Town Commission

                                                                                    Special Meeting

                                                                                    September 13, 2006

 

 

The Town Commission of the Town of Melbourne Beach, Florida held a special meeting on Wednesday, September 13, 2006 in the Masny Room, 507 Ocean Avenue, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

 

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In attendance were Mayor William Stacey, Vice-Mayor Sandy Wilson, and Commissioners Donnie Price and Steve Walters. Also present were Town Manager Jim Bursick and Interim Town Clerk Karan Rounsavall. Commissioner Paul Guglietta was absent.

 

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Mayor Stacey called the meeting to order and led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. The purpose of the meeting was to consider an interlocal agreement with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office to provide temporary law enforcement management services and to provide further direction relating to recruitment of a permanent town clerk.

 

Given the current situation with the Melbourne Beach Police Department, that being the resignation of the acting police chief and the pending retirement of a long-standing lieutenant, Town Manager Bursick felt it was in the Town’s best interest to station a member of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office in Melbourne Beach to provide a command presence and provide law enforcement management services for the department. He stressed that, in no way, was this an attempt to bring the Sheriff’s Office in on a permanent basis. This was a temporary arrangement to carry the Town through its present dilemma. As such, it was not a material change to the provision of protective services for the Town. A formal interlocal agreement setting forth the specifics of this arrangement was not yet available; he hoped to have the item on the September 18th regular meeting agenda.

 

Town Manager Bursick introduced Commander Steve Salvo of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. Commander Salvo currently served as administrator of court services. The preliminary arrangement discussed with the Sheriff’s Office was that Commander Salvo would continue to administer court services from the Melbourne Beach venue while providing management for the Melbourne Beach Police Department. In return for allowing this arrangement, charges for the town would be 50 percent of the commander’s salary, an annual amount equal to approximately $42,250. If the part-time arrangement did not work out, it could be amended to provide full-time services. The partnership with the Sheriff’s Office was set to commence on Monday, September 18, 2006. The manager noted that Acting Police Chief Dan Duncan’s last day was September 15, 2006. The lieutenant would be available for an additional two-week period thus providing some overlap/transition.

 

Commissioner Walters moved to authorize a second interlocal agreement with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office to provide law enforcement management services as outlined above for up to one year. Commissioner Price seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

 

Ann Downing requested and received clarification on the length of the arrangement with the Sheriff’s Office.

 

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As to the hiring of a permanent town clerk, Town Manager Bursick advised that a conditional offer of employment was made to Applicant Emily Chafin the previous week. Ms. Chafin declined the Town Manager’s offer of a starting salary of $40,000 and moving expenses. Town Manager Bursick discussed with Mr. Chafin the possibility of an additional $5,000 increase in salary following successful completion of her probationary period. This was declined as well.

 

At this time, the Town Commission was faced with several alternative courses of action. How much was the Commission willing to offer the position? If it was willing to increase the salary to $45,000 there were two applicants that might be willing to consider the position (i.e. Emily Chafin and Dana Williams). Or if the commission did increase the salary range, did it want to readvertise the position in the hopes of attracting additional applicants? If moving expenses were to be offered, Town Manager suggested a not-to-exceed amount of approximately $2,000.

 

Commissioner Walters noted that the position was advertised at a salary range of $30,000 to $40,000. None of the applicants indicated that the salary was unacceptable during their interview.  The Commissioner did not want to see Melbourne Beach become a “revolving door” for town clerks. He would not vote for a $45,000 salary. Mayor Stacey wanted the Town Manager to contact either Ms. Chafin or Ms. Williams to offer them a salary of $45,000 as he felt that both of these applicants were well qualified. He noted that Ms. Chafin was the Commission’s first choice. Commissioner Price mentioned that the Town might not be able to get a qualified clerk for a $40,000 salary. He was willing to increase the salary range to $45,000. Market conditions drove salaries. He went on to state that the clerk held a very important job that was certainly more than a secretary. Vice-Mayor Wilson pointed out that there were two applicants that the Town Commission interviewed that were willing to accept the position within the advertised range (i.e. Lenore Milan and Debbie Dugan). He agreed with Commissioner Walters that the other two applicants mentioned would be much more likely to have reason to leave Melbourne Beach should an opportunity present itself. He did not support a $45,000 salary.

 

Gail Gowdy, speaking from the audience, asked whether or not the funds budgeted separately for redesign of the Town’s Web page could be rolled into the salary offered to Ms. Chafin as she represented that she possessed the necessary skills to take on this task. Town Manager Bursick advised this was discussed.

 

Vice-Mayor Wilson moved to direct the Town Manager to make a conditional offer of employment to Applicant Lenore Milan at an annual salary of $40,000 subject to a thorough background check. If for any reason, she did not accept the position at this salary, the matter was to be brought back to the Town Commission for further action. Commissioner Price seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

 

Marty Remark verified that Ms. Milan did have previous experience as a city clerk.

 

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The meeting adjourned at 6:59 p.m.

 

                                                                                    ______________________________

                                                                                    William G. Stacey, Mayor

 

ATTEST:

 

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Karan J. Rounsavall, CMC

Interim Town Clerk