08-10-1983 Workshop MeetingA ~ CITY OF CLERMONT ~ ,
MINUTES
Workshop Meeting
August 10, 1983
A Workshop Meeting of the City Council of the City of Clermont was held
Wednesday, August 10, 1983 in the City Hall Conference Room. The Meeting
was called to order at 7:10 p.m. by Mayor Beals with the following Council
Members in attendance: Council Member Cole, Council Member Dupee, and
Council Member Turville. Mayor Pro Tem Pool was absent. Other City
Officials present were City Manager Forbes and Finance Director Saunders.
REPORTS
LIGHTS AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
City Manager Forbes reported that Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Carl
Pettitt, had recommended denial of the City's request for lights at the
elementary school basketball courts. He further stated that there would
be a SchoolB:oard~Meeting on August 23, 1983, and requested that Mayor
Beals ask Mr. Don Smith of the Parks and Recreation Board to represent
the City at this meeting to point out the need for the lights to the
School Board. Council Member Turville stated that at this meeting, Mr.
Smith should remind theSchool Board that the City of Clermont gives them
free use of Bishop Field for high school baseball games.
USDA EDB CHECK
City Manager Forbes reported that the Department of Agriculture will be
checking the City wells for Ethylene Dibromide contamination. The chemi-
cal has been used to control nematodes in citrus groves in and surround-
ing the City. The tests will be performed on Monday, August 15, 1983.
The chemical has been used on two sites within the City, one near the
Seminole Well and the other by the AME Church. Mr. Forbes stated that
he would inform the Council of the test results when available.
MRS. CLIFFORD JOHNSON'S REQUEST TO USE CITY PROPERTY
Mr. Forbes reported that Mrs. Clifford Johnson had requested to use City
property for off the leash dog training. After some discussion, it was
the consensus of the Council to deny this request.
GEORGETTE MILLER REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT
It was also reported that Georgette Miller had requested a $50 reimbursement
for expenditures incurred while conducting a Summer Children's Theatre Work-
shop in conjunction with the Summer Recreation Progam. After a great deal
of discussion, the City Manager stated that this action could set a bad
precedent. If funds were needed for a program, the request should
be made at the beginning of the program, not after the fact. City Manager
Forbes was directed to talk with Mrs. Miller about the problem, and if
needed, reimburse her out of Committee Expense.
SENIOR CITIZEN CENTER OPEN HOUSE
It was reported that the Senior Citizens Center would be having an open
house in Jenkins Auditorium on Friday, August 26th from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
to introduce the programs which will be available at the Center. Mr. Forbes
requested authorization to spend $25 for refreshments for the open house.
It was was the consensus of the Council to allow this expenditure with pay-
ment coming from the Committee Expense Account.
WRECKED PATROL CAR
It was reported that a police officer was returning from the Sanford Crime
Lab and was hit head on on the Howey-in-the-Hills bridge. There were no
injuries. However, the car sustained $2,500 in damage. It was the con-
sensus of the Council not to repair the car and accept any reimbursement
from the insurance company for the loss. It was discussed that the car
was scheduled for replacement in the upcoming budget and it was in the
City's best interest not to repair the extensive damage.
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Workshop Meeting
August 10, 1983
Page 2
TALLAHASSEE MEETING
City Manager Forbes reported that he would be traveling to Tallahassee
on Thursday, August 11, 1983 to meet with State DER Officials and deliver
our site specific studies for the treatment plant expansion project. These
were needed to certify our step two plus three grant.
LAKE WINONA BRIDGE REPAIRS
The Lake Winona Bridge was being inspected by the State and any defects
should be corrected. After much discussion, it was the consensus of the
Council not to budget monies in the 1983-1984 budget for the repairs,
but it would appropriate monies from Contingencies when needed.
FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR COGENERATION
A feasibility study for cogeneration as proposed by Mr. Paul Hobensack
was discussed, and it was the consensus of the Council that such a large
expenditure would be unwarranted for a City the size of Clermont. It
was suggested that such a study could be undertaken by the County be-
cause on a countywide scale enough garbage would be generated to make
such a project pay for itself.
SEMINOLE WELL PUMP AND WELL HOUSING
It was discussed that plans are now being drawn up by the City Engineer
for a well housing and pump at the Seminole Well. The Council concurred
that $55,424 should be placed in the budget for this expenditure.
ODOPHOS TANKS AND MANHOLE REPAIRS
The expenditure of $25,925 for additional odophos tanks and manhole re-
pairs was discussed, and it was the consensus'of the Council that this
amount should be placed in the Utility Department's Budget.
FIRE DEPARTMENT TRAINING SESSIONS
City Manager Forbes explained that Fire Chief Smythe had requested the
Fire Department be allowed to conduct one additional training session
for the volunteers in the months where there were few fire calls. He
also requested that the Chief and Assistant Chief be compensated, in
addition to their regular salaries, for any additional drills that
would be conducted at the same rate as the volunteer fire department.
After much discussion, it was the consensus of the Council that it
would be a good incentive to have the additional drills, and that the
Fire Chief, Assistant Chief, and volunteer firemen would be compensated
for the additional drills.
LONGEVITY MERIT INCREASE SYSTEM
City Manager Forbes explained that the City would continue the longevity
merit increase system which was placed in effect two years ago and allows
1$ for employees with five to nine years service, 2$ for employees with
ten to fourteen years service, and 3~ for employees with over fifteen
years of service. This is an additional increase above the normal merit
increase. Council Member Turville stated that he had reservations about
placing this additional money into the budget over and above the 2$ merit
that had already been discussed. Upon further explanation by City Manager
Forbes, it was agreed that these monies should be placed in the budget
in addition to the overall 2$ for normal merit increases.
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES BUDGET
The contribution to Cooper Memorial Library was the first expenditure to
be discussed. Council Member Dupee pointed out that in addition to the
budgeted contribution to the library, the debt service that the City
normally pays to the bank for the principal interest payment on the
library building will be paid to the library and in turn the library
will pay the bank this year. This will be done to allow the library
® • CITY OF CLERMONT • ,
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Workshop Meeting
August 10, 1983
Page 3
to receive more money from the County because they are on a matching
funds basis with the County and State.
COMMITTEE EXPENSES
City Manager Forbes explained that $11,000 had been placed in the current
year budget, of which $10,000 is for the Centennial Committee. The other
$1,000 is to be used for small committee expenditures throughout the year.
Mr. Forbes explained that dues and subscriptions for other economic envi-
ronment expenditures were mainly for the East Central Florida Regional
Planning Council. Finance Director Saunders explained that $1,000 of this
are dues for the Planning Council and the remainder was for the League of
Cities dues.
RECREATION AND YOUTH PROGRAMS GENERAL EXPENSE
It was reported that $5,000 was placed in this account which is the same
as the current year's budget, and is used for any expenses throughout
the year for the City's recreation programs.
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The City's contribution to the Chamber of Commerce was discussed in great
detail. It was explained that the Chamber had requested $10,000 for the
new budget. City Manager Forbes noted that $8,000 was contributed during
the current year. Mayor Beals stated that we should consider the fact
that the City is already contributing $10,000 to the Centennial Committee,
and this should have a direct bearing on any possible monies allocated for
the Chamber because the Centennial Committee should receive more support
from the Chamber. Council Member Turville stated that we should try and
put a dollar value on the worth of the services performed by the Chamber
for the City. Mr. Saunders read a list from the Chamber's request which
itemized the services they performed for the City and the dollar amount
they felt these services were worth. It was discussed that with the
$10,000 the City could hire an additional employee that would perform
all of the services the Chamber had listed in their letter, plus more.
The membership fee structure within the Chamber was discussed, and
Council Member Cole explained that Williams Steel has about the same
number of employees as the City of Clermont and pays dues of $200.
Finance Director Saunders reported that another business with approxi-
mately forty-three employees pays $100. After much discussion, Council
Member Turville stated that the direction and character the Chamber has
taken are its privileges. The Chamber can choose to be anything it
wishes. But if it chooses to be a special interest lobby and politically
active, it should be independent. Those are functions that should not be
funded with taxpayers dollars. It was discussed that $2,000 was a fair
amount to contribute to the Chamber in the 1983-1984 budget.
DEPARTMENT HEAD SALARIES
City Manager Forbes discussed Department Head salaries with the Council,
and it was the consensus of the Council to accept them as presented in
the proposed budget.
The Meeting adjourned at 9:40.
Charles B. Beals, Mayor
ATTEST:
/ /y..
Wayne Saunders, City Clerk