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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_Miscellaneous_12/01/1993_Public Safety Committee re VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA Post Office Box 3273 • 357 Tequesta Drive Tequesta, Florida 33469 -0273 • (407) 575 -6200 Fax: (407) 575 -6203 9 4 V I L L A G E O F T E Q U E S T A P U B L I C S A F E T Y C O M M I T T E E M E E T I N G M I N U T E S D E C E M B E R 1, 1 9 9 3 I. The Tequesta Public Safety Committee held a regularly scheduled meeting at the Village Hall at 357 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, Florida, on Wednesday, December 1, 1993. The meeting was called to order at 9:10 A.M. by Chairman Joseph N. Capretta, with Co- Chairman Ron T. Mackail in attendance. Also in attendance were Village Manager, Thomas G. Bradford; Police Chief Carl Roderick; Fire Chief James Weinand; Police Lieutenant Steve Allison; Code Enforcement officer Steven Kennedy, and Building Official Scott Ladd. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The Agenda was approved as submitted. III. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE REGULATION OF PARADES Presently Tequesta does not have an Ordinance on the books covering requirements for a parade. Typically, Tequesta only has two parades per year, which could change. If no action is taken to regulate the location and logistics of parades, an undesirable organization could hold a parade anywhere in Tequesta. Through Tequesta's Special Event process, there are some requirements outlined, but they do not apply to parades. Chairman Capretta felt the requirements for Special Events and parades should be consistent. Village Manager Bradford pointed out that presently the decision of whether an event will or will not take place is an administrative one, and suggested that the Committee might consider that such events receive the approval of the Village Council. Scott Ladd explained that typically Special Events are not - for - profit fund - raising events. A letter approving the event must be received from the property owner where the event will take place. Recycled Paper Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes December 1, 1993 Page 2 ------------------------------- Chairman Capretta agreed a better, and more strict, Ordinance was needed, with consideration given to the guidelines for a parade and /or special event combined into one Ordinance. The Committee felt the ordinance should address: 1) the kinds of events which are allowed; 2) what size it would be; 3) consideration given to whether it has any social value to the Village; 4) special exceptions brought before the Village Council; 5) designate routes; 6) limit the amount of time a parade should last; 7) mandate having the event assume the responsibility for extra Village costs for the event; 8) make parades consistent with special events. Village Manager Bradford stated that any parade should be limited to Old Dixie Highway, Bridge Road and Tequesta Drive west of the railroad tracks. Citizen Wade Griest stated that he felt that since Tequesta was a small Village, no parades allowed at all would be the better course to take. Chairman Capretta felt parades should not be totally restricted, but small ones allowed, with any special exceptions brought before the Village Council. IV. REVIEW OF CODE ENFORCEMENT MATTERS At its last meeting, the Public Safety Committee recommended that the Staff adjust the Ordinance in order to speed up the process of code enforcement. One suggestion made by the Village Attorney was to reduce the height of allowable grass and weed height from 12 inches to 10 inches. a) Section 10- 19(2)(c) - Reducing Response to Ten (10) Days versus Current Fifteen (15) Days. There are times when receipts of Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested, are never received. The Ordinance establishes that advertising in the newspaper is sufficient notice after this point. Chairman Capretta asked if all violations are the same: i.e., Laduca property at 50 Golfview which has not only a grass height problem but also has an unmaintained swimming pool with green slime and gates that are frequently left open. Mr. Capretta felt the swimming pool was a threat of life situation where a child might fall in and never be found beneath the green slime, and suggested that the Village padlock the gates. Mr. Ladd was requested to check with the Village Attorney on padlocking gates. He felt violations which present a threat of life should be separated from, and given priority over, violations which are more cosmetic. Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes December 1, 1993 Page 3 ------------------------------- Ordinance Revisions Page 1, Section 1 (a), third line should read "..thereon or not within the village to permit ... It Page 1, Section 2 (b) , third line should read, "..construction thereon or not within the village to permit ... 11 Page 2, Section 4. (c) , second line to read ' 1 ..within ten (10) days from the date of receipt of the notice,...11 Page 3, Section 5. (3), fourth sentence from the bottom should read 11 ..to enter the premises and take such steps reasonably necessary ... 11 Last sentence, page 3, should read, "The Village Clerk shall also notify mortgagees of record on the property as to the imposition of said lien." Page 4, under Section 10 -20. Abatement. Fourth line, change ten (10) days to fifteen (15) days. Same paragraph, remove 11 ..provided, however, the cost thereof chargeable to the owner shall not exceed the amount of cost estimated for such work in the initial resolution." V. REVIEW OF POLICE DEPARTMENT HIRING CRITERIA Chairman Capretta asked Police Chief Roderick to explain the screening process for new applicants. Chairman Capretta felt a list of qualified applicants should be kept on hand and when the list dwindles a bit (but not depleted) replenished with new qualified applicants. He felt, also, that the reserve list should be increased in number, more closely resembline that of the volunteer force of the Tequesta Fire /Rescue Department. Chief Roderick explained that, normally there is not much turnover in Tequesta, and to maintain a list of qualified applicants would not only be time consuming, but expensive. The present position of the Police Department is unique, in that there have never been as many of the force (four at present = 1/3 of the force) at one time missing from the Department. The Police Department is now doing background checks for six reserve people. Lt. Allison explained that the Department had two reserve people last year, and on October 1 were authorized to obtain four more. Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes December 1, 1993 Page 4 ------------------------------- Village Manager Bradford explained that the problem is not that there are not enough reserve officers, but that the Police Department is not using state -of- the -art mechanisms in the hiring of police officers (i.e., no written examination is presently being given to score applicants and pick from the ranking) . Chief Roderick felt that was a binding system under which to operate, since some applicants can 'ace' a written test, but are not proficient on patrol. Co- Chairman Mackail felt that taxing present officers with too much overtime could not only become a psychological problem for the officers but also present a morale problem. Village Manager Bradford asked: If there were five reserve officers in the reserve force, and in six months there was an opening in the full -time certified officers force, what method is used to determine who is best qualified to fill the full - time position. Chief Roderick answered that he would determine through the individual's evaluation, i.e., whichever one was doing the best job, and whoever had the most enthusiasm for the job. Chief Roderick stated also that pulling men from a reserve list to fill in for a full -time schedule could promote problems. Village Manager Bradford suggested a long -term strategy be employed to avoid a future circumstance of not enough applicants available to fill the needs of the Department, and an objective criteria be created for the selection of personnel. He felt, in order to have a trained pool of people on which to draw, there should be a ranking system which would include oral interviews, written exams, physical exams, and possibly give points, for instance, for those who are reserve officers. Chairman Capretta felt the present system was too antiquated and too personalized. He suggested that the Department reconsider their selection process, and maintain a greater number on the reserve list. Regarding overtime, he felt it would be wise to have reserves whose desire it is to be full - time, and determine how many hours a police officer could work before calling in a reserve officer to fill the need. Presently, full time officers are allowed to work 40 hours overtime per two -week period. Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes December 1, 1993 Page 5 ------------------------------- The Committee recommended the following: 1) Maintain a greater reserve force, and not allow the number to get too low; 2) Use reserve officers more frequently; 3) protect the Village from discrimination suits regarding hiring procedures by upgrading those procedures; 4) consider more objective testing processes; 5) create a policy to relieve officers who are on indefinite workmen's compensation; 6) have a consistent practice regarding overtime. The Committee asked that Chief Roderick report in 30 days as to progress made regarding the above - referenced recommendations. VI. REVIEW OF PROPOSED JUVENILE ALTERNATIVE SERVICES PROGRAM (JASP) Village Manager Bradford reported that the JASP Program is for those who are 17 years of age and younger, who have been charged with a misdemeanor, and are allowed to do community service in their own communities, in lieu of a jail sentence. Though it is possible for local juveniles to be used in community service in Tequesta, Village Manager Bradford felt it would require much supervision on the part of staff, which would take away from the schedule of Village staff. Co- Chairman Mackail stated that this may not be good for every department in the Village. Chairman Capretta suggested that local citizens (i.e., retired Police Officer Nagy) be used as volunteer supervisors for the juveniles. Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes December 1, 1993 Page 6 ------------------------------- VII. ANY OTHER MATTERS There were no other matters before the Committee. VI. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 11:35 A.M. Respectfully submitted, Fran Bitters Recording Secretary ATTEST: J ann Mangani o Village Clerk DATE APPROVED: /3. /,q 9z