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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 1978-01-31 MinutesCITY OF MIAIViI • etki op�; 1 NCOlil'ztiIt V14 1) 18 t" 96 SPECIAL COMMISSION MINUTES OF MEETING 1ELD ON JANUARY 31, 1978 PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK CITY HALL RALPH G. OWE CITY CLERK 1� i INDEX MINUTES OF SPECIAL NI_ETI NG .. CITY COMMISSIO►'J OF f �IAMI, FLORIDA TABLE OF CONTENTS APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD. RES. 78-81 ' JO 31197 PAGE NO 1 - 6 MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF MIAMI, FLORIDA * * * * * * * * * * 0n the 31st de; of January, 1978, the City Commission of at its regular meeting place in said City in Special Session business of public import. The meeting was called to order at 10:08 o'clock A.M. by with the following members of the Commission present: Commissioner Rose Gordon Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr. Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore R. Gibson Vice Mayor Manolo Rehoso Mayor Maurice A. Ferre ALSO PRESENT: Miami, Florida, met to consider Mayor Maurice A. Ferre Joseph R. Grassie, City Manager R. L. Fosmoen, Assistant City Manager George F. Knox, City Attorney natty Hirai, Assistant City Clerk ABSENT: Ralph G. OnRie, City Clerk An invocation was delivered by Reverend Theodore R. Gibson, who then led those present in a pledge of allegiance to the flag. 1. APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD. Mayor Ferre: Ladies and gentlemen this is a Special Commission meeting that we needed to call because we have a problem with meeting the requirements of the Civil Service, and I think, if it is all right with the members of the Commission, we will follow the same procedure we always follow if you all make nominations; I don't think it is necessary to have a second for the nominations. We'll take all the names down and then you will list on a piece of paper three names, then the person that gets three votes is automatically elected to the Civil Service Board. If we don't fill three positions that way, we'll then have a run-off between the next to follow up, whoever it is. Mr. Plummer: Sir, I have announced to you and other members of the Commission that I have to leave here in two minutes. Now, all I'm going to do...I'm going to stay, Mr. Mayor, it's an important issue but I want to go on record that I am in objection to today's meeting, this is a matter which should have been taken care of in December. This matter --the Civil Service appointments --are up in the 19th of December --I am told by the City Attorney. Mr. Mayor, basically, what I am saying... it is my intention or may understanding, emergency meetings are just that, emergencies.... Mayor Ferre: This shouldn't have been an emergency meeting. Mr. Plummer: ....and I don't feel that this should have been a special meeting, I don't fee. that it should have been an emergency meeting, I think somebody goofed in December aid we are here today taking one more day out of our work schedule to come and try to cover up for somebody who goofed in December. So, I want to just put on the record my strenuous objections to having been called today to come and cover up for somebody else. Mrs, Gordon: 1 would like to make a statement --an opening statement too --Mx. Mayor, I call attention t a fact that we are concerned with and are under a mandate of t' Federal Goverru-ont with regard to a Consent Decree which directs us to the hiring practices of minorities-- of Latins, blacks and women, l wish to call your attention, specifically, to the lack of the present composition of the Board and in your nominations, which will be coming forth shortly, I would like you to consider that fact and to pay particular attention to it in your voting. 01 IAN31l97311976 Mayor Ferre: Thank you. Now, at this time I'm opened for nominations. Mrs. ".ordon: I would nominate you two persons, females, well qualified. I would hope there will be other female nominees from other members of this Commission so that we tt►ay have a selection from which to choose. f would nominate you Dr. Maria C. Hernandez, whose Resume you have before you. The Resume indicates her complete quali:ications for the position that she would do very effectively, impartially, and would Make us ve-_y proud of her appointment. I would like to also nominate to give you a choice. another woman of great qualifications,having past Hater's Degree, having dealt with and dealing with human relations, and problems of people in her daily activi1..es and in her work experience, I offer you the name of Gabriela J. Landau. Gabriela Landau has served in the past on our Retirement Board, she is the wife of Rabbi Sol Landau. Mayor Ferre: All right. I am opened for other nominations. Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, just, so. I've asked now the City Attorney -- or bays that I thought there was a I just, Rose, would like to get it ..and I asked of Rose this this morning, and just... somewhere in the back of this computer tells me requirement of residency within the City and... on the record and declare it to clarify... Mrs. Gordon! On the Planning and Zoning Boards such a requirement is inserted into the rules and regulations; however, I would like to recall to your attention, Charlie Huttoe's appointment which lasted for a great number of years and which indicated that this requirement was not mandatory. Mr. Plummer: Okay. I'm just getting it on the record. Mr. Mayor, if it is in order, I would make a blanket motion that the three members of the present Board be re- nominated --if that is in order; if not, I would then make it in individual motions. Mayor Ferre: I think J. L., so that it is a completely open process, that we let everybody...so, I would put down now the names of Charles Hadley, Gerald Silverman and Manolo Argues, as being nominated to this list. Are there further nominations? Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, just for the record, the City Attorney has indicated to me --and I would like for him to put it on the record --there is no residency requirement. Mr. }:nox: Yes, the Board is governed by the provisions of Section 60 of the Charter and there are no residency requirements. Rev. Gibson: Mr. Mayor, I want to nominate a woman, Mrs. Fredericka D. Wanza who lives at 7011 N. W. loth Avenue, Miami, Florida, --capable, competent... Mayor Ferre: Do we have a Resume on her so that we can... I don't know her at all. Rev. Gibson: Yes Sir. I want to testify that I know her, that I want to make sure... pass it on down to the chair for me, please...She has a Master's Degree in education; she taught in the school system, she is retired, she has plenty of time, she's retired, relatively a young woman. Mayor Ferre: All right. Are there further nominations at this time? Mrs. Gordon: Would you accept any discussion regarding nominations? Mayor Ferre: Sure, I think we want this to be completely open. Mrs. Gordon: I would like you all to remember again my opening remarks that if you are really going to be fair, that you would really consider not blanketing anything or anybody but simply giving the qualifications, the background, the ability to serve in a professional manner to each of those who have been nominated and that the very f.iL:t of previous service on the Board not be the criteria for continuance, and if that be the only criteria there would be no need to do renominations ever. Mr. Plummer: Well, Mr. Mayor, not that I feel that 1 have to speak in rebuttal but I have always been a true believer that if you have a Board which seems to work and you have people who you have no reason not to renominate, to me would be the reason for renoi.. )ation. I will just bring to your attention that at the present _ime the voters of this City have seen fit to bring back this Commission on a number of occasions. Now, maybe if we use the same criteria, maybe we shouldn't have elections... I understand, Rose, what you are going to answer and that is that the 02 JAN311976 people also saw fit to bring back a woman. I understand that: Hrs. Gordon: The Commissioners represent the kind of composition that the Board.,,. the Civil Service Board --ought to reflect. This is probably the ttfiost balanced proof of elected officials that I know of in any community, in any place in this country that this Board is composed of people who represent different ethnic backgrounds, different ratialbac;.arounds, different national backgrounds, and different sexual backgrounds, and here again, I ask you and plead with you to be fair, to be open tftinded about this, Lnd "please, don't be chauvinists. Mayor Ferree I would like to=`just for the record --make a... I heard Ivonne Burkholts on radio, yesterday, saying something that make an awful lot of sense, and she said' -=she was quoting somebody and I have forgotten who, she said --"if it ain't broken don't try to fix it"...Now, if it ain't broken don't try to fix it. Now, it seems to me that there is a lot more involved and at stake here than just trying to get a balanced...that is very, very important, and I think that the women that have been nominated here are all distinguished people. I think we have a serious obli- gation to think about which way the whole Civil Service procedure is going because to a great degree what happens to the Civil Service Board is going to determine what is going to happen to the City of Miami. I think it's a major, major, major crossroad. I, personally, subscribe to the premise in explainging my vote that I think the composition of the Civil Service Board --while not perfect by a long, long shot --it does have a black, it does have a Latin, and it does have a so called anglo... Mrs. Gordon: Majority.... Mayor Ferre: ....from.. let me finish, Rose, and I promise you I won't interrupt you not even once... The composition, although not perfect, is a fairly well balanced ...yes, I would very much like to see even a better balance but what is at stake besides that or other important issues which one weighs in the scale of what needs to be done, in my opinion, tips it in the direction trying to have stability so that we can get about to business of all the Affirmative Action things that we so desper- ately need in this community. It might be pointed out that it would be ironic for us not to put a woman on, if indeed we do want Affirmative Action; but the balance of that Board is so precarious that I think-- in my own mind, anyway-- it supersedes any other realities that are before us. Mrs. Gordon: What kind of precarious situation are you referring to, Mr. Mayor? I may not be aware of the implications of your statement. Mayor Ferre: Oh, I'll be happy to elaborate, Rose, I'm not bashful at all putting it on the record, if you want. I'll be happy to elaborate...I think that there is no question that the decision has to be made as to whether the City of Miami is going to be run by the employees or whether the City of Miami is going to be run by the elected Commission. I think we are treading very, very dangerous grounds. That is not to say that I prejudges Maria Hernandez, Gabriela Landau or Fredericka Wanza's ability to look upon things on the basis of the merits that are before them, I think that they have that capacity; however, I know that the three that have been serving there with diligence have that capacity and since it's a Board of five and the balance of one might make a substantial difference on the type of decisions that are going to be made over the years to come I, certainly, am not willing to take that big a chance for something which even though I would not classify as a spurious or a victory that doesn't...what's the word I'm looking for... a pyric victory, that's the word... even though I'm not saying that it will be a pyric victory, it certainly would leave me with less comfort than staying with the people that I know and know what their positions are going to be. Mrs. Gordon: Well, Mr. Mayor, the Board you are concerned with the preservation of, I would li to remind you that only one woman in the past two years has received the major positic.t of... you consider this Board a preservation of male right, then I consider you right in your analysis but if you are not considering this an area for preserv^tion of male rights, supremacy, then I again plead with this Board to be farsighted and select one woman of the three well qualified women whose names had been ,presented to you, who are not under anybody's control, who are totally free and independent people and there is no one that could control any one of these three women. $o, therefor, if you are saying control is the factor you need not fear, thr -.: is no control ..f any of these three women. Each of them, in their own individual rights, has sufficient education, has sufficient knowledge and background of the community and has sufficient ability to deal with human rights and with human relations within the Civil Service Board. 03 3a u3197§ Mayer Ferre: Further comments? Mr. Plummer: Mt. Mayor, yes, briefly and I at not asking for argumentative. Mr. Mayor, let Me tell you something, you made a comment which I have to take enception too. Mr. Mayor, I don't ever want any Board in this City, even to be hinted at, that hte employees ate running or this Commission is running or the Administration is ttmning. If I don't see an independent Board totally independent-= Mr. Mayor, I've been on this Commission eight years and other thatn conversation I have never gone t( a member of any board and told him what to do and I never Will, I'll resign first, number 1. I don't want anything to be run by the employees, by this Commission or by the Administration. Mr. Mayor, I've got to put on the record, once again, as I have to be consistent, and I know that this will hurt somebody, and step on somebody's toes but it is not meant to be taken as.a personal affront. Mr. Mayor, I have concerns about the Civil Service Board only in the area of the Executive Secretary. I am thoroughly convinced as I have been from the inception that a man who wears two hats has a divided house. I am concerned about, Mr. Krause. — not Mr. Krause, he is a fine and honorable getleman--but I am concerned to no end that a man who is in Human Resouces serving under one hat, is in fact wearing another hat as Executive Director of another Board. I said this from the inception, I say it now, I am not the Civil Service Board, I am not saying --and I don't want it insunderstood-that I am giving a directive to the Civil Service Board but I think I have every right to voice my concerns and I have done such. Rev. Gibson: May I ask a question, Mr. Plummer? How did he get to be both? Mr. Plummer: He got voted in by the Board itself, the onity way that it should be. Rev. Gibson: Well, the reason I am asking is I remember at budget time they wanted to eliminate one of those positions and one of my objections was that I don't think you ought to do that because of what if implies...and you mean to tell me that the Board ---which Board did that? I would like to know, I am not knowledgeable, I am sorry. Mr. Plummer: It was obvious the Board that consisted of Mr. Printz, Mrs. Skubish, Hadley... I don't know if Huttoe was there or Silverman, I'm not sure...Silverman, and Argues. Rev. Gibson: And now you are reelecting the Board.... Mr. Plummer: They elect their own chairman as Rose.... Rev. Gibson: No, no, no, you missed what I'm saying. They have already appointed their head. Mr. Plummer: I understand that. Rev. Gibson: No, no, no, you misunderstand.... Mr. Plummer: I understand what you are saying, I understand very well. Rev. Gibson: Mr. Mayor, you follow what I'm saying... no, no, no, no, listen to what I'm saying. You now are going to elect the Board... you are doggone right... all I'm saying to you is I've got some real concerns and problems for that.... Mr. Plummer: Well, Father, let me tell you something, if I voted for someone else, okay? to replace one of those members I would not under any circumstances put that person under a mandate and I don't know who that person could be who might vote for someone else. Rev. Gib. 'n: J. L., let me say this. I am not asking you nor am I questioning in that, ari I'm not even implying...what I'm saying, what I'm referring to is you said that --this Board should have been appointed the 19th of Decembers now, listen to whit I'm spying because it makes some sense... and man this is irregular, very irregular. The Board...you are going now to elect the Board, now, today, a Board that has already done what this Board must do...that's all I'm saying,,. we've got to be fools, Plummer: Fat._r, let me say this to you, okay?...and 1 think that it's you the very one who proffesses. I am not going to do by the back door what I don't do by the front door, okay? Now, you can read.,., 04 5101 $1 i9114 Rev. Gibson: No, no, no, J. L., I'm not arguing that. Mr. PliMmer: Father, do you understand what I said? Rev. Gibson: Yes. All I'm saying to you and listen I'm not implying that 1 want to do by the back door what I couldn't do by the front door... all I'M saying to you is, we the Cofh issioners either are dodos or something else. Now, the Civil Service Board, to Me, should have been told or should have been instructed that until the mefnbers of the Board were properly chosen, they had no business nor right... that's all I'm saying to you. Now, what we are doing is we are going to elect three people.:. is tha the number?...laving lelected these three people, we say to these three people, okay, wyou are locked to that person or those persons until... that doesn't make sense...okay...I'm ready to vote...you know... I don't have to argue about nothing. Mayor Ferre: All righr, I've already passed my ballot down, have Plummer?... Reboso' Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I might just put on the record the reason what I have to get out of here is that as most of you probably are aware of that Mr. Eddie Gong, former Senator Gong who also si the Legal Advisor for our Pension Board, his son met with misfortune the day before yesterday in a very tragic automobile accident and was killed in that accident and the funeral is at 11:00 A.M. which I have to conduct, and that's the reason --I've got to run. Mayor Ferre: While we are waiting, wasn't the DBA going to come up with something today? Mr..Grassie: They have resolved that question I believe, Mr. Mayor. It will not be necessary to bring it to you. Mayor Ferre: All right, then all we need is the tally and then see if we need... see if we have the majority or if we have to vote again. Mrs. Hirai: Do you want everybody...how many votes they've got. Mayor Ferre: Sure, absolutely. Mrs. Hirai: Dra. Maria Hernandez finished with one vote; Gabriela Landau, one vote: Messrs Charles Hadley and Gerald Silverman each got 4 votes; Manolo Argues, 3 votes and Fredericka Wanza, 2 votes. So the three individuals with the greater number of votes would be Charles Hadley, Gerald Silverman and Manolo Argues. Mayor Ferre: That means...4, 4, and 3. Manolo Argues received 3 votes. Mrs. Hirai: Dra. Maria Hernandez, 1 vote. Gabriela Landau, 1 vote. Charles Hadley, 4 votes. Gerald Silverman, 4 votes. Manolo Argues, 3 votes and Fredericka Wanza, 2 votes. Mayor Ferre: All right, the duly selected members of the Board then will be Charles Hadley, Gerald Silverman and Manolo Argues. Mrs. Gordon: I call again to your attention the imbalance of this new Board and ask you again to keep in mind for future board appointments, for any other appoint- ments, the quality of women. Mayor Ferre: All right. Is there any further discussion now? Call the roll. The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Rev. Theodore R. Gibson who move' its adoption: RESOLUTION NO, 78-81 A RESOLUTION APPOINTING 3 MEMBERS TO THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD OF THE CITY OF MIAMI. Upon being sr?onded by Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr,, the resolution was rassed and adopter by the following .vote: r,4,ES: Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr. Commissioner Rose Gordon Commissioner Rev, Theodore R. Gibson 05 IAN Vim Vice Mayor Manolo Reboso Mayor Maurice A. Verve NOES: None Ab.7OURNEMENT : There being no further business to come before the City Commission, on motion duly Made and seconded, the meeting was adjourned at 10:30 A.M. ATTEST: MATTY HIRAI Assistant City Clerk MAURICE A. PERU Mayor 'JAN 31 8 ITEM NO CITY OF M:i MI DOCUMENT DOCUMENT IDENTIFICA1/ON NDE 1 CU/MISSION AGENDA AND CITY CLEM< REPORT 2 APPOINTING 3 MEMBERS TO THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD OF THE CITY OF MIAMI MEETING DATE: Jaftuary 31, 1978 COMMISSION ACTION RETRIEVAL __CODC_NO• 0001 R-78-81 78-81