Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 09-17-1968 Special — reading text

181 MINUTES OF SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 17, 1968 I INTRODUCTION A special meeting of the City Council of the City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida was held at the City Hall on September 17, 1968, at 7:) 0 p. m., Mayor presiding: with all members present and the Mayor H. French Brown, Jr., Mayor C. H. Rigdon, Jr. C. H. Long Joseph W. Guidry H. H. Carnathan Sterlyn W. Killingsworth William H. Sconiers James M. Ready and Winston G. Walker, City Manager; Walter J. Smith, City Attorney; and Charles H. Evans, City Clerk- Finance Director and members of the Press. A waiver was signed by each member of Council for the 4: 15 p. m. official file. MAYOR Mayor Brown called the meeting to order and commented that In view of the recent publicity given to the routine action taken by the City Manager in dismissing several of the City employees, I, as your Mayor, have called this special meeting in order to afford the members of the City Council with a public forum in which they may express their sentiments, if they are so inclined. However, before opening the floor for comments, I feel it is necessary to call everyone IS attention to the clear mandate of the City Charter that we ( myself, as Mayor, and you, as City Councilnen) are expressly prohibited from interfering with the action of the City Manager in hiring or firing City employees. When you took your oath of office, you swore to uphold this City Charter. It is not possible for each councilman to personally I supervise the work of each of the City employees. Now, you This is the method by which our fom of city govermnent is operated. if any of you have any statements you wish to make, will be recognized for that purpose. Mayor recognized Councilman Sconiers who made the following statement: 182 STATEMENT OF A Statement By William H. " Red" Sconiers WILLIAM H. SCONIERS To the citizens of Fort Walton Beach-- this is a statement of my own feelings and opinions concerning the recent release of James D. Williams, Jr. as Chief of Police. Let me say that the City Manager kept each of the members of Council informed day by day of all incidents concerning the re lease of Hr. Williams. The power struggle by Mr. Williams has been going on for some eight to ten months. I believe Mr. Walker' s decision to release Hr. Williams was a very good decision. I do not agree with the method; ' in my opinion Mr. Williams should have been fired for insubordination and a Public News Release made to that effect. In trying to be a gentleman and allow Hr. Williams to take the " Gentlemenls Way Out" ( Hr. Williams own words when he released a former Assistant Police Chief). Mr. Walker failed to take into consideration the type of individual he was dealing with. Hr. Walker made a supreme effort not to leave a stigma over the chosen profession of Hr. Williams of his career. On September 4, 1968-- the day the Release was made I was in the City Hall Building at approximately 5: 00 p. m. Mr. Walker and Hr. Williams both were there, having full knowledge of what waS happening. 1 left City Hall and went straight home. Less than fifteen minutes later r1r. Walker called me by phone and informed me that Mr. Williams chose to resign. I have no reason to doubt Hr. Walker' s word then nor now. I must say that Mr. Williams did court other jobs, such as instructor at Okaloosa Walton Junior College. Incidentally upgrading and instructing the city policemen waS a prime requirement of YJr. ~. J'illiams as Chief of Police, yet he received pay from another source ( as well as the City) to perform this portion of his duties. Mr.Williams also courted another job in attempting to qualify and run for Sh~ riff of Okaloosa County. Ladies and Gentlemen in conclusion let me say I approve of the action to dismiss Hr. Williams. I believe that it was and is in the best interest of the City of Fort Walton Beach. ! vIr. Walker has certainly conducted himself as a gentleman and I know of no reason to get rid of a man of Hr. Walker IS talents and integrity. , Hr. Walker is very conscientious as a City Manager, very capable and does keep each and every member of Council informed as to what is transpiring in the City. Thank you very much for your attention. William H. " Red" Sconiers City Councilman Ward I  183 MAYOR Mayor Brown recognized Councilman Carnathan who then made the following statement: STATEMENT In a dedicated effort to provide the citizens of Fort Walton OF H. H. Beach with an upgraded police department which would be com- CARNATHAN parable with our fire department or recreational department. I along with the other members of council were informed by City Manager Winston Walker that Mr. Jimmy Williams, a career 1 law enforcement officer, who was working in refrigeration, was available and would be hired. Mr. Williams was hired and seemed to be doing a very credi ta- ble job up until the time of the spring primaries. At that time Mr. Williams requested assurance from members of the City Council, that in the event that he ran for Sheriff of Okaloosa County and was defeated that he could return to his job as Chief of Police of Fort Walton Beach. I refused this assurance or promise to Mr. Williams because of the City Charter and because I felt that Mr. Williams proposed candidacy for sheriff was not in the best interest of the City of Fort Walton Beach. Mr. Williams refused to accept this thinking and made repeated request of friends to pressure the Council into changing its decision. At a later date Mr. Williams led me to believe that he was seeking employment elsewhere., As a City Councilman, Mr. Walker kept me informed of the almost daily difficulties which developed over Mr. Williams refusal, or inability to cooperate with Mr. Walker and other City Departments. It is my firm belief that Mr. Walker was justified in relieving Mr. Williams as Police Chief of Fort Walton Beach. It is my further belief that Mr. Williams has been used by certain individuals who for a number of years have been attempting to gain control of the City of Fort Walton Beaeh. I regret that this action has been necessary, but my greatest concern is for the number of dedicated individuals who have been subjected to the most vicious rumors and unfounded gossip that I have ever experienced. I appreciate the support and encouragement that I have received from the people of Fort Walton Beach in the past and I want to assure the citizens that I am the same man today that I was when I fought for a first c]~ ss fire department, or when I demanded library facilities, or a recreational program that I is a credit to a city of this size. These things have been accomplished because of dedicated people working together and I would be remiss in my duties as a councilman if I should allow one individual to destroy years of dedicated work. H. H. Carnathan 184 MAYOR Mayor Brown recognized Counci1man Kil' mrth who then made the following statement: KILLINGSWORTH Killingsworth speaks out City Counci1man, Ward 2 I would like to relate the following observations and events to the concerned citizens of Fort Walton Beach regarding the dismissal of Chief Williams. I considered Chief Williams as " one of my best friends and associates. I, as you, share in the loss of his services as I feel he did an excellent job with law enforcement per se in Fort Walton Beach. This is l,. why I tried so hard to help him in resolving this difficulty between himself and Mr. Walker. Several months ago after learning of this difficulty, I asked Chief Williams to my office for the expressed purpose of discussing this problem and to be informed of any way in which I c~ uld be of assistance in improving said relationship. Chief Williams made it clear that he was unable to work with Mr. Walker and could offer no suggestions as to how anyone