City Commission Verbatim Excerpt 05-20-03VERBATIM EXCERPT FROM CITY COMMISSION MEETING OF MAY 20, 2003
(Requested by Wilfred Hawkins, Assistant City Manager)
XI. NEW BUSINESS:
B. Discussion regarding Commissioner's attendance at a Workforce Alliance Board
of Directors meeting
Commissioner McKov - Mister Mayor, I just have a concern about business conduct of this
Commission. One of the Commissioners did, in fact, attend a Workforce Alliance Board and
addressed the Board. The last Commission meeting I provided a copy of the minutes from that
meeting. And I'm concerned that we as a Commission should be held accountable for our
actions. I know that there is, there is a State �? Board that governs how we should conduct
business. I'm wondering, and I would like to ask staff, do we have a provision internally with
the City that dictates, or not necessarily dictates, but governs how we should conduct City
business?
City Attorney Cherof - No, Sir.
Commissioner McKov - Again, I'm concerned about the activity of how we conduct business. I
would like Co have this matter looked, I would like to have this matter reviewed and researched
so that we can determine the business conduct. And I also want to make a recommendation
that we put together some type of, the staff can come before us with some type of
recommendations for business conduct for this Commission - for the entire Commission.
Mayor Br_ng - O.K. Anything else on it?
Commissioner Mc ray - Commissioner McKoy, just before you move from that, I want to make
sure that I'm straight. You want to know that if any Commissioner appears before any board
stating that they are representing the City of Boynton in that capacity, this is what you're
looking for?
Commissioner McKoy - That is correct. I think there is a thin line between representing the City
and how you represent the City and how you represent. Of course, anyone as an individual can
go anywhere and say whatever they wish, but there is a level of conduct that should be
required of each of us as Commissioners and I want to be sure that each of us conducts
business in a professional manner and that when we speak on behalf of the City that it does,
indeed, represent the City and not a special interest.
Mayor Broenin4 - any further discussion?
4Bonienski
Deputy City Clerk
6/12/03
S:\CC\WP\MINUTES\COMM\Year 2003\Verbatim Excerpt - 5-20-03 - workforce alliance board.doc
Meeting Minutes
Regular City Commission Meeting
Boynton Beach, Florida May 20, 2003
B. Discussion regarding Commissioner's attendance at a Workforce Alliance
Board of Directors meeting
Commissioner McKoy raised concerns regarding the business conduct of the
Commission. He noted that a Commissioner attended a Workforce Alliance Board
Meeting, and he provided a copy of the minutes of that meeting. Commissioner McKoy
is concerned that the Commission should be held accountable for their actions. He
referred to the State _�x'?f , Board that governs the conduct of this Commission and
asked if the City has a policy that governs how the Commissioners should conduct City
business.
Attorney Cherof responded that there is no policy in place. Commissioner McKoy
requested that the issue be reviewed and that staff bring forward some
recommendations for the entire Commission.
C. Proposed Ordinance Establishing Guidelines for Verifying Qualifications of
Advisory Board Members
Attorney Cherof noted that occasionally the qualifications of Board members might not
have been entirely accurate. There are no guidelines in the Code for the appointment of
Board members with regard to their qualifications. The proposed Ordinance would
provide that a person could not be appointed to a Board without first submitting an
application. The City Commission, City Attorney's Office and the City Clerk's Office
would design the form and it would be uniform in nature. The City Clerk would be
required to review the application for completeness prior to its submission to the
Commission for review. Before being appointed, any Commission member could ask
for clarification or confirmation of qualifications contained on an application and no
person would be appointed until the confirmation is received.
After a person is appointed, the City Commissioners individually could ask for written
confirmation of qualifications if an issue arose regarding that person's qualifications. At
this point, the City Clerk would inform the Board Member and the other Commissioners
that a Commissioner has made an inquiry. The Board member would have 30 days to
provide evidence of their qualifications. If the Board member fails to provide the
requested information, they would automatically forfeit their position on the Board and
would not be subject to reappointment to any Board for a period of 36 months.
Commissioner McCray noted that the language on the application reads: "I hereby
certify that the statements provided herein are true and accurate and I understand that if
appointed, any false statements may be cause for removal from the Board." Attorney
Cherof will add this language to the Ordinance.
Motion
Vice Mayor Ferguson moved that this move forward as an Ordinance. Motion seconded
by Commissioner McKoy and unanimously carried.
22
Meeting Minutes
Regular City Commission Meeting
(Boynton (Beach, Florida July 15, 2003
Commissioner McCray thanked everyone for their comments.
Mayor Broening felt that the Commission should be paid more. They spend a lot of time in
addition to City Commission meetings. Boynton Beach is the third largest city in Palm Beach
County. He thought the raises should start in November. Commissioner Weiland agreed that
they should begin in November.
Commissioner Weiland said that it was his understanding that they cannot adjust salaries but
only expenses without a referendum.
City Manager Bressner reported that it was done by ordinance in 1984. Assistant City Attorney
Ezrol said that since 1974 the salary has been adjusted three times by ordinance.
Commissioner McKoy said that one of the speakers tonight mentioned that this entire
Commission worked extremely hard. Commissioner McKoy suggested that if we decide to
adjust salaries, we not wait until November so that the entire Commission could be
compensated.
Commissioner McCray thanked Vice Mayor Ferguson for stepping up to the plate on this issue.
Vice Mayor Ferguson said that he liked Mr. Suss' figures. Vice Mayor Ferguson had an average
salary range of ten cities of approximately the same size as Boynton Beach. The average
mayor's salary was $13,194 and the average commissioner's salary was $10,700. He suggested
a salary of $12,000 for the Mayor and $9,000 for the Commissioners. He felt that this should
be effective at the beginning of the fiscal year.
It was the consensus of the City Commission to direct staff to draft an ordinance setting the
salary for the Mayor at $12,000 and the Commissioners at $9,000 and an expense allowance of
$6,500 for the Mayor and $6,000 for the Commissioners.
C. Authorize Legal Staff to draft an ordinance covering the City Commission,
advisory boards, and staff
Motion
Vice Mayor Ferguson moved to direct staff to draft an eNd ordinance. Motion was seconded
by Commissioner McCray and carried unanimously.
XII. LEGAL:
A. Ordinances — 2"d Reading — PUBLIC HEARING
None
B. Ordinances — 1" Reading
1. Proposed Ordinance No. 03-035 Re: Abandonment of the
20 -foot wide alley lying east of and adjacent to lots 24, 25, and 26, Block
24