2002.03.20_CRB_Minutes_RegularTOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH
• CHARTER REVIEW BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
March 20. 2002 10:00 a.m.
Chairman Arlin G. Voress opened the meeting at 9:30 am in Town Commission
Chambers. In attendance were Chairman Voress, Leonard D. Bell, Neil W. Burd, Doris
M. Trinley and Miriam S. Zwick. Vice Chair James F. Niehoff and Joseph S. Yucht were
absent. Also present was Town Manager Ben Saag and Mayor Thomas J. Reid.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Upon MOTION by MR. BURD/MRS. ZWICK, the Minutes of the January 23, 2002
meeting was unanimously approved.
NEW BUSINESS
ARTICLES V through XI were discussed at today's meeting, with recommended changes
attached hereto and made a part of these minutes.
The next meeting will be scheduled for the end of April or early May.
With no further business to come before the Board, MOTION to adjourn was made by
MR. BELL/MRS. ZWICK at 10:35 a.m.
ADJOURN:
Arlin G. Voress, Ch.
James F. Niehoff, V.Ch
Leonard D. Bell
Neil W. Burd
Doris M. Trinley
Joseph S. Yucht
Miriam S. Zwick
Attest
•
absent
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,... ~
/;
absent
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~~ Date: ~ 01 ,~~
ARTICLE V
• 5.01 a b No change
c (p.18) After ....(3) aye votes. Add "The town clerk shall record the vote of
each member of the commission which shall be entered on the
official records of each meeting." (from para below)
next para rekey All resolutions and/or ordinances shall be attested by the town clerk
to read: and signed by the mayor. In the absence, inability or incapacity of
the mayor and/or town clerk, the signatures of the vice-mayor and
a commissioner shall constitute sufficient compliance with the
foregoing. All adopted ordinances shall be posted prominently for
inspection by the public. All adopted ordinances or resolutions shall
become effective ten (10) days after passage or as otherwise
provided therein.
(p.19 1st para) Add "prominently" after ...be posted
Sec. 5.02 Delete telephone system. Change to "telecommunication systems".
Have Tom Sliney check remainder of para re: Ordinances. (letter
will be sent to him.)
• Sec. 5.03 No change
ARTICLE VI-XI
Sec. 6.01 - 9.01 No change
Sec. 9.02 Semicolon after liability; small p on provided
Change moneys to "monies"
9.03 - 11.01 No change.
Note: Sections will be renumbered after reserved sections
are deleted.
•
• ARTICLE V. ORDINANCES
Sec. 5.01. Authority to enact; procedure; execution; posting; emergency ordinances.
The town commission shall have the right to adopt such ordinances authorized by the
powers granted under this charter or allowed by a state statute.
Adoption of ordinances shall be subject to:
(a) A proposed ordinance shall be read on two (2) separate days.
(b) A proposed ordinance may be read by title or in full for both the first reading and
for the final reading. A roll call vote is required for final passage of every ordinance.
(c) Further, all proposed ordinances, after a first reading and at least ten (10) days
prior to adoption, shall be published by title once in a newspaper of general circulation
serving the municipality. The notice of proposed enactment shall state the date, time,
place of the meeting, the title or titles of proposed ordinances and the place or places
within the municipality where such proposed ordinances may be inspected by the public.
Said notice shall also advise that interested parties may appear at the meeting and be
heard with respect to the proposed ordinance.
The majority of the members of the governing body shall constitute a quorum. In the
event the quorum present shall constitute less than four (4) members of the commission,
any ordinance or resolution shall not be adopted or enacted unless there are at least
• three (3) aye votes. The town clerk shall record the vote of each member of the
commission which shall be entered on the official records of each meeting.
All r ns and/or ordinances shall be attested by the town clerk and signed h~
mayor. All ado dinances shall be posted for inspection by the ,one to be
posted in the bulletin box ntrance of town hall, snot yin the lobby on the
main bulletin board and a third copy a of signated area. In the absence,
inability or incapacity of the mayor and n he signatures of the vice-mayor
and a commissioner shall co sufficient compliance foregoing. The town
clerk shall record t of each member of the commission which s ntered on
the offic' ords of each meeting. All adopted ordinances or resolutions shall be tie
c ive ten (10) days after passage or as otherwise provided therein.
All resolutions and/or ordinances shall be attested by the town clerk and signed
by the mayor. In the absence, inability or incapacity of the mayor and/or town
clerk, the signatures of the vice-mayor and a commissioner shall constitute
sufficient compliance sith the foregoing. All adopted ordinances shall be posted
prominently for inspection by the public. All adopted ordinances or resolutions
shall become effective ten (10) days after passage or as otherwise provided
therein.
•
• For the purpose of considering and/or taking action deemed desirable or necessary,
special meetings may be held at the call of the mayor and/or the town manager or shall
be called at the request of three (3) of the commissioners..: Further, to meet a public
emergency affecting life, health, safety, property or the public peace, the commission
may adopt one or more emergency ordinances. An emergency ordinance may be
adopted with or without amendment or rejected at the meeting at which it is introduced.
The affirmative vote of four (4) members shall be required for adoption. Such emergency
ordinances shall immediately be effective, or at such later time as the ordinance may
specify.
Every emergency ordinance shall automatically stand repealed as of the 61st day
following the date on which it was adopted, but that shall not prevent reenactment of the
ordinance in the manner specified in this section if the emergency still exists. An
emergency ordinance may also be repealed by adoption of a repealing ordinance in the
same manner specified in this section for adoption of emergency ordinances.
It shall be required that all emergency ordinances be posted prominently and remain
posted until repealed or superseded by reenactment, whichever shall first occur. As a
general rule, all other adopted ordinances shall be posted as soon as practicable and
remain posted for thirty (30) days.
The commission may adopt one or more emergency ordinances to meet a public
• emergency affecting life, health, safety, property or the public peace, but such
ordinances may not levy taxes, grant, renew or extend a franchise, and regulate the rate
charged by any public utility for its services. An emergency ordinance shall be introduced
in the form and manner prescribed for ordinances generally, except that it shall be
designated as an emergency ordinance and shall contain a declaration stating that an
emergency exists and describing it in clear and specific terms. It shall be the duty of the
four (4) commissioners, who approve the emergency ordinance to sign same.
Sec. 5.02. Franchises; notice; limitation.
No public franchise of any description shall be granted except by ordinance. The
commission may by ordinance give or grant to any person or persons, firm or firms,
corporation or corporations, the right or privilege to erect, construct, operate or maintain
an electric light plant and/or electric distribution system, water works and/or water
distribution system, ,telecommunication systems, free or toll bridge,
or other public utility within the town and to use the streets, alleys, utility easements and
public waters of the town for such purposes. Whenever such ordinance has been passed
upon its first reading by the commission, the commission shall have the same posted
publicly in full for a period of ten (10) days at the front door of the town hall, entitled "A
Proposed Ordinance of the Town of Highland Beach Granting a Public Franchise" before
the commission shall take further action thereon. If such ordinance is amended after
such posting, it shall be considered as again up for the first reading. Upon passage, the
ordinance shall again be posted as herein required. But no such franchises shall be for
• a longer period than thirty (30) years, and shall in every respect comply with the
provisions of F.S. ° 180.14, as amended.
• Note: letter to be sent to Tom Sliney asking for clarification on language re
ordinances.
Sec. 5.03. Record of ordinances; rule of evidence.
It shall be the duty of the town clerk to keep the record of all ordinances adopted by the
commission in a book kept for that purpose. A copy of any ordinance therefrom, certified
by the clerk, under the seal of said town, shall be taken and considered in all courts of
this state as prima facie evidence that such ordinance was duly passed and posted or
published.
ARTICLE VI. BONDS
Sec. 6.01. Purposes; election; exceptions.
Bonds of the Town of Highland Beach, Florida, may be issued for any purpose permitted
by the Constitution and laws of the State of Florida, provided, however, that if required
by the Constitution of the State of Florida, no such bonds shall be issued except when
approved by vote of the qualified electors of the Town. Such election shall only be held
between November 01 of a given year through April 01 of the following year. Exceptions
to this would be for bond referendums necessitated by an act of God/disaster and
defined by Webster as "a sudden and extraordinary misfortune, unforeseen mischance
bringing with it the destruction of life and property" as well as litigation settlement.
(Ord. No. 651, ° 1, 9-5-95)
• Secs.6.02--6.05. Reserved.
Editor's note--Ord. No. 651, ° 2, adopted Sept. 5, 1995, repealed former °O 6.02--6.05,
relative to bonds, which derived from Ord. No. 636, adopted Oct. 5, 1993.
ARTICLE VII. REVENUE AND TAXATION
Sec. 7.01. Taxing authority.
The commission shall have power to raise by ad valorem tax upon all real and personal
property within said town all sums of money which may be required for improvement and
government of the town and for carrying out of the powers and duties herein granted and
imposed. The commission shall also have power to levy annually such special tax on
taxable property, real and personal, within the corporate limits of said town, as may be
necessary to provide funds for the payment of bonds or interest bearing warrants of
maturity and the same shall be deposited in full compliance with F.S. ° 166.261.
Sec. 7.02. Taxation of property.
All property, real and personal, in said Town of Highland Beach not expressly exempt
by laws of the state shall be subject to taxation for the purpose mentioned in this charter.
Sec. 7.03. Reserved.
• Sec. 7.04. Annual millage limit.
• That the town is hereby empowered to levy and collect the annual tax for general
municipal purposes not to exceed five (5) mills on a dollar on the assessed valuation of
all taxable property within the town. It may also levy and collect, in addition to the
amount already stated in this section, such taxes as may be necessary, for the payment
of interest on bonds to be issued in accordance with law, and to create or continue a
sinking fund or funds for the payment of the principal of said bonds.
Sec. 7.05. Lien of taxes.
All taxes shall be a lien against the property upon which they are levied or assessed
from the first day of January of the year in which such levy and assessment is made and
shall be due and payable on the first day of November in such year or as soon thereafter
as the assessment roll may come into the hands of the collector. Unless such taxes are
paid on or before the first day of the following April, the property against which the same
are a lien may be sold for such taxes.
Sec. 7.06. Reserved.
ARTICLE VIII. STREETS
Sec. 8.01. Town created an independent road district.
The territory contained within the corporate limits of Highland Beach with the exception
of State Road A-1-A is hereby declared and constituted to be an independent road
• district.
Sec. 8.02. Control and supervision of streets, assessments, etc.
The commission shall have complete control and supervision of all the streets, roads,
and alleys which have been dedicated to the use of the public forever with the exception
of State Road A-1-A within the corporate limits of the town and shall by ordinance
prescribe the method and manner of keeping up the working of the same, not
inconsistent with the laws of the State of Florida. The Town shall have the power of
assessment as provided in F.S. ch. 170.
Sec. 8.03. Reserved.
Sec. 8.04. Reserved.
Sec. 8.05. Reserved.
Sec. 8.06. Reserved.
ARTICLE IX. MISCELLANEOUS
Sec. 9.01. General laws applicable.
All general laws of the state which are not in conflict with the provisions of this charter
• or with the ordinances or resolutions enacted pursuant to the authority conferred by this
Charter are applicable to the Town of Highland Beach.
• Sec. 9.02. Contract for expenditures limited.
Neither the commission nor any officer or employee of said town shall have authority to
make any contract involving the expenditure of public money, or impose upon said town
any liability to pay money, unless and until a sufficient amount of money shall have been
appropriated for the liquidation of all pecuniary liability of said town under such contract
or in consequence thereof to mature during the period covered by the appropriation.
Such contract shall be ab initio null and void, as to said town for any other or further
liability ; p rovided, first, that nothing herein contained shall prevent the commission
from p~ovi ing for payment of any expense, the necessity of which is caused by any
casualty, accident or unforeseen contingency arising after the passage of the ordinance
making such appropriation and second, that the provisions of this section shall not apply
to or limit the authority conferred in relation to bonded indebtedness or mss-monies
to be collected by special assessment for local improvements.
Sec. 9.03. Limitation on legal action against town, notice of action.
No suit or any cause of action of whatsoever kind or nature against the Town of
Highland Beach shall be instituted except in conformance with F.S. ° 768.28 as
amended.
Sec. 9.04. Reserved.
Sec. 9.05. Savings clause.
• If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or word of this charter is for any
reason held or declared to be unconstitutional, invalid, inoperative, ineffective,
inapplicable or void, such invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not be construed to effect
the portions of this act not so held to be unconstitutional, void, invalid, ineffective or
affect the application of this act to other circumstances and not so held to be invalid.
Sec. 9.06. Evidence of notice.
The certificate of the clerk under the seal of the town as to the publication or posting of
any notice required under or provided for by this act shall be conclusive evidence as to
such publication or posting.
Sec. 9.07. Legal rights.
If a person, firm, or corporation has by actions in reliance on prior regulations, obtained
vested or other legal rights that in law would have prevented a local government from
changing those regulations in a way adverse to its interests, then nothing in this Chapter
authorizes any government agency to abridge those rights. Nothing in this Charter
authorizes any governmental agency to adopt a rule or regulation or issue any order that
is unduly restrictive or constitutes a taking of property without the payment of full
compensation in violation of the State of Florida or of the United States.
ARTICLE X. INITIATIVE, REFERENDUM AND RECALL
• Sec. 10.01. Initiative, referendum and recall.
The voters of the town shall have the powers of initiative, referendum and recall, as set
• out in F.S. ° 100.361.
ARTICLE XI. REVIEW OF CHARTER
Sec. 11.01. Review of charter.
A provision is hereby provided for the Town Commission to appoint a Charter Review
Board every ten (10) years to review the Charter.
Note: Sections will be renumbered after reserved sections are deleted.
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