[00:00:11]
CALLING A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE FERNANDINA BEACH CITY COMMISSION TO ORDER. AS ALWAYS, START WITH THE ROLE. TAKE US
>> PLEASE LEAD -- PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>> ALL RIGHT. JUMPING INTO IT IT IS A SPECIAL MEETING FOR ONE
[4.1 City Manager Search]
TOPIC IN PARTICULAR. THE CITY MANAGER SEARCH. AS YOU KNOW WE ARE HAPPY TO SEE MR. CHARLIE GEORGE UP AND ADAM BACK WITH US ON TUESDAY'S MEETING WE DEFINITELY MISS CHARLIE.JEREMIAH HAS BEEN FILLING IN EXPERTLY AND WE APPRECIATE YOU FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT. WE ARE HERE TO DISCUSS SOMETHING PERMANENT. THERE'S A LOT OF OPTIONS OUT THERE. I WILL OPEN IT UP TO THE FLOOR IN GENERAL TO DISCUSS. SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT AND I WANT TO CALL UP THE HR MANAGER TO START THE CONVERSATION OFF. WE HAVE AN INSURANCE POLICY WITH OUR SEARCH FIRM THAT WE PAID FOR LAST YEAR. THE POLICY IS STILL VALID. I BELIEVE WE HAVE INFORMATION. IF YOU DON'T MIND TAKING US THROUGH WHAT WE FOUND OUT SINCE THE LAST TIME WE
TALKED ABOUT THIS. >> GOOD EVENING, COMMISSIONERS.
I HAVE SPOKEN TO MR. --. THERE WAS A WARRANTEE WITHIN THE AGREEMENT WE HAD FROM LAST YEAR. THERE WOULD BE A MINIMAL COST . STATED AROUND $5000 FOR THE BACKGROUND PROCESS ONCE CANDIDATES ARE DETERMINED TO BE INTERVIEWED AND BE VETTED.
THERE WILL BE A SMALL COST ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS. IN THE PACKET TODAY, WE DID PROVIDE THE TIMELINE THAT MR. -- SENT TO US DEPENDING ON YOUR DIRECTION THIS EVENING. RECRUITMENTS CAN START AS EARLY AS TOMORROW. AND HE PROVIDED THE BROCHURE THAT PROVIDES INFORMATION THAT'LL
GO OUT TO THE CANDIDATES. >> CAN YOU PUT THE TIMELINE UP?
>> PERFECT. IF YOU WALK US THROUGH IT WIDE DOES IT. I SAW THE TIMELINE IN AUGUST, CORRECT?
>> CORRECT. >> CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH THE STEPS WHILE JEREMIAH PUTS UP THE GRAPHIC.
>> IT'LL BEGIN AS EARLY AS TOMORROW. CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS WILL BE JULY 17. AND MR. -- WILL REPORT ON THE RESULTS SOME EQUIPMENT ON JULY 22. HE WOULD FORWARD AUGUST 14 . FIVE RECOMMENDED CANDIDATES FOR CONSIDERATION. AND INTERVIEWS WHICH WE DID SIMILAR TO LAST TIME WITH THE CITY TOUR AND A RECEPTION ON AUGUST 19.
INTERVIEWS WITH ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEWS. ADD THE COMMISSION INTERVIEW ON AUGUST 20. AND SELECTION THAT EVENING OR THE
FOLLOWING WEEK. >> PERFECT I APPRECIATE THAT INFORMATION. THAT WE HAVE THE HR REP UP HERE, WOULD ANYBODY WISH TO ASK QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. VICE MAYOR?
>> I THOUGHT IT WAS -- HIS CHEWING GUM, I THOUGHT YOU WOULD GET STARTED WITH SOMETHING. WITH THAT IN MIND, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.
>> CERTAINLY. >> BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP FOR COMMISSIONER DISCUSSION HERE, WE DO HAVE SPEAKING TO THE BROCHURE. IT WAS HEAVILY WORKED ON THE CITIZENS COMMITTEE WHICH WE DEFINITELY WANT TO USE AGAIN. ANY INPUT WE HAVE FROM THE CITIZENS IS DEFINITELY STILL VALID AND SOMETHING WE SHOULD USE AS GUIDANCE. OF RECRUITMENT OPPORTUNITY. WITH THAT IN MIND, OPEN UP THE FLOOR. ANY QUESTIONS AND
COMMENTS AND CONCERNS? >> I HAVE A CONCERN WITH THE INTERVIEW PROCESS AND TIMELINE. AUGUST 19 IS THE DAY BEFORE THE PRIMARY ELECTION. 20TH IS THE ELECTION. WE SPECIFICALLY MOVED OUR AUGUST 20 MEETING TO THE 21ST. BECAUSE OF THE ELECTION.
THOSE TWO DAYS ARE NOT GOING TO BE IDEAL TO HOLD THAT PROCESS.
[00:05:08]
FURTHERMORE, I WILL BE COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY UNAVAILABLE AUGUST 26. I'M BREAKING UP THAT ON MY END. I THINK THE ELECTIONS ARE GOING TO INTERFERE WITH THIS AND IT'LL PROBABLY BE BEST IF IT GOT PUSHED BACK A WEEK OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES. I'M NOT HERE ON THE 26 ASWELL. >> OTHER THAN TATS, THE TIMELINE IS FINE AND IT'S GREAT. YOU CAN SPEEDED UP A WEEK OR PUSH IT BACK A WEEK. PUSHING IT IN THE 19 AND 20TH IS PROBLEMATIC FOR THE ELECTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. GREAT COMMENT. VICE MAYOR?
>> THANK YOU MAIA. I THINK THE TIMELINE IS FINE. I AGREE IT IS A HEAVY WEEK FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE. I'M AVAILABLE. HOWEVER, I CAN PUSH IT UP A WEEK OR BACK A WEEK. IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER. THIS PROCESS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO. IN QUEUE.
>> OKAY. WITH THAT BEING SAID , WE CAN WORK OUT THE EXACT DATES LATER. WE WILL FIND THE AGREED-UPON AIDS . PRIMARY DISCUSSION HERE IS IS THIS THE PLAN WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH? YOU DO AGREE WITH THE PROCESS IF THE QUESTIONER ASKS IS THAT THE PROCESS YOU WANT TO DO? WHAT HE THINK?
>> WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS THE BIDDING PROCESS ONCE AND CAME UP WITH A NUMBER OF VIABLE CANDIDATES. WE CHOSE ONE THAT DIDN'T QUITE WORK OUT. IF THAT PERSON HAD PASSED, WE WOULD'VE GONE TO THE NUMBER TWO PERSON. IT WAS LEE SMITH, HE STILL AVAILABLE. I'M WONDERING IF WE CAN CONSIDER GOING DIRECTLY TO MAKING MR. SMITH AN OFFER AND SEEING IF YOU STILL INTERESTED? I HAVE NOT TALKED TO HIM. I KNOW THAT -- IS STILL INTERESTED. WHETHER WE CAN GO FORWARD INSTEAD OF GOIN THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS. WE'VE BEEN THROUGH IT ONCE AND IT WENT TO COMMITTEE AND WAS HEAVILY VETTED. I THINK HE CAME ACROSS AS A STRONG CANDIDATE. SOME OF US THOUGHT IT WAS A BETTER CANDIDATE. AND PEOPLE THINK ABOUT GOING FORWARD NEGOTIATING WITH HIM. I WOULD GO ALONG WITH THE PROCESS INSTEAD OF THE 19TH AND 20TH, PUT IT ON THE 21ST AND THE 22ND
>> WHEN YOU SAY YOU'RE NOT HERE ON THE 26 YOU MEAN THE
WHOLE WEEK? >> I WON'T BE HERE FOR THE 22ND OR 23RD. I WILL RETURN ON THE 22ND. SO I CAN POTENTIALLY
DO THE 28TH, OR 29TH. >> WHEN ARE YOU LEAVING?
>> THE 22ND. >> WHAT HE THINK?
>> I HAVE A FEW SUGGESTIONS. I SPOKE BEFORE, MR. LEE SMITH BE CONSIDERED. OTHER CONSTITUENTS RECOMMENDED AS INTERIM UNTIL WE HAVE A FIRM A SELECTION HERE. OR UNTIL HE IS BACK WE DECIDED TO GO BACK PROCESS AT THAT TIME. WE SHOULD DO SOMETHING THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE. IF THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TO CONSIDER MR. SMITH, I CAN CERTAINLY AGREE WITH THE INTERVIEW PROCESS AS WELL. I WOULD CONTEND MAYBE IF HE WERE TO BE IN ONE OF THE FINALISTS UNLESS WE FIND FIVE STRONGER FINALIST AT THE CONSIDERATION FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO BE COMPARED TO
WHO ELSE WE HAVE. >> ABSOLUTELY. I'M HEARING
COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> I HADN'T TURNED IT ON.
>> GOT YOU. >> I HAVE ONE MORE POINT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE. ULTIMATELY, I WOULD'VE PREFERRED THIS TO HAPPEN AFTER THE ELECTION. THAT WOULD'VE BEEN MY PREFERENCE.
HOWEVER, WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF HARMS IN --. THIS IS THE CORRECT DECISION TO MOVE FORWARD NOW. DELAYING IT FURTHER IS NOT GOING TO HELP. YOUR POINT ABOUT DRINKING AND AN INTERN. WE WILL PAY SOMEBODY TO BABYSIT THE POSITION. RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE ENOUGH IN THE TANK TO GET US TO AUGUST. I DON'T SEE PAYING THAT MONEY THAT'LL JUST BE A PART-TIME GATE. I AM
[00:10:01]
FOR MOVING FORWARD WITH THE TIMELINE. I'M SAYING THE 19TH AND 20TH IS NOT GOOD FOR ME. WE CAN MOVE UP A WEEK AND I WILL BE FINE OR WE CAN PUSH BACK A WEEK . THAT'LL BE ACCEPTABLE FOR ME. THE 19TH AND 20TH AND 26 THE TIMEFRAME IS REALLY DIFFICULT FOR ME. I WANTED TO MAKE THAT POINT.>> COMMISSIONER JAMES ANTUN? >> IT'LL BE HARDER TO PASS IT OFF. THE IDEA FOR ME WOULD BE TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION FOR SIX MONTHS OR LONGER. JEREMIAH NEEDS TO FOCUS ON OPERATIONS. WE NEED TO CATCH CHARLIE UP BACK HERE. DEPENDING ON HOW IT FALLS IT TO BE A MOVING TARGET DEPENDING ON HOW WE SEE THE CANDIDATES IN THE WINDOW FIGURE 5 GREAT ONES AND ONLY HAVE A FEW. I WANT TO BE OPTIMISTIC BUT I DON'T KNOW.
LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW TO SET UP THE PROCESS BEFORE THAT. I HAVE SEVERAL REQUEST TO SPEAK ON IT. LET US CALL IT --. JUST DO A LITTLE BIT OF HOUSEKEEPING. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. I DON'T SEE A LOT OF NEW FACES. EVERYBODY HERE KNOWS THE DRILL.
IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK TONIGHT AND WANT THE CHANCE, GO AHEAD AND FILL OUT A FORM IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM. WE WILL MAKE SURE YOUR VOICE IS HEARD TONIGHT. I HAVE REQUEST TO SPEAK UP HERE.
ANYBODY WHO WISHES TO MAKE THEIR VOICE HEARD, FILL OUT THE FORM IN THE BACK AND WE WILL HEAR YOU.
>> 1553 IN THE STREETS. I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER DARRON AYSCUE THAT IT SHOULD BE MADE AFTER THE ELECTION. IF YOU'RE HERE, GREAT. OTHERS MAY NOT BE HAPPY WITH THE CHOICE BEING MADE. ANY INCOMING PERSON WILL BE AT PERIL BECAUSE THEY SERVE THE PLEASURE OF THE COMMISSION. IT'S PRUDENT TO WAIT. IT'LL BE IDEAL IF WE DIDN'T HAVE A GAP. WE DO NEED JEREMIAH IN HIS ROLE IDEALLY. I REALLY LIKED THE PERSON LAST WEEK OR EARLY IN THE WEEK SUGGESTED WE DO IT IN A CONSULTANCY. I DON'T THINK IT IS BABYSITTING. IT'S HELPING WITH HEAVY LIFTING OF THE BUDGET PLANNING PROCESS THAT SOMEBODY COULD STEP IN AND WERE NOT OBLIGATED TO SOME BIG PARISHES IF SOMETHING DOESN'T WORK OUT. WE SET IT FOR A SPECIFIC PERIOD OF TIME TO BE DETERMINED BY THE INCOMING COMMISSION TO ALLOW THEM TO HAVE THAT INPUT AND START OFF IN A STEADY WAY. I SUGGESTED WHENEVER WE DO HAVE A PERMANENT CITY MANAGER, THIS BODY CANNOT INVOLVE THEMSELVES IN ANY STAFFING MATTERS. IT'LL BE PRUDENT TO HAVE A DEPUTY CITY MANAGER OF A PERSON WE ARE GROOMING FOR LACK OF BETTER WORD FOR PART OF THE SUCCESSION PLANNING. WE SHOULD NOT EVER BE CRIPPLED BY ONE PERSON'S DEPARTURE FOR WHATEVER REASON. WE SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE A CONTINUITY OF BUSINESS. HOWEVER WE GOT HERE, THE DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE HAVE PUT US IN A WEAKENED POSITION AND WE ARE GOING TO FURTHER THAT EVEN IF WE COULD APPOINT SOMEBODY TODAY. I LOVE THE HYBRID KIND OF THING DRINKING AND CONSULTANTS, HELPING US WITH SOME OF THIS GIVE US SOME GUIDANCE. THAT CAN POTENTIALLY BE THE NEXT CITY MANAGER.
THEY'RE ALREADY THERE. SPENDING MONEY RIGHT NOW IS $5000 TO GET THE BALL ROLLING. WE COULD BE MAKING ANOTHER COSTLY MISTAKE. PLEASE DO NOT DO THAT. THANK YOU.
>> WE INVITE MR. JEFFREY -- TO THE PODIUM.
>> WELCOME, SIR. >> THAT EVENING. I NAME IS --.
I LIVE IN 1913 I LIVE IN 1913 HERMAN PARK RD. IN FERNANDINA BEACH . I OWED AN EXECUTIVE SEARCH FIRM FOR ALMOST 25 YEARS. I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE PROCESS AS IT'S BEEN GOING ALONG. ONE ISSUE THAT I HAVE WITH WHAT I SEE IS THE TIMELINE. OF JULY 19 TO HAVE YOUR CANDIDATES SUBMITTED. I DON'T MEAN TO BE PRESUMPTUOUS. I DON'T KNOW YOUR PROCESS. I HAVE NEVER DONE MUNICIPAL SEARCHES. BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT THE BEST CANDIDATES YOU WILL FIND OUR WHAT WE CALL PASSIVE CANDIDATES. CANDIDATES WHO ARE NOT NECESSARILY LOOKING FOR A JOB. AS WE SAY THEY ARE HAPPY AS A CLAM. WHERE THEY ARE. WHAT WE DO AS WE APPROACH THE PRESENT OPPORTUNITIES WITH
[00:15:03]
THEM. GENERALLY THEY WILL SAY I AM HAPPY. MY JOB IS TO SAY I CAN MAKE YOU HAPPIER, HAPPY IS A RELATIVE TERM. WE CAN MAKE YOU HAPPIER COMING TO FERNANDINA BEACH. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY WE PRESENT TO THEM. I DON'T KNOW IF THE PROCESS IS TO PUT OUT AN ADVERTISEMENT AND THOSE PEOPLE THAT ANSWER GO INTO THE POOL OR IF YOUR SEARCH FIRM IS ACTIVELY OUT LOOKING FOR PEOPLE. WHAT WE WOULD DO IN THE SITUATION IS LOOK FOR SIMILAR SIZED MUNICIPALITIES AND SIMILAR TYPE MUNICIPALITIES. AND REACH OUT TO THOSE CITY MANAGERS. AND SAY WOULD YOU CONSIDER LEAVING FOR THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITY? THAT TAKES TIME. NOT TO DO THAT IN A WEEK OR TWO WEEKS. JULY 19 TIMEFRAME COULD BE A BIT AMBITIOUS BECAUSE IF YOU'RE NOT DOING THAT , THEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE BEST OF WHAT APPLIES. AT THE BEST OF WHAT IS OUT THERE. THE BEST OF WHAT IS OUT THERE IS ALREADY WORKING. YOU NEED TO FIND THEM. ASK THEM IF THEY ARE INTERESTED IN THIS OPPORTUNITY AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO APPLY TO FERNANDINA BEACH. AGAIN. I APOLOGIZE IF THAT IS NOT THE LEGAL WAY MUNICIPALITY HAS TO DO IT. IF IT IS, SO BE IT. IF NOT, I ENCOURAGE THE SEARCH FIRM TO TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN PURSUING PASSIVE CANDIDATES. TRYING TO BUILD A SLATE OF EXCELLENT PEOPLE THAT HAVE TRACK RECORDS AND SIMILAR SIZED EMISSIVE PATTIES WITH SIMILAR SIZED TYPE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE. AND REAL PEOPLE IN TO MAKE THEM PART OF --.>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. I WILL HAVE --, WILL MY TIME IF YOU DON'T MIND. I BELIEVE WE DO IT WITH THE SEARCH FOR A PERIOD COULD YOU DESCRIBE THE PROCESS? WE AFTER THESE PASSIVE CANDIDATES AS WELL? CORRECT.
MR. -- HAS BEEN AROUND FOR MANY YEARS. IN MY PREVIOUS LIFE PRIOR TO COMING HERE, THE ONE I WORKED FOR WE USED HIS FIRM THERE AS WELL. HE DOES EXACTLY THAT REACHES OUT TO THE DIFFERENT CITIES THAT ARE OF SIMILAR SIZE AND SERVICES. AND TRIES TO RECRUIT THEM. AS HE SAID. MAKING THEM HAPPIER HERE THAN WHERE THEY ARE AT NOW. HE DEFINITELY WILL REACH OUT TO THOSE AGENCIES. HE HAS A LOT OF CONTACTS THAT HE WILL REACH OUT TO. THAT SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE.
>> YOUR , YOUR EXPERT KNOWLEDGE AS THE HR DIRECTOR, WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT --. IS THE TIMELINE ACHIEVABLE?
>> I BELIEVE IT IS. >> ANYMORE QUESTIONS? THANK YOU SO MUCH. EXCELLENT FORM, THANK YOU.
>> NOTED, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, MISS CAMEL FOR?
>> IT'S SHORT HERE. GOOD EVENING CITY COMMISSION. MY NAME IS KIM WOOLFORD. I LIVE AT 1315 I LIVE AT 1315 BROOME ST.
I DO WANT TO THANK YOU ALL AND I DO SINCERELY MEAN IT. SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AND I'M THE WIFE OF A POLITICIAN. I KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE AWAY FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS. THIS EVENING I WANTED TO ADVOCATE FOR THE CITY AS WELL AS TECH PAIRS -- TAXPAYERS WHO TAKE A STEP BACK AND LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE ARE PAYING. IN THE CITY OF 14,000 PEOPLE.
WE WILL PAY A CITY MANAGER A QUARTER OF $1 MILLION. THAT'S AN AWFUL LOT OF MONEY. JUST PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE. THE BUDGET FOR THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IS 291 1/2 BILLION DOLLARS FOR 2024. POPULATION IN CALIFORNIA IS 39 MILLION PEOPLE THE GOVERNOR SALARY IS $201,000 AND HE GETS A HOUSE. THAT EQUATES TO ROUGHLY TWO CENTS PER FAMILY TO PAY THE GOVERNOR SALARY. IN FLORIDA IT IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THING. WE ARE PRETTY MUCH ALIKE. WHEN IT COMES TO CITY MANAGERS, MIAMI-DADE HAS A POPULATION OF 6 MILLION 317 MILLION PEOPLE WITH THE CITY MANAGER SALARY OF $261,000. IF ANYBODY HAS A
[00:20:03]
CALCULATOR IF I DID IT WRONG, LET ME KNOW. IT EQUATES TO THREE CENTS PER PERSON OR $.12 PER FAMILY OF FOUR. IF ANYBODY , LET ME KNOW IF I DID IT WRONG. THE AVERAGE SALARY FOR CITY MANAGERS IN FLORIDA IS $173,000. THAT OF BEING AVERAGE CITY IN FLORIDA IS 24,000 PEOPLE. YOU CAN DO YOUR OWN NUMBERS THERE. I WENT 2024 CITY BUDGET , THE COMMISSION BUDGETED , $250,000 FOR CITY MANAGERS SALARY. IS THAT CORRECT? THANK YOU. 225. THIS IS NOW THE SIXTH MANAGER IN TWO YEARS. THAT'S A LOT OF TURNOVER. I HAVE BEEN ABLE AS I LOOKED ALL AROUND THROUGH THE INTERNET TO FIND A CITY IN FLORIDA THAT HAS HAD CITY MANAGERS INTO YEARS OF ANYBODY CAN FIND ONE , SHAME ON ME. YOU ARE CORRECT. SPENDING TIME IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR . A HIGH SALARY IS NO GUARANTEE OF JOB PERFORMANCE. I'D LIKE THE COMMISSIONER TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. 2051 -- HUNDRED $25,000 IS ASTRONOMICAL FOR CITY OF 14,000 PEOPLE. IF ONE APPLIES THE SAME NUMBERS TO CALIFORNIA , AND FLORIDA AND US, WE ARE A CITY OF 14,000 PEOPLE.>> FINISH IT UP FOR ME. >> IT'S A NUMBERS THING. I FIND IT CONCERNING. WE PAID SOMEBODY SO MUCH MONEY . OUR GOVERNOR ONLY MAKES ENGINE FOR THE $1000. I'M GLAD THE HUMAN RESOURCES IS HERE. OUR GOVERNOR ONLY MAKES 141 OUR GOVERNOR ONLY MAKES $141,000. THIS THE CITY MANAGER NEED TO HAVE SOME KIND OF SKILL SETS? KNOWLEDGE BASE OR SOMETHING? SOMETHING THAT MAKES THEM SUPPORTIVE TO $25,000 WHEN THE GOVERNOR ONLY MAKES $141,000? DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM? AM I SPEAKING TO MYSELF? IT'S SOMETHING FOR PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT. A SMALL TOWN PAYING A CITY MANAGER THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY. IT'S PRETTY HIGH. MATTER-OF-FACT. THE GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA MAKES ENGINE ANYONE -- THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR
MAKES --. >> THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. TO I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE AWAY FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS. THAT
YOU SO MUCH. >> WE APPRECIATE YOU.
>> I WANT TO RESPOND TO THAT. >> GO AHEAD.
>> THE REASON WE PAY SO MUCH IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO LIVE FLYING THE CHARTER IN THE CITY. TO BUY OR RENT IN THE CITIES EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. TO ATTRACT PEOPLE WILLING TO COME HERE, THEY LOOK AT THE HOUSING COSTS. THAT'S WHY WE PAY THAT MONEY.
IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE CITY CHARTER SO PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO LIVE IN THE CITY, SO BE IT. THAT IS THE REASON.
>> THANK YOU. DID YOU KNOW YOU ARE UP NEXT, GO AHEAD.
>> 406 BEECH ST. I WANT TO TALK TO YOU MORE ABOUT THE CITY'S REPUTATION. I URGE YOU , THE LAST TIME I SPOKE ABOUT IT I RECOMMENDED YOU HIRE SOMEBODY ON A 4 TO 6 MONTH CONTRACT. I KNOW YOU THINK IT MIGHT BE A BABYSITTING POSITION . I HAVE BEEN IN THIS POSITION BEFORE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHERE WE HIRED TEMPORARY EXECUTIVES AND IT WAS THE BEST THING BECAUSE YOU HAVE HIGH KNOWLEDGE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE ALL OVER AND YOU GET THEM TO COME IN AND THEY SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WITH YOU ON A TEMPORARY BASIS AND YOU CAN'T PUT A DOLLAR FIGURE TO THAT. IT IS A BABYSITTING IF YOU HIRE THE RIGHT PERSON. FOR A HALF MONTHS AWAY FROM ANOTHER ELECTION WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THE SEATS ARE UP FOR RE-ELECTION. LAST TIME THERE WAS AN ELECTION, COUPLE WEEKS AFTER I BELIEVE BY SMITH STURGIS RECOMMENDED TO FIRE THE CURRENT MANAGER OF THE COMMISSION WENT THROUGH IT WHAT YOU DO IF YOU DON'T GET RE-ELECTED? WE KNOW ROSS WILL NOT GET RE-ELECTED BECAUSE HE'S NOT RUNNING. LET'S SAY THERE ARE TWO REMAINING FOLKS IN THE NEXT COMMISSION IF YOU DON'T GET RE-ELECTED COMES IN AND DECIDES TO FIGHT THE CITY MANAGER YOU JUST HIRED. ALREADY DONE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO OUR REPUTATION BETWEEN EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON THE LACK OF CONTINGENCY PLANNING . WE'VE BEEN IN NEWSPAPERS ALL OVER FLORIDA. WE REALLY NEED TO HIRE
[00:25:01]
SOMEBODY TEMPORARY THAT THE NEXT COMMISSION BE AT YOU AND WHOEVER ELSE TO HIRE THE NECK CITY MANAGER. I NEVER GOT A GOOD REASON WHY THE LAST CITY MANAGER WAS FIRED. WHAT I HEARD IS BECAUSE THE CITY MANAGER DID NOT SHARE THE SAME VISION AS THE NEW COMMISSION. WHOEVER YOU HIRE WILL SHARE THE SAME VISION AS THE NEXT COMMISSION. IF YOU CARE ABOUT FERNANDINA BEACH, DO NOT DO THIS. WE HAVE A BAD REPUTATION WHEN IT COMES TO CITY MANAGERS. PLEASE SAVE OUR REPUTATION AND DO SOMEBODY TEMPORARY LET THE NEXT COMMISSION MAKE THE HIRING DECISION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.>> THAT WAS ALL THE REQUEST TO SPEAK I HAVE BEFORE ME. NOW IT IS TALKING TIME ABOUT IT BEFORE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING. I DID HEAR SOME --. I WILL RECAP WHERE WE ARE AND I DON'T WANT TO PUT WORDS IN ANYBODY'S MOUTH. I HEARD FROM COMMISSIONER DARRON AYSCUE AND VICE MAYOR DAVID STURGES. I HEARD FROM COMMISSIONER JAMES ANTUN THAT YOU WOULD BE OKAY WITH THE TEMPORARY PERSON AND MAYBE LEE SMITH. THEN I HEARD FROM COMMISSIONER ROSS YOU WANT TO GO WITH LEE SMITH RIGHT NOW.
IS THAT RIGHT EVERYBODY? OKAY . I WOULD LEAN TO I BELIEVE FOR TRANSPARENCY PURPOSES WE SHOULD INGEST TAKE LEE SMITH RIGHT NOW. WE NEED TO HAVE A --. I'M LEADING TO THE PROCESS AS PRESENTED BY MR. --. THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO DO.
I BELIEVE THAT'S THAT. THAT'S THE PLAN. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS ABOUT THAT? >> I WANT TO HEAD TO KOUNTZ.
THAT'S WHAT WE WILL DO, OBVIOUSLY.
>> I HOPE MR. LEE SMITH IS IN THAT LIST. THAT'S FINE. THAT'S FINE. I'M NOT SAYING THAT RHETORICALLY. THE COUNCIL WON'T HIRE MR. SMITH DOWN. HE WILL PLAN THAT'S FINE. I HOPE HE DOES. SPEAKING TO A NEW COMMISSION COMING IN CAN ALWAYS FIRE SOMEBODY. THEY WILL COMMISSION CAN FIRE SOMEBODY.
IT IS NOT SUSTAINABLE WHAT WE ARE DOING. HASN'T BEEN SUSTAINABLE FOR MONTHS. THE STAFF CANNOT CONTINUE THE WAY IT IS. PUTTING US UP TO A NEW COMMISSION AND GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS WHICH TAKES MONTHS. AS IT IS WHOEVER SHOWS UP HERE WILL BE 30 TO 60 DAYS BECAUSE THEY HAVE A PREVIOUS JOB. THEY CAN'T START UNTIL THEN. THEY PROLONG THIS WELL INTO THE NEXT YEAR. IT IS NOT SUSTAINABLE. HE'S DOING --. BUT HE CAN'T INTO A THREE CHOPS AT ONCE AND CAN ANYBODY ELSE I THINK WE NEED TO RESOLVE IT NOW. ALL FOUR CHARTS WORK OUT A CALENDAR. I AM AVAILABLE ANY DAY. WEEK -- ANY WEEK FOR JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST. I CAN SF AVAILABLE.
>> MARKET DOWN ON THE CALENDAR. I AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER ROSS ON THIS IS TO A PREFERRED FOR HER TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE
ELECTION. >> STAFF CAN NO LONGER HANDLE THIS LIKE I SAID BEFORE. WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF ARMS IN THE BULLPEN. IT IS UNSUSTAINABLE AT THIS POINT IN TIME. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TIMELINE EVEN IF IT WERE DIRECTLY IS PRINTED, COMMISSIONER ROSS IS RIGHT AGAIN ANY TALK ABOUT 30 TO 60 DAYS BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS IN HERE. IT'S GOING TO BE IN THE CITY MANAGER FOR EVERYBODY DOESN'T MATTER WHAT MISSION IS SITTING UP HERE. THEY WILL BE NEW FOR EVERYBODY. I DON'T THINK IT'LL BE A CONTENTIOUS HIRE. NOTHING WILL PROHIBIT THE VISUAL FROM WORKING WITH ANY AGENCY GOING FORWARD. YOU LOOK AT IT BEING MARCHED UP APRIL NEXT YEAR BEFORE WE GET SOMEBODY IN HERE. IT'S UNFAIR TO STAFF WITH HIM LONG ENOUGH PEOPLE PULLING DOUBLE DUTY AND THAT'S NOT JUST CHARLIE.
THAT'S EVEN JEREMIAH AND DEPARTMENT HEADS HAVING TO KEEP THEIR HEAD ABOVE WATER WITHOUT A FULL-TIME CITY MANAGER. WE ARE AT A POINT WHERE WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING. UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE IN THIS POSITION. I LIKE THE TIMELINE OUT OF THE AUGUST DATES. IT'S NOT DOABLE FOR ME. IF WE CAN WORK ON AT A LATER
[00:30:06]
DATE AND MOVE FORWARD WITH IT. THAT'S WHERE I WILL BE.>> VICE MAYOR. >> THANK YOU MAYOR. I HAVE TO AGREE 100% WITH DARREN. AS LONG AS CHIP SAYS HE WANTS TO GO THE TIMELINE AND HIRE SOMEBODY, I AGREE WITH CHIP AS WELL . MY PERSONAL SELF I WANTED TO WAIT UNTIL THAT'S THE WHOLE REASON WE HAD CHARLIE AS A TEMPORARY. WE CAN'T CONTROL WHAT HAPPENS WITH CHARLIE'S HEALTH. JEREMIAH IS IN THE POSITION AND STEPPED UP AND I DON'T NEED TOE THEM. IT IS TIME NOW. TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD TO GET SOMEBODY HIRED. HOPEFULLY THE PERSON WILL SUSTAIN WITH THIS COMMISSION THERE'S NO REASON THEY SHOULDN'T. HOWEVER WE HIRE SHOULD BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THIS COMMISSION NEXT COMMISSION. IT IS REALLY SIMPLE. THUS PRODUCE WHETHER IT IS THIS ONE OR THE NEXT ONE,
THANK YOU. >> WE HAVE A PLAN. STAFF, WITH DENISE THE OUTLINE YOU OUTLINED TO US THE DATES WILL BE FINE-TUNED A LITTLE BIT. DO WE NEED TO MAKE A MOTION TO CODIFY IT? I PROPOSE TO MOVE THE SCHEDULE PROPOSED BY THE HR DIRECTOR. DO I HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND SCHEDULE A GETS PHASE FOR EVERY TIME IT BE BETTER TO DO IT A WEEK LATER GIVEN WE AGREE YOU'LL FIND MUTUALLY A POND DATE FOR THE :
WHO MADE THE SECOND? >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE TABLE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO REQUEST TO SPEAK AT TIME IF THE PUBLIC, NOT MISS BETH, TAKE US AWAY. WE WILL
CALL THE ROLE. >> THAT PASSES, 5-0. THANK YOU
FOR BEING WITH US. >> I WANT TO MAKE COMMENTS ON THE BROCHURE. I DID GET A REQUEST FROM MRS. DAVIS THIS SHE DID HAVE A COMMITTED SOME OF THE UP-TO-DATE REFERENCE THE CITY'S CURRENT BUDGET. I FORWARDED OVER THE THEY COULD
[5. PUBLIC COMMENT]
BRING IT FORWARD. WITH THAT, I DO MISS PASS WE ARE IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION LET'S CALL IT. THIS IS A ONE HAVE IT ALL MISS KOBE. I ENCOURAGE YOU SINCE YOU ARE MOVING FORWARD INTHIS VEIN. >> I ASK MISS PROVIDE YOU ALL WITH ROBUST INTERVIEWING TECHNIQUES. AND AND BEHAVIOR IN SKILLS TO INTERVIEW THESE PEOPLE. HAVING A PEER IS NOT A QUALIFIER. ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE GETTING THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE JOB IS OF VITAL IMPORTANCE. THE TIMELINE IS AMBITIOUS. WE WILL GO WELL BEYOND THIS IF YOU REMEMBER WHAT YOUR FAST TRACKING THIS ENDED UP A SIX MONTHS WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF AN ELECTION THAT YOU WANT. WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TRACK THIS OUT AND HE WERE MAKING DECISIONS OTHER PEOPLE SHOULD BE MAKING. THANK YOU. TO YOU, MISS KOBE. WITH THAT, DO WE HAVE A REQUESTED
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.