily related to specific requests pertaining to individual properties. Said meetings shall be open to the public and members of the press. The Zoning Board will hear any comments or questions from other than Board members, when recognized by the Chairman. In no event shall official action be taken by the Board at any workshop meeting. D. Continued Meetings: The Zoning Board may recess a regular or special meeting if all business cannot be conducted at said meetings. Proper public notice must be given of the time and date that said meeting is to be reconvened. E. Notice of "Meetings: Omit the ~/ord "local" before press. 1. Voting: The Chairman shall vote last. J. Public Hearings: Notice of Public Hearings shall be as prescribed by the Code of Ordinances of the City of Edgewater. Article VIII. Amendments These By-Laws may be amended from time to time as deemed necessary by the Zoning Board and approved by the City Council. These recommended changes will be sent to the Zoning Board for their review before submittal for final approval by the City Council. The workshop was adjourned. Minutes submitted by: Nancy Blazi 3 . . <..) (.) Changes to Merit Ordinance No. 374 Page 2 3.a. change to read: Functions as an Advisory Board to the City Council concerning personnel matters. b. change to read: Prepares and presents to the City Council recommenda- tions governing general administration of the personnel program. h. To hold and conduct hearings involving appeals of any classified employees from a decision made by a supervisor affecting his employment of terms and conditions thereof. 3. REMOVAL: change unanimous vote to a majority vote. Page 4 5. First Merit Board -(ask attorney if this can be deleted) 4. THE CLASSIFIED SERVICE Last sentence in that para. should read: Said program shall not be made applicable to the office of City Manager, City Clerk, City Attorney, M u n i c i pal J u d g e, C i t Y P 1 ann e r, ~~ 0 r C i t Y De par t men tHe ads. 5. THE CLASSIFICATION PLAN Add to first para. Positions are established or abolished by majority vote of the City Council. Page 5 4.b In determining lines of promotion. and in developing employee on-the-job training. Page 6 a NEW ALLOCATIONS Change to read: Whenever a department head desires to create a new position a not ice 0 f sue h pro po sed act i. 0 n tog e the r wit had e s c rip t ion 0 f the n-e-w.. duties of the new position, shall be submitted to the Personnel Official (City Clerk) in such manner and on such forms as he shall provide. The Personnel Official (City Clerk) shall promptly investigate the case and recommend action to the City Council. The Personnel Official ( C i t Y C 1 e r k) s hall not i f Y t he Mer i t Board and t he. De par t men tHe a d when allocation is made. j b. REALLOCATION: Replace the word Merit Board with Personnel Official (City Clerk) and delete "upon its own initiative". Also delete "all such" before the word "cases and change it to read"these". Change Personnel Officer to Personnel Official (City Clerk) Page 7 6.2 Change Personnel Officer to Personnel Official and change Merit Board and City Council to read City Council and Merit Board. Page 8 c. Change This advance requires, etc. to read: This advance requires only an an affirmation of satisfactory service by the department head concerned and the approval of the Personnel Official (City Clerk) and the Council- man/Coordinator concerned as the case may be. d. Change Personnel Officer to Personnel Official. Change sentence .Each case shall be given, etc. to read: Each case shall be given careful considera- tion by the Personnel Official (City Clerk) and the Merit Board before going to the Council representative for concurrence. (Gorrections page 2) ~ - . u u ...., ~-. Page 10 1. b. Change one hundred twenty calendar days to ninety calendar days. 2. Change Examination for Original Appointments to read Change Examination for Original Employment. Change -first ,senterice: The-department'Meads':and/or Councilman/Coordinator are charged with the conduct of examinations to determine the qualifications of applicants for positions in the classified service. 2.b Change Appointment to Employment. Change one hundred twenty calendar days to ninety calendar days. 3. Change Personnel Officer (City Clerk) to read Department Heads. a. Departmental Promotion Lists: Change to read: Each municipal department is a promotional unit. It is the duty of the Personnel Official (City Clerk) based upon the recommendations of the department heads to notify the City Council of the need for promotional examinations, and as a result of these examinations, to maintain lists by departments, of employees certified as eligible for promotion. Throughout the rest of the ordinance change Personnel Officer to Personnel Official (City Clerk) wherever it appears. At the top of Page 17 - it states that the decisions other than those resulting in separation shall be final. Decisions resulting in separation shall be final unless appealed to the City Council which may reverse such decision only by unanimous vote. (We can find no ordinance changing that although we have been told it was changed.) .