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Home My WebLink About05-12-97 MINUTES OF THE CITY OF OCOEE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION MEETING HELD MAY 12, 1997 CALL TO ORDER Chairman Beatty called the meeting to order at 7:20 p.m. in the commission chambers. Member Dabbs led in prayer and Chairman Beatty led in the pledge of allegiance. The roll was called and a quorum declared present. PRESENT: Chairman Beatty, Members Anderson (arrived at 8:25 p.m.), Dabbs, and Poplin. Also present were City Attorney Rosenthal and City Clerk Grafton. ABSENT: Member Combs APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF APRIL 7, 1997 MEETING Chairman Beatty explained that the meeting scheduled for April 28 was not held because there was not a quorum present and so the agenda and information provided for that meeting would be considered at this meeting. He then asked for approval or corrections to the minutes of the April 7 meeting. Member Dabbs asked for clarification on the last paragraph on page 3 referring to whether the City Clerk position should remain a Charter item. It was determined that the next to the last line should read "Mr. Beatty said he thought..." rather than "He said he thought it best to leave it the way it is..." Member Dabbs, seconded by Member Poplin, moved to approve the minutes as corrected. Motion carried 3 -0, Members Anderson and Combs were not present. DISCUSSION /ACTION RE: Technical issues suggested by staff. Fire Chief Strosnider had submitted a request that the , ' ie er includin; a fuilaifir department with adequate equipment in the Charter. .. :. • : = . ' at a fire department would not be a Charter issue, as that is an administrative issue. c �� Personnel Board [page C29, item C - 30 (C)]. Following a lengthy discussion which involved the entire Commission, City Manager Shapiro, Mayor Vandergrift, and Former Commission Gleason, Chairman Beatty, seconded by Member Dabbs, moved to amend Charter §C -30 • - vs ors . • -d • Mr DI I es i " P - • - : •.r, h. 1 r - I• sii1 • 'i 'j'ii, $"`1 °le •nn ••li ies for the Ci i . ®: . " �� =flA ,� , ;i a � r; . 't and recommending such policies to - i • uI • ' •1 • ,es. ••I / at 0l 1 # � ' r sir :, • ,1 .1 • h.v su h o ther powers and duties as may be established b y ordinance by the City Commission " with the addition that the City Manager should also adhere to the Personnel Rules. Motion carried 3 -0. Members Anderson and Combs were not present. Charter Review Commission Meeting v May 12, 1997 Removal of City Manager - [page C23, item C -22]. During the discussion regarding the strength of contract provisions vs. Charter provisions, City Attorney Rosenthal advised that Labor Attorney Allen had written the most recent City Manager contract consistent with the Charter. He said that any action under the current contract would require following the notice provisions set forth in the Charter. It does not limit the ability of the City Commission to act in any way, but is a notice and timing process which is set forth specifically in the contract. Consensus was reached to refer this to the attorney for rewriting the words to be clearer but to keep the same process. Salary of City Manager during period of suspension [page C23, item C - 22]. It was determined that this had been treated in the above decision and should be left alone. Terms of Office for Mayor /Commissioners -Place 3 year terms on ballot or Retain 2 year terms. Member Anderson arrived during this discussion at 8:25 p.m. Former Commissioner Hager spoke against longer terms, while Former Commissioner Gleason supported 3 year terms. Mayor Vandergrift spoke in favor of giving the citizens an opportunity to choose either 3 or 4 year terms. There was,geiefaf consensus to place 4 year terms on the ballot but to hold this decision until the June 2 meeting when Member Combs could be present to express his position. * toku.a.e4u 4! 2, AenutitAt Districting - Return to city -wide vote for commissioners, Eliminate districts or update every 2 years. Mayor Vandergrift spoke about spreading the responsibility over the town. He then asked City Attorney Rosenthal if he were violating the Sunshine Law by speaking at this meeting with another Commissioner present. Mr. Rosenthal advised that this was a properly noticed meeting and appropriate for Commissioners to address their views to this Commission as long as this was not used as a forum to communicate among themselves views or positions on issues for the purposes of influencing the ultimate vote of the City Commission. Former Commissioner Gleason spoke in favor of having Commissioners represent districts but be elected city wide. Mayor Vandergrift took this opportunity to announce the workshop scheduled for Monday, May 19 at 7:00 p.m. with Supervisor of Elections Cowles, and he invited citizens to attend and ask that municipal elections be returned to November. Member Dabbs said that, if it is not possible to get back on the traditional date for elections, he would promote holding municipal elections one week before that date as Oviedo does. He said also that he was in favor of districts but would like to have them equalized. `r.• Page 2 of 4 Charter Review Commission Meeting May 12, 1997 Member Poplin said he was in favor of fixing the lines and keeping the voting system by districts. Member Anderson said he was in favor of keeping the districts and require the Commissioner to live in the district represented, but vote city wide. Former Commissioner Betty Hager said that it does not matter where a Commissioner lives, that he /she represents all citizens, and she spoke in favor of the Commissioner living in the district he /she represents and be elected at large. Chairman Beatty said he would like to continue this item to the next meeting to give Mr. Combs an opportunity to express his position on this issue. He stressed the importance of clear wording for those issues that go to referendum. Mailout to forward to City Commission for Approval. Chairman Beatty summarized the status of the mailout and asked Mrs. Lopez- Anderson to add the items that will be discussed at the June 2 meeting: Terms of Office, Districting, and Strong Mayor Issues, along with changes to make it timely. He expressed appreciation to Mrs. Lopez- Anderson for her efforts and said he would present the flyer at the May 20 City Commission meeting for their approval before mailing. He asked Mr. Rosenthal for better wording for the definition on the flyer for Charter. Mr. Rosenthal said there may be something in some of the charter material received from other cities, but that the Florida Statutes would define charter adequately. Other items not listed. Chairman Beatty said that the intention of the Charter Review Commission was that if they met sooner than 1999 then the clock would be restarted from the time the CRC met. DIRECTION TO ATTORNEY /STAFF Chairman Beatty said that direction had already been given through the meeting, and that Mrs. Lopez - Anderson would fax the flyer to City Clerk Grafton to distribute to members for their input just as had been done before. CONFIRM NEXT MEETING DATE Chairman Beatty announced that the next meeting had already been set for June 2 at 7:15 p.m. in the commission chambers. '. Page 3 of 4 Charter Review Commission Meeting %or May 12, 1997 ADJOURNMENT III • me '•n • NU i' • Di • s s , i M•m! •r • ! •r_ in - m -- in` •' '.urns at 9:10 p.m. APPROVED: Charter Review Commission • hz:,4 A ALLA AL , J41 Grafton, City perk Bru Beatty, Chairman Ntry ,,,,,,, Page 4 of 4