Town Commission

                                                                                    Special Call Meeting

                                                                                    February 7, 2007

 

The Town Commission of the Town of Melbourne Beach, Florida, met for a Special Call Meeting on Wednesday, February 7, 2007, in the Community Center, 509 Ocean Avenue, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

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In attendance were Mayor William Stacey, Vice-Mayor Donnie Price, and Commissioners Paul Guglietta, April Evans, and Sandy Wilson.  Also present were Town Manager Jim Bursick, Interim Town Attorney Gary Sack, William Whitelock, Building Official and Town Clerk Lenore

Milan.

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Mayor Stacey called the meeting to order and offered the invocation.  The entire assembly recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

 

The first item on the agenda was the authorization for the Town Manager to renew medical and dental plans for the Town’s employees.

 

Town Manager Bursick explained that we needed to renew the employee’s medical and dental insurance for this premium year.  He advised the Commission that we are able to form groups with other cities, but the insurance companies will not be insuring them.

 

Commissioner Wilson stated that when he originally brought up the possibility of paying for one-half of the dependent coverage for our employees, he thought it might only impact two employees.   There was a discussion regarding the number of employees who would benefit from this proposed change.

 

Commissioner Wilson made a motion to authorize the Town Manager to renew the medical and dental insurance with the Town paying for one-half of the dependent coverage for our employees, which was seconded by Commissioner Guglietta.

 

Vice Mayor Price stated that the Town currently spends $103,801.68 for health insurance annually, based on the new monthly premiums, we will pay $109,055.16, which would include all eligible employees if they should opt to have the 50% coverage paid by the Town.  He said, for $5,000 we would be able to offer all of the Town employees a real benefit.

 

Mr. Steve Walters 416 6th Street, stated that it should be full-time employees of the Town.

 

There was a discussion regarding the rates the other municipalities receive and why, with our Insurance Representative, Cynthia Dropeski, who advised the Commission that criteria such as age, sex, claims make the difference in the premiums.

 

Mr. Thomas Shaw, 406 Riverside Drive, stated that he is a business owner and has attempted to get the best insurance for his employees, that Town Manager Bursick spent a great deal of time, if he says this is compatible, you should go with it.

 

Vice Mayor Price stated that the Manager reviewed all of these policies, he said that we could find out from Indialantic what their policy is.

 

Vice Mayor Price made a motion to approve the Health First Plan renewal as recommended by the Town Manager which includes 50% dependent coverage at a cost of $109,055.16 per annum, which was seconded by Commissioner Evans. The motion carried unanimously.

 

There was a discussion regarding the Town having older employees and taking that into account.

 

A discussion ensued regarding the dental plan for the employees, at what cost to the Town should the Town pay $10.00 per month for employees’ dental coverage, it was determined it would be at a cost of $2,440 per year.

 

Mayor Stacey made a motion to have the Town pay $10.00 per month for the dental insurance coverage for the employees, which was seconded by Vice Mayor Price.  

 

It was decided that this will be reviewed at a future date.

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The next item was the approval of site plan for 407 Fourth Street.  Building Official Whitelock explained the process for this site plan.  He stated that he had approved the site plan prior to finding out that the Town Commission’s approval was required.

 

Commissioner Wilson made a motion to approve the site plan for 407 Fourth Street, which was seconded by Commissioner Guglietta. 

 

Vice Mayor Price stated that this was a 60 foot lot with plans for a 30 foot home of over 3,000 square feet, with four bedrooms, three and one-half baths, den, living and dining rooms.  He said that the contractor/owner should have been able to consider ten feet setbacks and bring it before the Board, now, all  the Commission can do is to approve it,  where the Planning Board would have considered some changes.

 

The motion carried unanimously.

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The next item for discussion and possible action was the contribution to the Dave Genchi recovery fundraiser for the cost of Town incurred expenses.

 

Mayor Stacey made a motion for the Town to pick-up the cost for the Police Department and Parks Department (Town) expenses.  There being no second, the motion died.

 

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The next item for discussion and possible action was the selection process of Town Attorney and setting a time frame.

 

Mayor Stacey spoke about the possibility of having a Town Attorney who works a long distance from the Town, should an emergency arise, he or she may not be able to arrive to our meetings in a timely manner, and then to consider every time we place a call to their office, it would a long distance charge.  There was a brief discussion regarding the prospective attorneys.

 

Vice Mayor Price stated that he has reviewed the list, he made a motion to move in consideration of the interviews, with the first round for the Brevard County Attorneys only, which was seconded by Commissioner Guglietta.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

Mr. Thomas Shaw, 406 Riverside Drive, stated that he agreed with the Vice Mayor, there are qualified people in this County, we should keep the money in the County.

 

Mr. Jim Simmons, 409 Avenue B, advised that not all people would like to work for Melbourne Beach, I want to have an attorney for a long time who will find ways to do things.

 

The meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m.

 

                                                                                    ______________________________

                                                                                             William G. Stacey, Mayor

ATTEST:

 

 

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    Lenore R. Milan, Town Clerk