HomeMy Public PortalAbout1984-12-11 MeetingOn motion of Mr. McKeehan, seconded by Mrs. Antiles and voted the meet-
ing was adjourned at 12:20 P.M.
Attest:
Village Clerk
COUNCIL MINUTES
December 11, 1984
November 27, 1984
The Council of Bal Harbour Village Met Tuesday, December 11, 1984 at
9:30 A.M. in the Village Hall.
Present: Mrs. Antiles, and Messrs Laikin, McKeehan, Sherman and Taplin
Also present were Fred W. Maley, Village Manager; Mary T. Wetterer, Village
Clerk; and Anthony O'Donnell, representing Alan S. Gold, Village Attorney.
The Village Clerk reported that Budget Hearing and regular Council minutes
were not ready for adoption.
Mr. Sherman said that the council had authorized two studies by Long
Associates. One a pay study and the other a staffing study. The Budget Committee,
John Kelly, Fred Maley and the Department Heads met to discuss the staffing study.
Mr. Maley reported the pay study showed the Village to be right on target for
the majority of employees. In comparison with ten other cities, The Bal Harbour
Shops and the Sheraton Hotel, the survey suggested that the higher paid employees'
salaries are too low; the middle range are fine; and the lower paid employees
are somewhat higher. The staffing study also made some specific recommendations.
Mrs. Caroly Long reviewed the Pay Study and explained it was based on the level
of service the village wants. Bal Harbour has a high level of service, with visable
results. Mrs. Long reviewed the Village's present pay plan and compared it
with their suggested plan which has all positions classified, except for the
Village Manager. She explained that under their plan, raises can be given more
selectively. A level of responsibility was used for the study and they found
the maintenance personnel to be multi -talented. Also reviewed were new job
titles and proposed salary ranges. The Village Manager's salary was not studied
as this is a personal choice of the community. Merit raises and their applica-
tion to the scale were explained. Mr. Sherman said that the report shows that
our police department is 5th in salaries among 27 cities, and the report bears
out the 5% raise offered to the police officers is fair. Mr. Maley said that
at the Special Master Hearing on police wages, the PBA tried to compare our
salaries to only the highest paid department, plus the county. The Master's
recommendation that will come will be advisory only. Mr. McKeehan asked that
adoption of the Long report be held until next meeting so he could study it
longer. Mrs. Long discussed the staffing study. She said the size of the
community and service levels necessary to maintain the esthetics makes com-
parison with other cities difficult. In doing the study she and members of the
firm interviewed personnel, visited their working places and in some instances
December 11, 1984
rode with them. Mrs. Long went over the different departments and their
functions. Suggested were: Changing the role of the present Finance Director
to Finance Consultant. The job should be for technical assistance rather
than a line position; thought should be given to possibly having a full time
Finance Director on retirement of the present Village Clerk; and what a new
village Clerk's duties would be. In the Police Department, recommendations
were made to eliminate 2 officers and two service aides. Chief Staubesand
explained that the two additional police officers were requested by the
council and their functions relieve the regular patrolmen from handling small
complaints from the Bal Harbour Shops. The position of the service aides are
being reviewed. Mr. Maley said the Department of Tourism now has one Clerk
whose position is being eliminated. The part-time person in the bookkeeping
office will work full time and handle tourism affairs.
The council discussed the Long Associates recommendation that the Village
charge for maintaining the vacant lots in the residential section. Mr. Maley
said the cost to the village is about $10.00 per cutting. The Public Works
Director checked with some of the local gardeners who quoted $40.00 to $55.00
per month for their service. It was moved by Mr. McKeehan, seconded by Mrs.
Antiles and unanimously voted that Mr. Maley would work out the details for
charging the vacant lot owners for the Village to continue cutting the lots.
This would be at a fee similar to local gardeners, or the owner's could contract
for this service with a private gardener.
Mr. Maley said the portion of the report dealing with the handling of
garbage at the Bal Harbour Shops has been worked out with Steve Bobby to Mr.
Weldon's satisfaction. Mr. Maley was instructed to review the proposed salaries
for Department Heands and make a recommendation to the council.
Mr. Sherman asked for a change in agenda order which was agreed on. The
members of the Beautification Committee present were introduced. Mr. Jim
Schafer of O'Leary, Schafer and Casio, said some seagrape and sapadilla trees
along Collins Avenue need replacement and they have chosen pidgeon plums. They
have also revised their plan to place the trees between the property lines and
the sidewalk and now recommend the placement between the sidewalk and the street.
This will result, however, in some interference with the lighting levels. They
suggested that a lighting consultant be hired to look into this. Mr. Sherman
said he and Mr. Maley met with Mr. O'Leary who feels that the pedestrian light-
ing is not in keeping with the rest of the street furniture. When Mr. Branston
was here, up -lighting was suggested. Mr. Taplin said he was not in favor of
spending money to do other lighting. Discarding what we have is a waste of money.
Mr. Schafer suggested that the globe could be modified. Mr. Gart Urban said
that so many things are happening, and his firm is trying to unify them. Mr.
Maley explained that the updating of Collins Avenue and 96th Street consists
of two parts; one, landscaping, which O'Leary, Schafer and Casio is doing; secondly,
the signage, which Mr. Gart Urban is doing. A11 these have costs factors. Mr.
Schafer suggested that the sapadilla trees could be root pruned and sold to help
defer the cost of the pidgeon plums. Also Mr. Maley said he needs a decision
on the location of the trees. Mr. William Whitman suggested that Bal Harbour try
to go back to the tropical effect. People who come south are looking for palm
trees. Our boulevard does not reflect south Florida. If coconuts are a problem
he recommended palmettos. It was suggested that Mr. O'Leary and the Village
Manager get together regarding the tree placement and lighting. It was decided
to go ahead with the pidgeon plums and the manager will see about the lighting.
Mr. Sherman said that the council and the beautification committee think
that the signage costs should be somewhere between the low and high estimates
of Gart Urban.
December 11, 1984
Ms. Lorraine Franc discussed their recommendations including placing
flower boxes on the bus shelters; painting either the whole street light pole
or just the arm part to blend with the shelters; and painting the traffic
light poles. Mr. Urban also discussed the new Village entrance signs, the Church
sign and the entrance sign to the residential section. Mr. Maley said the
estimated cost of all these changes could be over $200,000. He said the Resort
Tax money has been nearly depleted. He would like to recommend that the General
Fund pay for the landscaping, the entrance signs to the Village and any altera-
tions to the light poles. The Tourism Department should pay for the driveway
entrance signs on the east side and west side Collins at the hotels and apart-
ments. It was moved by Mr. Taplin, seconded by Mrs. Antiles and unanimously
voted that we proceed with the driveway entrance signs and the replacement
of the trees and hedges along the est side of Collins Avenue.
Mr. Santucci, President of the Civic Association said he objects to state-
ments in the newspapers about association affairs. Mr. McKeehan said that he
was misquoted and that they should sit down and talk.
Mr. Maley said that the bus shelter at the Sheraton was too small to ac-
commodate the number of passengers and the many newsracks. He has a final quote
from Urban systems of $21,600, plus freight, for alterations of a small shelter
to make it larger. The council discussed alternatives and on motion of Mr. Taplin,
seconded by Mr. McKeehan and unanimously voted it was decided to take the large
shelter from Harbour Way and place it at the Sheraton and use a small shelter
at Harbour Way.
Mayor Sherman said we had asked for alternate bids for the recarpeting
and other refurbishing in the village hall. Mr. Dunaway, Interior Decorator,
said he had gone to Harry Rich to discuss other types of carpeting and tile.
He said that Harry Rich recommends removing the glue -down old carpeting but he
believesthe new carpet canbe placed over the old carpet and it can be stretched
if required, for much less cost. After discussion on types of carpet, methods
of installing, quality of floor tile, Mr. Sherman suggested that he and Sol
Taplin, Fred Maley and Wes Dunaway get together and work out the different
options.
Mr. O'Donnell read Ordinance No. 262, changing the Resort Tax from 2%
to 3%, in full, after noting that it had been duly advertised. It was amended
to provide that the tax be effective for the January business period. On motion
of Mr. McKeehan, seconded by Mr. Taplin and unanimously voted
Ordinance No. 262
was adopted.
Mr. McKeehan explained that the Board of Directors of the Bal Harbour
Club were exploring possibilities for the Yacht Club property. They would
lie to knowif an apartment building could be built on the property under the
present zoning. Mr. O'Donnell said Mr. Gold needs the Village Council's per-
mission to respond to the Club's attorney regarding the Yacht Club zoning. It
was moved by Mr. McKeehan, seconded by Mrs. Antiles and unanimously voted that
Mr. Gold could give the Bal Harbour Club an opinion on the use of Yacht Club site.
Mr. Sherman reported that all residents, including those in the condomini-
ums, were being solicited to contribute to the Employees' Holiday Fund. Inasmuch
as the Village Manager does not participate in the fund on motion of Mr. Taplin,
seconded by Mrs. Antiles and unanimously voted the Manager was voted a bonus
of $2,500, the same as the previous year.
On motion of Mr. Taplin, seconded by Mr. McKeehan and voted the meeting was
December 11, 1984
adjourned at 12:35 P.M.
Attest:
Village Clerk
December 11, 1984
COUNCIL MINUTES
January 29, 1985
The Council of Bal Harbour Village met Tuesday, January 29, 1985 at
9:30 A.M. in the Village Hall.
Present: Mrs. Antiles, Messrs. Laikin, McKeehan, Sherman and Taplin
Also present were Fred W. Maley, Village Manager; Mary T. Wetterer,
Village Clerk and Alan S. Gold, Village Attorney.
On motion of Mrs. Antiles, seconded by Mr. Laikin and voted the minutes of
the Budget Hearing of October 30, 1984 and Council Meetings of November
27th and December llth, 1984 were approved as submitted.
Mayor Sherman reviewed the Mayor's expenses that were referred to in the
Miami Herald the previous Sunday as they pertained to the Gala and Florida
League of Cities meetings.
Mrs. Doris Hastings of the Beautification Committee said that an Awards
Dinner would be held at the Sea View Hotel on April 3, 1985. There will be
awards made to properties on both sides of Collins Avenue and in the Resi-
dential Section.
Mr. Maley said we are preparing to replace the trees on the east and
west sides of Collins Avenue. The contract will be signed next week for the
refurbishing of the hotel and apartment signs on the east side of Collins Avenue
and new signs for the apartments on the west side of Collins Avenue.
Mayor Sherman said that the matter of the 96th Street gate to the resi-
dential section was discussed at the previous meeting. Since that time he
has had several calls from residents who did not join the Civic Association
who are being denied use of the gate. After conferring with Mr. Gold, he wrote
the president of the Civic Association, Mr. Santucci, asking that the gate
be changed back to the former combination until this meeting. Both the police
department and Mr. Gold were concerned about the safety and welfare of the
residents. Mr. Shiel, attorney for the Civic Association said he does not
believe this is a public matter, and if the council has a legal opinion
saying it was, they would challange it. Mr. Gavigan said that the civic
association policy is an intrusion on his rights as a property owner, as
the deeds give all property owners common rights to the streets. Mr. Valardo,
President of One Harbour Way Apartments, said their owners had bought under
certain conditions and had always enjoyed the use of the 96th Street gate.
January 29, 1985