HomeMy Public PortalAbout05-May 06, 2019 SCM CITY OF OPA-LOCKA
"The Great City"
CLERK'S ACTION SUMMARY MINUTES
SPECIAL COMMISSION MEETING
Monday, May 6, 2019
5:30 P.M.
Sherbondy Village Auditorium
215 Perviz Avenue
Opa-locka, FL 33054
1. CALL TO ORDER:
Mayor Matthew Pigatt called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, May 6, 2019 in the
Auditorium at Sherbondy Village, 215 President Barack Obama (Perviz) Avenue, Opa-locka,
Florida.
2. ROLL CALL:
The following members of the City Commission were present: Mayor Matthew Pigatt, Vice
Mayor Chris Davis, Commissioner Joseph L. Kelley, Commissioner Alvin Burke, and
Commissioner Sherelean Bass. Also in attendance were: Acting City Manager Newall
Daughtrey, Special Counsel Stephen Hunter-Johnson, and City Clerk Joanna Flores.
3. INVOCATION:
The invocation was delivered by Commissioner Sherelean Bass.
4. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison.
5. PUBLIC INPUT:
Agenda Items Only
6. PRESENTATIONS/INTERVIEWS — CANDIDATES FOR THE POSITION OF
CITY ATTORNEY FOR THE CITY OFOPA-LOCKA, FLORIDA:
(Presentations/Interviews are scheduled 45 minutes apart to allow each candidate 15
minutes for their presentation and 30 minutes for Q &A)
• Burnadette Norris-Weeks, P.A. 5:45 PM
• The Barrister Firm, P.A. 6:30 PM
• Greenspoon Marder LLP 7:15 PM
Each candidate utilized 15 minutes to present their firm to the city commission for consideration.
The commission then asked questions based upon the information they received from the
candidates for the position of city attorney.
7. RESOLUTIONS:
Special Commission Meeting Minutes—5/06/2019 1
a) A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF OPA-
LOCKA, FLORIDA, SELECTING A NEW CITY ATTORNEY AND DIRECTING
STEPHEN HUNTER-JOHNSON, ESQ. TO NEGOTIATE FOR AND BRING BACK
SUITABLE TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR RATIFICATION AND APPROVAL BY
THE CITY COMMISSION; PROVIDING FOR INCORPORATION OF RECITALS;
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Sponsored by City Commission
The above resolution was read by Special Counsel Hunter-Johnson.
A motion was made to nominate Greenspoon Marder LLP for the position of city attorney.
It was moved by Commissioner Kelley, seconded by Commissioner Burke for discussion.
Commissioner Kelley said he knows Greenspoon Marder LLP as they have worked for the City
before. He likes the fact that the firm is made up of a pool of attorneys with varying areas of
expertise.
Mayor Pigatt stated for the record that the Barrister Firm had been a registered agent for a
business that he incorporated and after he learned he applied he was removed from the business.
He said that when he ran for office he ran on change and at this time he is not in favor of Mr.
Geller as he has been a part of what transpired in the past.
Commissioner Burke said he understands what the mayor is saying, but in all fairness because
someone has been here before, that should not mean they are not capable of doing the work and
that goes for Mr. Geller and Ms. Norris-Weeks. There is an overflow of outside litigation and the
firms here have the experience to handle them. They should not be banned from selection
because they have been with the City before.
Mayor Pigatt said if it based on experience alone, then none of them would be sitting here today,
but it takes more than that.
There being no further discussion, the motion to select Greenspoon Marder LLP as the new city
attorney failed by a 4-1 vote.
Commissioner Burke No
Vice Mayor Davis No
Commissioner Kelley Yes
Commissioner Bass No
Mayor Pigatt No
A motion was made to nominate Bernadette Norris-Weeks, P.A. for the position of city attorney.
It was moved by Commissioner Burke, seconded by Vice Mayor Davis for discussion.
Vice Mayor Davis said Ms. Norris-Weeks presentation was comprehensive and she was also the
lowest bidder and therefore he is in support of selecting her firm.
Commissioner Kelley said he was in favor of both Mr. Geller and Ms. Norris-Weeks as he has
worked with both of them in the past. He also appreciates that she mentioned she has no problem
Special Commission Meeting Minutes—5/06/2019 2
telling the commission yes or no if need be because the commission needs to be told no when the
occasion calls for it.
There being no further discussion, the motion on the resolution selecting Bernadette Norris-
Weeks, P.A. as the new city attorney passed by a 4-1 vote.
Commissioner Burke Yes
Vice Mayor Davis Yes
Commissioner Kelley Yes
Commissioner Bass No
Mayor Pigatt Yes
9. ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business to come before the Commission, it was moved by Commissioner
Kelley, seconded by Commissioner Burke to adjourn the meeting at 8:15 p.m.
I/
AYOR
ATTEST:
fIL(. , .b. .1■,. 4
CITY CLERK
Special Commission Meeting Minutes—5/06/2019 3