03-15-63 v -4
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE ATLANTIC BEACH CITY
COMMISSION HELD AT THE CITY HALL ON FRIDAY NIGHT, MARCH 15,
1963, AT 7: 30 P. M.
Present:
Henry G. Isaacs
J. B. Claiborne
C. B. Lawrence, Jr.
Chas.R. Moore, Commissioners
and
Frank Thompson, City Attorney
John R. Printon, City Manager
Adele S. Grage, City Clerk
Absent: Preben Johansen
The meeting was called to order by the Mayor-Commissioner,
Mr. Isaacs.
The Mayor stated that he would like to be informed, and he
thinks that the citizens should be, regarding actions taken
by the Commission in the matter of the Fire Department.
He first read a letter from Mr. Richard LeFevre, President
of the Volunteer Fire Association, stating that they will not
remove any essential fire-fighting or emergency equipment
from the Fire Station until the City replaces same in the
Future.
Mr. Isaacs stated the hiring of additional firemen to oper-
ate the force was done without his being at a meeting or
told of any meeting. It was stated that Mr. Printon was
authorized by members of the City Commission to advertise for
regular firemen to operate the department and that this action
was taken in anticipation of the resignation made by the Volun-
teer Fire Department, that there was no meeting on this matter,
that he was advised to take necessary steps to protect the
City of Atlantic Beach and the citizens as of 8:00 P. M. on
Monday, March 18, 1963, and he would be remiss in his duties
as Director of Public Safety not to be prepared to take care
of this situation.
There was a discussion relative to the Budget and the fact
that it would have to be amended before funds could be expended
for this purpose. The matter of the change in the Fire De-
partment, joint Police and Fire Chief, financing of the depart-
ment, etc. , were discussed at length - both pro and con.
Minutes 3/15/63 Page 2
Among those taking part in discussion were: Mrs. Corrine
Braud, Mr. H. Bitzer, Judge A. H. Dunlop, Mrs. Frank Kerber,
Mr. Ed Banks, Mrs. George Pritchard, Captain George Monkhouse,
Mr. George Pharr, Mr. Roy Nelson and others.
In the discussion it was brought out that the Fire Chief had
submitted his resignation to the Director of Public Safety just
irior to this meeting to be effective March 18, 1963, at 8:00 P.M.
After further discussion, Mr. Isaacs advised that he felt that
this discussion was not getting anyplace at all. At this point
Mr. Lawrence moved that the resignation offered by Captain
Monkhouse on behalf of the Volunteer Fire Department on last
Monday, March 11, 1963, to be effective as of 8: 00 P. M. on
Monday, March 18, 1963, be accepted with regrets, seconded by
Mr. Claiborne and a call vote was:
Aye: Claiborne, Lawrence, Moore
Nay: Isaacs
Absent: Johansen
Whereupon Mr. Isaacs declared the motion carried and the resigna-
tion of the Volunteer Fire Department accepted with regrets.
Mr. Isaacs advised that the U. S. Corps of Engineers were being
faced with a lawsuit by one of the contractors bidding on the
Beach reclaimation work. The Mayors of the three beaches had
wired Senators Smathers and Holland and congressman Bennett.
He read telegrams which he had received from Senator Smathers
and Congressman Bennett advising that the Jacksonville District
Engineers have been authorized to award the contract for work
to begin immediately in repairing the damages to the Beaches in
Duval County.
There being no further business, Mr. Isaacs declared the meeting
adjourned.
L
Henry G. (Ili acs, Mayor-Commissioner
Attest:
(iLe2
Adele S. Grage, City Cle