Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 07-14-1981 Regular — reading text

inaudible) the council' s decisions ( inaudible) to Mr. Walker it looks like its the council' s fault. inaudible) I think the previous councilor whoever is to blame should do it, take that blame. Let' s not put blame where blame is not due and ( inaudible). Madame Mayor, my name is Bill Grigsby, I' ve lived in Fort Walton Beach for 13 years, taxpayer of Fort Walton Beach since I' ve lived here 13 years. And I am a former employee of the City of Fort Walton Beach for over 11 years and I want to say this. I want to give publically my reasons for resigning from the Fort Walton Beach Police Department, if I may. First of all, last Monday night when I went to the meeting, I saw a spectacle there where if anybody railroaded down the road, has ever been Mr. Walker was. At that time you should have given him the opportunity, I don' t disagree with what you did, that' s up to you people, that' s your right as the government. But I do disagree that you did it -~ fast. very hopeful and quite surprised when I was I got a call at my home on Tuesday morning from Mr. Mike Mead indicating that he and you would like to see me. And I did come to your office. And we spoke for approximately 45 minutes, at which time, I said publically, and I' m not hard of hearing, at which time, you appointed me Chief of Police, Acting Chief of Police. And Mr. Mead, if he can give way to his conscience, will verify that statement. That' s  7/ 14/ 81 251 beside the point, I' m not going to argue it. Secondly, thirdly, when you, no I can' t say that. I don' t want to get into.. ( inaudible) and I don' t think it' s right. My reason for quitting is that I did not like the fairness that was brought out to some of the employees, and I certainly did not like the idea of being told one and turn around and something else happen. thing There is no way that you can have any confidence in 1 anyone who will do that to you. And that is my reason for resigning and I thank you for your time. Mr. Franklin and I attended school together, John and I have know each other for a long time. I know every councilman up there, except Mrs. Thornber. I haven' t had the opportunity to meet her but I have known everyone up here, and I have always been a good employee I thought. But I have.. ( inaudible). But I just want to throw this out to Mr. Baughman. Mr. Franklin said a few minutes ago that it is a violation of city ordinance for any councilman to get involved into personnel actions. Is that correct, sir? Mr. Franklin said, violation of Section 16, of the Charter, yes. Mr. Grigsby said, I' d like to ask you a question then, sir. Last Tuesday night, after we had found out that I had been appointed Chief of Police by Mrs. Bagley, I' dlike to know what you were doing at the Fort Walton Beach Police Department and asking for Bob Neyendorf to come in and see you? Grigsby said, I don' t worry about a job? Mayor said, you had your opportunity... Mr. Grigsby said, yes ma' am. I' m sorry, I apologize. Mayor said, I feel that in defense of his saying that I appointed him... Mr. Baughman said, first of all, let me say this to Mr. Grigsby.. ( inaudible) I know we... Mayor said, I know we are getting tired and I feel that you were next. say that I I must was trying to give you people for that position but Mr. Ray had not been fired at the time that Mr. Grigsby was in the 1 office. appoint I asked Mr. someone who Grigsby and I asked each person that I interviewed " If you are offered the job, would you take it? Could you handle it?": Jou is not goin9 to ... do not take the job. I had no right to hire anybody when there was no vacancy. Mr. Franklin said, Madame Mayor, point of order, we are getting away from the motion. 252 7/ 14/ 81 Mr. Baughman said, may I make a point. To say that I like Bill Grigsby, he' s a fine man, he' s done an excellent job, and I am sorry that he left us. The last three of four days I have been through virtually every department in the City. The reason being to see to each and every employee to say I know the last few days have been rough, I know that you are very uncertain, believe the sky is falling, but every- thing is going to be alright, proud of you and you are doing a good job and... ( inaudible) The other thing is this, when you talk about interfering with an employee the ( inaudible) Mayor said, I still can' t hear you. Mr. Baughman said, the part of the charter that Bill is talking about says we will not give a direct order or interfere before contact... ( inaudible) I did assume a responsibility to try, to suggest to the Mayor in areas where she might not ( inaudible) Mr. Franklin said, point of order, we are getting way off the motion. I would like to redirect my motion please. Mayor said, alright, all those in favor of the motion. Good, read your motion your motion Mr. Franklin. Mr. Franklin said, I move that we reconsider the employment termination of last Monday, July 6th, 1981 of City Manager, Winston Walker. Mayor said, I think we have had ample time for people to discuss this from the floor. Mr. Miller said, Mrs. Mayor, if you' ll review the minutes of last Monday evening, you will find what I said about the situation. That I was surprised by the motions. Several motions were made indeed at that time on actions by the city council.. ( in- audible). The general statement part of it being some... ( inaudible) as to the exact content... ( in- audible) I further... ( inaudible) substantial dis- ability in that none of theminfo~ us before they undertook the motions for open and disucssing the . Ji basis for those motions. I suggested that our . ! stand on... ( inaudible) in regards to.. ( inaudible) .. I objected that to the Mayor about being ( inaudible) I , I also opposed the.. ( inaudible) as much for Mr. inaudible), all those sequences that I don' t under- stand the basis for and I did not believe them. I had no announcement before that meeting who was very open regarding his basis or his desire to discharge Mr. Walker. We' ve not heard that ( inaudible) here tonight nor did we hear ( inaudible). I still have not heard the basis which would have caused me to  7/ 14/ 81 253 vote for immediate discharge of Mr. Walker. I would have preferred, and I still would prefer he be given the opportunity to perform to this Council. That opportunity was stripped from me, from him, ~ rom you without my preknowledge and wihtout my participation. I' m not happy about this decision, I wasn' t happy with it then. Tonight' s not changed it any. I' m satisifed with the manner by which the matter was 1 undertaken. It was not in the best interest :of the the City of Fort Walton Beach. I don' t know the extent, nor do I know the means by which the vote was put together, my fellow councilmen and the mayor have not explained that to us. I still do not have the understanding as to what transpired that resulted in the passing of those resolutions. I would vote to- night to reconsider any resolution that was passed heretofore. We are speaking directly regarding Mr. Walker. I am sill satisfied that we have not been provided a creditable basis, an explanation ( inaudible) basis for the result that we now find ourselves in. Mr. Baughman said, Madame Chairman, I have been on the Council 8 1/ 2 years. I' ve possibly shared ( inaudible) for this ( inaudible) our executives should have gained my confidence. You all know I am ( inaudible) about inaudible) and there have been a number of those. Inaudible) on the day we voted, I felt that maybe it wasn' t right to futher embarrass ( inaudible) I could talk about a $ 200, 000 loss ( inaudible). $ 200, 000 loss, your taxpayer' s money. I told our City Manager and our Public Safety Director that they were going to lose their ( inaudible) recommendation came from them inaudible) We heard reports which we received, was one of the ( inaudible) for public officials I ever ( in- audible). I could talk to you about the ( inaudible) estimate for purchase price of our sewage treatment plant out there. Do any of you remember that? We had estimates, recommendations from the city manager Chief Ray that I was ( inaudible) Does anybody here