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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 1981-04-08 Minutesow— cITri' OF mIANFI RALPH G , ON G I E CITY CLERK ITly, NO, (SPECIAL) INDEX CIR'O'fTMORF"AR MIRIDA SLUCT (API I1, 8, 1981 A MOTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION TO CONTINUE THE SPECIAL C011-MISSION MEETING UNTIL APRIL 9, 1981 AT 8:00 O'CLOCK ORDINANCE OR IPAGE F(Esoumm No, NO, M-81-248 ( 1-7 On the 8th day of April, 1981, the City Commission of Miami, Floridai met at its regular meeting place in said City in Special Session to consider business of public import, namely the selection of a new City Manager. The meeting was called to order at 9:25 A.M., by Vice -Mayor Gibson with the following members of the Commission found to be present: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr. Commissioner Joe Carollo Commissioner Armando Lacasa Vice -Mayor (Rev.) Theodore R. Gibson ABSENT: Mayor Maurice A. Ferre ALSO PRESENT: R. L. Fosmoen, City Manager George F. Knox, City Attorney Ralph G. Ongie, City_ Clerk Matty Hirai, Assistant City Clerk An invocation was delivered by Reverend Theodore R. Gibson, then led those present in a pledge of allegiance to the flag. Father Gibson: All you know that a special meeting was scheduled for the purpose of designating our next City Manager beyond yesterday. Because of the Mayor's illness, the Mayor was not able to be here. the four of us were here. At the meeting yesterday, we agreed to come back here this morning at 9:00 o'clock, hopefully, that the Mayor would feel up to being present this morning. I should have said that yesterday he was not here because he said he had a case of ... Mr. Plummer: Father, it's normally called Montezuma's revenge, otherwise known as the tourist trots. But it's also here called a stomach virus. Father Gibson: Stomach virus. All right. It was our hope that the Mayor would have overcome that by today. The Mayor called me between 7:20 and 7:30 this morning and said he would not be able to be present at the meeting. I'm only relating to you what was said to me, and I trust that we will take any and whatever appropriate action we deem necessary to either address this issue at a later time or do as we in our good judgment deem appropriate. Mr. Plummer: Father, if you're looking for conversation, mine remains the same as yesterday and i will be happy to reoffer my motion. That is that we reconvene tomorrow morning at 8:00 o'clock, one hour prior to our regular scheduled agenda and that this matter be brought up at that time and discussed prior to the regular agenda. It is my feeling that whether we stalemate or make a decision as it has been in the past, two or three meetings it will be done within the hour and still allow us to proceed with our agenda at 9:00. 1 will hold my motion for continuance until tormorrow until the rest of the Commission have had their time to speak, if they wish. 4 ether Gibson: All right, gentlemen. Mr. Carollo: I think this is what our problem has been, at least part of the problem why we haven't selected a City Manager. Every time we've met to select a City Manager we've only met for 30, 40 minutes at the most. That was the reason that I asked that a special day be put aside for the sole purpose of only discussing the selection of the City `tanager. I still believe that. I don't feel that something as important as selecting a new City Manager, the highest position in this City, should be taken in a day where we will be meeting to disci%ss many other areas of importance to the City. If we do, I know what's going to happen. We'll discuss it for 30, 40 minutes, some time 10, 11, 12t00 o'clook at night we might discuss it again for another 20 minutes, and we're going to be in the same position that we are today. What this Commission has to do is pick a day_ aside, come here at 9, 8, 10 in the morning and be ready to stay here until midnight, if need be, until we select a new City Manager. And that is my position. I respect others here. Mr. Plummer: Since Mr. Lacasa is not going to speak, Mr. Carollo, I hope.. Father Gibson: He didn't say he wasn't going to speak. Mr. Plummer: He's always hesitant. Mr. Carollo, I couldn't agree with you more. As you will recall, yesterday I was willing to meet on Friday. The Mayor will be out of town on Friday. I was willing to meet on Saturday, you will be out of town until the following week. It is my intention that every morning at 9:00 o'clock until this matter is solved, to offer the motion to meet 24 hours later because I agree with you that it is the most important thing and it is now getting into the realm of being ridiculous. I'm merely offering that today for tomorrow at 9:00 o'clock. If that doesn't work, tomorrow I'm going to offer it again for Friday at 9:00 o'clock. So I have no disagreement with you, it's just the idea of timing. Mr. Lacasa: Father, I have nothing to say other than what I said yesterday. I do believe along with Commissioner Carollo, that it is essential that we finalize this situation but I don't believe that by going for an hour tomorrow we're going to get any place, simply because we're going to stalemate again and all we're going to do is to postpone this situation indefinitely. So I am for going for a special meeting, full day, as long as necessary, as soon as possible, and finalize the problem. Mr. Plummer: Mr. Vice -Mayor, I offer a motion that this matter be continued until tomorrow morning at 8:00 A.M. Father Gibson: There's a motion. Do I hear a second? Mr. Carollo: Mr. Vice -Mayor, I at this time will offer a substitute motion, that when we're all here tomorrow for a regular Commission meeting... Mr. Plummer: Excuse me, technically, .Toe, you can't offer a substitute which was not seconded. Mr. Carollo: I'll second for the purpose of then offering my substitute motion. Mr. Plummer: That's dirty pool. Mr. Carollo: Thank you, Mr. Undertaker. Father Gibson: You could have let it die then you could have done the same thing. All right, go ahead. Mr. Carollo: Well I figure it had died, so that's why I said that, Mr. Vice -Mayor. The motion is that when we have all S members of the Commission here tomorrow, hopefully, then we pick a date as soon as possible where all of us will be ready to come to this Commission and be here the whole day, if need be, until we pick a City Manager. I don't think that this is something that we're going to be able to take one or two hours in the morning, or one or two in the afternoon. I think each of us is going to have to find a day (f 2 3 Mr, Catollo (continued): in our schedule that we will be ready to come here and spend the whole day if need be, until we pick a new City Manager. The motion is that tomorrow when we hopefully will have all 5 members of the Commission present, we then pick a date, the soonest date that we can when we all will be in town, when we all will be able to be here the whole day, and at that date, I hope that we will walk out of here with a new City Manager. Father Gibson: That's your motion? Mr. Carollo: That is the motion. Mr. Lacasa: I second the motion. Father Gibson: You've heard... any discussion? All right, call the roll's please. Mr. Plummer: Father, why don't you try a motion. Father Gibson: J. L., I don't want to try no motion because evidently, I don't think some of us understand the mechanics of what's happening. But since you said that, I'm going to make sure that the public doesn't leave here misunderstanding this guy. Whatever date you set, I want you to hear me very closely and carefully, whatever date you set, anyone of us could cop-out. That is as a special day. I want you to hear that. However, • if you went on and said tomorrow we're going to vote ... tomorrow the first thing on every agenda until the man is chosen, all of us have to be here, and all of us will have to cut the mustard. I may not be the smartest politici,!i, but I'm a doggone good pastor. I think I am. Can't stay in the chur,i, j5 years if you aren't. Especially the kind of church I have. And you (.,n't be a politician and a clergyman too if you weren't a doggone good one of one of them either. I say that there's wisdom there. Let me tell the public what was said to me yesterday, and I want everybody to know this. As soon as we adjourned yesterday morning, the media came to me and said this -Gibson, we expected one of you all to be absent today. We thought you were going to be sick and not here. I said, well thank God I'm here and I'm not sick. I hope you got the message. 3 ern 8 i�81 Mrt tatasa: Mt. Vice -Mayor, I'd like to make a motion that we set a date tomorrow, and that we specify that with quorum on that date... Father Gibson: With what? Mr. Lacasa: With quorum, that as long as we will have quorum, and that means 3 persons on this City Commission, we go and vote on this issue, even if we have one or two persons absent from the City Commission on the day that we set for this special meeting, if that is said that way. Mr. Carollo: I have no problem with that. I second the motion. Father Gibson. Well, I'm the presiding officer. I say this to you. I hear what you say, and I think I know what you're trying to accomplish, but I wonder if that is fair to any member of the Commission. For instance, suppose we set a date say April 24th, and I picked that day because that's my birthday. I want you to remember to bring me my present. April the 24th you can bring me my present. (LAUGHTER) And incidently, bring it in the open so that nobody will say that you're buying me off. You understand. Bring it and put it up here so everybody will see it April 24th. Mr. Carollo: And Gibson was saying he was a dumb politician. Mr. Plummer: kfi o ever heard of buying a politician with birthday cake. Father Gibson: The point is if you were to do that, say April the 24th, and for some reason over which I have no control, I'm not here, or any one of you is not here. Do you follow me? Father Gibson: Call the vote, you're protected. Father Gibson: Okay. I'm just saying how I feel about it. I want us to resolve this matter as quickly as possible. That's an awful danger. Let me ask, is the City Attorney ... Mr. City Attorney, how much trouble can we get in by agreeing to have the appointment of a City *tanager regardless as to the number of Commissiners present, just so long as we have at least 3 of the 5? Mr. Knox: 3 members would constitute a quorum of the Commission, however, no official action can be taken without 3 affirmative votes. So if there were 3 persons here, then there would have to be 3 votes before there would be an official appointment, or any official action taken. Mr. Plummer: Call the roll. Father Gibson: That certainly takes away a manns rights. I always thought we were polite and courteous. All right, call the roll. MOTION DEFEATED. On motion by Commissioner Lacasa and seconded by Commissioner Carollo, the foregoing motion was defeated by the following vote: AYES: Commissioner Joe Carollo Commissioner Armando Lacasa NOES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr. Vice -Mayor (Rev.) Theodore R. Gib: ABSENT; Mayur Mauricu A. Ferre AP 81�;,�,1 �.wars.:�, .. .. 4YfP!',',s ....,..:..;...,ewr.+s•ww�x++.....ci.w+.....-..... e. ,... __. __._.._ __. Mr. Plummer! Father, 1 offer a fetibft thlat t'hig Metter 'fie 6eht'ittuo-0 until April the 10th. Mr. Carollo: April the 9th.., Mr. Plummer: loth. Mr. Carollo: ...are we going to discuss what day we're going to pick? Mr. Plummer: My motion stands, April the loth. You want it a separate day, we'll make it a separate day. My motion of April the 9th failed. April the loth is Friday. Father Gibson: April the loth is Friday? Mr. Plummer: 9:00 A.M. Father Gibson: All right. Mr. Carollo : Let me remind you... Father Gibson: The motion is that a special day be set, which is Friday April loth for the purpose of selecting a City Manager. Mr. Carollo: I'd like to remind you, Mr. Vice -Mayor, there was a motion that was made a passed already that we will pick a day tomorrow when we're all here. Mr. Plummer: No, that motion failed, 2-2. Father Gibson: 2-2 is a denial. All right, there is a motion for the loth. By the way, didn't the Mayor's assistant say he would be out of town? (INAUDIBLE BACKGROUND COMMENT PLACED OUTSIDE OF THE PUBLIC RECORD) Mr. Lacasa: That means he won't be here because either he is sick or he is out of town. Mr. Plummer: What about the llth? (INAUDIBLE BACKGROUND COMMENT PLACED OUTSIDE OF THE PUBLIC RECORD) Mr. Plummer: What about the 12th? I change my motion to the 12th. Father Gibson: All right, the motion is that we set the 12th as the date. Mr. Carollo: J. L., I made it very clear yesterday, and I'm sure you heard me just like everyone else did, that I'm going to have to be away from town, I'm leaving Saturday, and I'll be back some time Wednesday evening. So if you want to take it after that I'd be more than happy to. Mr. Plummer: I'm not trying to inconvenience any one. Mr. Carollo: I certainly hope not, because I don't think this Commissioner has ever tried to inconvenience you. Mr. Plummer: Nu. I'm not going to do that. I withdraw... Mr. Carollo: And I'm not as wealthy as the rest of the members of the Commission, so when my boss tells me go and do something, I have to do it, Mr. Plummer: I withdraw the motion. Father Gibson: So then where are we? Mr. Plummer: Well, my first motion, Father, would not preclude what Mr. Carollo is trying to accomplish, and that is to try to set a date tomorrow. I'll compromise with you, Joe. We'll meet tomorrow morning at ,)5 A8 i Mr. Plummer (continued): 84.00 o'clock to discuss the matter, and in that discussion could be the discussion of a future date, but if you will accept not to preclude the possible selection tomorrow, if that's possible. Mr. Carollo: I can't do that as long as three members of the Commission are in favor of that, it would be ridiculous for any one to try to preclude that. Mr. Plummer: I'll accept that. Father, I think the compromise motion would be that we meet tomorrow morning at 8:00 o'clock, continue this matter until 8:00 o'clock. It's the only logical conclusion we can come to, I just don't want to tie it in with the rest of the agenda. Mr. Carollo: I'd just like to again restate my position. I will not be in favor of taking this matter up tomorrow for the reasons that I've stated very clearly. (a), by the time we get the meeting started it will be 8:30. By the time that the 5 pieces of paper go over to the right, if none of them get lost this time, it will be 9:00 o'clock and we'll be lucky if we have 5,6, 12 votes and still no City Manager. Mr. Plummer: Well, my motion doesn't preclude anything. It just says that this matter will be discussed tomorrow morning at 8:00 o'clock. Mr. Carollo: I'll second that motion. I just hope that all the members of the Commission have looked over the agenda that we have tomorrow. It's not a terribly short one.' Mr. Plummer: I haven't seen one around here in 10 years that was. You have a motion and second, Father. Father Gibson: All right. Discussion? Any discussion? All right, the motion is that tomorrow morning at 8:00 o'clock we'll be here, please, eastern standard time. *tr. Plummer: But Father, all the Latin countries are in eastern standard time. Father Gibson: Well, eastern standard time, my brother. You set the hour at 8:00 o'clock, I expect you to be here at 8:00 o'clock. I will personally call the ;Mayor. Mrs .... would you please call the Mayor right now before we move another inch and say to the Mayor that a meeting is being called for 8:00 o'clock in the morning and we expect him to be here and on time. That's right, Hey, when I come here and spend a half hour or an hour I've lost an hour of my time. I could be doing something else. That's right. Mine is a business and I think everybody else ought to get their business together and don't have me sitting here waiting. I even start funerals without families. You can believe that. I do. Let's wait before we vote for this thing because you know, I don't plan to come in here at 8:00 o'clock in the morning and then sit aroudn and wait. All right, ladies and gentlemen, the Mayor has said through his assistant that tie will be here at 8:00 o'clock in the morning. All right, call the roll, please. The following motion was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its adoption: MOTION NO. 81-248 A MOTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION TO CONTINUE THE SPECIAL COMMISSION MEEING UNTIL APRIL 9, 1981 AT 8:00 O'CLOCK Upon being seconded by Commissioner Carollo, the motion was passed and adopted by the following vote: AYES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr. Commissioner Joe Carollo Commissioner Armando Lacasa Vice -Mayor (Rev.) Theodore R. Gibson NOES: None t�� ABSENT:. Mayor Maurice A. Ferre AMS T 3 RAUH G. ONGIt City Clerk MATTY HIRAI Assistant City Clerk )7 1APR 8 1981