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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-22-88 SS . MINUTES OF CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL SESSION HELD NOVEMBER 22, 1988 This special session was requested by Acting City Manager Finch in order to ask commission for specific direction during the time he is in this position. Mayor Ison called the special session to order at 6:10 p.m. in the conference room. PRESENT: Mayor Ison, Commissioners Bateman, Dabbs, Hager and Johnson, Acting City Manager Finch, and City Clerk Grafton ABSENT: None It was agreed that the matter of advertising for the position of city manager would be addressed at the December 6 regular commission meeting after the new commissioner is elected. (Clerk's note: November 22, 1988 was the date of a run-off election for Seat #4, the seat currently held by Commissioner Bateman.) . Mr. Finch asked what he had a right to do as acting/interim manager, and what the parameters of his position Commissioner Dabbs responded to Mr. Finch's question "Whatever a real city manager would do. The word 'interim' not take away the rights, authority or obligations of a manager." Commissioner Hager confirmed that this is from City Charter. city were. with, does city the Mr. Finch said that he wants to see consistency and not have employees jacked around. Mayor Ison stated that any firing of employees must be done with the assistance of the attorney and hiring should be minimized until the process is sure (with the exception of police and fire departments as required). He emphasized that the use of attorneys and consultants should be very limited. Mayor Ison noted also that there have been too many letters to employees, that verbal notice will suffice with documentation to the employee file. Commissioner Bateman said that there have been enough problems in city hall and that Mr. Finch had made one directive that he would like for him to withdraw and that was regarding the employees not accepting any gifts at all at Christmas. The consensus was that the Florida state statute which permits gifts up to $25.00 without reporting them was a reasonable guideline to follow. Mr. Finch stated that he does not have to agree with commission to implement their directives and he would announce the withdrawal of his directive. . Mr. Finch was instructed to use the full time employees we now have to fill in where needed rather than hire new staff; also to compile the short list of 4 engineering firms requested earlier by commission to be used for the next items to be considered. Commissioner Hager said that the City should have a set fee for engineering services rather than letting them do the job and then submit a bill. I . . . Page 2 City Commission Special Session - Finch November 22, 1988 Mayor Ison said that the system commission wanted to be used now for personnel was, upon noting a deficiency, to train and reevaluate in 6 months rather than firing. One of the deficiencies noted here was that one of the city hall employees is supplying misinformation and the lack of confidentiality and propriety has become a real concern. Mayor Ison summed up this portion of the discussion with instructions that the employees are to be informed that, where possible, available positions will be filled from within and no one will be fired outright. Mayor Ison noted that there were not enough items included in the surplus sale list and departments should be advised that their surplus items are to be listed and the advertising is to be done so that citizens can have an opportunity to bid (not employees). Mayor Ison finished with stating that everything goes through the city manager to get to the commission in order for them to serve the citizens, and that now is a good ~~o~, _ ~ Thomas R. Ison, Mayor Attest: ^. -