1984.09.25_TC_Minutes_Special r _
TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH, FLORIDA
Minutes of Meeting of Town Commission
SPECIAL MEETING
Tuesday, September 25, 1984 9:30 A. M.
A Special Meeting of the Town Commission of the Town of Highland
Beach was called to order at 9:50 a.m. by Mayor Louis Y. Horton.
Also present were: Vice Mayor Mary Louise G. Blosser, Commissioners
John J. Basso, William E. Paul, and Betty Jean Stewart.
Also present were: Town Attorney Thomas E. Sliney, Town Manager
Elaine W. Roberts, Town Clerk Mary Ann Whaley, citizens, and the
general public.
The Mayor announced that all public comments with regard to any
agenda item on the Special Meeting Agenda would be accepted at
this point in the meeting.
The following residents spoke on behalf of Town Manager Elaine
Roberts, praising her dedication to the Town over the past years
and cooperation with the Boards and Committees and residents of
the Town:
Albert Schiff, Chairman, Board of Adjustment
Robert F. Scholz, Chairman, Code Enforcement Board
Harold B. Cohen, Alternate Member, Board of Adjustment
Albert Kahler, Member, Board of Adjustment
Robert B. Myers, Vice Chairman, Code Enforcement Board
Robert Brown, Resident
Mr. J. E. MacArthur, resident at Seagate, addressed the Town
Commission, urging them to take whatever action they deemed necessary
based upon any information they had available pertaining to the
Town Manager.
Mr. Michael Dent, former Vice Mayor and a resident of Bel Lido,
addressed the Town Commission urging them to terminate the Town
Manager citing the firing of the former Town Clerk, Kay Borgemenke,
the alteration of police records, and demotion of a Highland Beach
Police Sergeant to Patrolman, as partial grounds.
The Town Commission then took up five ordinances which were
scheduled for final reading at this meeting. The first ordinance
was titled as follows:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH, FLORIDA,
AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 479 WHICH APPROPRIATED FUNDS FOR
THE FISCAL YEAR 1983/84 WHICH BEGAN OCTOBER 1, 1983 AND
WILL END SEPTEMBER 30, 1984.
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Town Commission Special Meeting
September 25, 1984 Page 2 of 4
This ordinance was read in its entirety by the Town Clerk.
MOTION was made by Commissioner Basso /Commissioner Paul to adopt
the ordinance as read. The Town Clerk polled the Commission with
all Commissioners voting AYE.
The second ordinance was titled as follows:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH, FLORIDA,
TO EFFECT A TAX LEVY BASED UPON THE 1984 TAX ROLL
OF THE TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH.
This ordinance was read in its entirety by the Town Clerk, after
which MOTION was made by Commissioner Basso /Vice Mayor Blosser
to adopt the ordinance as read. The Town Clerk polled the
Commission with all voting AYE.
The third ordinance was titled.as follows:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH, FLORIDA,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1984/85
BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 1984 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1985.
Discussion ensued regarding the money appropriated for the Greening
of A -1 -A. It was the consensus of the Commission that funding be
kept in this year's budget with the spending of same being
scrutinized as requested. After this ordinance was read in its
entirety, MOTION was made by Commissioner Basso /Commissioner Paul
to adopt the ordinance as read. The Town Clerk polled the Commission
with all Commissioners voting AYE.
The fourth ordinance was entitled:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH, FLORIDA,
AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE TOWN OF HIGHLAND
BEACH, CHAPTER 29, ENTITLED "WATER SYSTEM ", SECTION
29 -23 ENTITLED "NEW DWELLING CONSTRUCTION; FEES, FUND
CREATED."
After discussion, MOTION was made by Commissioner Stewart /Commissioner
Paul to adopt the ordinance as read. Upon polling the Town
Commission, all voted AYE.
The fifth ordinance scheduled for final reading at this Special
Meeting was titled as follows:
AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH, FLORIDA,
AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE TOWN OF
HIGHLAND BEACH, CHAPTER 22 ENTITLED "SEWERS ",
SECTION 22 -1 ENTITLED "COMPULSORY SEWER CONNECTION."
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Town Commission Special Meeting
September 25, 1984 Page 3 of 4
After discussion, MOTION was made by Commissioner Paul /Commissioner
Basso to adopt the ordinance as read. The Town Clerk polled the
Commission with all Commissioners voting AYE.
The Town Commission then discussed the item on the agenda dealing
with the performance of the Town Manager. Commissioner Basso
opened the discussion citing the fact that he had lost confidence
in the Town Manager's ability to carry out her duties and that
she should be removed as Town Manager. Commissioner Basso stated
that if the Town Manager was willing to submit her letter of
resignation he would be amenah/e to paying a reasonable severance
pay.
Mrs. Roberts addressed the Town Commission and the general public,
thanking those who spoke in her behalf and offering her resignation.
Mrs. Robert's resignation was based upon the following conditions:
1. That she be paid severance pay through December 31, 1984.
2. That the Town continue to pay her group and health
insurance through December 31, 1984 or until Mrs. Roberts
gained employment elsewhere, prior to December 31, 1984.
�../ 3. Payment for all accumulated sick days.
After discussion, MOTION was made by Commissioner Basso /Commissioner
Paul to accept the resignation of Mrs. Roberts and all conditions
as set forth in her statement. All Commissioners voted AYE.
Substantial discussion took place as to the presence of Mrs. Roberts
in Town Hall to complete work pending. It was the consensus of the
Town Commission that Mrs. Roberts be accompanied during her presence
at Town Hall by a member of the Town Commission.
Mayor Horton then made a statement to the Town Commission and the
general public citing the fact that this resignation and the
circumstances surrounding same had been a traumatic experience
for him as he originally hired Mrs. Roberts to work for the Town
of Highland Beach. Mayor Horton thanked Mrs. Roberts for her
dedication and service to the Town for the past sixteen years.
Mayor Horton then called a fifteen (15) minute recess.
Upon reconvening this Special Meeting, MOTION was made by
Commissioner Basso /Vice Mayor Blosser that the Town Clerk be
appointed as Acting Town Manager in accordance with the Town Code.
There being no further business to come before the Town Commission
at this Special Meeting, the meeting was adjourned at 11:15 a.m.
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September 25, 1984 Page 4 of 4
APPROVED:
Louis Y. Orton, Mayor
1 :�..�
Mary Louise G�Blosser, Vice Mayor
oh Basso, Commissioner
William E. Paul, Commissioner
Bett Jean Stewart, Commissioner
ATTEST:
Town C erk
DATE: