HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Workshop_5/4/2020 (Approved]
MINUTES
WORKSHOP MEETING
VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA, FL
MAY 4, 2020 6:00 PM VILLAGE HALL CONFERENCE
ROOM
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Abby Brennan at 6:00 PM. A roll call was taken by
Village Clerk Lori McWilliams.
Present were:
Prince, Arena, Brandon, Johnson, and Stone.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: Council Member Prince made a motion to approve the agenda; Council Member
Brandon seconded the motion. Carried 5-0.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS
There were none.
AGENDA ITEMS
1. COVID-19 Update
Village Manager Jeremy Allen updated Council on some of the restrictions being lifted in
certain areas of the State within Phase I. The Village was working with Palm Beach
County on options for opening up the County. There had been a recent spike of cases
within Palm Beach County and those were being looked at closely as decisions were
being made.
Within the Village of Tequesta, all employees were still working in some fashion, with
some working from home and others on the job. A phased approach for employees
returning to work was discussed; starting with Phase I and ending with Phase IV.
Additionally, the Village was constantly receiving updates during daily conference calls
with Palm Beach County officials.
The water meter replacement project was temporarily on hold due to Covid-19.
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Summer camp was moving forward with some alternatives, such as a smaller group of
kids and/or half days.
The Tequesta Country Club sidewalk project was scheduled for commencement in May.
Meetings would continue via electronic format until it was deemed safe to have meetings
within the Council Chambers again.
Council Member D'Ambra asked if the Village could reach out and ask if Village of
Tequesta businesses would be able to open ahead of other parts of the County. He
understood that the "hotspots" were largely concentrated in the southern areas of Palm
Beach County.
Manager Allen felt that until the State allowed the County to give the Village an exception,
we would remain bundled with Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County. Attorney
Keith Davis weighed in and stated this was a "top down" exercise and had to start with a
change at the State level.
Mayor Brennan asked if other northern Palm Beach County municipalities were asking for
permission to open earlier than the rest of the County. Manager Allen related that he
understood other municipalities were interested in opening back up as a united group,
and not individually.
Fire Chief Trube revealed that as of today, there was a hotspot of new cases in nearby
Jupiter.
Council Member Stone was in support of opening up the businesses earlier than the rest
of the County, if the data supported it.
Council Member D'Ambra felt that Village businesses were suffering and that safety
precautions would be in place. Additionally, it would be up to the individual businesses
as to whether they would choose to open earlier.
Mayor Brennan felt an area of concern would also encompass knowing where the
employees of the businesses were coming from, or if they were sick. People that worked
in the Village did not necessarily live here, and she reminded Council that we were part
of a bigger picture. Opening at the right time was extremely important to her.
2. Temporary Policy Change— Vacation Maximums
Manager Allen informed Council that the normal vacation policy gave employees a cap of
320 hours in their banks. He was proposing a release of the cap, due to Covid-19
affecting employee vacation plans. This would remove the 320 hour cap up until
September 30, 2021. Only 15-20 employees would be affected by this temporary
change. Council was supportive of the temporary policy change.
Vice Mayor Stone mentioned fishing from the bridge, Council being dilegent in wearing
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(Approved]
masks, and a future discussion on broadcasting Council Meetings.
Mayor Brennan applauded Village Clerk McWilliams for all she was doing for for the
Village during the Covid-19 crisis.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:41 PM
MOTION: Vice-Mayor Johnson made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Council Member Prince
seconded the motion. Carried unanimously 5-0.
Respectfully submitted,
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Lori McWilliams, MMC
Village Clerk
Note: These summary minutes are prepared in compliance with 286.011 F.S. and are not
verbatim transcripts of the meeting. A verbatim audio record is available from the office of the
Village Clerk. All referenced attachments are on file in the Village Clerk's office.
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