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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