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:

Others in attendance:  Town Manager Tom Burns, Police Chief Charles Self (arrived at 6:17 after a duty call), acting Deputy Clerk Sheila Hansen, Town residents Glenn Wagner of Palm Shores Drive, and Gene Tucker of Old Ferry Road.

P&Z BOARD REVIEW:  No meeting in December

OLD BUSINESS:

I.       APPROVE MINUTES OF December 12, 2001 TOWN COMMISSION MEETING – Commissioner Tucker moved to approve the minutes as written.  Commissioner Henderson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

II.      TOWN ATTORNEY REPORT - Town Attorney was absent.  Commissioner Henderson brought up the issue of offering Town Attorney Mike Chesser an option of providing Town services via a monthly retainer arrangement.  A draft arrangement provided by attorney Chesser was reviewed and agreed to in principle.  Questions arose about the dollar amount of a flat monthly rate, the definition of litigation services to be paid in addition to the monthly rate, and about the professional training support the Town would provide.  Commissioner Tucker moved to authorize Mayor Combs to sign a flat rate agreement with attorney Chesser after she resolved outstanding questions.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Henderson and passed unanimously.

III.     PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD APPOINTMENT - The Mayor introduced resident Glenn Wagner to the Commissioners and attendees.  The Mayor explained that as a result of Governor Bush appointing Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Chairman Eddie Phillips as a University of West Florida Trustee, Mr. Phillips is required by Florida ethics laws to remove himself from the Shalimar Planning and Zoning Board.  The mayor briefed the Commission that current P&Z member Mr. Jimmy Jones had agreed to accept an appointment as the P&Z Chairman.  The Mayor thanked Mr. Wagner for volunteering to fill the vacant P&Z position, and appointed him as a new P&Z Board Member.  Commissioner Tucker related that past Chairman Phillips should swear in Mr. Jones as the next Chairman, and that Mr. Jones could then swear in Mr. Wagner.  Contingent on P&Z member availability, it was decided to convene the P&Z Board on the regularly scheduled time and date to accomplish the inductions and congratulate Mr. Phillips for his lengthy and dedicated service to the Town.

NEW BUSINESS:

I.       TOWN RESIDENTS' TIME - None

MAYOR COMBS REPORT:

I.       OKALOOSA COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES (OCLOC) REPORT - Mayor Combs reported that the next OCLOC meeting would be held in Crestview, and that Eglin AFB was confident that a base open house would be held this year to include a performance by the USAF Thunderbird demonstration team.

COMMISSIONER TUCKER'S REPORT:

I.       FY02 BUDGET STATUS - Commissioner Tucker passed out a budget overview for the first quarter of the fiscal year.  She stated that all departments were on track for spending, and she expressed confidence in current revenue estimates, despite State of Florida economic downturns.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S REPORT:

I.       SECURITY IN MEIGS PARK - Commissioner Garcia briefed recent incidents of minor vandalism in Meigs Park.  He stated that Maintenance Supervisor Dowda had installed a motion-activated light in the park gazebo and a pole for a second light by the water fountain.  Commissioner Garcia went on to report that there is an apparent problem with the storm water drainage pipe originating in Meigs Middle School.  A resident on Richbourg Avenue has a sinkhole developing under his driveway and Town Manager Burns was in contact with County engineers and trying to determine responsibility for the drainage pipe's maintenance.  The Mayor requested Chief Self to draft a TIDBITS article, appealing for citizen vigilance for inappropriate activity in Meigs Park.

COMMISSIONER REEVES' REPORT:

I.       COMMISSIONER'S DESK UPDATE - Town Manager Burns briefed that Commissioner Reeves plans to remove the Commissioners desk (for repair) soon after the current Commission meeting or after the meeting in February.

COMMISSIONER HENDERSON'S REPORT:

I.       PART-TIME POLICE PERSONNEL - Commissioner Henderson briefed that he, Chief Self, and Town Manager Burns had conducted hiring interviews with two potential part-time police officers.  He stated that both applicants seemed well suited for hiring, and that job offers to both would be contingent on successful completion of Florida Department of Law Enforcement requirements.  Commissioner Henderson moved to remove the no-left-turn sign at the intersection of Gardner Drive and Eglin Parkway.  The motion died for lack of second.  Mayor Combs stated that he had discussed with Manager Burns and Chief Self the possibility of amending the Town Administrative Policies to allow full time Shalimar police officers the option of commuting to and from home/work in their Town patrol vehicles.  The policy amendment would remove the clause that restricts officers from such use unless they are on official standby status.  The Mayor agreed with staff recommendation to restrict such use to a mileage limit or offer such use outside a specified limit, only if the using officer made reimbursement for additional fuel cost.  Mayor Combs directed Manager Burns to draft an amendment to the policy, and solicit reviews of the draft from individual Commissioners.  Discussion arose about requiring new police hires to agree to a certain length of tenure with the Police Department or reimburse the Town for hiring expenses.  Manager Burns will research such an agreement.

POLICE REPORT:

I.       MONTHLY ACTIVITY REPORT - Manager Burns apologized for omitting Chief Self's report from the Commissioner's meeting books and stated that he would email copies to the Mayor and Commissioners.

TOWN MANAGER UPDATE:

I.       STATUS OF CHEROKEE PARK GRANT - Manager Burns stated that he was still waiting for the boundary survey of 15 Cherokee Road and that the survey was required by the State before payment of the awarded grant money.  Manager Burns stated his intention to change survey firms if the survey was not forthcoming.  Mayor Combs expressed concerns to Manager Burns about the Maintenance Department's level of activity during the non-mowing season.  His interpretation of weekly activity reports was that reported activity levels might not be justifying the part time hours allocated.  Manager Burns stated that part-time maintenance assistant, Hugh Parker, seemed very productive during all of his clocked in hours.  Mayor Combs directed Manager Burns to provide a summary of planned Maintenance Department activities (during the non-mowing season) by Jan 30, 2002.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

    February 12, 2002  -- Town Commission Meeting

ADJOURNMENT:    Commissioner Henderson moved to adjourn at 7pm.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Garcia and it passed unanimously.