TOWN OF MELBOURNE BEACH
MINUTES
TOWN COMMISSION - WORKSHOP

 WEDNESDAY
August 28, 2002
Workshop
COMMUNITY CENTER

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A workshop of the Town Commission of the Town of Melbourne Beach, Florida was called to order by 
Mayor Wille at 7:10 p.m. on Wednesday, August 28, 2002 in the Community Center.  

Present:  

Mayor Wille
Vice Mayor  Smith
Commissioner Crispen
Commissioner  Walters

Others Present:  

Town Manager Hoskovec
Three (3) residents
Town Clerk Masny

CONTINUED REVIEW OF PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2002-2003 MUNICIPAL BUDGET
Town Manager Hoskovec recommended the Town create a Finance Director position and purchase a finance software 
package that includes training for staff and installation and updates for the programs.  Town Manager Hoskovec 
recommended retaining the current Finance Clerk position and allow this person to help train a Finance Director and 
allow the Finance Director to assist in making the assessment of the staff for that department.

Commissioner Walters stated that he is opposed to adding another employee to the Town for $50,000 per year and 
that he is not in favor of creating an assistant Town Manager position as previously proposed.  Commissioner Walters 
recommended that the Finance Clerk position be eliminated if a Finance Director is hired.

Vice Mayor Smith advised that she is glad finances are coming back in-house.  Vice Mayor Smith stated that she 
believes there will be a transition period where the current Finance Clerk will need to help the Finance Director with 
the position and that she believes the Town can obtain a Finance Director for a little less than is in the proposed budget.  
Vice Mayor Smith stated that she is willing to go along with keeping the Finance Clerk’s position and after the Finance 
Director trained, the Finance Clerk’s position can be cut back or eliminated if the Town Manager feels it necessary.    

Commissioner Crispen stated that he is in favor of leasing the software rather than purchasing it upfront and Town 
Manager Hoskovec reported that the product copywrite will not allow the company to lease it to the Town.  Town 
Manager Hoskovec stated that the $35,000 in the budget includes the software package and two (2) computers in 
the finance department.  Town Manager Hoskovec stated that he has talked to Indian Harbor Beach, Indialantic and 
Satellite Beach and all use the Fund Balance program for finance and they are pleased with the program.   Commissioner 
Crispen asked when does the Town hope to go on line with the CASB implementation?  Town Manager Hoskovec stated 
that he hopes February 1, 2003 and noted that the program is audit ready.  Commissioner Crispen stated that he agrees 
that one person can run the Finance Department, but that past history is needed.  

Mayor Wille stated that by making an Assistant Manager position with an emphasis on finance, the Town gains the 
ability to assist the Town Manager with his duties and eliminate the problem with one (1) person working with the 
finance books.  Mayor Wille stated that he believes that the Town needs a checks and balances, it needs two (2) people 
in Finance Department.   Mayor Wille stated that he would like to provide the Town Manager with the resources he needs 
to allow him to operate appropriately.

Town Manager Hoskovec advised that there are one (1) of three (3) options the Town can go with regarding the finance 
department: we can start fresh and clean house and lose what we have right now; we can keep things as they are now, 
which is not what the Town Commission wants, or we can keep the Finance Clerk for the time being and bring in a Finance 
Director and rely on the Finance Director to make this departmental decision in the future.  

There was a lengthy discussion regarding an Assistant Town Manager position, Finance Director position and Finance 
Clerk position and the Town Manager's and Town Commission's expectations of the finance department.  

Town Manager Hoskovec requested that the Town Commission fund both positions and let the Finance Director and 
Town Manager assess the positions in six (6) months to see if the Finance Clerks’ position is needed.  

Vice Mayor Smith stated that the title Finance Director may need to be changed as the Town Charter lists the Town 
Manager as the Finance Director.   

Commissioner Walters stated that the Town Commission appointed the Town Manager to be the administrator of the 
Town and the Commission is responsible to make sure the Town is run property.  Commissioner Walters stated that he 
personally knows a second person in the finance department is not needed and that he is concerned about the Town 
spending money because it is $2.5 million in debt at the present time.  Commissioner Walters stated that he is in 
favor of  hiring a Finance Director if the Town eliminates the other position to help keep the cost down.

Commissioner Crispen stated that he believes one person can take care of the finance department and that the Town 
Commission hired the Town Manager to make recommendations about staff and budgeting and run the Town and 
stated that he will defer to the Town Manager's recommendation regarding the Finance Director position.

Vice Mayor Smith stated that she is in favor of hiring another person in finance and is in favor of keeping the clerk's 
position until the new programs are in and the department can be assessed by the Town Manager to see what needs 
to be done as far as personnel is concerned.  Town Manager Hoskovec stated that the Finance Director could make 
the presentation to the Town Commission regarding this decision and recommended that the Town Commission fund 
both finance positions and let the Finance Director help the Town evaluate the position.

IT IS THE CONSENSUS OF THE TOWN COMMISSION THAT THE TOWN MANAGER MOVE FORWARD WITH 
ADVERTISING TO HIRE A FINANCE DIRECTOR AS PRESENTED IN THE BUDGET AND JOB DESCRIPTION.

Commissioner Walters stated that he is opposed to hiring another Town employee.

Vice Mayor Smith stated that at the last workshop, the Town Commission asked that she, the Town Manager and Town 
Clerk get together and present the job descriptions and this is what is being presented for consideration.  Town 
Manager Hoskovec stated that he is comfortable with the job descriptions as presented.

CONSENSUS OF TOWN COMMISSION TO ACCEPT THE FINANCE CLERK AND DEPUTY TOWN CLERK JOB 
DESCRIPTIONS AS PRESENTED TO ADD THE ADA REQUIREMENTS WHEN ADOPTED AT THE BUDGET 
PUBLIC HEARINGS.  

Town Manager Hoskovec stated he has put additional funds in the Deputy Town Clerk position for additional education.  
Vice Mayor Smith asked that the funding for this position be put back under the Executive Department.  It is discussed 
that the Deputy Town Clerk will report to the Town Manager and duties will be coordinated between the Town Manager 
and Town Clerk.

Town Manager Hoskovec reported that the Town would lose $13,105 if we went back to the rolled- back millage 3.4939 
for this budget.  

IT IS THE CONSENSUS OF THE TOWN COMMISSION TO GO TO THE ROLLED BACK RATE OF 3.4939.

The Town Commission asked that the Town Manager explain this year's library ad valorem tax in newsletter to residents.

Town Manager Hoskovec reviewed proposed budget changes as discussed at the previous meeting.  

Commissioner Walters stated that he would like to know what each employee's proposed salary is this budget year.  
Vice Mayor Smith verified that those employees at the top of their step plan will be awarded a 2.5% bonus. 

Commissioner Walters stated that he does not believe the Town needs the expense of the Nextel radio system as the 
public works employees are within one-half mile of a phone during any point of the day and a good portable 2-way 
radio would accomplish the same task.  Mayor Wille stated that it should be the recommendation of the Town Manager 
as how best to keep good communication between the Town Manager and employees.  Vice Mayor Smith stated that 
she is in favor of the Nextel radio system.

Town Manager Hoskovec stated that he has increased the Police Chief's salary to $55,000 so that he can reward her 
at her six (6) month evaluation process. Commissioner Walters stated that he discussed the $51,000 salary for the 
Police Chief at a previous workshop.  Commissioner Walters referred to a memo of August 9, 2002 regarding the Town 
Manager hiring a Police Chief and his response memo dated August 12, 2002 regarding the starting salary of $51, 000.  

The Town Commission discussed new police vehicles as proposed in the budget and asked that the new Police Chief 
look at the replacement of the Crown Victoria versus the sport utility vehicles.  Commissioner Walters stressed that the 
sport utility vehicles are not made to be a police vehicle and discussed the differences between them and the Crown 
Victoria model.

The Town Commission requested a chart of accounts to reflect Clerk of Court payments.  Town Manager Hoskovec 
and the Town Commission discussed the possibility of a proposed covered area for seating at the bocci ball courts, 
which is in the recreation budget and has been discussed with the bocci ball players and public works department.

There being no further discussion, the workshop adjourned at 9:35 p.m.





____________________________________
ROBERT D. WILLE, MAYOR




____________________________________
CYNTHIA E. MASNY, CMC
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.