2021.11.09_TC_Minutes_SpecialIITOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH
TOWN COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING
LUPO MINUTES
• , ,
Town Hall / Commission Chambers Date: November 09, 2021
3614 South Ocean Boulevard Time: 10:00 A.M.
Highland Beach, Florida 33487
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Hillman called the meeting to order at 10-.00 A.M.
2. PRESENT UPON ROLL CALL
Commissioner John Shoemaker
Commissioner Evalyn David
Commissioner Peggy Gossett -Seidman
Vice Mayor Natasha Moore
Mayor Douglas Hillman
Town Manager Marshall Labadie
Town Attorney Glen Torcivia
Town Clerk Lanelda Gaskins
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The Town Commission led the Pledge of Allegiance.
4. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
MOTION: David/Moore - To approve the agenda as presented.
The motion passed unanimously on a 5 to 0 vote.
5. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mayor Hillman called for public comments. Town Clerk Gaskins stated that there were
no preregistrations for public comments.
Town Commission Special Meeting Minutes
Date: November 09, 2021 Page 2 of 5
6. ORDINANCES
A. Ordinance No. 2021-012
An Ordinance of the Town of Commission of the Town of Highland Beach, Florida,
calling for a referendum of the qualified electors of the Town of Highland Beach to
be held on March 08, 2022, as to whether Section 1.06(3) of the Town of Highland
Beach Charter shall be amended to increase the term limits for the positions of
Mayor, Vice -Mayor and Commissioner; providing for notice and advertising of the
referendum; providing for referendum canvassing; providing for severability, the
repeal of laws in conflict, codification, and an effective date.
Mayor Hillman read the title of Ordinance No. 2021-012.
MOTION: David/Moore - To approve Ordinance No. 2021-012.
Ordinance No. 2021-012 passed unanimously on a 5 to 0 vote.
B. Ordinance No. 2021-013
An Ordinance of the Town Commission of the Town of Highland Beach, Florida,
calling for a referendum of the qualified electors of the Town of Highland Beach to
be held on March 08, 2022, as to whether Section 2.01(31) of the Town of Highland
Beach Charter shall be adopted to provide that the Town may not outsource,
abolish, merge with, sell or otherwise transfer managerial control and decision
making to any other entity, the essential services of Fire Rescue, Police or Water
unless approved by a referendum vote of the electorate; providing for notice and
advertising of the referendum; providing for referendum canvassing; providing for
severability, the repeal of laws in conflict, codification, and an effective date.
Mayor Hillman introduced this item.
Discussions followed about whether Section 2.01(31) should be in an ordinance instead
of adding it in the Town's Charter, which requires a referendum vote.
MOTION: David/Gossett-Seidman - To approve Ordinance No. 2021-013
Ordinance No. 2021-013 passed unanimously on a 5 to 0 vote.
Town Commission Special Meeting Minutes
Date: November 09, 2021 Page 3 of 5
C. Ordinance No. 2021-014
An Ordinance of the Town Commission of the Town of Highland Beach, Florida,
calling for a referendum of the qualified electors of the Town of Highland Beach to
be held on March 08, 2022, as to whether Section 3.02(1) of the Town of Highland
Beach Charter shall be amended to allow the Town Manager and Finance Director
to sign checks for payment of the Town's lawful debts; providing for notice and
advertising of the referendum; providing for referendum canvassing; providing for
severability, the repeal of laws in conflict, codification, and an effective date.
Mayor Hillman introduced this item.
Discussions followed about whether Section 3.02(1) should be an ordinance instead of
within the Town's Charter. It was the consensus of the Town Commission to add the word
"equivalent" to Section 3.02(1) as it relates to signing checks or "their equivalent."
MOTION: David/Moore - To approve Ordinance No. 2021-014 as amended.
Ordinance No. 2021-014 passed unanimously on a 5 to 0 vote.
D. Ordinance No. 2021-015
An Ordinance of the Town Commission of the Town of Highland Beach, Florida,
calling for a referendum of the qualified electors of the Town of Highland Beach to
be held on March 08, 2022, as to whether Section 3.05 of the Town of Highland
Beach Charter shall be amended to provide the establishing of the salaries of the
Mayor and Commissioners by ordinance; providing for notice and advertising of
the referendum; providing for referendum canvassing; providing for severability,
the repeal of laws in conflict, codification, and an effective date.
Mayor Hillman introduced this item.
There were discussions about Section 3.05 being an ordinance instead of a referendum
vote. Further discussions ensued about including a percentage or a fixed number for the
salaries of the Mayor and Commissioners as well as incorporating stop measures or
limitations in the ordinance.
MOTION: David/Moore - To approve Ordinance No. 2021-015.
Ordinance No. 2021-015 passed unanimously on a 5 to 0 vote.
7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Town Commission Special Meeting Minutes
Date: November 09, 2021 Page 4 of 5
A. Continued discussion of the Charter Review Board's Final Report.
Mayor Hillman introduced this item.
There were discussions about Section 2.01 (30) Funding Limits. Mayor Hillman spoke
about a suggestion from Chairperson David Stern of the Financial Advisory Board. He
suggested a fixed number for the proposed funding limitation instead of a percentage of
the overall operating budget.
Town Manager Labadie spoke about costs that the Town may incur over the $350,000
funding limits for items such as fire rescue vehicles and equipment and capital
improvement projects (sanitary sewer project). In addition, there were discussions about
the spending limits, financing against pledged ad valorem taxes, and the required voter
approval.
Charter Review Board Member Greenwald and Chairperson Donaldson provided
comments concerning the Charter Review Boards' recommendation about the funding
limits.
Mayor Hillman recessed the meeting at 11.41 A.M. The meeting reconvened at 11.59
A.M.
Mayor Hillman suggested placing two questions on the March 2022 ballot for
consideration. He proposed asking the electorates the following: 1) to eliminate the
funding limits or 2) request that the spending limit be equivalent to five percent (5%) of
the Town's overall operating budget.
Further discussions ensued about including a consumer price index (CPI) for escalation.
Mayor Hillman also talked about government grant money for the cost of the sanitary
sewer project.
8. TOWN COMMISSION COMMENTS
Commissioner John Shoemaker talked about two articles related to Town's election and
veterans in the Coastal Star newspaper. He gave an update on the Veterans webpage
and mentioned that he would be interviewing several Highland Beach veterans.
Commissioner Evalyn David had no comments.
Commissioner Peggy Gossett -Seidman had no comments.
Vice Mayor Natasha Moore thanked Commissioner Shoemaker for his work with the
Veterans of Highland Beach.
Mayor Douglas Hillman had no comments.
Town Commission Special Meeting Minutes
Date: November 09, 2021
Page 5 of 5
9. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 12:21 P.M.
APPROVED on December 21, 2021, Town Commission Meeting.
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Transcribed by Ganelle Thompson
Administrative Support Specialist
and
Lanelda Gaskins, Town Clerk
December 21, 2021
Date
Disclaimer: Effective May 19, 2020, per Resolution No. 20-008, all meeting minutes are
transcribed as a brief summary reflecting the event of this meeting. Verbatim audio/video
recordings are permanent records and are available on the Town's Media Archives &
Minutes webpage: https://highlandbeach-fl.municodemeetings.com/.