01-20-1976 Regular Meeting
.
e
e
.
MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
NQl233
A Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Clermont was held in the
Council Chambers on Tuesday, January 20, 1976. The meeting was called to order at
7:30 P. M. by Mayor Claude E. Smoak, Jr., with the following members present:
Councilmen Blackburn, Schroedel and Byrd. Other officials present were: City
Manager Hopkins, City Attorney Baird, City Clerk Carroll, Director of Community
Services Smythe, and Chief of Police Tyndal. Others present were: Mr. & Mrs. W. O.
Boone, and the Messrs. Czech, Fleming and Beals.
The Invocation was given by Councilman Byrd, followed by repeating of the Pledge
of Allegiance in unison by those present.
The Minutes of the Meeting held January 13, 1976 were approved as written.
City Manager Hopkins submitted his report, and a copy is attached hereto. City
Manager Hopkins reported he had contacted Mr. James F~tJ of the Airport Committee
with regards status of the committee, and had been advised there had been little
concerted effort on the part of the committee this past year, but there was still
interest in the community for an airport, and as soon as he had opportunity to
develop information that would be of value to Council, he would be happy to
appear and report to them.
Mayor Smoak reported as follows: That in order to be recognized by the federal
government as an official bi-centennial community, it was necessary that a bi-
centennial committee of the city be appointed, whereupon he made the following
appointments to coordinate the activities that are already being planned for the
"Stand Up For America Day" on May 1st: Mrs. Pat Grant, Chairperson, and members
Edith Sargent, Bobbi Dean, Tommy Lee Wootson, Dick Harris and Councilman Blackburn;
that with regards the Town Hall Meeting to be held on Friday, February 6th at
8:00 P. M. in Jenkins Auditorium, there would be a workshop session called in the
near future to review the agenda for the meeting; That in his discussions with
several members of the community, it had been the consensus that public recognition
was due Robert M. Hopkins for his efforts and service afforded while serving as
City Manager, and suggested that an "Open House" be held to honor Mr. and Mrs.
Hopkins immediately following the Town Hall Meeting. Council was in full agreemtn
with the suggestion, and it was so declared: That he would remind Council of
the League of Cities meeting to be held in Leesburg on Wednesday, January 21st
with Mayor Carl Langford of Orlando to be the guest speaker; That he would remind
Council of the State League of Cities Pre-Legislative Hearings to be held in Tampa
on March 1st and 2nd, and that reservations should be reported to the City Clerk
as soon as possible; That with regards the city's grant application to the
Department of Parks and Recreation in early 1974, he had received communication
the grant had been denied due to lack of funds; That in pursuing the matter further,
he had obtained a proposal from Wise Marine Construction, Inc. for a concrete pier
at Jaycee Beach in the amount of $33,560.00; That in conjunction with the Lake
County Planning Department, he had appeared before the Lake County Commission on
January 12th with the proposal and inquired of financial assistance to construct the
pier through a program that is paid for primarily by boat registration fees; That
the Commission had accepted the proposal as submitted by the Planning Department
and adopted a Resolution in support of a grant in the amount of $25,170.00; That
final approval would have to be obtained from the State prior to receiving funds,
and that if it be the desire of Council, it would be necessary that he be authorized
to communicate with the Planning Department in advising that the city does agree to .
the program of funding and will match the necessary funds as indicated by the .~
Planning Department in the amount of $8,930.00, if further purusit to the state~
is desired. Motion was made by Councilman Schroedel, seconded by Councilman Blackburn
and carried that Maydr Smoak be authorized to proceed as mentioned.
That following many meetings and discussions with the various pollution control
regulatory agencies as to the city's position at present and what the intentions
were for the future in the adequate disposal of effluent, a variance had been
extended until the latter part of June or first part of July; That various
methods and procedures had been discussed that might be followed in terms of effluent
.
e
e
.
MINUTES
NQ 1234
disposal; That an investigation of land close to the treatment plant site had been
made as one alternative; That discussions had been held with the owners of this
property and hopefully have developed an agreement whereby the city could use
some of this property for effluent disposal subject to the terms of whether or not
the property would serve the purpose for effluent disposal; That the Department
of Environmental Regulation had some time ago contended the most acceptable
method for effluent disposal was by spray irrigation, and that Council at that
time had authorized the consulting engineer to do a preliminary investigation on
purchase of land and construction of a facility and the estimated capital cost
submitted by them had been $840.000; That the city at that time applied for
funding through EPA which has not been received todate; That during discussions
for possible land sites, he had suggested a 30 acre totally enclosed marsh
located 1.2 miles north of the existing facility which has received considerably
better response for a suitable site by the Lake County Pollution Control Board
today than in the past, and that working toward that end, City Manager Hopkins
had met with the owners of the property, Inland Grove Corporation, to discuss terms
of a long term lease and he desirEdto present it for Council's consideration;
That this preliminary lease agreement was not binding on either party, but
actually an instrument to express intention of the parties in order that the city
might pursue further steps that may be necessary to take at this time; and,
That finally he would strenously recommend to Council that approval be granted for
him to sign this preliminary agreement with Inland Groves Corporation and that City
Manager Hopkins be authorized to proceed with Lake County in investigating the site,
for report back to Council. Motion was made by Councilman Blackburn, seconded
by Councilman Schroedel and carried that the recommendation of the Mayor be accepted.
Councilman Byrd inquired if it be a matter of requirement to have an audit of the
city's books upon a change in the administrative head. Former Controller of the
City, John Fleming, advised there was no requirement for such that he was aware
of, but that in all fairness to the City Manager whose resignation shall become
effective February 6th, he would recommend that a cash audit only, be made. City
Manager Hopkins was requested to contact the city's auditors with regards a
cost estimate for such.
With regardsstba immediate offering and service of former controller Mr. Fleming
in the several hours spent in bringing the city's books up todate following the
illness and subsequent resignation of Finance Director DeDier, he was requested
to submit an invoice for his services and Mr. Hopkins was authorized to make
payment.
With regards the appointments to the city's plumbing board which had been postponed
pending contact and recommendation of Building Official Nagel, City Manager Hopkins
advised the following named had been recommended. Bill Lawson, Eugene Forehand,
and Building Official Nagel.Mot~on was made by Councilman Byrd, seconded by
Councilman Schroedel and carried that this recommendation be accepted and the
three named be appointed to the Plumbing Board for a one year term.
With regards permission for use of Bishop Field on which to hold a circus sponsored
by the local Jaycee Organization, it was determined that a formal presentation
be made at the next regular meeting, and that City Manager Hopkins submit the
stipulations as were required previously for circuses held there.
Mayor Smoak made the following appointments to committees, as had been deferred
at the last meeting: Tom Dougherty to appointment on the Lakes Improvement Committee,
and Charles B. Beals to appoint as a voting member on the "208" Committee.
Following receipt of approval from Mrs. Emogene Stegall, Supervisor of Elections,
for the city to hold a Special Election for council member to Group 1 in conjunction
with the Presidential Primary to be held on March 9th, motion was made by Councilman
-,
.
e
e
e
MINUTES
NQ 1235
Byrd, seconded by Councilman Blackburn and carried that a Special Election of
the City of Clermont be held on March 9, 1976 and that the Mayor be authorized
to issue the necessary Proclamation for same.
With regards the Employment Agreement of the City Attorney as authorized to be
prepared on January 13th, motion was made by Councilman Blackburn, seconded by
Councilman Byrd and unanimously carried that the Agreement be accepted and executed
by the Mayor and City Clerk.
The meeting was adjourned by Mayor Smoak at 9:00 P. M.
(fL~or
tO~~A) L~
Dolores W. Carroll, City Cle k