Town Commission

                                                                                    Regular Meeting

                                                                                    May 16, 2007

 

The Town Commission of the Town of Melbourne Beach, Florida, met in regular session on Wednesday, May 16, 2007, in the Community Center, 509 Ocean Avenue, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

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

 

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Vice Mayor Price called the meeting to order.  The entire assembly recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

 

Changes to the Agenda

Town Manager Bursick requested that the Presentation by Special Guest Lisa Good be moved to the July Meeting agenda.

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Approval of Minutes

Commissioner Wilson made a motion to approve the Minutes of the April 18, 2007 regular meeting, which was seconded by Commissioner Guglietta. The motion carried unanimously by those members present.

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Consent Agenda

Authorization to waive the formal bid process for this purchase, and authorization for Town Manager to execute associated documents providing  for D & E Pump Sales & Service, Inc. to install new irrigation well in Ryckman Park at a cost of $5,995, plus a $75 permitting fee.

 

Approval of the Special Events Application for the Greater Allen Chapel AME BBQ Fundraiser on May 26, 2007, was approved as presented.

 

Commissioner Guglietta made a motion to approve the consent agenda, which was seconded by Commissioner Wilson.  The motion carried unanimously by those members present.

 

Non-Scheduled Citizen Comments

 

Ms. Jean Marshall, 410 6th Avenue, asked about the Special Event that was just approved.

 

Mr. Dean Darling, 421 6th Ave, asked about Clerk’s Notary and Public Record regarding David Syrkus not being notarized.

 

Mr. Jay Gurecki, 406 6th Ave¸ asked if the Town Commission would assist in speaking with the County Health Inspector to allow dogs on the patio outside the Friendly Toast. He also spoke about the Ryckman House being raised, for them to come up with a budget plan and he spoke of the joint workshop with the Historic Preservation and Awareness Board that has not yet happened. He was advised that they tried to schedule it several times and that the Town Manager will schedule a Workshop June 5, 2007.

 

Closed to the public.   

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Boards and Committees

The first item was the Reappointment of John Alpizar, Chairman of the Police Pension Fund Board of Trustees for a four-year term ending June 25, 2011. 

 

Commissioner Guglietta made a motion to re-appoint Mr. Alpizar, which was seconded by Commissioner Wilson. The motion carried unanimously by those members present.

 

Jay Gurecki spoke about the Workshop with the Town Commission for the Historic Preservation and Awareness Board.  Mr. Bursick advised it would be held the first week in June during their regular meeting.

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Public Hearings

The first item to be considered was the first reading of Ordinance No. 2007-06 providing Authority for Town to Enter Property for the purpose of initiating Code Enforcement Violations.

 

Town Attorney Sack read: Ordinance No. 2007-06 of the Town of Melbourne Beach, Brevard County, Florida, amending Chapter 11, Departments, Boards and Commissions by removing Section 11-2.  Authority of Town to enter property; renumbering the sections reserved; providing for severability; providing for repeal of inconsistent ordinances; providing for codification and providing for an effective date; read the title only for first reading.

 

Commissioner Wilson made a motion to approve this Ordinance, which was seconded by Commissioner Guglietta.

 

Building Official Whitelock explained the language of the Ordinance, its actual intent, to prevent lawsuits for illegal trespassing.  He stated that a Building Official has a right to enter a property as long as it is permitted, with the exception of hazard to life safety.

 

He advised that right of entry for code enforcement takes place from observation of other properties.  It is to enforce a known violation.

 

Mr. Steve Walters, 416 6th Ave, stated that if you read this ordinance; any agent or employee of the Town would be able to enter, it doesn’t define agents, it needs to specify.  He recommended that the Town develop a policy first so that everyone understands that we are not going to let anybody come on their property; and so everyone interprets the ordinance with the policy included in it.

 

Vice Mayor Price asked the Town Attorney if this ordinance was drawn up by him, if some questions were raised, that this is a highly sensitive issue, and needs to be defined

 

Ms. Gail Gowdy, 215 Ash Ave, stated she would like to see a policy of the Town to go along with this, and give notice to the person.

 

Mr. Dean Darling, 420 6th Ave, asked if there was a need for this to be adopted, we have had a Building Official for seven months, many violations around not being addressed.

 

Mr. Jay Gurecki, 406 6th Ave, stated that if you know there may be a violation in the house, making it unsafe, knocked on door, would this violate the code or would it allow for entry.

 

Town Attorney Sack stated that this was not intended for inside, only outside, not to provide authority to enter into property.

 

There was a discussion regarding different agencies getting into the property and unsafe structures in Town.

 

Commissioner Wilson recommended that a new draft of this proposed ordinance  he developed with all the excellent suggestions made, with the Building Official working closely with the Town Attorney.

 

Commissioner Evans stated that there needed to be another reworking of this to narrow focus as to intent, original purpose of liability issues for someone doing code enforcement.

 

Commissioner Guglietta made a motion to table this, which was seconded by Commissioner Wilson.  The motion carried unanimously by those present.

                                                                       

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Old Business

 

The next item on the agenda was discussion and possible action regarding the Town Attorney position.

 

Commissioner Wilson stated that the Town had an agreement from Gary Sack, moved to approve.  The motion died due to the lack of a second.

 

Commissioner Evans stated that the Commission needs a definite time to discuss what we want to do, table until the next scheduled meeting where this item may be put on the agenda.  Town Manager Bursick advised about the June 6, 2007 Special Call Meeting with workshop to follow.  Commissioner Evans made a motion to hold discussion of Town Attorney until the June 6, 2007 Special Call Meeting, which was seconded by Commissioner Guglietta.  The motion carried 4-0.

Town Manager Bursick advised that the workshop following the Special Call Meeting was a joint workshop with Planning and Zoning Board Members.   

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New Business

 

The first item was the discussion and possible action for the display of merchandise on Ocean Avenue.  This item was requested by Building Official Whitelock.

 

Building Official Whitelock advised that the Town’s Code of Ordinances allows business owners to display items outside of their doors, but they are to be renewed annually.

 

Vice Mayor Price stated that we have this in the code, the business owners have the right to do this by the Town Commission, but our Ordinance says it has to be granted annually, and it has not been done in the last five years.

 

Commissioner Guglietta made a motion to approve the request for displaying of their wares outside of their business to be renewed for those 10 businesses previously granted, which was seconded by Commissioner Wilson. 

 

Vice Mayor Price asked what if they put out more than approved, and the Building Official advised that it would be a code violation.

 

Mr. Brad Betten, 538 Sunset Blvd advised that we had just spoke about square footage in business, maybe we should have a scale of what you can have, with square footage involved.

 

Commissioner Evans stated that applicants are required to put down square footage, that the needs you are concerned about are addressed.

 

Vice Mayor Price said we were grandfathering what was done in the past.

 

Mrs. Jean Marshall, 410 6th Ave, said Mr. Betten didn’t get notification; all business people should be notified.

 

The motion carried unanimously by those present.

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Town Attorney’s Report

Town Attorney Sack stated that he spoke about Thijs Stelling versus the Town of Melbourne Beach, that the Court entered an Order; that his office had accepted it last Friday, and he had two weeks to respond. 

 

There was a discussion regarding no member of the Commission or staff being notified until now.

 

Town Manager’s Report

The Town Commission acknowledged receipt of the following reports from the Town Manager: (1) Action Item Report; (2) Police Department Monthly Activity Report – April 2007; (3) Public Works Man-Hour Report – April 2007; (4) Code Enforcement Activity Report; (5) Building Department Permit Report.

 

On other items the Town Manager spoke about the Financials.

 

He advised that the Ryckman House was being raised to construct a foundation.  That Mr. Gray Hamilton volunteered to do the work.  That it should be completed in 2-3 weeks. 

 

Town Manager Bursick said the contract was received for the 6th Ave Stormwater Grant, which was applied for three years ago, with the first phase for $60,000, $45,000 from FEMA; total project construction cost estimated at is $660,000. 

 

Mr. Bursick stated that the Pedway Corrective Action Plan was advertised for bids which are due end of month, award will be given in June.

 

He advised that the selection process for Police Chief will be completed by the end of this week, Meet the Candidates on Thursday, May 17th 6-7 P.M., informal get together in the Community Center.

 

He advised that the next Visioning Meeting was May 22, 2007 in the Community Center at 7 P.M., and we will finalize the Visioning Process at next Planning and Zoning Meeting.

 

Mr. Bursick advised that the Police Department will be participating in the 28th Annual Police Memorial at the Mall 10 a.m. - 9 p.m., and Sgt Smith will have an exhibit, he thanked Sgt. Smith for all is hard work.

 

He stated that there has been discussion in the past Legislative Action on property tax reform, that there will be a Special Session June 12-22, and he hope something will come out of that session.  He said he was planning to identify potential budget reductions of $200,000-$250,000, and develop a prioritized list.

 

Mr. Bursick thanked the Public Works Department, Police Department, Fire Department, Town Staff and Parks Board for all their work on Founders Day, tremendous effort by all. 

 

Town Commission Reports

 

Commissioner Wilson

He inquired about Mr. Ragsdale’s budget line item and was advised by Mr. Bursick that a good portion of the expenses in the beginning of the fiscal year was site plan review, we now have Bill Whitelock doing them now.

 

He Inquired about the handicap ramp cross-over for Ocean Park, Mr. Bursick stated we have $35,000 budgeted for fiscal year 2007, with the intent of budgeting the remaining $35,000 needed for the ramp in fiscal year 2008.  Mr. Bursick stated that we may wish to apply for a state grant to construct restrooms and the ramp and use the $35,000 from fiscal year 2007 as the matching funds.  This would eliminate the need to budget the additional $35,000 in fiscal year 2008.

 

Commissioner Guglietta

He inquired as to how much has been paid to Mr. Ragsdale

 

Commissioner Guglietta stated he attended the MPO meeting had a copy of the proposed road building for Brevard County from now to 2050, to be placed on Town’s bulletin board by Clerk.

 

He advised that DOT is holding an Open House for the Apollo Blvd expansion, that the proposal will also to be placed on bulletin board.  He spoke about the budget and the pending property tax reduction.

 

Commissioner Guglietta spoke about the Monday night meeting, that we had some politicians attend the Space Coast League of Cities Meeting, also spoke about the taxes, informed that the State of Florida not reducing any of their taxes.

 

He spoke about how 2% of the building permit fees go to the State, and then advised that the crossover on 4th Ave, the boards are loose.

 

He asked if Planning and Zoning has come up with a setback definition yet.

 

Commissioner Evans

Commissioner Evans stated that she had nothing to report at this time.

 

Vice Mayor Price

Vice Mayor Price advised that the Space Coast League of City offers a $2,000 scholarship every year to a student interested in public administration, and that we can sponsor a student from our Town.  He advised of the timelines, and advised that it will be placed on bulletin boards and that the Town should spread the word.

 

He spoke about the representatives at the meeting on Monday and said that three people will determine for the state how much property taxes we will get, Senator Pruitt, Representative Mario Rubio, and the Governor.  He discussed a proposal which was submitted by the League which included a provision for a one half cent sales tax that was supposed to be received in the early 80’s and to have the State take over the millage for school boards.

 

He stated that Brevard County was very frugal and that it would be blatantly unfair to cut across the board.

 

He spoke about Founders Day that a good time was had by all, but he was dismayed by the article regarding the arrest of a Town resident, that whoever called the Police Department that day chose purposely to do that during Founders Day, he was dismayed by someone doing something like that.

 

 

The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.

 

 

 

                                                                                    ______________________________

                                                                                             William G. Stacey, Mayor

 

ATTEST:

 

 

 

_____________________________

    Lenore R. Milan, Town Clerk