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

and all agreed. Where and when, and we' ll nQtify and have all applicants Mr. present. Baughman said, anyone else who chooses yes, ma' to am. apply by And may a I certain suggest 1 y time tomorrow and if we have some more persons... Mr. Franklin said, let' s get the word out, I think it is only fair that we give everyone an opportunity to apply for positions within the City, because we are equal opportunity employers. Someone from the floor asked to pose a question?  r^~ 7/ 14/ 81 jJ Mayor said yes, if you will state your name, please? My name is Hugh T. Smith, I' m a realtor in Ft. Walton and I misunderstood you, Madame Mayor, I thought that the resolution for an interim mayor and I thought you also said to interview for permanent mayor, so if you are going to return to Council, I' d like to know 1 what the clarification is, interim or permanent lawyer? Ma~ or said, as I understood, it is for interim lawyer. Mr. Smith said, thank you madame. Mayor said, now, Mr. Lorenz, who has very graciously corne forward and I think that he deserves to be told, what is your pleasure? Mr. Miller said if Mr. Franklin would be kind enough to withdraw his motion to suspend the rules, I' d make a motion. Mr. Franklin said, Mr. Lorenz, do you feel any pressure is being applied to you because of the mass of people on an interview? Mr. Lorenz said no. Mr. Franklin said, is Mr. Powell in the audience? Rick Powell? Mr. Lorenz, I apologize for to you bringing you here at this time, but I thought that anyone that might be interested in this position would certainly show up at tonight' s meeting. I apologize to you sir, and 1' m going to withdraw my motion and at the same time, Madame Mayor, ask that we call a special meeting, at 5: 00 p. m., tomorrow night, with the consent of the other Councilmen when we can meet early as possible, midnight as tonight, if possible, giving all the attorney' s proper notification so that we can interview them all at one time, so that we might make the proper decision. Mr. Baughman said,I second the motion. Mayor said the interview for the Mayor, the interim attorney, 1 I will Mr. have Mayor on the brain, for the interim attorney be 5: 30 p. m. Thank you very much. Grant at said, Madame City Council Chambers tomorrow. Mayor, in view of the fact that we have no Counsel tonight, I move thatCouncil delay action on resolutions and ordinances until next meeting. Mayor asked for second to that motion. Mr. Baughman seconded the motion.  u 236 7/ 14/ 81 Mayor asked for discussion. Mr. Franklin asked to speak. Mr. Grant, are you also talking about the ordinances? Mr. Grant said, " yes". Mayor said as I understand the motion, we will not pass on any resolution or ordinance since we have no legal attorney, and Mr. Mead does not want to serve in that capacity tonight. All voted aye and carried. Mr. Miller said, point of order. I do not believe that you voted upon the issue of special meeting tomorrow night. The motion was made and seconded, I would ask an amendment to the motion that was made, to consider that we leave open the question of interim or permanent attorney, and make that determination after completing such interviews as we might make tomorrow night. We may find that would be sufficient for us. Mr. Franklin seconded that, stating, " I' ll accept that amendment." A Councilman said, I would suggest that we not take it upon ourselves by determining tomorrow night' s selectioning process that would absolutely be an interview process, leave it open' so we can determine if it will be in the best interests of the City to select a permanent attorney at that time. Mayor said alright on the amendment that will not we be limiting ourselves to an interim attorney, it will be the pleasure of Council tomorrow night, we will decide if appoint we will an interim attorney or a permanent attorney. Mr. Franklin wanted to amend that motion. I would like to amend it since the City manager' s position is vacant, we also consider at that time, appointment of a City Manager. He said we could make that determination tomorrow night. Mr. Miller said, I don' t believe at this point in time, we are in a position to accomplish the selection of a professional manager and that selection may call for advertising outside Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa County area; and that any determination which might be made regarding manage- ment in short term, within the best interests of the City, be interim in nature. And so I would ask that any selection regarding the manager in the  7/ 14/ 81 237 near future, would be selected in an interim, temporary manager and not a permanent one, especially if we want to conduct business, regarding that position, contrary to the situation we find our- selves selecting an attorney, we have the opportunity to advise, by direct contact,' if possible, available applicants. J Mr. Franklin said he would so amend that motion. Mayor asked all in favor that we do not limit our selection of a City Manager, at this meeting, but we do limit our selection of City Manager, an interim appointment for one. All those in favor, please say aye. All voted aye, motion carried. TERMINATION OF Mr. Franklin asked for unanimous consent to introduce CITY MANAGER at this time, to reconsider the employment termi- nation last Monday, July 6, 1981, of City Manager, Winston Walker. The reason for this motion is that I have sought independant counsel regarding the Sunshine Law. That Counsel is of the opinion that