Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 05-08-12 - city attorney — reading text

281 Draft Minutes — City of Fort Walton Beach Special Meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach Tuesday, May 8, 2012 5: 00 PM 107 Miracle Strip Parkway Fad Walton Beach, FL 32548 CALL TO ORDER 5: 00 PM Meeting was called to order on May 8, 2012 at Council Chamber, 107 Miracle Strip Parkway, Fort Walton Beach, FL. Attendee Name Title Status Arrived. Mike Anderson Mayor Present Bobby Griggs Council Seat t Present 7oyce gossom Council Seat 2 Present Dennis Reeves Council Seat 3 Present Trey Goodwm Council Seat 4 Present Bobby Nabors Council Seat 5 Absent Bull Rigdon__— _ Council Seat 6 Present Dick Ryneazson Council Seat 7 Present PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE City Attorney Services Robert Meams, City Manager, advised that the idea of a part-time in -house City Attorney was discussed during the budget policy workshops last year, and Council authorized the advertising for a city attorney. The City Manager continued after several rounds of applications and interviews last fall, no selections were made and the process continued with renewed advertising to include salary and benefits. The City Manager informed the main concern was the cost of legal services and to ascertain whether an in -house attorney could provide the same or better service at less cost than a contract attorney. He continued that so far this budget year the cost for the city attorney has been $34,000 which is less than what an in -house attorney would cost. He also stressed this is strictly a cost factor decision and in no way is a reflection ofthe current city attorney. This past March the City Manager, together with Councilmember Trey Goodwin, who was the Council's representative in the process, short- listed the candidates and those four applications and resumes have been forwarded to Council to rank for interviewing purposes. Qty Council ofFort Walton Beach Page l Printed 51912012 282 Special Meeting Minutes May 8, 2012 Sylvia Hanks, Administrative Services Director, advised the background checks on the applicants have been done but that no personal reference checks have been done at this time. Council questioned whether the City would pay for any relocation expenses since the applicants were from out of town, and the City Manager responded it is not the intent to provide any type of relocation expenses Mr. Goodwin stated his role in the process was to simply pool the applications for a short list and that he does not support the idea of an in -house attorney. Council discussion included that the current City Attorney is working well for the city; that he gets along with Council and is available to talk with Council; and that his cost is under budget. Also discussed was the lack of timeliness or quality of responses from the City Attorney; that Council should not have to wait for an issue to be researched before receiving an answer; and the need for the City Attorney to be familiar and be able to analyze the subject matter. The vote on the motion to continue the services of current City Attorney Hayward Dykes, Jr.. carried by a vote 5 to 1. RESULT: APPROVED [ 5 TO 11 MOVER: Bull Rigdon, Council Seat 6 SECONDER: Dennis Reeves, Council Seat 3 AYES: Griggs, Reeves, Goodwin, Rigdon, Rynearson NAYS: joyce gossom ABSENT: Bobby Nabors ADJOURNMENT: 5: 15 ptn Approved: A65F . , y Attest 1 L G, Ci Clerk City Council offort Walton Beach Page 2 Printed 51912012