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City Commission Minutes 10-04-2011
MINUTES
REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING
OCTOBER 4, 2011

  • CALL TO ORDER- Mayor Surrency
  • Invocation- Minister Beatrice Sheppard
  • Pledge of Allegiance- Travonda Browning & Derek Jackson
  • APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Moved to approve the agenda
Motion- Commissioner Carlton            Second- Commissioner Randall

Commissioner Carlton
Yes
Commissioner Randall
Yes
Commissioner Roberts
Not Present
Vice Mayor Howard
Yes
Mayor Surrency
Yes
Vote- 4-0

  • RECOGNITIONS & GUESTS- None
  • COMMITTEE REPORTS/PRESENTATIONS/PROCLAMATIONS
  • Presentation- Chester Shell Elementary
Ms. Denise Schultz, Principle of Chester Shell Elementary & Staff & Students presented a map drawing of the City of Hawthorne and things the children wanted to see inside the city.

  • CITIZEN COMMENTS- None
  • AGENDA ITEMS
  • City Commission Minutes
Moved to approve the September 20, 2011 City Commission Minutes
Motion- Commissioner Randall            Second- Vice Mayor Howard

Commissioner Carlton
Yes
Commissioner Randall
Yes
Commissioner Roberts
Not Present
Vice Mayor Howard
Yes
Mayor Surrency
Yes

Vote- 4-0



  • Fire Training Tower (Alachua County Fire Rescue)
Alachua County Fire Rescue is requesting an Interlocal Agreement to use the fire training tower at the Old Fire Station.
Moved to enter into the Interlocal Agreement with Alachua County Fire Rescue.
Motion- Commissioner Randall            Second- Commissioner Carlton

Commissioner Carlton
Yes
Commissioner Randall
Yes
Commissioner Roberts
Not Present
Vice Mayor Howard
Yes
Mayor Surrency
Yes

Vote- 4-0

  • Fire Training Tower (Hollister Fire Department)
Hollister Volunteer Fire Rescue is requesting an Interlocal Agreement to use the fire training tower at the Old Fire Station.  The dates of use will not interfere with the dates of use for Alachua County Fire Rescue.
Moved to enter into the Interlocal Agreement with Hollister Fire Department.
Motion- Vice Mayor Howard                       Second-Commissioner Randall

Commissioner Carlton
Yes
Commissioner Randall
Yes
Commissioner Roberts
Not Present
Vice Mayor Howard
Yes
Mayor Surrency
Yes

Vote- 4-0

  • Electrical Bids
City Manager Vause- In July of 2010 Hawthorne City Hall was inspected by the Fire Marshall and he found 25 violations.  The City Commission asked me to get 3 bids for the repairs and upgrades.  We received bids from Ricky Electric, James Bryant, and Miller Electric.
Moved to except bid by Miller Electric
Motion- Vice Mayor Howard                       Second- Commissioner Randall
Discussion by City Commission and Staff

Moved to amend the motion to except the lowest bid depending on if they have the proper vendor qualifications required.
Motion- Vice Mayor Howard                       Second- Commissioner Randall

Commissioner Carlton
Yes
Commissioner Randall
Yes
Commissioner Roberts
Not Present
Vice Mayor Howard
Yes
Mayor Surrency
Yes

Vote- 4-0
  • Maxwell House Code Violation
City Manager Vause- On May 6, 2009 the City of Hawthorne’s Maxwell House received a code violation notice for violation of city codes: Article 9, Section 9.11 for Unsafe Building.
Discussion by City Commission & Staff
Moved to proceed with the previous action and have the building removed and check with LOCHECC volunteers and the Methodist Church volunteers to see if they are willing to tear down.
Motion- Commissioner Carlton            Second- Commissioner Randall

Commissioner Carlton
Yes
Commissioner Randall
Yes
Commissioner Roberts
Not Present
Vice Mayor Howard
Yes
Mayor Surrency
Yes

Vote- 4-0

  • PUBLIC HEARING
  • SECOND READING
  • Nuisance Abatement Code
City Attorney Harris read the Ordinance by title only.  No changes made since the 1st reading.  As previously discussed, the proposed code provisions define what constitutes a nuisance and explains how the city can abate declared nuisances if the property owner fails to do so.
Moved to adopt the Ordinance on 2nd reading.
Motion- Vice Mayor Howard                       Second- Commissioner Randall

Commissioner Carlton
Yes
Commissioner Randall
Yes
Commissioner Roberts
Not Present
Vice Mayor Howard
Yes
Mayor Surrency
Yes

Vote- 4-0

  • FIRST READING
  • City Commissioners Salary
City Attorney Harris read the Ordinance by title only.  The City Commission adopted an ordinance decreasing its own salaries by 10%.  At the time the reduction was made the City Commission agreed it would be temporary until the financial condition was addressed.
Moved to reinstate the City Commission salary
Motion- Commissioner Carlton            Second- Commissioner Randall





Commissioner Carlton
Yes
Commissioner Randall
Yes
Commissioner Roberts
Not Present
Vice Mayor Howard
Yes
Mayor Surrency
No

Vote- 3-1
Mayor Surrency- Ordinance did not pass because a majority vote (80%) is needed and we only have 75% present tonight.  We must bring it back when Commissioner Roberts is present.

Discussion continued by City Commission & Staff.

  • DISCUSSION
  • Fire Station
This item was removed off the agenda because Commissioner Roberts was not present.

  • CITIZEN COMMENTS
  • Larry Tilbury- Code violation south of the new Water Tower.
  • REPORTS
  • City Manager Vause- Gave an update of staff, city finances, the public works department and park & recreation.
  • City Attorney Harris- Took a tour of CSX crossings with the City Manager.  Spoke with Mr. Coy Donaldson who doesn’t recall any agreement with CSX during his tenor.
  • City Commissioners
Commissioner Carlton- None
Commissioner Randall- None
Vice Mayor Howard- October 20, 2011 the seniors will be traveling to Lake Walberg.
Mayor Surrency- October 16-22, 2011 is Florida City Government Week.  The city has bumper stickers and pins.  October 22, 2011 semi formal HHS Class Reunion for classes graduating in 2007 and previous years are welcome.  Attended the FLC meeting and there was a discussion about the 1 cent sales tax for transportation for 2012.  Will keep the City Commission updated.

Mr. Lenton Herring- A lot of potential in the City of Hawthorne.  The Boat ramp needs major repairs.  Is willing to pay to fix the boat ramp.  The owner of the bait store is willing to put something in his establishment to take donations to help offset the cost of the repairs.
City Manager Vause- The City of Hawthorne applied for a grant to fix the boat ramp and found out FDOT is the owner of the ramp.  The city can’t do upgrades because we don’t own the property.  Can contact FDOT to ask if they can fix the boat ramp.

Discussion continued by City Commission & Staff.
  • ADJOURN
Moved to adjourn the meeting.
Motion- Vice Mayor Howard               Second- Commissioner Carlton

Commissioner Carlton
Yes
Commissioner Randall
Yes
Commissioner Roberts
Not Present
Vice Mayor Howard
Yes
Mayor Surrency
Yes


These minutes are submitted for approval.

                                                                                        
LaKesha H. McGruder, CMC                        Matthew Surrency, Mayor
City Clerk