01-29-2019 Charter Review City of Clermont
Charter Review Committee
January 29,2019
The Charter Review Committee met on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
City Manager Gray called the meeting to order at 10:06am with the following members present: Ray
SanFratello, Cuqui Whitehead, Larry Lenon, Jim Purvis, and Stan Melnick. Other City officials present
were: City Manager Gray,City Attorney Mantzaris,and City Clerk Howe.
City Manager Gray reviewed the reason for the creation of the Charter Review Committee and asked all
of the members to introduce themselves.
Item No. 1 —Overview of Purpose of Committee
City Attorney Mantzaris stated the Council will be voting to place recommendations put forward by the
Charter Review Committee on the upcoming election ballot. Florida legislature has preempted charter
language in several places causing certain sections in the Charter to be deleted. However, there are areas
which the Charter Review Committee can still address.
Item No. 2—Review of Florida Sunshine Law and Public Records Act
City Attorney Mantzaris stated the Charter Review Committee is subject to the rules and regulations set
for Sunshine Law Committees. The Committee Members cannot talk about any issues related to the
Charter Review Committee's duties with each other outside of the publicly noticed meetings. Every
document received is related to public records including any notes the Committee Members make or e-
mails or text messages associated with the Committee. E-mails and text messaging are considered a
conversation and will be a violation of Sunshine Law. The Charter Review Committee will come to an
end in June. When the Committee is taking final action on a recommendation to provide to Council, the
public will have to be offered the opportunity to address the Committee.
Item No.3—Election of Chairperson and Vice Chairperson
City Attorney Mantzaris reviewed the purpose of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman.
Committee Member Purvis nominated Committee Member SanFratello as Chairman and
Committee Member Whitehead as Vice-Chairman; seconded by Committee Member Melnick.
The motion passed 4 to 1 with Committee Member Whitehead opposed.
Item No. 4 — Discussion of timetable, procedures, reviewing charter, receiving public input, and
recommending charter amendments.
City Attorney Mantzaris reviewed the timetable of the proposed meetings to get the ballot language in
place by August for the ballot. City Manager Gray clarified all of the proposed meetings may not be
needed.
Committee Member Purvis expressed concern for a possible conflict. City Manager Gray stated the
Committee can still meet as long as there is a quorum.
Committee Member Whitehead suggested the Charter Review Committee attend the Council Meeting on
June 25.2019 when the Committee's recommendations are presented to the City Council.
City Attorney Mantzaris recommended having a public meeting in March for public input on the Charter
Review Committee's recommendation.
Committee Member Whitehead inquired about language for board members in the Charter. City Attorney
Mantzaris stated the boards are established by City Charter or Ordinance with board members having to
be a qualified elector of the City of Clermont.
Committee Member Whitehead recommended addressing mandatory residency requirements before
qualifying for a position on the City Council.
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City of Clermont
Charter Review Committee
January 29,2019
Committee Member Purvis suggested requiring a Code Board rather than a Special Magistrate.
City Attorney Mantzaris recommended the Committee work through Charter sections a couple at a time,
skipping sections one through four, each meeting until the whole Charter has been reviewed and then
have a meeting set aside for items not already included in the Charter.
Committee Member Purvis inquired about staff recommendations for areas of the Charter to address.City
Manager Gray stated he will make recommendations as the subjects come up.
Item No. 5—Discussion of scheduling meetings—day and time
City Manager Gray stated he will have possible future dates for a Public Hearing which the Committee
can approve and vote on at the next Committee meeting.
Item No.6—Discussion on specific charter provisions.
Committee Member Whitehead recommended for the Committee to look at Council qualifications.
Committee Member Purvis suggested to break the Charter into sections and address concerns as the
subjects come up.
City Attorney Mantzaris stated the Committee could decide whether to re-write the whole City Charter.
If the Committee wanted to do so,then staff would recommend not to do it as part of a General Election
but rather as a Special Election due to the need to explain the changes to the public. However, staff does
not recommend to re-write the City Charter at this time.
Committee Member Whitehead expressed concern of the deletion of section six.City Attorney Mantzaris
replied the section was removed as it is included in the City's code.
Committee Member Whitehead clarified she would like to include a residency requirement before
individuals qualify. Committee Member Purvis expressed agreement with Committee Member
Whitehead.
Committee Member Purvis requested staff to research other cities and their requirements.
Chairman SanFratello inquired about elections.City Manager Gray stated the City hires the Supervisor of
Elections to conduct the City elections on years that the County is already holding an election. When the
County does not hold an election,the City has to rent the equipment and staff to run its election.
Committee Member Melnick expressed concern regarding the lack of districts. City Attorney Mantzaris
replied based on the growth in Clermont, within 10 years the City will most likely be single membered
districts either by the City's Charter or by requirement of the federal government. The Department of
Justice mandates cities to go to districts when they reach a certain population or growth to develop a more
representative Council for that city.
City Manager Gray stated the proposed areas to review for the next meeting.
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City of Clermont
Charter Review Committee
January 29,2019
• Adjourn: With no further business,the meeting adjourned at 11:27 pm.
APP OVED
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Ray SanF te11o,Charter Review Committee Chairman
ATTEST/
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Tracy Ackroyd Howe,City Clerk
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