1976.12.07_TC_Minutes_Regular
• TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH, FLORIDA
Minutes of Meeting of Town Commission
Regular Meeting
December 7, 1976 1:30 P.M.
Mayor Morton E. Gilday called the Regular Meeting to order at 1:30 P.M.
Present were:
Mayor Morton E. Gilday
Vice Mayor William S. Hults
Commissioner Ruth E. Mumford
Commissioner Leslie W. Joy
Commissioner Robert D. Clark
Also present:
Town Manager, Elaine W. Roberts
Town Attorney, Thomas E. Sliney
Finance Director, Anton Drasal
Chief of Police, Kenneth Jones
Town Clerk, Kathryn M. Borgemenke
Building Of f is is 1, Wally E . Schott
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Approval of Minutes, as written (Synopsis by Town Clerk)
For: Meetings of November 3, 1976 - Regular Meeting
16, 1976 - Special. Meeting
30, 1976 - Workshop Meeting and
Special Meeting
Mayor Gilday called for a Motion to dispense with the reading of
the Minutes for the month of November.
MOTION by Vice Mayor Hults/Commissioner Clark: "I'll make that
Motion".
ROLL CALL on the Motion Carried Unanimously.
Public Requests
None
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Minutes Highland Beach
Town Commission
• Regular Meeting
December 7, 1976
REPORTS OF THE TOWN COMMISSION
Page 2 of 8
(a) Mayor Morton E. Gilday - Mayor Gilday took this time to
express his gratitude to his fellow commissioners, the
Vice Mayor, and the staff in Town Hall for their take-
over in his areas of responsibility this past month.
(b) Vice Mayor William S. Hults - No report.
(c) Commissioner Ruth E. Mumford - No report.
(d) Commissioner Leslie W. Joy - No report.
(e) Commissioner Robert D. Clark - No report.
REPORTS OF VARIOUS AGENCIES OF THE TOWN
(a) Planning Commission - In the absence of any members,
Mrs. Roberts announced that the next Public Hearings
will be held on Wednesday, December 8, 1976 at 7:30 P.M.
and Wednesday, December 15, 1976 at 7:30 P.M.
• (b) Board of Adjustment - Mr. Horton stated that he had no
report. Mayor Gilday noted that there was a vacancy
for an alternate member. Mr. Horton stated that he had
no names at this time and he felt there was no rush.
(c) Housing Board of Adjustment and Appeal - In the absence
of any members, Mrs. Roberts noted that the next meeting
of this Board will be in January.
(d) Community Appearance Board - Mayor Gilday referred to
a letter from Betty Jean Stewart, Chairman, requesting
that the Commission reappoint Mrs. Sylvia Jaffe.
MOTION by Commissioner Joy/Vice Mayor Hults: "I'll move we
reappoint Mrs. Jaffe".
There were no other names offered for this appointment.
ROLL CALL on the Motion Carried Unanimously.
(e) Police Committee - Commissioner Horton noted that the
Police Report for the month of November showed nothing
• unusual. Mr. Horton did note that Capt. James Light, Sr.
had resigned from the Police Committee and Mr. Peter
Minutes Highland Beach
Town Commission
• Regular Meeting
December 7, 1976
Page 3 of g
Genovese had been appointed by the Commission to fill
this vacancy. A letter from the Civic League dated
November 2, 1976 that was referred to the Police
Committee has not yet been answered. A reply will be
forthcoming shortly.
Letter from Daniel T. K. Hurley, County Court Judge
The Town Manager, Elaine W. Roberts read the aforementioned
letter for the record. Mayor Gilday suggested that Mrs.
Roberts write to Judge Hurley and thank him for his letter
and set a date for the Judge to come before the Commission
at a Special Meeting.
Mayor Gilday recognized John Ryan who requested that he be
granted permission to present Mrs. Roberts with some papers
requested by a Police Officer of the Town. Mayor Gilday agreed.
RESOLUTION NO. 318 - Requesting Town Identification signs along
• I-95 was read in its entirety by the Town Manager. A brief
discussion relative to this Resolution followed. Commissioner
Clark suggested that the words "City and Town" be added in
the title for clarity.
MOTION by Commissioner Clark/Commissioner Mumford: "I'll move the
adoption of the Resolution with the change".
ROLL CALL on the Motion Carried Unanimously.
REPORTS AND/OR RECOMMENDATIONS - Town Manager, Elaine W. Roberts
Mrs. Roberts read a thank you letter from Regency Highland
for the record.
The Palm Beach County Municipal League Meeting for November
was held in North Palm Beach; the December meeting of the
League will be held on the 10th in Belle Glade.
The next Treasure Coast Planning Council will be held on
December 9th in Stuart.
• Mrs. Roberts asked the Commission to think about the allocation
of anti recession monies. She referred to the Datagram, dated
Minutes Highland Beach
Town Commission
• Regular Meeting
December 7, 1976 Page 4 of 8
November 5th which explains that the funds must be spent,
obligated or appropriated within six months. She noted
that the Commission did designate $1,500 for the agreement
with the U.S.G.S. and the maintenance man has hired two
workers to help him in dead tree removal. She asked for
the Commissioners' wishes in allocating the remaining
money. Vice Mayor Hults suggested that some of this money
could be applied to the Road and Bridge Fund.
MOTION by Commissioner Mumford/Vice Mayor Hults: "I so move that
the anti recession money be used for the two projects with the
balance of the money to be placed in the Road and Bridge Fund".
Discussion followed and it was decided that the Town does
have six months to make the necessary appropriation.
Mrs. Roberts stated that she planned to close the Town Hall
on Friday, December 24 and 31, 1976 for the holidays.
• Mrs. Roberts gave a very brief report on Cable T.V. and
further research will be done relative to Boca Raton.
Mrs. Roberts requested permission to meet with the Town
Attorney on Thursday to discuss several matters and some
follow ups.
She then referred to correspondence with the Reliance Insurance
Company dated November 22, 1976. Mrs. Roberts retrieved all
the correspondence from June, 1976 forward to discuss with
the Town Attorney. The other subjects she will discuss are
the water services to vacant properties, Ambassadors' interim
service fees and the building code board of appeals. The
Commission agreed on the meeting.
The Building Department has reported to the Town Manager that
income from license fees was in the amount of $724.00 and
from permit fees $1,032.50. This amount is approximately
$1,000.00 more than received in the same period of 1976.
Total licenses issued to date are $4,442.00 and total
estimated cost of construction $147,172.00. During the month
of November a building permit was issued for a single family
• residence-on the ocean in the amount of $131,000.00, certificates
of occupancy were issued to tri-plexes of Holland and Houck,
and a single family for Argenio.
Minutes Highland Beach
Town Commission
Regular Meeting
December 7, 1976
Page 5 of 8
For the Finance Department: report that the auditors are
almost finished and after they are completed the Commission
will be issued a financial statement. Mr. Drasal gave a
report on insurance for the Town. He stated that he had
met with a representative of an insurance firm in Tarpon
Springs that handles Municipal insurance. This Company
did accept the Town's insurance with details to follow.
This means the Town has a secondary company that will take
the insurance at a much more satisfactory rate.
On November 24th Mrs. Roberts submitted the evaluation for
the Finance Director with a memo attached for the Commission's
consideration at this meeting. Mrs. Roberts recommended an
increase for the Finance Director.
MOTION by Vice Mayor Hults/Commissioner Mumford: "I move that we
grant the increase".
ROLL CALL on the Motion Carried Unanimously.
Health Department - Mrs. Roberts reported that the Swine Flu
program of November 15 was very successful as 767 people
were inoculated. She also reported that the Commission did not
feel another program of this sort was necessary at this time.
It was suggested that a program to clean the beach be started
perhaps by the youngsters of the Town.
Police Department - Chief Jones has submitted schedules for
shift rotation which will go into effect December 7 and the
next schedule will go into effect January 7th.
Mrs. Roberts announced that there has been a change in the
grievance procedure. Once filed by the employee of the
Police Department the form will go to the Department Head
from there to the Police Committee; for their review and
action and/dr recommendation, and lastly it will go to the
Town Manager for final disposition.
An investigation of the Police Department has been initiated
by the Police Committee. Mrs. Roberts noted that there
• have only been two grievances submitted to date by the Police
Department.
• Minutes Highland Beach
Town Commission
Regular Meeting
December 7, 1976
Page 6 of 8
Mrs. Roberts wrote to the Managers of the three larger
cities relative to the CDC and the fact that action was
taken at meetings which the Town had not been included. She
noted that the amount of money applied for under federal
funding (almost $129,000) was allocated with the approval
of the Area Planning Board at a public meeting and this item
was not on the agenda. There was also a meeting in Boca
Raton that the Town had not been notified of. Mrs. Roberts
is following up on this matter.
Town Clerk - Mrs. Roberts reported that the Town Clerk had
attended a seminar the week of November 15th sponsored by
Florida Atlantic University. She also noted that the Town
Clerk had worked on a list of vacant properties that abut
AIA.
Public Utilities and Works - She noted that she was still
working on a sewage system and plant maintenance program.
Commissioner Joy and Mrs. Roberts will meet relative to
bids submitted for this project.
Mrs. Roberts will meet with the Flood Control District as
soon as possible. They have been meeting with the planner
and engineers for the Town.
The status of the EDA application was submitted in a report
by the consulting engineer for the Town today. Mrs. Roberts
referred to the report briefly. The Commission had no
questions about this report.
Mrs. Roberts spoke regarding
maintenance and help from the
Palm Beach have been working
and with Commission approval
matter. Discussion followed
Bel Lido.
the subject of bike hike path
DOT. She and Mr. Frost of
very closely on this project
she will continue to pursue this
relative to street sweeping in
Mrs. Roberts stated that she had spoken to the Manager of the
Florida Power & Light (local office) and he will investigate
• her offer to negotiate the bill for the sewage treatment plant.
Minutes Highland Beach
Town Commission
• Regular Meeting
December 7, 1976
Page 7 of 8
The Beach Erosion Seminar will be held in Palm Beach on
Wednesday, December 8, at 2:00 P.M.
Mr. Dent questioned the date of the next meeting of the
Commission. Vice Mayor Hults noted that the Town Attorney
will be unable to attend the workshop meeting to be held
on Tuesday, December 28th. He then suggested that the
meeting (workshop and special) be held on Wednesday,
December 29th. The Special Meeting will be included
immediately after the workshop meeting to have the Second
and Final Reading of three proposed ordinances.
Further discussion followed relative to the generators at
the sewer plant, maintenance of equipment and housing of
equipment.
Mr. Dent asked if the Town Attorney had met with the attorneys
for John Ryan and Ernest Giordano relative to a settlement.
Mayor Gilday stated that there has been no approval at this
• time as there has been no report from the Town Attorney.
Mayor Gilday called on Mr. Tom Sliney who reported the following;
He met with Mr. Ryan's attorney, Mr. Findley. Officer Giordano
is being represented by Mr. Christianson. In his most recent
meeting with Mr. Findley, Mr. Sliney stated that two
alternatives were tentatively set up in Mr. Ryan's case. The
negotiation would be in the nature of a settlement, a compromise.
It would be a lump sum settlement. The proposition would be as
follows: Alternate No. 1 would be a lump sum settlement of
$3,500.00 followed by the rehiring of Mr. Ryan in his capacity
as an officer of the Police Department, if that is not feasible
alternate No. 2 would be a lump sum settlement of $4,800.00.
Mr. Dent asked if this would include Ryan's claim to Sergeant's
pay. Mayor Gilday stated that this would be a complete
settlement of all differences.
Mr. Sliney stated that there was nothing at this time on Mr.
Giordano's settlement.
Mayor Gilday stated that this item should be scheduled for a
• workshop meeting and when definite action is decided upon a
Special Meeting would be called.
Minutes Highland Beach
Town Commission
Regular Meeting
December 7, 1976
Page 8 of 8
Discussion followed relative to Mr. Ryan's claim for unemployment
insurance. Mr. Sliney was not aware of this claim. He will
research this further with Mr. Ryan's attorney.
Mr. Losee spoke on the subject of using anti recession money
for cleaning up the beach. Mrs. Roberts stated that she will
investigate this matter.
Bills for Approval
The Finance Director presented the bills for approval.
Discussion followed regarding the Fire Insurance for the Town.
The Finance Director explained the new rating of the Water
Tower; and the bill for the Fire Insurance was withdrawn at
this time.
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MOTION by Commissioner Clark/Vice Mayor Hults: "Move the bills
be paid".
Being no further business to come before
ADJOURNED at 11:25 A.M.
APPROVED:
the Comm,, l'i'on the meeting
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Morton E. G' ay Mayor
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ATTEST: % I~~ ~, ,~~`~
Town C erk
Dated: December 27, 1976
• Recorded on 76.38 Tape 1 Sides 1 & 2
William S. Hults, Vice Mayor
Ruth E. Mumford, ommissioner
slie W. Joy, Comsio~er
Robert D. Clark, Commissioner