CALL TO ORDER:  Mayor Gary Combs called the meeting to order at 6:03 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 Kevin Reeves :  present

          Commissioner Jerry McCallister :  present

Others in attendance:  Town Manager Tom Burns, Deputy Town Clerk Tina Smith, Police Chief Charles Self, Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Dowda,  Police Patrolman John Cash, Town Attorney representative Lisa Spencer, Town residents Rik Larson, Rocky Bates and Edward Stevens, and APAC representative Curtis George.

To start off the meeting, Mayor Combs presented Commissioner Elaine Tucker with a plaque from the town and thanked her for her dedication as a commissioner.  Town Resident/New appointee Rik Larson was then sworn in as the new Mayor Pro-Tem/Police Commissioner.

P&Z BOARD REVIEW:  There is no Planning and Zoning business to approve.

OLD BUSINESS:  

I.       APPROVE MINUTES OF OCTOBER 8, 2002 TOWN COMMISSION MEETING --  Commissioner Henderson moved to approve the minutes of the Commission meeting as written.  Commissioner McCallister seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

II.      TOWN ATTORNEY REPORT – The town attorney representative, Lisa Spencer, briefed that the Police agreement was complete.  Attorney Spencer explained that the amount required to be reimbursed to the town if the officer leaves may be different for each officer so the space for that information will be left blank and filled in for each hiree based on their prior training, etc.  Town Manager Tom Burns will draft up an amendment resolution for the administration policies regarding having the new officers sign the contract.

The PAWS contract is almost complete.  There was some discussion about paragraph 5 and Attorney Spencer said that she would take the contract back to her office for some final rewording and have it back to Manager Burns soon.  Mayor Combs stated that he would also like the boundaries of the town mentioned in the contract.

After researching the Florida Statutes regarding parking violations, Attorney Spencer stated that a parking violation could not be considered a misdemeanor – it is a non-moving traffic violation.  Town Resident Rocky Bates had submitted a letter to the commission suggesting that the town add parking spaces to the end of Shalimar Drive to help with the parking problems on Shalimar Drive .  Chief Charles Self will get together with Attorney Spencer and figure out the easiest way to enforce the ordinance and the parking problems within the town.

III.     UPDATE ON CLIFFORD DRAINAGE/CHEROKEE RIGHT TURN LANE PROJECTS – Manager Burns briefed the commission the bidding process had taken place on November 4, 2002.  The Town of Shalimar only received one bid from APAC and it was higher than what was budgeted.  The engineer went over the numbers and said that they were high based on the average numbers for the state.  The engineer said that since the town went through the legalities of the bid process and had no good bids, the town should now be able to try to renegotiate with APAC.  Attorney Spencer wasn’t comfortable with agreeing to that until she looked into it so she will research it and get back with Manager Burns.  Commissioner Henderson moved that the bid for project number 19430-001-01 be disapproved and that the town allows the engineers to renegotiate the bid.  Attorney Spencer recommended that the commission amend the motion to include something about her research.  Commissioner Henderson amended his motion.  He moved that the bid for project number 19430-001-01 be disapproved and that the town allows the engineers to renegotiate the bid provided that the town is allowed to do this according to the attorney.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner McCallister and it passed unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS:  

I.       TOWN RESIDENTS’ TIME – MAYOR COMBS – The suggestion for creating 3 new parking spaces on Shalimar Drive was brought up by Town resident, Rocky Bates.  The mayor stated that he didn’t want to show favoritism with one side of the town because there are parking problems all over.  Commissioner Henderson believes that since they have the space for the parking spaces it may not be a bad idea and Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Dowda added that it could be done reasonably cheap.  Chief Self will look at the parking spaces as an option and make a recommendation at the next meeting. 

 MAYOR COMBS’ REPORT:

Mayor Combs had nothing to report.

COMMISSIONER TUCKER’S/LARSON'S REPORT:

I.       OKALOOSA COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES REPORT – Commissioner Tucker was unable to attend the League of Cities lunch so Deputy Town Clerk Tina Smith went in her place.

 COMMISSIONER REEVES’ REPORT:

Commissioner Reeves had nothing to report.

 COMMISSIONER HENDERSON’S REPORT:  

I.       CHRISTMAS PARTY – Commissioner McCallister was unable to get the Santa suit and will be having surgery on December 9.  Town Resident Rocky Bates spoke up to say that he has a Santa suit and has been Santa for 25 years so it was decided that he would be Santa for the Children’s Christmas Party.  The date for the party was decided on and it will be after the next scheduled Commission meeting from 6:15-8:00 .  Commissioner Henderson will get with Clerk Tina Smith to discuss gifts, food, etc.

COMMISSIONER McCALLISTER’S REPORT:  

I.       FY03 BUDGET REPORT – The end-of-month statement is included in everyone’s meeting binders.  No one had any questions.

POLICE REPORT:  

I.        MONTHLY ACTIVITY REPORT – The activity report numbers are included in everyone’s binders.  Commissioner McCallister asked why there were only 98 citations issued in October and 224 in September.  Chief Self explained that the officers are doing more foot patrol.  Chief Self also let the commission know that their new jackets came in and Patrolman Cash modeled for the audience and commission.

 TOWN MANAGER UPDATE:  

I.       CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS – It was decided that Supervisor Dowda would hire someone part-time to help him with the Christmas decorations.

II.      APPOINT COMMISSIONER LARSON TO FMPTF BOARD – Manager Burns explained that the Police Commissioner is typically on the Florida Municipal Pension Trust Fund (FMPTF) Board.  Manager Burns asked the commissioners for a motion.  Commissioner Henderson moved that Commissioner Larson be appointed the Commission representative for the Board of Trustees for the Florida Municipal Pension Trust Fund.  Commissioner McCallister seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

III.     It was decided that the existing smoking policy would be changed to prohibit smoking in all town vehicles.  Chief Self explained that the policy in the police department already includes no smoking in the vehicles.  He also stated that the police are required to wear their seatbelts at all times while driving town police cars.  Manager Burns will draft up a policy amendment for operators of all Shalimar vehicles to be in compliance.  Commissioner Henderson moved to make the policy effective today and update the policy manual.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Reeves and it passed unanimously.

IV.     CHEROKEE PARK UPDATE – Mayor Combs authorized Manager Burns to get the survey for Cherokee Park .  Manager Burns briefly updated the commission on his ideas for the park.  The house at 15 Cherokee is set for demolition for some time in March.  It is going to be used for training by the fire and police departments.  Some sort of hold harmless agreement was brought up in order that the town not be held liable for anything that may happen during the training.  Manager Burns will look in the necessity of this sort of agreement.  Manager Burns also suggested that the commission have a workshop to finalize Cherokee Park ideas.  The date for the workshop is set for December 11, 2002 at 5:00 p.m. and Manager Burns will advertise the meeting.  The workshop information will also be included in December’s Tidbits which will go out early because of the Children’s Christmas Party.

Commissioner Henderson requested that each commission chair be looked at by the Maintenance Supervisor to make sure that none of them are broken.

Mayor Combs asked Manager Burns to let Planning and Zoning chairman, Jimmy Jones , know that Gene Tucker was going to replace Rik Larson on the P & Z board.

Mayor Combs suggested that each commissioner come by town hall and make their suggestions for Cherokee Park before the workshop. 

 ANNOUNCEMENTS:  

 ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Henderson moved to adjourn at 7:40 p.m.   The motion was seconded by Commissioner McCallister and it passed unanimously.