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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDocumentation_Regular_Tab 8-A_7/23/1998 �• Tf, AG • VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA Post Office Box 3273 • 357 Tequesta Drive 9 Gam• , < .,�� ,.4 Tequesta, Florida 33469-0273 • (561) 575-6200 �� �y a Fax: (561)575-6203 coil VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES JUNE 24, 1998 2. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL The Tequesta Finance and Administration Committee held a regularly scheduled meeting at the Village Hall, 357 • Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, Florida, on Wednesday, June 24, 1998 . The meeting was called to order at 4:00 P.M. by Co- Chair Ron T. Mackail. A roll call was taken by Betty Laur, the Recording Secretary. In attendance were the following Committee members: Co-Chair Joseph Capretta, and Co-Chair Ron T. Mackail. Also, in attendance were Village Manager Thomas G. Bradford, Village Clerk Joann Manganiello, and Department Heads. Absent from the meeting was Chairman Carl C. Hansen. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Co-Chair Capretta made a motion to approve the agenda as amended. Co-Chair Mackail seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was: Joseph N. Capretta - for Ron T. Mackail - for The motion was therefore passed and adopted and the agenda was approved as submitted. Recycled Paper FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES June 24, 1998 Page 2 III. COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITIZENS (NON-AGENDA ITEMS) There were no communications from citizens. IV. STATUS REPORT ON ANNEXATION PLANS Village Clerk Joann Manganiello provided a status report on plans to pursue annexation, one of the Village Manager' s objectives for the current year, and offered three options for consideration by the Committee. The first option, annexation of Area 6 - County Line Road east of and including the Florida East Coast (FEC) Railway right-of-way - was proposed as the most likely area to take to an annexation referendum, since they had had the highest vote in favor of annexation (38%) in the 1995 referendum, and might still be strongly supportive of annexation. This area included Tequesta Hills subdivision whose residents were believed to be desirous of greater police presence and protection, and quicker response time from both Tequesta Police and Fire-Rescue. Village Clerk Manganiello explained that the Village had the option of piggybacking an Area 6 Annexation Referendum with the County' s October 1998 primary. The Supervisor of Elections had advised that the November General Election ballot was very full and suggested the Village try to piggyback one of the primaries. The deadline for ballot language to be forwarded to the Supervisor of Elections for the October Primary was July 31, 1998, making time of the essence if this option was chosen. Estimated cost of this option was $2, 000 . Option two, explained the Village Clerk, was an alternate to piggybacking with the County' s October 1998 Primary by holding a mail ballot election for Annexation Area 6. In this case the Supervisor of Elections and the Village would be responsible for authorizing the mail ballot election. The Supervisor of Elections would be responsible for the Ir FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES June 24, 1998 Page 3 conduct of this referendum, and the costs of this alternative would be borne by the Village since they would be the jurisdiction initiating the calling of the election. The mail ballot election could be pridr to the end of the year, probably in December, 1998. Estimated cost for this option was $4, 000. 00 because of the cost of first-class postage. Village Clerk Manganiello explained the third option presented by staff to accomplish the Village Manager' s objective within this year, which was to pursue a Special Annexation Bill through the Florida Legislature for Annexation Area 1 (Anchorage Point and Jupiter Manors) . A Special Bill for Unilateral Annexation of Anchorage Point and Jupiter Manors was presented for review by the Committee. The required Notice of Special Annexation Bill publication and Affidavit of Proof of Publication had been prepared, as well.The Village Clerk explained that it was the policy of the State of Florida to eliminate enclaves such as Annexation Area 1, and if this option should be approved by the Village Council, then the Mayor, Village Manager, Village Clerk, and Village Attorney would seek Palm Beach County Legislative Delegation support for annexation of Area 1 through State Legislative Special Bill via the 1998/99 Palm Beach County Legislative Delegation Public Hearings scheduled for this Fall. The Special Annexation Bill would also be presented to Senator Myers and Representative Warner ahead of time to seek their support in lobbying members of the Legislature on behalf of the Village during the 1999 Florida State Legislature Regular Session. If the Legislature passed the Special Annexation Bill, Anchorage Point and Jupiter Manors would be annexed into the Village, and an affirmative vote of the affected property owners would not be needed. These areas would not incur ad valorem taxes on the Village tax rolls until the year 2000 . Estimated cost of this option was $700 . During discussion, it was pointed out that the waterfront r I FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES June 24, 1998 Page 4 properties in Area 1 were more valuable and therefore would bring in more revenue for the Village than the properties in Area 6. Co-Chair Capretta commented that Area 1 residents were wealthy but did not want to pay taxes; discussed the 1995 annexation effort; and explained that in order for an area to vote in favor of their own annexation that the Village must offer something they wanted. Co-Chair Capretta explained that Bermuda Terrace residents needed the Village to help them fight sewers, and that people in that area who supported annexation must be found so that they could work for annexation. Co-Chair Capretta requested a list of registered voters in Area 6 so that he could see if he knew any of those people and if he did he could contact them. Timing for the various optione was discussed. Co-Chair Mackail favored waiting until March for a referendum in order to take a more cautious approach and not to rush. Co- Chair Mackail explained that the objective of pursuing annexation would still be accomplished by working throughout the rest of the year towards a March election. Co-Chair Capretta stated he did not favor a mail ballot since it would be easier for people to vote against annexation by mail because they wouldn't even have to make the effort of going to the polls. Co-Chair Capretta summarized that if an election were held, a core of supporters must be found within the annexation area, and a list of everyone in the area needed to be provided to the Councilmembers. Village Manager Bradford explained that a new list of registered voters would be available around August 1, which staff would compare to the Water Department customer list and then forward to the Village Councilmembers to see if any of them knew anyone in the proposed annexation area. Area 1 annexation strategy was proposed by Co-Chair Capretta to be very politically proactive by enlisting the support of Senator Myers and Representative Warner; that contact should be made with the residents of Area 1, and that Senator Myers and Representative Warner should be made aware that people would be either campaigning for or against them in the next 7 FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES June 24, 1998 Page 5 election. Co-Chair Capretta explained that Area 1 consisted of only approximately 30 homes but that they were probably appraised at $6 million, and the Village would realize more in assessed value from Area 1 than Area 6. Co-Chair Capretta suggested an option of using the Safe Neighborhood Act for Area 1. Village Manager Bradford summarized the direction given by the Committee being to target March 1999 for a referendum for annexation of Area 6, and to work towards that by obtaining a finalized voter registration list for Village Councilmembers to work from to politic in that area; and to pursue annexation of Area 1 by working politically to enlist support from Senator Myers, Representative Warner, and the County Commissioners. The Village Manager explained that the biggest problem the last time was probably negative campaigning by Palm Beach County Firefighters because their revenue for their fire station would be reduced by annexation. Area 1 annexation was discussed. Village Manager Bradford stressed that the support of Senator Myers and Representative Warner should be enlisted now, before the November 1998 election. Co-Chair tckail stated he would work to get their support. Co-Chair Mackail proposed that Sharon Marchant also be contacted for her support, since she had worked with Representative Warner on many bills. Co-Chair Capretta made a motion to recommend to the full village Council that they go ahead and work politically with Senator Myers and Representative Warner for annexation via legislation of Area 1 with a target date of November, 1998; and for annexation of Area 6 to obtain a list of registered voters, get organized, and target March 1999 as a referendum date. Motion was seconded by Co-Chair Mackail. The vote on the motion was: Joseph N. Capretta - for Ron T. Mackail - for J FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES June 24, 1998 Page 6 J The motion was therefore passed and adopted. Co-Chair Mackail commented that the Village Manager' s objective to pursue annexation should be extended for another year. V. ANY OTHER NATTERS Village Manager Bradford reported that new Finance Department employees, Assistant Finance Director Cheryl DeBlasio and Accountant Lori Montague appeared to be doing very well. At the July 1, 1998 Special Village Council Meeting, the Village Council would be asked for approval for a new Finance Director, with the proposed candidate being Connie Holloman, who had been the number two finance person in the Martin County School District, a director. for Palm Beach County School District, and Finance Director for the City of St. Cloud. Village Manager Bradford explained that the Village Charter required approval of the Village Council for the Village Manager to hire a Finance Director, and that the proposed Finance Director had signed a letter of intent with the condition that approval of the Village Council must be received. Co-Chair Mackail requested the financial statements prepared by the auditors as of year end, and expressed his opinion that the Committee must be provided with periodic information to assure that accounts were reconciled. Co- Chair Mackail requested interim quarterly financial statements. Village Manager Bradford estimated that by the end of the month the auditors should be current on account reconciliations. Village Manager Bradford explained that the new Assistant Finance Director would receive instruction from an accountant with the auditing firm during the month of July to assure that she would be current on all information and procedures. FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES June 24, 1998 Page 7 Co-Chair Mackail requested that the new Finance Director develop methodology that would enable her to project expenditures for five years in the General Fund, to project ad valorem tax revenues out five years, and do the same for the Capital Improvement Fund; and to establish goals and objectives which would provide information that the Committee could see. VI. ADJOURNMENT Co-Chair Capretta made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Co- Chair Mackail seconded the motion. The vote on the motion was: Joseph N. Capretta - for Ron T. Mackail - for The motion was therefore passed and adopted and the meeting was adjourned at 4:40 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Betty Laur Recording Secretary ATTEST: Joann Manganiello Village Clerk DATE APPROVED: