JANUARY 4, 2011
REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING
MINUTES
A. CALL TO ORDER- Vice Mayor Surrency
1. Invocation- Commissioner Roberts
2. Pledge of Allegiance- Commissioner Carter
City Commission Present: Vice Mayor Surrency, Commissioners Carter, Carlton and Roberts. Not Present: Mayor Randall. City Staff Present: City Clerk McGruder, City Attorney Harris, City Planner Dawson.
B. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Commissioner Roberts- Under discussion item 3. Previously spoke with Mr. Watson who was willing to step in as an emergency replacement as the Interim City Manager. Once Mr. Watson realized the Florida League of Cities were participating he decided to allow the Florida League to assist the City because they are very capable of doing the job. Due to lack of communication over the Christmas Holidays his name was still placed on the agenda when it should not have been. So we should remove his name from the agenda. Also I would like to add Senior Center under Discussions as item 4.
Vice Mayor Surrency- I would like to add Mr. Jim Mills under Discussions as item 5, Mr. Ed Smyth Severance under Discussion as item 6, and Check Payable under Discussion as item 7.
Moved to approve the agenda with the amendments.
Motion- Commissioner Roberts Second- Commissioner Carlton
Discussion- None
Commissioner Carter |
Yes |
Commissioner Carlton |
Yes |
Commissioner Roberts |
Yes |
Vice Mayor Surrency |
Yes |
Mayor Randall |
Not Present |
Vote- 4-0
C. RECOGNITION & GUESTS- NONE
D. COMMITTEE REPORTS/PRESENTATIONS/PROCLAMATIONS- NONE
E. CITIZEN COMMENTS- NONE
F. ROUTINE ITEMS
1. City Commission Minutes
December 14, 2010 Regular Commission Meeting
December 16, 2010 Special Commission Meeting
Moved to approve the minutes with amendments to the December 16, 2010 Special Commission Meeting.
Motion- Commissioner Carter Second- Commissioner Roberts
Discussion- None
Commissioner Carter |
Yes |
Commissioner Carlton |
Yes |
Commissioner Roberts |
Yes |
Vice Mayor Surrency |
Yes |
Mayor Randall |
Not Present |
Vote- 4-0
G. PUBLIC HEARING
1. SECOND READING
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF HAWTHORNE, ALACHUA COUNTY, FLORIDA, AMENDING ARTICLE FOUR, SECTION 4.2.20.3 OF THE HAWTHORNE LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS PROVIDING FOR EXCEPTIONS TO THE SIGN PERMIT REQUIREMENTS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
City Clerk McGruder read the Ordinance by title only.
City Planner Dawson- This item should go before the P&Z Board because it is a change to the Land Development Regulations. There is a P&Z Meeting scheduled for January 12, 2011. Asking the City Commission to table this item until the January 15, 2011 City Commission Meeting.
Moved to table this item until January 18.
Motion- Commissioner Roberts Second- Commissioner Carter
Discussion- None
Commissioner Carter |
Yes |
Commissioner Carlton |
Yes |
Commissioner Roberts |
Yes |
Vice Mayor Surrency |
Yes |
Mayor Randall |
Not Present |
Vote- 4-0
2. FIRST READING- NONE
H. DISCUSSION
1. Roof repair on shed at Water Tower
Commissioner Roberts- the Water Tower is beautiful but the shed is caving in and the electricians are hanging electrical wires on 2X4’s. Wanted to bring it to the City Commission for direction on what we should direct staff to do.
Commissioner Carlton- Went by the Tower today and the roof has been repaired and everything looks good.
2. Donation for Mr. Donnie Pearson
Commissioner Carlton- We have discussed this enough. We should compensate Mr. Pearson for locking and unlocking the City Park every day.
Moved to pay Mr. Pearson $10.00 per day for 7 days a week for locking and unlocking the City Park.
Motion- Commissioner Carlton Second- Commissioner Carter
Discussion- None
Commissioner Carter |
Yes |
Commissioner Carlton |
Yes |
Commissioner Roberts |
Yes |
Vice Mayor Surrency |
Yes |
Mayor Randall |
Not Present |
Vote- 5-0
3. Interim City Manager Position
A. Mr. Paul Sharon
Mr. Sharon- Retired City Manager after 30 years. Provide service to smaller communities for Interim City Manager services until a permanent City Manager is in place. Will answer any questions the City Commission may have.
Commissioner Carlton- Should immediately set a workshop and get things rolling.
Moved to schedule a workshop on Wednesday January 12, 2011 at 11:00AM with Mr. Sharon and get things rolling for an Interim City Manager.
Motion- Commissioner Carlton Second- Commissioner Carter
Discussion- None
Commissioner Carter |
Yes |
Commissioner Carlton |
Yes |
Commissioner Roberts |
No |
Vice Mayor Surrency |
Yes |
Mayor Randall |
Not Present |
Vote- 3-1
Commissioner Roberts- Not against the time and date of the workshop but was in favor of the emergency service that was previously discussed.
4. Senior Center
Commissioner Roberts- Would like to use the fire station on the 1st Thursday of the month at 2:30PM for about 2 hours for the seniors to use the building. Would like it to be on the next agenda for the City Commission to make a vote. Also would like to add the Medical Facility on the agenda as well.
5. Jim Mills- Modular Homes in Reservation
Mr. Jim Mills- There was a bill passed recently to make home owners pump their septic tank every 5 years. Also a modular home just moved into the Reservation. It’s not a modular home it’s a mobile home. Is asking the City Commission to pass an Ordinance that states no mobile or modular homes allowed in the City of Hawthorne and stipulate all new homes must be built from the ground up. Mobile or Modular homes will bring down the value of other homes in the area.
Commissioner Carlton- Not sure of the year it was passed but there is an Ordinance that states no mobile homes inside the City limits.
City Planner Dawson- Manufacture building terminology is very complex. The State of Florida has specific definitions for mobile and modular homes that preempt local Ordinances.
City Planner Dawson gave the State of Florida definitions for mobile and modular homes.
Vice Mayor Surrency asked the City Attorney and City Planner to research this information and bring something back to the City Commission at the next meeting.
6. Mr. Ed Smyth Severance
Vice Mayor Surrency- should have received a report from Ms. Debbie Pennington regarding the city funds that available as of today which shows there is enough money to pay the former City Manager Mr. Smyth his severance pay.
City Attorney Harris- The contract does not state how to pay it but recommends paying it all in one lump sum.
Moved to pay the severance in one lump sum.
Motion- Commissioner Carter Second- Vice Mayor Surrency
Discussion:
Vice Mayor Surrency- We have received a report from Ms. Pennington that states the funds are available and we need to pay the money and move on.
Commissioner Carlton- We should wait until after the budget is complete before we pay any money to Mr. Smyth.
Ms. Mary Smyth- Have contacted an Attorney and if the money is held then the attorneys will fight it out.
Commissioner Carter |
Yes |
Commissioner Carlton |
No |
Commissioner Roberts |
No |
Vice Mayor Surrency |
Yes |
Mayor Randall |
Not Present |
Vote-2-2 motion failed
Ms. Heather Surrency- If the money is there then pay Mr. Smyth so we can have a clean break. We don’t need any more negative publicity through the news paper. Let’s just move forward.
Mr. Ray Daniel- When the City Commission terminated Mr. Smyth you had the opportunity to pay him in 3 months sum. He should have been paid by now. You are obligated to pay Mr. Smyth.
City Attorney Harris- still recommend the City Commission to pay the severance in full with one final check.
Moved to pay the severance package in full and move on.
Motion- Commissioner Carter Second- Commissioner Roberts
Discussion- None
Commissioner Carter |
Yes |
Commissioner Carlton |
No |
Commissioner Roberts |
Yes |
Vice Mayor Surrency |
Yes |
Mayor Randall |
Not Present |
Vote- 3-1
Ms. Vivian Wagner- what is the total amount of Mr. Smyth’s severance package?
City Attorney Harris- $26,370.89 is the full amount payable to Mr. Smyth for his severance package.
7. Check Payable
Vice Mayor Surrency- was given a check to sign for Mr. Nelson Lee Vincent for services rendered to Mr. Smyth for him to review the budget. Need to know if the City Commission wants this paid.
Mr. Ray Daniel- Need to speak with this gentleman to see what agreement he had with Mr. Smyth.
Commissioner Roberts- Mr. Smyth hired this man on his own to help him do something we hired Mr. Smyth to do. This is Mr. Smyth’s bill.
Commissioner Carlton- I concur. Let Mr. Smyth pay the man.
Vice Mayor Surrency- will turn this over to the Mayor and ask her to contact Mr. Vincent regarding this.
I. CITIZEN COMMENT- NONE
J. REPORTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS/INFORMATION
City Clerk McGruder- None
City Attorney Harris- None
Commissioner Carter- None
Commissioner Carlton- None
Commissioner Roberts- None
Vice Mayor Surrency- Made it to and from Tennessee safely.
K. ADJOURN
Moved to adjourn
Motion- Commissioner Roberts Second- Commissioner Carter
Discussion- None
Commissioner Carter |
Yes |
Commissioner Carlton |
Yes |
Commissioner Roberts |
Yes |
Vice Mayor Surrency |
Yes |
Mayor Randall |
Not Present |
Vote- 4-0
These minutes are submitted for approval.
LaKesha H. McGruder, CMC Matthew Surrency, Vice Mayor
City Clerk
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