2001.11.27_TC_Minutes_Workshop
TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH
• MINUTES OF TOWN COMMISSION MEETING
WORKSHOP MEETING
Tuesday. November 27. 2001 1:30 P.M.
Mayor Thomas J. Reid called the Workshop Meeting to order in Commission Chambers
at 1:30 P.M.
Town Clerk Doris Trinley called the roll. The Mayor, Vice Mayor Michael W. Hill, and
Commissioners John J. Sorrelli, Robert L. Lowe and Rachael Scala-Pistone were
present.
Town Attorney Thomas E. Sliney and Town Manager Ben Saag were also present, as
were members of the general public.
After roll call the Pledge of Allegiance was given.
1. ADDITIONS. DELETIONS OR ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA
Mayor Reid requested the agenda be amended to note a vacancy on the Board of
• Adjustment; Town Manager Saag requested the agenda be amended to note the addition
of two (2) sets of Minutes (Executive Sessions of 9/10 and 11/6 re police bargaining
negotiations) for approval at the December 4 Regular Meeting. With no objection, these
additions were approved, and the agenda was accepted as amended upon MOTION by
COMMISSIONER LOWE/COMMISSIONER SCALA-PISTONE.
2. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND REQUESTS
Albert Bresnahan and Leo Pruner, Seagate Condominium residents and members of the
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), presented a written petition to the
Commission regarding estimated start-up supply costs (medical/non-medical) involved
to set up the 27-member Highland Beach CERT team. It was advised these supplies
would be stored in three (3) areas of Town, Seagate being one of them, with the other
two (2) storage locations to be decided by Mayor Reid, who is also a member. It was
the consensus to agenda this item for further discussion and consideration at the
December 4 Regular Meeting.
The Commission, Town Attorney and Town Manager responded to the following
residents who addressed various issues:
Jose Echeverria, 1112 Russell Dr. -Toys for Tots Program.
Minutes of Town Commission Workshop Meeting
• November 27. 2001 Page 2 of 5
2. PUBLIC COMMENTS (continued)
Dr. Richard Conlon, 4317 Intracoastal Dr. -Town-owned street re-paving; safety on bike
path.
Kevin Berry, 1118 Bel Air Dr. -pro speed bump installation; police union negotiation
issues.
Dean Luce, 4511 S. Ocean Blvd. -update on AMCO mediation process.
Virginia Egan, 1011 Bel Air Dr. -sheriffs department vehicle offer (1997 models).
Joseph Yucht, 4748 S. Ocean Blvd. - A1A pedestrian crossings; Town's
involvement re Boca
Raton Airport routes;
clean-up of Ocean
Cove and Coronado.
marsh areas.
Sandy Steinberger, 4408 Intracoastal Dr. -evening Commission meetings; "financial"
newsletter.
3. PRESENTATIONS
NONE.
• 4. BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
A) BOARD CORRESPONDENCE: NONE.
B) BOARD VACANCIES: ONE (1) ON BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT.
C) BOARD ACTION REPORT: NONE.
D) MONTHLY BOARD MEETINGS: PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED.
5. PROPOSED ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
NONE.
6. NEW BUSINESS
CH2M HILL TASK ORDER 2001-03A: AMENDMENT 1 FOR FLORIDAN
AQUIFER TEST PRODUCTION WELL NO. 2 CONSTRUCTION SERVICES.
Following brief discussion, it was the consensus to place this item on the December 4,
2001 Consent Agenda.
Minutes of Town Commission Workshop Meeting
• November 27. 2001 Page 3 of 5
7. MISCELLANEOUS -ITEMS LEFT OVER
It was the consensus to move the following sets of Minutes to the December 4 Regular
Meeting for further consideration and possible approval:
OCTOBER 30, 2001 - WORKSHOP MEETING
NOVEMBER 6, 2001 - REGULAR MEETING
SEPTEMBER 10, 2001) - EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
NOVEMBER 6, 2001 ) - (POLICE BARGAINING)
8. REPORTS -TOWN COMMISSION
Commissioner Rachael Scala-Pistone advised of receiving a phone call from a
resident citing various rumors, all of which had been dispelled by Town Manager Saag's
memorandum to the Commission, copies of which were made available at this meeting
to the public. (Copy attached hereto and made part of these Minutes.)
Commissioner Robert L. Lowe informed that he had recently received several phone
calls regarding rumors from residents who would not identify themselves and, for the
record, advised that he was willing to talk with any resident who would give his/her
. name, but would not talk with anyone who would not identify him/herself.
Commissioner Lowe also questioned the timeline required for a referendum question to
be placed on the ballot at the March 12, 2002 municipal elections relative to the
construction of a new library After some discussion, it was the consensus to agenda
this issue for further discussion and consideration at the December 4 Regular Meeting.
Commissioner John J. Sorrelli had no report.
Vice Mayor Michael W. Hill addressed the police union negotiations, noting that alleged
accounts of the process have appeared to mislead a number of citizens. Vice Mayor Hill
assured that it was the Town's purpose to bring the Department into the 21st century,
as well have its members abide by certain rules and expectations, such as physical
fitness standards, and that the Town's ultimate goal was to negotiate a fair contract with
them.
Mayor Thomas J. Reid also addressed recent rumors regarding the police union
bargaining negotiations, and read a prepared statement rebutting same into the record.
Further, Mayor Reid explained a payroll analysis he had prepared for the Department,
which indicated extremely favorable yearly compensation percentages for the last three
fiscal year budgets. (Copies attached hereto and made part of these Minutes).
Minutes of Town Commission Workshop Meeting
• November 27. 2001 Page 4 of 5
9. REPORTS -TOWN ATTORNEY
Town Attorney Thomas E. Sliney had no report.
10. REPORTS -TOWN MANAGER
Town Manager Ben Saag reported on several issues:
.Requested Commission approval for the sale of Police Department radio responders
and antennas which were now obsolete since the 800MHZ system was in place. After
brief discussion, it was the consensus to move this item to the December Regular
Meeting.
.Advised the Town has had one reservist (Police Officer William Williams) called to active
duty and, as had previously been the Commission's consensus, the Town will pay Officer
Williams his full salary while he is on active duty. This action will require an amendment
to the Personnel Rules and Regulations, which will be available for the Commission's
review at the December 4 Regular Meeting. Also, because Officer Williams is still a
probationary employee, the remainder of his probation status will be served when he
returns from active duty.
• .Noted the Munivision system (Channel 20) has been a decided asset to the
programming of Town information; many compliments have been received from
residents. Among the upgrades will be the ability to schedule re-broadcasting of all
meetings during evening hours.
.Extended sincere thanks to the Commission for wholeheartedly supporting the truth
rather than the rumors which have surfaced as a result of police union negotiations.
Just previous to adjournment, Leonard Bell, 2727 S. Ocean Blvd., suggested a study
group be formed to develop an overall plan regarding the construction of a new library.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Commission at this time, Mayor Reid
adjourned the Workshop Meeting at 3:05 P.M., upon MOTION by COMMISSIONER
SORRELLI/COMMISSIONER LOWE.
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Minutes of Town Commission Workshop Meeting
November 27. 2001 Page 5 of 5
APPROVED:
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Thomas J. Reid, Mayor
Michael W. Hill, Vice Mayor
n J. Sorre ,Commissioner
Robert L. Lowe, Com '
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Rachael Scala-Pistone, Commission r
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