TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

MARCH 27, 1997

Nations Bank, Council Chambers

2523 Estero Boulevard

FORT MYERS BEACH, FLORIDA

I CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was opened on Thursday, March 27, 1997 at 6:40 P.M. by Anita T. Cereceda, Mayor.

Present at the meeting were: Anita T. Cereceda, Mayor and Council Member; Ted FitzSimons, Vice Mayor and Council Member; Council Members Rusty Isler and Garr Reynolds; Marsha Segal-George, Town Manager; and Attorney Richard Roosa.

Excused from the meeting: Council Member Ray Murphy.

II PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

All assembled recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

III RESOLUTION ON WATERFRONTS FLORIDA GRANT

Marsha Segal-George stated that the Town would not be applying for this grant due to lack of time to prepare the grant.

IV POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Mayor Cereceda stated that there were two policies which needed to be discussed at this meeting since they were mentioned in the 1996 audit as needing attention.

A TRAVEL EXPENSE DOCUMENTATION

B ACCRUAL OF VACATION AND SICK LEAVE AND PAYMENT UPON

TERMINATION

Marsha Segal-George’s contract defines the amount of vacation and sick leave she will accrue each month and states that upon termination, she will receive payment for accrued vacation and sick leave "in accordance with the Town’s policy governing other employees." That policy does not exist and needs to be adopted. John Gucciardo asked the Council if it is OK if the employees have the same accrual of vacation and sick leave as the Town Manager. The Council asked Marsha Segal-George and Richard Roosa to come up with a policy to present to the Council for consideration at the next workshop on policies and procedures.

C OTHER POLICIES

Mr. Reynolds asked if the Council would like to have a time for council member reports at each meeting, even the workshops. He felt that sometimes he receives some information that is important, and that it is too long to wait until the next regular council meeting to report on it. Mayor Cereceda said she understood the purpose of the workshop was to be topical and not to take up business other than the stated subject. She is leery of having council member items at a workshop because it takes away from the purpose of the workshop. In addition, if the meeting was advertised as a workshop on a certain topic, then the residents are not expecting the Council to discuss anything else. Marsha Segal-George said it makes sense to have the opportunity to report at any meeting because it is the only time they have to share with each other and some subjects may lose their timeliness. John Gucciardo suggested naming the agenda item "Council Members Reports" so that people know that nothing will be acted on. Andy Priem offered to work on a section of policies and procedures for workshops. It was decided that at the next policies and procedures meeting, the Council should be prepared to discuss items 6, 8, 10 and 11.

V COUNCIL MEMBERS’ REPORTS

Mr. Reynolds thought it would be a good idea to have some guest speakers at workshops again. He suggested Elaine McLaughlin of TDC and the Sanibel Congestion Pricing Committee. Marsha Segal-George said that one of the agendas of the joint meeting with Sanibel is to talk about how the two cities perceive they are being treated by the TDC.

Mr. Isler reported that he walked Little Estero Island. He suggested that there should be some educational signs there. Marsha Segal-George said that the Town has asked TDC for signage there.

He also reported that Ms. Michalski, principal of Beach Elementary, showed him a large concrete pad (outdoor basketball court) behind the school. The goals are rusted and bent and the school has written a letter to the Town asking for help in replacing them.

Regarding future workshops, it was noted that there is only one workshop scheduled for the month of April, and that is the joint workshop with Sanibel on April 17. The Charter Review Committee will probably be requesting a workshop with the Council within the month. It is possible that the Fire Commission may request a meeting with the Council. It is also possible that the Council may need to schedule a workshop on towing. Mayor Cereceda said that the Council may have to schedule more than one meeting in a week in order to accommodate all these requests.

VI ADJOURNMENT

The Council adjourned to the LPA room at 7:15 PM. Jacque Owens gave an overview of the Town’s home page, the internet, and Office 97. The workshop concluded at 8:35 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Peggy Salfen

Recording Secretary