MINUTES
TOWN OF SHALIMAR
COMMISSION MEETING
CALL TO
ORDER: Mayor Gary Combs called the regular meeting of the Shalimar Town
Commission to order at 6:00 p.m. in Town Hall chambers. He led the “Pledge of Allegiance” to the
Flag.
ROLL CALL
FOR THE RECORD:
Mayor
Gary Combs: present
Mayor
Pro Tem Elaine Tucker: present
Commissioner
John Henderson: present
Commissioner
Ricardo Garcia: present
Commissioner
Kevin Reeves: present
Others in attendance:
Town Manager Tom Burns, Town Attorney Mike Chesser (arrived at 6:12pm),
Sergeant Charles Self and spouse DeAnna, and Town residents; Pat and Sandra
McLain of 6 Gardner Drive, Johann Behnken of 111 Clifford Dr., Ray Morgan of
202 Snug Harbor Dr., Courtney Gable of 139 Gardner DR., and Rik Larson of 24
Old Ferry Rd.
OLD
BUSINESS:
I.
APPROVE MINUTES OF OCTOBER 9, 2001 TOWN COMMISSION MEETING
– Commissioner Garcia moved to approve the minutes as written. Commissioner Tucker seconded the motion and
it passed unanimously. Mayor
Combs noted the absence of a signature block on the minutes and Manager Burns
stated he would correct it.
II.
TOWN ATTORNEY REPORT –
(followed agenda Old Business item IV due to late arrival) Town
Attorney, Mike Chesser briefed his recent meeting with County Commissioner Nick
Nicholson concerning County funding plans following the defeat of the One-Cent
Sales Tax referendum held on October 16, 2001.
III. PARK ORDINANCE 2002-03 SECOND READING -
Manager Burns briefed that the Town Attorney recommended changes to the
ordinance had been made. Commissioner Henderson moved to approve
Ordinance 2002-03. Commissioner Garcia
seconded the motion and it passed with Commissioner Tucker voting nay.
IV. DOCK ORDINANCE 2002-04 SECOND READING -
Manager Burns briefed that all of the Town Attorney recommended changes to the
ordinance had been made. Commissioner Tucker moved to approve Ordinance
2002-04. Commissioner Henderson
seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
V. RESOLUTION 2002-01 ELECTED STIPEND -
Manager Burns briefed that Town Attorney recommended changes to the resolution
draft had been made, including references to line item budget procedures and a
requirement of the Commission to approve payment during the fourth quarter of
the fiscal year. Commissioner Tucker moved to approve Resolution
2002-01. Commissioner Henderson
seconded the motion. Discussion
ensued with the Mayor asking if selected officials could be identified for
non-payment, based on performance. Attorney
Chesser answered negative, and that payment of the allowance was
"all-or-nothing". Mayor Combs
stated he would not accept any payments.
The motion to approve Resolution 2002-01 was passed with Mayor
Combs voting nay.
VI. RESOLUTION 2002-02 TOWN POLICY AMENDMENTS - Manager Burns stated
that all minor changes recommended by the Town Attorney had been made. Commissioner Tucker moved to approve
Resolution 2002-02 and Commissioner Reeves seconded. Motion to approve Resolution 2002-02 passed unanimously.
NEW
BUSINESS:
I.
TOWN RESIDENTS' TIME - MAYOR COMBS –
Rik Larson stated he was still
having problems with feral cats eating wildlife in his backyard and that he was
observing increased traffic speeders on Old Ferry Road. Commissioner Tucker asked if Waste Mgt.
garbage trucks could also be slowed down on Old Ferry. Sgt. Self answered that increased emphasis
would be applied to Old Ferry and that if speeding was observed at particular
times of the day, he should be advised.
Johann Behnken stated he had talked
to Dr. Ferdon about the drainage problem on Clifford Dr., and that they thought
the problem might be resolved by raising the roadway. Discussion ensued concerning the need to address the problem with
a systematic engineering survey and that the roadway should not be repaired
until the drainage problem was addressed.
Pat McLain related his ongoing
concerns about the loudness of music (heard inside his residence) coming from
the Shalimar Yacht Basin (SYB) on several Monday and Thursday nights. Discussion of recent complaints and Town
actions ensued. The Mayor opined that
the yacht basin seemed to be genuinely concerned about neighborhood issues and
asked if Mr. McLain could express his concerns directly to SYB management. Mr. McLain said he would talk to SYB
management. Commissioner Tucker said
she would support a public hearing on the subject if no resolution were
forthcoming. Attorney Chesser related a
similar noise complaint that was resolved by insulating the music speakers from
the concrete floor.
Courtney Gable expressed concern
about not being notified of the removal of the large oak tree in the
right-of-way at 135 Gardner Dr., and that she thought the 7AM removal time was
too early. Manager Burns stated that he
wished she had been notified, and that he was unaware of the exact start time
of the contracted removal, but would be sensitive to future contract start
times. Burns also confirmed that Ms.
Gable had received a written reply to her concerns from Maintenance Supervisor
Dowda. Burns asked Ms. Gable to provide
ideas of where a replacement tree might be planted, as the resident at 135
Gardner wanted no new tree planted at that address.
Ray Morgan reiterated his
informal request for installation of road edge ribbon curbing in lieu of sidewalks
on Snug Harbor Dr. He obtained a price
quote of $6.00 per linear foot for a 12' by 8" flush curb, and stated the
project should cost less than $3000.
Mayor Combs asked Mr. Morgan for a formal request from the Snug Harbor
Owners Association stating that the curbing was requested in lieu of sidewalks.
MAYOR
COMBS REPORT:
I. OKALOOSA
COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES REPORT – Mayor Gary Combs reported that many
municipalities were considering cooperating in attempts to obtain capital
project funding in light of the defeated sales tax referendum.
COMMISSIONER TUCKER'S REPORT:
I. FY02
BUDGET STATUS – Commissioner Tucker passed out a current budget
spreadsheet.
II. "CARE
PACKAGE" UPDATE – Commissioner Tucker stated that 12 cribbage game sets
were donated by the Town for distribution to deployed units from the local
military bases.
III. AUDIT UPDATE– Commissioner Tucker said the
auditors would be starting soon, and that preparations were progressing
normally.
IV. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN/DEBT SERVICE - Commissioner
Tucker recommended paying off the $48,500 AmSouth loan for the road repairs on
Old Ferry Rd. She related that approx.
$1700 dollars could be saved in interest payments over expected interest
revenue. She briefed the budget impact
of retiring this loan and the Commission agreed that this was a good idea and,
as Finance Commissioner, she could proceed with the pay-off. Tucker stated that she wanted to review the
Town's capital improvement needs following the defeat of the sales tax. She directed all Commissioners to review the
sales-tax improvement lists and provide inputs for a revised list to be briefed
at the next Commission meeting.
COMMISSIONER
GARCIA'S REPORT:
I. VETERANS
MEMORIAL UPDATE - Commissioner Garcia briefed that he had presented this year's
check of $250 for support of the County Memorial project, and that initial
materials for the project could possibly be ordered by the end of this Dec.
II. VETERANS
DAY CEREMONY - Commissioner Garcia briefed his representation of the Town at
the ceremony at Memorial Cemetery. He
stated that the Town's new presentation wreath was very nice.
COMMISSIONER REEVES' REPORT:
I. NEW PODIUM/UPDATE ON MTG ROOM –
Commissioner Tucker apologized for not yet coordinating on covering the
Commission table and podium.
Commissioner Reeves stated he would prepare an estimate as soon as
possible.
II. CHRISTMAS PARTY - Commissioner Reeves will
work with Commissioner Tucker on the children's Christmas party/Town open
house. It was decided to have the party
on 11 December, following a special Town Commission meeting at 5PM instead of
the regularly scheduled 6PM meeting.
Manager Burns was directed to advertise the new meeting time, and also
produce and distribute the quarterly Tidbits in early December as a means of
advertising the party. Commissioner
Tucker said she would also like to promote a "white lights of
Shalimar" decorating theme with local businesses.
COMMISSIONER HENDERSON'S REPORT:
I. PERSONNEL
UPDATE – Commissioner Henderson briefed that one of the part time trainees, Ron
Cabansag had resigned for other employment.
Henderson related that Officers Westrup and Miller are now capable of
independent patrol. Commissioner Henderson
recommended that Officer Self be promoted from Sgt./acting Chief of Police to
Chief of Police on Jan 1, 2002.
Discussion ensued as to reasons for delaying promotion, probation
period, and salary adjustment. Commissioner
Tucker moved that Officer Self be promoted to Chief of Police immediately and
that his gross salary be adjusted to $23,500 annually, beginning December 1,
2001. Motion was seconded by
Commissioner Henderson and passed unanimously. Commissioner Henderson passed out an excerpt
from the Ft. Walton Beach nuisance ordinance and asked Commissioners to review
as a resource for a possible Shalimar nuisance ordinance.
POLICE
REPORT:
I. MONTHLY ACTIVITY REPORT – The newly
formatted police report was reviewed.
I.
CHEROKEE ADDITION/GRANT UPDATE – Town Manager Tom Burns
reported that he had submitted the grant close out request to FL for
reimbursement of the Cherokee Park property addition expenditures.
II.
CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS/GREETING CARDS - It was agreed that
the "white lights of Shalimar" theme would be used on the Town Hall,
and that an accelerated Tidbits edition would be the Town's Christmas card
effort.
III.
CONSTRUCTION UPDATES - Manager Burns related that the
Vanguard Bank sign would be reconfigured shortly, and that the sign for Live
Oak Commons would be expanded to include businesses leasing space in the rear
areas of the complex.
IV.
TAX EXEMPTION UPDATE - Burns said that Shalimar does have
an ordinance expanding the homeowners exemption for low-income property owners
over 65, and that a notice to validate this exemption would be included in the
Tidbits.
V.
BUSINESS GROUP UPDATE - Burns related that only two
businesses attended the last business group meeting and that he hoped a meeting
time change and renewed advertising emphasis could promote better attendance
after the holidays.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
NONE
ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Henderson moved to adjourn
the Town Commission meeting at 7:38.
Commissioner Garcia seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
ATTEST:
_______________________________ _________________________________
Tina Smith Gary Combs
Deputy Town Clerk Mayor