Loading...
2004.07.26_TC_Minutes_SpecialU TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH. FLORIDA TOWN COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES • • MONDAY, JULY 26, 2004 1.00 P M Mayor Thomas J. Reid called the Special Meeting to order in Commission Chambers at 1:00 P.M. Acting Town Clerk Jane Dillon called the roll. The Mayor, Vice Mayor Joseph J. Asselta and Commissioners Robert L. Lowe, Rachael Scala-Pistone and Miriam S. Zwick were present. Town Attorney Thomas E. Sliney and Acting Town Manager Doris Trinley were also present, as were members of the general public. Mayor Reid noted that the Commission was meeting for the purpose of selecting the finalist for the Police Chief position. He noted that Captain Schroder who was on the selection committee, was present. Mayor Reid asked for a MOTION to accept the selected list of panelists which consist of Michael Bruscell, Glann Goss, James Martz and Gwendolyn Pascoe. Commissioner Lowe asked that he provide some input for the record. (verbatim transcript of Commissioner Lowe's comments) "There was a search committee formed with the Town Manager, the Delray Chief and the Police Chief of Boca, and the Chairman of the Safety Committee. -Those were the ones who were on the Committee. We advertised and 75 applicants, we received resumes on. The committee independently reviewed the 75 submitted and made independent assessments of the candidates. Thirteen applicants from the committee felt were best suited, best to fit the qualifications. The questionnaire was developed by the committee and sent out to all 17 candidates. Within the 17 .people, there were 13 selected, and four were internal. The committee independently reviewed all 17 applicants and their response, and selected eight of the candidates and of that the 4 internal were cut from the list at that time. Eight candidates were invited to participate in the 45 minute interview by the committee and the same 18 questions was asked by they committee to all the applicants. The committee recommended four finalist. You've already read their names off, Bruscell, Goss, Martz and Pascoe. Therefore I would like to make a MOTION that the Commission accept these candidates and we continue on with the procedure of having the staff do a background check on the candidates and next TuFSday, .August 2 the Commission interview the candidates one on one, and on Tuesday August 3 we select our next new Chief from one of these candidates." MOTiOf~ was made by COMMISSIONER LOWE/MAYOR REID to ACCEPT the four final applicac~ta VICE-MAYOR ASSELTA opposed the MOTION. Town Commission Special Meeting Julv 26. 2004 Page 2 of 4 Mayor Reid asked for discussion. Commissioner Zwick asked for clarification of the interview date and the selection date, and clarification of the selected applicants which do not include the 4 internal candidates. She had no other comment. Commissioner Scala-Pistone felt that the town candidates were not seriously considered, and spoke in favor of including the four officers of the Town. Commissioner Lowe stated that the two police chiefs and committee members have a better understanding of what qualifications are needed to be a Chief of Police. Vice-Mayor Asselta felt the MOTION was premature, opposes same and is in favor of adding an internal applicant. Mayor Reid felt that an outsider would bring in the needed ':discipline" to the department. MAYOR REID asked for approval of the MOTION on the floor to accept the Police Chief Search Committee's recommendation of the four candidates, Michael Bruscell, Glen Goss, James Martz and Gwendolyn Pascoe and with the understanding that if there are any other nominations you can put them forward. They have to be approved by the • whole Commission. In which case, if there is a name that passes the Commission, yes they can go back on the list. The following rollcall vote was taken for the motion on the floor: Commissioner Lowe yes Commissioner Scala-Pistone no Commissioner Zwick yes Vice Mayor Asselta no Mayor Reid yes MOTION passed by a 3/2 vote. VICE MAYOR ASSELTA made a MOTION to ADD Police Officer Carlo Angelillo to the list, seconded by COMMISSIONER SCALA-PISTONE. Lengthy discussion evolved regarding the fairness to add one or all of the internals. Commissioner Zwick asked Chief Schroeder of Delray to verify the committee's selection process. Rollcall vote was taken for the MOTION on the floor: Commissioner" Zwick asked to qualify her vote with a statement. She stated that she would.. not vote for this motion unless all four of the internals were presented as a Town • Commission Special Meeting July 26. 2004 Page 3 of 4 courtesy. "If we extend to one, we must extend to all, that same courtesy." She would vote no to the Motion as it stands, and stated that perhaps an amendment to include all four would bring a different vote. Commissioner Lowe no Commissioner Scala-Pistone no qualifying no vote for same reason as Vice Mayor Asselta -withdraws MOTION and AMENDS to include all four officers of the department be invited to be interviewed. Mayor Reid asks "why these four would be added and none of the other 75 people are not added. That shows favoritism. Also, should one of these four become Chief, the other three will feel as though they were 'done in' since they wanted to become chief themselves. In my opinion there is just too much intermural feeling about adding names from the outside, from those who were actually picked without consideration of a courtesy as was mentioned. In either case I would vote no and such time as the 4 candidates that were presented are exhausted and then whatever happens, happens." MOTION denied. • VICE MAYOR ASSELTA said he was WITHDRAWING the MOTION and AMENDING it to make the MOTION that the four be invited to be interviewed, seconded by COMMISSIONER SCALA-PISTONE. Commissioner Lowe stated that he" already made a motion which was voted yes, to interview and do a search on all four (outside) applicants and interview them one on one on Monday, and if you mark(?) my motion was, that we select one of those candidates as our new Chief of Police. So therefore, you can make all your other motions, but my motion stands and you've already approved." Commissioner Scala-Pistone and Vice Mayor Asselta both stated that the original motion did not include that "one be selected." Mayor believes it did, and states that "the vote has been taken and the list is now official." Commissioner Scala Pistone expressed her dismay at the way the meeting was run. She felt there was no reason to deny the officers of the Town to be a part of the final group of applicants. Also remembers Ben Saag saying that at any time a commissioner can select someone that was not on the last list, and that person would be a part of the last lint before a decision is made. Vice-Mayor Ass?Ita also stated that Ben made same clear to him. Commission Special Meeting July 26, 2004 PacLe 4 of 4 Mayor Reid confirmed that the procedure was that the Town Manager would create a committee for the hiring of the Police Chief finalists, which was done according to the Town's code. The four Town app{icants were not included in the first list, but were added back in the second list as a courtesy. After some disagreement, MOTION to adjourn was made by COMMISSIONER LOWE/COMMISSIONER ZWICK at 1:55 p.m. APPROVAL: ,. ~__~~ Mayor Thomas J. Reid ~``'z~'~ - Vice Mayor Joseph J. Asselta .: -: Commissioner Robert L. Lowe _.. ~:""~:~, .. ~;.. ,^ • Commissioner Rachael Scala-Pistone Commissioner Miriam S. Zwick ., >~ ~ n/ ATTEST: - ~ ~~ DATE: -~' ~ r Chie~,rptg