TOWN OF ASTATULA MAYOR. AND TOWN COUNCIL MINUTES REGULAR SESSION TUESDAY. APRIL 9,2024 TOWN HALL Having been duly advertised as required byl law, Vice-Mayor Cross called this scheduled Regular Session meetingt to ordera at 6:41pm. Council Member Quiros gave thei invocation and Vice-Mayor Cross led thel led the Pledge of Allegiance. Members Present: Stephen Cross, Vice-Mayor Zane Teeters Jeanne Quiros Absent: Mitchell Mack, Mayor Orita Issartel Staff Present: Graham Wells, Town Clerk Wally Hoagland, Police Chief Roll Call was performed, confirmation oft the meeting notification was acknowledged, and it was determined that a quorum was present. The Vice-Mayor, who was deputizing for Mayor Mack welcomed guests and recognized Karen Smith from P&Z. CITIZENS QUESTIONS. AND COMMENT There was none. AGENDA REVIEW Vice-Mayor Cross requested to add the question of why holiday pay has not been paid to full- time employees to item 3 ofr new business. Council member Teeters wanted to table items 1 and 2 ofr new business to a future date. He felt that there were more important matters concerning thej policy and procedure manual and they should wait until the budget discussions for 2024-25 Vice- Mayor Cross stated that as there was a quorum present and they were agenda items, they would be discussed and a decision to vote on them, or not, would be made at that time. He: added thati item 2 wasap promotion for an employee, andi itwas appropriate fort the item to be discussed. when there would be: a full board. MEETING MINUTES Approval of Minutes for March 12, 2024 Regular Council Meeting. Motion by Council Member Quiros to approve the minutes shown above; SECONDED by Vice-Mayor Cross For: Cross, Quiros Against: Teeters MOTION CARRIED 2-1 Town ofA Astatula Meeting Minutes March 12,2 2024 Page 1of6 STAFF REPORTS Town Attorney - Heather Ramos - Absent ChiefHoagland - said that hel had been involved in some community events. Hel had done a 5K run for Mothers Against Drunk Driving in Clermont and also attended an Easter Egg Hunt in Mascotte for children with Autism where the town's wrapped police vehicle was featured. He said that there was to be a fallen officers memorial for officers in Lake County, in front of the He said that the community awareness group had been set up with the blessing from the attorney. Founder members would be Dawn Teeter and David Quiros as new volunteers were recruited. The Chief wanted the program to start at the beginning of May. Vice-Mayor Cross brough upa aspeed sign on CR48 coming west that was hidden by ai tree. Member Teeters added at treei issue on CR561. The Chief responded that they were both on County Right-ofWays, but he Vice-Mayor Cross requested that the Chief bring his new finger printing scanner to the next meeting to show to the council. The Chief said that he had a tentative date for the next food courthouse in' Tavares on May 7th at' 9:00am. would do his best to gett them looked at. distribution drive which willl be on June 22 at the community center. Town Clerk & Finance Officer- - Graham Wells BUDGET. ANDI FINANCE. REPORT REVIEW The Clerk went overt the finance report. The full finance reporti tisa available on thet town'swebsite. Thel Bankl balances on February 29, 2024 are shown below. General Fund: Impact Fees: Transportation Fund: Infrastructure Fund: Enterprise Fund: ARPA Fund Cash Drawer: PUBLICHEARING 1,289,444.63 167,562.72 65,346.07 212,900.92 84,230.43 1,044,280.00 150.00 FINALREADINGOFORDINANCE: 2024-05 REPEALING CHAPTER 130F THE' TOWN'SCODE OFORDINANCESREQURINGAPERSON CONDUCTINGI BUSINESSINTHETOWNTOOETAIN AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF ASTATULA, FLORIDA REPEALING CHAPTER 13 OF THE TOWN'S CODE OF ORDINANCES REQUIRING. Al PERSON CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN' THE TOWN TOI PAY Al BUSINESSTAXTOTHETOWN. ANDTOOBTAIN, Al BUSINESSTAX RECEIPT FROM1 THE TOWN; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY,CODIFICATION, AND ANI EFFECTIVE DATE. ABUSINESSTAXRECHIPT. Town of Astatula Meeting! Minutes March 12,2 2024 Page 2of6 Ata prior council meeting, the issue of business tax receipts was discussed, and it was agreed that the cost to the town ini issuing them plus the usefulness oft thei information did not have any tangible benefit. The county has also stopped issuing business licenses. This ordinance repeals the section in The Vice-Mayor opened public comment, and there being none, closed public comment and requestedamotion: toreadi byt title only." Thei motion wasi made by Council Member Teeters; Seconded byl Member Quiros. The Vice-Mayorr read the title and requested a motion to approve. MOTION by Council Member Teeters to approve Ordinance 2024-051 repealing chapter 13 of the town's code of ordinances requiring a person conducting business in the town to the code requiring them and will take effect on October1,2024. obtain a business taxi receipt; SECONDED by Council Member Quiros. A roll call vote was taken. Cross Quiros Teeters MOTION CARRIED3 3-0 YES YES YES HINALREADINGI OF ORDINANCE 2024-06 AMENDINGARTGEIOT CHAPTER 180F THE TOWN'S CODE OF ORDINANCES ENTITLED FLOOD DAMAGE PREVENTION AND AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF ASTATULA, FLORIDA PERTAINING TO FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT; AMENDING ARTICLE II OF CHAPTER 18 OF THE TOWN'S CODE OF ORDINANCES ENTITLED FLOOD DAMAGE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION TO ADD REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING ELEVATION CERTIFICATES FOR HOMES BUILT IN SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD AREAS; The Town must amend the Town's Floodplain Management Regulations to add language required by the Florida Division of Emergency Management. This ordinance amends Article II of Chapter 18 of the Town's Code of Ordinances entitled "Flood Damage Prevention and Protection" to add a new Subsection 105.5 to Section 105 entitled "Site Plans and Construction The Vice-Mayor opened public comment, and there being none, closed public comment and requested a motion to read byt title only. The motion wasi made by Council MemberTeeters; Seconded by Member Quiros. The Vice-Mayor read the title and requested a motion to approve. MOTION by Council Member Teeters to approve Ordinance 2024-06 amending article II of chapter 18 of the town's code of ordinances entitled flood damage prevention and PROTECTION, PROVIDING FORSEVERABILITY,CODIFICATION, AND ANI EFFECTIVE DATE. Documents". protection; SECONDED by Council Member Quiros. Aroll call vote was taken. Cross Quiros Teeters MOTION CARRIED 3-0 YES YES YES Towno of Astatula Meeting! Minutes March 12,2024 Page 3of6 NEW BUSINESS CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 2024-07 AMENDING SECTION 7.10E The Clerk said that one ofthe things that inhibit the recruitment and retention of part-time staff is the provision of Health Insurance and also full vacation and holiday pay. Tracy left the town In August of 2020, Resolution 2020-12 increased the number of hours from 36 to 40 to qualify as a full-time employee and receive full benefits. Resolution 2024-07 proposes to repeal Resolution 2020-12 and return to full-time employees working 361 hours or more. The proposal is to make the two positions in' Town Hall; Clerical & Financial Assistant and Building Services There is a mandatory waiting period for health insurance sO any change would not take effect until July 1, 2024. The Premium for Jennifer will be $902.74 per month totaling $2,708.22 up to the end of the financial year. A new permitting clerk would be similar depending on age. Both premiums would be easily offset by the Clerk moving from the town's insurance to Medicare. The Clerk went over the fiscal impact shown on the agenda cover sheet. Council Member Teeters said that money and benefits is not the issue when retaining staff and believed that the hours required for full-time should remain at forty hours. Vice-Mayor Cross said that he had always thought that both positions should be full time and that the job market had change significantly Council Member Quiros felt that movingi ith back to 361 hours made sense as the town would save four hours per person per week while still offering full healthcare and holiday benefits. Vice- Mayor Cross said that he would like to have the resolution define what full time is rather than what part time is. With that he asked for a motion to read Resolution 2024-07 by title only. Council Member Quiros made the motion, seconded by' Vice Mayor Cross and approved 2-1 with Council Member Teeters opposing. Vice-Mayor Cross read the title and requested a motion to MOTION by Council Member Quiros to approve Resolution 2024-07 with the amendment THEPOLICY AND PROCEDURE MANUAL because ofit, and iti is proving difficult to recruit to replace her. Clerk full-time employees with full benefits. since the town raised it from 361 to 401 hours. approve. to define what full-time is: SECONDED by Member Teeters. Aroll call vote was taken. Cross Quiros Teeters MOTION CARRIED2-1 YES YES NO CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL FOR A PROMOTION TO DEPUTY TOWN CLERK AND The Clerk stated that Jennifer returned to the town following her maternity leave in October 2023 to take up the role of Clerical and Financial Assistant; a new position approved by council. WAGE) INCREASEI FORJ JENNIFER LONG. Town ofA Astatula Meeting! Minutes March 12, 2024 Page 40f6 She has now completed six months in the role and has shown herselftol be an invaluable asset to the town hall staff. Shel has taken on the additional dutieswith enthusiasm, diligence and skill.In addition, she has taken on the role of permitting clerk temporarily following Tracy's departure to keep the town running. In recognition of her efforts and value to the town both present and future, the Clerk recommended promoting her to Deputy Town Clerk and increasing her wage to The wage level in the budget is $20.00 per hour for 32 hours. If approved, she will become a member of the Florida Association of City Clerks and the International Institute of Municipal Clerks, which will enable her to attend the twice annual training academies to further her knowledge and experience. As Resolution 2024-07 passed, she will become a full-time employee The additional wage, holiday and vacation pay plus FICA and FRS equates to approximately $7,420.00 for this fiscal year. The additional fiscal impact for 2024-25 will be approximately $15,100.00 which would include the training classes. Health insurance for the year for her will Vice-Mayor Cross asked the board members for their comments. Member Quiros said that she was in favor of it. Member Teeters did not agree with the $5.00 per hour raise as her current position had a range of up to $20.00 per hour giving a $2.00 increase which he was good with. Vice-Mayor Cross said that this was a different position and a promotion. He added that he had Following further discussion and comments from residents present, Vice-Mayor Cross asked for MOTION by Council Member Quiros to approve Jennifers promotion and pay raise: $23.00 per hour (currently $18.00). (36 hours per week) with full benefits. be $10,833.00. always said that the position should be $25.00 per hour. ar motion. SECONDED by Vice-Mayor Cross. Aroll call vote was taken. Cross Quiros Teeters MOTION CARRIED2 2-1 YES YES NO DISCUSSION ONADMINISTERINGVACATIONAND HOLIDAYPAY GOING FORWARD AND Chief Hoagland stated that the eight hours for not working the holidays had never been paid since hel became the chief. He: said that he talked to the clerk at that time who told him that only time and a half was paid ift the holiday was worked. He claimed that he was ignorant of seeing It was discussed why the payments had not been made and responses given to the accusations made to placel blame. MemberTetmadsowiaed that the shift sheets didnotl have any punch in or out times and that the shifts worked were only marked with an XIfit was a holiday, it was marked with an X/H for those who worked and left blank for those who did not work. WHY) IT WAS NOT BEING FOLLOWED. where it states otherwise in the policy and procedure: manual. Town of Astatula Meeting Minutes Marchi 12, 2024 Page! 5of6 The Clerk stated that this was only an issue with the police officers as all others were currently either part-time and not entitled to paid holidays, or the day was taken off with pay if the employee was entitled. Whatever was put on the shift sheet and signed by the employee and authorized by the Chiefwas what the clerk put through payroll. No decisions were: reached as to howt this would change in the future. COUNCIL DEPARTMENT & COMMITTEE LIAISON REPORT Councilman Cross (Finance) - NONE Mayor Mack (Public Works) -A ABSENT Councilman Teeters (LDR's, Ordinances, Legal, Grants) - NONE Councilwoman Issartel (Economic Development) - ABSENT Councilwoman Quiros (Law Enforcement) - Stated that thet town was moving forward with the community awareness group. REVIEW Items for Workshops andj possible dates- A date was made w/cApril 29th for discussion on the policy& procedure manual. Items for Next Regular Council meeting NONE Items for Special Meetings and possible dates-I NONE COUNCIL MEMBER MISCELLANEOUS COMMENTS- NONE ADJOURNMENT The Mayor: adjourned the meeting at 8:36] pm. Respectrulysubmites, -A Mitchell Mack, Mayor ATTEST: Clerk Ze a Town of Astatulal Meeting Minutes March1 12,2024 Page 6of6