HomeMy WebLinkAbout86150 - MINUTES - City Commission ® MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING, CITY COMMISSION, CITY OF DANIA,
FLORIDA, HELD DECEMBER 28, 1964.
The City Commission of the City of Dania, Florida, met in
Special Session in the Commission Room at the City Hall.
4 Present were: MAYOR-COMMISSIONER FRANK SALVINO
COMMISSIONERS ROBERT GRAMMER
VERA L. HILL
CARL ZENOBIA
CITY ATTORNEY CLARKE WALDEN
CHIEF OF POLICE MONTIE SMITH
• CITY CLERK MARY THORNHILL
The meeting was called to order at 8:00 P.M. by Mayor Salvino.
City Clerk Mary 'Thornhill: Mr. Young called and asked to be
excused from the meeting tonight.
Commissioner Zenobia: Mr. Mayor, this meeting was called just
for Charter changes, and I would like to make a motion that we
take anything that comes before the floor tonight besides the
Charter changes.
0 The motion was seconded by Commissioner Grammer, and the roll
being called, the Commissioners voted as follows:
Grammer Yes
Hilt ' No
Zenobia Yes
Salvino Yes
Mayor Salvino called for Mr. Price to step forward.
Commissioner Zenobia: Mr. Price, you know I am new on this
commission, and I would like to ask a question. I was always
under the opinion that your bill would be $2,000 for the year.
I would like to be brought up to date on it.
Mr. Price: Sir, I don't know who gave you that opinion, but
it would be impossible for us to have done the work for that
fee.
Commissioner Zenobia: Was there any agreement with the Commis-
sion on this as to how much you get for doing this work?
Mr. Price: No sir.
Commissioner Grammer: Mary, do you recall how much was put in
the budget for it?
City Clerk Mary Thornhill: You mean in the current -budget?
$2,000 in the General Fund and $600 in the [dater Fund.
Commissioner Grammer: That is more or less why Mr. Zenobia
3' got this impression that it would be $2,000 being it was just
budgeted for that. And I recall that Mr. Young recommended
that we put $2,000 in the General Fund and $600 in the Water
Fund and it would be enough to cover this.
Mr. Price: Well actually, this does complete the work for the
year, and there should be no more work except minor work. But
i` as far as the auditing for the year, this does complete the
work. I think it totals something a little over $3,000. There
was $2,600 in the budget. That is only $400 over.
Commissioner Grammer: Does this include a balance sheet for
each month?
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Mr. Price: No sir, that is the duty of the bookkeeping depart-
ment to do that. And the bookkeeper was trained and instructed
today.
Commissioner Grammer: I was under the impression too that it
• wouldn't be any more than what we were paying the other company
that did this work before. In fact, I thought that they said
it wouldn't be any more, and maybe a little less. This other
company made up these balance sheets at the end of the month.
Mr. Price: Well sir, the other company didn't give you the
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Certified audit, which is required- by your bond which was
necessary in order forryou to get your sewer bonds. Also,
they did not give you an audit of the General Fund, which we
were hired to do.
Commissioner Hill: You did a lot of back work too, didn't
• you Mr. Price, that we ordered to have done special?
Mr. Price: Part of that bill is for back work, $600 of it.
Commissioner Zenobia: But you already received a check for .
• $3,200. Wasn't that for the back work?
Mr. Price: That was for the audit as of the end of April.
We performed two audits for youin the year. One at the end
of April and one at the end of August. .
Commissioner Zenobia: So in other words, you will get a total
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of about $6,000 a year then, right?.
Mr. Price: No sir, we wouldn't perform two audits in the same
year. It wouldn't be necessary to perform two audits. It was
necessary for that one. that:you had in April in order to get
the bond, in order to, release some of the collateral, iin order
to get this bond issue for the sewers.
Commissioner Grammer: But Mr. Price, this is really up to
November 2nd, according to the dates that I have here, or
December 2nd. When did you start here, it must have been in
• March, is that right?
Mr. Price: April 17th.
Commissioner Grammer: Well, that is really about 8 months that
you have given your service to the city. .
• Mr. Price: Well air, I covered more than 8 months work, because
I went back and covered work for the city prior to that time, at
the request of the City Commission.
Commissioner Zenobia: Could you tell us now how much your
yearly bill would be?
Mr. Price: No air, I could not, becuase circumstances alter the
cases. I don't know whether you are going to get into a sewer
program and have a pig construction program or not. I don't
know what the future might hold. If you ask. me to open a crystal
• ball and tell you what your need of my services might be I couldn't .
tell you.
Commissioner Grammer: Do. you remember telling us though, Mr.
Price, at the time that we met witti you that you -wouldn't want
any more than what we were giving this other concern, or possi-
bly less?
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Mr. Price: I recall saying it would be around that figure,
which it was„the figure of $2,400. You were paying the other
firm $3,400.
Commissioner Zenobia: I would like to ask you one more ques-
tion, Mr. Price. Did you send this bill to the City, or did
you sent 'it to Mr. Young?
Mr. Price: I sent it to Mr. Young.
Commissioner Zenobia: Was there any particular reason why
• you sent it to Mr. Young and not to the City?
Mr. Price: Mr. Young is the head of the Accounting Department
that had engaged me, and had done all the talking with me, and
I presented it to him for presentation to your City.
• Commissioner Zenobia: I feel as though this is a City Commis-
sion working for all the people of the City. That a bill in-
volving $3,500 should be sent to the City itself, possibly to
the City Manager or to the City Clerk or to all of the -City
Commissioners. He had this bill since December 2nd, and the
first time we saw it was last week. And I know I had asked at
• least ten times myself it the bill had come in yet and never .
could get an answer. In fact, I even spoke to you one day
downstairs. It;just seems to me that that would be a poor way
of doing business , to send it to one individual commissioner.
Mr. Price: Well, I don't like to say anything about a man if
• he isn't here.
Commissioner Zenobia: Well, I don't either, but I have today.
To me that is not the way City business should be run. As far
as I am concerned, no one individual commissioner should have
the authority to receive the mail for the City, I don't think.
• Especially when it comes to bills that no one knows what the
price is going to be.
Commissioner Grammer: Well, we are' not here talking about the
mans work. I think his work is alright. In my opinion it is
a little bit more than I thought it was going to be.
Commissioner Zenobia: Well, the man did the work, he has a
bill here, it is probably legitimate, so I will make a motion
that we pay. him his bill.
The motion was seconded by Commissioner Hill, and the roll being
• called, the Commissioners voted as follows:
Grammer Yes
Hill Yes
Zenobia Yes
Salvino Yes
•
Bernard O'Connor: I'm Mr. O'Connor, 221 S.E. Second Terrace,
Dania. Before I start, ladies and gentlemen, I have a few
statements to make just for the record. First of all, I have
no axe to grind. because I was defeated in running for the
office of City Commissioner. It::was a nice clean campaign
• which I enjoyed. I enjoyed meeting a lot of the candidates
and speaking to the people of Dania. I have no animosities
toward any person or persons , but I like to see fair play.
And no one person takes the blame for the incident of which
you know I am talking about, which involved other City offi-
cials or official. Also, again I would like to day before you
all, I don't believe in tripping anyone who wishes to appear
before a City Commissioners meeting to ask a few sensible
questions and receive a sensible answer.
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The City Commissioners, who represent the people of Dania,
and took an oath to do their utmost for the City of Dania,
should by all means try to answer some of the questions
that I am sure that a lot of the people would like to know.
This is still a free country, and a lot of the prople would
• still like their say in the way the city or country is run.
These are the questions I would like to ask. . . . Would you
like me to ask them one at a time, or would ybu rather have
me go through the whole story?
. Mayor Salvino: I'll start it off, Mr. O'Connor.
Mr. O'Connor: First, why was the motion by Mrs. Hill , one
of you City Commissioners, not seconded and no discussion?
Commissioner Zenobia: I'll answer that, Mr. O'Connor. I
don't feel any motion has to be seconded unless you are
0 going to vote for it. Why should I second a motion unless
I am going to vote for it? You say no discussion was had,
I think if someone is making a' mdtion and they want a second
to it , they ought to give a reason why they are making a
motion. I think it is very foolish to want someone to second
. a motion when they don't believe in it. We are here to re-
present the people.
Mr. O'Connor: Alright , that answers that question. (To
audience) Are you satisfied?
Audience: Yes,
Mr. O'Connor: Alright, that is perfectly alright. Where is
the tape that was played for the City Commissioners, I believe,
in the Fire Station?
• Mayor Salvino: There has not been any tape played in the Fire
Station.
Mr. O'Connor: Is that the truth?
Mayor Salvino: That's the truth.
Mr. O'Connor: Now this question. I know the Chief very well. . .
From the Audience: The answer, what was the answer on that?
Mr. O'Connor: There was no tape played.
From the Audience: Yes there was a tape.
Mayor Salvino: Not played at the City Hall.
r Mr. O'Connor: Well, I don't know where it was played, I'm asking
where it was played. I 'm asking where the tape is that was played.
Mayor Salvino: I don't know where .the tape is. Not at the City
Hall.
Mr. O'Connor: Well, I don't know where it visa played , Mr. Sal
S vino , all I know is what I read in. the paper and what I hear.
It was in the paper that the tape was played in 'the presence of
Mrs. Hill's home, and it was played in front of the City Commis-
sion. I don't know where it was.: played, but it was played.
Mayor Salvino: As far as the tape is concerned, we weren't con-
cerned with that. We had a meeting';and the persons were all up
there and there was nothing to it.
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Mr. O'Connor: Well, what was the meeting about?
Commissioner Zenobia: You tell us , Mr. O'Connor, you seem to
know about it.
• Mr. O'Connor: Well, I am trying to ask you. You met, I under-
stand you met, and this tape was played. Now that is a sensi-
ble answer. I mean that is a sensible thing I am asking you.
Now I 'm just asking you, this is what I am .asking.
Commissioner Zenobia: Well, it is just like the Mayor just
• said. We had a meeting, we had an.investigation.
Mr. O'Connor: About what? ' About the incident?
Commissioner Zenobia: About the incident.
• Mr. O'Connor: And the tape was played?
Commissioner Zenobia: Not at;-that meeting, the tape was not
played.
Mr. O'Connor: Well, was there a tape played?
•
Commissioner Zenobia: Yessiree. There was nothing to the tape,
As far as h'.m concerned,there was nothing to the whole story,
as far I 'm concerned. There' is nobody guilty of anything.
Mr. O'Connor: Alright, let me have the next question. Why was
• the Chief fined the loss of one week's pay and other City offi-
cials or official not asked to resign? I 'm asking a question
of the City Commission
Paul Pisculli: I would like a point of order, Mr. Mayor. , No
names have been mentioned here. I would like to take the floor
• on this.
Mr. O 'Connor: I won't yield the floor, sir, I'm sorry. I want
these questions answered and then you can have the discussion.
I will not yield.
• Paul Pisculli: This is not a discussion.
Mr. O'Connor: I'm not harming anybody. I have no personal
animosity. . I 'm asking. . . .
Mr. Pisculli: Well look, you continue when I get finished.
•
Mr. O'Connor: You are out of order.
Mayor Salvino: We will hear you later.
Mr. Pisculli: I 'm mad because this man might be hurt innocently
when mentioning names with the press sitting here and taking this
down.
Commissioner Zenobia: Sit down Paul.
Mr. O'Connor: I said there would be no personalities, because
• if there is. . . . .
Mr. Pisculli: If you attack Montie Smith you will get personalities.
Mr. O'Connor: Now wait a minute. This has been in the paper. I
want to discuss it.
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® Mayor Salvino: Let 's have order, will you please?
Mr. O'Connor: For the love of Mike. . .I 'm a gentleman, and
you act like a gentleman, please. Now, if there was no wind
to that , and everything was right, why was the Chief fined?
This was in the paper, this is no secret. Why was the Chief
fined one week in pay? And other City officials, if there
was anybody in this, why was not he asked to resign? That
is all I am asking.
Mayor Salvino: (To Commissioner Zenobia) Do you want to
answer that question?
Commissioner Zenobia: Yes, I 'll answer it. Mr. O 'Connor,
you want to know why another City official was not asked to
resign. Well, first of all, there is no other City official
involved. That is why no one was asked to resign. That an-
swers that question. As far as the Chief being fined a week
salary, that was for disciplinary reasons and nothing that was
hinted in any newspaper. That is something else. It had to
do with his automobile. And I don't think that those little
things should have to be brought out. If a man,gets in a lit-
tle trouble I think we should have a right to have a hearing
on it. And we found the man innocent, and with all this . . . . .
Mr. O'Connor: Now wait a minute. . . .
Commissioner Zenobia: I 'have the floor now. You talk about
bad publicity. I think that you are bringing a lot of bad
publicity to the City, by saying you are going to find out
what these charges are. You are throwing a lot of things
around this little town, and if you have charges to bring,
why don't you bring them up?
Mr. O'Connor: I 'm asking questions.
Commissioner Zenobia: You could ask questions. . .you could go
on all night. I think you have a reason to bring it up. You
just ran for an election, you lost, and you probably want to
run again.
Mr. O'Connor: I said at the start I had no axe to grind.
Commissioner Zenobia: Well, I'm getting sick-and tired of the
newspapers picking on us for holding down;the• information when
we had an investigation. , Nobody was guilty,,,^w;e gave the infor-
mation to the newspapers, and yet they keep;pieking at it.
Mr. O'Connor: I 'm still sticking by it. Now there is one other
question I would like to ask: Why is the Chief of Police not
allowed to take his car home in case of an emergency, an accident.
Mayor Salvino: He has his own car at home. Our police cars are
not in very good shape, and they might be used around the City-
Hall at night.
Mr. O'Connor: Now, one other question I would like to ask you,
Frank, I mean Mr. Mayor. Why is the-Mayor conducting police
raids with the Chief's knowledge?
Mayor Salvino: I didn't get what you said.
Mr. O'Connor: Why isi! it the Mayor of. the City of 'Danis, since
you already have an adequate police force, why is. the Mayor con-
ducting police raids without telling the Chief? I think he has
the right to know.
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Mayor Salvino: Well, I passed by there and I saw the fellows
playing cards. So I ran to the City Hall right away, and I
just grabbed whoever was around there, and I didn't have time
to call the Chief or anybody else. So we went there and raided.
S Mr. O'Connor: I don't intend to conduct an investigation of
this , because it is not of my line. I am not a police officer. .
But I would like to really say sincerely that I have no axe to
grind. But I will tell you one thing, I don't believe in trip-
ping. When a man can't get in and say what he wants to say,
then something is wrong some place. We all get in trouble. I 've
A been in trouble. I 'm no angel like the rest of you.
Chief Smith: Yeah, but you don't know when to keep your mouth
shut.
Mr. O'Connor: I still have the floor. When I get done I will
tell you. The only thing I have to say is that I was very
much disturbed, as I said before when I was a candidate, every-
thing we say they always say we are looking for something. I'm
not looking for anything. I appreciate you all listending to
me. You can do what you want. I have had my say. It has been
on my mind for a long time. Thank you very much.
George Kelly, 46 S.W. 7th Street, Dania: Back of my house is
an old house that has been sitting there for years , and I be-
lieve the owners of it have passed away. It is a terrible eye-
sore for that area of the town. I wonder if there is any way
for your building inspector to go down .there and look it over.
I think it ought to be condemned.
Mayor Salvino: We will send the inspector over there tomorrow.
Thank you, Mr. Kelly.
City Attorney Walden: Our Charter is nothing but a legislative
act, a special legislative act. And to change or 'amend it you
must have other legislative acts adopted. The Legislature will
meet during the coming Spring. If there are .any major changes
the Commission ought to have hearings. May I suggest that
whereever the Commission feels that changes are in order, that
it ought to be brought up and have a'discussion :on it.
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I had occasion to talk with. one. Commissioner this afternoon,,
and I was led to believe that there is some discussion about
a four-year term for the Commissioners. I have inquired around
a bit and would suggest to you, or mention to you, the Holly-
wood Plan where two Commissioners are elected every two years
for four-year terms and the Mayors office is set up as a separ-
ate office apart from the regular Commissioner. The Mayor serves
two years . The theory of that is that every two years there will
be a change in authority. That is one plan. In Fort Lauderdale
all the Commissioners ' terms expire at the same time, so there
is a complete change of slate every four years. Whatever the
Commission is inclined to do it can be done within reason.
Commissioner Zenobia: I particularly like the way they do it
in Hollywood , where every two years they elect two men and the
Mayor runs for two years.
Commissioner Grammer: I, too, would like the Charter changed
in some way to give the department heads a little more protec-
tion than they have now. Maybe Clarke (Mr. Walden) could work
us out a plan for that too. Of course, I hope we get civil
service, which I would like to have all our department heads
under. Of course, it is pretty hard to put a City Manager under
civil service. I would like to see you make some move to give
these department heads some security so that after every years
election they don't have to worry about whether they are going
to be back next year or not.
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® Commissioner Zenobia brought up the fact that there should be
some procedure for conducting a public hearing.
Commissioner Grammer brought up the question of election laws
in the Charter, specifically the one that says that a 'candi-
date may not campaign alone.
•
Commissioner Hill: .I agree with Commissioner Grammer. I
think every citizen should have the privilege of going out
and meeting the candidates. People expect to meet the can-
didates.; Thoy look forward to meeting the candidates. Basic-
ally we have a pretty good Charter, but I feel that there are a
• few changes to be made. I very much would like to see the term
of office lengthened , because you just have a chance to get in
here and get your feet wet when it is time to run again for
office. It really hampers the progress of our town. This elec-
tion every year is costly to the City and it upsets the whole
• applecart for a few months every year.
Commissioner Zenobia: Those are the two main things we were
all talking about, the length of office and that about not
being able to go out and ask for votes.
• City Attorney Walden: Let me do this , at the next meeting I
will present to you a draft of the proposed changes. On the
election I will simply adopt what Hollywood has. On the right
to canvass for special votes I will make a correction there,
and we will try to put something in about the removal of depart-
ment heads without cause, that is , to protect them against that.
• Now understand, that all you are going to do is make a recom-
mendation to the Legislative Delegation. So largely, if you
are in agreement, I will say that at the next meeting, perhaps
the next meeting after, that I would suggest having one public
hearing before the Commission so that the 'citizens who want to
question these changes could appear to present their objections.
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There being no further business on the agenda, the meeting adjourned.
ary oh rnhil
City Clerk_Auditor
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Frank Salvino
Mayor-Commissioner
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