City Commission Workshop Meeting

APPROVED: 11/6/2014 City Hall City of Eustis, Florida 10 North Grove Street Post Office Drawer 68 Eustis , FL 32727-0068 Meeting Minutes - Final* City Commission Workshop Thursday, October 30, 2014 5:15PM City Hall CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Bob-5:15p.m. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF QUORUM AND PROPER NOTICE Present: 5 - Linda Bob; Albert Eckian; Michael Holland; Karen LeHeup-Smith; and Kress Muenzmay I. Workshop Item 14245 City Manager Finalist Interviews Dianne Kramer, Acting City Manager, explained the recruiter Andrea Battle-Sims would review the process and then introduce each applicant. Ms. Battle-Sims reviewed the history of the process noting 64 applications were received. She explained the process used for reviewing those applications. She stated that once the interviews are concluded she will query the Commission regarding whether they are ready to make a decision . She noted that public comment would be allowed. The Commission questioned if public comment would be after each applicant or after all of the interviews. It was a consensus for the public comment to be allowed after all of the interviews were concluded. The Commission then agreed they would take turns asking a series of questions of each applicant. It was confirmed that the applicants were informed that they would each be asked the same set of questions. The Commission then asked each applicant the following questions: 1) Tell us about your experience and how it has prepared you to be the next City Manager of the City of Eustis. 2) What did you learn in the tour that you didn't know? Are there specific concerns that you have developed in regard to the community or the job? 3) How would you approach working with a community such as Eustis? Describe your relationships with Commission members and residents in your past communities. 4) How have you improved internal communications or created efficiencies within your organizations? What specific improvements have you made that have had a long-lasting impact on your work group? 5) What is the most difficult management situation with which you have dealt? 6) What is the most difficult operational situation with which you have dealt? 7) What is the most controversial political situation in which you have been involved and what changes have you made to avoid similar situations? B) What special techniques or communications methods have you utilized to keep your organization's customers, business partners, rate payers or citizens informed, so that they understand your mission or goals? 9) Tell me about your experience in joining a new organization and establishing your presence. How have you been able to learn the culture? If you were to be the selected candidate, how would you envision your first 100 days? 10) Discuss your experience in dealing with economic and community development/redevelopment issues. What do you consider to be your greatest success in this area? 11) Describe your experience with civic, business and community organizations. What role have you played in the local, regional and national professional organizations? 12) What additional information would you like to provide that we may not have covered, thus far, in this interview? Are there any major points about your background that you would like to emphasize? James Palenick began at 5:20p.m. and concluded at 5:51p.m. Matthew Morton began at 5:52p.m. and concluded at 6:14p.m. Jack (AI) Butler began at 6:15p.m. and concluded at 6:49p.m. City of Eustis, Florida Page 1 Printed on 1013112014 City Commission Workshop Meeting Minutes - Final October 30, 2014 II. Commission Discussion Commissioner Muenzmay left the Commission Room at 6:49p.m. and returned at 6:51 p.m. Following conclusion of the interviews, it was a consensus of the Commission to allow public comment prior to any Commission discussion. III. Public Input Mayor Bob opened the floor to public comment at 6:50p.m. Christie Bobbitt, Executive Director of the Lake Eustis Area Chamber of Commerce, thanked the Commission and urged them to re-open the search for a new City Manager. James Rotella, 217 E. Badger Ave., asked that the process should be deferred until after the election to determine if there is a change in the Commission. Emily Lee, 705 E. Washington Ave., concurred with re-opening the search. She noted she would prefer to hear more about any future applicants' involvement in their communities. There being no further public input, the public comment portion was closed at 6:55p.m. IV. Commission Direction The Commission discussed the three candidates, whether to defer the decision until after the election, whether to re-open the search process, the methodology for continuing the search, the need for a unanimous or near-unanimous decision, and whether to include any of the finalists in future consideration. CONSENSUS: It was a consensus of the Commission to inform Mr. Butler and Mr. Morton they are no longer candidates, for Mr. Pale nick to remain in consideration and for the Waters Group and Human Resources to re-open the search with more aggressive recruitment. V. Adjournment-7:27p.m. City Clerk Mayor/Commissioner *These minutes reflect the actions taken and portions of the discussion during the meeting. To review the entire discussion concerning any agenda item, go to www.eustis.org and click on the video for the meeting in question. A DVD of the entire meeting or CD of the entire audio recording or verbatim transcript of the meeting can be obtained from the office of the C ity Clerk for a fee. City of Eustis, Florida Page2 Printed on 10/3112014