Draft Minutes 11-6-07MINUTES OF THE RETIRING AND NEW COMISSIONS OF ATLANTIC BEACH,
HELD IN THE COMMISSION CHAMBERS, 800 SEMINOLE ROAD, ATLANTIC
BEACH, AT 8:05 P.M. ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2007
Present: Mayor Donald M. Wolfson
Mayor Pro Tem J. Dezmond Waters III
Commissioner Mike Borno
Commissioner Sylvia N. Simmons
Commissioner Carolyn Woods
City Manager Jim Hanson
City Clerk Donna L. Bussey
City Attorney Alan C. Jensen
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Wolfson at 8:05 p.m. The invocation, given by
Mayor Wolfson, was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
1. Approval of the minutes of the Regular Commission meeting of October 22, 2007.
Motion: Annrove the minutes of the Regular Commission Meetine on October 22, 2007
Moved by Borno, seconded by Waters
Votes:
Aye: 5 -Borno, Simmons, Waters, Woods, Wolfson
Nay: 0
MOTION CARRIED
2. Recognition of Visitors
Mayor Wolfson recognized past Mayors Bill Gulliford, Lyman Fletcher, Suzanne
Shaughnessy, and former and incoming Mayor John Meserve. He further recognized
Honorable Gary Flower, Honorable Charles O. Mitchell, and Honorable Brent Shore. He also
recognized the former commissioners in attendance, Theo Mitchelson, former and incoming
Commissioner Paul Parsons, as well as Vice Mayor of the City of Neptune Beach, Harriett
Pruett. Mayor Wolfson also recognized the friends and family of the outgoing commission
and of the incoming commission stating their support in the past and future will be most
important and appreciated, not by just the City commission but also by the citizens who know
they are supporting the actions and efforts of their loved ones.
3. Comments from Retiring Commissioners and Mayor
Commissioner Sylvia Simmons said goodbye, stating to the winners go the toils and asking
them to think of her an Monday night while she is at home with her feet up.
Mayor Pro Tem Dezmond Waters thanked the people of Atlantic Beach for allowing him to
serve during a time when the City underwent a veritable renaissance. He also thanked his
wife, Janice, and the mayors under whom he served and all the good people here tonight and
in the City itself. He stated the City is where it should be at this point in its history, but
history evolves, changes and goes forth and the new commission will have to meet that
November 6, 2007 Regular Commission Meeting Page 2
challenge. He stated the new commission is hereby charged with preservation and
continuation of that progress. He expressed to them the City must be left better than how they
found it and wished them good luck. He closed by saying ten years in government is not a
long time, but his service to the City truly ends tonight. He stated he won't be back because
for whatever reason or non-reason, a higher authority has sent him a new challenge and he
shall leave gracefully, but not happily, goodbye and God bless. He stated he will miss this.
Mayor Wolfson expressed his sentiments to his fellow commissioners and commended the
new commissioners and mayor for their willingness to step forward and serve. He also
expressed his appreciation to City Manager Jim Hanson and City Clerk Donna Bussey and
Administrative Assistant to the City Manager, Yvonne Calverley. He further expressed the
City has wonderful Department Heads that the new commission will be working with and
without them the community character of this community is nonexistent. He also expressed
his appreciation to the many citizens who volunteer to serve on the committees and boards.
Mayor Wolfson closed quoting Thomas Jefferson and stated the journey now begins for our
new commission. Lastly, he thanked City Attorney Alan Jensen for his guidance to the
commission.
4. Any other business
Vice Mayor Harnett Pruett, speaking for Mayor Dick Brown and the Neptune Beach City
Council, presented Mayor Pro Tem Dezmond Waters with Resolution No. 207-14 from the
City of Neptune Beach for his outstanding and dedicated service to Duval County and the
City of Atlantic Beach.
Mayor Wolfson read a letter from Nancy Broner, Duval County School Board, to Mayor Pro
Tem Dezmond Waters expressing appreciation for his many years of service to the
community and his long teaching career in the Duval County public schools.
Mayor Wolfson also presented Mayor Pro Tem Dezmond Waters with a Proclamation in
recognition of his distinguished public service and proclaimed Tuesday, November 6, 2007,
as Dezmond Waters Day in Atlantic Beach.
Motion: Aunrove Resolution 07-10
Moved by Borno, seconded by Waters
Unanimously approved.
Commissioner Borno read Resolution 07-10, honoring Mayor Donald Wolfson for his
distinguished public service and presented the resolution to Mayor Wolfson.
No other business was brought before the City Commission at this time.
There being no further business to come before the City Commission, Mayor Wolfson
declared the meeting adjourned at 8:37 p.m.
November 6, 2007 Regular Commission Meeting Page 3
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE NEW CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF ATLANTIC BEACH
Present: Mayor John S. Meserve
Commissioner Mike Borno
Commissioner John Fletcher
Commissioner Paul B. Parsons
Commissioner Carolyn Woods
City Manager Jim Hanson
City Clerk Donna L. Bussey
City Attorney Alan C. Jensen
OATH OF OFFICE FOR SEATS 1, 2, AND 3.
The Honorable Charles O. Mitchell, Jr. administered the Oath of Office to John Fletcher
(Commissioner Seat 2). The Honorable Gary Flower administered the Oath of Office to Paul
Parsons (Commissioner Seat 3) and John Meserve (Mayor/Commissioner Seat 1) The signed
Oaths of Office are attached and made part of this official record.
CALL TO ORDER:
1. Recognition of Retiring Mayor and Commissioners
Mayor Meserve thanked the retiring Commissioners and as recognition of their service
presented clocks from the City to Commissioner Simmons and Mayor Pro Tem Waters.
Mayor Meserve then presented a gavel to Mayor Wolfson in recognition of his service to the
City.
Following the presentations to the retiring Commission, the meeting of the new Commission
was called to order by Mayor Meserve at 8:50 p.m.
Mayor Meserve thanked everyone for attending the meeting.
2. Comments from the Mayor and Commissioners
Commissioner Borno stated he looked forward to working with the new commission.
Commissioner Woods stated she looked forward to serving the City for the next two years
with her fellow commissioners.
Commissioner Parsons thanked all who supported him and in particular his wife and stated he
looked forward to working with his fellow commissioners.
November 6, 2007 Regular Commission Meeting Page 4
Commissioner Fletcher thanked his wife, his supporters and the citizens of Atlantic Beach
stating he looked forward to serving the City and working with his fellow commissioners.
Mayor Meserve stated it would be good working with the City Attorney and City Manager
again. He stated one of his first priorities is to bring the City back together again. He stated
he has three goals: (1) pull the community back together; (2) change the Charter for the
redistricting; (3) consider an Atlantic Beach voluntary code of ethics for candidates so future
elections are less divisive in the community. He further requested the new commission do
their homework before coming to the commission meetings because he believes in efficient
meetings.
3. Any other business
There being no further business to come before the Commission, the Mayor declazed the
meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m.
John Meserve
Mayor/Presiding Officer
ATTEST:
Donna L. Bussey
City Clerk