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2016.08.04_TC_Minutes_Workshop TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH MINUTES OF TOWN COMMISSION BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETING Tuesday, August 4, 2016 1:00 PM Mayor Bernard Featherman called the Budget Workshop Meeting to order in the Town Commission Chambers at 1:00 PM. CALL TO ORDER: Roll Call: Members present: Mayor Bernard Featherman; Vice Mayor William Weitz, Ph.D; Commissioner Carl Feldman; Commissioner Louis P. Stern; and Commissioner Rhoda Zelniker. Also present: Town Manager Beverly Brown; Town Clerk Valerie Oakes; Police Chief Craig Hartmann Finance Director Cale Curtis; Library Director Lois Albertson and members of the public. Pledge of Allegiance: The Pledge of Allegiance was given, followed by a minute of silence. Civility Pledge: The Civility Pledge was recited by the Town Clerk. 1. ADDITIONS,DELETIONS OR ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA: Mayor Featherman called for any additions or deletions to the agenda. Commissioner Stem read from his written statement(attached hereto as Exhibit"A"). Item 3A — Commissioner Stern added a discussion regarding a letter they received from Town Attorney Glen Torcivia regarding the union. Commissioner Feldman — What are we doing about a code inspector at this time? Town Manager Brown — Vice Mayor Weitz felt that we did not advertise to veterans' groups. I went on the Palm Beach County Veteran's website and found three different websites where we can advertise for jobs. We are also advertising through Florida League of Cities, Palm Beach County League of Cities and the newspaper. Town Clerk Oakes — We are also advertising in the local and state Code Enforcement Associations. Comm. Feldman — I would also like to know if we are doing anything with regards to the IT for streaming for office work recording of the minutes for the meeting. Right now we are doing it by scribing. Town Clerk Oakes — The programs range from low-grade to high-grade. Before we make a determination as to how we would like to proceed with this investment, I spoke with our IT contractor and they are going to allow us to use this program on a trial basis at Town Commission Budget Workshop Meeting Minutes Tuesday,August 4,2016 Page 2 of 12 the August 30t` meeting. This way we can determine how efficient and effective this program is. Commissioner Feldman — I would like to clarify the union letter. The Commission was quite disturbed when we found out that we did not get a copy of the letter when it was written to "Dear Commissioners". I felt the Town Attorney should have given us this letter beforehand and not at the start of the meeting. We know that you are doing your job, but when a letter comes to the Commissioners it should go to them immediately. Also, I feel we need more transparency between the Town Manager, Town Clerk and the Commissioners. I do not want to have a vote of no confidence, but I will be forced to acknowledge one if the above mentions are not corrected. I worked with three Town Managers in the past 15 years, and I don't want to hire a fourth one, but I will have to vote yes if all that is required is not being done. I would like to avoid that obviously. Town Attorney Torcivia — Both Town Manager Brown and I thought the union had given you the letter. Town Attorney Torcivia — Have any of you received the letter yet? Town Commissioners all answered no. When I started my presentation, I was under the impression that the letter was sitting in front of you. If anyone is at fault it should be the union's fault. The police union in general does not just represent the police. They also have units that represent general employees. This will be part of the umbrella of the Fraternal Order of Police. They don't represent them yet. They have only taken the first step to represent the non-police employees. Commissioner Feldman — When I say transparency, there are a few things that have come up that we weren't informed of. For instance, the stipend and the fact that we were never informed that we did not have a full-time code enforcement officer. We were under the impression that we did. Also, when things come into the office they should be given to the Commission if it is related to them. As long as we can have transparency, I don't have a problem. Town Manager Brown — I realized you were all upset about that. I have directed the staff that anything that comes in that is intended for any member of the Commission will be given to the Town Clerk, and the Town Clerk will disperse it to make sure everyone gets it. I got a copy of the union letter, and I assumed a copy was going to the Town Commission. It was a mistake. The Town Attorney did not receive a copy, and I faxed it to him. I received a copy and not the original and assumed the original went to the Commission. Vice Mayor Weitz — I noticed there was no carbon copy (CC) on the letter, which indicates to me that they did not send a copy to our attorney or our Town Manager. It is a lack of professionalism on the part of the union. This is not currently an existing union. I would hope that our police, our Town Manager and our Town Attorney would provide no information, no coordination, no consultation and no involvement with these individuals until such time that they have a formal apparatus and are unionized to deal with this Town. All these individuals who want to join this union and work for this Town, if they want guidance, they should go out and pay for their own attorney. What are the total amount of employees that are eligible to join this union? Town Attorney Torcivia— The union selects Town Commission Budget Workshop Meeting Minutes Tuesday,August 4,2016 Page 3 of 12 what they believe is the appropriate bargaining unit. The union representative told me that there were 14 employees that signed up. There are a total of 35 employees in this Town, 11 of whom are in the police union. If you eliminate the management, you are down to about 16 to 18 people. These employees have signed a pledge card to show they are interested in joining a union. These are sent to Public Relations Employee Commission (PERC), and they decide if this is an appropriate unit. If so, they will then notify the Town. I will provide you with a written document laying this out. I believe we were all surprised to receive this letter. I will also have to do some research on Commissioner Feldman's request to have Vice Mayor Weitz be on the bargaining committee, and if that is allowable. Hearing no further additions,the agenda was accepted as amended. 2. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND REQUESTS: None were received. 3. NEW BUSINESS• A) Discussion Regarding Union Letter Commissioner Zelniker — I have a letter from our Town Attorney regarding the letter from the union representative where he indicates that he discussed this issue with the Town Manager. Our Town Attorney should not be discussing this at all. This group of people should collectively get money together and hire their own attorney. This letter was sent to the Commission with this address on it and not to each individual Commissioner's home address. It should have been distributed immediately upon receipt. This has nothing to do with the union. I have no problem with unions. He also stated that there was no intention on the part of either Ms. Brown or himself to surprise the Commission. What was the intention then? Agenda items were deleted that the Commission had requested be put on this agenda. I would like to see your itemized bill and how much time you spent with this union because, as a representative of this Town, you should not be involved in this at all. I am asking the Town Manager why the requested items were not placed on the agenda. Town Manager Brown— I said it the other day. First thing Friday morning, I sent an email to the Town Attorney because you gave instructions on removing certain things from the personnel rules and regulations, and there is a proper way to word it. We have to check the federal and state regulations before we submit to you the proposals to change the personnel rules and regulations. Whenever we have changed anything, we have given you the proposals and then you adopted it. You had the concept, and we knew you had the concept. Fin. Dir. Curtis, the Town Attorney and I had a meeting scheduled for Tuesday at noon to go over the recommendations you had made. I did not feel you were completely finished going through the personnel rules and regulations, and I thought we were going to combine them all together and adopt them all at one time. You made motions to change things. Now I will meet with the personnel attorney and reword it and bring it back to you. That was a regular meeting, and I thought you wanted a workshop to discuss it further. Comm. Town Commission Budget Workshop Meeting Minutes Tuesday,AuLyust 4,2016 Page 4 of 12 Zelniker — You never told us that you took it off the agenda. Again it is a lack of communication. We should have been told about this. I feel there is a lack of trust and confidence in our Town Attorney and Town Manager. Vice Mayor Weitz — We had a workshop meeting, and we were discussing items with respect to the personnel rules and procedures. It is understood that you cannot make motions at a workshop meeting. Since there were items that needed to be discussed further and there was no consensus to put them on the Consent Agenda, we asked that it be put on the next agenda under New Business. However, why it got removed was wrong. We were not even sure if some of those items would be passed or not. We should have been informed as to your reasons why you removed them. With regard to the union letter, I have no problem with unions, but I don't like the tone of the letter and the presumptiveness. There is no union yet, but we are being told that we are being put on notice to refrain from reducing their benefits. This is not unique to Highland Beach. This is part of a process of private business and governments trying to maintain financial stability and legitimacy. This Commission is elected to make reasonable policy decisions and determinations as to what we feel is reasonable. We have not reduced benefits. What we have eliminated was certain items I consider waste, fraud and abuse such as deferred compensation and education incentives. To say employees had no choice but to form a union is not true. Everyone has a choice. If employees are not happy with their position, salary or benefits, they have the right to look for another job. I am not suggesting these employees leave. I am just saying they have a choice. Commissioner Stem read his written statement (attached hereto as Exhibit `B"). Comm. Stern — This Commission has done well, and I applaud some of the ideas and some of the savings we have created, but going forward I don't see us with a Town with two unions. Town Attorney Torcivia—I certainly respect Comm. Zelniker's comments, but to imply that Beverly or I would intentionally surprise the Commission is absolutely false. Why would we do something stupid like that? You must realize an honest mistake was made. We both thought the union had given you a copy of that letter. I apologize if there was any misunderstanding, but that was not the intention. Comm. Zelniker — Why did we have to wait to get the letter from the Attorney? Town Manager Brown — A copy was placed in your inbox. Town Attorney Torcivia — I didn't send the letter until after the meeting. Comm. Zelniker — It could have been scanned and sent to us. The Town Manager is responsible for the staff. If staff members are not happy and there are issues with town morale, why was this not brought out in a public meeting? We need you to help guide the town. Town Manager Brown — Don't you think it would be understandable when you cut someone's insurance. The police union took us to arbitration. I did not know they were forming a union until I received a copy of that letter on Monday afternoon. There were no rumors. Cale, Valerie and I did not know. Comm. Zelniker— I have no issue with unions. My issue is that we need you to communicate with us. Commissioner Feldman—I don't know what difference it would have made if we received it immediately. We have to have more transparency between the Town Manager, Town Clerk Town Commission Budget Workshop Meeting Minutes Tuesday,August 4,2016 Page 5 of 12 and the Commissioners, and that way we will know more. I don't think this was being hidden. Vice Mayor Weitz — If we have any problems with insubordinate employees, the Town Manager should deal with them based on their attitude or comments. It is your staff and you can point out to them that this is the Commission's policy on this. If they like it, they should do their work and accept it. If they don't, they can move on. It is partly the responsibility of the Commission as well as the responsibility of the Town Manager. Town Manager Brown — I don't believe any of the supervisors have come back to me to say the efficiency in their department has gone down. We are still working as a team. I know there is moaning and groaning. We have people who have been here over 20 years and are still complaining about the reduction in their salary last year. They have been told that the best thing they can do if they are not happy is to leave. We have had some great projects coming up, and they have all included themselves into them. 4. REVIEW OF 2016-2017 BUDGET BY DEPARTMENT: A) Town Commission—511.000 Town Manager Brown read the line items into the record. • Travel and per diem Boca Chamber of Commerce, Delray Chamber of Commerce, elected officials class and Florida League of Cities conference: Town Manager Brown— We went down on the conference. With the elected officials class, we could possibly have two members next year. The Mayor attends the Boca and Delray Chamber breakfast meetings. Vice Mayo Weitz — I am not sure if future Mayors would be needing or desiring attending these meetings. I do not see any benefit or advantage to this Town to attend the Boca or Delray Chamber meetings because it has to do with industry or commerce. Commissioner Feldman—I feel we should leave it in since the Mayor will be here until next March, and he will be attending these meetings. Consensus was to leave this item in the budget. Comm. Feldman—Comm. Stern, Mayor Featherman and I attended the advanced classes for the elected officials. Comm. Zelniker and Vice Mayor Weitz should attend these classes. Comm. Zelniker and Vice Mayor Weitz agreed to attend the classes. This line item was left in the budget. • Holiday Gift Cards: Vice Mayor Weitz — I want this to be clear that it is not a personal opinion but a reality of what we have been advised. We were advised by the Inspector General's (IG) office that no Town Commission Budget Workshop Meeting Minutes Tuesday,August 4,2016 Page 6 of 12 public funds can be utilized for purposes that don't directly benefit the public. These cards clearly fall under that advisement. Town Attorney Torcivia — The IG did give some guidance on that. You can adopt a resolution finding a public purpose, and that is up to the discretion of the Commission. If the elected officials decide that a certain activity serves a public purpose, that is presumably correct, and the IG will accept that. Vice Mayor Weitz— I have no problem with the board appreciation luncheon, but I do not see giving 30 to 50 gift cards benefiting the public. I am recommending we keep the board appreciation luncheon line item in the budget and remove the holiday and birthday gift cards. Commissioner Feldman—We should leave this item in the budget and make a resolution to adopt this because it is such a small amount of money. Comm. Stern—I do not want to take anything else away. We should keep this in. Consensus was to have the Town Attorney prepare a resolution declaring birthday and holiday gift cards a public purpose. • Operating Supplies: Commissioner Zelniker — Each department has miscellaneous office supplies. Do we have one central purchasing where we get things cheaper, or are you breaking it down so we know what each department is spending? Fin. Dir. Curtis — The Finance Department does all of the purchasing for supplies, and we charge that back to each individual department. The Finance Department orders all the basic supplies such as paper and it is ordered in bulk. Deidre McCarty in the Finance Department goes to the different suppliers to find the best price for those products. Each individual department does have their own expense line item. That is how we charge it back and know who is spending what on the items. Department heads have authority up to $500 to make a purchase. After that it requires my signature and the Town Manager's signature. • Books,Dues and Education: Finance Director Curtis — This is where we pay for all the association dues to Florida League of Cities, Palm Beach County League of Cities and a variety of training events. Comm. Feldman — What is the $1200 for training. Fin. Dir. Curtis— This is the registration cost for the individual training that may come up during the year that they deem desirable for themselves. Town Commission Budget Workshop Meeting Minutes Tuesday,August 4,2016 Page 7 of 12 B) Town Manager Department—512.000 • Personnel Salaries: Commissioner Feldman — The difference in the salaries from last year to this year, is that because we don't have an Assistant to the Town Manger? Fin. Dir. Curtis — Yes. The previous Assistant to the Town Manager was a full time position. This proposal is for a part time position. Town Manager Brown— We have a young man who lives here in Town and is going to school for his masters. He is willing to work here on a part-time basis to help with research and IT. His salary would be $17 to $18 per hour without benefits. Town Clerk Oakes—Originally we had two full-time employees who did IT. Once we eliminated the two full-time in house positions, we also eliminated one of the IT contractors who were responsible for the IT. Right now we utilize one IT contractor. Someone had to assume those responsibilities, and that was person was me, which has put on a very large workload on me to do IT and perform my clerk duties. I have accepted those responsibilities and have done them. However, I am working on so many projects that I need help. We pay the IT contractor to maintain our systems and the integrity of our internal infrastructure regarding technology, but I need help when it comes to the main projects in progress. When I originally took over the position our servers were in critical condition. Quite frankly it is taking a lot of my time away from my responsibilities as Town Clerk. The title is Research & Support Specialist. • Insurance Bonds: Vice Mayor Weitz — Could you explain the significant increase. Fin. Dir. Curtis — The Town Manager's contract has a provision for an additional life insurance policy that is provided by the Town. That life insurance policy is based on the demographics of the Town Manager. This year's quote has come in about triple as much as last year. It is basically based on age. Last year's rate was based on the former Town Manager. Town Manager Brown—I have a birthday coming up and it puts me into a different category. • Holiday and Birthday Gift Cards: Finance Director Curtis —As discussed earlier, a Resolution will be prepared regarding this line item. Comm. Feldman — Could this be a benefit to the Town when you have an employee morale issue? Town Attorney Torcivia — That is usually the public purpose that Commissions find because it improves morale and efficiency. It is my understanding that probably at your October meeting, I am to bring back any resolution where you need a public purpose, for example, the Light up the Holidays event. I will put in a separate resolution. Town Manager Brown — The former manager, Dale Sugarman had the Commission sign the birthday cards and the holiday gift cards. We will go back to that. Vice Mayor Weitz — Has the IG ever authorized morale as a public purpose? Town Attorney Torcivia—I will investigate this and get back to you. Town Commission Budget Workshop Meeting Minutes Tuesday,Aueust 4,2016 Page 8 of 12 C) Town Clerk Department—512.100 • Salaries: Commissioner Feldman — The salaries are up 3%. Is that because one position wasn't completely filled last year? Fin. Dir. Curtis — Yes. In next year's budget it will be somewhat skewed because we have had turnover again. That is true in all this year's budget items. These are anticipations as of this moment. • Contractual Services: Commissioner Feldman — On the webcasting video streaming, why isn't that under the IT Service? Fin. Dir. Curtis—This is the actual software that goes on our website. Everything you get on your computer is Granicus. Town Clerk Oakes— There is a program we have to use in order to be able to post the agendas, minutes and video. Granicus assists in pushing the video live online and on TV. Comm. Zelniker — Town Clerk Oakes has installed the Municode on my iPad and it is wonderful. Town Clerk Oakes—There is a link on the Town's website called Municode. It is an electronic codification system that we use. As long as you have internet, you have access to it. D) Finance Department—513.000 • Salaries: Vice Mayor Weitz—Under the salary for the Finance Director, it was my understanding the Commission approved 3% salary increase. Could you explain the difference between the fiscal year 2015/2016 and proposed? Fin. Dir. Curtis—There is the 3% October 1St, the sick leave incentive and the longevity bonus that I will be eligible for next year as I will have 10 years. Vice Mayor Weitz questioned the sick leave incentive. Fin. Dir. Curtis — An employee can trade in 32 hours of time for either vacation or pay if they have over 100 hours of sick leave banked on an annual basis. Vice Mayor Weitz—Where is it in the rules and personnel policy so I can review it. Fin. Dir. Curtis — It is under the sick leave section on page 58 — Section VI. Most employees are getting 10 to 15 days of vacation plus they accrue 12 sick days. Many employees do not take those sick days. They accrue them and they stay in the bank. When it comes time for retirement or separation of service, the Town pays a portion of that sick leave out. What this program does is reduce that sick leave each year at the current salary rather than allow it to bank and accumulate over the years and paid out at a higher salary. Town Attorney Torcivia — You have directed us to convert to PTO (personal time off). I am under the assumption that you want the cap to remain the same. In 2014 the Commission set caps on how much sick leave and vacation time you can accumulate. On Page 56, before 2014, it was 1,120 hours. Employees who are hired after January 1, 2014, it is 200 hours. We are going to convert to the PTO within those caps. Vice Mayor Weitz — When we go to a PTO it all gets amalgamated into a single item so we can have the same caps. We should discuss what is reasonable for a cap for a PTO. Town Commission Budget Workshop Meeting Minutes Tuesday,August 4, 2016 Page 9 of 12 • Accounting and Auditing: Finance Director Curtis — We are going into our second year of a five year contract with Grau Associates. Comm. Zelniker — Do we get a forensic audit? Fin. Dir. Curtis — A forensic audit is someone who is coming in and looking for a particular claim. Our audit is performed on internal controls, network, IT infrastructure revenue and cash accounts. They do not do a forensic audit. Discussion ensued regarding the difference between a forensic audit and a certified audit. Fin. Dir. Curtis—Palm Beach County has a fairly new Inspector General's office, and they are reaching out to certain municipalities and performing these type of forensic audits. • Contractual Services: Finance Director Curtis — Under these services you will find a new item, web time application, which is our electronic time card system. With this new system, the employee will log into this website, type in their employee ID and password and punch in. It will show down to the second when they punched in and out. E) Legal Department • Legal Services: Finance Director Curtis — These services are for Town Attorney Glen Torcivia's office and Len Rubin. These are based on nothing other than our historical figures and just an estimate going forward. What we did change was the increase in professional fees to $25,000, and that is due to us having contract negotiations with the police union coming up next year. The fees will depend on how the negotiations go. If it comes to an impasse, the fees will go up. Town Attorney Torcivia— This number is low for this year. You planned this because of the police union negotiations that will be coming up in the spring since that contract ends September 2017. Since we have notice of this new potential union, I am guessing that number is a little low. I think a number more like $50,000 is more appropriate. To give you a little background on our firm, our two biggest practice areas are local government law and labor and employment law, whether it is private sector or public sector. Fin. Dir. Curtis — When we have a finalized budget, this $25,000 under legal will be $50,000. F) Police Department—521.000 • Operating Expenses: Vice Mayor Weitz—Under processing costs for new hire, is there an estimate on how many new hires you will be looking at? Police Chief Hartmann — We will have one for sure. It varies from year to year. Town Commission Budget Workshop Meeting Minutes Tuesday,August 4,2016 Page 10 of 12 • Training and Development: Commissioner Feldman — The ammunition cost of$500 is listed twice. Fin. Dir. Curtis — The ammunition that is listed under Training and Development is for training purposes for qualifying officers so they can safely use their firearms. There is $500 worth of ammunition for training, and under supplies they have duty issued ammunition. • Communications: Finance Director Curtis — The biggest chunk of that is the dispatch services and the annual radio system payment to the County. Commissioner Feldman— You have cell phones in the amount of$1500 for the department, and then you have stipends for cell phones in the amount of$1800. Fin. Dir. Curtis — This goes back to the cell phone either provided by the Town, or a stipend given to the employees. The general officers do not have that option. They are given a duty issued phone. The management has access to their phones, the Commission has access to their phones, and all the managers in the Town including the management in the Police Department. They can either be given a phone provided by the Town's account from Sprint, or they are given a$75 a month stipend to provide their own. Vice Mayor Weirz—I am not sure if there is a justification for that. Police Chief Hartmann — There are only two other people in the management staff besides myself that have that. They are constantly answering calls when they are off duty. It is always a constant for us 24/7 in a law enforcement environment. Commissioner Feldman — Why weren't the stipends for the cell phones listed in the other departments? Fin. Dir. Curtis — The stipends for your senior management outside of the Police Department are included under OGG. Comm. Feldman — How many phones do we pay for? Fin. Dir. Curtis — There are six. They have to pay for their own phones and the service. • Repairs and Maintenance: Finance Director Curtis — There is a $2500 blanket in case something happens in the Police Department that needs to be repaired. If it doesn't get used, it goes back in the General Fund. • Annual Physicals: Finance Director Curtis — This is per the collective bargaining agreement. All the employees under the CBA are eligible to get an annual physical done and paid for by the Town. Comm. Feldman — Do we pay that? Chief Craig Hartmann— If they get a physical, it is done through provider who we have a contract with. They can only have it done if they go through this provider. The money goes directly to the provider. The Town would be notified if the Town Commission Budget Workshop Meeting Minutes Tuesday,August 4,2016 Page 11 of 12 employee was unfit for duty, and that is the only way the Town would be notified. This type of physical is much more involved than a regular physical done by a primary care doctor. • Operating Supplies: Commissioner Feldman— Is the police fund separate from your budget? Chief Hartmann — It is completely separate. Hopefully you will be getting a memorandum from me in the next week or so. We are looking for an emergency management message board for the Town. Also, there will be a speed radar trailer attached to it. The cost is approximately $18,000 and will be completely out of the foundation money. • Uniforms and Supplies: Discussion ensued regarding the uniform and boot allowance and the Town paying the money directly to the officer. The officers would pay for the cleaning of the uniforms rather than have the Town pay for this service. If the Town paid for this, it would eliminate the question "was it done?" Also, if it was done in bulk perhaps it would be cheaper to do it that way. This could be discussed during the next contract negotiations. • Capital Outlay: Finance Director Curtis—This is the purchase of two SUV's to replace two current vehicles. Commissioner Feldman—Are we going to keep the unmarked cars also? Chief Hartmann— Yes. The one we are replacing is the 2007 with 60,000 miles. We are running 6 cars right now; two are unmarked vehicles. The unmarked cars can be used by any of the police staff. Commissioner Zelniker — In looking at my MuniCode, there was supposed to be a program for acquisition of lands for development in open space areas in order to meet the existing needs. Have we been making a mistake by not putting money aside every year? The code is from 1972. Vice Mayor Weitz — This might have made more sense when land was less costly. Land today is costing anywhere from $8 million to $15 million, and there are not that many parcels available. It is a matter of practicality. Comm. Zelniker — Continue reading, the developer shall make a payment to the Town of a sum of$1000 for each unit that a condo has. Fin. Dir. Curtis — We do collect that sum of money from the developers, and that goes into a separate revenue fund,the open space and recreation fund. 5. COMMISSION BUDGET MEETINGS: • August 16th at 4:30 p.m. —Budget Workshop (Tentative) • August 30th immediately following workshop meeting—Budget Workshop (Tentative) • September 14th at 5:01 p.m. — 1St Budget Public Hearing • September 27th at 5:01 p.m. — 2nd Budget Hearing — Set Millage Rate and Adopt the Budget Consensus was to change the August 16th Budget Workshop from 4:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Town Commission Budget Workshop Meeting Minutes Tuesday,August 4,2016 Page 12 of 12 6. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND REQUESTS RELATED TO AGENDA ITEMS DISCUSSED AT MEETING ONLY: None were received. 7. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Commission, Mayor Featherman called for a motion to adjourn the Budget Workshop Meeting at 3:53 PM. MOTION: Commissioner Stern moved to adjourn the Budget Workshop meeting at 3:53 PM. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Feldman, which passed unanimously. APPROVED: �tiQIV 1 Bernard Featherman, Mayor liam Weitz, Vice Mayor J� L I— Cartfeldmaik, ommissio'nZ!r,, Lou Ste 9,61mmissioner 4aTe�lnikaVmmissioner ATTEST: U Valerie Oakes, CMC, Town Clerk Date f ti Thank you to my fellow Commissioners for accommodating my request due to emergency time change. My right knee needs a cordesone shot every 6-8 months which was at least a month past due and the only appt I could get was on August 16th prior to our planned workshop...but luckily they had an opening this morning and I had to grabbed it. However to complicate matters at Midnight I had to take Carol to Delray Hospital as she was in A-Fib....I saw her this morning again and it appears she may go home after this meeting. I would like to put on the agenda where appropriate the letter we received from Glen Torcivia with the attached letter from the Union Representative for discussion. 7- I I would like to raise myself about a foot and look down on this commission for all the good we have done together over the past few years. Certainly through combined efforts we have accomplished our duties as policy makers and staff acted accordingly. Overpaid personnel, overqualified personnel not doing their job and in general has replace appropriate vacancies. I have heard there could be some changes yet to come in the Maintenance and Water Departments. And for sure we as a policy group have asked staff to create an in house Code Enforcement officer. Hopefully today that indivually not repeat all we have done and just centralize on the Budget and our work on our response of Town Employees wanting to go union. I am not a lawyer, nor have I or any of my factories that I Represented been unionized, I do not have any first hand knowledge. I have read that Unions were once great, maybe not so today. It is my opinion it would not be good for our Town since my limited research does tell me that some towns in Palm Beach County do have unions and some have moved away from it...especially Delray, it did not work out well for them The Vice Mayor and I have agreed on many subjects and I do appreciate and recognize that. However, the Employees feel you say we love our employees BUT. That But is our current dilemma as Morale Sucks so much so, that the employee will walk away from you rather than say hello. This not attack on you, only a known statement of fact. Certainly if the Employees are not happy they could/or should move on even though it might be hard to find tenure they have built up working here and how long might it take the town staff to find people of equal or better work ethics. A mass exodus of employees could have a reserve effect on this Commission working for the taxpayers. "I am of the belief that it will not benefit the employees and certainly in the long term I think it could cost the town more and possibly eliminate some of elected powers to set policy...for this and future commissions, One other point and I am through....Since change of Town Managers, Ben Saag, Dale Sugarman, Kathlyn Weiser this town has not had a lawsuit to deal with. Delray just received a relief from the courts of a 40 Million lawsuit from the builders of Atlantic Crossings.....but their attorney bills a way up there....and Ocean Ridge is still fighting the courts for their lives....big dollars invested in lawyers.