Loading...
1996-05-07 Regular MeetingCITY OF OKEECHOBEE 141 t REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARY OF COUNCIL ACTION A. Call Regular Meeting to order on May 7, 1996 at 7:00 p.m B. Invocation offered by Reverend Hart; Pledge of Allegiance led by Mayor Kirk. C. Mayor and Council Attendance: Mayor James E. Kirk Council Member Noel A. Chandler Council Member Michael G. O'Connor Council Member Robert Oliver Council Member Dowling R. Watford, Jr. Staff Attendance: City Attorney John R. Cook City Administrator John J. Drago City Clerk Bonnie S. Thomas Deputy Clerk S. Lane Gamiotea Mayor Kirk called the regular meeting to order on May 7, 1996 at 7:04 p.m. Dowling Watford, Jr. offered the invocation; Mayor Kirk led the Pledge of Allegiance. Clerk Thomas called the roll: Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present D. Motion to dispense with reading and approve the Summary of Council Member O'Connor moved to dispense with reading and approve the Summary Council Action of the Regular Meeting of April 16, 1996 and the of Council Action of the Regular Meeting of April 16, 1996 and the Workshop meetings Workshop Meetings of April 22 and 29, 1996. 1 of April 22 and 29, 1996; seconded by Council Member Chandler. KIRK CHANDLER O'CONNOR OLIVER WATFORD MOTION CARRIED. PAGE 1 OF 6 142 MAY 7, 1996 - REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 2 OF 6 E. Motion to approve Warrant Registers for March, 1996 in the amount Council Member Watford moved to approve Warrant Registers for March, 1996 in the of $241,406.25. 111 amount of two hundred forty-one thousand, four hundred six dollars, twenty-five cents ($241,406.25); seconded by Council Member Oliver. KIRK CHANDLER O'CONNOR OLIVER WATFORD MOTION CARRIED. REQUEST FOR THE ADDITION, DEFERRAL OR WITHDRAWAL Mayor Kirk asked if there were any additions, deferral's or withdrawal of items on OF ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA. III tonight's agenda? There were none. Before continuing with new business, Mayor Kirk stated that the Council had received a memorandum from Fire Chief Tomey concerning Firefighter Bryan Stokes receiving the Outstanding Recruit Award by the President of Treasure Coast Fire Chiefs Association. Firefighter Stokes received this award at his graduation ceremony from Indian River Community College. Mayor Kirk commented that Administrator Drago and Fire Chief Tomey should do whatever is necessary to give Firefighter Stokes the recognition he deserves. F. NEW BUSINESS 1. Motion to reappoint James Palmore, Shirley Johnson and III Council Member Oliver moved to reappoint James Palmore, Shirley Johnson and Harrison O'Connor to the Code Enforcement Board - City Harrison O'Connor to the Code Enforcement Board; seconded by Council Member Administrator. Chandler. KIRK CHANDLER O'CONNOR OLIVER WATFORD MOTION CARRIED. X X X X X X X X X X N 143 MAY 7, 1996 - REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 3 OF 6 F. NEW BUSINESS i 2. Motion to approve Rena Ridley as a new Police Dispatcher - Council Member O'Connor moved to approve Rena Ridley as a new Police Dispatcher; Police Chief. seconded by Council Member Watford. Mayor Kirk extended a welcome to Mrs. Ridley, who was present and introduced by Chief Mobley to the Council. KIRK CHANDLER O'CONNOR OLIVER WATFORD MOTION CARRIED. 3. Hear from Tom Conely regarding the revision of a City Attorney Tom Conely, representing Danny Entry, appeared before the Council requesting Ordinance - Tom Conely (Exhibit 1). an amendment to the City ordinance that prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages within seven hundred feet of a church, school or child care center. Attorney Conely distributed a revised section of the ordinance with his recommendation for the amendment. The amendment allows alcoholic beverages to be sold within seven hundred feet of a church, but could not be consumed on the premises. It still excludes the sale of alcoholic beverages within seven hundred feet of a school or child care center. Following discussion Council Member O'Connor moved to accept the amendment on Section 3-3 as outlined by Attorney Conely. Attorney Conely then distributed a proposed ordinance title and asked if the Council could approve it for first reading and set the public hearing date tonight. Following discussion whether or not this could be done, Attorney Cook and Administrator Drago said that it could, Council Member O'Connor withdrew his motion on the floor. X X X X X 144 MAY 7, 1996 - REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 4 OF 6 F. NEW BUSINESS Council Member O'Connor made a motion to read by title only, (proposed) Ordinance 3. Hear from Tom Conely regarding the revision of a City No. 689 and set May 21, 1996 as the Public Hearing date: seconded by Council Member Ordinance continued. III Chandler. KIRK CHANDLER O'CONNOR OLIVER WATFORD MOTION CARRIED. Attorney Cook read proposed Ordinance No. 689 by title only as follows: "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA AMENDING SECTION 3-3(a) OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE." Council Member O'Connor moved to approve the first reading of (proposed) Ordinance No. 689: seconded by Council Member Chandler. Council Member Watford stated he would have to abstain from voting on this issue since he has a financial interest in it. Council Member Oliver commented he thought more time should be given before the first reading and that the first reading should not be until the next meeting, then have the public hearing in order to give the public more time to learn about the proposed amendment to the ordinance. He also asked if anyone has heard from the members of the churches in the area regarding their feelings on the matter? No one had heard from them. KIRK CHANDLER O'CONNOR OLIVER WATFORD - ABSTAINED. MOTION CARRIED. X X X FI MAY 7, 1996 - REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 5 OF 6 145 F. NEW BUSINESS 4. Discuss Employee Handbook - Mayor Kirk (Exhibit 2) Mayor Kirk asked if anyone else had items to bring up for discussion concerning the employee handbook. No one had further items to discuss. Mayor Kirk then asked if the next step was to forward the handbook to the labor attorney? Administrator Drago responded yes. Clerk Thomas distributed revised pages to the Council. Council agreed with those changes. Mayor Kirk asked, in regards to one of Council Member Oliver's suggestions to have receipts for each employee to sign when receiving their handbook, if that had become a part of the handbook? Clerk Thomas advised she had the appropriate forms in her office. Attorney Cook advised the Council there were two areas he wanted the labor attorney to pay special attention to. One is concerning worker's compensation which falls in Job Connected Injury Benefit section of the handbook. And two, concerning the hearing procedures for a Grievance. It states that an open or closed hearing may be requested and he wants to make sure a closed hearing would be allowed. There being no further discussion concerning the handbook, Council instructed Clerk Thomas to give Administrator Drago a new revised copy for him to forward to the labor attorney and advise him to look closely at the two areas pointed out by Attorney Cook. Council instructed that the handbook be sent to the labor attorney as soon as possible in order to get the labor attorney's revisions and let the Council adopt it. 146 MAY 7, 1996 - REGULAR MEETING - PAGE 6 OF 6 ADJOURNMENT Mayor Kirk. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE AND BE ADVISED that if a person decides to appeal any decision made by the City Council with respect to any matter considered at this meeting, he/she may need to insure that a verbatim record of the proceeding is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. A tape recording of this meeting is on file in the City Clerk's Office. ATTEST: Bonnie S. Thomas, CMC, City Clerk E. Ki , Mayor There being no further items on the agenda, Mayor Kirk adjourned the regular meeting at 8:03 p.m.