HomeMy WebLinkAbout1967-08-28 Special City Commission Meeting Minutes C a *
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s MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING, CITY COMMISSION, CITY OF DANIA,
r. FLORTDA, HELD AUGUST 28, 1967.
* The City Commission of the City of Dania, Florida, met in
Special Session in the Commission Room at the City Hall.
Present were: MAYOR-COMMISSIONER RICHARD MARANT
'z COMMISSIONERS JAMES G. ADAMS
GUS S. BRICE
bN ROBERT KELLY
BOISY N. WAITERS
CITY ATTORNEY CLARKE WALDEN
{ CITY MANAGER STANLEY GOLDBERG
CHIEF OF POLICE g ANTHONY CARACCI (ABSENT)
BUILDING INSPECTOR HUBERT WALKER
CITY CLERK MARY THORNHILL
The meeting was called to order at 8:00 P.M. by Mayor Marant,
after which Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance were held.
y;. 1. LOUIS MARRONE: Request for permit to construct a 20 X 20
10,
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My building for oils and soft drinks at 505
` N.E. Third Street, Royal Palm Yacht Basin.
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`. City Attorney Walden advised that the original plans of Mr. Mar-
rone's did not show this building. The issue developed at the
` .C, last meeting of whether or not Mr. Marrone was doing the things
that he agreed to do when he got his permit.
® Mayor Marant asked Building Inspector Walker if Mr. Marrone has
submitted plans for this building.
Building Inspector Walker replied that he has plans.
® City Attorney Walden asked Mr. Walker .tf Mr. Marrone is follow-
ing a course of construction so that he has done everything else
that he agreed to on the original plans.
Building Inspector Walker replied that he has not completed his
seawall, but he understands that Mr. Marrone is now anticipating
completing his seawall. He is going to submit a sketch showing
how complete this uncompleted portion is.
Charles DeMuzzio, representative of the Zoning Board, stated that
he was by Mr. Marrone's place today, and Mr. Marrone is working on
that seawall. Mr. DeMuzzio also looked to see where this building
is going, and it i5 in the farthest corner of the Northwest corner
of the lot: Mr. DeMuzzio advised that, in his opinion, he felt that
Mr. Marrone does need this building.
Mayor Marant asked if the Planning & Zoning Board has made any re-
commendation on this building.
I Mr. DeMuzzio: We approved it, according to what we have seen of it.
It is proper in zoning, and so forth. Mr. Schaefer and Mr. Loury
looked at it beforehand, and that is the reason we passed it before,
because we thought it was proper. We don't see anything wrong with
this building.
Commissioner Brici: Mr. DeMuzzio, has the Zoning Board looked into
the original plan and minutes where Mr. Marone came up here and asked
for a variance on the zoning of that, and at that time he agreed to
a plot plan and there was considerable discussion over the amount of
buildings that he could put on the property. And on his original
plan he was asking for a larger building than what the Commission
was willing to give. And we assured the people in that area that we
would hold him to this. Have you checked into those parts of it?
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Mr. DeMuzzio: No, I wasn't on the Zoning Board at that time. B t
I do know there is only one building on that property of this Marina.
That is the only building I have seen there, this is the first time
I have been down there to look the thing over. And from what I see
and what I gather with the conversation with Mr. Marrone, this is
0 the first time I have had a conversation with him) I think the man is
trying to do the right thing. And I think he is trying to do a good
thing for the City of Dania as far as I can understand. But as far
as I can see, in my opinion, I think this building is par in the
usage of what he wants it for. There is only bne building now on this
whole Marina, and it looks to me like it is going to be a beautiful
place. And the man is trying to do the right thing. He told me that
he talked to some of the people in the area who were against him in
G. the beginning, and they told him that they are behind him 100%.
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Robert Grammer, from the audience: Is he going to sell gasoline there?
The reply was Yes, the pumps are all installed.
Mr. Grammer: Well, he isn't zoned for that.
Mr. Schaefer, Zoning Board Chairman: Under the Marina I believe he
INIS is. Am I right, Mr. Walden?
Mr. Walden: I think he can sell it for a boat, he can't have a
service station.
Mr. Grammer: I think if you check back on this, this was supposed to
have been not a commercial marina there, it is only a private boat
• docking for the homes he is going to build there.
Mayor Marant: That's why we asked the Building Inspector to gather
the information that was presented to the building inspector that was
in office at the time in order to determine exactly what the man was
going to do. And I was hoping at the last time this came up that we
• would have some idea as to what his intentions were.
City Attorney Walden suggested that this be tabled again until they
can get that information.
Mr. Kennedy, from the audience: I think you will get that information
• only from the tapes, because it is not in the typed minutes. I came
up and looked at the minutes of the meeting to see if they had written
in those minutes all of these things that he was supposed to abide by,
all the rules that were set down when his zoning was approved. It is
not in the typed minutes, so it must be someplace on tape. He has
several hearings on that, and if he has contacted 100% of the neigh
• bors around there, I can tell you 5 that he has not contacted, including
US.
Mayor Marant: Alright, this will have to be tabled again until Mr.
Marrone can present you with a sketch and until you can determine as
to whether this gives a picture of what he originally was intending to
• do.
Commissioner Brice: Mr. Mayor, as we table this, I would like to re-
quest that the tape of meeting. . . . .I have searched my minutes at home,
and as Mrs. Kennedy said, I cannot find in the minutes either. But I
recall very vividly the discussion. Atid.the first time he came up we
wouldn't approve it until he brought us a complete plan. And at that
time we discussed the size of the building, and as to what repairs were
to go on in the building, and so forth. So I suggest that the City Clerk
be asked to check the tape of that particular meeting when it was ap-
proved because I am quite sure you will find that he had to agree to
certain restrictions before this marina was approved.
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Commissioner Waiters: Was this a whole plan. . .
Commissioner Brice: The whole plan of his whole layout there had to be.
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Mayor Marant: Alright, gentlemen, we will table discussion on this
until we get further information on this, plans submitted to you and
if you please take those plans and meet with the zoning board, and
® get all available minutes or tapes in order to give us some sort of
record to go by at -next meeting.
2. J. 0. MORTON, TRAVELODGE MOTEL: 1634 North Federal Highway.
Request for permit.
® City Attorney Walden advised that Mr. Morton called him a week or so
ago to ask what he could do to get final approval to build a motel
on North Federal across from the airport, and he indicated that he
had been before the City some number of months ago and obtained what
he thought was final approval. Because of the time passage, I sug-
gested that he appear before you tonight and review it again. His
® attorney wrote a letter to Mrs. Thornhill. (Mr.,Walden then read
the letter requesting an application before the City Commission at
the meeting of August 28, 1967 for request for permit)
Mr. Walden stated that Mrs. Thornhill gave him a copy of the Zoning
Board minutes of August 24, 1967, where this matter was considered
® last week. Mr. Walden read the Zoning Board minutes and recommen-
dation, as follows:
(1) Travelodge Motel (P.I.T. Corp.) , represented by J. 0.
Morton, request permit to build a motel.
Legal: All that part of the N 200T of the NWk of
• the SE y of Section 27-50-42, lying East
of the East right of was of US#l.
A motion was made by Mr. Erwin to accept the plans as pre-
sented with the dedication of the 7� feet street widening
right of way, and the stipulation that side walks be in-
cluded. The motion was seconded by Mr. DeMuzzio, and car-
ried unanimously.
Mr. Walden: I heard of one or two questions abise �recentlgvon these
plans where either the Zoning Board or the Commission will approve
them subject to certain changes or modifications. It has been a
® practice in earlier years 4h en we make changes or modifications to
actually have the plans available at the Commission meeting, and for
someone to make those actual changes on the plans in a red pencil at
that time. I think if you go back to this practice you will not have
this problem such as you have with Mr. Marrone of not knowing what
the understanding was. And I will say here that if you go along with
• this gentleman on his plans with any changes, then they ought to be
written on them now as part of the minutes.
Mayor Marant: Mr. Walden the building inspector bubmitted a letter
to me regards to this travelodge item, stating his concern over the
soft soil condition at the site of the travelodge construction. He
® stated that proper measures must be taken to assure adequate founda-
tion.
Mr. Morton: I have agreed on all the things regarding the dedication
of the 7'2- feet; and on the 17 or 18 feet entrance, that we will have
to study after we get there. We think that is adequate. As'--to the
0 foundation support, we have had it engineered with test borings and
by a reputable Florida Testing Bureau.
Mayor Marant: Are these results available to the City?
Mr. Morton: They said they are. I am sure they are. The architect
® would be glad to furnish them, because he had that work done. On the
test borings he had three holes down to 60 feet I think it was. And
the Engineer, the Architect, would not assume the responsibility until
lie had these tests made. And the plans are here with your building
department.
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Mayor Marant: Mr. DeMuzzio, on this item concerning the driveway,
44 what was the 'Zoning Boards recommendation as to the width?
Mr. DeMuzzio: 18 foot. And if he needed any more he would ask for f=
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a variance. But that's what the code is, 18 foot.
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City Attorney Walden: Is this the same set of plans that the Zoning
z' Board considered several months ago?
Mr. DeMuzzio: No sir.
® Mr. Morton: No, they have been changed.
City Attorney Walden: At that time there was some discussion about
+s the setbacks. They had agreed to a rather large setback.
is Mr. Morton: Thatts right. That was our problem at that time. It
® has been changed. Mr. Walker has the plans, and if you would like
to make notations I would be glad to initial them.
2' After inspection of' the plans, and discussion on the plans. . .
A motion was made by Commissioner Brice to authorize the Building
;{ 0 Inspector to issue a building permit as soon as he receives the find-
ing from the architect regarding the borings, and that the dedication
h of the 7� feet for the widening of Federal Highway be regorded.
Mr. Morton asked if they want a letter on that.
0 City Attorney Walden advised that on the dedication of right of way,
that is on a quit claim deed, and that he (Walden) has the forms.
Mr. Morton stated that, regarding the sign, it is 40 feet high; and
he understood that there was some question of the height regarding
the regulations. They asked him to bring this before the Commission
0 tonight on the height of that sign. They want to put it as close
to the highway as they can. He understood that there was a ruling
that it was supposed to set back a foot from the highway for every
foot in height of the sign.
Commissioner Brice asked if it would be objectionable as far as
0 aeronautical.
Mr. Morton: No sir, we have no height limit over there.
Commissioner Brice: It's not in their flight pattern?
0 Mr. Morton: No sir, it isn't in the flight pattern.
Commissioner Brice asked City Attorney Walden if he remembered what
the ordinance says on height.
City Attorney Walden replied no, he didntt remember either.
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14r. Morton stated that Mr. Loury is the one who brought the subject
up, and he said that there was a regulation regarding height and set-
back and that he (Morton) should bring it up for a variance.
Commissioner Brice: I dontt think, until we check the ordinance, that
we can approve the sign tonight.
Commissioner Adams: Itil second your motion, but I would like to in-
ject one other thing. I see you have"Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Air-
port" , how about putting Dania, Florida?
Mr. Morton: Well, that will be our post office anyway.
Commissioner Adams: No, I mean on your sign; after all this is in
Dania, and we, the commissioners kind of would like to get Dania in
on this.
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Mr. Morto We are emphasizing the airport facilities, that's what
we are capering to. We didntt know just how to word it.
Commissioner Brice: We objected to Hollywood horning in, because
® Hollywood doesn't even adjoin that airport in the first place.
It was mutually agreed to have the sign read "Hollywood-Lauderdale
Airport, Dania, Florida" .
There followed some discussion between Mr. Robert Houston and the
O Commission regarding the widening of Federal Highway, the set-backs
along Federal Highway (which Mr. Houston says should be consistent)
and the fact that some businesses are not putting in sidewalks along
Federal Highway.
Commissioner Waiters agreed to get together with Mr. Walker and Mr.
® Morton tomorrow to work out the setback.
The roll being called, the Commissioners voted as follows:
Adams Yes
Brice Yes
O Kelly Yes
Waiters Yes
Marant Yes
BOB MINICK, GENERAL MANAGER, PIRATES WORLD: Requests per-
mission to have a fireworks display on Labor Day, September
® 4, 1967.
Mayor Marant presented a letter from Mr. Minick requesting permis-
sion to have this fireworks display.
Mr. Minick was present and stated that it is a planned fireworks
® display from one of the large companies, with proper insurance, and
one of their representatives will be there to supervise the display.
It will take place on the least dangerous spot of the park, the North-
east section. The display will last from 3 to 6 minutes, to start at
10: 00 P.M.
O A motion was made by Commissioner Adams to grant the request for fire-
works display. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Kelly, and the
roll being called, the Commissioners voted as follows:
Adams Yes
Brice Yes
O Kelly Yes
Waiters Yes
Marant Yes
FLEET TRANSPORT ANNEXATION RESOLUTION:
O City Attorney Walden advised that after the basic resolution was
adopted that any property owners have 30 days in which to file a law
suit to test that. "I have heard that one citizen has indicated
some chance that he may file a law suit, and I took the liberty of
talking with him, to determine his objections. And he explained
them to me. I suggest that if there is even any rumor of objections,
it is not that important to go ahead and fight a law suit." He then
suggested that the Commission resind their action on the annexation
resolution to indicate that they are not going ahead with it.
Mr. Jackson, of Fleet Transport, stated that he would like to offer
the city a surety bond to cover the cost of the water line.
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City Attorney Walden asked Mr. Jackson, on the assumption that the
city will not go ahead with the annexation, is Mr. Jackson willing
to pay for this water line.
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Mr. Jackson replied that they will pay for their portion of it-
But he thought the city should pay for extending the existing
water line, up to their point, then they would take it from there
on.
Commissioner Brice asked would a 2 inch water line serve them-
Mr. Jackson replied that it would not. They would have to run a
thousand foot of waterline, and they would not have any pressure.
Commissioner Brice: No, you don't have to run that much. We his
ave
- lin® a 2 inch water line where the Mosquito Control is
the lefteside
2 inches from there. But where the fire plug l
of the road, that is a b inch line to ested that Mr.that Jacksonncheck1ch wtheateryou
Pre-
good pressure He s to the Mosquito control.
sure from that fire plug
® Mr. Jackson replied that they would have approximately 300 foot of
line soit t extend
mpast
hialmostStirling
Road, then 600 foot down Bryan
that
akes
Commissioner Brice: I think we are morally obligated to furnish
hey
® these people water under the rate of the 20% premium, because
to we
are willing to come into the city, but because of , which is not in
cannot annex them without going to the legislature, ahead
session. : I don't see why we should hinder them et watefrom rlg
with their plans out there because they cannot g
® Mr. Jackson stated that they would like to go ahead and put this
line in if the city wants it, they would buy this line and even-
tually sell it back to the city. He stated that a 3 or 4 inch line
would service them adequately.
Citornanamer Goldbethese people whotare objecting and1find outhwhatty
0 their reasons are, and see if they can't work something out.
City Attorney Walden stated that he indicated he would not mention
the names of the objector� so he will notublic hearing and let sanyonewhoHeverwantssto
o.
gested that they hole: a p
O publically object do so.
Commissioner Brice suggested that in the meantime, they should
Peters, the Building Inspector, and the City Engineer
gether and resolve this kate to makena decision withoute. He did not ethisTecommen=y
is inap
• dction•
City Attorney Walden stated that he would meet with these men and
work out something.
Mr. Walden stated that City Clerk Thornhill tonight gave him a form
notice that she had received from the Dania Bank, He suggestedconcerning hthat)
ment due September 1st on the old Bank Building
• ought to
since they will not meet again before September lst, thest-due•
take some action on it so that it will }got be carried pa
Commissioner Brice: Mr. Walden, as Mr. Miller has indicated, I would
like to ask that the Bank extend that until January 1st-
ill the city be in a position to pay the in
City Attorney Walden: W
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terest that will be due on September 1st?
Commissioner Brice: Yes.
No action.
City Attorney Walden: There is one thing that I have talked with two
the other
of the Commissioners tonight very briefly aboutoverdthishsore subject
Commissioners from time to time, that is again
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of eavesdropping. Gentlemen, I gave an opinion last Wednesday to
the effect that I did not recommend you get involved in any kind of
public trial or administrative hearing where on the one side you
have got- this former police officer serving as the accusor, and the
® other side with the Police Department and certain police officers as
defendants, and the City up here trying to be judge. But if you
are going to do that, then you ought to lay some ground rules. And
again, based on what I knew the other day and what I know now, I dtill
do not recommend that you get involved in that. I have had though a
good number of people speak to me informally and a good many of them
• have come into my office, and there seems to be some confusion over
the advise that I have given you. And I want to correct that insofar
as it might pertain to me. Number one, I would like to make it quite
clear to the public, the commission, and everyone else, that I have
never had any knowledge as City Attorney over the use of this equip-
ment, never been consulted about it, and know nothing about it. I have
had several people interpret my letters inferring that I in some way
have known about the equipment. And so, I want to make it clear that
I have no knowledge of the use or ownership of the equipment ever being
brought to my attention by anybody in the city. Another group of re-
sponsible people, and again they are people that I see on the street,
I don't think they question that decision or recommendation I made as
• to whether you ought to have a trial. The:.question-was"!asked of me
though as to whether the City itself has the right to conduct this
investigation, and I did not get involved in that in my opinion to you.
But of course you have the right, and I make it clear, to conduct any
kind of investigation you want to over anything, from whatever source
of information that is given to you. So if you, yourself want to
• either authorize the City Manager or Chief of Police to investigate
these rumors or statements or whatever has been presented to you, you
have the right to do that. You may, I think if you want my recommen-
dation, I think I am at this point inclined to recommend that to you,
that you at least ask the City Manager to report to you whether they
own the equipment, for what it is used, what it costs, and that sort
• of thing. There is a rumor floating around town that the equipment
that the city does own, that the invoices do not actually reflect the
details of the purchase. If that is true, and again I have no basis,
I don't know anything about it, and I think you ought to get the re-
cord straightened out. So you may want my comment, not necessarily
my advise, but at least conduct some investigation. I suggest you turn
• it over to the City Manager and ask him to report back to you at some
public meeting. But I am mentioning this to you as something that I
have not officially discussed with you beforehand. But I did want to
bring it up to you tonight, and I did want to clear up any misunder-
standing on the public as to my knowledge. I have got no knowledge
of the use of any equipment. And secondly, my recommendation is mere-
ly one that you do not get involved in any kind of a public trial like
we did a number of months ago over a discharged police officer, Cowart.
But you do have the right to make any kind of investiggtion you want to
over anything.
CIVIL SERVICE:
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City Attorney Walden stated that he has been given a copy of the Civil
Service regulations which have been approved by the various departments,
and he is now working on an-ordinance which he will try to have ready
by the next meeting. He stated that they hold a hearing.
• Commissioner Brice asked if they have to pass on the ordinance before
it can be advertised.
City Attorney Walden stated that the ordinance is to authorize a pub-
lic hearing, so they would adopt the ordinance before the hearing.
• Commissioner Brice stated that the employees and the public understand
that the plan will be adopted first before any study of wages or clas-
;ifications will be made. Therefore they have set January 1st as the
date when the pay schedules as to their classifications will become
effective. But there was no need to go into all that work unless the
plan was first adopted.
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Mayor Marant stated that during his discussion last Saturday with
the Police and Fire Departments , it was generally agreed that they
would like one change to be brought before the City Commission, which
he told them he would do. It is in regards to the Civil Service Board.
He stated that the two departments suggest a five-member board instead
® of the three-member board as set up in the rules. They suggest two
members be appointed by the City Commission, two to be elected by the
regular employees of the City of Dania, and those four appointees shall
select the fifth member of the board. He stated that he told the men
that he would bring this up for discussion,but in no way would he allow
this to jeopardize the plan.
Commissioner Brice stated that after hours of study, he was personally
opposed to a five-man board. Commissioner Brice pointed out that the
City of Hollywood has such a large board that no,lone can agree with
anything.
® Commissioner Waiters suggested that they go ahead and accept the plan
with the three-man board, then give it some further study and perhaps
change to a five-man board later.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT:
• City Manager Goldberg presented a bill from the engineers in regards
to the water tank, for $1,500 partial payment. This would leave a
balance of $6,460.00. It has been inspected by the engineer and he
recommends payment of this bill.
A motion was made by Commissioner Brice that the bill be paid. The
® motion was seconded by Commissioner Adams, and the roll being called,
the Commissioners voted as follows:
Adams Yes
Brice Yes
Kelly Yes
• Waiters Yes
Marant Yes
Commissioner Adams stated that just before the meeting he was handed
a note from Mr. Gene McCombs pertaining to the School crossing He
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asked Lietenant Jones to come forward and explain the plans for this
• crossing.
Police ;,Leutenant Jones stated that they have taken applications and
have processed the applications and came up with one who will start
tomorrow at the crossing. He will be there from 6:45 A.M. , and he
will leave when all the children are in school and safely across that
• crossing, which is approximately 8:00. He will be there again at 1:45
in the afternoon and will not leave until approximately 3:00 when school
is out. That will be for 5 days a week.
Robert Houston, Jr. , asked Acting Chief Jones how many men are on shift
right now. Leutenant Jones replied there are three men on duty. Mr.
• Houston then pointed out that there are two men in the Commission room
right now who should be on duty-elsewhere in the city.
mayor Marant advised that these two men are off duty and here on their
own time•
• Mr . Houston: Well last time I mentioned this to you you didn't tell
us this. You said those men were here at your request.
Mayor Marant: That's right, they were.
Mr. Houston: And they are here at your request tonight?
?ayor Marant: Yes sir, they sure are.
Mr. Houston: These people are not being paid?
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Mayor Marant: No sir, they sure are not.
} `t Mr. Houston stated that he did not feel that these officers who are
here at his request, whether on duty or off duty, cast a very good
0 reflection on the citizens of Dania. He stated that the Chief of
Police is here to keep order, and they did not require two extra
policemen here to keep order.
Robert Houston, Sr. , stated that if these men are here on their
own time doing a 14 hour shift, then they cannot do justice to their
0 8 hour shift on duty. "Let these men go home and sleep or get their
recreation, whatever they want to do: That isn!t the way a police
department should run."
Commissioner Waiters stated, while we are on the subject of policemen,
we lost a policeman last Saturday (Glanton) , and he asked permission
0 to instruct the City Attorney to draw up a gun ordinance. He stated
that if the city does not now have an ordinance regulating the sale
of guns, they ohght to get one now.
No action.
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• Commissioner Kelly stated that last Wednesday night at an unofficial
meeting, he had a couple questions,.asked of him, Wand I have tried to
get some information and tried to answer these." He stated that in
one question, Mr. Houston asked if all of the city employees have been
fingerprinted. Mr. Kelly stated that he answered the question"yes",
but Mr. McDanolds has now handed him a name of a man who he says has
0 not been fingerprinted. "As I checked into this I find that I was
wrong, that we do have some day laborers, who have not been finger-
printed. But all of the so-called key personnel have been processed
and fingerprinted. The name that Mr. McDanolds gave me I checked into.
This gentleman was fingerprinted. His prints were sent;-,off, and he
was at the time in the employment of the city. Then at the time when
0 his prints came back-he was given the opportunity to resign. He is
no longer with the City of Dania." He pointed out that especially in
the police department where they have had a turnover, the Chief has
had to hire men on a short notice and then check them out, and this
presents a problem. They problem being that sometimes it takes two
or three weeks to check a man out. "I saw a file of, I would say 12
0 to 15 applicants that have been already checked out. These men have
applied for employment with the City of Dania police department, and
these have already been fingerprinted. And the Chief now has a file
to go to when he needs an employee. I think this is definitely a step
in the right direction."
0 Mr. McDanolds: I believe then that took 89 days to get that answer
back on fingerprinting. I just wanted the people to hear that.
Commissioner Kelly: How do you know, Mr. McDanolds?
Mr. McDanolds: I gave you the dates when he was hired and when he was
0 released, and I believe they were right, it is a matter of public record.
Commissioner Kelly: Yes sir. I agree, there was a problem in this one.
But I believe it was taken care of.before you brought it to our attention.
This man has gone, and been gone. And this was taken care of before it
was brought to our attention. The other question Mr. Bill Brooks raised.
�3 Commissioner Kelly then asked Mr. Brooks to come forward. He asked Mr.
Brooks to restate his question in regards to the sewer manhole.
Bill Brooks: My question, or my statement, was that a manhole was done
by change order by request of the school board when Mr. Salvino was on
the board, and Mr. Grammer, and Mr. Zenobia, to change the manhole from
0 2nd Avenue half way doom the street, I don't know how many ffiet. And
there was a definite change order on it. That wasntt my argument. My
argument was that there was another manhole further down the street
which Pirates World tied into with a line that nobody knew anything
about. And when they found out about it they brought the contractor
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up here and fined him $25.00 for doing an illegal thing. I think for
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not having a license. Now when that manhole was put in, when that line
wa s put in one of your city employees came up to the superintendent of
the sewer company who was still working here in the north end, and said
"Start the pumps, we are going to cut a line into the manhole." Mr.
® Goldberg called me a liar and said that this didn't happen when Mr.
Goldberg was here. But when your Utilities Chairman, and this is pub-
lic record, investigated this sewer line, Mr. Goldberg asked the question
"Was I here?".
City Manager Goldberg: Well, Mr. Brooks, if you are i.nsinttatttng that
® I had anything to do with putting in a manhole which I did not put in
I will call you a liar again.
Mr. Brooks: I did not say that. I did not say that Mr. Kelly. Nobody
on this board ever heard me say that. He is the one that said he was
not here. I didn't say he was here.
• Commissioner Kelly: I think last Wednesday night his name was mentioned
in regards to this.
Mr. Brooks: Absolutely, just as I said tonight.
• Commissioner Kelly: I think I have some answers for you. On May 26,
1965, there was a change order, Change Order #6. Now Item #7 on that
change order says 'Extend sewers in S.E. llth Terrace to serve Olsen
Junior High School' . Now, on that change order, it is downstairs on
sheet number 65=A, Now, as I dig into this, this I did not know and
I was going to check into it. You claim that there was a manhole on
A the change order and someone put the one further out. I went down
there myself with the sewer superintendant, I saw the manhole. I saw
the force line that was put in it, and I was afraid that there was one
on further than that. This is it. Now, right now the school board is
intending to hook into that. Now on the sheet 65 A it lists manhole
No. 260, which is the manhole on S.E. 2nd Avenue and llth Street. Man-
hole No. 260-A, which is approximately half way down the school pro-
perty, Manhole 260-B is all the way at the end of the propertyg wh-.dh`t
is the force feed end. Now on this explanation here it says approxi-
mately 295 feet of 8 inch VCP, and approximately 365 feet at 12 to 14
foot cut, one standard man hole at 10 to 12 foot, and two standard
manholes at 12 to 14. There is actually three manholes on the change
® order. Now this is the thing that I pleaded with this group last
Wednesday night. If you have a problem and you don't want to go and
look it up, I hate to take time off of my business, but by golly I
will do it if you will not come up here and throw at us cold or go
through the newspapers. This is what I am dead set against. I fight
this every day, and not that I am against the newspapers. But I am
against having headlines with Dania on the paper. Mr. Brooks, I am
not going to call you a liar, I say you are wrong. You were either
misinformed, or you didn't get the facts.
Bill Brooks: Well then I was misinformed by one of your City Commis-
sioners. If you will get the report that the Chairman of the Utilities
• Commission put out and read it, that will explain everything.
Commissioner Brice: That's just what I was going to tell you, Mr.
Brooks, it lists the same change order, and in that report that was
made in April. We investigated this, and this particular change order
at Olsen Junior High School had nothing to do with Pirates World. Now,
if you go back and read that report, you will also find that we said in
that report that our findings prove that the force main line was put in
that manhole without permission from the City and without the City's
approval. But it was put in at the time that the contractor still had
control of the city sewer system.
Bill Brooks: Well, I won't argue about that. I told you about it, and
you got mad because I told you. You didn't even know the line was down
there.
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® Commissioner Brice: No sir, I did not.
Bill Brooks: I found it accidently, because the man was down there
probing for it when he ran a cement truck over it. I came up here
and tried to be decent about it, and I talked to you before the meet-
ing. And you wouldn't listen to me downstairs. I had to bring it up
here and get mad about it. That is the only way. If anybody wants
to tell you fellows something, no, you don't want to listen.to"'us.i� We are
a bunch of old hard heads, aggravators.
Commissioner Kelly stated that Mr. Brooks stated the contractor was
® fined $25 .00, but he thought the figure was $100.00.
Mayor Marant stated that, regarding the rumor of bugging devices, if
the Commission is desirous of carrying thV3 further, he felt they should
wait until someone comes in and substantiates a complaint based on facts
and not on rumors.
•
Commissioner Waiters stated that he asked the Police Chief to have an
investigation and get us the facts on this matter so we could clear the
air. But I would like to have answers once and for all.
Mayor Marant stated that the Chief is now on vacation, but he understood
• that he would be back this weekend for Officer Glantonts funeral. "At
that time, I think if you are desirous of having that letter that you
submitted answered, that he should do so and see if there is anything
forthcoming. If there is not, then we could take appropriate action
Monday night if the Commission sees fit to carry this thing any further
based on Mr. Waldents suggestion." He suggested that the person who
• started this complaint should come in and put his accusations in writ-
ing.
Mr. Houston stated that he thought there was enough investigation. "I
would like to recommend that you immediately dispose of all of this
bugging equipment."
•
Mayor Marant stated that the Chief, in writing,has admitted that he
bought and borrowed investigative equipment. "Now I think that, if in
fact some of this investigative equipment was used in or outside of the
City Hall, that he did it with, and I thank this point has been milled
over and over again, he did it with complete commission authorization
• to conduct an investigation. And, as I have tried to explain on prior
occasions, if he did use this equipment he was not told not to use it
by us, or how to conduct his investigations. And again I say public-
ally that in no way or shape or form was Mrs. Thornhillts integrity or
honesty in question." ''He stated that the allegations were brought up
at last Wednesday nights meeting that the Mayor was after "Our Mary" .
• He stated that the first time he knew that Mary was going to be fired
was when he read it in the paper Thursday after the meeting that was
held that Wednesday night.
Mr. Houston again asked that this equipment be disposed of. "If it was
used once on city employees, it will be used again" .
•
Mayor Marant stated that he is taking the advise of Mr. Walden that
some sort of remedy needs to be made here. "I am not trying to speak
for the whole commission, or the City Manager, or anybody else. I am
trying to air my own views, and I don't feel one blasted bit guilty
of anything that has gone on here. Let me state that first of all.
• I think that if this investigative equipment was used it was used in
a proper manner and nobody was offended by its use, and no proof can
be made of the use of this equipment. We are still running on the
assumption that it was used."
Mr. Houston: But you probably will be embarrassed by itts use later
• on. You don't need that kind of equipment. Get rid of it.
Mayor Marant asked Mr. Houston to put this in writing, and he will be
glad to look into it.
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City Attorney Walden stated that if someone tells him something
where he thinks there is a possible violation of the Charter in-
volved, then he feels as their lawyer that 'it is his duty to call
it to their attention, and suggest they do something. "I have
heard rumors, and I am told that Commissioner Adams and Commis-
® sioner Waiters know about the payment of this equipment through
what I will term as fictitious invoices. Now if that is true, and
I don't know that it is, but if that is true I think that it ought
to be corrected, because I think you have got a possible charter
violation. I don't think it is anything serious if the Chief through
some misguided advice decided to lable his purchase one thing when
® it is another, I am sure he has an explanation and it can be corrected.
But I don't think you ought to let'it lie. That is what I am trying
to suggest to you gentlemen. Now if the City Manager knows about it,
all he has got to do is make a report to the Chief of Police that it
be corrected, and then forgotten about. But you ought not to just
shrug it off, because there is a technical violation. And I am told
O that two of the commissioners know about it. Now I am not going to
put them on the spot by answering yes or no. But if the invoice is
mislabled, then I advise you that it ought to He corrected, and that
is the only advice I can give you.
Commissioner Adams stated that this bill he does not know is for this
® equipment, but the bill that he received was listed as radio parts.
Now whether this bill bought this equipment, "I don't know" . But that
is the bill that was in question.
City Attorney Walden again advised that if this invoice was mislabled
it should be corrected, and the Commission has the right to investigate
li it.
Commissioner Waiters stated that he does not know what equipment was
purchased with the requisition.
City Manager Goldberg: Mr. Mayor, I don't believe that this is the
i proper place to conduct the proper investigation, but I think it has
come to the point to let you know at this time that there are also
some other investigations under way. There is an investigation under
way in regards to what shows up on all the plans as being a 6 inch
water line laid out here near the city hall which has been found to
be a 4 inch water line. We are going to request the City Clerk to
i furnish us with all of the data in regards to this information as to
how much money was paid torthese contractors and whether they were
paid for a 6 inch or a 4 inch water line. I will also have to advise
you that we currently have under investigation a $60,000 water line
that was put in, and is presently completely unusable. This investi-
gation dates back several years previous to any members of thisCCom-
• mission. I cannot give you any further information in regards to this.
These figures will be requested of the City Clerk, and she will be ex-
pected to furnish them.
Mr. McDanolds: The other night when you went home, Mr. Mayor, after
you left here, I was told by one of your commissioners that they lis-
• tened to a tape that was made of me 35 minutes long. And I have never
even been in the Chief's office.
Commissioner:Kelly: Let me answer that. I caught the dickens for
using his name in public, and if he is going to be a commissioner I
don't know how he is going to run for office and not get his name in
, Cs public. But the point I made was that your friend, ex-sergeant Lees,
is the one that took this tape.
:.Ir. 1.1cDanolds: Don't accuse him of being my friend.
Mayor Marant: Mr. McDanolds, if you had heard that tape you would have
0' sure thought that you were his friend.
Houston asked, regarding this line for $60,000, he wanted to in-
quire when that line was done.
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City Manager Goldberg: Mr. Mayor, I have already told you that we
cannot reveal any further information on these investigations; and
I might tell you at the same time there is an investigation going on
in regards to the construction of the pier and the purchase of the
® parking meters.
Mr. Houston stated that he insists that they bring up the results of
these investigations publically. "Every time we come up here and
try to talk reasonably to you fellows then we get an investigation
that involves us in some way. Now if you are going to continue this
® kind of stuff, I am going to really get some investigations going."
He asked that the $60,000 water line,• the pier and the parking meters
results be brought out in public.
Mayor Marant: While you are at it, Mr. Goldberg, you might add the
Jai-Alai and the sign on the top of the New Katherine Hotel also.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned.
� QAn.U�Ca 1�t,Ct.epy
ry ornhill
City Clerk Auditor
b
Richarcl Marant
Mayor-Commissioner
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