Sep 12, 2023 Special Meeting

[5.1 REOPEN THE SPECIAL MEETING - 1:00 PM]

[00:00:12]

CITY COMMISSION. THIS IS THE MOST EXCITING PART OF THIS LONG MEETING.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WATCHING AT HOME, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT WE'LL BE DOING TODAY, AS WELL AS WHERE WE'VE BEEN SO FAR. WE HAVE STARTED WITH A VERY LARGE POOL OF 52 APPLICANTS.

WE HAVE BROUGHT IN THE BEST OF THE BUSINESS. THEY GIVE US THESE APPLICANTS.

BENARROW IT DOWN TO THE TOP TEN. WE HAVE OUR CITIZENS COMMITTEE. OUR CITIZENS COMMITTEE MET FOUR TIMES. A VERY REPRESENTATIVE GROUP, ENCOMPASSING A CROSS-SECTION OF OUR ENTIRE ISLAND. CAME TOGETHER, LOOKED AT THESE DIFFERENT RUMORS.

LOOKS AT THE APPLICATIONS. AND DELIVERED TO US THE TOP FOUR.

SO WHAT WE HAVE LEFT IS, HONESTLY, IT'S A GOOD NEWS THAT THIS WILL BE A HARD DECISION.

IT'S GOOD NEWS BECAUSE NO MATTER WHO WE PICK, WE IS THE CREAM OF THE CROP BEFORE US FOR CONSIDERATION. TODAY WE HAVE ONE ON ONE INTERVIEWS.

EACH OF THE FIVE OF US MET FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES WITH EACH OF THE FOUR FINAL CANDIDATES.

WITH EACH HAVE A LONG INTERVIEWS AND WE ALL KNOW THAT WE CAN'T TALK TO EACH OTHER OUTSIDE THIS ROOM. OUTSIDE THE PUBLIC. SO FOR THAT REASON WE ARE COMING TOGETHER NOW TO HAVE ONE FINAL ROUND OF INTERVIEWS HERE. THESE WILL TAKE PLACE INSIDE THE PUBLIC IN FRONT OF ALL FIVE OF US AT THE SAME TIME. IT WILL BE A VERY EXCITING AFTERNOON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THOSE WHO CAME OUT AND JOINED US AND

[6. CITY MANAGER FINALIST GROUP INTERVIEWS]

THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO THIS COMMISSION FOR PUBLIC QUESTIONS. ANY QUESTION THAT YOU WANT TO ASK IN FRONT OF THE PUBLIC. THIS COULD BE YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO ASK THE QUESTION THAT YOU WANT THE ANSWER TO. THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

SO FOR THAT REASON, WE'LL LOOKING GOOD. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION AT THIS TIME ABOUT HOWE THIS PROCESS HAS WORKED SO FAR OR WILL WORK THIS AFTERNOON? SEEING NONE LET'S GET STARTED. FOLKS, REAL QUICK. BEFORE WE GET STARTED.

I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE -- I DON'T HAVE TO GIVE ME CANDIDATE PREFERRABLE INTO -- IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS MUSIC OUTSIDE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THERE IS SOMEONE DOING THAT AT CITY HALL. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY GET THE SAME OPPORTUNITY.

I DON'T WANT TO HEAR GRINDING IN THE BACKGROUND OF ANYBODY MUCH. >> IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE SAYIN.

IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE ALMOST DONE. >> WE APPRECIATE IT.

WITH NA IN MIND, LET'S CALL UP MR. ANDREW BUTTERFIELD. HE HAS HAD A LONG DECORATED CAREER IN THE NAVY. GRADUATED FROM THE NAVAL ACADEMY, WENT TO HARVARD, THEN A LONG DECORATED CAREER IN THE NAVY. MOST PRESENTLY IS THE 123 MANAGER AT THE CITY OF ST. PETE BEACH. WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING WITH US TODAY. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. COMMISSIONERS.

APPRECIATE THE TIME SPENT OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS. THE STAFF HAS BEEN GRACIOUS WITH TEAR TIME AND INFORMATION. AS YOU ALL HAVE BEEN THIS MORNING.

SO THANK YOU. >> START OFF BY TELLING US ABOUT YOURSELF AND TELLING THE

COMMUNITY. >> I DON'T LIKE TALKING ABOUT MYSELF, BUT I'LL TRY.

I WAS CAREER NAVAL OFFICER. STATIONED JUST SOUTH HERE FOR MANY YEARS, BEFORE I VISITED A COUPLE OF TIMES. I CAN'T SAY I KNOW THE CITY LIKE ANYBODY HERE.

IF SELECTED INTO THIS JOB, I WILL WORK HARD TO GET UP TO SPEED.

I KNOW THE ISSUES. I KNOW THE PEOPLE, AS CLOSE TO BEING A NATIVE AS I COULD BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE, TO ME, A VERY SPECIAL COMMUNITY. VERY CLOSE COMMUNITY WITH A LONG HISTORY, LONG TIES. BUT ALSO AN EYE ON THE FUTURE, MAKING SURE WE CAN KEEP IT AS NICE AS IT IS AND EVEN MAKE IT BETTER. DOING OUR TERM, EACH GENERATION WANTS TO DO A LITTLE MORE. I GOT THE THAT STRONG SENSE. I'VE VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE CITIZEN TURNOUT LIKE I WAS LAST NIGHT. VERY GOOD QUESTIONS, TOUGH QUESTIONS FROM THE CITIZENS. THEY OBVIOUSLY HAVE HIGH STANDARDS HERE OF THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND OF THE CITY MANAGER. WHO IS ONE PLAYER IN THE ROLE.

THE STAFF IS KEY, SO I KNOW PICKING THE RIGHT PERSON IS GOOD.

I'LL JUST SAY THE PEOPLE I'VE MET ALSO COMPETING FOR THIS POSITION ARE IMPRESSIVE FOLKS.

[00:05:04]

HARD ONE. SO THANK YOU. >> NOW I'LL OPEN IT UP TO THE COMMISSION. ANY QUESTIONS YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE CANDIDATE.

>> I WAS KIDDING. IF YOU WANT ME TO TELL MORE ABOUT MYSELF, I CAN.

I'D PREFER NOT. YEAH, MY EXPERIENCE INVOLVED 20 YEARS OF FLYING, BUT ALSO ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES AND BEING A DEPARTMENT HEAD IN SQUADRONS. AND THEN MY LAST TWO JOBS GAVE ME THE IDEA THAT I COULD SEGUE INTO LIFE IN THIS LINE OF WORK. I WAS A CHIEF OF STAFF FOR A LARGE CORPORATION CALLED SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND. THEN I WAS A BASE COMMANDER AND DEPUTY COMMANDER. A LARGE JOINT BASE, MY LAST THREE CAREERS IN UNIFORM.

WHERE YOU DO A LOT OF THE SAME FUNCTIONS AS A CITY MANAGER. IT'S WHAT I GOT MENTORED WHEN I WENT TO ASK ME. WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU GROW UP AND GET OUT OF THE MILITARY? IT SEEMED LIKE A NATURAL FIT. SO I'VE BEEN PROUD TO SERVE ANOTHER WAY AFTER HANGING UP THE

UNIFORM IN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. >> EXCELLENT.

WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM COMMISSIONER ANTUN. >> I'D LIKE THE RESIDENTS TO

HEAR ABOUT YOUR FIRST THREE MONTHS IN THE POSITION. >> OKAY, MY FIRST STEP WOULD BE TO MEET WITH EACH OF YOU AND FIND OUT WHAT YOUR EXPECTATIONS ARE AND THE WAY YOU WOULD LIKE INFORMATION DELIVERED. I SEE MYSELF AS THE INTERMISSION CONDUIT BETWEEN THE REST OF THE STAFF AND THE LCTED OFFICIALS. I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT HOW FREQUENTLY YOU NEED UPDATES.

WHAT INFORMATION I CAN EXPECT PUSHED TO YOU, INSTEAD OF HAVING TO PULL IT OUT OF ME AND FREQUENT OF MEETING AND HOW MUCH TIME TO SET ASIDE. YOU ALL DESERVE THAT.

THERE IS ONLY SO MANY HOURS IN A MONTH. WE WOULD LIKE A ROUGH PLAN.

I'D LIKE TO MEET WITH ALL THE DIRECTORS AND GET A REAL PULSE OF THE CITY.

MEET WITH THEM INDIVIDUALLY SO THEY CAN SPEAK FRANKLY ABOUT THE GOODS, THE BADS AND THE OTHERS, TO WORK ON. I'D LIKE TO MEET WITH AT MANY STAFF AND SEE THE FACILITY AND DO ALL OF THAT IN THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS. THE 90-DAY PLAN WOULD BE TO THINK THROUGH EVERYTHING I SAW AND TALKED TO AND COME UP WITH A LIST OF PRIORITIES.

THEN COMMUNICATE THAT TO THE STAFF. YOU DON'T SAY IT ONCE AND ASSUME EVERYBODY HAS GOT IT. GO AROUND WITHOUT THE ALL-HANDS E-MAILS, THAT SORT OF THING.

KIND OF MAKE IT VERY CLEAR WHAT MY PLAN IS. IT ISN'T TO COME IN AS A WRECKING BALL AND CHANGE ANYTHING BY ANY MEANS, BUT NOT TO BE A CARETAKER EITHER.

BUT COME IN AND SEAL WHAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH AND COME UP WITH A PRIOR TO ORDER TO DO THAT 37.

>> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? >> I HAVE ONE. SO YOU'VE BEEN IN THE CITY FOR A FEW DAYS. AND YOU'VE SEEN A LOT. YOU WENT ON A TOUR YESTERDAY.

WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU FEEL NEEDS IMPROVING IN OUR CITY? >> WELL, OVERALL, EVERYTHING LOOKS REALLY BEAUTIFUL. BUT SOME OF THE THINGS I'VE HEARD NEED REDOING IS SOME SIDEWALK REPAIR AND THINGS LIKE THAT IN THE DOWNTOWN. ALSO THE SEAWALL PROJECT, THE LINEAR PARK IDEA, THE FINISHING A SEAWALL, THE LENGTH OF IT. GETTING THE EASEMENTS TO REALLY HAVE A BEAUTIFUL, UNOBSTRUCTED VIEW OF THE RIVER. I THINK THAT PROJECT IS REALLY VISIBLE. IT SEEMS TO BE IMPORTANT TO EVERYBODY.

THE COMMUNITY CENTERS THAT I SAW, I HEARD HOW OLD THEY WERE AND HOW MUCH MONEY NEEDS TO GO INTO MAINTAINING THEM. SO IT WOULD BE GOOD TO IDENTIFY A FUTURE ONE THAT WE COULD BUILD, WILE THE OTHER TWO ARE STILL FUNCTIONAL, BUT MAYBE HAVE LESS TIME ON THE LIFE AHEAD OF THEM THAN THEY HAVE BEHIND THEM. SO I THINK THOSE ARE TWO KEY AREAS THAT I WOULD TAKE A LOOK

AT. >> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE WANT TO ASK A

QUESTION? >> I'LL JUMP BACK IN. SUMMER ANTUN.

CAN YOU BRIEFLY GO THROUGH YOUR TOP TWO ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN YOUR CURRENT POSITION OR THE PREVIOUS

TWO APPOINTMENTS. >> TOP TWO ACCOMPLISHMENTS. I THINK THE THING I'M MOST PROUD OF, I'VE ALWAYS HAD A MINDSET THAT WE ARE DOING THE MISSION OF THE MOMENT BUT WE ARE ALSO TRAINING THE PEOPLE UNDER US, BESIDE US. SO BEING A GOOD EXAMPLE OF BEING A GOOD MENTOR AND BRINGING UP THE GENERATION BEHIND YOU SO YOU CAN STEP ASIDE AND HAND OVER ON THE KEYS TO THEM. THAT'S PROBABLY -- THAT'S AN ONGOING ACCOMPLISHMENT, ALWAYS

[00:10:03]

AGAIN, ANOTHER TEAM WILL COL UP BEHIND YOU. VILE TO THINK ON THAT.

>> I'LL JUMP BACK IN WITH TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING -- WHAT IS SOMETHING -- YOU'VE BEEN AROUND THE CITY FOR A TOUR AND FOR OTHER THINGS. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT SOMETHING

THAT YOU THINK IS GOING WELL. >> FERNANDINA BEACH DOES WELL AT SCERVETION.

ALMOST HALF THE CITY IS UNDER ONE FORM OR ANOTHER EVER IT'S NOT GOING TO GET BUILT ON, IT'S PRESERVATION LAND OR PARK LAND. PARKS, I UNDERSTAND THEY ARE NOT JUST BY THE ANCESTORS, BUT THERE IS A NEW PARK. THE AMOUNT OF GREEN SPACE IS FANTASTIC.

THE BEACHES ARE BEAUTIFUL. THEY HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED. THERE IS A LOT OF ACCESS.

I WAS IMPRESSED BY NOT ONLY -- EXCUSE ME -- BEACH ACCESS POINTS, BUT HOW WELL MARKED THEY WERE. I'VE SEEN PLACES IN -- WHERE THE HOMEOWNERS PLANT BUSHES IN FRONT OF THE ACCESS POINTS TO MAKE SURE NO ONE CAN PARK WITHIN A MILE OF IT.

HERE, NOT TO CALL THEM OUT IF THEY ARE MUCH WAKING, BUT THIS IS CLEARLY MARKED SIGNS.

AT LEAST A FEW PARKING SPACES. IF YOU ARE THE EARLY BIRD YOU CAN GET A GOOD SPOT AND WALK ON TO THE BEACH. I'M IMPRESSED WITH THAT. THERE ARE MANY HISTORIC-LOOKING BUILDINGS. MAYBE THEY ARE BUILT TO LOOK OLD BUT THAT'S AN ACCOMPLISHMENT TOO, TO HAVE IT BUILT INTO THE CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT HAS BEEN IMPRESSIVE.

KEEPING YOUR HISTORY BUT ALSO MODERNIZING TRANSPORTATION AND THINGS.

>> YOU POINTED OUT BEACH ACCESSES. I WOULD GO OUT ON A LIMB, I THINK OUR BEACH ACCESSES ARE BETTER THAN -- DO YOU HAVE ONE MORE.

>> WHAT DO YOU FEEL YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES WILL COME FROM BEING OPERATIONS MANAGER TO THE FIRST

TIME OF BEING A CITY MANAGER? >> THERE ARE CHALLENGES WITH EVERY NEW POSITION.

BUT I KNOW THAT THE SAME BASIC PRINCIPLES APPLY. I THINK BY BEING A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE GROUND, THE PERSONNEL ON THE GROUND OUT FIXING THINGS IS A GREAT ASSET TO HAVE.

FROM. IF YOU ARE HIGHER UP, YOU TRY TO REMEMBER WHAT THE ISSUES ARE.

YOU TRY NOT THE TO GET -- YOU DON'T LOSE TOO MUCH IN TRANSLATION AS INFORMATION COMES UP THE CHAIN. YOU DON'T WANT INFORMATION SUPPRESSED AND WHAT NEW TOOLS THEY MAY NEED, OR EQUIPMENT OR VEHICLES, WHAT THEIR REAL ISSUES ARE.

WAS THERE A SECOND PART? >> MAINLY THE CHALLENGES AND HOW YOU FEEL STEPPIG IN FROM OPS MANAGER TO CITY MANAGER. THE BUDGET PROCESS AND AS BASE COMMANDER TO CITY MANAGER.

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. THERE WOULD BE A LEARNING CURVE AS FAR AS PUTTING AGENDAS TOGETHER AND DEALING WITH FIVE STRONG PERSONALITIES THAT ARE ALL MY BOSS.

I'VE HAD UP TO THREE BOSSES BEFORE, BUT FIVE WOULD BE A NEW RECORD.

BUT HOPEFULLY, AGAIN, CLEAR COMMUNICATION WITH BOTH OF US, WITH ME LISTENING AND YOU ALL TELLING ME WHAT YOU EXPECT FROM ME, WHAT YOU NEED FROM ME, WHAT YOU REQUIRE FROM ME, I'LL DO MY

VERY BREAST TO MEET THOSE NEEDS. >> I DON'T WANT TO SAY OPPOSITE OF THAT.

THAT'S THE LEARNING CURVE. BUT ALSO BEING THE COMMANDER OF A MILITARY BASE, THAT MUST TRANSLATE. HOW WILL THOSE SKILLS TRANSLATE INTO RUNNING A CITY?

>> AGAIN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO REPORT TO A COMMISSION, BUT YOU HAVE TO REPORT TO AN ADMIRAL OR GENERAL, OR TWO. AND SO EVERYBODY HAS A BOSS. YOU GUYS HAVE WHAT, 12,000, PROBABLY MORE THAN THAT IN THE CENSUS? NO ISSUES THERE.

JUST I FEEL LIKE EVERY ROLE, EVEN THE BOSS HAS A BS. BOSS.

HE OR SHE HAS A ROLE TO PLAY. I DON'T EXPECT ANY PROBLEMS WITH ME FIGURING OUT MY ROLES AND FOR ANYONE ON THE STAFF, I WOULD LEAN ON THE CITY CLERK TO HELP GUIDE ME THROUGH HOW WE'LL

[00:15:05]

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMISSION?

THERE HAS BEEN SOME GOOD DISCUSSION SO FAR. >> WHAT IS EVERYBODY LOOKING AT

ME FORE? [LAUGHTER] >> FOR THE PUBLIC'S BENEFIT, ALL FIVE OF US HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, SOMETIMES 40 MINUTES, COMMISSIONER ANTUN WAS SOMETIMES GOING OVER HIS. ALL FIVE COMMISSIONERS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND AT LEAST A

HALF HOUR WITH ALL THE CANDIDATES. >> I'LL ASK ONE QUESTION.

>> GO AHEAD. >> THE QUESTION, I BELIEVE I'M THE KIND OF LEADER, OR MANAGER, WHO LISTENS WELL, AND ACTS PROMPTLY AND THOROUGHLY. I GET ALTER INFORMATION I CAN AT ANY POINT. AND THEN MAKE A DECISION. TRY TO MAKE THE VERY BEST DECISION YOU CAN, BUT WAITING FOR PERFECTION CAN LEAD TO INACTION, WHICH LEADS TO MISSED OPPORTUNITIES. I THINK I HAVE A GOOD SENSE, WHEN I'VE GOT THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF INFORMATION AND WHEN IT'S TIME TO ACT. I CARE ABOUT WHAT I DO.

WORK LIFE IS NOT THE JUST A JOB OR A WAY TO PAY YOUR BILLS. YOU SPEND SUCH A LARGE AMOUNT OF YOUR LIFE AT WORK, I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO FEEL LIKE IT MATTERS. AND I THINK WHEN EVERY RESIDENT AND EVERY VISITOR IS COUNTING ON YOU FOR THEIR SAFE EXISTENCE HERE, I TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY AND I WILL WORK VERY HARD TO KEEP THE GOOD AND WORK ON THE THINGS THAT COULD BE IMPROVED

MORE HERE. >> THANK YOU. I THINK WE ALL APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. WE THANK YOU FOR COMING TO SPEND A FEW DAYS AND WE COULD MAKE A

DECISION AS SOON AS TODAY. >> THANKS VERY MUCH. THANKS FOR A FEW DAYS IN

PARADISE. I'LL WAIT TO HEAR YOUR DECISION. >> THANK YOU, WE APPRECIATE THAT. ALL RIGHT. DID WE HAVE SOME THOUGHTS?

>> WE HAVE FINALIST NO. 2 IS WAITING IN THE WINGS. WE'LL HAVE ALL FOUR TODAY HERE.

>> MR. ROONEY, THE CANDIDATE NEXT. >> HE IS LISTED AS TWO.

I'LL TELL YOU WHEN HE COMES THROUGH THE DOOR. WHEN I SEE HIM, I'LL KNOW.

SOMEBODY IS NO. 2. >> SURPRISING YOULY, I HAD UNSWEET TEA.

I'M TRYING TO CUT DOWN ON MY SUGAR. THAT STAYS IN THIS ROOM.

DON'T TELL ANYBODY. IT IS MR. ROONEY. COME ON DOWN, SIR.

I'LL GIVE YOU A BRIEF INTRODUCTION. GET TO THE PODIUM THERE.

PLEASE WELCOME MR. ROONEY. HE IS HERE TODAY. YOU CAN TELL EVERYBODY ABOUT YOURSELF. HE IS ORIGINALLY FROM NEBRASKA. HE SERVED OUR COUNTRY IN THE ARMY ON TOUR IN IRAQ. HE WENT TO ILLINOIS WHERE HE SERVED AS A PUBLIC SERVANT IN MULTIPLE CITIES. MOST RECENTLY -- WHERE HE WAS CITY MANAGER THERE AND REPRESENTED THAT CITY WELL AS WELL. WE APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US TODAY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. START OFF BY INTRODUCING YOURSELF TO THE PUBLIC AND

SPEAKING ABOUT YOURSELF. >> WELL, I PREPARED, ONE THE WAYS WAS READING THE BROCHURE.

THAT'S WHY I POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE JOB BECAUSE I FELT MY EXPERIENCE AND BACK GROUND HAD SOME RELEVANCE TO A SHORELINE COMMUNITY THAT HAS A LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH TOURISM.

YOU NEED IT FOR THE VIBECY BUT IT PUTS A STRAIN ON YOUR RESOURCES AND IMPACTS THE QUALITY OF LIFE. THE JOB OF THE MANAGER IS TO MANAGER THAT DICHOTOMY.

THERE IS PROS AND CONS TO THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT YOU HAVE.

[00:20:03]

HOW DO YOU MAKE THE TOURISTS COME FOR THE WEEKEND AND THE DAY AND -- GUESS WHAT, THEY USED THE SEWER TREATMENT PLAMENT HAS TO BE TWICE AS BIG AS IT COULD BE BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL OF THOSE BODIES. THAT'S THE RUB. I CAN TELL YOU, MY BACKGROUND WITH THE MILITARY TAUGHT ME HOW TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE.

AND TAKE THEM AS THEY COME. SO I'VE DONE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AND I'VE BEEN AROUND.

HOPEFULLY NOT THE SAME EXPERIENCE FIVE TIMES. IT'S MADE ME MUCH MORE ADAPTABLE AND HUMBLE BY BEING IN THE MILITARY. BECAUSE I'VE SEEN SOME THINGS -- THEY ARE LIFE-CHANGING. ANY PROBLEM GIVEN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT THAT TOUGH A DAY. IT'S ALL A MATTER OF WHERE YOU COME FROM, WHAT YOUR PERSPECTIVE. IT TAUGHT ME TO HAVE GRATITUDE. THAT'S THE BIGGEST TAKEAWAY OF THE MILITARY. PEOPLE HAVE A MISCONCEPTION THE WAY THE MOVIES ARE.

MY MANAGEMENT STYLE IS NOT TO BARK ORDERS AND PEOPLE JUMP. I DON'T -- IT IS COLLABORATIVE AND LISTENING TO FOLKS AND LISTENING TO THE PUBLIC. I THINK IS ONE OF MY GREATEST SKILLS. I'LL TELL YOU AS I TELL THE COUNCIL, YOU'RE GETTING THE BEST ROOMIE BECAUSE I'VE LEARNED AND ADAPTED FROM WHAT WENT WRONG AS MUCH AS WHAT WENT RIGHT IN MY CAREER. I JUST LOVE THIS COMMUNITY. THE SHORT TIME I'M HERE AND I'M IMPRESSED WITH HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS. AND HOW FRIENDLY FOLKS WERE THIS WEEKEND WHEN I SAW THEM. I SAW THE AMERICAN FLAG AND THAT APPEALED TO ME AS WELL.

GREAT PLACE THAT YOU HAVE HERE. I WOULD LOVE TO JOIN YOU. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. WE ARE GOING TO -- WE'VE ALL HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND AT LEAST A HALF AN WITH YOU, WHAT WE'LL DO NOW IS ASK THE PUBLIC QUESTIONS.

I'LL GO AHEAD AND -- DO YOU HAVE ONE? >> IT'S MY LAST QUESTION.

>> HE HAS THE ONE. WE'LL START WITH --

>> I ALSO WANT TO HEAR A LITTLE MORE. YOU SPOKE ABOUT ARMY EXPERIENCE.

TALK ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. >> WELL, IT'S ABOUT MANAGING PROJECTS AND LEADING PEOPLE AND DEVELOPING YOUR BENCH. NOT JUST YOUR DEPARTMENT HEADS.

YOU HAVE SUCCESSION PLANNING, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE JUST BETTER OPERATIONS.

WHEN EVERYBODY UP AND DOWN IN EACH DEPARTMENT UNDERSTANDS THE WHY WE ARE DOING THINGS, AND NOT FOCUSED ONLY ON HOW TO DO IT. YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE WHY BEHIND IT.

THEN THEY, IN THE ABSENCE OF DIRECTION, THEY KNOW WHAT THE VISION IS AND THEY CAN MOVE FORWARD AND KNOW WHAT RIGHT LOOKS LIKE A LITTLE BIT. THAT'S WHAT I TRY TO TAKE FROM THE BUDGET AND GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE COUNCIL IN THE BUDGET, COMMISSIONERS, AND THEN EXPLAIN WHY DOWN AND MAKE SURE THE DEPARTMENT HEADS ARE DOING IT, TOO, SO THE LOWEST PERSON THAT WORKS FOR THE CITY UNDERSTANDS WHY WE ARE DOING SOMETHING.

ULTIMATELY AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE CITIZEN-TAXPAYER-BUSINESS OWNER, THAT'S WHO WE DO IT FOR. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SERVANT MINDSET TO BE REALLY GOOD AT LOCAL GOVERNMENT. YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE PEOPLE'S QUALITY OF LIFE AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SERVICE MINDSET, YOU JUST CAN'T DO IT WELL.

>> DO YOU HAVE A ANY QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS? >> WE HAVE LEARN FROM -- THE SCOPE OF THEIR VISION AND THEIR VALUE STATEMENTS ARE VERY STRONG AND VERY GUIDING LIGHTS.

WE JUST HAVE TO GET OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO KIND OF HAVE THAT SAME SHARED VISION AND VALUE SYSTEM. IT MAKES EVERYBODY PERFORM BETTER.

>> YES, SIR. >> SO WHAT IS YOUR 90 DAY PLAN AS CITY MANAGER?

>> WHAT I WOULD DO IS WORK WITH CHARLIE, THE INTERIM AND THE DEPARTMENT HEADS TO GET A VERY CLEAR STRENGTH/WEAKNESSES AND CHALLENGES THEY HAVE BY DEPARTMENT.

ONE OR TWO PAGE BULLET FORM. BUT ALSO BY DEPARTMENT. WHERE IS THE KEY STAKEHOLDERS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT I NEED TO MAKE SURE I GO LISTEN TO AND GET A PULSE OF THE COMMUNITY FROM BY DEPARTMENT. AND THEN FROM THE FIVE OF YOU, WHO YOU THINK CHIEF

[00:25:06]

AND REALLY KIND OF LISTEN MORE, TALK LESS, AND UNDERSTAND WHERE THE COMMUNITY IS AT AND WHERE THEY WANT TO GO AND SOME OF THE ISSUES AND PROBLEMS. AND THEN A LOOK AT THE STAFF THAT'S DONE THAT AND SAY, OKAY, HELP ME IDENTIFY THIS PROBLEM AS A TEAM.

AND THEN WHAT ARE SOME POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS WE CAN OFFER TO THE COUNCIL TO ADDRESS THIS.

YOU BRING SOMEBODY IN, YOU WANT THEM TO MAKE AN IMPACT. BUT I WOULD TELL YOU I'M NOT LOOKING TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN DAY 3. I'M LOOKING AT DAY 33 AND DAY 93. BUT I WANT TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AND MAKE SURE WE ARE SOLVING THE RIGHT PROBLEM AND NOT A SYMPTOM OF SOMETHING. THAT YOU DO AS A TEAM.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. I HAVE A QUESTION. YOU HAVE BEEN HERE A FEW DAYS NOW, YOU TOOK A TOUR YESTERDAY. COULD YOU TALK ABOUT SOMETHING YOU HAVE SEEN THAT YOU THINK FERNANDINA COULD BE DOING BETTER, SOMETHING WE CAN IMPROVE ON?

>> WELL, MAKING THAT KIND OF SNAP JUDGMENT ON ONE WEEKEND WOULD BE TOUGH.

I TALKED TO KHMER ROSS, ENFORCING -- HAVING A BESS DELL LEVEL FOR MUSIC INTO THE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY. I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE AN ISSUE WITH THE FRICTION OF NOISE.

BECAUSE SOME FOLKS HAVE TO GET UP ON SATURDAY AND GO TO WORK. THE 11:00 BAND, BUT YOU HAVE TAKEN THAT STEP. A LOT OF IT IS WAYS YOU CONTROL QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES WITH THE INFLUX OF BODIES THAT COME AND HOW -- I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE, BUT I WOULD WORK WITH YOUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN, BUT REVERSE IT AND USE THAT SAME STRUCTURE.

HOW DO WE HANDLE OUR BUSIEST FESTIVAL WEEKENDS AND WHAT DOES THAT DO TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND HAVE WE LOOKED AT WHAT WORKED, WHAT DIDN'T WORK, WHAT CAN WE ADJUST FOR THE BETTERMENT PERMANENT RESIDENTS, NOT JUST THE GUESTS THAT COME, EFFICIENTLY.

SO JUST A NEW SET OF EYES ON HOW THEY OPERATED IN THE PAST. AND CAN IT BE MODIFIED.

THAT'S A GOOD PLANNING DOCUMENT TO UTILIZE TO ADDRESS A LOT OF ISSUES.

>> YES, SIR. I'LL ASK ONE MORE. WHAT IS SOMETHING FERNANDINA BEACH DOES WELL. WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU LIKE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY?

>> I THINK JUST HOW ORGANIZED YOU ARE ABOUT THE BODIES -- THE MILLION PLUS BODIES THAT COME IN ALL YEAR ROUND. THE INFRASTRUCTURE STILL IS SHINY IN THE STREETS.

I KNOW KNOW YOU HAVE TO DO THE SIDEWALKS IN CENTRE STREET, BUT YOU HAVE AN EYE OR QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES. JUST THE SIMPLE THINGS THAT THE PUBLIC WORKS DO TO CLEAN UP THE STREETSCAPE. THEN, YOU KNOW, THE IDEA, I HEARD THAT THEY WANT TO DRESS UP THE ENTRYWAY SIGN, THE BIKE COMMUNITY. ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT MAKE IT WORTH BEING HERE. YOU HAVE PLANS TO ADDRESS IT OR YOU'RE ALREADY STARTING TO DO THAT. YOU LOOK AT THE FULL DIVERSITY OF PEOPLE'S INTERESTS AND LOVES AND TRY TO DO SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.

ARYOUR NATURE TRAILS, PRESERVATION OF THE SEA TURTLES, LIGHT IMPACTS.

THEY ARE DOING THINGS VERY PROGRESSIVELY IN AN OLD FLORIDA KIND OF PLACE THAT IS REALLY MOVED WAY AHEAD. I WAS READING LITERATURE ABOUT OTHER SUCCESSES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND BRINGING IT HOME. IT WILL BE HARD TO 48 HOURS TO HAVE A CRITIQUE.

I WAS AMAZED AT THE NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT ARE BEING ADDRESSED. >> IT THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR.

>> YEAH, I WOULD LOVE OUR CITIZENS TO HEAR WHAT YOUR TOP TWO ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS A MANAGER

AND YOUR TOP TWO DISAPPOINTS. >> MY TOP TWO ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS A MANAGER IS THAT I HAVE SEVEN FOLKS THAT WORK FOR ME THAT SUCCESSION PLANNING THAT NOW ARE MANAGERS IN OTHER COMMUNITIES IN MY CAREER. AND ANOTHER THREE THAT PLACES. I WOULD LIKE TO THINK I'M DOING SOMETHING RIGHT IN DEVELOPING TALENT AND WORKING WITH PEOPLE TO FULFILL THEIR FUTURE DESIRES AND NEEDS. AT THE SAME TIME YOU GET THE MOST OUT OF THEM SO THE COMMUNITY THEY ARE CURRENTLY SERVING IS GETTING THEIR BEST EFFORT, TOO.

YOU ARE EAGER TO MOVE ON. SO YOU GOT TO GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE TO FAIL.

[00:30:01]

AND THE OTHER ONE IS THE ABILITY TO, IN NEW ENGLAND, SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF HARBOR MANAGEMENT PLAN THAT NEEDED ACCESS POINTS, EASEMENTS TO THE OCEAN, AND THE PARKING SITUATION WITH CORRESPONDING WITH IT. HAVING AN EASEMENT TO THE OCEAN DOES NO ONE ANY FAVORS IF THERE IS NOWHERE TO PARK FOR THE PUBLIC. SO, THE TWO GO HAND IN HAND.

WORKING ON THAT ISSUE WAS A CHALLENGE. BEING FROM THE MIDWEST, WHAT DOES THIS GO KNOW ABOUT AN OCEAN OR A BEACH? AND I DON'T.

THAT WAS NOT MY FORTE. THE ISSUE AND THE PROBLEM, IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM, THEN GETTING POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO IT, AND BEING FROM THE OUTSIDE, I WASN'T HELD BACK BY "WE TRIED THAT ALREADY, IT FAILED." WELL, CAN WE MODIFY IT AND GET THERE AND NEGOTIATE WITH SOME OF OUR ENTITIES THAT HAVE CONTROL OF THE PARKING, TO SHARE IN A WAY THAT WAS MEANINGFUL TO THE COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, I WASN'T AFRAID TO TRY NEW THINGS OR BE TOLD NO THE FIRST TIME AND ASK A DIFFERENT WAY AND BE TOLD AGAIN AND JUST KEEP COMING.

KIND OF IDENTIFYING LONG STANDING PROBLEM AND WORKING IT THROUGH AND WITH A LOT OF STAKEHOLDERS, GETTING IT FOR THE GREATER GOOD. NOT EVERYBODY WAS HAPPY WITH THE END SOLUTION, BUT WE MOVED THE BALL FORWARD FOR BETTERMENT. AND THEN SELLING INFRASTRUCTURE BONDS, TWICE IN FOUR AND A HALF YEARS. I WAS ABOUT $18.5 MILLION TO FIX LONGSTANDING INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS. REALLY GOING OUT AND SELLING IT BECAUSE IT HAD TO PASS BY REFERENDUM. BOTH TIMES IT PAST.

SECOND TIME EVEN MORE THAN THE FIRST ONE, BECAUSE EVERYBODY GOT SOMETHING THAT SAID WE WOULD DO THESE 40 ROADS. WE GOT PRICING AND DID 50. IT DEVELOPED THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE WOULD KEEP OUR WORD AND DO WHAT WE SAID WE WOULD DO WITH THE MONEY.

IT'S A CHALLENGE, BUT WE GOT THE IT DONE. CAPITAL PROJECTS I THINK IS ONE OF MY FORTES AND STRENGTHS. IT'S PAINFUL TO DO BECAUSE YOU ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO PUT MONEY ON THE TAX BILL. TWO THINGS I FAILED? I DIDN'T HAVE THE FORESIGHT TO SEE A CHALLENGE COMING DOWN ON THE CHANGE OF A BODY, ELECTED BODY AND THE PRIORITIES.

AND I DIDN'T MOVE QUICK ENOUGH TO GET THE STAFF TO RESPOND TO THAT POLITICAL CHANGE FAST ENOUGH BECAME A CRISIS POINT IN MY TENURE THERE. IF I HAD MORE FORESIGHT I COULD HAVE ADJUSTED SOONER AND AVOIDED THAT TURMOIL. WHEN A MANAGER LEAVES, IT'S IMPACTED THE STAFF. AND IT HURTS THE CONTINUITY OF THE STAFF, AND THEN INCREDIBLE THE COMMUNITY. SO YOU'VE GOT TO BE COGNIZANT YOU'RE NOT JUST YOURSELF, YOU WILL AFFECT YOUR STAFF. SO YOU HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT OF THAT AND BE RESPONSIBLE FOR

THAT. >> ALL RIGHT. I DID HAVE TWO THINGS THAT CAME UP PRIOR THAT I WANTED TO TOUCH ON ON. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GOVERNOR, HOW DID THAT GO? TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THAT.

>> JIM ROMANDO IS NOW THE COMMERCE SECRETARY WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

SHE IS ONE OF THE BRIGHTEST, DYNAMIC POLITICAL LEADERS I'VE COME ACROSS IN MY CAREER.

DURING COVID, EARLY ON, THE CRISIS OUT ON OF NEW YORK CITY, IF YOU REMEMBER, THEY HAD A CONFERENCE CALL OF ALL THE TOWNS AND CITIES. AND SHE, HER STAFF DEMANDED THAT WE STOP NEW YORK PLATED LICENSES COMING IN TO RHODE ISLAND. FURTHER SOUTH OF 95 AND WE HAD THE MOST NEW YORK MONEY THAT OWNED THE BIG MANSIONS ON THE OCEAN.

OF COURSE THEY WILL ESCAPE NEW YORK CITY TO A SAFER PLACE. WE HAD LOWER SCOIFD AND THEY COULD FEEL SAFE BECAUSE THEY ARE STANDOFF DISTANCE, COMPARED TO NEW YORK CITY.

I ENDED UP SAYING, NO. I TOOK AN OATH TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION AND STATE CONSTITUTION. I WILL NOT HAVE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT STOP PEOPLE JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO THEIR BIG HOUSE ON THE OCEAN OR COME TO THEIR COTTAGE RENTAL.

THAT WAS CONTROVERSIAL. THE STATE SENATOR AND REPS CAME TO MY OFFICE AND HAD A DIRECT

[00:35:07]

AND WAS ABLE TO TELL HER NO AND, OH, BY THE WAY I'M NOT GROWING TO STOP PEOPLE FROM WALKING ON THE BEACH. IT SOUNDS CRAZY NOW. BUT AT THE TIME EVERYBODY ELSE WAS PUTTING RULES, NOT LETTING PEOPLE WALK ON THE BEACH. IT MADE NO SENSE TO ME.

I DIDN'T SEE THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT. I HAD THE ABILITY TO SAY NO.

BUT I DID IT IN A VERY RESPECTFUL FASHION AND GOT COACHED UP BY THE STATE SENATORS. SO I'M NOT CHANGING MY MIND, BUT CAN YOU AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, BE A LITTLE MORE DIPLOMATIC. I SAID NO, THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY WAYS TO SAY NO.

I HAD THE SPINE TO DO THE UNCOMFORTABLE THING. YOU ABOUT I ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY, WHEN NEW INFORMATION COMES, I ADJUST. I WILL ADMIT I WAS ON THE WRONG

TRACK AND WE'LL ADMIT IT SAWN MOVE ON. >> ABSOLUTELY.

THIS IS MORE KIND OF -- THIS CAME UP WHILE WE WERE TALKING. I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING ABOUT THE -- SO THE SONG TAYLOR SWIFT WROTE ABOUT THE HOUSE, THAT WAS IN YOUR TOWN.

THAT WAS IN YOUR TOWN. >> RIGHT. >> SHE DID REFERENCE THE COMMUNITY AND THE NEIGHBORS. TRANSITIONALLY THE SONG IS KIND OF ABOUT YOU.

HOW DO YOU FEEL TO HAVE A SONG -- >> I EXPLAINED TO THE MAYOR THAT I ENDED UP GETTING TO KNOW HER FATHER VERY WELL. BECAUSE HE WAS A BIG TIME -- SO HE CAME TO THE HOUSE A LOT. WE HAD TO DO A STREETSCAPE CHANGE IN FRONT OF THAT MANSION ON THE HILL STREET. HE WAS VERY CONCERNED IT WOULD MAKE IT MORE DANGEROUS FOR HIS DAUGHTER BECAUSE SHE IS STALKED RELATIONALLY. HE DIDN'T BELIEVE ME WHEN I SHOWED AIM ALL THE PLANS AND HOW IT WOULD IMPROVE IT. HE WENT TO THE ELECTED OFFICIALS. THIS GUY IS CRAZY, WHERE DID YOU GET THIS CHICAGO GUY? THEN HE APOLOGIZED AFTER WE FINISHED THE PROJECT, AND WE BECAME BREAKFAST BUDDIES AND WE WANT OUT FISHING WITH HIM ONCE. THEN WHEN SHE WENT ON TOUR, I COULDN'T GET TICKETS, MY DAUGHTER COULDN'T GET THROUGH. I CALLED AND TEXTED HIM. HE SAID, ROONEY, I GOT YOU COVERED. GOT US TICKETS AND WE WERE AT THE CONCERT.

HE SAID COME UP ON THE BOX AND MEET MY EX-WIFE, WE'RE FRIENDS AGAIN.

I WAS, LIKE -- I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT. BUT IT JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU CAN SAY NO TO SOMEBODY IF YOU DO IT RESPECTFULLY. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE LAST TIME YOU HAVE A CONVERSATION. OVER THE YEARS I'VE GOTTEN BETTER AT THE HARRY TRUMAN ADAGE OF TELL SOMEBODY TO GO SOMEWHERE AND HAVE THEM LIKE THE TRIP. PLUS, HUMOR AND BE ABLE TO TAKE YOURSELF NOT TOO SERIOUSLY HELPS. I DO A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE EASILY POKED FUN AT SOMETIMES. I TELL THE STAFF, THAT'S HOW WE LEARN AND THAT'S HOW WE BREAK DOWN THAT SENSE OF TITLE AND GET PEOPLE SAFE. BEST WAY IS TO MAKE FUN OF MY FOIBLES. I SAY "THAT DOG DON'T HUNT." SAY WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT THAT WAY. IF YOU DON'T ENJOY DOING THIS WORK, YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE IT FUN.

IT'S HARD AND PEOPLE ARE HARD ON YOU. YOU DON'T NEED TO BE HARD ON

EACH OTHER. >> THANK YOU, SIR. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS?

THERE IS ONE TO ASK. >> WHY SHOULD WE HIRE YOU? >> BECAUSE I THINK AT THIS STAGE IN MY CAREER WITH MY EXPERIENCE AND BACKGROUND, I CAN RELATE TO THE ISSUES BEFORE YOU.

THEY SEEM IMPRACTICALICAL SOMETIMES, LIKE PARKING OR SELLING A BOND ISSUE TO FIX THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT NEEDS TAKEN CARE OF. TO TRY TO GET THAT BALANCE BETWEEN PERMANENT RESIDENTS, PART-TIME RESIDENTS, AND THE VISITORS.

AND MANAGE THAT QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE. I THINK I HAVE THE BACKGROUND AND BOUGHT THAT T-SHIRT. I CAN BRING THAT EXPERIENCE. WHAT I CAN TELL YOU, THERE MAY BE PEOPLE THAT ARE SMARTER, BUT YORNG YOU WILL FIND ANYBODY AS ADAPTABLE AND HAS AS MUCH GRIT IN THIS BUSINESS AS I DO. BECAUSE I CAN TAKE ONE ON THE CHIN AND GET UP AND COME AT IT AGAIN. I JUST DON'T HOLD A GRUDGE. IF I FAIL TODAY, TOMORROW I DON'T THINK OF A NEW WAY TO APPROACH IT AND EVEN ADAPTABILITY TO SAY NO

TACTFULLY. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. WE APPRECIATE YOU SPENDING A FEW DAYS IN FERNANDINA BEACH WITH US. WE MAY KNOW AS SOON AS TODAY.

>> THANK YOU. IT'S TESTIMONY TO HOW MUCH THE COMMUNITY LOVES THIS PLACE FOR

[00:40:06]

MAKES ME FEEL IMPORTANT. IF YOU, FOLKS. >> WE'RE SLIGHTLY AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. WE HAVE A BREAK NEXT BUT WE'LL GO RIGHT INTO FINALIST 3.

LET'S GET ONE MORE IN. I BELIEVE THAT IS ROSS. >> WAITING IN THE WING.

>> I ASKED HIM. HE TOLD ME HE WAS NEXT. HIS NAME IS ROSS.

MY DADDY'S NAME IS MUCH LONGER, WHEN THEY GOT TO ELLIS ISLAND, ROSS CAME OUT OF NOWHERE.

>> GOT IT. MR. ROSS, WELCOME. GREAT THE TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

HOW THIS WORKS, I'LL GIVE YOU A BRIEF INTRODUCTION. YOU CAN JUMP IN, TALK A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF. THEN WE'LL HAVE SOME COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS.

THIS IS FOR THE PUBLIC'S BENEFIT, AS THEY ALREADY KNOW WE HAD A ONE ON ONE CONVERSATION WITH YOU. SO LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS COMMISSIONER TYSON ROSS, HE IS AN ATTORNEY FROM DALTON, HE BECAME THE HEAD FOR THE CITY OF GEORGIA AND THEN WENT ON TO

RUN A CITY OF TENNESSEE. HE IS LOOKING TO COME OVER HERE. >> THAT'S ACCURATE.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. MR. TYSON ROSS, GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF.

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF. >> SURE. I GO BY TY.

THINK OF THIS TO HELP YOU REMEMBER. I LIVE IN TENNESSEAN I LIVE IN A TOWN CALLED LOUDON. NOT ON THE COAST, BUT IT HAS LAKESHORE.

NOT COASTLINE. BUT WE HAVE EIGHT MILES OF LAKESHORE.

JUST AS YOU HAVE EIGHT MILES HERE. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF FACTORS, IT'S SIMILAR LOOK AND FEEL. THE VIEW SCAPE CHALLENGES ARE SIMILAR.

WE ALSO HAVE A WIDE-RANGING RETIRED POPULATION. IT'S A DESTINATION FOR RETIREES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THE SECRET SIDE ABOUT EAST TENNESSEE.

MANY JOKING CALL THE INWARD MIGRATION, HALF-BACKS. THEY COME HALFWAY BACK TO TENNESSEE BECAUSE THEY LIKE IT BECAUSE IT'S FOUR SEASONS. YOU HAVE A FULL CLOSET, FULL WARD ROPE. MY WIFE'S NAME IS JENNIFER. WE HAVE BEEN MARRIED 22 YEARS.

WE HAVE TWO BOYS, JAMES AND GEORGE. JAMES IS 18.

GEORGE IS 15. GEORGE IS STILL A SOPHOMORE IN HIGH SCHOOL.

MY OLDEST IS A FRESHMAN AT THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY AT WEST POINT.

I MENTION THAT BECAUSE I TOLD YOU A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR HOUSEHOLD AND HOW WE VALUE EDUCATION AND DUTY. I'VE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS.

JUST NOT A LOT I HAVEN'T SEEN IN TERMS OF CHALLENGES. HERE THEY ARE SHARED BY A LOT OF COMMUNITIES. THEY ARE NOT -- CERTAINLY NOT INSURMOUNTABLE.

MANY COMMUNITIES WOULD WISH FOR YOUR PROBLEMS. I'M NOT INTIMIDATED OR HESITANT TO TAKE ON ANY OF THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU HAVE. IN FACT I LOOK FORWARD TO IT AND HOPE TO BE HERE FOR A LONG, LONG TIME. I FEEL THIS PROCESS ANY TIME IN

THE NEAR FUTURE. >> WELL, PERFECT. WHERE DO YOU BEGIN? THEY KNOW WE'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK YOU QUESTIONS.

FOR THE BEST OF THE COMMISSIONERS, WE'LL ASK A FEW MORE QUESTIONS FOR YOU HERE.

COMMISSIONER ANTUN, DID YOU WANT TO KICK THINGS OFF? >> SURE.

WHAT IS YOUR 90-DAY PLAN, SHOULD WE CHOOSE YOU AS OUR MANAGER. >> I WANT TO GET HERE AS SOON AS I CAN. BUILDING IS A CHALLENGE, REAL ESTATE, WHAT NOT.

I WANT TO GET HERE AND GET TO KNOW THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

VISIT WITH THE COMMISSIONERS AS WELL AS EXPANDING NETWORK OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT THEY APPOINT AND SUPPORT THEM. ALSO, AND THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE DONE IN THE PAST THAT WORKS VERY WELL. I WOULD LIKE TO SPEND A FULL WORKING DAY, EIGHT HOURS,

[00:45:04]

>> SO YOU'VE BEEN IN FERNANDINA BEACH IS FEW DAYS NOW. COULD YOU GO OVER SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE SEERNTION EITHER ON TOUR OR THINGS LIKE THAT, WHERE YOU THINK FERNANDINA COULD BE DOING BETTER. THEN CAN YOU GO INTO SOMETHING YOU THINK IT IS DOING WELL?

>> I THINK IN TERMS OF FACILITIES, THERE IS SOME TIDYING UP THAT CAN BE DONE.

I HAVE FRIENDS AT THE WATER DEPARTMENT AND SOME PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES, THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE TAKEN THERE. WE HAVE A PRACTICAL IN LOUDON CALLED "LOOKING GOOD LOUDON." IT'S A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE TO SPRUCE THINGS UP AND MAKE THEM LOOK BETTER.

HAVING CONTROL OF THE FACILITIES AND HAVE THE ABILITY TO IMPROVE THEM.

IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU ARE DOING WELL. THE STREETSCAPE DOWNTOWN IS PARTICULARLY IMPRESSIVE. I TOOK MANY, MANY PICTURES AND SENT THEM TO JENNIFER.

>> THAT'S AWESOME. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER ANTUN.

>> YES, YOU SHOWED ME SEVERAL PICTURES OF THE HISTORICAL COURTHOUSE AND THAT YOU TOOK YESTERDAY. THEY ARE NICE. YOU COULD BE AN AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER. I WANT OUR RESIDENTS TO HEAR ABOUT WHAT YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS A MANAGER IS. TALK ABOUT THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, IS TURNING WHAT WAS A PRIVATE OR CLOSED RESERVOIR IN THE CITY OF LOUDON AND MAKING IT BETTER. RAZOR WIRE WAS PUT AROUND IT AND CLOSED BECAUSE THAT WAS AN EASY DECISION FOR THE UTILITY DEPARTMENT.

NOT A LOT OF THOUGHT WENT INTO IT. WE PROPOSED THE IDEA OF OPENING IT UP FOR RECREATIONAL USE AND PARK-TYPE FACILITIES. THAT WAS MET WITH A HARD NO.

I ASK WHY NO? THERE ARE REGULATORY REASONS. EPA, OR EPD.

I GOT WITH THOSE AGENCIES. WHAT IS POSSIBLE POSITIVE? I STARTED TALKING TO THEM.

GOT THE TO MAYBE WITH THEM. BROUGHT THEM TO THE TABLE WITH THE STID OF DALTON.

WE FOUND ON THE GROUND WHERE TO OPEN THAT RESERVOIR AND CREATE A PARK FOR THE PUBLIC WHICH WAS CONSTRUCTED AND STILL IN USE TODAY. THAT WAS PARTICULARLY ENJOYABLE.

ANOTHER ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE IS TAKING ABOUT 12 ACRES IN DOWNTOWN LOUDON, IT WAS ON THE WATERFRONT. WHERE OLD EMPTY DILAPIDATED FACTORY WAS AND SECURING THAT PROPERTY FROM THE CORPORATION THAT OWNED IT IN MICHIGAN. KIND OF A NEGLIGENT LANDLORD.

AND THEN PROCEEDING TO DEMOLISH IT AND OPEN IT UP FOR REDEVELOPMENT.

SO WE REZONED IT FROM HEAVY INDUSTRIAL TO A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.

SO WE GOT RESIDENTIAL, RESIDENTIAL APARTMENTS, TOWNHOMES AND COMMERCIAL THAT ARE IN THE WORKS AND HAS BEEN PERMITTED AND BEING CONSTRUCTED NOW.

THAT IS SOMETHING I ENJOYED. DISAPPOINTMENTS? MY HAIR FALLING OUT.

I WAS DISAPPOINTED. YOU LEARN A LOT IN THIS JOB. YOU LEARN FROM EXPERIENCE.

I THINK I JUMPED INTO THIS ABOUT THE AGE OF 35. I'LL BE 50 IN JUNE.

I REMEMBER WE WERE JUST COUPLE OF WEEKS AWAY FROM THE DEMOLITION PROJECT.

THERE WAS A LITTLE LADY WHO WAS FEEDING CATS INSIDE THE FACTOR. MIND YOU, THE ROOF WAS FALLING DOWN IN THIS FACTORY. I MADE THE MISTAKE OF STOPPING AND ASKING HER TO STOP FEEDING THE CATS BECAUSE IF THERE IS FOOD THERE, THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO BE THERE AND MIGHT BE INJURED OR KILLED DURING DEMOLITION. HER REACTION TO THAT, TOOK IT TO FACEBOOK.

THEN A COUPLE OF ELECTED OFFICIALS ESCALATED IT FROM THERE.

IT GOT OUT OF HAND. SO WHAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED? WHAT I LEARNED, YOU DON'T DO HARD STUFF ALONE. BECAUSE IT WASN'T WITNESSED, IT WAS WITH ACTUALLY SAID DIDN'T MATTER. ON DON'T DO HARD STUFF ALONE. I SHOULD HAVE TALKED TO CODE

[00:50:03]

THAT APPLIES TO THE CITY STAFF AS WELL AS THE MUNICIPALITY. NUMBER TWO, DON'T DO HARD STUFF ALONE. WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THAT. AND NO. 3, MAKE THE PERSON BESIDE YOU PROUD. WHICH MEANS TO SERVE. DO THOSE THREE THINGS AND YOU

CAN BE SUCCESSFUL AS A CITY MANAGER. >> THANK YOU SIR.

I BELIEVE THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS WE HAVE. DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY OTHER

QUESTION? LET'S GO TO A FINAL. >> THIS IS A QUESTION, INSTEAD OF ASKING WHY SHOULD I VOTE FOR YOU. WHY SHOULD WE HIRE YOU.

>> YOU SHOULD HIRE ME BECAUSE I'M THE RIGHT PERSON AT THE RIGHT TIME TO HELP LEAD THIS COMMUNITY IN THE FUTURE. I'VE MADE A LOT OF MISTAKES. NOT HERE.

THIS WOULD BE MY THIRD CITY AS CITY MANAGER AND THE THIRD TIME IS A CHARM.

YOU WILL BENEFIT FROM ALL OF MY EXPERIENCE. I BRING WITH ME WORK IN SIMILAR-SIZED COMMUNITIES WITH SIMILAR BUDGETS. I'VE ACTUALLY HAD A BREADTH OF EXPERIENCE, THAT EXCEEDS WHAT YOU DO NOW. FOR EXAMPLE, I ALSO MANAGED AN ELECTRICITY DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS A NATURAL GAS DEPARTMENT. THAT IS NOT A BAD THING.

THAT'S A GOOD THING. YOU'RE A LARGER CITY FROM THAT UTILITY DISTRICT I CAME FROM WITH THOSE SERVICES. SO I THINK THE MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN TERMS OF WHAT I'D BE DOING ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS IS VERY SIMILAR. I'VE LOOKED THROUGH YOUR BUDGET.

IT'S A FINE BUDGET. IT'S A MATURE BUDGET. IT HAS ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. THINGS WE CAN MONITOR AND MEASURE.

AND THINGS WE CAN GO BACK AND ENHANCE LATER ON. I THINK THAT YOUR C.I.P., YOUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, NOTHING SHOCKING THERE.

THERE IS NOTHING INTIMIDATING. IT'S ALL THINGS THAT I HANDLED IN THE PAST, IF NOT LARGER PROJECTS. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, MY WIFE SAW THIS JOB ADVERTISED AND SHE TOLD

ME TO GO GET IT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE STILL WORKING FOR THE CITY AND WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING TIME TO SPEND WITH US HERE IN FERNANDINA. WE COULD KNOW AS SOON AS TODAY. LET'S SEE HOW IT GOES.

>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU, SIR. I FEEL LIKE YOU SHOULD TALK BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO. SO WE ARE STILL AHEAD OF WHERE WE SHOULD BE.

I'D SAY LET'S ROLL INTO FINALIST 4 AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A BREAK AFTER THAT.

WILL CANDIDATE 4, MR. LEE SMITH. >> WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SWEET TEA AND TEA?

>> SUGAR. >> APPRECIATE THAT. WHAT DRIVES YOU TO ONE OR THE

OTHER? >> IT DEPENDS ON THE DIET. IF I WANT DIABETES.

YOU CAN'T DO SWEET TEA ALL THE TIME. >> WHY NOT?

>> I LIKE BEING HEALTHY. SUGARY DRINKS, I'M TRYING TO HAVE MORE -- YOU HAVEN'T HEARD OF LA COLORADO KROIX? LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE WELCOME MR. LEE SMITH.

HE IS MOST RECENTLY CITY MANAGER OF CHATHAM COUNTY AMONG OTHER THAT'S A BRIEF INTRODUCTION.

IF YOU COULD START THINGS OFF FOR THE PUBLIC'S BENEFIT. THEY KNOW YOU HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND A HALF AN HOUR WITH EACH OF US INDIVIDUALLY.

THIS IS THE SAME THING BUT AS A JOINT NOW. IF YOU COULD KICK IT OFF WITH A

LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF. >> OKAY. EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

SO I GET THE WHOLE COASTAL THING. AND I KNOW YOU GUYS, ONE THE

[00:55:06]

I WAS RAISED ON OAK COKE ISLAND AND MOVED TO THE MAIN ENLD. SCHOOL WAS AN HOUR AND 45 MINUTES AWAY. I STARTED, WENT TO COLLEGE. WENT BACK HOME TO MY HOME COUNTY, WHICH WAS ABOUT 9,000 PEOPLE. IT WAS KIND OF MAYBERRY R.F.D.

I WAS FIRE MARSHAL, PLANNER, DEPUTY CLERK, DEPUTY MANAGER, EMERGENCY MANAGER, 9-1-1 COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR. I WROTE THE MAP ON THE WALL AND BUILDING SUSPECTER 2.

I DID -- BUILDING INSPECTOR 2. I DID A LITTLE BIT MORE. IT WON'T GET MY ME BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY DONE IT. I WAS THERE FOR A FEW YEARS AND THEN WHENT TO COLUMBUS COUNTY CAROLINA NEAR WILMINGTON. I WAS ECONOMIC DIRECTOR. IT'S NICE TO GO BY SOMEONE AND SAY I WAS A PART OF THAT AND THERE IS TEN THOUSAND JOBS THERE.

I WAS A THERE A FEW YEARS, TRAVELED EXTENSIVELY IN EUROPE AND CANADA, LIKED THE DAY-TO-DAY. DID SOME ACTUALLY SOME WATER BONDS, SEWER BONDS AND REFERENDUMS THAT GROW A SYSTEM FOR AN INDUSTRY AND FOR HOUSING. I LIKED THE DAY-TO-DAY.

WENT TO WASHINGTON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. VERY SMALL, 127 EMPLOYEES.

$12 MILLION BUDGET. I WAS THERE EIGHT YEARS, I GUESS.

I MAY BE OFF A YEAR. SMALL COUNTY. BUT WE DID HEALTH SERVICE, LIBRARY. IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

SO THAT IS WHERE I CUT MY TEETH BASICALLY ON REALLY KNOW A BUDGET WHEN YOUR COUNTY PANICS WHEN A SMALL -- AND POOR COMMUNITIES FOR THE MOST PART. IT WAS A MILL TOWN.

SO I KIND OF GET THE MILLS HERE. THE SCHOOL BOARD WAS THE BIGGEST THING THERE.

I LEFT THERE AND WENT TO WAYNE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. I WENT FROM $12 MILLION BUDGET TO RIGHT AT 980 MILLION. THAT WAS A BIG JUMP. I TELL EVERYBODY A DOLLAR IS A DOLLAR AND THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY PENNIES. EVERYBODY WANTS THE SAME SERVICE. 127, 130,000 PEOPLE. I WAS RECRUITED TO CHATHAM COUNTY, GEORGIA. BETTER KNOWN AS SAV AN AW. I WAS THERE A NUMBER OF YEARS.

LEFT JANUARY 3RD. I LEFT SAV ANNA. STILL HAVE A HOME THERE.

MY DAUGHTER SAYS SHE IS STAYING. SHE SAYS, I GET THE HOUSE, RIGHT, NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO? OKAY, RIGHT. I'VE BEEN DOING CONSULTING WORK.

I STARTED, REALLY, LAST FALL. LOOKING AT CLIENTS WHERE I WILL WORK NOW, HAVE BEEN FOR EIGHT, NINE MONTHS WITH SEVERAL CITIES AND COUNTIES IN THE REGION. THAT KEPT ME PRETTY BUSY.

AND I'M HERE TODAY. >> THANK YOU, WE APPRECIATE THAT.

WE HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR YOU HERE AS A COMMISSION. >> I KNOW I'VE ASKED YOU THIS IN OUR PRIVATE INTERVIEW, IF WE CHOOSE YOU AS YOUR MANAGER WHAT WOULD BE YOUR 90 DAY PLAN?

>> YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS -- I APOLOGIZE FOR STORIES AND LITTLE QUIPS.

THE FIRST THING I DO, NOW I'M OVER THE BATHROOM JAR AND I SAY THAT, NOT BEING LIGHT ABOUT IT.

BUT YOU'VE GOT TO KNOW THE LAY OF THE LAND. WHERE ARE YOUR BUILDINGS.

WHERE ARE YOUR PEOPLE. THE FIRST WEEK OR TWO, THE OTHER THING IS HOW YOU COMMUNICATE WITH THE BOARD. BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE PREFERENCES.

HOW OFTEN, WHAT TYPE. SO THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT. BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T COMMUNICATE, YOU'VE GOT A MAJOR PROBLEM. AND THEN REALLY LEARNING THE DEPARTMENT MANAGERS. I'VE TOLD ALL OF YOU TODAY THAT MANAGING IS LIKE MANAGING BY WALKING AROUND. YOU FOLKS HAVE TO SEE. YOU HAVE TO BUY BALL, LOOK THEM IN THE BUY BALL, LET THEM SEE THAT YOU CARE, THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO GO OUT AND TALK WITH THEM, SEE IF THEY HAVE ISSUES. TALK. I BELIEVE STRONGLY IN CHAIN OF COMMAND. THAT YOU FOLLOW THROUGH. IF SOMETHING SO BAD ENOUGH, IF YOU NEED ME, THAT'S FINE. MORE LIKELY THE DEPARTMENT MANAGER IS SITTING SITTING IN TE CHAIR. AFTER THAT, SAY 30, 45 DAYS, BY THEN REALLY LOOKING AT ORDINANCES, POLICIES AND HOW THEY ARE BEING ADHERE TO. WHEN YOU GET INTO THE 90 DAY OF THE 120 DAY. YOU SHOULD REALLY BEING KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE BUDGET.

[01:00:02]

THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS ONE THING. PRIORITIES OF THE ORGANIZATION AND USUALLY I START WITH DEPARTMENTS. BRING IT ALL THE WAY UP TO THE BOARD. AND LOOK AT OBVIOUSLY ON COMMUNITY IS IMPORTANT IN ALL OF THAT. TO LOOK AT WHAT YOUR CAPITAL PLAN.

WHERE ARE YOU LOOKING TO GO. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP.

WHAT ARE THE PROBLEM AREAS. HOW DO WE WANT TO ATTACK THOSE THINGS.

QUITE FRANKLY, THAT SHOULD COME FROM THE DEPARTMENTS AND YOUR ADMINISTRATION TO BRING THESE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD TO LOOK AT HOW WE GO AFTER THAT. HOW YOU GO AND PAY FOR THINGS.

WITH THAT, OBVIOUSLY THE BUDGET. THE OTHER THING IS, IN THAT 45, 60-DAY PERIOD, IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT THAT AND NOT BECAUSE THE PUBLIC IS SITTING HERE, BUT I FEEL STRONGLY YOU'VE GOT TO GO OUT AND TALK TO FOLKS, H.O.A.S, GO TO CHURCHES. IF I'M CHOSEN, YOU WILL SEE ME IN A CHURCH EVERY OTHER SUNDAY, A DIFFERENT ONE WITH, TO SEE WHO PLAYS THE PIANO SO I CAN SIT AND HELP YOU OUT IF YOU NEED THAT. GO TO DIFFERENT CHURCHES. GO TO HOAS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

WHEREVER. YOU HAVE TO FIND OUT WHAT IS THE HEART BEAT.

THE BOARD IS THE BOARD AND YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THEIR INPUT. THAT IS IMPORTANT.

YOU KNOW HOW TO LEGISLATE. THAT IS WHAT YOU DO. IT GIVES GUIDANCE FOR THE DEPARTMENTS. I WILL TAKE THIS MORNING I'M GOING TO AN HOA AND TAKING OFFICERS. I WITH LIKE TO GO SO I CAN HEAR WHAT IS GOING ON.

TAKE A DEPARTMENT MANAGER. TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT SUBS ABOUT DRAINAGE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WHATTEN IS THE HOT BUTTON ON? WHAT IS GOING ON? BY THE TIME YOU GET TO, I WOULD THINK, A STRATEGIC PLAN OR WORK SESSIONS WITH THE BOARD THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT, THAT REALLY WOULD HELP GUIDE US. LIKE I SAID, WE MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE BOARD REPPED REFINE THAT AND BRING THE PUBLIC IN TO SAY HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT.

WHAT ARE THE WILLING TO INVEST? IT REALLY IS INVESTMENT WHEN YOU LOOK AT MOVING FORWARD, SO MATTER WHAT DOLLARS YOU HAVE OR DON'T HAVE. WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO INVEST BASED ON WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS. THERE ARE SOME THINGS COMMUNITIES DON'T WANT. IFS THAT THE CASE, THE MAJORITY RULES.

THEN YOU DON'T GO THAT WAY. OR YOU CHOOSE TO BITE IT AND DO IT.

HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF THAT SIX MONTHS, YOU KIND OF KNOW WHERE YOU ARE.

IN THE PAST, BY THEN, IT'S USUALLY BUDGETS STARTING TO ROLL AGAIN.

I COULD TELL ALL OF YOU BUDGET IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT YOU DO AND THAT THE ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGER DOES. BUT BUDGET DOESN'T HAPPEN THREE MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR.

IT HAPPENS ON THE FIRST DAY THAT YOU ADOPT THE BUDGET. AND IT'S 365 DAYS A YEAR.

BECAUSE IF YOU DO NOT WATCH THE BUDGET. IF YOU DO NOT LOOK AT HOW YOU ARE SPENDING THOSE PENNIES AND THOSE QUARTERS AND THOSE DOLLARS, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT. BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW YOU ARE SPENDING, WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE AS FAR AS HOW YOU'RE SPENDING.

HOW YOU'RE INVESTING THEIR MONEY. SO.

>> YES, SIR. YOU HAVE BEEN HERE A FEW DAYS NOW, YOU'VE WENT ON A TOUR YESTERDAY. COULD YOU TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT FERNANDINA COULD BE DOING

BETTER. >> AND I'VE SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS MORNING, NO CRITICISM -- I HOPE I DID NOT OFFEND. I TEND TO BE LIKE MY DAD, HE WILL BE FRANK ABOUT THINGS.

I DO BELIEVE THAT THE CITY COULD, BASED ON WHAT I'VE SEEN, BE MORE TRANSPARENT IN PROCESS, SO THAT WHEN WE DO BRING FOLKS IN AND TALK TO THEM IN SMALL GROUPS AND LARGER GROUPS.

THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO ME. BUT I FOUND IT DOES HELP GUIDE YOU PUTTING YOUR PLANS AND THINGS TOGETHER. AIRPORT. YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY OUT THERE. I DON'T KNOW HOW FOLKS FEEL BUT THAT WAS -- I'VE MANAGED THREE, INCLUDING ONE WENT FROM MUNICIPAL TO A JETPORT AND BROUGHT IN RILEY -- WE GOT MOST OF THEIR CORPORATE JETS AND BUILT HANGARS. THE FUEL MONEY HELPED CARRY A LOT OF THINGS. IT WAS VERY PROFESSIONAL. PUTTING IN A NEW TOWER, NEW I.L.S. INSTRUMENTS AND THINGS. THAT IS ONE THING. LOOKING AT ROADS, YOU HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO. OF COURSE, I HEARD WATERFRONT. I WALKED DOWN THERE, OH, BOY.

THERE IS SOME WORK TO DO OUT HERE. ALSO THE DREDGING AND WHAT YOU DO IN THE MEANTIME IS VERY EXPENSIVE. THAT COULD ALSO BE PROMOTED MORE, UP DATED AND GET TOQUES IN HERE AND LOOK AT FUEL AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

[01:05:05]

>> AN ASSOCIATED QUESTION. YOU'VE BEEN HERE A FEW DAYS, TELL US SOMETHING YOU THINK

FERNANDINA IS DOING WELL. >> YOU KNOW, KIND OF WALKING UP AND DOWN THE STREET AND GOING AROUND THE CITY, IT'S HOW YOU TREAT VISITORS. VERY WELL.

EVEN WAITSTAFF. I WAS PRETTY IMPRESSED. SAVANNAH, SO MUCH GOING ON, FOLKS WERE SPENDING TIME TALKING TO VISITORS. THAT'S IMPORTANT.

I CALL IT FREE MONEY. BECAUSE VISITORS COME AND THEY GIVE YOU MONEY TO HELP PAY FOR THINGS. AND THAT'S AWESOME. DEFINITELY DOING THAT, I HAVE BEEN IMPRESSED WITH THE STAFF AS FAR AS -- AND THE ORGANIZATION -- ON PRIVATIZATION OF SOME OF THE SERVICES. THE ONES YOU HAVE PRIVATIZED YOU HAVE DONE IT PARTICULARLY -- NOT SAYING LIKE WASTE MANAGEMENT, BUT THE MANAGEMENT OF WASTE ITSELF.

IF DOES SEEM TO BE WORKING FOR YOU AND IT CAN WORK, BUT NOT IN ALL SITUATIONS.

SO I THINK YOU ARE DOING THAT WELL. I DO LIKE THE FACT THAT YOU ARE LOOKING AHEAD AT CAPITAL PROJECTS AND TRYING TO LOOK AT OPTIONS.

SO THOSE OPTIONS TO HOW YOU FINANCE AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

THAT PLANNING PIECE IS REALLY IMPORTANT. I THINK YOU ARE REALLY STARTING ON A DIRECTION TO PUT SOME THINGS TOGETHER THAT I WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH YOU ON.

>> YES, SIR. AND AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE HAVE ONE MORE.

>> I WOULD LOVE RESIDENTS TO HEAR YOUR TOP TWO ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND YOUR TOP TWO

DISAPPOINTMENTS AS CITY MANAGER. >> OH, BOY. I'LL START WITH THE DISAPPOINTMENTS FIRST. IF YOU GOOGLE, YOU WILL FIND IT QUICK.

IT WAS AUTOMATING A PAYROLL SYSTEM. THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY EASY FOR 10,000 EMPLOYEES. WE HAD FIRE, EMERGENCY SERVICES, POLICE, THE CHIEF -- YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT? CHINESE -- IT'S SO COMPLICATED TO FIGURE OUT SOME OF THOSE SHIFTS AND HOURS. WE HIRED A COMPANY CALLED CYRILIAN.

THE COMPANY WAS DOING A GOOD JOB, BUT I FAILED AT REALLY LISTENING TO MY FOLKS AND TRUSTING THE COMPANY TOO MUCH. THEY CAME IN. THEY WERE GOOD SALES FOLKS.

BUT THEIR I.T. COMPUTER FOLKS AND MINE WERE NOT GELLING THAT WELL.

AND I NOTICED A LITTLE BIT OF INFIGHTING WITH MY H.R. DEPARTMENT AND FINANCE AND PAYROLL. I THOUGHT, OH, THEY'LL GET PAST THAT.

CYRILIAN SAID "WE GOT IT." DID A BETA TEST. THAT IS A DRY RUN.

PERFECT. TWO MONTHS IN A ROW. WE RAN IT, HALF A MILLION DOLLARS OFF. IT WAS POLICE, IT WAS -- IT WAS ROUGH.

BUT MY FAILURE WAS I DID NOT LISTEN -- I LISTENED TOO MUCH TO THE THIRD PARTY BUT I DID NOT LISTEN TO MY THREE EXPERTS ENOUGH. I DOWNPLAYED, QUITE FRANKLY.

THAT WAS PRETTY MAJOR. ANOTHER GRINDING DOWN TO AS I SHARED WITH YOU, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE IN ORGANIZATIONS, WE CALL IT SOMETIMES MANAGER ON THE HILL.

YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL HOW YOU ASSOCIATE BECAUSE PEOPLE SEE FAVORITISM.

YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL KIDNAP THAT'S WHY IT'S MYSELF AND THE DOG.

BECAUSE HE DON'T CARE. I GOT VERY CLOSE TO TWO OF MY DEPARTMENT MANAGERS.

WE WOULD HAVE DINNER TOGETHER. YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THAT, TRAVEL.

WE WOULD GO TO ASHEVILLE. THEY TAKE THEIR KIDS, I TAKE MINE.

BUT THE PERCEPTION WAS THEY GOT FAVORED. AND MAYBE IN SOME DEGREE THEY MAY HAVE BEEN BECAUSE I LOOKED AT IT DIFFERENTLY AND HAD TO PULL BACK FROM THE CHAIR CAME TOM ME AND SAID,HAM, THIS DOESN'T LOOK GREAT I LITERALLY HAD TO WITHDRAW FROM WHAT REALLY WAS A WONDERFUL FRIENDSHIP. BUT I LEARNED A LESSON. YOU DON'T DO THAT.

THAT WAS HARD, PERSONALLY. ACCOMPLISHMENTS? A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE, THAT MAY NOT SEEM THAT BIG BUT IT'S MAJOR TO ME. IN GOING TO CHATHAM, YOU KNOW, COUNTIES AND CITIES SOMETIME DO THIS. THEY THINK THEY ARE HAVE DIFFERENT WAYS OF DOING THINGS. CITIZENS ALL WANT THE SAME STUFF.

THEY WANT TO BE SAFE. THEY WANT TO GOOD SCHOOLS. THEY WANT GOOD ROADS.

IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE SAME. BUT THE MANAGERS, THE MAYORS, THE COMMISSION.

[01:10:06]

SO IN THAT FIRST 45 DAYS, I WENT AND SAW EVERY CITY MANAGER. YOU KNOW I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO GET ALL OF US TOGETHER. I WOUNDED IT CALLING ALL MANAGERS.

BECAUSE I HAD TO CALL THEM TO MAKE SURE THEY WOULD GO AT FIRST.

FIRST MEETING WAS ROUGH. BECAUSE THEY JUST -- OF COURSE, OKAY, LET'S DO THIS AGAIN.

SO WE DID SOME MARRIAGE COUNSELING, BROUGHT FOLKS BACK. I TELL YOU THAT HAS BEEN IN THAT COUNTY, IT CONTINUES WHICH I'M THRILLED TO SEE. WHEN ADMINISTRATIONS CAN GET ALONG, THAT BLEEDS OVER INTO THE ELECTED BOARDS. THEN I STARRED SEEING COMMISSIONERS AND MAYORS AND BOARD MEMBERS THAT WERE TALKING TALKING^.

FROM THAT WE HAD A NUMBER OF CONSOLIDATIONS. DON'T LET THAT SCARE YOU.

SOME OF IT WAS LIKE MARINE PAROLE. ANIMAL SERVICES.

THOSE WERE THINGS THAT EVERYBODY, IT WAS REDUNDANT. LET'S ALL DO IT TOGETHER AND WE COULD SAVE MONEY AND COVERY THE WHOLE COMMUNITY BETTER. I'VE ALREADY TALKED TO THE MANAGER OF THE COUNTY HERE AND SAID IF I'M CHOSEN, HOW -- COULD YOU ENTERTAIN -- ABSOLUTELY.

IF YOU CAN HELP ME WITH THE OTHER CITIES AND COMMUNITIES. ABSOLUTELY.

SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT. THAT CAN TRANSLATE HERE. WHAT WAS THE OTHER ONE? PRIVATE POLICE DEPARTMENT. CITY OF SAVANNAH, GREAT EKS TO. THEIR MAYORS USED TO WORK FOR ME, THEN HE LEFT. VAN JOHNSON, GREAT GUY. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY OF SAVANNAH, BACK IN THE 90S, THERE WAS A MERGER OF CITY AND COUNTY ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. DIDN'T WORK. A BIT EXPENSIVE.

THE AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME OUT IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA PUSHED 27 MINUTES.

SO HAD A DOMESTIC, A RAPE AND A MURDER IN 27 MINUTES AND MY THING IS, I DON'T THINK SO.

SO I CONVINCED THE MAYOR, AND MY CHAIR, AND BOTH BOARDS TO GET A DIVORCE.

BECAUSE WE CAN DO BETTER FOR TAXPAYERS, BUT MORE THAN THAT, WE'VE GOT TO SAVE LIVES.

SO WE DID. I REMEMBER THE DAY THEY BOTH SAID DIVORCE STAMPED AND THE CHAIR LOOKED AT ME AND SAID "YOU HAVE SIX MONTHS." I SAID TO PUT A DEPARTMENT TOGETHER. HE SAID ABSOLUTELY. I HIT THE GROUND RUNNING TO FIND A POLICE CHIEF THAT UNDERSTOOD. I WAS THRILLED YESTERDAY IN TALKING WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, TO UNDERSTAND COMMUNITY POLICING. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ARRESTING FOLKS. IT'S MORE THAN THAT. IT'S THE GOING OUT AND HELPING THE COMMUNITY, BAG PART OF THE COMMUNITY, RESPECTING EACH OTHER.

IN THAT SIX MONTHS, PROBABLY -- I DON'T SAY THE BEST, YOU CAN NEVER BE THE BEST.

BUT BROUGHT ON A GREAT GUY FROM KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN. HE, THEN -- WE WERE FULLY STAFFED. THAT HAPPENED JULY 20. JANUARY 2ND, WE WERE FULLY STAFFED AT 130 PATROL OFFICERS PLUS DETECTIVES, INVESTIGATORS, ALL OF THAT STUFF.

OUR CMA, NATIONAL CITY AND COUNTY MANAGERS ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL.

THEY TOLD ME DAY 1 WHEN I CALLED AND CRIED, OH, MY LORD, I'VE GOT SIX MONTHS.

"YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT." IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. I GUESS IT'S THE SMITH IN ME.

YES, I WILL. I BROUGHT A GROUP OF 20 FOLKS INSIDE MY ORGANIZATION COUNTY.

PLUS I WENT TO SOME RETIRED OFFICERS AND SECOND LOOK, BECAUSE I NEED TO KNOW FROM ALL LEVELS. WEAPONS EXPERTS. CAN YOU COME.

EVERYTHING. I ASKED THE CITY TO DO THE SAME. SO THERE WAS A TRANSFER.

OUR WHOLE THING WAS, NO HARM COMES TO ANYONE. THERE WILL BE NO SERVICE DISRUPTION AND NO ONE WILL BE HURT BY THIS CHANGE. SO WE WOUND UP FULLY STAFFED.

OUR AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME WAS CUT BY 20 MINUTES TO 7 MINUTES. STILL THERE TODAY.

THE COMMUNITY POLICING AND I THINK I'M MENTIONED TO SOME OF YOU.

IF YOU SEEN THIS GLASS ON 54TH STREET, SHE IS STRUGGLING WITH A CAN AND YOU'RE NOT ON CALL.

HELP WE ARE WITH THE TRASH CAN. SHE'LL REMEMBER IT. SO WILL THE NEIGHBORS.

THAT'S COMMUNITY POLICING. I CALL IT CHIEF POLICING WITH THE WINDOW DOWN.

YOU SAY, HEY, AND BE FRIENDLY TO FOLKS DEVELOPING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.

[01:15:04]

WE WERE ABLE -- AS YOU KNOW THERE IS ALL KINDS OF COMMISSION WITH POLICE OFFICERS, PARAMEDICS, ALL OF THESE KINDS OF THINGS. AS WITH THE COLONIAL MANAGERS.

BOBBY GILLUM SAID WE'RE KILLING IT. LET'S SET OUR PAY SCHEDULE THE SAME. BECAUSE ALL WE'RE DOING IS FLIPPING FOLKS BACK AND FORTH.

WE DID IT. SO NOW YOUR TURNOVER RATE IS LESS THAN 2 OR 3% OF ALL THE DEPARTMENTS. EXCEPT THE SAVANNAH PORTS. THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT STORY.

I COULDN'T GET THE GOVERNOR TO GO ALONG WITH THAT. THAT'S FINE.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WERE MAJOR TO ME. THEY WILL STAND OUT.

THE DAY I GET A LITTLE MORE GRAY AND DECIDE TO RETIRE. >> THAT IS COMMISSIONER ANTUN'S LAST QUESTION. LET'S GO TO THE COMMISSIONER ROSS FOR ONE LAST QUESTION.

>> WHY SHOULD WE HIRE YOU? >> ONE OF THE THINGS -- WELL, SEVERAL THINGS.

I WILL BRING TO YOU HOW WE MARKET AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC. TRANSPARENCY.

IF YOU FIND OUT IN THE COMMUNITY THAT I'VE DONE SOMETHING THAT IS NOT APPROPRIATE OR IS WRONG, I WILL I CAN THAT THE BLAME FOR IT. I WILL I CAN THAT THE HIT.

BECAUSE IF IT WERE MY DECISION, IT'S MY DECISION. THE OTHER THING IS COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND BRINGING LIKE MANAGERS TOGETHER BRINGS YOU COMMUNITIES TOGETHER.

HE BECAUSE WE HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES. TO ALLOW FOLKS AND HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO. IT'S TO GIVE THEM GOOD SERVICE. AND IF WE DON'T, TO EXPLAIN WHY.

BECAUSE IF WE CAN'T EXPLAIN WHY, WE'VE GOT A REALLY BIG PROBLEM. I CAN BRING TO YOU -- THIS IS WITH FINANCE. RAISE YOUR HAND? FOLKS IN FINANCE?

THEY'RE GONE. SORRY ABOUT THAT. >> THEY ARE WATCHING AT HOME.

>> OKAY. BRINGING TO YOU STABILITY AND FINANCIAL POLICIES.

WE WERE ABLE TO RAISE THE BOND RATING TO A +AND AA +USING STANDARD & POOR'S.

WHICH MEANS YOU'RE LESS AFTER RISK, WHICH MEANS IF YOU DECIDE TO BORROW MONEY IN YOUR LIFE, YOU HAVE A BETTER RATING. IT WAS BECAUSE OF THESE THINGS. QUITE FRANKLY WITH MY ADMINISTRATIONS IN BOTH CASES, YOU GET THAT FROM FOLLOWING YOUR POLICY AS A BOARD THAT YOU PUT IN PLACE. AND, ALSO ALLOWING THE MANAGER AND THE ADMINISTRATION TO MANAGE THE DOLLARS AND BRING THAMES OBVIOUSLY FOR APPROVAL WITHIN REASON.

APPROXIMATE CAPITAL PLANNING, NO SHORT-TERM FINANCING. LOOKING AT -- SO I WILL BRING THAT STABILITY, PARTICULARLY WITH YOUR POLICIES AND ADHERENCE TO POLICY.

BUT ALSO STRATEGIC PLANNING. I HAVE DONE THAT SINCE DAY 1. THE LAST ONE IS CALLED "THE BLUEPRINT." IT'S A 20 YEAR PLAN. 20 YEARS IS A LONG WAYS OUT.

JAPAN DOES IT 50 YEARS. JUST TO TELL YOU. I'LL TELL YOU THEY STICK TO IT.

I KNOW THAT FROM THE PORTS. BUT USUALLY THE FIVE YEARS IS A REALLY GOOD TEMPERATURE OF WHERE WE NEED TO GO, IN FIVE YEARS. SO I CAN BRING THAT TO YOU. BRING GROUPS TOGETHER.

HOAS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY TO GET INPUT. REAL INPUT AND HAVE THEM SIT ON THESE COMMITTEES. AND TELL US, IF HIRED, WHERE THEY WANT TO GO AND THINGS THEY DON'T WANT, SNINGZ THINGS THAT . THAT'S STRATEGIC PLANNING, ALSO WITH DEPARTMENTS AND ALSO BUILDING A TEAM. YOU WOULD RARELY HEAR ME SAY "EMPLOYEE." THE GUY WHO IS WELDING THESE OUTSIDE BEAMS, THE PERSON THAT IS SWEEPING THE FLOOR, THE OFFICER RUNNING UP AND DOWN THE STREET PUTTING THEIR LIFE ON THE LINE FOR ME AND FOR YOU, TO THESE OFFICES AND TO YOURSELF, NO ONE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN WE ARE.

IF WE EVER GET THAT IN OUR HEAD, THAT'S A PROBLEM. I DEFINITELY AS A LEADER, I'M A TEAM BUILDER. I KNOW THAT SOUNDS A LITTLE WHATEVER WITH, OVERSIMPLIFIED.

BUT IT'S THE TRUTH. IF YOU GO BACK, I CHALLENGE YOUO GO BACK AND TALK TO COME ANY OF

[01:20:05]

LOVED IT. >> THERE IS NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. WE WANT TO SPEND A FEW MINUTES HERE.

AND WE MAY KNOW AS SOON AS TODAY. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> ALL RIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANK Y'ALL. >> SO WITH THAT, I'LL CALL A 15 MINUTE RECESS.

WHEN WE COME BACK, WE'LL BE DISCUSSING THE CANDIDATES AND WE'LL WESTBOUND DISCUSSING THE MERITS. 15 MINUTES.

FERNANDINA BEACH MEETING. WE JUST HAD THE PUBLIC INTERVIEW WITH FOUR OF OUR ON FINALIST

[7.1 CITY MANAGER FINALIST SELECTION - The City Commission selects a finalist and directs staff to negotiate an employment agreement for consideration at their September 19, City Commission Regular Meeting.]

AS WE GET THIS STARTED, I DO WANT TO, ONCE AGAIN, REITERATE THE PROCESS.

WE HAVE OUR FINAL STEPS. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS, THIS STARTED IN FEBRUARY, MARCH.

WE APPOINT ADD CITIZEN'S COMMITTEE. WE WANT TO SAY THANKS AGAIN FOR THE CITIZENS COMMITTEE. THIS WAS A PERFECT CROSS SECTION OF WHAT IS FERNANDINA.

EVERYONE FROM WORKERS AT THE MILL TO RETIRED LAWYERS. WE HAD YOUNG MOMS. DENTISTS. WE HAD BUSINESS OWNERS. DOWNTOWN BUSINESS OWNERS.

WE HAD ALL OF THE ABOVE. WE HAD A PERFECT CROSS SECTION. THIS COMMITTEE WAS AIDED BY A SEARCH FOR TO REP RECRUIT. WE HAD 52 PLIGHTS. FILTERED TO 10.

THEY TOOK THE TEN OVER THE COURSE OF WEEKS. THEY POURED THROUGH THE PAMPHLETS. THEY ARE ALL OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. IF YOU TAKE A LOOK.

THESE ARE VERY THOROUGH BACKGROUNDS. WE LOOKED AT NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS AND EVERYTHING ELSE. THEY GAVE US THE TOP FOUR. THOSE TOP FOUR CAME HERE.

THEY WERE HERE YESTERDAY. THEY DID A TOUR OF THE CITY. MET CITY STAFF.

LAST NIGHT, WE HAD A MEET AND GREET FOR THE COMMUNITY. LET ME TELL YOU WHAT.

THE CITIZENS DID NOT DISAPPOINT. THEY CAME OUT IN FORCE. IF YOU WERE THERE LAST NIGHT YOU WOULD KNOW HOW MANY CITIZENS CAME. NOT JUST TO MEET THE CANDIDATES.

IT IS BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO LIVE HERE AT FERNANDINA BEACH. FINALLY TODAY WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND ALL DAY WITH THESE FOUR CANDIDATES. WITH HE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EACH HAVE OUR OWN ONE ON WITH EACH ONE. AND THEN THEY BROUGHT THEM IN FRONT OF THE COMMUNITY. I SAID THIS AT THE BEGINNING BUT WHAT WE HAVE IS A PROBLEM.

THE PROBLEM IS ALL FOUR CANDIDATES ARE JUST TOO GOOD. THEY WERE JUST TOO GOOD.

WE HAVE NO WRONG ANSWERS BECAUSE WE HAVE FOUR WINNERS. NARROWED DOWN BY THE COMMUNITY.

AGAIN THIS WHOLE PROCESS WAS DRIVEN BY THE COMMUNITY AND SHAPED BY DIFFERENT POINTS BY OUR CITIZENS AND THEIR ENGAGEMENT. THANK YOU TO THEM FOR BRINGING US HERE. WE HAVE FOUR PEOPLE TO DISCUSS. WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IS TO HAVE A DISCUSSION NOW. WE HAVE A POLL BALLOT. I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE DISCUSSION AND TALK ABOUT WHO WE LIKE AND DISLIKE. I WILL GET STARTED.

I WILL SAY MINE FIRST. AND THAT IS -- I WILL ONCE AGAIN REITERATE THAT I THINK ALL FOUR CANDIDATES ARE EXCEPTIONAL. IN THEIR OWN WAY EACH ONE BRINGS SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN THE TABLE FOR MILITARY SERVICE TO DIFFERENT CITY, DIFFERENT SIZE. THEY ALL BRING SOMETHING.

THE GUY THAT STOOD OUT THE TO ME WAS MR. ROSS, TY ROSS. WHEN I SAW HIM, HE SPEAKS SO WELL. I FEEL THAT HE HAS A GOOD GRASP OF WHAT MAKES OUR CITY GREAT.

FOR THAT REASON, I THINK HE IS A GREAT OPTION. HE IS SOMEONE I WOULD LIKE SEE AS CITY MANAGER. I'M INTERESTED TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.

LET'S SEE WHERE YOU ARRIVE AND MAYBE THERE IS CONSENSUS HERE. LET'S START WITH COMMISSIONER

AYSCUE. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. FIRST I WANT TO START BY THANKING STAFF TODAY AND YESTERDAY FOR BRINGING THE CANDIDATES AROUND ON TOUR.

BEING ABLE TO BE THERE WITH THEM AND SHARE INFORMATION. STAFF DID A FANTASTIC JOB BRINGING THIS FORWARD. GREAT JOB, COULD NOT HAVE ASKED FOR ANYTHING BETTER WITH THE FOUR CANDIDATES. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. I THANK THE CITIZENS COMMITTEE BEFORE BUT I WANT TO THANK THEM AGAIN. ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC WORK.

THEY DUG IN DEEP WITH THE TEN FINALISTS THAT THEY HAD AND BROUGHT US THE FOUR.

JUST REALLY GOOD WORK WITH THEM. MISS LORE LIE JACOBS, GIVE HER A BIG SHOUT OUT.

[01:25:07]

I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR OPENNESS AND THEIR HONESTY. WHEN I SAT AND WAS ABLE TO SPEAK WITH THEM. THEY ALL WERE OPEN AND HONEST. IT WAS JUST NATURAL.

THEY ALL SEEMED TO BE ABLE TO GET THEIR VIEWPOINTS ACROSS AND EXPLAIN WHO THEY ARE AND WHY THEY WANTED TO BE AT FERNANDINA BEACH. AND I WILL SAY THAT THERE WAS -- THERE WAS ONE FINALIST THAT STUCK OUT TO ME. IT WAS THE ENERGY THAT INDIVIDUAL BROUGHT. I WAS VERY -- VERY EXCITED WHEN I WAS AROUND HIM AND JUST FELT AN ENERGY AND SOMETHING THAT I THINK FERNANDINA BEACH COULD USE.

AND IT WAS ALSO MR. TY ROSS. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR.

I WANT TO DO THE SAME THING AND THANK THE CITIZENS COMMITTEE. THEY SPENT MANY HOURS IN DIFFERENT MEETINGS, CREATING THE MIX THAT WE HAD. IT IS VERY TOUGH.

THEY INTERVIEWED MANY EMPLOYEES PREVIOUSLY. I DIDN'T HAVE TO ASK FURTHER QUESTIONS OF THE PUBLIC BECAUSE I TRULY -- I ALREADY ASKED A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS IN PRIVATE.

BUT I FELT OBVIOUSLY THAT COMMISSIONER ANTUN WAS ASKING SOME VERY NICE AND GREAT QUESTIONS TO GET SOME OF THE ANSWERS. HOWEVER, WITH MY INFORMAL ENVIRONMENT LAST NIGHT AT THE GOLF CLUB, AS WELL AS OUR PERSONAL INTERVIEWS TODAY, IT'S REALLY NOT THAT DIFFICULT FOR ME AS WELL. MY FIRST CHOICE IS TY ROSS.

MY SECOND CHOICE WOULD BE LEE SMITH, IF I WAS GOING TO MAKE A SECOND CHOICE.

ALL FOUR CANDIDATES WERE EXCELLENT. AND I COULD SEE ALL FOUR OF THEM ACTUALLY RUNNING OUR CITY. I DON'T THINK ANY ONE OF THEM WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME.

HOWEVER, I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT TY ROSS IS MY FIRST CHOICE FOR MULTIPLE REASONS.

HE IS VERY PERSONABLE. I THINK HE WILL DO VERY WELL IN OUR CITY ENVIRONMENT.

AND THAT IS WHAT I SEE WHEN I INTERVIEW SOMEBODY. I WANT TO KNOW, NUMBER ONE, THEY ARE PERSONABLE. I WANT TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE HONEST.

I WANT TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE LOOKING OUT FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL OF OUR CITIZENS.

I THINK HE WILL BE FAIR AND HONEST TO OUR CITIZENS. HE WILL BE MY FIRST CHOICE.

I ALSO THINK LEE SMITH IS A VERY QUALIFIED AND ALL OF THEM HAVE THEIR QUALIFICATIONS DIFFERENT THAN THE OTHERS. THEY ALL HAVE SIMILAR BACKGROUNDS, WITHOUT GOING INTO TOO MUCH DETAIL. THAT IS MY FEELING ABOUT IT. THAT'S ABOUT IT.

>> THANK YOU. >> LIKE THE MAYOR SAID, I APPRECIATE THE TIME STAFF AND CITIZEN COMMITTEE NARROWING IT DOWN TO MAKE THIS VERY HARD DECISION EASIER.

I FEEL TWO CANDIDATES ROWS TO THE TOP FOR ME. I HAVE TO SAY MY FIRST CHRISS WAS MR.LEY SMITH WITH CLOSE SECOND MR. TY ROSS. MR. SMITH'S EXPERIENCE WAS THE MOST EXTENSIVE. HE DEMONSTRATED THE MOST TANGIBLE RESULTS AND HE CAN COMMUNICATE HOW HE REACHED THOSE RESULTS HERE IN A WAY THAT GIVES ME THE UTMOST CONFIDENCE HE WOULD BE THE TOP CHOICE. I THINK MR. ROSS IS ALSO A GOOD CHOICE.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. THAT IS FOUR WHO HAVE GIVEN AN OPINION HERE.

IT'S A CONSENSUS. MR. ROSS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO -- >> THE CONSENSUS MEANS 100%.

WE ARE NOT CONSENSUSSED. I WOULD SAY NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER TWO.

TURNS OUT, MR. STURGES AND I AGREE ON SOMETHING, SO THERE YOU GO.

IT SOUNDS WE ARE VERY CLOSE TO CONSENSUS, THEN. >> ALTHOUGH, MR. SMITH IS QUITE

IMPRESSIVE. >> ONCE AGAIN, I WANT TO REITERATE.

IT WAS AN HONOR TO SPEND TIME WITH THESE FOUR AND ALL FOUR OF THEM WERE STELLAR CANDIDATES.

IT GOES TO SHOW, I WOULD COMPLIMENT THE CITIZENS COMMITTEE LOOKING THROUGH THAT LIST AND PICKING THE BEST FOUR. WOW, EACH ONE WAS JUST -- I ALSO UNDERSTAND A LOT OF THEM WERE --

[01:30:07]

IT SAYS, -- >> I MAKE THE MOTION THAT FERNANDINA BEACH REACH OUT TO

MR. TY ROSS AND OFFER HIM THE CITY MANAGER. >> I'LL SECOND.

>> ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

WE'VE HAD SOME DISCUSSION OUTSIDE OF THIS MOTION. BUT NOW THAT WE HAVE A MOTION FOR MR. TY ROSS. DO WE HAVE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS TOPIC?

SEEING NONE. CAN YOU CALL THE ROLL. >> COMMISSIONER ACCUSE.

>> YES. >> COMMISSIONER SURNLINGSZ. >> YES.

>> COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> YES. >> MAYOR BEAN.

>> YES. THAT PASSES 5-0. CONGRATULATIONS TO MR. TY ROSS.

THANK YOU, ONCE AGAIN, AS ALWAYS. WE DO HAVE ONE LAST ITEM ON THE AGENDA. PUBLIC COMMENT. ITEM 8.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS TOPIC TODAY? SEEING NONE.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK FOR THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED CITY MEETING

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.