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09-13-1979 Special Meeting e e e e CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING A Special Meeting of the City Council of the City of Clermont was held in the office of the City Manager on Thursday, September 13, 1979. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. by Mayor Claude E. Smoak, Jr., with the following members present: Councilmen Cole, Schroedel, and Byrd. Others present were: City Manager Forbes, City Clerk Carroll, and representatives of the South Lake Press and the Sentinel Star. Mayor Smoak announced the purpose of the meeting was to consider a proposed Resolution presented to Council by the City Manager: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLERMONT, LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA, ESTABLISHING A POLICY TOWARDS WAGE GUIDELINES. WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Clermont recognizes its responsibility to the Federal Wage Price Guidelines, and to its employees in an inflationary economy; and, WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Clermont hereby agrees to review the Annual Florida Inflation Rate by March 28, 1980: NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT if the cost of living continues to rise at an annual rate that exceeds 8%, a further wage increase of two percent (2%) will be granted to all City employees on April 1, 1980, subject to budgetary limitations. Following inquiry from the Chair as to Council's pleasure regarding the matter, motion was made by Councilman Schroedel that the Resolution be adopted, and the motion was seconded by Mayor Smoak for discussion. Mayor Smoak inquired of City Manager Forbes as to comments on the matter, and he advised he felt the Resolution represents a position where the Council is still going by the wage price guidelines to the best of its feasibility and still allows some flexibility toward increasing wages later in the year for City employees. Councilman Cole expressed concern to the late date in next year before the inflation rate would be reviewed by Council for possible wage increase con- sideration. Councilman Schroedel expressed full agreement with the Resolution. Mayor Smoak opined that it was a good compromise that displays visibly to the employees that Council is concerned about the cost of living; That Council does consider their services in the City extremely valuable; and, That Council is operating in good faith. He advised it to be unfortunate to him that the City of Clermont is in the position that it is today from the employees standpoint; That, never in the time that he has been with the City, has there been any such visible activities; That there has been for some time, activities by certain City employees that have created discord among other City employees through deliberate actions, and he hoped, and felt very strongly, that such situation would have to be addressed. He advised of a personal opinion that a lot of people not working for the City today, would rather be working, but through peer pressure and other factors, they were not. Mayor Smoak advised that he could support the proposed Resolution, but that he desired, and thereupon moved, that it be amended by striking out "subject to budgetary limitations"~and to change the word "will" following the 2% increase to "shall" in order that there will be no questions in the employees minds that this action taken is a firm commitment. The motion to amend was e . e e CITY OF CLERMONT MINUTES seconded by Councilman Byrd and unanimously carried. Councilman Schroedel accepted the amendment into his original motion for adoption, and upon voice vote, it unanimously carried. So the Resolution was adopted and the Number 344 assigned to it. Inquiry was made of City Manager Forbes as to his proposed presentation of the Resolution to the employees, and he replied he would present it to them on Friday morning, advising he felt Council had made every possible effort in good faith to present a compromise position, and strongly urge that they accept it, but, if not, he would have no other choice but to take alternative actions. The meeting was adjourned by Mayor Smoak at 7:50 P.M. liliA~..) ~ ~11 DOLORES W. CARROLL - Clty Clerk