10-25-23 CRC Adpoted MinutesMINUTES
f; Charter Review Committee Meeting
Wednesday, October 25, 2023 - 6:00 PM
Commission Chamber, City Hall
r ,r
800 Seminole Road, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
Present: William "Bill" Gulliford, Chair
Suzanne Shaughnessy, Vice Chair
Bruce Andrews, Member
Debbie Buckland, Member
Charles "Chip" Drysdale, Member
Kelly Elmore, Member
Ellen Golombek, Member
Kirk Hansen, Member
Mitchell Reeves, Member
Steve Swann, Member
Donald Young, Member
Absent:
Jennifer Lagner, Secretary
Dawn Scott, Member
Also Present: William B. Killingsworth, City Manager (CM)
Jason Gabriel, City Attorney (CA)
Donna Bartle, City Clerk (CC)
Cathy Varian, Human Resources Director (HRD)
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Chair Gulliford called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Before roll call, Chair Gulliford asked
for a moment of silence for the hostages.
Member Mitch Reeves called the roll in the absence of Secretary Lagner.
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Approve minutes of the September 27, 2023, Charter Review Committee meeting.
MOTION: Approve minutes of the September 27, 2023 Charter Review Committee meeting.
Motion: Charles "Chip" Drysdale
Second. Kelly Elmore
William "Bill" Gulliford For
Suzanne Shaughnessy For
Bruce Andrews For
Debbie Buckland For
Charles "Chip" Drysdale (Moved Bv) For
Charter Review Committee
October 25, 2023
Kelly Elmore (Seconded By)
For
Ellen Golombek
For
Kirk Hansen
For
Mitchell Reeves
For
Steve Swann
For
Donald Young
For
Motion passed 11 to 0.
Before the Public Comment, Chair Gulliford commented on the prior meeting motion regarding
ARTICLE II. - THE CITY MANAGER Sec. 25. - Removal of the city manager. He cited
different examples of three to two vote as opposed to a four to one vote and the impacts. Further
discussion ensued with various comments from members.
Chair Gulliford would like the list of all motions from the Charter Review Committee to be
made available to all members and the public at each meeting. He thanked the Vice Chair for
her leadership at the September Charter Review Committee meeting and reminded all speakers
to speak into the microphone.
2. PUBLIC COMMENT
Don Wolfson Atlantic Beach commented on CA Gabriel's memorandum that was provided to
the Charter Review Committee members, specifically the referendum subject matter. He
referred the CRC to ARTICLE XVIII. - WHEN ACT TAKES EFFECT AND PERIODIC
REVIEW Sec. 81. - Periodic review and stated he did not agree with CA Gabriel's opinion; CA
Gabriel stated this was a policy/strategy decision as to how the proposed changes may be
presented. Mr. Wolfson recounted the prior CRC presented to the Commission each proposed
amendment individually. Chair Gulliford stated the amendments would be prioritized by the
CRC.
Chair Gulliford asked Cathy Varian Director Human Resources to speak regarding what she was
asked to present. ARTICLE III. - THE CITY MANAGER Sec. 27. - Governance of departments.
This was related to the prior meeting discussion regarding "city personnel practices" and
understanding what they are. HRD Varian stated they are in an employee handbook that gets
updated as changes occur; the City Manager approves the changes to the handbook before they
are implemented. There is a routing system for hires starting with the department head.
HRD Varian stated the qualifications are in the position descriptions that include the experience
and other items for the positions. The employee handbook does not have the position
qualifications. Member Drysdale asked who wrote the city manager and deputy city manager
job descriptions; are they enforceable, and if they are out of spectrum of the descriptions, how
are they held accountable. DHR Varian stated the current Commission can alter city manager
description, the deputy city manager reports to city manager, and that description is written with
approval of city manager.
City Manager Killingsworth stated land development regulations, for example, are adopted by
Commission; the employee handbook gives authority to city manager to approve pay ranges.
Charter Review Committee
October 25, 2023
3.
City Manager Killingsworth made the statement it was his intent to adjust pay scale unless the
Commission objected. There is discretion with the city manager and if any decisions are poor,
the Commission will address it.
Carolyn Zisser Atlantic Beach stated she will be studying the legal connections between Article
II Sec. 10 and Article III Section 24. She shared Sec. 24 is clear on its face and questioned the
situation of how the Commission interpreted the absence of the city manager and hiring an
outside interim city manager. Recommended to add language to Sec. 10 that the deputy city
manager shall assume position of interim city manager until such time the Commission hires
someone to perform the duties of the city manager and to leave Sec. 24 alone.
General discussion ensued regarding prior city manager transitions and how prior commissions
addressed having an interim city manager. Chair Gulliford suggested Ms. Zisser send her
recommended language to the committee members. More discussion ensued regarding deputy
city manager position and temporary absence clarification. Chair Gulliford asked this to be
added to the agenda.
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
A. ARTICLE III. - THE CITY MANAGER Sec. 24. - Absence of the city manager;
Sec. 27. - Governance of departments; ARTICLE IV. - THE CITY CLERK Sec.
28. - Appointment; duties.; Sec. 29. - Qualifications.; Sec. 30. - Removal of the city
clerk; ARTICLE V. - CITY ATTORNEY Sec. 31. - Appointment and
qualifications.; Sec. 32. - Powers and duties; ARTICLE VI. - DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC SAFETY Sec. 33. - Appointments and responsibilities; ARTICLE VII. —
BUDGET Sec. 34. - Preparation and adoption; ARTICLE VIII. - DEPARTMENT
OF FINANCE Sec. 35. - Director of finance; and other sections of the Charter
Discussion
ARTICLE IV. - THE CITY CLERK Sec. 28. - Appointment; duties
MOTION: Change "Serve as supervisor of election for city elections" to "Serve as filing
officer for city elections"
Motion: Suzanne Shaughnessy
Second. Charles "Chip" Drysdale
General discussion ensued regarding the process of elections, the City Clerk's involvement and
the historical change of COAB election to align with Duval County.
William "Bill" Gulliford
Against
Suzanne Shaughnessy (Moved By)
For
Bruce Andrews
For
Debbie Buckland
For
Charles "Chip" Drysdale (Seconded By)
For
Kelly Elmore
For
Ellen Golombek
For
Charter Review Committee
October 25, 2023
4.
Attest:
r
Je ifi
Kirk Hansen
For
Mitchell Reeves
For
Steve Swann
Against
Donald Young
For
Motion passed 9 to 2.
B. November Meeting Topics
ARTICLE III. - THE CITY MANAGER Sec. 24. - Absence of the city manager; Sec.
27. - Governance of departments;
ARTICLE IV. - THE CITY CLERK; Sec. 29. - Qualifications.; Sec. 30. - Removal of
the city clerk;
ARTICLE V. - CITY ATTORNEY Sec. 31. - Appointment and qualifications.; Sec. 32.
- Powers and duties;
ARTICLE VI. - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY Sec. 33. - Appointments and
responsibilities;
ARTICLE VII. — BUDGET Sec. 34. - Preparation and adoption;
ARTICLE VIII. - DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE Sec. 35. - Director of finance; and
other sections of the Charter.
ARTICLE IX. — ELECTIONS - Sec. 36. - Election regulations.; Sec. 37. - Nonpartisan
elections.; Sec. 38. - Electors; registration.; Sec. 39. - Nominations.; Sec. 40. - Elections:
Primary.; Sec. 41. - Elections: General. Sec. 42. - Elections: Absentee voting.; Sec. 43. -
Elections: Canvassing board, duties.
C. November Meeting City Staff Attendance
Chief of Police, if he would like to attend.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further discussion, Chair Gulliford declared the meeting adjourned at 8:09 p.m.
Lagner,
kl/I 1 425
Date Approved:
Charter Review Committee
October 25, 2023