HomeMy WebLinkAboutDocumentation_Regular_Tab 7C_3/9/2000 10,70:71,
VI ± xi2
AE OF TEQUESTA
�. A Post 73 • 250 Tequesta Drive • Suite 300
�-+� � a Tequesta, Florida 33469-0273 • (561) 575-6200
e' 1 o Fax: (561) 575-6203
4 co
VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA
SPECIAL VILLAGE COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
JANUARY 31, 2000
I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
The Tequesta Village Council held a special meeting at the
Village Hall, 357 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, Florida, on
Monday, January 31, 2000. The meeting was called to order
at 5: 00 P.M. by Mayor Carl C. Hansen. A roll call was
taken by Betty Laur, Recording Secretary. Councilmembers
present were: Mayor Carl C. Hansen, Vice Mayor Elizabeth
A. Schauer, Councilmember Joseph N. Capretta, Councilmember
Basil Dalack, and Councilmember Sharon Walker. Also in
attendance were: Village Manager Thomas G. Bradford and
Department Heads .
II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Vice Mayor Schauer made a motion to approve the Agenda as
submitted. Councilmember Walker seconded the motion. The
vote on the motion was:
Carl C. Hansen - for
Elizabeth A. Schauer - for
Joseph N. Capretta for
Basil Dalack - for
Sharon Walker - for
The motion was therefore passed and adopted and the Agenda
Recycled Paper
SPECIAL VILLAGE COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
January 31 , 2000
PAGE 2
was approved as submitted.
III. COMMUNICATION FROM CITIZENS
There were no communications from citizens .
IV. CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF THE VILLAGE MANAGER'S PROPOSED
APPOINTMENT OF JOSEF F. GRUSAUSKAS AS TEQUESTA UTILITIES
DIRECTOR PURSUANT TO SECTION 3. 02 (7) OF THE VILLAGE
CHARTER.
Village Manager Bradford reported that Matthew Morrison had
resigned effective the prior week to take a job with South
Florida Water Management District, leaving vacant the
position of Tequesta Utilities Director. Village Manager
Bradford explained that time was of the essence in
replacing Mr. Morrison because he had been an integral part
of the planned new infrastructure on the Tequesta Peninsula
and the reverse osmosis treatment facility was set to open
within the next 90 days. The Village Manager explained
that in order to save time he had been trying to hire Josef
Grusauskas, who was currently the Environmental Operations
Administrator for Martin County and who had been the number
two choice during the interview process when Mr. Morrison
had been selected. Village Manager Bradford reported he
had checked Mr. Grusauskas' background and obtained
excellent references from his former employees . Mr.
Grusauskas had been offered the job and had agreed to
accept the position at a starting salary of $60, 000
annually effective Monday, February 28, 2000 . Mayor Hansen
had been requested to call this special meeting in
accordance with the Village Charter which required the
Village Council to consider confirmation of the Village
Manager' s choice of Department Heads.
Councilmember Dalack commented that Mr. Grusauskas seemed
well qualified. Councilmember Capretta expressed his
opinion that Mr. Grusauskas' qualifications enabled him to
learn the job, and questioned whether he had operated a
reverse osmosis plant. Mr. Grusauskas responded that he
currently managed three water facility sites, two of which
were reverse osmosis sites . Councilmember Capretta
SPECIAL VILLAGE COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
January 31 , 2000
PAGE 3
commented that there were two sides to the job, technical
and business, and Mr. Grusauskas would need to decide on
business strategies for expansion and profit.
Councilmember Capretta reviewed the current plan of the
amount of water sold per day, part of which was obtained
from Jupiter, and commented that decisions would be needed
regarding whether to continue purchasing water from
Jupiter, and that it would need to be known whether the
Village could produce water for $1.27 per gallon, the price
charged by Jupiter, in order to provide water for the
lowest cost and protect the Village from drought.
Councilmember Capretta commented that within the next six
months Mr. Grusauskas should become conversant with the
business strategies so that he could discuss with the
Finance and Administration Committee the available
alternatives and recommend the best ones for the Village.
Councilmember Capretta commented that this job also
included Stormwater Utility and that areas of the Village
were being improved to prevent flooding; and that startup
of the reverse osmosis plant and improvements being made in
conjunction with sewering by ENCON on the peninsula would
be major components of the job. Councilmember Capretta
recommended that Mr. Grusauskas carefully consider
priorities and discuss them with Mr. Bradford.
Councilmember Capretta expressed his opinion that Mr.
Grusauskas seemed well qualified for the job, and asked if
he planned to stay. Mr. Grusauskas commented that Martin
County faced the same issues as the Village to provide
water at low prices and during droughts, and explained that
he had had experience in these areas . Mr. Grusauskas
explained he had also had a lot of experience in building
consensus and believed from conversations with Village
Manager Bradford that many of the upcoming issues involve
consensus communications, and that so long as proper
information for business decisions was available those
decisions helped make themselves . Mr. Grusauskas explained
that he was in his last job ten years and hoped this one
would last a similar length of time, stated that he was a
resident of Martin County, and was currently in a Master' s
program that would take three more years to complete.
In response to a question from Councilmember Walker,
Village Manager Bradford explained that the Acting Utility
Director was currently Tom Jensen, who was making the day-
SPECIAL VILLAGE COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
January 31 , 2000
PAGE 4
to-day decisions except those related to his firm, in which
cases the decisions were made by either Village Clerk
Manganiello or Village Manager Bradford. It was noted that
Mr. Grusauskas could not start his employment earlier
because he had to provide notice to his current employer.
Vice Mayor Schauer commented that she looked forward to
working with Mr. Grusauskas and that Mr. Morrison had done
an excellent job.
Mayor Hansen listed three reasons this job was so
important:
(1) Two positions had recently been combined into this
position so that it was quite demanding;
(2) The RO plant was about to open, which would take
expertise; and
(3) A $2 million project was planned by the Village to
replace water pipes, etc. , in conjunction with
installation of sewers on the peninsula, which would
require a lot of supervision by Mr. Grusauskas and
his department. Since the Village was pushing ENCON
to complete the job quickly, the Village should not
cause any delays .
Mayor Hansen explained that the Village had been very happy
with Mr. Morrison, who had taken initiative for a lot of
new things, and a lot of things had been started which Mr.
Grusauskas would be expected to complete. Mayor Hansen
welcomed Mr. Grusauskas and stated he looked forward to
working with him.
Vice Mayor Schauer made a motion to approve the appointment
of Josef F. Grusauskas as Tequesta Utilities Director
effective February 28, 2000. Councilmember Walker seconded
the motion. The vote on the motion was:
Carl C. Hansen - for
Elizabeth A. Schauer - for
Joseph N. Capretta - for
Basil Dalack - for
Sharon Walker - for
SPECIAL VILLAGE COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
January 31 , 2000
PAGE 5
The motion was therefore passed and adopted.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
Councilmember Walker moved that the meeting be adjourned.
Vice Mayor Schauer seconded the motion. The vote on the
motion was:
Carl C. Hansen - for
Elizabeth A. Schauer - for
Joseph N. Capretta - for
Basil Dalack - for
Sharon Walker - for
The motion was therefore passed and adopted and the
meeting was adjourned at 5:17 p.m.
Respectfully submitte ,
474:6,
Betty Laur
Recording Secretary
ATTEST:
Joann Manganiello
Village Clerk
DATE APPROVED: