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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Charter Review_11/3/2021r- MINUTES CHARTER REVIEW BOARD MEETING VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA, FL NOVEMBER 3, 2021 6:00 PM COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order by Chair Abby Brennan at 6.00 p.m. A roll call was taken by Clerk Lori McWilliams. Present were: Chair Abby Brennan, Vice -Chair Kimberly Kraft, Member David Hudson, Member Marcia Nielson, and Member Gary Vonk. COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS There were none. AGENDA ITEMS 1. Minutes: September 15, 2021 MOTION: Member Nielson made a motion to approve the minutes from September 15, 2021 and October 6, 2021; Member Kraft seconded the motion. Carried unanimously 5-0. 2. Discussion on Legal's Charter Working Document from 1016121 Meeting Village Attorney Keith Davis reviewed the edits made to Legal's Charter Working Document. He noted Article 5 was reorganized for better flow and there were not any substantive changes. Attorney Davis clarified the article discussed the way taxes were collected, based on State Statue, and how the Village could spend the taxes once in their possession. The Board would reconsider if the changes were necessary at a later date. The Board had a detailed discussion on the revisions to Article 6. They agreed to not use the edits made to Section 6.07 and to revisit this at the end of the review. The Board also suggested removing the word municipal from section 6.08 to cover all scheduled elections. Attorney Davis would confirm the fee schedules mentioned in the Article. Attorney Davis highlighted the renaming of Article 7 and the subsequent revisions per the last meeting. MOTION: Member Hudson made a motion to approve Legal's Charter working document; Member Vonk seconded the motion. Carried unanimously 5-0. 3. ARTICLE II - THE VILLAGE COUNCIL - 2.01 - Selection, Term and Compensation; 2.02 - Qualifications and Disqualifications; 2.03 - Oath of Office; 2.04 - Removal/Recall; 2.05 - Vacancies and Forfeiture of Office; 2.06 - Mayor and Successors; 2.07 - Appointment of Legal Counsel; 2.08 - Meetings; 2.09 - Quorum; 2.10 - Ordinances and Resolutions; 2.11 - Electors and Elections; 2.12 - Interference With the Administrative Department Member Nielson presented information in support of dividing the Village into voting districts using the Census and Palm Beach County data she obtained. She stated there were 6,100 Village residents, 30% were over the age of 65 and just under 20% were under the age of 18. She further stated the Tequesta Country Club compromised one third of the Village residents and Jupiter Island had 500 Village voters. She illustrated potential districting boundaries to create three separate voting districts. Member Vonk inquired on the purpose of the districting and Member Nielson detailed the Village history of the County Club securing many of the Council seats. Chair Brennan suggested an at large vote where candidates with the most votes were elected into the seats versus running for a specific Council seat. It was clarified that this would mean all Council Members would be required to run during their seats election. Attorney Davis described legal issues that had arrived from districting in cities like Manalapan and explained legal channels would dictate the voting districts. Attorney Davis also acknowledged the struggles Palm Beach Shores faced with finding candidates with an at large vote. Tom Bradford of 44 Chestnut Trail voiced his concerns with the Tequesta Country Club residents dominating Council and historically pushing issues that concerned their neighborhood. He supported districts with an at large vote. The Board agreed on three year terms with a three term limit for Council Members. They also agreed on the eligibility to run again once fulfilling one term off of Council. Attorney Davis detailed, if approved, a rolling application of the terms with Seats one, three, and five on the 2024 ballot and seats two and four on the 2025 ballot. The Board would reach out to the community to gauge feelings from the residents on districts and discuss further. In Section 2.02 the Board agreed that candidates must live in the Village for one year prior to running for Council. Attorney Davis would review the oath of office language of "so help me God" and update the language of who could administer the oath in Section 2.03. The Board discussed Section 2.05 Vacancies, forfeitures and special elections in great length. Attorney Davis would research an ordinance that discussed vacancies and return with more information for the next meeting. 4. ARTICLE Ill - VILLAGE ADMINISTRATION - 3.01 - Village Administration Defined; 3.02 - The Village Manager - Appointment, Removal, Qualifications, Vacancy, 3.03 - Village Manager - Functions and Powers; 3.04 - The Village Clerk; 3.05 - Department Heads Moved to the next meeting on November 10, 2021. 5. Any Other Matters There were none. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8.02 p.m. MOTION: Member Vonk made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Member Kraft seconded the motion. Carried unanimously 5-0.