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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Workshop_10/03/2007MINUTES VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA VILLAGE COUNCIL PRE-AGENDA WORKSHOP MEETING WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2007 Call to Order and Roll Call The meeting was called to order by Mayor Jim Humpage at 6:04 p.m. Mayor Humpage announced he had asked the Village Clerk to supply minutes from the Planning and Zoning Board meetings for those items on the LPA agenda. There were no questions or comments on the LPA agenda. A roll call was taken by Village Clerk Lori McWilliams. Present were: Mayor Jim Humpage, Vice Mayor Pat Watkins, Council Member Amero, and Council Member Tom Paterno. Council Member Calvin Turnquest was absent from the meeting. Also in attendance were: Manager Michael R. Couzzo, Jr., Village Clerk Lori McWilliams, and Department Heads. Approval of Agenda MOTION: Council Member Amero moved approval of the agenda. Vice Mayor Watkins seconded the motion. Mayor Humpage requested Item 4 be added to schedule upcoming workshops; making Item 5 adjournment. Motion carried by unanimous 4-D vote. October 11, 2007 Council Meeting -Pre-Meeting Agenda Review Council Member Amero expressed surprise there was no backup regarding the Village Manager's contract, and requested copies of any correspondence pertaining to that matter, stating he would have liked to have gone over it, and he would like to see any backup before Thursday night. Mayor Humpage explained Mr. Carson had not yet provided a letter, since his daughter had been in the hospital, and the Council would have Mr. Hawkins' letter. Council Member Paterno expressed concern it had been a month and now backup was being provided just before a meeting. Mayor Humpage explained that Mr. Randolph's interpretation of the original contract had to be completed before Mr. Hawkins responded, because Mr. Hawkins had not been privy to that original contract, and he expected to have Mr. Hawkins' response by the next day. Village Manager Couzzo indicated he would follow up on this. Mayor Humpage advised he had requested that both Mr. Hawkins and Mr. Carson provide their responses ahead of time and to supply them to every Council Member. Council Member Paterno commented the Council had been told the JMZ matter had been put to rest over a year ago, and requested an explanation from Village Manager Couzzo. The Village Manager reported Mr. Hawkins had advised that Mr. Zuccarelli Minutes -Village Council Pre-Agenda Workshop 10/3/07 Page 2 had found a way to regenerate the matter and place it back on the docket. The Mayor explained that Mr. Zuccarelli had let this matter die in the court two years ago; and since the time frames had expired, this litigation was complete so far as the Village was concerned. In the past 2-3 weeks, Mr. Zuccarelli had found a loophole and went back to ask the court to reconsider, and had been denied. A few days later, he asked under another loophole that it be reconsidered, and the judge had said yes. So it was Mr. Zuccarelli who re-ignited it, not the Village. Vice Mayor Watkins commented it would have been nice to have had some communication from Mr. Hawkins that something had happened because the last the Village Council knew, it had been dismissed. Consensus was to get information on this from Mr. Hawkins before the meeting. Village Manager Couzzo indicated he would contact Mr. Hawkins. Public Comment Geraldine Genco commented the Village Manager's contract had been renegotiated three times between 2000 and 2004; and the Village Manager had initiated the renegotiations. Ms. Genco reported she had a copy of a papers filed by Attorney Hawkins to close the JMZ case, which she would provide. Council Member Paterno recalled the Village Manager had changed his contract two times. One change was the bonus, which the Council had believed to be gross but found out it was net. The other was that all increases were across the board; which was the same language the Village was offering the union, so Mr. Couzzo would have gotten his 4% plus the 9% given to the union. The Village Council had agreed to accept the changes. Mayor Humpage pointed out that had never happened-the Village Manager had never received any increases that the other employees got. Vice Mayor Watkins commented it was pointless to keep going over past contracts since the prior contract was no longer good after it had been changed. Council Member Paterno brought up that Mr. Couzzo was able to get compensating pay and overtime; the Village Manager indicated that was a reimbursement from FEMA. Council Member Paterno asked if the Village Manager could accrue more than 360 vacation hours; that sometimes the personnel policies applied and sometimes not. Discussion ensued. It was noted there were contract issues and some policy issues. Presentations Mr. Palmquist was expected to attend the October 11 meeting. Charter Review Council Member Amero expressed his opinion the Charter should be reviewed in 5-year or less intervals, and he felt that should be in the Charter, and commented every member of the committee had great ideas and did an excellent job. Council Member Paterno thanked all the members of the committee, and agreed with review every five years. Mayor Humpage noted the Council would review the recommendations and then decide whether they could be policies or must be a referendum. Mary Hinton, a 2 Minutes -Village Council Pre-Agenda Workshop 10/3/07 Page 3 member of the committee, was present; and advised there were one or two items that were significant changes that would need to go to a referendum. Geraldine Genco explained one of the changes that would require a referendum. Pert Towne reported she had attended all the Charter Review Committee meetings, and felt every vote regarding the Village Manager should be 4-1 for consistency, since 4-1 was required to hire or fire the Manager. Council Member Paterno suggested a consistent 3-2 vote. Discussion ensued. Members of the Charter Review Committee reported there were suggestions to the Charter and also procedural recommendations. Council Member Paterno expressed his opinion the pre-agenda workshop was going beyond the scope originally intended and should be discontinued. Mayor Humpage suggested Council having an understanding among themselves that any issue could be taken to the Village Manager so that staff could provide more information. Issues for discussion mentioned for future workshops were the bridge, the Arena issue which would need an attorney/client session, the Memorial issue, the park issue, annexation, fire safety, and water revenue impact because of restrictions. Vice Mayor Watkins indicated she wanted to get back on the business forum. Leslie Cook asked Council to place on a future agenda discussion regarding the Planning and Zoning Advisory Board only advising the Council, which had final say on projects. Chief Weinand advised regarding the closing of the county's fire station. Mayor Humpage announced he was not available October 19-28; Council Member Amero was not available October 18-24. Council Member Paterno asked everyone to come to the next meeting prepared to set dates for workshops. Dottie Campbell announced the Golden Parade would be held November 10 leading up to the Fall Festival, and expressed her opinion it would be nice for the Village to send a letter of congratulations to the Tequesta Country Club for their 50th anniversary on the same day. Mayor Humpage suggested a Proclamation, which the Village Clerk noted would be read at the November 8, 2007 Council meeting. Adjournment The motion to adjourn by Council Member Paterno, seconded by Council Member Amero, carried by unanimous 4-0 vote; therefore the meeting was adjourned at 6:55 p. m. Respectfully submitted, Lori McWilliams, CMC Village Clerk 3