Board of Commissioners Special Meeting

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING January 31, 2018 Page 1 of4 A Special meeting of the City of Madeira Beach Board of Commissioners was held at 5:00 p.m. on January 31, 2018 in the Patricia Shontz Commission Chambers at City Hall, located at 300 Municipal Drive, Madeira Beach, Florida. Mayor Black called the meeting to order. MEMBERS PRESENT: Maggi Black, Mayor John Douthirt, Vice-Mayor Terry Lister, Commissioner Nancy Hodges, Commissioner Nancy Oakley, Commissioner CITY STAFF PRESENT: Derryl O'Neal, Acting City Manager Ralf Brookes, City Attorney Clara VanBlargan, City Clerk Walter Pierce, Finance Director A. CALL TO ORDER The Mayor called the meeting to order at 5:02 p.m. B. ROLLCALL The City Clerk called the roll. C. PUBLIC COMMENT Victor Cucaro stressed concerns with the City Manager position. Steve Kochick stressed concerns with special meetings held to often and not involving the residents. D. NEW BUSINESS 1. RELEASE, REDUCTION OR WAIVER OF LIENS ON PROPERTY LOCATED AT 502 JOHNS PASS AVENUE, MADEIRA BEACH, FL Planning Director Linda Portal said liens were placed on this property when the property was in foreclosure and the bank owned the property. The day to day fines had added up over the years amounting to over a million dollars. The lien was placed on the property owner before it went to foreclosure. The property owner is asking for the liens to be settled and has offered to pay the amount of $1072. The lien had been on the property longer than the State allows it. The City should put a better system in place to ensure this does not happen again. Commissioner Lister said this has cost the City lots of money in maintaining the property and the City needed to be reimbursed. The City was not informed by the Bank the property was in foreclosure. Christie Appugliese said the property was only given two violations that she is aware of and she was not allowed on the property to maintain it. Commissioner Oakley asked the Special Magistrates cost. The City Clerk explained. Commission Oakley made a motion to settle the liens for a total charge of $1072.57. The motion was seconded by Vice Mayor Douthirt. ROLL CALL VOTE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING January 31, 2018 Page 2 of 4 Commissioner Lister "NO" Commissioner Hodges "NO" Vice-Mayor Douthirt "YES" Commissioner Oakley "YES" Mayor Black "YES" The Motion carried 3-2. 2. RENEWAL OF HEARTLAND CONTRACT Finance Director Watter Pierce explained this contract is time sensitive. He provided new forms for the Commission than what was originally provided. He explained the costs for the service. Charles Paler from Heartland explained how much the average credit card transaction fees were and said the savings are locked in for three years. Commissioner Lister made a motion to renew the contract with Heartland for three years. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Oakley. ROLL CALL VOTE: Commissioner Lister "YES" Commissioner Hodges "YES" Vice-Mayor Douthirt "YES" Commissioner Oakley "YES" Mayor Black "YES" The Motion carried 5-0. 3. HIRING OF A CITY MANAGER Commissioner Lister asked that this item be tabled as he would like a chance to look at all the big changes with the contract. He asked what the rush was to hire Mr. Evans as his start date is not until the end of February. He asked why the City was paying him $145,000 per year, when the City Manager position was posted at $125,000. Commissioner Hodges questioned the probationary period and said there was not a probationary clause in the contract. The City Attorney explained that the City checked with Tom Gonzales, the City's labor attorney who said the City Manager can be terminated at any time and that he will be entitled to a name clearing hearing whether he be terminated with or without cause, he can be fired without cause between now and 20 years from now, so the City Manager is on probation throughout his employment with the City. Commissioner Hodges asked how the City came up with the offer of $145,000. The City Attorney said this was in the budget, the former City Manager was at $157,000, he also checked with St Pete Beach, and their City Manager is at $152,000. $145,000 is $12,000 under the budget. He said he did not handle the negotiations of the salary, The Finance Director handled the negotiations. Mr. Pierce said the $145,000 came up in conversation when he and Karen Paulson was in negotiation with Mr. Evans, he was quite adamant that was what he wanted. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING MINUlES SPECIAL MEETING January 31, 2018 Page 3 of4 Commissioner Hodges asked if there were any negotiation with the $145,000 and said they needed more time to discuss it. Commissioner Lister said the reason why Shane Crawford's salary was $157,000 is because he made the City millions of dollars in grant money every year. To start Mr. Evans out at $145,000 is simply not good business for the City of Madeira Beach. Mayor Black said Mr. Evans knew about Madeira Beach when he was City Manager for the City of Largo. Commissioner Oakley said Mr. Evans is very highly credentialed. Vice-Mayor Douthirt asked why we could not do a two-year contract. The City Attorney said it conflicted with the Charter. This must be an indefinite term. Commissioner Lister questioned the starting salary for the City Manager and said his salary will be quite high after salary increases. The City Manager will also be receiving 100% in benefits. Employees should have to pay for something. The City Attorney said the contract can be amended if need be. Commissioner Lister asked again for some time to go over the contract and put something together. OPENED PUBIC COMMENT Victor Cucaro stressed concerns with the job history of Mr. Evans and the starting pay. Deby Weinstein said Commissioner Lister was out of order. Steve Kochick stressed concern with the process in hiring a City Manager. John Hendricks said he had no time to look over the contract. Robert Preston stressed_concerns with the city manager contract and the starting salary of $145,000. CLOSED PUBLIC COMMENT The City Clerk read an emait received from Mr. Evans addressed to the BOC and some of the employees. Commissioner Hodges asked if they could look over the contract and have a separate meeting to allow more attendance because hiring a City Manager is an important move for the City. Mayor Black said it is important to keep moving forward with the hiring process. Vice-Mayor Douthirt asked Commissioner Lister and Hodges how long they would like to spread this out. Commissioner Lister asked if Mr. Evans had accepted the contract. Mr. Pierce said yes. Commissioner Lister said he would like to change the starting pay to $117,000, he would like to pay way less than 12% on his retirement, he is not sure if he should receive the $5000 moving fee but 2500 instead, and he would like to renegotiate the health benefits. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING January 31, 2018 Page 4 of4 Following discussion, Commissioner Hodges made a motion to table this to a later date, so they can have more time to look at the contract and re-negotiate. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Lister. ROLL CALL VOTE: Commissioner Lister "YES" Commissioner Hodges "YES• Vice-Mayor Douthirt "NO" Commissioner Oakley "NO" Mayor Black "NO" The Motion failed 3-2. Commission Oakley made a motion to offer this contract the way it is to Johnathan Evans. The motion was seconded by Vice-Mayor Douthirt. Commissioner Lister said he cannot believe they were doing this and said it is not good for the City. He is absolutely appalled that this contract had been offered to Mr. Evans in its current form. ROLL CALL VOTE: Commissioner Lister "NO" Commissioner Hodges "NO" Vice-Mayor Douthirt "YES" Commissioner Oakley "YES" Mayor Black "YES" The Motion carried 3-2. E. ADJOURNMENT The Mayor adjourned the meeting at approximately 6:14 p.m. Maggi Bl , ATTEST: