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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 1976-10-15 MinutesCIT Y -OF MIAIViI mmmek 11111 MEM COMMISSION _ MINUTES MEETING HELD ON EPAREA BY THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK CITY HALL RALPH G. ONGIE CITY CLERK MINUTES or SPBCIAL MEETING fTY COMMISSION of MIAMI, ?LO1IbA On the 15th day of October, 1976, the City Commission of Miami, iirida met at Bayfront Park Auditorium, 499 Biscayne Boulevard in 'said City in SPECIAL SESSION to consider the proposed appropriation t srdinance for the City of Miami for fiscal year 1976 - 1977. The meeting was called to order at 5:35 O'Clock P.M. following members of the Commission present: Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore Gibson Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr. Commissioner Manolo Reboso Vice - Mayor Rose Gordon Mayor Maurice A. Ferre with the Also Present: Joseph R. Grassie, City Manager A. P. Crouch, Assistant City Manager George F. Knox, Jr., City Attorney Ralph G. Ongie, City Clerk Matty Hirai, Assistant City Clerk s. Gordon: ...a slight correction. On the hearing on Tuesday orning will be the General Budget but between 11 and 12:00, Federal !`Revenue Sharing will be heard. That is not part of the agenda for this evening. Mr. Manager, would you like to begin. Mr. Grassie: Only to indicate, Madame Vice -Mayor, that this is an opportunity for citizens to express themselves with regard to the proposed budget of the City of Miami and the principle function that we want to serve today is to give any citizen who wishes to comment on our budget or to indicate to this City Commission a point of view with regard to things that are being funded in this budget, this is the time to do it and prior to this discussion, all of the discussion has been between staff and the City Commission. At this time, we are open for any kind of input from citizens and before the budget becomes final, these comments, I'm sure, will be taken into consideration by the City Commission. Mrs. Gordon: Anyone that wishes to speak on any matter regarding the budget, we'll use the microphone right up here at the front. W. Plummer: Rose, may I suggest, to keep an orderly process, that you ask by an indication of raising of their hands those that wish to be heard and that they give their name to the Clerk so that they can be called in order and we don't have to worry about people jumping up and down. I think that would be the best way to do it. Mrs. Gordon: That's a very good idea. Will you raise your hand if you intend to speak. Would you please come forward and give your name to the Clerk and the first one up is the first one to speak. Mr. Plummer: What are we talking about? Four people? You wanted to speak, sir? Mrs. Gordon: Just to keep it in the sequence that be proper, it would be better to sign your name or come up here and tell the Clerk. Mr. David Cerello: My name is David Cerello and I'm here as a City employee and as a taxpayer jn the City of Miami, I have a home' here. 1 OCT 1"319/ hit really know the exact facts and figures but I understand that e is a controversy about the Civil Service budget. I'm rather -011derned about the Civil Service Budget myself and from what I under - Oland, if I could ask a question here, I would like to know if it's a matter of money or if the positions are just being transferred to somewhere else. Mrs. Gordon: Mr. Grassie: else. I'm going to ask Mr. Grassie to answer your question. It is a matter of transferring the positions somewhere Mr. Cerello: It's not a point of trying to save money then. Mr. Grassie: That is not the point. Mr. Cerello: Okay, well I know because of my experience having worked a number of years in Civil Service, my father was a career military man, that people hear alot of bad things about Civil Service and bureaucracy and that seems to be a general attitude about Civil Service employees. I don't find that true with the City of Miami, I find it at the City of Miami when a citizen calls, when I myself have called with problems, I get taken care of. I think the employees are respon- sive and they do a job trying to meet the needs of the citizen and that might be different than in different parts of the country but from what I hear, rumor has it that the City Manager and some other people would like to see, especially the employees, cut a great deal and I think there should be a little more consideration given to where it actually needs to be done. I believe that what could happen here is if the Commission and the Manager insist.,on doing away with our employee rights and our employee protections and indiscriminately making cuts in payroll and positions, that it could lead to a bad morale problem in the City and then the person who would suffer would be the taxpayer. when the taxpayer talks to the City, he talks to the employees, he doesn't talk to the people in management, and I think that our employees do a good job now and they need their rights and their protections and I think it should stay the same. I don't see why you should go through all the trouble of trying to transfer all of these positions when you're not trying to save any money and alot of employees are taking this as bad will and I know that that's the rumor. The rumor is that people are going to be fired and people are going to be laid off and it's going to be indiscriminate and all I can see suffering is the taxpayer. The taxpayer will start to get people on the phone who don't care anymore, they don't know if they're going to have a job, they don't know if they have any job security and they probably won't be interested in it. Mrs. Gordon: Thank you for expressing yourself and I will ask Mr. Grassie if he has a response to your concerns. Mr. Grassie: Mrs. Vice -Mayor, I would think that you may not want to give the impression that we're debating with people who are making points from the audience but I do think that it is necessary to make clear... Mrs. Gordon: That's the only reason I asked you to respond, not for a debate, it's simply to set the record straight. Mr. Grassie: Certainly not the City Commission and as far as I'm concerned, never the City Administration has felt that Civil Service iS going to be done away with and certainly it is not legally possible nor is it desireable in my estimation that the basic protections of Civil Service for employees be abridged, that's not the point, what OCT 1 5 197E the City Commission has been working towards for over two years now is the establishment of a modern personnel system, something that has happened in most organizations many years ago. It has been difficult to do it but that is what they are attempting to achieve now and under the provisions of existing City of Miami Charter as well as the basic intention of the City Commission, it's not possible nor desirable that Civil Service be eliminated, that's not what they're talking about. I understand that it may be difficult for you to believe that but I guess... You know, the alternative that we have in front of us is that we're going to have to give it a try and I think that only exper- ience will demonstrate to you that what is difficult for you to believe liow is, in fact, the case. Mrs. Gordon: Anyone else that wishes to speak, just come forward and :give the Clerk your name because I'm going to call the names out that :'ve already got in the order I received them. Annette Eisenberg. Mrs. Annette Eisenberg: First of all, I'm appalled to see so few citizens here today to speak on the budget and to speak on the future of the City of Miami. Mr. Plummer: Rose, why don't you put them over here, there's a rostrum and everything. Annette is so small that I can't even see her over there. Mrs. Gordon: The only reason why I didn't suggest that before is because from that position they can see everybody and from this position their back is to the people, that's the only reason I didn't do it. You can choose your own position, anybody that wishes to speak. Okay, Annette, go ahead. Mrs. Eisenberg: I'll repeat, I'm appalled that more people of the City of Miami are not here today to speak up for the citizens as well as the employees in the City of Miami. I hope today that something can be worked out for both the taxpayers and the employees. I have been a resident of the City of Miami for 26 years. I have worked for every Bond Issue that has ever come out. I have done whatever I felt I could to further the City of Miami, to help the employees and help the citizens but I say right here and now, do not raise our taxes this time. This will be the year that will break the camels back. Find economy, find ways of balancing that budget and I say to the employees here today, help us, don't push us. We want you to have a secure position and we want you to have a job but don't push the citizens of the City of Miami because they are at a breaking point. At a last meeting, i proposed the elimination of the 24 hour vehicle as I proposed to Dade County, they did it, there is economy. I trust the Manager will look into this and take care of this. There is no reason why these vehicles are running to Broward and Monroe County and there is no reason why we must provide transportation for our Department Heads to come to work. I'll be lucky if I get out of here alive tonight. You know, in years passed... Mr. Plummer: Sounds interesting Mrs. Gordon: Now J. L., don't be so greedy. Mrs. Eisenberg: I'm not of your faith, J. L., you couldn't take care of me. Very honestly, the Dade County Government also considered this last year and I think it will become a reality. If employees must have their birthday, if employees must take every holiday that the children are in school, fine, without pay. We must bring back, you can boo me if you like and you can boo me when there is no City of Miami- We must get back to productivity, we must get back to working. The citizens 3 OCT 15197 'a the City of Miami are not going to accept this any longer, I esk the Commission and I ask the Manager to balance the budget, do hot raise the taxes, Mrs. Gordon: Thank you, Annette, Clarice McFarland, Ms, Clarice McFarland: I'd like to introduce myself first. The whole Mite is Clarice Tucker McFarland and I have two points. Number one, I'm a former City employee and I was born here, my father was born here before me and I would state very strongly, do not abolish your Civil Service because I can remember in the 1930's when it was cronyism and my nephew and a friend of mine that got the job. It should be the person that's qualified and I'm all for minority hiring but if they want the job, let them learn how to pass the examination. That's number one. Number two, I'm here because there was a notice in the paper that the taxes were going to be increased 8%. Mine were increased last year, the year before and the year before that. I live in a 40 year old home on N.E. 86th Street with a vacant lot, it was rezoned some years ago for . Now who is building multiple units in today's economy? I road the real estate section on every Sunday and I know and you know that there are no apartments being built, there are no condominiums being built, there is nothing in the way of big projects being built. Now I'm already paying $900 a year for a house that my parents built with an extra lot that's only 38 feet wide. How far can we go? I read the notice in the paper of the 8% increase but nobody told me why we have to be increased 8% and I'd like to find out why. Thank you. Mrs. Gordon: Thank you very much, Ms. McFarland. The next speaker is Hector Moreno. Mr. Hector Moreno: My name is Hector Moreno and I'm a homeowner and I'd like to complain about the 8% increase on the property tax. I'm not here as a homeowner alone, I'm here speaking for the homeowners of Grapeland Iieights that have asked me to speak for them since they cannot attend the meeting tonight. They also have asked me to urge our City Commission that all of us admire and respect so much to con- sider this issue and take it back to the City Manager before the vote on it and let the City Manager find some other means to find the money instead of doing things the easy way otherwise we all expect to have a respectable and a good City Manager and then by doing things the easy way, they have started on the wrong, the City Manager has started on the wrong foot and we all hope him to be a good City Manager and we don't want to lose faith in him. Mrs. Gordon: Thank you, Hector Moreno. You're representing the Grapeland Heights Civic Club? Mr. Moreno: Homeowners. Mrs. Gordon: The Homeowners Association. Alright, the next speaker is Harry Klein. Mr. Harry Klein: I'm here to back up Mr. Moreno, I'm from Grapeland Heights. We had been promised about 5 years ago when the $40,000,000 Bond Issue went into effect, to vote for it and the tax increase will be $10.00 for the average like they have in Grapeland Heights. This promise was made by Mr. Dave Kennedy who was at that time the Mayor. It was printed in the newspapers and I don't know to this day whether this was a bear -faced lie or not. Taxes have been increased not only $10.00 but by about $50.00 or $60.00 instead. In Grapeland Heights they have a special reason for no increase in taxation if possible We have to have port near us and most homes OCT 151976 ire in direct flight pattern to the airplanes and the noise of those planes when they take off, especially when they take off, is almost Unbeatable. Those poor in Grapeland Heights have been penalized, torturized and agonized by those planes and I call Grapeland Heights a blighted area. We have been told in our Association by Maurice A. 'erre whenever there is an increase, we must pay it too. However, I believe that there is no reason for any increase in Grapeland Heights. It should be considered, in fact I believe the taxes should go down if that is possible for having to put up with this thing. My ears got ruined at the time when the jets came in. I moved into Grapeland Heights in 1954. There were no planes there, the airport was on 36th street and now it is on 20th street. It's just horrible the way the planes bother you, not only in the daytime but in the middle of the night. Prom 9:30 till about 11:00 at night, a plane takes off, one of those jets, about every 30 to 60 seconds. When a plane passes by and goes away you feel relieved for a few seconds but before you feel the relief, another one comes and blasts into your ears. I've been told, well if you don't like it, why don't you move. Well how can you move when you have an established home there and lived there for 25 years. You put alot of money into it to improve it and beautify it and so forth and then it's all ruined by the planes and yet when it comes to taxation, nobody thinks about Grapeland Heights being a blighted area. I have heard downtown has a blighted area, I've read that in the newspaper, and they were relieved of increase of any future taxation, at least certain properties. Why can't it be done with Grapeland Heights? Mrs. Gordon: Harry, have you had a tax increase in the last three years, an assessment increase I meant to say, that comes from the County. Have they raised your assessment? Did you receive a card saying your tax assessment has been increased? Mr. Klein: I'm sorry, Mrs. Gordon... Mrs. Gordon: The reason I say this to you is because... Hello, Mayor, we're glad to see you. This is Mr. Harry Klein that is speaking now and he is from the Grapeland Heights Homeowners Association and is telling us of the problem in Grapeland Heights with regard to the planes and why Grapeland Heights should have a tax assessment decrease and I agree with you but that isn't in our jurisdiction but I believe that perhaps we could lend some weight to your plea for a tax assessment adjustment. You can't have it for this year but certainly for the following year. It is something that would be worth our putting our efforts behind your efforts in order to bring that about. That area is, I wouldn't say a slum area but an area that is oppressed by the airport and because of the airplanes and the frequency of the flights so you've made your point but the point that we're asking you to address us was the millage rate which we base on the assessment which we have no control over. Mr. Klein: I see. Well I don't know of all these intricacies and some of the things you say I don't hear because i had my ears knocked out, both of them, by the jets, 90%. As you see, I have both ears with hearing aides and there is no amount of money that I can get that will bring back my hearing and I will just have to suffer with it and of course I know that's not in your jurisdiction either... Mrs. Gordon: No, but you have our sympathies. If you can hear what I'm saying, we feel for you, we certainly would like to be able to help you in your plea for the reduced assessment. Mr. Klein; Well I sure do hope that this body of City Commissioners will take that into consideration very seriously and give us American citizens a chance to breathe a little easier, especially those that �I!plBl!Al��lwlhR!�1111' �ilDllil�p� III r OCT 151976 - 5 are elderly, I mean Senior Citizens of our City. I'm not speaking only of Grapeland Heights but other sections of Miami too. The talc increase is very unpopular and 1 ask the City Commission not to go on increasing the taxes and make everybody leave town or that the City may become bankrupt like New York City. Thank you all for listening to me. Mrs. Gordon: Thank you. Mayor Ferre: The next speaker will be Melvin'Jackson. Mr. Melvin Jackson: My name is Melvin Jackson, tit the Vide -President of the Adelphan Club. It is our understanding that the appropriation for the Police Public Relation Program in the public schools of Dade County is about to be deleted from the budget. If so, we employ you're not to do it. We feel that this program has been of great value to the community. Through this program, the children have been taught the duties of the policemen, they have been taught that the policemen are their friends rather than their enemies and of course you do more for your friends than you would for your enemies. Thereby, the whole community is helped. We feel that in this program, we are training citizens for tomorrow. We employ you not to delete that from the budget. Thank you kindly. Mayor Ferre: The next speaker is Mr. Joe Luchte. Mr. Joe Luchte: Joe Luchte, you did very well, Mr. Mayor. I would like once again to understand the -exact reason for this meeting, if I may, perhaps. I'll remain silent. Mayor Ferre: The City of Miami adopts a budget every year and as part of our Chapter and under State Law, after we have our own hearings and discussions, we have public hearings and this is one of two public hearings that we will have. This one today and there will be one on Tuesday right here at 9:00 A.M. and the purpose is to permit the members of the public, any taxpayer, any individual, any citizen that wants to speak about any portion of the budget to be heard. Mr. Luchte: Thank you. I'm not a taxpayer in the City of Miami, I'm a Firefighter, and after having attended a meeting or two in the recent past, it was brought to my attention at one of these most recent meetings that we have a different attitude, some of us, with respect to the priorities in the City and at this time, the only thing that I see that stands out in my mind is the fact that if I'm any judge of the audience, the majority of the people here are employees, they are not citizens bringing their greivances, they are not upset with you, they're not troubled by the way you've run the City in the past. In no way did I come here prepared to speak on any subject but this is an observation that seems extremely to me. I'm talking about your public, they're not upset. The only people at this point that are at all rattled or disappointed or upset are the employees and I think it has a definite relationship to the pending actions with respect to the Civil Service and the new implementation of your program. I merely want to bring that to your attention that your audience is predominately employees. Thank you very much. (APPLAUSE) (INAUDIBLE) MayorFerre; I think you have a valid point and let me tell you how this woks. The law says that we have to begin our meeting no earlier than 5 P.M. and we must stay here through 7 P.M. so we will stay here OCT 151976 tptigh-.'Vand any takpayet ot diti2eh that wishes to be heard will be 4iid by law and even if the law didn't exist, we would do it anyway* ,441* it there anybody else who wishes to speak at this time? The net peaker is Mrs. Prizzell, HMt8, Virginia Frizzell: Mt, Mayor and Commissioners, I am Mrs, Virginia Frizzell and I am not an employee, I am a housewife, I represent one of a group of people that cities are trying to retail as residents, middle income. The saddest occurrence in our society today is the decline of our cities. The City was, when I was growing up, an exciting and wonderful place to live. It still could be. My husband and I still prefer to live within the City close to the happenings, the museums, the theatre, the concerts, sporting events, etc.. Thus our purchase of our home two years ago at 83rd street and N.E. 3rd avenue, a half block south from the Little River Canal, my husband 0 0 cand I purchased our home because it was a small one that we could care for as we advanced in years and it was priced within our means. However, last year we had an 181/2% raise in our property tax. This placed a debt '0 in our pocketbook. As was my privilege, I went before the Tax Adjustment Board to protest such a large increase - it was declined as I expected. ?c) - We soon learned to rebudget my husband's earnings and live within our 'Aeans. Many of our neighbors are retirees, there are many widows on fixed incomes and how much longer do you think they can afford to live L.) in their single family homes with the memories that they have. You now ' propose an 8.9 increase in property taxes for the residents of Miami City. For the most part, people who can ill -afford such a raise, what -40 0 budget cuts have you studied to try and live within your means 1 will not bore you with all the budget cuts that the avorage people of your City must undergo every day. Many go into debt, many go without and many go into food stamp programs, etc.. The people are getting restless. () Morale is low. The quality of life is deteriorating. There is a feeling of insecurity with every increase in the necessities of life itself. A new generation of youth is casting a shadow across our cities, not only Miami but all big cities. They are drifting by the thousands 1,0 toward aimeless lives of poverty, drugs, crime, violence, what is your answer? Always an increase in taxes on the pocketbooks of the middle income and the poor that are locked in trying to retain their homes, both parents often working just to make the mortgage payments and to eat. You compound the crime, you compound the plight of the cities which are people, not concrete, by raising taxes and this time another 8.9%. Obviously the City of Miami is in trouble. Where would it be without the CD and Revenue Sharing Funds? Revenue Sharing Funds in 1977 will be 204.1 million to the State of Florida. This is $24.43 per person in the states' population. Of that, the City of Miami will receive 8.9 million or $25.03 per person of the city's population. I quote that from the U.S. News and World Report, October 11, 1976. What will you do if and when these precious dollars cease after 1980? It is something to be seriously considered. You could not keep raising property taxes ad infinitem. You reach a point of no return. No wonder there is voter apathy in Miami. Although I vote without fail, I wonder where our leaders are today. If you are there, I call upon you to act as you expect your City of Miami residents to act to find a way to remain within your budget without this property tax increase. Consider your options carefully. We can do without frills, people come first. If our taxes are so high we cannot afford to maintain our homes, your City will only deteriorate more. It has been said and it has been written in the Miami Herald that it would be better for Dade County to take over the City of Miami. Has this been considered at all for the betterment of the people? I would like to propose here tO0 that all City of Miami employees be required to live within the City of Miami. The reason is obvious. According to that remarkable author of wisdom, Solemon, there is a time to keep silent and a time to speak and I think it is time to speak. If we do not, we contribute c2 !4A 7 OCT 1519/L tbdially to the decay of the community, our City and to theabandonment o ethical responsibility. If we are to be hurt because of City government's harsh on its people to raise money,riot the dark of moral heroism to keep silent. I call upon you men and women to find other avenues to our problems than the usual indrease of bur''` property taxes. Thank you. (APPLAUSE) Mayor Ferre: At this time we will hear from Willie Bush. Mr. Willie Bush: My name is Willie Bush. I've been a public servant.- of the City of Miami for over 20 years and I have two questions to ask you, Mr. Mayor. Number one, are you planning on or is your plan on abolishing the Civil Service Board? Mayor Ferre: No, sir. It's certainly not my intention. I think the rest of the Commission can answer that for themselves. You addressed your question to me. Let me tell you that it is not my intention to abolish or demolish the Civil Service Board. I believe in the purpose of the Civil Service Board as outlined in the charter. Mr. Bush: That is my reason for being here. Mrs. Gordon, I want this question to you. When I started working for the City of Miami, there wasn't no such a thing as a Civil Service Board for Black people. We was hired and fired the same day that we was hired. we worked so hard to get the Civil Service Board... helped us to get it so we fought hard to get it and we want to keep it. When I came to work here, you see how long my hair is now? I couldn't work with this. I either had to cut it off or don't come to work. Reverend Gibson, :this is to you. When I came here to work for the City, we didn't have no coffee break, we only had 30 minutes for lunch. I couldn't read my Bible in the tree. You know why? If the man said this is no Bible time, this is work time, he fired two preachers off my job for reading the Bible. when we got the Civil Service Board, we were respected and we were admired and that's why we want to keep the Civil Service Board, that's why I'm here. I've been working for the City of Miami a long time. I worked for the City of Miami when they didn't have no Civil Service Board, I came to work this morning and I didn't know whether I was going to work today or not because you was hired in this gate and you was run out the next gate the next morning. Now we've got some protection. We employees of the City of Miami got some protection and that protection is the Civil Service Board and I'm begging you all with tears in my eyes to just don't get rid of it. I'm not saying that they did everything right because we all make mistakes and I'm going to leave this thought with you all, gentlemen, those of you without a thought when I turn my back, cast the first stone. (APPLAUSE) 0 Mayor Ferre: The next speaker is Stacey Jones. Mr. Stacey Jones: My name is Stacey Jones, I'm the principal)of Booker T. Washington Junior High School and I'm here this afternoon;)to speak on behalf of maintaining the School Resource Officers Program, Dade County Public School System. Mr. Plummer: Mr, Mayor, let me, if I may, stop W. Jones and only for the record so that there will be no misunderstanding that the ground rules that were set prior to your arrival, in fact, were set some weeks ago, you are speaking at the present time to the School Resource Officer Program which has been funded under Federal Revenue Sharing. Am I correct, Mr. Grassie? 8 OCT 1r)19.11 • Ir. dtassie: That's correct` Mr Plummet: The hearing for roderal kevenue Sharing drillers - .t sdheduled it this auditorium on Tuesday morning from 11 - 12 and l would like the Mayor to, if we're going to change the policy, that it would have to be changed for everyone. There were people who were here who wanted to speak to Federal Revenue Sharing who left and will be back on Tuesday morning. I do say to you it is my opinion that we should hold your conversation until Tuesday morning but I will leave that to the wisdom of the Mayor and if he wishes to change the ground rules... Mayor Ferrel No, I think it's important that once we set ground rules that we try to keep them, Mr. Jones. I would like to point out that I have had a communication here from Mr. Ben Sheppard, Dr. Ben Sheppard, who is the Chairman of the School Board, to inform us that the school Board has approved for funding the S.R.O. for 50% of the S.R.O. budget. As you know or you may know, if not, I will tell you, that this Commission has been funding this program for some years and that last year we went up before the School Board and we got a committment at that time that this year the school Board would pick up the full funding because we believe that it really is a responsibility of the school system and not the City of Miami. Unfortunately, they were not able to keep that commitment because of the budgetary constraints that we're all suffering under. You see, it's not only the City of Miami that has financial problems, it's Metropolitan Dade County and the school system and everybody else so there was some question as to any funding and they had actually turned it down, both the staff and the school board and then Mrs. Gordon and I and the Manager went before the School Board and requested that they put it back on again and I just got a message that they have funded their 50%. Now it will be up to this Commission to finalize and decide whether or not we're going to go ahead with that program. That will be discussed on Tuesday. The next speaker then will be Miss Lydia O'Day. Miss Lydia O'Day: My name is Lydia O'Day and I came from Puerto Rico in 1945 so that's a long time ago. Since then, I have owned property in Miami. At that time the taxes were not choking but now they are. As time has passed I have owned three different pieces of property and now I own, between my family and myself, I own property in the Civic Center between 14th avenue and 12th avenue, the property that and that the residents there cannot use it as R-C because we don't have the same purposes as did. I not only to speak for myself but I also represent about 20 families from the Civic Center that, for reasons of their own, cannot come here. But we are all very concerned because the taxes in that particular section have ,risen from $600 per duplex to $1,300 so that's very high for the use that the property has been given. I don't know if it is possible to study the case in this particular case and lower or stabilize the taxes in this area. When an owner sells for residential commercial, then that's different but while they live there as residents, they have all asked me to please plead with,you to study that particular section and to not raise the taxes even by 5% because they are high enough as they are. Thank you. Mr. Plummer; Let me ask you a question. Have you petitioned the Zoning Board to reduce your zoning? Miss O'Day; Yes, we do'it individually. I have gone there myset, 1 was there last year. Mr. Plummer; And they did not reduce OCT 1 J 197E Miss O`Day: Well even then s r Nits glummer: Not the Board of Dquali2ationb bid you go before tha toning Board and ask the Zoning Board to reduce your zoning? Miss O'Day: No, I haven't, Mr. Plummer: Well if you did and were successful, it would red your assessment. Miss O'Day: I will study that proposition and see how it works• Mayor Ferre: Thank you, Mrs. O'Day, The next speaker is Mrs, Edna` Benson. Mrs. Edna Benson: I am an employee of the City as you know from the other evening and I started my 19th year with the City yesterday and all but four months of that have been in the Civil Service Office. I'd like to address my remarks to Mr. Grassie. You say let's give this a chance. Let's do it the way Mr. Plummer suggests, put the Human Resources under Civil Service. You are advocating, stripping our department of all, 3/4 of the employees. You're going to have the employees running around. They're not going to know where they're supposed to go, who has what. Now I've worked for three Directors in this department, the Civil Service Office, and I can say that Mr. Paulk is by far, you're not going to find anybody that can administer that does not have the respect of every employee, not only the respect but the love. I'm saying that for myself and I know for alot of other people, that Mr. Paulk has of the employees. You're going to strip our department, you're leaving us with 6 people, I'm not counting Mr. Paulk, but 6 employees. You're not even leaving a clerical person to work in the examining section. Now our personnel men cannot take a crash course in typing and you'll forgive me for being fictitious, if they say they need clerical help are they going to put Manpower employees in there because this is what's going to happen and we know it. There is nobody left in the Civil Service Office. You want to give it a chance? Do it the way Mr. Plummer suggests, put it under Civil Service, not the other way around because that's the only way it's going to work. Our department? Sure we have mistakes there and we need improvements and they're happening, they've been happening the last 18 years that I've been there and we'll make improvements, we'll make the changes that need to be made but it's going to take time and I've seen alot of changes in the years that I've been there and all for the better but believe me, you're not going to get anyone to administer the Civil Service the way Mr,. Paulk does or the Human Resources Department the way Mr. Paulk does. Could I put lipstick on first? (APPLAUSE) Mr. Plummer: For the camera, would you look like an irate citizen, please? Mrs. Benson: I'm not an irate citizen, I'm a very upset employee be- cause I care. If I didn't care, I'm supposed to be in bed. I fell down a flight of stairs in my department. Now I'm supposed to be in bed but I wouldn't stay in bed because we are short handed and we have alot of work and we don't have the people that we need to do the work so I came into work. I've got codine in me, I am in pain, but I'm there because I love Mr. Paulk and I wouldn't desert him and I just hope that nobody here deserts him either. I know the employees won't because if it weren't for him you wouldn't have this place filled with the employees that you've got here. Thank you. (APPLAUSg) 1.0 OCT 15197E Mayor 'erte: Miss Celia Nye, Miss Celia Nye: I'm here on behalf of George Peters to read a letter that he has written to you all. "I have factored two of the hearings, so far, concerning the budget including discussions on the reduction of the Civil Service Board budget and implemention of the Human Resources budget. Unfortunately, because of my scheduled vacation, I cannot be here tonight and have given this signed statement to be read on my behalf by my fellow workers. At the last meeting on this subject when the Emergency Ordinance was passed in order to continue operation of the City services without a formal, adopted budget, the discussion had just begun to get'down to the nitty gritty, in my opinion, when they were cut off by the 9 P.M. deadline. At this last meeting, Mayor Ferre read some old newspaper or magazine articles which implied, by the manner in which Civil servants were referred to, that City of Miami employees were not qualified, were dishonest, incompetent and disloyal. Of course Mayor Ferre did not detail whether he was referring to all, most, many, some or few City employees. I take strong exception to this insinuation and wonder what would the Human Resources Department be in power to do about such a situation, if it did exist, that the Civil Service Board cannot do now. At one point in that previous meeting, Mr. Weston said, 'we are not changing things with reference to Civil Service vs. Human Resources, we are only moving things around.' Moving what things around? Later, Father Gibson made reference to change us. What I would like to know is are things going to change with respect to employees' rights or aren't they? Actually, the principle question I'd like answered is, exactly what is the Human Resources Department proposed to be? Every Department, to the best of my knowledge, in the City of Miami has a clearly defined mission so to speak. By mission, I mean an accurately outlined purpose, regulations, objectives and so forth. I asked a gentleman sitting at the City Clerk's position during the last meeting if there was anything in writing detailing these items with reference to the proposed new Human Resources Department and he replied, 'no'. Therefore, exactly what is Human Resources supposed to do? What will be left for Civil Service to do? What recourse, will employees, for instance, have to answer charges regarding dismissal, demotion or change of status? What power specifically will the Human Resources Director have? Can he walk up to me and say, 'Get out, you're fired', without my having any hearing before a Board of my peers? What new power or discretion will the City Manager have that he does not have under Civil Service? It just seems to me that the Commission is voting blind on an unknown quantity on a function they don't actually know anything about. Why can't the specific legal functions of the proposed Human Resources Department be aired, publicized, discussed and out in the open before the operation is actually established? I thank you and you for being allowed to offer what I believe to be constructive observation and opinion. - George W. Peters, Publicity Writer, Miami -Metro Department of Publicity and Tourism." Thank you. (APPLAUSE) Mayor Ferre: Robert E. Vazquez, Mr. Robert E. Vazquez; Mr. Mayor, Commissioners, my name is Robert E. Vazquez. Even with my accent, I'm an American, Second World War Veteran, Korean Veteran. Before I read my thought, let me ask the Mayor two questions. With all due respect, what is your nationality? Mayor Ferre: My citizenship, by birth, is the United States of America, Mr. Vazquez; Right. Puerto Rico is second. 11 OCT 151976 Ayor Pette: No. rs Vaqueg: Pot me it is Sedohd, Mayor Perre: I only have one citizenship, Now if you ask me what my rationality is, 1 am Puerto Rican, I don't know how you define it. Mr, Vazquez: American all the way, The second question is, Dade County is full of people who are qualified to be City Manager, You Want the City employees to move in the area of the City, why do you have to go outside and get a City Manager from some other place? (APPLAUSE) Mr. Vazquez: When I took my Civil Service examinations, 78 people took the test. I was the only Puerto Rican or Spanish name on the list, number 8. They had only 6 openings. 1 was employed through the Civil Service Board because I had the education and background and I was qualified for the position. You should feel proud because you were a Commissioner at the time. I received congratulations from Commissioner Irwin Christie, Commissioner Plummer and Chief Headley. I did not receive anything from you, not even 'good luck'. Mr. Mayor, I'm an American - Puerto Rican. When my son graduated in 1971 from Miami Springs Senior High with honors, he was aenied a scholarship because I was a City employee with the City of Miami. An American from birth, and it happened to you, who was the only one present and giving the honors to the students at the time. When you talk about him, you used another nationality and my son answered you back, 'Mr. Mayor, you're making a mistake, I'm not an imigrant,that was the word you used for him, 'I'm an "A" student, a football player of the 132 Chapter of the Dade County State of Florida . You're making a mistake, I'm an American from the Bronx, New York.' I am a Civil Service believer and I don't believe in race, religion or nationality, I'm a catholic, I was educated in a Catholic School and this goes for you, with all my respect, Father Gibson. If you don't have brains, forget to compete with any intellectual persons for a competitive test and my opinion is that a City Manager should be Civil Service or elected by the people of the City of Miami. Thank you. (APPLAUSE) Mayor Ferre: Thank you, Mr. Vazquez. Mr. Alfred V. Carrerro, City of Miami Parks Department. Mr. Alfred V. Carrerro: My name is Alfred V. Carrerro. I consider myself a career City employee. I've been with the City since 1958, the City is everything that I consider worthwhile, it's the organization that has given me the opportunity to advance where I am today through Civil Service. I, as you can tell, prefer to keep Civil Service the way it is. i believe it is the only thing that we have that is able to give all of us an opportunity, an equal opportunity, to advance in the City. I've gotten to where I am today through my own efforts. I started off as an Automotive Mechanics Helper at the Motor Pool and I progressed over the years to Automotive Mechanic Foreman through exams. I've taken exams for Garage Supervisor, which I've passed; I've taken exams for Heavy Equipment Mechanic Foreman, which I passed, I came out first on that. i feel that I have a career and something to look forward to as long as this Civil Service system exists. It protects your Civil Service employee, the career -minded ones. You may go out into the street and pull somebody in under a Manpower program or for job oppor- tunities, also you can get men there. These are good programs but I don't think that they're meant to replace the men, the dedicated employee, that counts on the City for their livelihood and also is dedicated, I OCT 1519/f Man dedicated, to the betterment of the City and takes pride in the pity and what it stands for. I don't think that you're goitul to be able to go out in the street and expect a man that hasn't got the qualifications or the caliber or maybe even the moral background of your regular City employee and expect him to get the job done for you. I believe what's going to happen is that you're going to have Civil Service employees in the majority of your key positions and then you're going to have unqualified personnel under their supervision. Now this is a savings for the taxpayer, of course it is, but will the taxpayer get their dollar's worth out of what they're saving? I don't think they will. Today we've gone through alot of changes, we're talking about a Human Resources program, I don't know the first thing about Human Resources but I do know from my past experience with the City what I've got and what my future is and the security I have for myself and for my family. I don't know.the kind of power that the Human Resources is going to have over me and I really am not too concerned about it because I believe that as long as I keep my nose clean, do my job and give you 8 hours for 8 hours pay or more if I can, i'll be fine but is it really so? Now there will be, I imagine, an opportunity under the Human Resources program that positions will be awarded to employees through political favoritism. I don't know if it will be so, I hope not. It opens the doors to a lower caliber of employee, it opens the door to people who don't care if they have a job lasting one year, a day, a week or forever how long and I feel sort of stripped naked without Civil Service. I don't know of any other way I could be given the opportunity to advance competitively in the City and I'm a, talking about nationalities, I started in 1958, November 12th and I'm a Puerto Rican - American but I was born in New York City in the Bellview Hospital and I've been overseas, I served for 5 years and I couldn't imagine a better country to be in, I can't imagine a better City to work in, I can't imagine a better system to work under or within that presently exists today. I do hope that you gentlemen will not be making a mistake by going into this Human Resources program. I don't think that you're going to do it lightly but it just seems that it's a snowball and it's just gathering momentum as it's rolling downhill and I've only become aware of Human Resources for about less than a month now and you gentlemen are really moving fast, maybe too fast for the average employee. I know I'm stunned about it. That's all I can say and I thank you for your time and consideration in allowing me to speak before you. (APPLAUSE) Mayor Ferre: The next speaker is Luisa B. Barrio. Miss Luisa Barrio: Mr. Mayor, Commissioners and City Manager, my name is Luisa Barrio and I am here as president representing 1,000 general employees. I am a taxpayer, I'm a citizen of Miami for 20 years, I was hired by Civil Service and it was through Civil Service that made it possible for me to be here as President of such a big and wonderful group of employees. I am a Cuban, a female, as you all can see, making me a minority. Civil Service gave me the same opportunity as an Anglo- Saxon. In the name of all of these employees, we respect and want to keep Civil Service. Thank you very much. (APPLAUSE) Mayor Ferre: Are there any other speakers at this time? Mr. Naples. Mr. Gene Naples: I didn't intend to speak tonight, I think you've all heard of me and you're probably tired of some of the things that may be repetitive but a thought occurred to me just a short time ago and it's interesting that with what appears to be the intent of the Human Resources 13 OCT 15197E,: Departrent and the fact that Mrs Grassie is supporting that positibf and from everything I read and understand he has agreed with that, that in going over the list of assistants and people that Mr. Crassie has appointed, more recently, it doesn't appear to me, at least and i may be wrong, that there are any minorities in that group and I speak specifically of the two Assistant City Managers, a Finance Director we're getting in, this Labor Relations group of course and I understand a Mr. Homan, who is a transplant who is coming in. He's not coming in? None of those are minorities. Another thing that has occurred to me, as I understand in some of the conversation, is that the productivity of the City employees, and speaking of the productivity of these employees, that it's been estimated by someone that the productivity is about 60% for the classified employees and I've been around the City for quite some time and have been observing some of these people that we've got under C.E.T.A. and wondered if somebody had also taken a productivity account of what these people's productivity ratio would be in comparison to the unclassified employees. My point is, it appears to me where we're getting some money from the Fed's that we are saturating some areas and that the City is gradually replacing some of the classified positions with unclassified people and I recall, to the best of my knowledge, that the first case that I can recall was in the golfstarters where the positions were abolished and then replaced with some part- time people. There is something that is in the law that governs how C.E.T.A. funds are used and it deals with sub -planning and I'm sure most of you have seen in the newspaper recently when there was quite an article on how many cases are backlogged where there have been Violations of how these Federal Funds have been used. So what is happening here, it appears to me, is nothing new and certainly not something that is not being done by other cities but it appears that that seems to be the trend. If the cities are in a little financial strain that they're taking Federal money and using it, these people that are being employed under these Federal Grants and sub -planning some of the people who are in, classified positions who are regular employees. I'm suggesting, perhaps, that if things ever clear up to the point where everybody can be reviewed and this fashion, that there are going to be some other problems that most of the cities are going to be faced with because the law speaks very specific as to how these funds are to be used and if the trend continues, I can see that this sub -planning particularly in view of the fact that the trend seems to be towards doing away with Civil Service and classified positions that we may very well be using more federal money and of course with the tax structure the way it is and the tax base and the increase that most of the cities have been coming into, I'm not sure where we're going. I'm not really sure what my point is up here except to say that I think there are going ':o be some other problems that are going to arise because of this sub -planning. The indication is that these things are going to be dealt with eventually and perhaps by that time there won't be any C.E.T.A. funds that will be made available to the cities. I attended the court proceedings this afternoon that had to deal with Civil Service and where Civil Service is going. I think the indication from some of the people you've heard this afternoon is pretty loud and clear as to what their feelings are and one thing that I didn't say the other day, Mr. Mayor, when you questioned me as to how many people we had at the Fire service who were black, was that I suggested that if you speak to any of those people who came up the very same way that I did and got on a job the very same way, will do exactly what some of these people have done here today and told you of how proud they are to have met certain standards and I think that's what they're really concerned with is that the quality of employee would be very well watered down, so to speak, and through the deterioration of the Civil Service system and the methods that are being used now, i think that looking down the road that we're going to hear more and more of this and as I said before, in areas where they have done away with civil Service, the quality of the employee has OCT 1 5 197r Atteriorated to the point where inefficiency, if you're talking about to% inefficiency, in the City of Miami, I suggest that it will be alot greater than that should this trend continue with this particular situation here with the City as far as doing away with some of the standards that we have been very proud of and have been maintained through the integrity of the system. So I think that you're getting some idea by listening to some of the people who have spoken here what their feelings are and I'm sure that before this thing is over that you'll certainly hear alot more about it and I thank you very much. (APPLAUSE) Mayor Ferre: Miss Edna Benson wishes to speak again. Mrs. Benson: I would just like to read something. Last Wednesday night at the Commission meeting when the Honorable Mayor Ferre was reading us little excerpts from the Miami Herald, and I hate to say that word, but I'd like to read something from a newspaper out of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Sorry, Mr. Grassie. It says, talking about Mr. Homan, this is quote. "Grassie says that the way the (Miami) City Commission does business is not very well defined. Sometimes the meetings last 14 hours and decisions are made on a jumble of facts and after alot of emotion from citizens." Well we're just hoping that the emotions in which you base your facts on or your decisions are based on our emotions here and our pleas to you to keep what we've got in tact. Thank you. Mayor Ferre: Is there anybody else that would like to speak? Mr. Carrerro: I would just like to say one thing, it's an afterthought. The public... Mayor Ferre: Excuse me, I think it's important that you identify your- self for the record. Mr. Carrerro: My name is Alfred V. Carrerro, I work with the City of Miami Parks Division. I just want to remind the public here that Civil Service employees are also private citizens, not just public servants. We do have our own private lives just like you do, our responsibilities to family just like you do and that we also pay taxes to the City of Miami, those that live within the City of Miami limits that own property here so we also have more in this than the average taxpayer. We are taxpayers, civil servants, private citizens here to serve you as you need us. Thank you. (APPLAUSE) Mayor Ferre: Lieutenant Ken Harrison, Lt. Ken Harrison: I really am disappointed that we reached this stage and I think we're spinning our wheels because this Commission is a good example of what happens when Democracy breaks down. A one-man rule and that's what we saw an example of and have been seeing for the last year or more. I'm here to sound the charge of the employees to become more involved in the process that we have a right to, as citizens of this country and that's the political arena. I think that's the answer for us and that really is where we're going. I think this Commission has expressed to us our desire to if not destroy, neutralize any effect Civil Service will have within the City, Mr. Grassie has been on radio here, he has published documents to the effect that it is his intention and issued statements publicly it is his intention to remove Civil Service from the City of Miami. Any of you that want to hear the comment, it is in Spanish on WQBA and I'm sure that they will be glad to replay OCT JD 19/6 for you, they did for me& That's really why I'm here. I'm here in couple of roles. I'm here as an employee, as you all know, I'm a tatpayer in the City of Miami as I reminded this Commission of yesterday and I'm also an employee organization president and speak for a group of people. I've made several mistakes over the years, some of them are here to haunt me today, two in particular sitting here looking at me. I'm here to apologize to the citizens as well as the employees for those mistakes. I think we can rectify them and would urge you to join me in those efforts next year. Thank you very much. (APPLAUSE) Mayor Ferret Are there any other speakers at this time? Well, Lt. Harrison, I guess you have every right to not only your opinion but of your actions as I have my rights. Regrets sometimes depend on the pre- ception of the individual who has the regret. As to whether or not his purpose is being served, it all depends on whose ox is getting gored. I've never made any qualms about how I feel and I don't have any regrets because I don't have any apologies. I vote my conscience, I say what I have in my mind and I try to live by it. Since a lot of accusations and statements have been made and this is not a debate, I don't intend to debate or challenge anybody but I guess I have a right, just like you do, to express my opinion. First of all, for those that perhaps might misunderstand even though I've said this before, I consider that all of us are American citizens. I, personally, don't make any distinction between Jews or Blacks or Christians or short people or big people or rich people or Puerto Ricans or Cubans, we're all Americans and those of us who serve on this Commission couldn't serve on the Commission unless we were Americans, by law. Now less anybody misunderstand, that does not mean that I cannot be proud to be a Catholic and because I am a Catholic does not make me any less Americanfeven though in 1928 Al Smith was not elected because it was the perception of some people in this country that you couldn't be Catholic and President at the same time; just like there are some people who don't believe we can have a Southern President and I don't happen to believe any of that and I think times have changed but I do have my pride in who I am and Father Gibson is proud that he's black. That doesn't make him less American and I'm proud to be a Puerto Rican and that doesn't make me less American. Now with regards to pride and with regard to the City of Miami, I serve in this job and I have served in this job and I didn't just all of a sudden become Mayor, I started in 1966 and I've served, I've tried to serve, over all these years. Now I'm Mayor and I am trying to do in my conscious what I feel is the best thing for the City of Miami. I may be wrong but whatever votes I take and whatever votes anybody else on this Commission takes, in my opinion, are done with integrity, with honesty and with dedication. To the letter, Celia, that you read, if somebody perceives that I was insinuating in any way,the honesty, integrity or dedication of any employee, that is not so. I have never questioned and don't question that as a total group and individually the City of Miami has been and is fortunate in having the best public employees that any community could be fortunate enough to have and I believe it1and I've said it over the years and I continue to say it. With regards to continuity in the Civil Service. The Civil Service system, in my Opinion, is a good system and I say this on the public record as a belief that I have. i do not want to see the removal of the Civil Service system. I think the Civil Service system protects the employees, I think that is a just protection, I think that is a protection that must remain, it is on the Charter. As long as I am Mayor, I will not move to change the Civil Service system from the Charter. I am a believer in the Civil Service system. It is a protector of the rights of the employees. There is a difference in the perception of what Civil Service should be and to that I plead 'guilty', I do not feel that the Civil Service system was intended to be what it has become - the Judge, the 1(3 OCT 1 J 19/6 1 the Prosecutor, the Advocate, it cannot serve all those roles. 6W what roles then should it serve? What the Charter intends for the eiVil Service system to be, the protector of the employees, therefore it should remain as the Judge and the Jury. It should establish the Way people are selected and the progression that they make and it should Make the judgement. I have no beef with that. What the Booze -Allen report reported to do and what this Commission has voted on is to create a Personnel Department within the City of Miami to do Administrative tasks. I think that is within the Charter, that it is within the right of the Administration to perform administrative tasks as defined very clearly in detail in the Booze -Allen report and as discussed on three separate public hearings and discussions over the past two years, not all of a sudden. I'm sorry that some of you have only heard about this for one month, it's been in the newspapers for two years. We've been debating this thing. Now of course there are those who don't want any change and therefore any change is bad. Now I think that we all have conservative inclinations, we all want to conserve, nobody wants to change especially if you're satisfied and you're happy with what you have. Then why are we in any way considering any change in Civil Service? Well I think there are two reasons basically. One is because people that we've hired to come in here and look at how we're running the City have told us that this City has not been run as efficiently as it should and one of the reasons that they say is because the management does not have complete control of certain parts of how the City functions. Now I didn't say that, Booze -Allen said that after we spent alot of money in studying these things. Now, who are they to tell us what to do? You can say that about anything, you can say that about any business, you can say that about any government anywhere. That's why we come in and analyze and study what's going on and why we improve. we've had people come in and study the Police Department and we've made improvements there. The same thing has happened with the Fire Department. We've had alot of things that this City has changed. Change is difficult around here. Let me tell you the second reason why I think we need the change. The fact is, and nobody can deny this, that over the past century in this country, even though a certain important segment of our community, the Black community, have been technically under our Constitution free people, there have been many who have been free but free to do what? Now those of you who have been fortunate enough to climb out of the cycle of poverty and lack of education, lack of job opportunity, good for you, that's the American way, congratulations. There are those, however, who are less fortunate. There are those who have not had those opportunities and have not had the internal fortitude that God gives to some people to overcome and surpass those deprivations. Yes, Abraham Lincoln read the Bible with candle lights and took a course on how to become a lawyer and became the greatest President of the United States but not everybody is Abraham Lincoln and those people that have not had those opportunities have been deprived of the rights of the Constitution that the United States gives those citizens and it wasn't until 1954 in this century that we even began to have a little bit of an opening. After the Supreme Court reversed a case that was in the books and the of this country, the Dread Scott Case which back in 1854 stated that a Black man who was a slave could not be considered under the law as a human being and it took them until 1954 to begin to reverse the Dread Scott case in its full implementation. That was the beginning and it took the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and as it was amended in 1972. What does that have to do with you? well what it has to do with you is that the Justice Department of the United States under the mandate of the court and the laws that have been passed by the Congress of the United States have said no more and we have been under a Consent Decree and we are today under challenge because even though there is no specific proof, legally taken to any court as to discrimination, the fact remains that the pattern of employee hiring in the City of Miami has been dis- criminatory and it has been discriminatory because there are in the final 17 OCT 1519/i- the and basic results of the make up of the employees, it is not and hag not been reflective of the community in which we live in. Now it a.S .1976 we've been struggling with this problem now since 1967, even struggling with it a little bit before that. I've been struggling only since 1967. I've sat with a great deal of patience year after year after year hearing promises, having public hearings, yes, we're going to change, yes it's going to be done, yes it has to be done, yes we understand. Mr. Mayor, or Commissioner when I was a Commissioner, here's what we're going to do about it and here's what's going to happen and here's how it's going to change and here's what we're going to do with the police hiring and the academy and here's what the academy is going to do and here's what the tri-cultural program and we spend a quarter of a million dollars and a half million dollars with the tri-cultural program and this program and that program and we got the firefighters union and we've got this union and that union and everybody is saying that it's going to change and what are the results? The results are not very dramatic. The results certainly don't show that there has been substantial change. Now faced with that, and Kenny, I don't care, your threats, you organize all of your troops to go out and campaign hard. I stand on a principle and if I go to defeat on that principle, so be it but I'm not backing off and I'm not backing off anymore and I'm not making any more apologies and I'm not going around saying alright, let's give it another year, let's give it a chance. Charlie Huttoe came to see me two years ago. Don't implement Booze -Allen, that's a terrible thing, give us a chance. I said, Charlie, is Booze -Allen right? Yes, they're right. The Chairman, Charlie Huttoe, told me that Booze -Allen was right in the majority of the things that they were criticizing. Give us a chance to do it, we'll do it, have a little faith in the Civil Service system, have a little faith in the Civil Service Board, it'll get done. Well two years have gone by and I'm not satisfied. I don't think enough has been done and I think that all we find'is excuses and we go to court and we take the Consent Decree and we find a way to subvert that and we have people within the law department that are spending almost full time trying to subvert the intent and we have people in other departments that feel the same way and it's their right. Nobody argues with anybody's right to express their opinions and do what they have to do, that's fine but I have my rights too and my feeling at this time is that the time has come where I'm not going to sit back and wait for anymore promises to be kept or anymore statements about how next year everything is going to be Humpty Dumpty and Honkey Dorey, it just isn't going to happen. It hasn't happened in the past and I don't believe it's going to happen in the future and I'm taking my stand and if I go down in defeat on it, that's okay with me but it's just time to move along. (INAUDIBLE) Mayor Ferre: Pat, I'll let you do all the speaking. Sure, sign up and I'll recognize you. I made some notes, I listened to 16 speakers and then I made some notes and I'm going to say my piece. With regards to the responsibility of this Commission, yes we do have a responsibility to the employees but not solely to the employees. We've got a respon- sibility to the taxpayers. We also have a responsibility to the citizens. Some citizens aren't taxpayers or direct taxpayers, we've got a respon- sibility to them too. Now let's talk about this proposed budget for a moment. It's a big budget. It used to be a little budget and now it's a big budget, $131,000,000. That's alot of money. Most of that money, of course, as you know, goes to the payment of the 3/ thousand employees that we have. The big vast majority of that money goes to payment of salaries and wages and that's alright, that's the way it should be. I have no objections to that. The majority of the money goes to the pay- ment of employees because they're the ones that are rendering the service. NOW to the Ad Valorem tax payers and ladies, some of the people that 13 OG 1 poke here were very effective speakers and some of the statements that were made here I happen to concur with and they make an awful lot of sense. The taxpayers in the City of Miami are paying less than 25%, the Ad Valorem taxpayers are paying less than 25% of the total Cost of the budget. Out of every dollar that this City spends, you, the Ad Valorem taxpayers, are paying 25. And the other 75 are also being paid by taxpayers but there are monies that come from Washington through Federal Grants and Subsidies, there are monies that are coming from the State, there are fees and license payments, there are franchise taxes and there are a whole variety of different sources that the City of Miami gets. Now that does not mean that we don't have a responsibility to the Ad Valorem taxpayers, of course we do, that's our primary re- sponsibility. But I want to tell you, you take for example the Police Department. The Police Department cost the City of Miami $20,000,000. That's almost the general revenue that Ad Valorem payment to the City coffers is $20,000,000, $20,300,000. That just covers exactly the Police Department. Now in addition to that you also pay 8.3 million dollars for debt service and 1.9 million dollars for lighting and so on and the total is under $25,000,000 but the point is that you're paying $20,000,000 and that's exactly what it cost the Police Department. Now if we weren't getting all these other subsidies, there is no way in God's world that we could run this City and this $131,000,000 budget. That $20,000,000 that you're paying just covers the Police Department and you're getting good service for that Police Department. If you look and compare as to what service you get from that Police Department as compared to Metropolitan Dade County, there is no comparison. The Fire Department cost you $13,752,000, the total budget is $14,333,000. You know, that's almost as much as Metro pays for fire. Now you say, well what do I care? Well you know what, this is the best Fire Department in the United States. Yes, I agree with Gene that the main reason is because of the people, I agree with that. It's also because of the Union, they've done a fine job over the years. It's also because of Civil Service, I accept that. It's also because of the leadership that the Fire Department has had but you know, it's also because we spent 15, $14,000,000 for that Fire Department. It's also because we spent 50 out of every dollar in prevention. That's why we have a Class A, AAA, a number one fire department because we spend the money to have the best fire department. we've got the best equipment, we've got the best training, we've got the best people. And you know what? It covers a little City that has 35 square miles and has a population of 350,000, less than 350,000 people and Metropolitan Dade County, one fireman has got to cover 10 times more territory and 3 or 4 more people. Now that's their problem. There are hundreds of thousands of people that live in houses in Metropolitan Dade County and they have hazards and the point I'm trying to make is that one of the reasons why we do a good job is because we spend the money. Now we can cut back, yes, and then we cut back services and then the insurance goes up. Right now, for an average house in Miami, the insurance rate, if you live in Miami and in Metro- politan Dade County, and correct me if I'm wrong, Gene, the difference is about $30 average house in insurance, 30 or $35.00. These are the type of things that we have to deal with. Now I'm just as concerned about the middle class leaving Miami, I'm just as concerned about urban plight and the rot that's taking over our cities, I'm just as concerned about the property line, I'm horrified when I read the news- paper and I see that this year there is 21 million Americans that have crossed the line into the poverty sector. You know that there are 28 million Americans today, tonight, that are classified by the United States Government as being in poverty, in this, the greatest Democracy, the greatest country in the history of mankind. We've got 13% of our population classified in poverty. Sure that the cities are affected including the City of Miami. Dade County takeover, I don't think that that's going to solve the problem, I think the people of this community have voted time and time again and will continue to vote against a merger 19 OCT 1 197b With Metropolitan Dade County, You know what would happen to the Fire DepattiYtent or the Police Department if it was taken over by Mettopolitan Dade County? Not to the Fire Department because I'm sure they've got their opinions and their beefs and I'm sure they're going to have their say on this. I'm talking about the people, the citizens. You think you would have... How many firefighters do we have now? 600? 650. Now 650 to serve 350,000. Now I don't know how you divide that but that's one person for every 600 citizens or 6,000 citizens or whatever it is. I guarantee you that you'd make that same decision... You know that Metropolitan Dade County doesn't have much more than that? They have, what, under 1,000 firefighters? (INAUDIBLE STATEMENT) Mayor Ferre: Gene, the point I'm trying to make is if you merge, one of the ladies talked about a merger of the City and Metro. I'm just pointing out that the citizens would not receive the same type of coverage if it was all done by Metropolitan Dade County. That costs money and unfortunately that's the type of thing that we're dealing with. I'm talked out. I pretty well covered all the things as I saw them and at this time, before I recognize any other members of the public, I will recognize you in a little while, I would like to offer the opportunity first to the Vice -Mayor and then we do this on a seniority basis. Rose? Mrs. Gordon: Mr. Mayor, I don't think that I would like to speak until all the people who wish to speak have finished. Mayor Ferre: Well, Mrs. Gordon, as you may recall, I had asked I think four times if there were any further speakers before I made my comments. I'm sure that they will be rebutted and I will permit that but before I permit that, I'm going to ask the members of the Commission if they have anything... Mrs. Gordon: Well I'll pass now if Mr. Plummer wants to speak. Mayor Ferre: J. L., you're next. Mr. Plummer: Mr. Mayor, I have two comments to make and I'll try to make it brief as difficult as that is. First, Sandy Reed, I hope you are listening that it really, really hurts me that only 1/36000 of 1% of the citizens of this City have seen fit to take the time to come here this evening and express to this Commission their feelings, pro or con, because in lieu of that, I think that what really is being said is that of 18 speakers out of some 360,000 people, 350,000. Absence gives consent that they are happy with this budget. I'm not and I've stated that from the very beginning, I'll state it again on Tuesday when we go for final appropriations. It is my feeling, has been and will be, it would be tough, you have to bite the bullet, but we can come under certified millage and give the increases that are necessary. So if any one thing comes out of this meeting this evening, it is my hope and desire that I can make an appeal to the people of this community that if, in fact, they're not happy, they will come forth and say so to this Commission and if they are happy, stay home, don't come down here but I sure hope that they don't come down here the day after we approve this budget and start yelling and screaming then. The second point that I want to make is, Mr. Mayor, if anything that has come out, I think everybody in this room knows how I voted on the Civil Service issue, is a total lack of understanding. Whether you agree with Human Resources or disagree, I think the one point that has been made very clear is that those people who are vitally concerned have not had the opportunity to understand exactly what is being planned for their future. I can't conceive that any change will come out of this Commission, out of a lawsuit or anything else and I will hopefully make a motion, when it is appropriate, that the one thing that is done, assuming that Human Resources is instituted as planned and the majority of this Commission has voted, that within 30 days from its adoption the Manager will cause to be published a document explaining exactly in detail what Human Resources, what it hopes to accomplish and what Civil Service will then stand for and what it will accomplish. I think the employees of this City have the right to know and I think there's only one way that I know of and that is that you put into their hands a document fully detailinf, OCT i 19/b What is to be and what is not to be. Mr. Mayor, that's all the cotttent ghat I have this evening, May I ask for one other thing as a clatification? Uhether it's of you or the Manager, do I assume that a final appropri- ations or a final budget will be on Tuesday morning, hopefully? Mt. Grassie: That's correct, Commissioner, after the public hearing, 1f course. Mr, Plummer: Alright, may I ask also, since I understand or the way I understand, the Federal Revenue Sharing is not part of your budget but is part of an allocation and appropriation, will they be handled Separately? Mr. Grassie: Are you speaking about the public hearing or about the budget document? Mr. Plummer: Both. Mr. Grassie: They will be handled separately in terms of the public hearing, the Federal Revenue Sharing public hearing will be at 11:00 rather than 9:00 which is a case for the General Budget and in terms of the adoption of the document, traditionally you have done that in two Ordinances, I would expect that you would continue to do that but your approval of the budget, the book that you have in front of you, the approval of that budget does include the Revenue Sharing appropria- tion. Mrs. Gordon: But you didn't answer. When do you expect to do that? Before the Revenue Sharing hearing or after? Mr. Plummer: In other words, would you adopt the General Budget first and then go onto Federal Revenue or will you adopt both budgets after both hearings are concluded? Mrs. Gordon: You would have to. Mr. Grassie: I would expect both after the two hearings have been concluded. Mrs. Gordon: Budget. Mayor Ferre: Alright, at this time, I think you brought out a valid point and even though alot of people have left, let me ask by show of hands those of you that are here that are either employees or family of employees. Would you raise your hands? Now there is no question that that really, and of course staff over here... Okay, let's do it in reverse. Would those of you that are here that are not employees and not related to employees and citizens of the City of Miami raise your hands. Not employees. 6, thank you. Including Dr. Jones. Okay. Father Gibson. Rev. Gibson: Mr. Mayor, members of the Commission, I think you have aptly spoken to the issue before us and I would like to say to the public, say to the employees and the 6 who are not employees that the Mayor's voice, just about practically all of my sentiments in what he said and especially to the of the issues and especially did he ennunciate what I conceived be right, fair and just. You would have to because $8,600,000 is in the General Mayor Ferre: Commissioner Reboso. Mr. Reboso: Mr. Mayor, let me say that I think it's unfair that the people tried to accuse this City Commission of trying to destroy the City of Miami. I only have been living in this City for 17 years but in the 17 years that I have been here I have seen past City Commissioners giving away to Metro the Water & Sewer Department, the Airport, Dutch Island, libraries, the jail, the Jackson Memorial Hospital and I don't know how many other facilities and I firmly believe that when we, this City Commission, was elected in 1973 took the real first steps to guarantee that nothing else would go to Metro and that was by a 3-2 decision overturning the Orange Bowl to Metro at that time, I think it was in 1972 prior to the elections in 1973. So I think when many people in this City were believing that the City of Miami was going to disappear 01 OCT 1 19 ( Couple of years ago, in my opinion we are stronger than ever. Fbt _he past two years, Father Gibson and myself have been trying to get bhe Human Resources Department because I think it is due time to have A ttutnan Resources Department in a City in which we have 54% of the population Latin and 25% Black. That makes 79% of the population. l am proud to have been born in Cuba, I am proud to be an American Citizen right now. I think maybe this is a nation of immigrants the Indians are the only true Americans that this country has. At bile time this state belonged to Spain and was changed to England for Havana. In 1945, President Truman trying to make this nation number one in the missle race and in space, appointed two Chairmen, Directors and Deputy Directors of the Missle Department of this country. and Mr. Mueller. Maybe some other person happened to be present at that time, he would have appointed a local guy and maybe we were not the first at this time but we had to look for the best people that are available to us. That is my opinion and I am a strong believer in Democracy, I love the City. 15 years ago I went to the training camps inrGuatemala and to the Bay of Pigs Invasion and believe me, when Che Guevara tells you in your tace that you're going to die, you don't have to be afraid of Ken Harrison telling you he's not going to support you in the next election. I don't think that is so important. I am grateful in the F.O.P. for the help that they gave me but the price I have to pay to be endorsed by the F.O.P. in the next election is •to follow instructions of Ken Harrison, I tell you that I prefer to lose next November. Lt. Harrison: I have a right to rebut that. ...your lead for the last two years. It's time he followed somebody else's lead and maybe speak his own mind. Mayor Ferre: Are you going to disrupt this meeting this way, Lt. Harrison? Lt. Harrison: ...personal preference. Do you know what that means? Mayor Ferre: You mean a point of personal privilege. I'll recognize you if you do it in a civilized, civil manner rather than coming up here screaming and trying to disrupt this meeting, Lieutenant Harrison. Now you're recognized. Come up to the microphone and I'll be happy to recognize you on a point of personal privilege. Mrs. Gordon: Mr. Mayor, I haven't done much talking and I'm going to tell you why. I don't want to get emotional. I want to say that if there is a concurrence, I concur with Mr. Plummer. I want to say why I think, Mr. Mayor, that there is so much tension. It's because the suggestion that Mr. Plummer made of a written report 30 days after it's adopted ought to have been done before. (APPLAUSE) Mrs. Gordon: The majority of the Commission rules and I'm in the minority so we adopt the majority, we don't accuse, we're all inde- pendent creatures here. That's what is so unique about this Commission, we're all very independent. Sometimes three go together this way and three go together another wayibut we don't always concur. On this point, I don't concur. I also don't concur on a tax increase because... I really don't want the applause. I didn't want to talk at all because I know once I start I'm going to pour my heart to you so I don't want a tax increase. Why? Because I see a lot of areas, a lot of problems arising from this because we're hitting a ceiling. We operate under a 10 Mill Cap and we're going to hit that Cap before we know it, our heads are going to hit the ceiling. What happens when they stop the Revenue Sharing? I don't know. What are we going to give the County? Maybe the whole City, 1 don't know what else. Because what's left, we are budgeting into our budget this year almost $15,000,000 of Federal Revenue Sharing Funds. It's incredible and out of that, if you think that it's a lot of Social Services, don't kid yourself, it's only 10%. That's all we can afford to give to the people for what Revenue Sharing was meant to give. Basically, services that could not be supplied in any other way. So we face a critical problem. We can't raise taxes because we have a ceiling. We also face another great big problem which is one of the reasons why the tax increase is being asked of you by the majority and that is a Pension Fund that is demanding a great contribution Awn OCT l)t 6 Old even on a ionget atnottization period than you, out employees attd t as Chaltman of the General Employees Trust Fund, would like to aye, Wetd like to have the unfunded liability amortized much quicker ike you want but if we did that, we'd be over the 10 Mill Cap tight 'how and then what would be happening would be even worse. So what tan I say? I can only say that I wish that you, Mr. Manager, would Clarify at least one thing. If, in fact, the intent of the Human Resource implementation is to be able to obtain more minorities, how are you going to obtain them unless you give them an exam which woftld be the same as the Civil Service is giving. Tell me so I can go to sleep and rest comfortably. Mayor Fetre: I'll recognize any of you that want to speak if you'll raise your hands and come over here. In due course and order. Mrs. Gordon: I'll address the question to you, Mr. Mayor, because you are very knowledgeable on the subject and perhaps you or one of the other two who feel that this implementation is mandatory and must be done now, would enlighten me. How are we going to do what you want to do? Mayor Ferre: Are you talking about Human Resources? Mrs. Gordon: Yes, sir, I am because I would like to know how its going to be possible. I don't think it's possible. Mayor Ferre: Mrs. Gordon, two years ago when this matter first came up, you were the one who made the motion to stall because you had not read the report and you didn't think it was... Six months went by and the matter came up again and again you were the one to stall. Now I recognized then as I recognize now that it was not your intention to stall because you had not read the report or that you wanted to study it further, it was because you didn't agree with it. That's your right, you have that right. I just wish that you would just say it and that... You've said it now. For two years now, I went along with you and with Commissioner Plummer and we stalled this thing and we stalled it. I will take the blame, publicly I have. Commissioner Gibson, Commissioner Reboso wanted to move forward and I was the swing vote and I swung with you. I gave this thing time. I'm not willing to stall anymore and it's just that simple. Now since you've asked the question as to how this is going to be implemented, why it's going to be implemented and we have gone over this many, many times and this matter has been discussed and Mr. Stewart Matlin has explained that in great detail to you and it has been written.but naturally in those days you didn't want to listen to it because you wanted more time to study. Now you've had two years to study it and now you're against it. If you want, I will ask the Clerk to give to you all of the minutes of the many meetings that have been held and all of the reports that have been submitted to explain to you how Human Resources will function, why it is being recommended and why this Commission and its majority has chosen to implement it. Now I will. give Mr. Grassie the opportunity if he wishes, to respond any further. Mrs. Gordon: I think I need to respond that I've read every minute, every word in every minute, every word that everyone has said in every minute and I, alone, was not the only descending vote. Mayor Ferre: No, I was with you and so was Plummer but I am no longer with you. Mrs. Gordon: And in no way, in any one of these reports, in no way in any of the minutes, in Matlin's reports or anybody else's, do they say how you're going to accomplish what you want to accomplish without a fair and equal examination which is available to everyone. How can you do it? You tell me, I don't know how. Rev. Gibson: Mr. Mayor, may I say this for the benefit of all the members of the Commission. I want to recall, but for the public, I want you to know that I didn't make a speech. It's strange and sig- nificant that Booze -Allen, who made this survey recommendation and report, recommended about 5 things. We agreed, we have implemented, we have put into action and motion and we live by everything but this one. I want to make sure and say that again. Booze -Allen, which is 23 OCT 15 197E outfit that studies, we pay them about how many thousands of dollars, LI? What was the cost of that survey? Mr, Plummer: As it relates to Human Resources... ttev. Gibson: No, the Booze -Allen study, what was it? Mr. Plummer: I don't have my calculator but just as it relates Human Resources, $286,000. Rev. Gibson: Alright, let me say thisfthat Booze -Allen, we paid Booze - Allen several thousands of dollars, not one hundred thousand, several hundreds of thousands of dollars to make a study of the structure of this City and how it could be improved. We have gone through, imple- mented, lived with, we rejoice over every recommendation made except one and that is the Human Resources. I'm not going to make anymore speech than that. That's strange, that's significant. Mayor Ferre: Alright, Mr. Grassie, you want to address this point for Commissioner Gordon? Mr. Grassie: Mr. Mayor, considering the amount of time and effort that this Commission has put into the question and studying it over a period of much longer than I have been here, I don't think that I could add anything that you don't know. Mrs. Gordon: Pardon me, I didn't hear you. Mr. Grassie: The basic proposition is not so much what has been said in the past but rather what we're going to do in the future and I would rather leave that to be something that we will demonstrate rather than theorize about right now but I think that we're going to see some first steps very soon. Mayor Ferre: Mr. Grassie, for the record so that even though we've gone through this before but let's do it one more time. Are you aware of the recommendation of Booze -Allen? You've read it? Mr. Grassie: Yes, of course. Mayor Ferre: Do you agree with it? Mr. Grassie: Yes. Mayor Ferre: Do you think it makes sense? Mr. Grassie: Yes, I do. `Mayor Ferre: Do you think that similar things have beenHimplem`ented in other cities throughout the United States? Mr. Grassie: In most places, about 25 years ago. Mayor Ferre: In your opinion, Mr. Grassie, have Human Resource Depart- ments that have been implemented in other cities that you know, have they worked? Mr. Grassie: Yes, Mr. Mayor, we have to clarify that what we are here calling Human Resources is really a basic Personnel Department in most parts of this country. Mayor Ferre: In your opinion, Mr. Grassie, as a professional in this business who has dedicated your life to it, you served in other communities, do you feel that the system that we have in Miami could be improved? Mr. Grassie: No question about it. Mayor Ferre: So you agree with Booze -Allen tha' Personnel Management System? Mr. Grassie: Yes, definitely, 9 g auu1519/6 /A;TolYIBM4rfiil:qR,N3 Maybt Ferre: And do you feel that there would be dramatic of marked .tproveinents once this is itpletmented? 'tt, Grassie: I certainly hope so. It's difficult to describe what Institutes a dramatic improvement but we better have.,. Mayor Ferre: Excuse my exaggerations because I have a flair for exaggerating words but I mean, let's be more modern, DO you think it will be an improvement? Mr, Grassie: There's no question about it, yes. Mayor Ferre: Now lastly, do you think that it will destroy the intent of Civil Service as a policy setting Board as defined by the Chatter? Mt, Grassie: No, I don't think that that's an option. It's not even legal to do it much less a question of desire. Mayor Ferre: Is it your intention, Mr. Grassie, to gut, circumvent, change or alter in any way the Civil Service system as it is defined in the Charter in its basic function? Mr. Grassie: No, again I don't think that's an option, Mayor Ferre: Alright, I just wanted to go through that exercise for the record. Mr. Plummer: Under a point of personal privilege, Mr. Mayor, You made some comments a minute ago to refute that of what Mrs. Gordon has said and she's a big girl and it has been proved on many occasions that she can defend herself on any statements that are made in her direction and likewise borrowing the scales on which I get on every morning, I'm a big boy and I'm damned well going to defend my position. Mr. Mayor, did I, under any circumstances, understand that your remarks which were made to Mrs. Gordon also implied myself? Mayor Ferre: Mr. Plummer, what T was saying is that you have expressed your opinion very openly, very frankly and right to the point that you do not believe in the implementation of Human Resources. You've never, in any way, quibbled or hesitated or equivicated your position. It's been abundantly clear and you've so stated into the record on many occasions. Mr. Plummer: But you did not indicate that I asked for a delay. Mayor Ferre: No, sir, I was talking specifically of a record, if I recall the date it was April 21, 1973 when I first made the statement. Mr. Plummer: Just for the record, Mr. Mayor, I don't know of any Commissioner, including yourself, who devoted more time with Booze - Allen on this study than myself and I, for the record, want it fully understood that I was totally aware of what Booze -Allen was trying to accomplish and I was fully versed in their plan. Mayor Ferre: Not only were you fully versed, Mr. Plummer, I will attest to the fact that I personally feel that you were the one who did spend the most time and that you concluded against the implementation of Human Resources when Booze -Allen recommended it. There is no question in my mind about it, you have always been exceedingly clear. Now I was trying to state that there were two members of this Commission that were against Booze -Allen or one was against it and one, at one time, wanted to read the statement and then... Mrs. Gordon: T want to clarify you, Mr. Mayor. I was opposed to it, have been opposed to it, am opposed to it and will stay opposed to it. And if I ask for deferment on a specific meeting, it was an intent to go back and see if, perhaps, T could be wrong. Mayor Ferre: Alright, I stand corrected, Rose, I'm not going to get into an argument as to what the parliamentary package of procedures were, The fact is that two of you were against it and two of you for and I stood in the middle and I went with two of you that were against it for two years as I told Mr, Huttoe that I would after discussing and or OCT 151976 g ekplanation that substantial and dramatic improvements would be ttade and since I have not seen those changes, then I'm the one who wuttg my vote so... And I've said it time and time and will say it vine again. 'Mt. Plummer: May I continue? Mr. Mayor, so that we make the record abundantly clear, I would like to restate that I have no opposition to Human Resources. I think that it is something that is needed. My Opposition has always and will be that it is being placed in the wrong place, that it should be under Civil Service and I feel that that is a must so I just don't want it to be misunderstood. Now in taking the deposition of Mr. Grassie a moment ago, Mr. Grassie, you indicated in the question of the Mayor that you have fully read the Booze -Allen report. Is that correct? Mr. Grassie: I don't know what you mean by fully, Commissioner, but t have read it about two months ago, that's correct. Mr, Plummer: You read the entire report. Mt. Grassie: I read the report that was given to me when I first came to the City and it was represented as being the report of Booze -Allen on this subject. I assume it's a full report, yes. I have to take people's word for that. Mr. Plummer: Did you get it from Booze -Allen? Mr, Grassie: No, I got it from the staff, Commissioner. It was the report that was in the office, it was given to me as being the full report from Booze -Allen on this subject. I assume that what I got was the full report. Possibly I don't understand the import of your question Mr. Plummer: Well the import I'm asking, have you fully read the Booze -Allen and you're qualifying your 'yes' answer and that's the only reason I'm inquiring. Mr. Grassie: Am I clear now? Mr. Plummer: Clear to the point that you're fully understood of the implementation of Booze -Allen. I'll stipulate that point. The point that I'm trying to make, Mr. Grassie, is very clear. One of the things that Mr. Matlin was so emphatic about, and I know this has been addressed before but I think it needs to be addressed again and that is that with no uncertain terms that that was proposed the implementation of the Human Resource Department over a three year period that you would gradually go into it so that you could, in fact, analyze... Was it two years? Mayor Ferre: Father asked me how long it's been since that recommen- dation has been made. Mr. Plummer: That is correct. I don't deny, Mr. Mayor, that in fact it has been two years ago when this thing originally came before the Commission. I do recognize the fact also that in fact the adoption of the Booze -Allen plan only took place within the last 6 months. Now my question to you, Mr. Grassie, is this. Do you disagree with the Booze -Allen report that it should be implemented over a three year plan or do you feel that it has merit? That's my question. Mr. Grassie: I feel that the circumstances of the City today, as I understand them, and I've had two months at it and you've had 6 or 7 years at it, Commissioner, are such that the full implementation of that program insofar as it can be accomplished in a short period of time or in the best interests of the City. Mr. Plummer: Thank you. Mrs, Gordon: Mr, Plummer, I have a question of you, Because you say you're in favor of Human Resources, I think the word Human Resource, you're using them, is a little on the confusing side, the main thing that Booze -Allen report stresses in implementing what they call "Human Resources", you can call it anything you want, is that the control of the Personnel will be under the Manager and that is a major difference OCT s t see it. IV ow if I't►i wtong, you correct me, Mr. Managet. Gtassiet t'tn sorry, Conttnissioner, someone was speaking to f. Mts. Gordon: I said the major difference, as I know it and read it in the report, the Booze -Allen recommendation for Human Resources and What Mr. Plummer is saying is who controls it. You or Civil Service? Who controls the Personnel and the activities of personnel? You or the Civil Service? In other words, the Human Resource recommendation as Booze -Allen makes it is to implement a new department so that certain functions in personnel will be under your jurisdiction which are not presently under your jurisdiction. Correct? Mr. Grassie: I would suggest, Commissioner, before I answer your question, that the discussion would be improved if you did not per- sonalize it. It is not a question of whether Booze -Allen... I want to make that clear. The City has a form of government established long before I got here and your decision as a group was to make sure, through Ordinance, that this responsibility was given to whatever Manager you selected. Now in that context, if you're asking me whether one of the imports of the Booze -Allen report is that the Manager has Administrative direction over part of the personnel process which he did not have before, yes, that would be the result. Mrs. Gordon: Oh, don't take it personally, Mr. Grassie. I wouldn't care if Mr. Joe Blow from Cocomo was sitting there right now, the question would be the same. You happen to oe the Manager so I'm addressing you, I can't address somebody who isn't there. Mayor Ferre: I'm glad you clarified that though because I tell you, I also perceived it as a personalized question. Mrs. Gordon: Well I have to be personalized, there is no one there but Mr. Grassie in that seat today. Six months ago I was telling Mr. Andrews the same thing. Mayor Ferre: Well there's a difference whether you address something to the Manager or whether you address something to Joe Grassie. Mrs. Gordon: I didn't say Joe Grassie, I said 'you', meaning the Manager. Besides, it's much easier to attack a woman, as you notice, than it is a man. Mayor Ferre: I didn't know that was the case. I thought under our new guidelines that that was never no distinction. Mrs. Gordon: It shouldn't be but it is. Mayor Ferre: So in some things yes and in others no, uh? I see. Alright, is there anything else? Mrs. Eisenberg: You know, I'm sitting here today and I understand the employees' problems, I am looking at all the high-priced officials over there. I wish you people would be as considerate and concerned about the taxpayers as you are the employees and how you're going to implement programs. How are you going to reduce our taxes? You see, I don't get applause because there's only 6 of us here. (APPLAUSE) Mayor Ferre: There, you got your applause. Mrs. Gordon: If you read the budget, you will find that the program referred to is much more expensive than the previous system. Mayor Ferre: I've got Pat Skubish, you want to let her speak and then Mike Carter. Mrs. Pat Skubish: Mr, Mayor, members of the Commission, my name is Pat Skubish and I'm Chief Examiner to the City of Miami so far. I don't know what they have in store for me but I'm happy. I just want to ask you one thing, Mr, Mayor and this is nothing personal, yet, What do you mean when you say we haven't moved along quite fast enough, meaning Civil Service; In what area? OCT lj19 Melot Ferret Pat, my reference is to the implementation of the thrust of the Cohen Decree end the Consent Decree as signed but not implemented yet by the City of Miami and the Justice Department in the hiring of Minorities in the City of Miami. I think my position and my feelings are very abundantly clear and they have been and I've expressed them, Now what I haven't done is 1 haven't acted on them. Mrs, Skubish: Okay, Mr. Mayor, let me just say one thing, My position is also abundantly clear. T. have been elected by all City employees hot just the General Employees or a specialized group, firemen and policemen, A.F.S.C.M.E., S.E.A., every employee has elected me into my position. My position is that on the Civil Service Board and I am there to protect it and to protect the City of Miami employees and also the taxpayers whether they know it or not. The only thing I'm trying to comprehend is that as long as I've been a member of that Board, and that's been since November of 1975, there's not one person in this audience or many people I know throughout the City of Miami, Well over 100,000, that can say that Pat Skubish is prejudiceelin any way, shape or form. T am not. T bend over backwards for minorities and that's another question that keeps coming up in my mind even at night. I hear this Commission say that there's 25% Black and there's 52% Latin so doesn't that make me the minority now or the Anglo-Saxon the minority? I don't understand. -Mayor Ferre: Well let me put it to you this way.. .been very well represented. Your minority has Mrs. Skubish: Would you be talking about me, Mr. Mayor? As a woman? Mayor Ferre: Let's stop kidding around. Mrs. Skubish: No, let's stop kidding ourselves, Mr. Mayor. They're making remarks here that we're not moving along fast enough. I want to tell you, Mr. Mayor, that Civil Service Board has done everything it possibly can to help minorities. Mr. Rebosol you know that for a fact. You know that Mr. Argues is one of the best members on the Board, you know that for a fact, don't you? You know that there's nobody in the City of Miami or anybody, any one of your friends that can say that we have not tried to help the minority for the City of Miami. Taxpayers, that's what we're all about. Civil Service is all about equal opportunity for the taxpayer for the citizens of Miami, that's what we're all about. Qualified people for qualified jobs and all I can say to you is that we're trying our best and it really hurts me personally when I think that you're saying that we're not trying hard enough and that we're not making steps forward. Mr. Mayor, we are trying and this City Commission must know the steps, if they read the minutes of the Civil Service, that we are trying. Now why don't you try to help us out? Mayor Ferre: Pat, since 1954 and that case of the Supreme Court, Brown vs. the School Board of Topeka, a lot of people have tried to stop discrimination and it's 1976 and in 22 years we've made alot of, we gained alot of ground but it's been tough. A lot of people have had to die over that and there's a lot of people in jail and there have been a lot of people who have had to suffer. Now these things don't come easy and you know, a lot of times I don't think that discrimination in this country that you can say Pat Skubish or Maurice Ferre, you are a bigot or you discriminate, I don't think that's the case at all. I believe you, I don't think that you are in any way a biggot and I don't think that there has been any discrimination on your part, I believe that. That's a sincere, honest statement. 1 think, however, that circumstances, the bottom line as Plummer likes to talk about, the end result, has not been there. Now I'm not saying it's your fault, I'll go further, l'm not saying that it's the fault of the Civil Service Board and I'm not saying that it's the fault of the Unions, the police Union, the employee groups, the employees, the Manager, the Law Depart- ment or anybody else, I'm just saying that it hasn't happened and I'm just saying that we're trying to see if we can improve the situation so that it will happen. I also am saying that I think that it's time for us to start defining who's going to set the policy of the City of Miami, whether it's going to come through F.O.P. endorsements and whether i)(7; KoJ OCT 15191t it's going to come through employee groups or whether it's going to tote through the Civil Service Board or is the City of Miami Cdimmissibn going to set the policy and is the Administration going to run the City because I think there's some confusion in this City as to who tuns the City and it's time to clear it up. Mts. Skubish: My first impression to you, Mr. Mayor, would be the City employees run the City. Who picks up the garbage, who takes in the complaints, who goes out and pleases the neighborhoods, who puts out the fires? The City employees. Who do your 350,000 taxpayers in the City of Miami rely upon? Who do they come in contact with every day? The City of Miami employees and they do their best. Mayor Ferre: Let's change the system. Let's let the employees then select from the employees 5 Commissioners and a Chairman of the Commission and then run the City. Mts. Skubish: When do you want to do that, Mr. Mayor? (APPLAUSE) Mayor Ferre: Isn't that really what you Want to d this is all about? Amen. UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: It's for the better. Mayor Ferre: That's it, it's for the better, right? That's what you want. You want the employees to run the City. Now the issue comes out. Alright, I'm going to start calling this meeting because we're drifting from the budget hearing which is what this is supposed to be. Pat, if you want to speak to the budget, go ahead and then Mrs. Skubish: No, I really don't, Mr. Mayor, I just wanted to get my point across. Thank you. Mayor Ferre: Alright, the next speaker is Mike Carter. Mrs. Mikele Carter: Should I introduce myself? Mike Carter, City employee, 15 years. You made a few allegations which I think should be answered. Number one, in the Cohen Consent Decree, the court, as a finding of facts, said the City of Miami did not discriminate. At the present time there had been discrimination and I was part of that discrimination on the Police Department when we had Black police officers who were not allowed to eat in our canteen but we did away with that about 10 or 12 years ago and in Cohen, and'you mislead the people in this audience, in Cohen they did not find that we discriminate, we don't discriminate and they made that as part of the Cohen Consent Decree and I don't think you should let that comment stand and I think you're raising a false issue because what you're telling these people is that this is an issue of discrimination which it isn't, I think it's an issue of patronage. Why don't you ask Mario Molins, the Manpower Director, how many people are on the payroll who are friends of three of the Commissioners sitting right here using C.E.T.A. funds... (APPLAUSE) Mayor Ferre: You want to specify your accusations? Mrs. Carter: 0ne second. May I finish? You have allowed yourself time to finish and no one interrupts you, I would like the same courtesy. With the Civil Service system, a member of this Commission cannot pick up the phone and ask for a $3,000 raise for his friend. If you'd like to know the name, I will give it to you and I will give you that case. A C.E.T.A. employee to get a $3,000 raise in one day, I don't get a $3,000 raise and even the high-priced talent over there doesn't. Is this what Human Resources is about? Will you be able to put people leftover from the Carter campaign on the City payroll the way it's been done with the Jackson campaign? Again I'll give you names. This is what Human Resources is about, to give people like you 5 Commissioners perhaps the Manager, input into the selection process which is what you want. You don't want it to be by examination where people just come in, where it's a blind system and you take the number and it does not matter if you're Black, if you're Cuban, if you're a woman, if OCT 1" io tre whatever. I came it that way and everyone out here who's an employee came in that way other thanpeople over there who have been appointed contrary to the Chatter, There are people over there, you Will admit, who are right now unclassified who are not supposed to be, If anyone disagrees with you, you dismiss them as can be shown with your threat to the Civil Service Board the other day that if they file suits, you dismiss them. You referred to people at the Law De- partment, and I'm sure you were talking about me, who spent their time, their whole time fighting this. I would like you to go over to the court and find out how many cases I have fought for the City of Miami this week and won for the City of Miami and as an Attorney, right now l should not be saying that but I haven't lost one yet, Mr. Mayor and you can go and check my record. Are you going to charge me with your flew definition of mismalfeasance and malfeasance as prepounded by the Acting City Attorney who says that anyone who disagrees with the majority of the Commission is guilty of misfeasance or malfeasance? Then Rose and J. L., welcome to the club. That's all I have to say, thank you, (APPLAUSE) Mayor Ferre: The next... Mrs. Gordon: May I ask Mr. Knox, is that a fact? Mayor Ferre: Well, since Miss Carter made some statements, if you have any accusations of the nature that you have made, I think it is not only your responsibility but your duty as a citizen, as an employee to make those accusations on the record with names and facts and if laws have been violated, go to the Grand Jury and make your accusations. Now, Mr. Irwin Mazin. Mr. Irwin Mazin: My name is Irwin Mazin and I'm with the Accounting Office. Being an Accountant, I tend to look at issues from a sta- tistical standpoint instead of an emotional standpoint. Working with the Pension I see the turnover rate in the City of Miami. One of the big reasons that our Pension rate is going up as it is is because of the economic conditions over the last two years. Mr. Mayor, you addressed yourself to a fact that the Civil Service Board has not, over the last two years, made many changes as far as minority hiring. One of the big reasons for this is the turnover rate over the last two years because of the economic environment, many people are not leaving their jobs. Also, in my department alone because of the economic conditions, many positions are being aoolished. When I first started with the City in the Pension Office, I had 5 employees that were classified. Now I have three, those were two minorities I could have hired that were cut out. So you're talking about an economic condition and blaming the Civil Service for this condition. (APPLAUSE) Mayor Ferre: Edna Benson, Mrs. Benson: I just have a question to ask. How many cities, govern- ments I should say, well first of all, I agree with what Miss Skubish said. I was going to ask Mr. Reboso, if his figures are correct, then I am a minority. Am I not? I know there are a lot of people in here who are not Latins, who are not Blacks who have failed exams. I know because I have worked there for many years and I grade and I know. They've never yelled 'discrimination'. They may challenge an exam, they may challenge questions but they've never yelled 'discrimination'. You are leaving the examining section where it is, the same people. Are not the exams going to be the same or are you going to put people in there to change them? The people in the examining section in Civil Service are going to be the same personnel that are there now, Mayor Ferre: Mr. Manager will answer your question. Mrs. Benson: Is someone going to oversee the preparation of these exams other than the people that we've already got? Mr, Grassie: If I understand the question to be whether pr not the Civil Service Board will continue to be,,, 0 EW▪ - civz F M▪ E- R OCT 1'l9E� mit Mra. tenson: Noy not the Board. The examining section of the divil rviee Office, Grassie: ...through its employees will continue to be responsible the conduct of examinations, the answer is 'yes'. Mrs. Benson; The preparation of the examinations? Mr. Grassie: And I know of no reason why the same employees who are now there will not continue to be, Mts. Benson: Alright, then we've got the same people preparing the exams that you claim are discriminatory. And let me ask you this. How many cities... Mr. Grassie: Look, since you are in Civil Service, I know that you know enough about the process to know that the question of job audit and preparation of examinations, the mix of things that go into an examination, the point systems that are used for examination purposes through Civil Service Rules, that that is much more complex a question than would appear from what you're asking right now. Now you know enough about the system to know that so there is not a simple answer to what you're asking. What I did say is that the administration of the tests, the administration of the examinations, is a continuing responsibility of the staff under the Civil Service Board. Okay? Mrs. Benson: Alright. The exams, as of late, the preparation of the examinations, they've been validating them, they have been changing them to your liking, not you personally, sorry sir. But how many cities, it may be, I don't know, I only work here and I only know what happens here, I have an $800 typewriter, a Spanish keyboard, I don't speak Spanish and I don't read Spanish. We are preparing examinations in Spanish and yet they're still failing them. Why? And how many cities offer this service, if you want to call it a service, that will prepare them in a foreign tongue? Are there any? Mr. Reboso: Many. Mrs. Benson: Yes? I say there may be, I don't know, but they're still failing them. Mr. Reboso: There are many. In fact, there are two Spanish-speaking Governors of the United States, Arizona and New Mexico. There are many, many cities. Mayor Ferre: That, I don't think, has too much to do with the budget, this is a budget hearing. I think we're just retreading everything now. The next speaker is David Cerrullo again. Mr. Cerrullo: As far as the budget goes, I'd like to restate my point a little shorter. T made a point earlier before you were here, Mr. Mayor. When someone offers me a service or when I purchase a service, I like to go to someone who has been in business for awhile and who I feel will he in business for while and I really think that the imple- mentation of this program giving the Manager and the Commission control over hiring, firing, etc., could cause a larger turnover and fewer services for the taxpayer and I'd like to be able to call down to the City and talk to somebody I know is going to be there in a few years and unless people have their job security and things, we aren't going to have that type of employee, we aren't going to have the type of employee who's going to give the type of service he knows he's going to have to answer for in the future. Also, I'd like to speak to a little bit of hypocrisy I think I've seen up here today. People keep talking about the numbers in minorities we have here in the City. Mr. Reboso spoke of 54% Latin and 25% Black and how all these people should be hired and I see people hired up at City Hall all the time that there is no consideration given to minority there. I think that's hypocritical. You people aren't following your own rules. Mr g. jean Neatherly: Talking about discrimination. Well I'm a super - in the Police Department. I was one who selected three Black girls for my crew and I haveo I studied their qualifications when they toOk the test and T know I was taking a chance on anybody that I choose fest ty crew. Now T have been so blessed by these three Black women it's just unbelievable, I've received compliments all over the station for the wonderful work that they're doing. They had to take a test. Now we have had, I argued and I've really blown my stack a number of times when I have called different departments in the Civil Service System, not only just in the Police Department, and I'm speaking with somebody who does not understand me or I don't understand them. I have always gotten along with people of all nationalities. I've been Close friends with many from all over the world. I was in the service and T came in contact with many nationalities and I never had any problems but it does seem rather strange that we hire, it doesn't make any difference what nationality, if they cannot speak our language and read and write it, how can they convey to us what the whole thing is. Mayor Ferre: I don't think anybody argues with you. Mrs, Neatherly: Alright but the whole thing is, right in our Police Department we have people who cannot even speak Spanish half way decently according to some of my Cuban friends there. They say that when I'm calling somebody in reference to my work, I'm trying to take a report or any of my crew members are trying to take a report on a stolen car, how in the world can we give a proper report, put it properly, correctly, into this F.B.I. and Tallahassee systems correctly if they cannot communicate to us in English. I speak a little Spanish because it was just like said, don't you want to know what they're saying, they know what you're saying. But it's the matter of, we have very lovely Cuban people in our system and we have very lovely Blacks and Whites and Chinese. We've got all kinds of people but how about the ones who cannot even speak our language. I don't think it's fair. That's where the discrimination is. Now we have a 6 month probationary Period in which we can determine whether or not these people can make the grade. Now why should we be forced to take them, accept them. They're being forced all over the Police Department. Mayor Ferre: I don't think anybody is trying to force the Police Department and if that's the case I would certainly like to have a report on it, Mr. Manager, that people are taking jobs that are not capable of handling the job requirements. If obviously a person has to express themself to make a report or be on the telephone or radio, obviously they've got to speak English. Mrs. Neatherly: Well I wish sometimes that you could just listen on our telephones the reports that come in. It's really a shame. Mayor Ferre: Mr. Manager, why don't you report to the Commission on that sometime in the future. Gene. Mr. Naples: I'm too old and too tired to be emotional so I'm go!..ng to try to just give you a little information that I think might be interesting here. First of all, 1 recall when we talked about the Cohen Decree that we took it and tried to analyze that and to how long it would take to implement the Cohen Decree as far as the make up, the ratio of minorities and so forth and at that time, as I recall, somebody may correct me but through the attrition, the process of attrition, it was going to take more than 15 years to get the balance to where they thought it was acceptable and yet, of course, the City had gone into the Cohen Decree on a 5 year basis. It's like saying that the life expectancy is 70 years and we're going to retire people at 85 or something like that. So I don't think it can be pulled off under the way it was set up through the attrition process. I think the interesting thing is how we're going to get more minorities, and we have a list, through our program we have a list with a whole bunch of minorities on there and as you probably know, we were trying to get a 25 year pension with no penalty passed and that would take care of part of it. We have a whole bunch of people we could pick up. We can give you a whole lot of minorities in a hurry if we could get that 25 year program which just amounts to 1.3% of payroll which is really quite light. There's no way for you people up here to know but you said what if the fire- fighters went to Metro and you made some mention of the fact that we OCT io.19/u Dilly have 34 or 35 square miles to cover and Metro has so many motes t catt tell you that a firefighter who works for the City of Miami that would go to Metro would feel like he was on vacation when he was tuft duty so what we're saying really, and in relation to that, since We ate bargaining and we got into the negotiating thing a little bit from time to time, what would happen to a firefighter from the City of Miami if he went to Metro right now is he would get a net increase in Pay that would be substantial for one thing. The other thing, he would have the 25 year no -penalty through the Florida Retirement System so he would really get a net raise. Mr. Reboso spoke about getting the best people for the job and I really concur with that and I think that Was one of the things that I brought up in the past. We're very interested in maintaining the standards by whatever methods you use so I think that you might help us to help you if you're trying to get that ethnic balance, by maybe getting some of that green down here that we use in some of these Federalprograms, dump it into the Pension system or whatever way you have of financing that and let some of these guys that want to get out of here... Mayor Ferre: You better be careful. Mr. Naples: I'm talking about using Federal money. We talk about federal money like we're not taxpayers. You mentioned only 25% of the Ad Valorem Taxes or only 25% of the budget is funded by Ad Valorem Taxes and if each and every one of us sitting here, including yourselves, of course, are contributing to that other 75% through County, State and Federal taxes so we have an interest in that and that is what really upsets alot of people when they look at what you're talking about, inefficiency, when you get into Federal programs. It's like it's money that came from heaven and the only ability that the Fed's have that we don't have is they print the money so if they'd get some more of that green down there, we could get a whole bunch of minorities right from our program. We have a list that would hire a whole bunch of people. Mayor Ferre: Gene, before you leave, because I do have alot of respect for you and I have alot of respect for Kenny too even though he gets kind of angry at me once in awhile but I do happen to like him, personally, and... It's true and it could be a one-way street. I don't expect him to like me, I like him, I think he's a nice guy. I want to tell you something and this is serious now. I want to tell all you guys and ladies and gentlemen and everybody that's here, hey, when I made the decision to vote the way I did, I knew that I was going to get the wrath of God and that I was going to be, and that there was going to be a hornet's nest that really was going to be... I know Manolo isn't worried or scared about that because he faced adversities in death. Maybe I haven't had that good fortune. Mr. Naples: Firefighters do it all the time. Mayor Ferre: I know you do and the Police do too but seriously, what I'm trying to say is that I wasn't looking forward to the wrath of 3,000 employees and I didn't just stumble into this. Irjust didn't happen. You've got to believe that I did this advisidly and that I knew what I was getting into and that I knew the wrath that would come out of it but I did it because I believe it and I'm sorry that so many of you are affected and that are going to be so upset but that's the way it's got to be so I apologize to all of you for the wrath and the consternation that my action has caused you but I believe in what I'm doing. Mr. Naples: I'm sure you do but except for the attritional process, it's very interesting, I think, to see what evolves and how we're going to get more people in under what you're suggesting. You hope and we all hope that we're going to get qualified minorities in and the proper percentages but with economic times and everything else, the attritional process is going to be a lot slower than it might have been 4 or 5 years ago but we'll be watching for it. I'm not going to be here very much longer so you don't have to worry about me. Mayor Ferre: Is there anybody else that wants to speak about the budget at this time? Now there is a lady who hasn't spoken and I'll recognize the lady who hasn't spoken and then you two and then we're going to go. ` OCT 1 19/ :Mier tdythe Wooley: I'n Edythe Wooley, I am a City employee but that ddesnit make me a second rate taxpayer, I'm a taxpayer. My family has lived here for 54 years, I have lived here for 54 years and paid btzt along with that I have devoted 26 years of my life to being a City employee. I just want to get that point cleared up, I'm not a second rate taxpayer but I still would like to hear the answer to Mrs. Gordon's question. How is this program going to be implemented? What does it involve? Mayor Ferre: I'll tell you, Mr. Grassie, I think it seems obvious that from some of the comments that have been made here that there is Some confusion and misunderstanding as to what the Human Resource bepartment means. I really think it's important that a simple, condensed two page or three page version be made of it and posted on all bulletin boards so that people know exactly what it is that we're intending to do: I think that's a valid request. Alright, who is the next speaker? You were and then you and then we're going to leave. Mrs. Gordon: Mr. Mayor, may I ask the Manager in the directive you've given him to please, if he can, delineate how more minorities will Come on board that way. Mayor Ferre: And also how he expects to run the City in a better form by the implementation of Human Resources. Why don't you cover both of those areas. Mr. Vazquez: Mr. Mayor, Commissioners, you spoke before about God, Catholics, you talk about justice. Remember, the and your balance goes a little down to anything against you, I like you, I am I was a prizefighter, I'm a registered the Civil Service and took the exam Mr. Grassie, I like the way Abraham Lincoln, I like it but emblem of justice is the balance some other place. I don't have arguing about defending you back, nurse, but I'm a believer in . I went to the Civil Service and I was accepted by the Civil Service even though I'm a registered nurse. About minorities. The minorities, they used to pass from my hands. Everybody talks about minority but nobody knows what's happening to the minorities. So minorities, they don't have the zip to take the test, they don't have the intelligence, they don't pass the test. We've got good, good candidates, Black, Puerto Ricans, Cubans but what happens when the F.B.I. rap sheet comes from Washington, D.C.? You can write a book on the life of these people and they have to be rejected. why do they have to be rejected, you don't know. The minority was rejected is what you say and the Commissioners, the one they hurt because they are Latins or they are Jews or they are Puerto Ricans or whatever they are. It's because they have rap sheets and they are not qualified to be a City employee. Right now, Mr. Grassie brought four guys from Michigan, Detroit. We've got people over here that are qualified to be in his staff. (APPLAUSE) Mr. Vazquez: That's discrimination against the Dade County City of Miami citizens. He should hire some people from Miami that need the job. When Mrs. Rose Gordon was talking down there, my mother all the time, and my father told me pay attention to the lady when they're talking or I'll blow your face off and he was looking to somebody else when Mrs. Rose Gordon was talking, a lady. That's no respect for a lady, Mayor Ferre: Any other comments on the budget? Mr, Carrerro; My name is Al Carrerro and I'm with the City of Miami Parks Division. I just want to say that whichever way this thing goes, whether we get Human Resources or we're going to stick with Civil Service... 34 OCT 15197F� of Pe `re We're going to have both C>arrerro3 Hopefully, I don't know. 1 want to say that personail.y, try personal feeling is that I'm just going to keep on going the way I've been going and working the way I've been working and go along with any kind of program my bosses decide for the City and for the system. I'm sure that anybody that is a true hard worker and gives you the kind of service that you're paying them to give you, shouldn't have any trouble whether we're under Civil Service or Human Resources So let it be for the best. Mayor Ferre: Let me one more time repeat on the record that it is not the intention of anybody on this Commission that I know of to get rid of or eliminate the Civil Service system. We are going to Change the managerial approach to it and at this time I thank you and all of you for being here. We have spent 95% of our time talking about things that were not on the record here tonight because we were going to talk about the budget. I have permitted full and open discussion and I apologize for any emotions that have been shown here, I understand, it's human nature, that's the way we are, that's okay. I've let everybody speak here who wanted to speak even if it wasn't on the subject. I could have ruled everybody out of order but we didn't do that and we've been here now for almost three hours so everybody who wanted to say anything on any subject could get up to these microphones and I thank you and goodnight. Oh, wait a moment, we have a resolution here. "A resolution instructing the... Mr. Plummer: You better call it a special meeting. Mayor Ferre: I hereby call a special meeting for the purposes of discussing the Amtrak Station. I will read the resolution offered by J.L. Plummer, seconded. A resolution instructing the City Manager to investigate the feasibility of the proposed Amtrak Station being located within the City limits of the City of Miami and more specifically recommended that the unused and abandoned railway of the Florida East Coast Railway consisting of approximately 40 acres, situated in the vicinity of N.E. 36 street be considered as the site for the new station; further requesting the City Manager to send a telegram to the President of the United States and to the appropriate administrative officers of the Amtrak System protesting current plan to construct the new station in the outlying area where it will not serve the citizens of the City of Miami; and further directing the City Manager to report the results of his investigation and activity at the next Commission meeting. The following resolution was introduced by Commissioner Plummer, who moved its adoption: RESOLUTION NO. 76-937 A RESOLUTION INSTRUCTING THE CITY MANAGER TO INVESTIGATE THE FEASIBILITY OF THE PROPOSED AMTRAK STATION BEING LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF THE CITY OF MIAMI AND MORE SPECIFICALLY RECOMMENDING THAT THE UNUSED AND ABANDONED RAILYARD OF THE FLORIDA EAST COAST RAILWAY, CONSISTING OF APPROXIMATELY 40-ACRES SITUATED IN THE VICINITY OF N.E. 36 STREET BE CONSIDERED AS THE SITE FOR THE NEW STATION; FURTHER REQUESTING THE CITY MANAGER TO SEND A TELEGRAM TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND TO THE APPROPRIATE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS OF THE AMTRAK SYSTEM PROTESTING THE CURRENT PLAN TO CONSTRUCT THE NEW STATION IN THE OUTLYING AREA WHERE IT WILL NOT SERVE THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF MIAMI; AND FURTHER t0 OCT 1 19l n +�' 13IRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO REPORT THE RESULTS OE HIS INVESTIGATION AND ACTIVITY AT THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING. Here follows body of resolution, omitted here and on file in the Office of the City Clerk.) Upon being seconded by Commissioner Gordon, the resolution 15&eted and adopted by the following vote - AYES: Commissioner (Rev.) Theodore Gibson Commissioner J. L. Plummer, Jr. Commissioner Manolo Reboso Vice -Mayor Rose Gordon Mayor Maurice A. Ferre NOES: None. ;NAU'DIELE CONVERSATION). Mayor Ferre: By law and under the Charter I am announcing that the next second and final public hearing will be at Bayfront Auditorium at 9:00 A.M. on October 19, 1976. This Commission is now adjourned. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the City Commission, the meeting was adjourned at 8:31 P.M. MAURICE A. FERRE MAYOR CITY CLERK OCT 1 19/i