MINUTES CITY OF FORT MEADE REGULAR CITY COMMISSION MEETING TUESDALJANUARY 9, 2024 Al Regular Meeting oft the Fort Meade City Commission was held on Tuesday, January 9,2 2024, at 6:00 P.M. at Commission Chambers, 8 W. Broadway Street, Fort Meade, Florida, and via Zoom Virtual Meeting. CALLTOORDER: 1. The Meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM by Mayor Watts 2. ROLLCALL: Mayor Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner StaffPresent Asst. City Manager City Attorney Deputy City Clerk Employee Relations Manager Customer Service Supervisor Accounting Specialist James Watts Petrina McCutchen James Possum Schaill Samuel Berrien Present Present Present Present Maria Sutherland Chris Berg Melissa Cannon Kayla Robertson Danelle Holder Jennifer Noe Present Present Present Present Present Present Also present was PCSO Sgt. Earnest Fulcher INVOCATION AND PLEDGE TOTHE FLAG 3. Mayor Watts led the invocation. Mayor Watts led the pledge to the flag. 4. ADDITIONS AND/OR DELETIONS A. Remove Item 11- F SRF Change Order for MG Underground time extensions - Tommy King from the agenda. Motion Commissioner Schaill, second Commissioner McCutchen to remove Item 11-F Motion to remove Item 11-F from the agenda passed by a unanimous vote of4 4-0. A. Appreciation of Service Year 2023 as Mayor - Mayor James Watts - Melissa Cannon Interim City Manager, Sutherland presented Mayor Watts with a certificate of appreciation 5. PRESENTATIONS/AWARDS/REPORTS for serving as Mayor for 2023 and thanked him for his service. City ofFort Meade, Florida Regular City Commission: Mceting January 9, 2024 Page2 6. SWEARING IN OF NEW COMMISSIONERS A. Swear in Jaret Landon Williams for City Commissioner Seat #1 - Melissa Cannon The Honorable Judge Cassandra Denmark presented Mr. Jaret Williams with the Oath of Office as he was sworn in as Fort Meade City Commissioner Seat 1. The Commission welcomed Mr. Williams to the City Commission. ELECTION OF MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR FOR 2024 7. A. City Commission Approval of Resolution R24-01 appointment of Mayor and Vice Mayor for 2024. - Melissa Cannon Commissioner Schaill nominated Commissioner McCutchen for Mayor for 2024 with Commissioner McCutchen nominated Commissioner Berrien for Vice Mayor for 2024 all in favor. with all in favor. PUBLIC FORUM: 8. Citizen comments for items not on the agenda (3-minute maximum length). Mr. Ben Speight, 613 NE 3rd Street, congratulated Commissioners Jaret Williams and Samuel Berrien and welcomed them. Mr. Speight asked that the commission do good of the City and keep the current employees employed. PUBLIC HEARINGS: 9. Open Public Hearings on the following items: 10. CONSENT AGENDA: A. Minutes of December 12, 2023, Regular City Commission Meeting and Minutes of December21, ,2023, Special City Commission Meeting- Melissa Cannon B. Appointment of representative of the City of Fort Meade to the Property & Casualty Board ofDirectors and the Group Health Trust Board of Directors with PRM- Melissa Cannon C.F Resolution R24-02 Street Closing for Moonlight and Music - Melissa Cannon D. Resolution R24-03 Street Closing for the Showcase ofthe Arts Event = Melissa Cannon Motion Commissioner Watts, second Vice Mayor Berrien to approve the consent Motion to approve the consent agenda passed by a unanimous vote of5-0. agenda. City of Fort Meade, Florida Regular City Commission! Mecting January 9, 2024 Page3 11. NEWI BUSINESS: A. Update on State of Florida Appropriations for Fire Apparatus - Matthew Zahara Motion Commissioner Watts, second Commissioner to approve city staff to utilize the remaining balance of the Staté of] Florida $1,000,000.00 fire apparatus appropriation to for the purchase ofall the required and needed NFPA and ISO Motion to approve city staff to utilize the remaining balance of the State of Florida $1,000,000.00 fire apparatus appropriation for the purchase of all the required and needed NFPA and ISO equipment passed by a unanimous vote of B. Surplus of the City of Fort Meade's 2006 Pierce Conmendet/-ngnerumper equipment. 5-0. Matthew Zahara Motion Vice Mayor Berrien, second Commissioner Watts to surplus and allow city staff to seek wholesale price offers from emergency vehiclewholesale dealers Motion to surplus and allow city staff_to seek wholesale price offers from emergency vehicle wholesale dealers and bring back to commission forapproval C. Surplus of the City of Fort Meadé's 1987 Ford Tender/1986 Ford FMC Engine (Fire Motion Vice Mayor Bérrien, second Commissioner Watts to surplus, approve city stafft to registerand sell the 19871 Ford' Tender to the highest bidderand table the 1986 Ford Engine until additional information can be obtained. Motion to'surplus, approve city staff to register and sell the 1987 Ford Tender to the highest bidder and table the 1986 Ford Engine until additional information can be obtained passed by a unanimous vote of5-0. D. Overview of ISO inspection, Fire Department Needs Assessment and Budget Update Chief Zahara gave a PowerPoint presentation and an extensive overview of the current conditions of the fire department as a whole and what it will take to keep the and bring back to commission for approval on fhe sales price. on the sales price passed by a unanimous vote of5-0. Department): = Matthew Zahara -Matthew Zahara department running safely. Discussion ensued. City ofFort Meade, Florida Regular City Commission. Meeting January 9,2 2024 Page4 No Action Taken. 5,2024 - Kylie Shortt E. Closure of Fort Meade Library for PCLC7th Annual Training Retreat on Friday,April Motion Vice Mayor Berrien, second Commissioner Watts to approve the library to close on April 5, 2024, for the PCLC annual training retreat. Motion to approve the library to close on April 5, 2024, for the PCLC annual training retreat passed by a unanimous vote of5-0. F. Removed G. Outside Funding Sources/Grant Projects Update - Maria Sutherland Ms. Sutherland gave an overview of all the current grants the city is working on and Motion Commissioner Watts, second Commissioner Schaill to direct Ms. Sutherland to contact Senator Albritton's office and updatethe top 3 priorities including effluent disposal, replacement, and rehab of 143 manholes, and firehouse rehab and hardening Motion to direct Ms. Sutherland to çontact Senator Albritton's office and update the top 3 priorities including effluent disposal, replacement, and rehab of143 manholes, and firehouse rehab and hardening for state appropriations passed by a unanimous explained how some of the grants are tied together. for state appropriations. vote of5-0. 12. CITY ATTORNEY COMMENTS: Attorney Berg stated that he was asked to bring information on Form 6 back to the commission and asked that this be postponed to the next meeting stating some local municipalities in South Florida have contemplated bringing litigation over the new rule for Form 6 but stated he does not Attorney Berg stated that the city manager candidate, Mr. Oman has not yet signed the contract and due to having a hard time finding housing and has requested guidance on how to proceed. Discussion ensued with Vice Mayor Berrien expressing concerns ofMr. Oman not acting in good faith, Mayor McCutchen stating ifhe really wanted to be here, he would have signed the contract, SO she would like to withdraw the offer, and Commissioner Williams expressing concerns of Mr. Ben Speight, 613 NE 3rd St., Fort Meade, stated that he has talked to a realtor concerning recommend the city join in just yet. dishonesty and lack of transparency would also like to withdraw the offer. housing for Mr. Oman and there may be 2 properties coming available. City ofFort! Meade, Florida Regular City Commission Mecting January 9, 2024 Page5 5 Vice Mayor Berrien stated he would like to appoint Mr. Greg King as Interim City Manager. Commissioner Williams asked Attorney Berg to explain the verbiage of the charter concerning Vice Manager/Acting Manager/Interim Manager. Attorney Berg explained. Discussion continued. Accounting Specialist, Jennifer Noe, addressed the commission stating some concerns as an After much discussion, Motion Vice Mayor Berrien, second Commissioner Williams to Motion to rescind the agreement with Mr. Oman passed by a vote of3-2 with Commissioner Mayor McCutchen directed Attorney Berg to contact Mr. Oman to wrap things up. The Commissioner Williams stated that he concurred with Vice Mayor Berrien to hire Mr. King and Commissioner Schaill asked ifhe has ever been a city manager or has any experience related and the only thing he knows about Greg King is he was Çommissioner Williams campaign manager. Commissioner Williams stated that the previous city manager was hired without having any Mayor McCutchen stated she would like to readvertise for the city manager position but in the Commissioner Watts stated that he would like to add that the interim not be able to come in and Ms. Barbara Arnold 6201 NE 4th St., Fort Meade, asked ifthere would be a conflict hiring Mr. King with him still working with Commissioner Williams campaign. Ms. Arnold asked ift there was a Mr. Fredrick Hilliard, 202 N. Hendry Ave., Fort Meade, stated that the city can look into IMCA Ms. Danelle Holder stated that the city has hired a city manager with no municipal experience Mr. Greg King, 1214 West Lake Buckeye Drive, Winter Haven, provided a brief bio ofhis work history regarding his experience. Mr. King stated he is humbled and appreciates the consideration Ms. Shayla Riley, 425 S. French Ave., stated she understands there are concerns of moral, etc. about an interim position and you can'tdictate how a business is run SO ift that means clean house employee, we all worry about being scrutinized and remaining employed. rescind the agreement with Mr. Oman. Schaill and Commissioner Watts opposed. Commission concurred. Discussion continued. itshould be done tonight. experience before. meantime, someone needed to be put in place. clean house and fire everyone. conflict with Mr. King being related to Commissioner Williams. or enter into a month-to-month contract with someone. before and it didn'tend well, why would the city do that again. and is confident that he can do the job quit well. then clean house, change isn'teasy. City ofF Fort Meade, Florida Regular City Commission Meeting January 9, 2024 Page6 6 Attorney Berg asked for clarification of the relationship between Mr. King and Commissioner Williams and Commissioner Williams responded that they are first cousins. Mr. Berg stated that Commissioner Williams asked Attorney Berg for clarification and if he needed time. Mr. Berg stated he would need to do additional research to be able to provide a legal determination. the relationship would fall under F.S. 112 related to relatives. Vice Mayor Berrien asked if there were any other recommendations. Ms. Sutherland recommended utilizing the current staff for the intern. Vice Mayor Berrien stated that if the commission agreed, he would like to offer the interim position tol Dustin Burke. Mr. Burke responded stating that he isarelative ofthe current Fire Chief sol he that's not an option. Mr. Fred Hilliard offered to stand in on a month-to-month basis ifi needed. Motion Commissioner Schaill, second Commissioner Watts hire Mr. Hilliard on a Motion to hire Mr. Hilliard on a temporary contractwith a firing freeze fails with a vote of 2-3 with Mayor McCutchen, Vice Mayor Berrien and Commissioner Williams opposed. Motion Commissioner Williams, second Viçe Mayor Berrien to table this discussion until January 18, 2024, in a Special Meeting at6:00 pm and direct staff to reach out to ICCMA for an interim and for Attorney Berg tobring back clarification on the hiring of Mr. Greg Motion to table this discussion until January 18, 2024, in a Special Meeting at 6:00 pm and direct staff to reach out to ICCMA for an interim and for Attorney to bring back clarification on the hiring of Mr. Greg King and Mr. Dustin Burke as interim passed by a temporary contract and have a firing freeze. King and Mr. Dustin Burke as interim. unanimous vote of5-0y 13. CITYI MANAGER COMMENTS: Ms. Sutherland gave an overview of the electric fund dynamics that she handed out to the Ms. Sutherland gave an update on the state mandated water restrictions, stating that the city can write citations for anyone who violates the water restrictions, and the city must report all violations Ms. Sutherland stated that she wanted the commission to be aware of the failing transformer at Ms. Danelle reported that the City of Fort Meade utility rates are 17h lowest out of 37 cities in commission showing the transfers and millage rates for the past 10 years. to the state. the electric substation and that there is no backup transformer. Florida. 14. CITY COMMISSION COMMENTS: City ofFort! Meade, Florida Regular City Commissionl Meeting January 9,2 2024 Page7 7 A. Commissioner Schaill - none B. Vice Mayor Berrien asked how the CRA flowerpot project worked. Ms. Sutherland stated that staff has about 11 applications, there is no cost to the businesses, the city will provide the planter with plants to the business and the recipient will need to maintain the plants. C. Commissioner Williams expressed his gratitude of support to his family. Commissioner Williams invited all toj join him at the Plaza for food prepared by his aunt. D. Commissioner Watts congratulated Commissioner Williams E. Mayor McCutchen congratulated Commissioner Williams. Mayor McCutchen thanked Chief Zahara on an excellent presentation and expressed her support for the fire department and apologized for the previous years that the commission did not do right by the fire department. Mayor McCutchen asked if land for the effluent appropriations has been identified. Ms. Sutherland replied stating that it has not but it must be adjacent to the existing pipeline. 15. STAFF REPORTS: 16. UPCOMING MEETINGS: Mayor announced the upcoming meetings. A. January 18, 2024, Special Commission Meeting at 6:00 PM B. February 13, Regular City Commission Meeting at 6:00 PM C.M March 13, 2024, Regular City Commission Meeting at 6:00 PM 17. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to conduct, Motion Commissioner Watts, second Commissioner Schaill to adjourn the Regular Commission meeting of January 9, 2024, at 10:23 PM. Motion to adjourn passed by unanimous vote of5-0. hihetthg Petrina McCutchen, Mayor ATTEST:/ Melissa Cannon, Deputy City Clerk Gs