TOWN OF MELBOURNE BEACH
MINUTES
TOWN COMMISSION - Workshop Meeting

WEDNESDAY
April 19, 2005
7:00 p.m.
COMMUNITY CENTER

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The Town Commission of the Town of Melbourne Beach met in workshop session on
Tuesday, April 19, 2005 in the Community Center, 509 Ocean Avenue, beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Present:  

Mayor Stacey
Vice Mayor Wilson
Commissioner Guglietta
Commissioner Price
Commissioner Walters

Others Present:  

Town Manager Higginbotham
Interim Town Karan Rounsavall

Mayor Stacey called the meeting to order and led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. 
The meeting was requested by the vice-mayor in order to review public meeting procedure  and to receive a 
mid-year budget update. He was concerned that when commissioners argued  amongst themselves during 
meetings, this behavior undermined the confidence of the public in their ability to accomplish the town’s business. 
He asked that the commission review how it conducted its meetings.

At the request of the mayor, Town Clerk Rounsavall prepared a memorandum (dated April 18, 2005) 
providing observations and recommendations on the conduct and decorum of Town Commission meetings. 
The memorandum stressed the importance of orderly meetings. Commissioners were also in receipt of 
Resolution 702 establishing meeting rules and procedures.

Commissioner Guglietta mentioned two changes that were needed to Resolution 702, one being the fact that 
a special meeting could be called by one commissioner as opposed to two and secondly, provisions relating to 
adjournment of meetings.

Mayor Stacey indicated that in the future, he would not proceed with a motion unless it received a second. If no 
second to a motion was received, it would die for lack of a second. Prior to voting, he would ask the clerk to read 
back the motion so that commissioners would be clear as to exactly what they were voting on. Commissioner 
Price agreed that there was a need to restate the motion.

Commissioner Walters stated that he was at fault during the April 13th special meeting when he called a point of 
order on a fellow commissioner. Information on an item had not been received prior to the meeting which made it 
difficult for timely review. Commissioners asked that receipt of reading items placed on the dais at the last minute 
be held to a minimum. The commissioner wanted to do what he could to make meetings run smoother.

Commissioner Price felt that individual commissioners needed to wait to be recognized by the chair before speaking. 
Vice-Mayor Wilson suggested that comments on a topic rotate among commissioners with each having one 
opportunity to speak before being recognized a second time. Commissioner Walters did not want to be rushed 
during discussion.

Discussion ensued. Commissioners agreed on the following order for discussion of agenda items:
1.      Mayor introduces an item by reading it from the agenda.
2.      Mayor asks for a brief staff overview/explanation of the item.
3.      Mayor asks for a motion to be introduced on the item. Mayor ensures that a second to the motion is received. 
         If no second is received, the mayor announces that the motion dies for lack of a second. Another motion is solicited.
4.      The motion is open for discussion by the Town Commission. Discussion begins with the member making the motion.
5.      Each commission member is given an opportunity to speak before a member speaks a second time.
6.      Public input is received. Citizen comments are limited to three minutes. A speaker may only address the commission 
         one time on an item. (Correction to minutes made by Commissioner Steve Walters at May 18, 2005 regular meeting.)
7.      Additional comments from the Commission are entertained.
8.      Mayor calls for a vote.
9.      If a motion is defeated and a new motion is introduced, public input, once again, is solicited.

Commissioners discussed once again the need for certain changes to Resolution 702. As it related to adjournment, 
there was consensus to remove reference to any given time for adjournment. Meetings would simply adjourn at the 
pleasure of the commission. A revised resolution implementing this change along with the fact that a special meeting 
could be called by a single commissioner would be presented at the May 18th regular meeting.

Commissioners also expressed an interest in purchasing a speaker recognition system and public speaker timer 
system. With a speaker recognition system, as members wished to speak they would press a “request to speak” 
button which would be displayed to the mayor, who would then recognize their request. The need for repairs to the 
sound system in the community center was mentioned as well.

Moving on to mid-year budget review, Town Manager Higginbotham provided a revenue and expenditure summary 
report as well as line item detail reports on both expenditures and revenues. Several commissioners preferred the 
detail reports; there was consensus to provide both report types (i.e. summary and detail). Discussion ensued on 
the fact that a budget was a planning tool which at times might need to be modified.

The town manager stated that several revenue adjustments were needed due to the fact that building permit fees 
were waived for hurricane repairs and a change in Florida Statutes relating to distribution of traffic ticket fees. The 
shortfall in traffic ticket revenues was expected to be as much as $60,000 in the current fiscal year. Police Chief 
David Syrkus provided a brief overview on the reduction in the amount of fines paid to municipalities. At the request 
of the commission he would provide the applicable statutory section as well as an e-mail he received on the subject.

Town Manager Higginbotham announced his intent to call a special meeting to discuss budget amendments prior 
to the commission’s regular meeting in May. Individual commissioners related their availability in early May.

Prior to adjournment, Commissioner Guglietta suggested that the salary range for the town clerk as stated at the 
April 13th special meeting might be a bit low and wondered whether or not the commission wished to reconsider 
this item. There was brief discussion on the importance of hiring an experienced, intelligent individual for the 
position but no action to modify the salary range.

The meeting adjourned at 8:43 p.m.

____________________________________
WILLIAM G. STACEY, MAYOR



____________________________________
KARAN ROUNSVALL , CMC
INTERIM TOWN CLERK


 Note:  a mechanical recording has been made of the foregoing procedures of which these minutes are a 
           part and is on file in the office of the Town Clerk.

PURSUANT TO SECTION 286.0105, FLORIDA STATUTES, THE TOWN HEREBY 
ADVISES THE PUBLIC THAT: If a person decides to appeal any decision made by the 
Town Commission with respect to any matter considered at its meeting, he will need a 
record of the proceedings and that for such purpose, affected persons may need to insure 
that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony 
and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.  This notice does not constitute 
consent by the Town for the introduction or admission into evidence of otherwise 
inadmissible or irrelevant evidence, nor does it authorize challenges or appeals not 
otherwise allowed by law.