TOWN OF MELBOURNE BEACH
MINUTES
TOWN COMMISSION - SPECIAL MEETING
****************************************************************************************************
WEDNESDAY
SEPTEMBER 5, 2001
6:00 P.M.
COMMUNITY CENTER
***********************************************************************************************************************
A special meeting of the Town Commission of the Town of Melbourne Beach, Florida was called
to order by Mayor Wille at 6:02 p.m. on Wednesday, September 5, 2001 in the Community Center.
Mayor Wille also led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Present:
Absent:
|
Mayor Wille
Commissioner Smith
Commissioner Stacey
Commissioner Stark\
Vice Mayor Remark
|
Others Present:
|
Town Attorney Gougelman
Interim Town Manager Masny
Interim Town Clerk Wiley
Finance Clerk Prewitt
Amy Adams, Cape Canaveral Scientific, Inc.
Several police officers and town residents
|
I. NEW BUSINESS
A. DISCUSS AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING REQUEST TO AMEND
FORMER TOWN MANAGER’S (NANCY CIUMMO) EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT.
Interim Town Manager Masny explained that per a letter from former Town Manager Ciummo that she is out-of-town
and asked that the item be deferred to the next meeting.
COMMISSIONER STACY MOVED, SECOND COMMISSIONER STARK TO DEFER FORMER TOWN MANAGER’S
(NANCY CIUMMO) REQUEST TO AMEND HER EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT TO THE NEXT TOWN COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING.
VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
B. REVIEW OF PROPOSED RESOLUTION REGARDING REFERENDUM
QUESTION ON PROPOSED MUNICIPAL COMPLEX.
Mayor Wille asked Town Attorney Gougelman to read Resolution No. 688 into the record.
II. PUBLIC HEARING
A. RESOLUTION NO. 688
A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF MELBOURNE BEACH, BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA, RELATING
TO CONSTRUCTION OF A MUNICIPAL COMPLEX TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL
SERVICES; MAKING FINDINGS; PROPOSING A REFERENDUM TO THE VOTERS OF THE TOWN WHETHER
TO CONSTRUCT THE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX; SETTING FORTH BALLOT LANGUAGE; PROVIDING FOR
COORDINATION WITH THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Town Attorney Gougelman explained that this was a draft resolution to put the proposal on the ballot. He pointed out
Section 3 of the Resolution included the ballot title and summary. Town Attorney Gougelman asked the Commission
to review Section 5 and explained that if there was not a contested election in November, although he felt that wasn’t
likely to happen, the Town would have a means to make a decision about the issue.
There was discussion concerning the use of the interest earned on the bond and Town Attorney Gougelman said that
arbitrage rules would go into effect. Other topics discussed included which figures to use, whether to have a limit of not
to exceed a certain amount being a total or the reserves, flexibility of the use of funds, obtain more answers concerning
the interest, payments on the bond, and construction funds. There was discussion of a special meeting before the Blue
Ribbon Committee’s presentation on September 11, 2001 enabling the Commission to get answers to the questions raised.
More discussion ensued. Mayor Wille wanted to be sure that the language in the ballot would explain what the community
would be authorizing. Commissioner Stark suggested the rewording of the summary from “Bond money previously obtained
($1.85 million) and Town reserve funds (not exceeding $400,000) will fund construction.” to “Proceeds from $1.85 million
bond obtained and Town reserve funds not exceeding $600,000 will fund construction.”
Mayor Wille opened the public hearing for comments regarding Resolution No. 688.
Steve Walters, 416 Sixth Avenue inquired as to how much would be left in the reserve fund for emergencies and if the 2.4
million included furnishings and if it didn’t, how much would furnishings cost. Commission Stark responded that there would
be approximately $200,000 in the reserve fund and indicated that furnishing would have to come later and thought that in an
earlier plan the approximate cost of furnishings was around $135,000 to $150,000 but that may have been over estimated.
COMMISSIONER STARK MOVED, SECOND COMMISSIONER STACEY TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NO. 688 A
RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF MELBOURNE BEACH, BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA, RELATING TO
CONSTRUCTION OF A MUNICIPAL COMPLEX TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL SERVICES;
MAKING FINDINGS; PROPOSING A REFERENDUM TO THE VOTERS OF THE TOWN WHETHER TO CONSTRUCT
THE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX; SETTING FORTH BALLOT LANGUAGE; PROVIDING FOR COORDINATION WITH THE
SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE WITH A CHANGE IN THE WORDING
OF THE QUESTION FROM “BOND MONEY PREVIOUSLY OBTAINED ($1.85 MILLION) AND TOWN RESERVE FUNDS
(NOT EXCEEDING $400,000) WILL FUND CONSTRUCTION.” TO “PROCEEDS FROM $1.85 MILLION BOND OBTAINED
AND TOWN RESERVE FUNDS NOT EXCEEDING $600,000 WILL FUND CONSTRUCTION.”
VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
The agenda was picked back up with new business
I. NEW BUSINESS
C. APPROVAL OF WORK ORDER FOR CAPE CANAVERAL SCIENTIFIC, INC. TO PROVIDE GRANT
WRITING SERVICES FOR PUBLIC ACCESS AND EDUCATION FOR LOGGERHEAD PARK PRESERVE.
Amy Adams of Cape Canaveral Scientific, Inc. discussed grant writing services for public access and education for
Loggerhead Park Preserve. This had been discussed with the Environmental Advisory Board last April. Since that
time the Town received a FRDAP grant for $50,000 for a dune crossover and boardwalk for Loggerhead Park Preserve.
Ms. Adams commented that the Environmental Advisory Board would like to construct educational displays on the
boardwalk relating to the ocean, plants and animals. The Board also wanted to continue with the native plantings on
the site. Ms. Adams pointed out that for the above-mentioned projects, the $50,000 would not cover all of it.
Ms. Adams explained that the Florida Coastal Management Program was considered a federal program. Ms. Adams
said that FCMP Grant Manager Jim Farr indicated that he thought the project would score well. Ms. Adams mentioned
that the property north of Loggerhead Park Preserve had been sold. There was discussion concerning the boardwalk
design and construction material called TREX Board.
The Commission asked Ms. Adams to clarify what the grant would be for and she explained that it would be to finish
up the dune crossover and boardwalk construction and add education exhibits on the boardwalk system. Other
discussion followed concerning any extra workload on the Town staff, administration of the grant and the amount
of the grant request.
COMMISSIONER STACEY MOVED, SECOND COMMISSIONER SMITH TO APPROVE THE AUTHORIZATION TO
EMPLOY THE GRANT WRITING SERVICES OF AMY ADAMS OF CAPE CANAVERAL SCIENTIFIC, INC. PER THE
PROPOSAL DATED SEPTEMBER 4, 2001 PRESENTED TO THE TOWN COMMISSION ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2001.
VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
Mayor Wille asked Ms. Adams to follow up with Ted Morehead and the FIND grant before September 19, 2001 concerning
the Town Pier. Ms. Adams mentioned that she felt the Town had a good chance of receiving the grant for the pier from the
National Scenic Highways but would not hear from them until the middle or end of October. Ms. Adams also stated that
in order to maintain the pier as a historical site, the Town must work with a historical architect and in order to obtain figures
for the Mayor to present to FIND, an architect would need to provide them. Ms. Adams said that she would obtain figures
needed by sending pictures to the architect and having a local contractor view the pier.
Before proceeding into the Budget Hearing, Mayor Wille brought forward the issue of the use of the Nextel system.
Mayor Wille presented before the Commission his understanding of the use of the system as presented to him by the
former Town Manager. Mayor Wille requested the Town Commission to give him direction upon the appropriateness
of the usage. It was discussed that there was a town policy concerning employees and the use of Town property.
Mayor Wille explained his position.
Steve Walters, 416 Sixth Avenue stated that there was a strict rule for employees not to use Town property for personal
use and pointed out that there was a law that prohibited the use of Town property for personal use. He proceeded to
bring forth other points of information that he had gathered.
Other comments and discussion followed. Commissioner Stark told Mayor Wille that she appreciated his bringing the
issue to the attention of the other commissioners. Commissioner Stark also pointed out the importance of communication
among the town officials and staff especially during a hurricane. It was the consensus of the Commissioners that Nextel
bills must be itemized and Finance Clerk Prewitt said the Town had already made that request.
Paul Guglietta, 318 Fourth Avenue didn’t see why the mayor should not have a phone because if there was an emergency,
he is the chief executive officer and he should have some means of communicating. Mr. Guglietta felt there should be a
way to keep the phones, determine who is authorized to have them and set up parameters for the use of them. Mr.
Guglietta felt it would be wise to get the itemized billing. Mr. Guglietta also felt the mayor should request reimbursement
for travel for attending various meetings where he represented the Town.
Mayor Wille continued to explain his utilization of the Nextel phone for town business as he was on the road. Because
he has a full time job, he could not do Town business at his work and making calls while he was on the road was making
good use of his time.
Commissioner Stacey inquired of the finance clerk the pricing of the Nextel/Radio system and what was received for the
costs and made some policy suggestions. Other discussion continued on the subject. Commissioner Stark stated that
she would like to see a full communication breakdown of the budget showing the different departments’ costs and what
communication systems they used.
Paul Guglietta, 318 Fourth Avenue shared his experience with the Nextel/Radio System while he worked in Miami with
drivers all over the state and country. He thought it was a great system to have.
Steve Walters, 416 Sixth Avenue again stated that it was inappropriate to use Town property for personal use. He voiced
other opinions he had concerning the use of the phones.
Commissioner Stark responded to Mr. Walters’s comments. Commissioner Stark pointed out that what was learned
from the mediation process was that if a problem was found to exist in the past, then you look at what are the expectations
for the future, what are the consequences if the expectations are not met, and then address the issue so that it does not
happen in the future.
Mayor Wille reiterated that the staff was asked to review the communications of all the departments, obtain detailed billing
information and report back to the Town Commission with a policy.
COMMISSIONER SMITH MOVED, SECOND COMMISSIONER STARK TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.
VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
There being no further business, the special meeting of the Town Commission of the Town of Melbourne Beach, Florida
adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
________________________________________
ROBERT D. WILLE, MAYOR
________________________________________
JANE WILEY
INTERIM TOWN CLERK
Note: a mechanical recording has been made of the foregoing procedure on which these minutes are a part and
on file in the office of the Town Clerk.
|