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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-11-89 SS - e e MINUTES OF THE OCOEE CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL SESSION HELD FEBRUARY 11, 1989 The special session was called to order by Mayor Ison at 7:08 p.m. in the conference room. PRESENT: Mayor Ison, Commissioners Combs, Dabbs, Hager and Johnson, City Manager Bateman ABSENT: None Mayor Ison announced that the special session was called for the purpose of determining whether to continue interviewing applicants for the position of city manager or to end the interviewing process and offer Mr. Ellis Shapiro the position. After polling the Commissioners and finding that they had satisfactorily completed their interviews, Mayor Ison asked Mr. Shapiro if he wished to speak to any Commissioner privately before continuing. Mr. Shapiro requested a few minutes with Mayor Ison as he had not had an opportunity to talk to him at all. The session temporarily adjourned so that Mayor Ison and Mr. Shapiro could talk privately. The meeting reconvened at 7:30 p.m. when they returned to the conference room. Commissioner Combs reported that his background check in Cape Coral revealed that Mr. Shapiro is a very hard working individual with an excellent reputation as a city manager, and he would recommend him for the position on the strength of the information gained from his survey. Commissioner Dabbs asked whether the credit check had been done and City Manager Bateman responded that it had been received but was in his other briefcase. Further discussion revealed that Mrs. Shapiro is employed by HRS and plans to request a transfer as soon as their daughter graduates from high school. Commissioner Hager asked how soon Mr. Shapiro can begin and emphasized the importance of getting the job done so that we can get on with the business of running the City. Commissioner Johnson stated for the record that he had met Mr. Shapiro once before his applying for the position and they were not friends previously. He emphasized that working hard is a way of life here and that that approach to the challenges here would gain the respect of the citizens as well as the Commissioners. Mayor Ison listed those items important to the Commissioners, i.e., (1) that the city manager and his family live within the city limits, (2) that the city manager should be involved in community affairs, (3) that citizens should be treated equally and that Commissioners are citizens also, (4) that government exists to serve the citizens, (5) that evaluations, hiring, promotion and supervision all must be totally fair and within the state and federal laws. Mayor Ison pointed out that we have no personnel problems at the present time. He then asked Mr. Shapiro if he was willing (1) to work the hours the jOb requires, (2) to have an open door policy, (3) to dea: with developers entirely on a professional level, (4) to promote a good commission working atmosphere, and (5) to keep media advised. Mr. Shapiro responded that it was his custom to do all those things already. Mayor Ison advised that directions from the Commission would come e e . Page 2 City Commission Special Session February 11, 1989 from the Commission as a body in workshops or special sessions and sometimes individually and that the city is run by commission/city manager form of government. Mayor Ison further advised that a bi- annual review process will be initiated and Mr. Shapiro welcomed the procedure. When discussing the retirement program, Mr. Shapiro indicated that he does not want to be included in the City retirement program and City Manager Bateman advised that he has no choice, that the policy is written that all City employees will be covered by the City. Mayor Ison said that at Mr. Shapiro's six month evaluation conference he will be given the opportunity to negotiate out of the City's retirement program but that there are no guarantees that the negotiation will be successful. Vacation time will be according to established City policies for all employees. Mr. Shapiro stated that he did not ask for any special consideration where hospitalization or life insurance are concerned. It was determined that Mr. Bateman should remain available as long as he felt it was necessary for smooth transition of information. The matter of the use of a City vehicle was discussed thoroughly and Mayor Ison explained that anything you would normally do on the way to/from work is acceptable (delivering child to school, stopping at grocery store, picking up laundry) but not a vacation trip or weekend jaunt. The city manager, just as any other employee, will have the option of using his own car if he wishes. After negotiating, it was agreed that the City will pay Mr. Shapiro's dues to ICMA and FCMA and share the cost 50-50 of attending the annual meetings of those two organizations. Attendance will be on his own time and not counted as work days. On the matter of attending Florida League of Cities meetings, Mayor Ison said that he felt that those meetings should be attended by elected officials but that if the city manager can attend without neglecting his duties, then he should do so in order to stay abreast of legislative activities and to meet other government officials. Mayor Ison pointed out that we no longer have representation on the Mid-Florida Regional Planning Council and something should be done about that. Mayor Ison proposed a salary of $47,500 with a six month review for a raise to bring him into the 50's. Mr. Shapiro preferred to start higher and consider a smaller raise later. Mayor Ison proposed $50,000 for the first year with a review at the end of the first year and no increase until then. Further discussion adjusted the offer to $50,000 for the first year with a six month review and no increase promised until the end of the first year. It was agreed that Mr. Shapiro would get 3 estimates for moving his family before spending any funds and Commission would reimburse a reasonable fee. Mr. Shapiro's employment is to begin February 21, 1989. Commissioner Combs moved to offer Mr. Shapiro the position as city manager taking into consideration all of the above decisions and negotiations. Commissioner Dabbs seconded and vote was unanimous in favor. - Ie - Page 3 City Commission Special Session February 11, 1989 ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned informally at 8:15 These minutes were transcribed from the tape recording of the meeting. Attest: Jean PbfL,Q-L Thomas R. Ison, Mayor