HomeMy Public PortalAbout1987-04-20 Special Meeting40
COUNCIL MEETING
SPECIAL MEETING
APRIL 20, 1987
A special meeting of the Bal Harbour Village Council was
held on Tuesday, April 20, 1987, at the Bal Harbour Village Hall.
The meeting was called to order, following the adjournment of the
Induction Meeting, by Mayor Richard H. Olsen at 10:15 a.m. Those
present were:
Mayor Richard H. Olsen
Asst. Mayor Estelle Stern
James E. Boggess
Sol M. Taplin
Also present: Louise K. Miller, Village Manager
Richard J. Weiss, Village Attorney
Carole S. Morris, Village Clerk
Presentation: Mayor Olsen presented a plaque to Estelle
Antiles, retiring Council member from District 4, in appreciation
of her 4 years of dedicated service. Mrs. Antiles thanked the
residents for the privilege of serving on the Council and wished
success to the new Council.
Reports and Recommendations - Award of Bid: Mrs. Miller
requested that the Council award the bid for repairs to the
groins to the Ebsary Foundation Company in the amount of $60,000.
Ebsary was not the low bidder. The low bidder, Alpha Marine, has
a poor record in neighboring areas and for this reason, the
second lowest bid is being recommended. A motion was offered by
Mr. Taplin and seconded by Mrs. Stern to approve awarding of the
bid to Ebsary Foundation Company. There being no discussion the
motion carried unanimously (4-0).
Reports and Recommendations - Management Study: Mrs. Miller
requested that the Council approve retaining the firm of Cannon
Stierheim Busutil to perform an evaluation of the Public Works
Department. This study would provide information relevant to the
user -fee structure currently being used to defray expenses in
solid waste disposal and to evaluate the delivery of other
services. The current garbage rate structure has provoked a
great deal of controversy and in view of the coming budget
preparation, Mrs. Miller urged this study be undertaken. The
cost of the study would be $12,150 and would take between 6 and 8
weeks to complete. Mr. Busutil a partner in the firm, present at
the meeting, explained the guarantee offered with the project.
If the firm does not present savings equal to or greater than the
projected fee, there is no charge. Mr. Bob Maute, 9801 Collins
Avenue, noted that the issue of the fee structure for solid waste
disposal is not only quite complex but extremely controversial.
Consequently, he urged the Council to return this cost to the ad
valorem tax structure. Mr. John Bruno, 50 Park Drive, overall,
commended the previous study performed by Arthur Andersen and
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Company. He stated that his difficulty with the study is in the
assessment that an apartment unit should be charged one-half of
the rate for a home. Mr. Sidney Feldman, 9800 Collins Avenue,
inquired as to what percent of the budget is spent on solid waste
dispoal. Mrs. Evelyn Gilbert, chairperson of the Civic
Association's Committee on Solid Waste, joined Mr. Maute and the
Village Manager in calling on the Council to address this issue
as quickly as possible. Mrs. Miller explained that this study
would present an important management tool - and that no such
study is on record. Mr. Boggess expressed the sentiment that
such a study should include each of the Village's departments.
Mr. John F. Kelly, Finance Officer, explained that the public
works department and the police department employ the vast
majority of city employees. As such, a thorough study may need
only address these two areas. A motion was offered by Mr.
Boggess that this item be deferred until the next meeting for a
decision and seconded by Mrs. Stern. The motion carried
unanimously (4-0).
A motion was then offered by Mr. Boggess that a committee be
appointed to make a recommendation to the Council as to a firm
that could perform such an evaluation of all Village departments
at a cost not to exceed $12,000. This motion was seconded by
Mrs. Stern and carried unanimously. Mayor Olsen then appointed
Mr. Taplin to chair the committee and Mr. Everett Lent and Mr.
Sidney Feldman to serve on the committee. Mr. Weiss, noting the
scope of the committees duties, stated that the committee
meetings should take place in accordance with the sunshine law
provisions.
Reports and Recommendations - Harland Bartholomew Workshop:
Mrs. Miller announced that the Council workshop meeting scheduled
to hear the report of Harland Bartholomew regarding zoning in the
ocean front district has been rescheduled for May 19th at 10:00
a.m. Additionally, she requested that the Council enlarge the
scope of the study to address rooftop parking structures. The
additional cost would be approximately $1,350 for a total of
$4,550. Apparently there is a conflict in the code relating to
this topic. Mr. Weiss advised that an opinion was issued by Alan
Gold relating to this and indicated that he is seeking a copy of
this opinion. Mr. Lou Brandt, owner of the Regency Hotel Spa,
stated that his is the only property that may be redeveloped in
the foreseeable future, that this study seeks to restrict his
rights. Mayor Olsen reassured Mr. Brandt, stating that it is not
the Council's intention to harm anyone but to protect the
interests of the Village, as a whole. Mr. Taplin noted that
currently, rooftop parking, already exists at the Shops and the
Harbour House. Consequently, he sees no value in studying this
question. After some further discussion, the Council concurred,
instructing Mrs. Miller not to proceed with the study of rooftop
parking.
Reports and Recommendations - Beautification/Birthday Event:
Mrs. Miller reported that the Beautification/Birthday event held
on Friday, April 10, 1987 was quite a success. Some 225 persons
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were in attendance. Mr. Taplin thanked Mrs. Miller for all of
her efforts on this project.
Reports and Recommendations - Increase in Village Attorney's
Retainer: Mr. Weiss explained the agreement that he is
requesting to increase his retainer to better reflect the among
of services rendered on behalf of the Village. The agreement
calls for the retainer to be increased to $25,000 annually
through the end of this fiscal year. This will include 50 hours
of work each quarter (not including attendance at meetings) -
anything above that 50 hours will be charged at the hourly rate
of $125 per hour. A motion was offered by Mr. Taplin to approve
the agreement and seconded by Mrs. Stern. There being no
discussion the motion carried unanimously (4-0).
Other Business: Mr. Lou Brandt addressed the Council
regarding complaints that he has with the current solid waste
disposal fee structure. While his hotel is closed 6 months
during the year, Mr. Brandt is billed for service year-round. He
noted that his legal counsel has corresponded with the Village
regarding this issue but has received no response. Mr. Weiss
stated that this matter had been forwarded to him and that a
response would be forth -coming shortly.
Discussion then returned to statements made during the
Induction Meeting by Vince Santucci. Mr. Santucci was not
present at this time. Mr. Matthew Blank, 9801 Collins Avenue,
spoke to Mr. Santucci's remarks stating that the letter, signed
by some of the candidates, reflected only a statement of
position. Mrs. Anamarie Stoppa, 77 Camden Drive, objected to Mr.
Santucci making any remarks in his capacity as Civic Association
President. Mrs. Stoppa noted that this item has not, as yet,
come to any vote by the Civic Association.
Mrs. Miller reported that the Village Attorney is currently
reviewing the agreement relating to "The Superstars".
Mr. Taplin, noting that the Resort Tax Committee would be
meeting on Tuesday April 21st, suggested that a representative
from the Council attend the meeting. Mayor Olsen urged this
Committee to select their own chairman to conduct meetings and
agreed to attend this meeting.
Mr. Sidney Feldman inquired as to the procedure and timing
for appointing someone to fill the vacant Council seat. Mayor
Olsen indicated that the Council will be accepting resumes from
interested persons. Mayor Olsen further explained that the
Charter does not require the Council to appoint a representative
from District 1 but may chose the best at -large candidate.
Mayor Olsen also thanked the Council for electing him to
serve as Mayor. He indicated that he hopes to return the post to
a more ceremonial function.
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There being no further business the meeting adjourned at
11:15 a.m.
,.�. 7ic/1zi----
M yor
ATTEST:
(62 4:424 /1,110442)
Village Clerk