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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Special Meeting_10/16/2023 r MINUTES SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MEETING VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA, FL OCTOBER 16, 2023 5:30 PM COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order by Mayor Molly Young at 5:30 p.m. A roll call was taken by Village Clerk Lori McWilliams. Present were: Vice-Mayor Laurie Brandon, Mayor Molly Young, Council Member Patrick Painter, and Council Member Rick Sartory. Absent were: Council Member Frank D'Ambra. APPROVAL OF AGENDA COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS AGENDA ITEMS 1. Consideration of Applicants to Temporarily Fill Vacancy Council Seat 1 Village Manager, Jeremy Allen, recapped the recent charter amendment approved by voters allowing Council to appoint someone to fill a council seat vacancy. Village Attorney Keith Davis added the appointment would carry through until the March 2024 election, therefore, a 5 month period. A person would have to qualify and run to hold the seat for the next two year term. Council heard from the applicants: • Ruben Cruz, 236 River Drive, detailed his municipal background and passion for local government. He felt his attributes and qualifications would be a great fit for the vacant seat. He knew early on the Village was where he would raise his family and was happy to be a resident. He was also involved in the community as a soccer coach. • Julie Mitchell, 86 Golfview Drive, was not interested in running for the permanent seat. She had over 25 years of experience in local government and was currently working in design review for the Town of Jupiter. She was also a member of the Village of Tequesta employee pension board. • Harrison Vaughn was a North Palm Beach native and excited to see so many interested in Council. He worked in Risk Management evaluating companies occupational and contractural risks, which he thought would be beneficial to Council. He had previously run for Council and had the ability to speak with residences, Fire, Police, and staff about issues facing the Village. • Jayson French, 31 Willow Road, provided a resume to Council and detailed his experience as a Firefighter Paramedic as well as his ownerships of multiple small businesses. He had worked with many federal, state, and local representatives and was confident his knowledge of issues and ideas would be beneficial to Council. • Justin Bosnoian, 161 Golfview Drive, loved the community and as a 7 year resident was looking to be more involved. He felt his engineering background would help provide a new perspective on issues. • Chloe Bringerud, 406 Tequesta Drive, was a long time residents of Tequesta and worked in residential and commercial loans. She was excited for the opportunity. • Tom Bradford, 44 Chestnut Trail, was a native Floridian with past experience in local government as a Town Manager for both Tequesta and Palm Beach, and as a board member for the Village's Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC). He was a consensus builder, fiscally conservative, and not interested in running for election. Citizen Comments: • Jarrett Gaylord, 20 Laurel Oaks Circle, spoke on behalf of Ruben Cruz. He had worked with him on the developer side and explained how his municipal experience and integrity would be great for the Village. • Jessica Namath, 20 Shady Lane, spoke on behalf of Tom Bradford. She was a board member on the EAC with him for 4 years. She felt he was most familiar with the issues facing the Village and would be the best candidate. Attorney Davis addressed the applicants detailing the legislative change going into effect January 2024 that would require all Council members fill out a financial disclosure form known as Form 6. This was a comprehensive and thorough document where the person appointed as a Council member would have to declare all net worth, assets, liabilities, and property similar to a tax return. Council Comments: • Vice-Mayor Brandon, Council Member Painter, and Council Member Sartory were in agreement to wait until after the qualifying period to chose an applicant for the vacant seat as they did not want to appear to endorse any candidate. • Council Member Sartory felt very strongly that an applicant needed to be selected for the vacant seat, he was not in favor of leaving it open until the March 2024 election. • Mayor Young felt there were two qualified applicants who stated on record that they were not interested in running. Council could chose one of those, but she understood the majority wanted hold until after qualifying. Attorney Davis advised Council that they did not have to re-open the application process and could wait to chose an applicant after the qualifying period. He stipulated all discussion on applicants needed to take place in an open forum, at a publicly noticed meeting. He explained the process was theirs other than the code requirement of the applicants being a registered voter, a one year resident of the Village, and that discussion take place publicly. Council agreed to leave the application process closed and continue the discussion on filling the seat at a meeting to be scheduled during the week of November 27th. The chosen applicant would be sworn in at the December 14th Council meeting. MOTION: Council Member Sartory made a motion to consider applications after the qualifying period has closed; Council Member Painter seconded the motion. Carried unanimously 4-0 (absent: Council Member D'Ambra). ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:14 PM. MOTION: Council Member Painter made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Vice-Mayor Brandon seconded the motion. Carried unanimously 4-0 (absent: Council Member D'Ambra). Respectfully submitted, � U4 X/I I tiLz&, 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.