Loading...
10-01-1979 - Public Hearing/Regular Q o ~/U-t~ {I CITY OF EDGEWATER CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING Oct 0 beT'- '1 , '- 1 9'79 Mayor Christy called the Public Hearing to order at 6:00 P.M. in the Edgewater Community Center. The purpose of the public hearing was to discuss a proposed increase in water and sewer charges. ROLL CA.LL Mayor Robert H. Christy Councilman Louis J. Rotundo Councilman David C. Ledbetter Councilman Walter B. Sikes Councilman Neil J. Asting City Attorney Judson Woods City Clerk Joseph Herget Police Chief Earl Baugh Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Mayor Christy asked Councilman Astina to make his presentation concerning the proposed increase in rates. Councilman Asting said that the WjWW Dept. produces and sells a product which they sell at cost to the residents of Edgewater. We do not get any price breaks in the supplies and materials we have to use to produce this product. The money we have to buy these materials with comes from the sales of water. The Dept: has been affected like everyone else by the increased costs in supplies, materials, etc. The 1979-80 WjWW budget is up about 10% and inflation is running at a rate of about 13%. If the WjWW Dept. does not get the increase in rates, they will have to reduce the budget and this in turn could result in a reduction of services to the residents. - ~r. Ken DeGroot, City Engineer, made a brief presentation indicating the increase in the amount of service given to the residents. Mr. Kevin Bosse, Supervisor of the Wastewater Plant, gave a presentation which showed the increased cost in operating the ~lant and the anticipated need in the near future for extensive repairs to much of the sewer system. ./ Mr. Terry Wadsworth, Supervisor of the Water Dept., also gave a presentation regarding the increased cost of operating the new water plant and of continuing to extend the water system throughout Florida Shores. Mayor Christy opened u~ the meeting for comments from the audience. A number-of peoDle spoke to the Council in opposition of a proposed rate increase. An almost equal number of Deonle s~oke about the increase in cost of materials, labor~ etc. and the ~ec~ssit~ to pay more for the various services ~erformed by the WjWW De~t. Mrs. Frank Oral was escorted from the meetino at the reouest of the'Mayor because she was disturbing the meeting. - Mayor Christy recessed the Public Hearing at 7:00 P.M. to call the regular meeting to order. ' CITY OF EDGEWATER CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING October 1, 1979 Mayor Christy called the regular meeting of the City Council to order at 7:00 P.~1. in the Ed~ewater Community Center. u o ROLL CALL Mayor Robert H. Christy Councilman Louis J. Rotundo Councilman David C. Ledbetter Councilman Walter B. Sikes Councilman Neil J. Astinq City ~ttorney Judson Woods City Clerk Joseph Herget Police Chief Earl Baugh Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present INVOCATION The Invocation was given by Rev, DePew. SALUTE TO FLAG The Mayor recessed the Regular Meeting and returned to the Public Hearina. There was more discussion between the audience and the Council. Councilman Ledbetter made a motion to adjourn the Public Hearing. Councilman Sikes seconded the motion. The Public Hearing was adjourned. Mayor Christy called a 10 minute recess. Regular meeting called back to order. At the reauest of a member of the audience Mayor Christy asked the Council if they wished to take action on the Public Hearing at this time or wait until New Business on the aaenda. The Council agreed to change the order of the agenda. - Mayor Christy asked the Council for their decision on a proposed rate increase in the water rates. Councilman Ledbetter made a motion to reject the proposed rate increase. Councilman Sikes seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion CARRIED 4-1. Councilman Asting voted NO. Councilman Ledbetter made a motion that the Council review the budgets of the other deoartments and see if they can be cut for the benefit of the water department. Councilman Rotundo seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion CARRIED 3-2. Councilman Sikes and Mayor Christy voted NO. APPROVAL OF MINUTES ~ There were no minutes to be approved at this meeting. BILLS AND ACCOUNTS Councilman Ledbetter made a motion to pay the bills. Councilman Sikes seconded the motion. Uoon roll call the motion CARRIED 5-0. COMMUNICATION The City Clerk read a letter from Mr. and Mrs. Biggerstaff requesting that the bill for the water used by the circus performance for the benefit of the Edgewater PTA be sent to them. Councilman Ledbetter made a motion that the Council accept the Biggerstaff1s offer and send them a courtesy bill. Councilman Asting seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion CARRIED 5-0. The Council considered an application for a Home Occupational License from Mr. Oetling for the operation of a safety supply business. Mr, Oetling was present at the meeting and told the Council that he would use his home for telephone calls and office type work. There would be no storage of material. Councilman Sikes made a motion that the Council grant this license. Councilman Ledbetter seconded the motion. Uoon roll call the motion CARRIED 5-0. 2 o o The Council considered an aoolication for a Home Occuoational license from Mr. Swets for the operating of a painting and decorating business. Mr. Swets was in the audience and he told the Council that he would use his home only for office type work and that there would be no storage. Councilman Sikes made a motion that the Council grant this license. Councilman Asting seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion CARRIED 5-0. The City Clerk read a memo he had written to the Council requesting that the Council set some 9uidelines on the purchase of items with Federal Revenue Sharing money. The City Cle~k requested that the first items to be purchased should be a typewriter and recorder for F & A, a typewriter for Comprehensive Planning and a pick u~ truck for the Parks and Recreation Dent. Councilman Sikes made a motion that if the money is presently available the City Clerk should be authorized to make these purchases. Councilman Rotundo seconded the motion. Councilman Ledbetter asked the Council when the Street Dept. would be able to purchase the hydraulic lift. Mayor Christy said that the Council should consider amending the motion to add the purchase of an hydraulic lift for the St. Dept. Councilman Sikes said that the Council should also consider a contract for the use of the personal truck belonging to the Supervisor of Parks and Recreation. This could save a considerable amount of money. Mayor Christy said that he would check on this and find out from the Supervisor if he would accept this arrangement. Councilman Ledbetter made a motion to amend the original motion and add the purchase of a hydraulic lift for the St. Dept. Councilman Rotundo seconded the motion. Upon roll call the original motion and the amendment CARRIED 5-0. Jack Bevel, Pres. of E.V.E.R. asked the Council if they were goinq to have a workshop on the proposal by E.V.E.R. for answering calls in the County, Mayor Christy said that the Council has not set any meeting for the~ discussion of this proposal. The City Clerk read a letter from the the Council take the necessary action for the construction of a buildinq in that the Council ooen up the alleyway Board of Adjustment requesting that to grant a variance to Perry Barrett Florida Shores. They also recommended behind the oroposed buildinq. . . . Councilman Sikes said that we should not grant the variance until we have opened up the alleyway. He made a motion that the Council turn this over to the St, Dept. Councilman Ledbetter said that if this alleyway was opened up, the only person it would benefit was Mr. Barrett. He would like this tabled until they can talk to Mr. Barrett and find out if he will pay for the work. Councilman Sikes said he would withdraw his motion. Councilman Ledbetter made a motion to table this until next Monday. Councilman Rotundo seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion CARRIED 5-0. C nOR D I'N A'TO'R5RE P OR T S toun~i~man Ro~undo made a motion that the Council authorize the Mayor to sign the contract with the County for the Greater Edqewater Fire District. Councilman Sikes seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion CARRIED 5-0. Counci'lman Ledbetter said that culverts are needed on Willow Oak about three blocks off Indian River Blvd. 3 v u Mayor Christy said that this area is in bad condition. Councilman Ledbetter made a motion that the Council authorize the Street Dert. to replace two culverts. One at Willow Oak south of 19th St. and the other at Willow Oak south of 21st St. Councilman Rotundo seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion CARRIED 5-0. Counci~man Sik~s questioned the easement in Florida Shores in regard to a fence that has been constructed on property between Lime Tree and Mango. Mayor Christy asked Mr. Ledbetter to have the St. Dept. check this out and report back to the Council. Councilman Asting no report. Citv Attorne~ Woods told the Council that they had finalized the sale of the onds today. City Clerk Herget no report. Mayor Christy told the Council that he believes that Frank Opal had Vlolated the Sunshine Laws when he reauested that the recorder be turned off at a Merit Board meeting so that ~e could discuss something with the Board. This is the second time that Mr. Opal has done this. He recommended that the Council remove Mr. Opai from the Zoninq Board. Councilman Ledbetter said that he believed a memo to the Chairman of the Merit Board tellin9 him that all meetings must be taped and that the recorder should not be turned off should be sufficient to see that this does not happen a9ain. Councilman Asting seconded the motion. The Council was informed that Mr. Vandergrifft had already been told about this. Councilman Ledbetter withdrew his motion. Councilman Asting withdrew his second. Mayor Christy told the Council that they should decide about the amount of money to be given to Parks and Recreation from the Sloburn Subdivision according to the Subdivision Ordinance. There was a discussion about this and the possible fair market value of this prooerty. Mr. Woods said that this decision should be made when Mr. Slaney was present. Councilman Sikes made a motion that the Council authorize the City Clerk to get together with Mr. Slaney to discuss this and report back next week. Councilman Ledbetter seconded the motion. Mr. Dana Armstrong said that this property had been considered for development a few years ago and there was a question about the sewers. This land is very low and could create a gravity problem for sewers. There was a discussion about whether this had been checked out by the City Engineer. Mr. Mackie, Chairman of the Zoning Board, said that Mr. DeGroot had checked the construction drawings and had signed approval of the project and the milar. Councilman Sikes said that we should get the City Engineer to check on this and notify the Council of his findings. Upon roll call the motion to contact Mr. Slaney CARRIED 5-0. Mavor Christv said that he had received a reauest from the Library Board that Mrs. Jean Hau0rn~out be appointed to the Library Board. Councilman Asting made a motion that the Council appoint Mrs. Haughwout to the Library Board. Councilman Ledbetter seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion CARRIED 5-0. 4 :~ ~ Mayor Christy said that at the recent meeting with New Smyrna Beach and the Edoewater Council, it was decided to reouest that the County assist in the-development of a bicycle path between NSB and Edgewater over the canal. He read the resolution prepared by NSB to send to the County. Councilman Asting made a motion that the Council authorize a similar resolution putting Edgewater before ~Iew Smyrna Beach in the resolution. Councilman Sikes seconded the motion. Councilman Sikes said that he did not attend that meetina and wanted to know if a bridge for vehicle traffic was discussed. ~ Mayor Christy said this was discussed but there was no definite decision made at this time. Councilman Asting said that it was the opinion of those at the meeting that a bridge would be too expensive and' neither City had that kind of ooney right now. Upon roll call the motion for the resolution CARRIED 5-0. RESOLUTION~ The City Attorney read Resolution No. 79-R-88. A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A PRIMARY ELECTION TO BE HELD IN THE CITY OF EDGEWATER, FLORIDA, ON OCTOBER 23, 1979, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING A COUNCILMAN FOR ZONE 3 AND FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING A MAYOR; DESIGNATING THE VOTING PLACE FOR SAID ELECTION; DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO PUBLISH THE RESOLUTION; REPEALING ALL RESOLUTIONS IN CONFLICT HEREWITH AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Councilman Sikes made a motion that the Council ado~t this resolution. Councilman Asting seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion CARRIED 5-0. Councilman Ledbetter made a motion that the Council appoint the same election workers that the City had last year that are'sti11 available for that work this year. Councilman Asting seconded the motion. Mr. Mackie told the Council that he felt last vear there was discrimination in se1ectina the poll workers. He believes that candidates for office should have-some say about who works at the ~olls. Mr. Armstron9 told the Council that they should select the poll workers and that candidates should not have anything to do with the election board. Upon roll call the motion CARRIED 5-0. Mayor Christy said that all campaign siqns should be on private property. AUDIENCE MISCELLANEOUS Mr. Frank Opal spoke to the Council about the Mayor trying to make a Federal case out of these taped meetings. He accused the Mayor of having meetinqs that were not taped. Mr. Walter Gross spoke about the Merit Board situation. He would like to encouraae more peoo1e to come to the Merit Board meetings and have the opportu~ity to spe~k to the Board. . Mr. Witzig asked the Council if there was going to be a candidates night. Mayor Christy said there would be and it will be s~onsored by the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Witzig asked if there was no meter at the ballfield, how would the City bill for the water used by the circus animals? Mayor Christy said that it will be an estimated hill. Mrs. Woodard spoke to the Council concerning the candidates night. She said that an unbiased person should monitor this meeting and that Questions should come from the floor and not be written out ahead of time. 5 o o Councilman Astina made a motion that the Council hold a Soecial Meetina for the pur~ose of discussing and possibly amending the present budgets. The bud a e t s h a vet 0 be res 0 1 v e d . The (; me e tin ash 0 U 1 d be set for 0 ct. 3 'I at 6:30~P.M. Councilman Ledbetter seconded t~e motion. Some members of the Council said they would not be able to attend this meeting. Councilman Asting withdrew his motion. Councilman Ledbetter withdrew his second. There was further discussion about a date for this meeting. Councilman Asting made a motion that the Council hold the Special Meeting for the budgets on Oct. 10, 1979 at 6:30 p.M. Councilman Ledbetter seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion CARRIED 5-0. Councilman Asting made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Councilman Ledbetter seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned. Minutes Submitted by: Nancy Blazi /~, ~' ~jtrzpa,d. ' Councilman . ~ F ." " . c~~~7 __ 7j .A./) ATTEST: '/I~ ty Clerk Approved this ~~ day of October, 1979. 6 ,~