Board of County Commissioners

Gadsden County, Florida

Regular Public Meeting

September 20, 2016, 2016

6:00 p.m.

Present:               Brenda A. Holt, Chair, District 4

                                Eric Hinson, Vice Chair, District 1

                                Dr. Anthony “Dr. V” Viegbesie, District 2

                                Gene Morgan, District 3

                                Sherrie Taylor, District 5

                                Nicholas Thomas, Clerk of Court

                                Robert Presnell, County Administrator

                                David Weiss, County Attorney

                                Marcella Blocker, Deputy Clerk

INVOCATION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  Chair called meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. , asked everyone to stand for a moment of silence and then led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag.
AMENDMENTS AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA  Add presentation by Board and remove Item 6; add 13A-discussion of County Administrator’s contract V/Morgan 4-0
AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS AND APPEARANCES  Mr. Presnell asked Mr. Lawson to step forward. They presented him with a plaque to honor his retirement.
CLERK OF COURTS  Mr. Thomas was present said there needed to be a few budget amendments to close out the books for the end of the year.
CONSENT  Morgan/V 4-0
1.	Ratification to Pay County Bills
2.	Approval to Accept the FY 2016 3^rd Quarter Report
3.	Request Approval to Dispose of Surplus Property and Equipment
CITIZENS REQUESTING TO BE HEARD ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
	Kendra Snipe, 17 E. Jefferson Street, Quincy-voter registration-appeared before the Board and introduced herself as a neighbor, was registering voters.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
GENERAL BUSINESS
4.	Approval and Signature on the Fall 2016 E911 Rural County Grant Application for E911 System and MapSAG Annual Support and Maintenance  Mr. Presnell introduced item V option 1/Morgan 4-0
5.	Approval of the Annual Contract Between the Gadsden County BOCC and the Florida Department of Health for the Operations of the Gadsden County Health Department  Mr. Presnell introduced above item V option 1/Morgan 4-0
6.	Approval to Confirm Appointment of the Planning and Community Development Director   Item pulled
7.	Approval to Renew the Library Security Guard Services with Barkley Security to Serve the William A. “Bill” McGill Library in Quincy  Presnell introduced above item. V option 1/Morgan Hinson asked if proper procedures were followed 4-0
8.	Transportation Agreement Between the Gadsden County BOCC and Big Bend Transit, Inc.   Morgan asked if City of Quincy participating-were they asked-yes-did not want to participate-recommended they renegotiate V said was a particular driver that drives the Gadsden Express and on Monday was recognized by CRTPA-Nick Brown-been with BBT-moved to present him with plaque-Holt said to put that in his comments Holt said comments made by Morgan-V said if not under time restraints-table until have conversation with Quincy Morgan said saw no issue-need to be clear willing to fund half if they would fund other half-think right thing to do Morgan motion to approve option 2/Hinson second for discussion-makes sense 4-0 to table
9.	Approval of Mosquito Control Annual Certified Budget  Mr. Presnell introduced above item. Morgan/V Hinson had question-said during budget discussed adding another driver-did 4-0
10.	Approval of the 2017 Holiday Schedule  Mr. Presnell introduced above item V/Morgan 4-0
11.	Approval of Resolution 2016-021 for County Road 65A Bridge Replacement  Mr. Presnell introduced above item V/Morgan Hinson said he approved-makes sense but asked about difference in approving this & it not coming from person’s budget and $112,000 coming from his budget for stop light on Highway 12 Presnell said State picking up tab and there were approving resolution to let them design it and fund it 4-0
12.	Request for Approval to Renew the Contract for State Lobbying Services for Fiscal Year 2016-2017   Mr. Presnell introduced above item. V option 1/Morgan second with questions Hinson said saw firsthand what Lawson brought to table but what difference in what paying him-when asked about community center and he said couldn’t be done-what is he bringing to county Morgan said first wanted to commend Hinson for asking good question-has seen firsthand what he did for Florida State Hospital-thinks not only does he have extra teeth and if more than $10,000, one thing, asked for clarification-based on future in short distance-will be able to have benefit from relationship and can they have two firms. Presnell said Lawson has indicated has aide that works with him, have had discussion, if desire to continue lobbying services, will not be a problem. Holt said with regard to Doolin, went door to door, from one senator to the next one & covered everyone could cover, both worked together and willing to vote for both. 4-0
13.	Request for Approval to Renew the Contract for State Lobbying Services for Fiscal Year 2016-2017  Mr. Presnell introduced above Hinson/V 4-0
13a	COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR’S CONTRACT   Chair said this was her addition-have to have contract until next September V said his position was renew until September, 2017 to provide transition and Chapter 125 Florida Statutes provides them only to hire one position-County Administrator- Hinson said his thing was did not want to get into situation with lawsuit-if someone want to get rid of Administrator early next year, have to pay back benefits, etc-feels personally do month-to-month until find someone-unfair to other commissioner coming in- Holt said if he did not like date V said- Hinson said no problem with Administrator, problem with process Holt asked Morgan- Morgan said Hinson was right-been talking about this over year-had individuals come over to discuss matter-he said he tried and never got support-makes most sense to avoid disruption, need to ask him how long willing to stay-think they need to have him here for at least 1 year-very disappointed and as far as change in county commissioners, part of life.  Need to minimize disruption-not sure why they are finally seeing light-don’t like month-to-month-they are flying plane Holt said asked them to advertise Mr. Lawson stepped forward and said position has been advertised; will be presented & they can make decision-they can decide if want to extend his contract Holt asked attorney-can only hire one manager-there is termination pay-out-if they hire someone and terminate current administrator-will have to pay out contract Holt said hire manager, contract has to state go into Assistant, V felt at this point putting on professional hat-he pushed for succession plan and led to Mr. Long doing workshop-with that process now in place-he felt needed to provide this body with smooth transition-given condition-his suggestion was-if extend contract until 2017, current assistant leaves end of month and gives him chance to hire one and let him be learning goings on and process and hoped by October 2017 will have experience and he could come in and work with new County Administrator and would eliminate problem Holt asked attorney his opinion David said would be way to approach situation- Taylor appeared at this juncture of the meeting David said was will of Board-said let Administrator hire someone-learn and will be in place with new Administrator comes on board Holt said her question was advertising for administrator position, pay them the salary-David said did not take V’s comments that way V said training time-hoped Administrator would hire someone that had training and would be learning the history and operational working of county and then do search for new Administrator and by October 2017, should have new administrator in place and learn craft-looking at county having smooth transition Holt said once they renew his contract, he could hire someone tomorrow Hinson said felt need to be careful, looking at taxpayers dollars, before talking about approving anything, need to have knowledge and understanding, don’t want to make decision tonight that might cost county $-no agenda item, just going on that they think-wants to make sure it gets agendaed-look at contract first-give him chance as board member-Holt said this was for discussion Morgan said they were talking about CA position-need to extend to provide stability-have speakers come back, have them bring candidates to board V said was sworn into this position November 18, 2014 & second meeting talked about succession plan and getting one in place-he intentionally brought it up early-now assistant gone and no-one here to be interim-his focus was not about CA-but to provide smooth sailing without destruction- Pastor Charles Morris, 23201 Blue Star Highway, Quincy FL-said he had same discussion with commissioner 2 yrs ago-wanted to add personal comment-believed CA had dome wonderful job-another piece might be missing-values of county-could hire someone that does not fit the culture of county- Hinson said looking at taxpayer dollars- Taylor apologized for being late-heard comments about CA ability-this was service oriented service-morale, morale was good-work together and don’t mind coming-was able to add 25 more summer jobs and give raises because of his leadership-CA is first contact-giving him year felt was fair- will go with majority and what she hears echoing extend 1 year-said to CA-normally have on hat-hats off to him-said he had her compliments and support- Holt said had to come back with something-6months or until October-have had some managers she put motion in to send home-need options at next meeting-running out of time-suggested bring back 2 options and let him decide Taylor said understanding this was not agendaed item-added-this was for discussion only-CA said needed to know what to bring back- Morgan said imperative to instruct CA to contact Vince Long – Morgan said they failed V said thinks from where are-process started-position advertised-tomorrow start moving-review pool of applicants-if nothings fits-re-open-stop chasing tails
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
14.	Update on Various Board Requests  Nothing V had question-asked for updates-request to invite Mike and ? for presentation to board-status?  Status of retreat for job evaluation document for CA Status of request for County Park Authority CA said had been correspondence-will check with Laurel Retreat been on hold Conceptual design for park-St. Hebron-why asked to create park advisory council Hinson asked if board agreed on recreation center-Hinson said did not remember voting on it-remembered month and half ago-saw article saying coming soon-at time wrong message to community and wanted to make sure information out correct V asked if CA could respond-Presnell said they budgeted $50,000 to buy land for park-concept fully discussed by board-only thing doing now  asking for plans decent enough to apply for grant Hinson said agreed for more parks in county-noticed at Havana Heights have same issue with locks-not sure what going-don’t want to penalize ones that live there-have guy there now lives on second floor-has lot of health issues-what can we do-Holt asked if they could file class action lawsuit-David said private property can do what want if not violating laws-may be in violation of agreement and can’t say without seeing agreement-have tried to contact them and address concerns-not responsive at all Hinson said also asked to put sidewalk in front of Havana Heights-talked to peavey-not part of their contract-CA said he could use part of his paving fund to put sidewalk anywhere wanted- Morgan stepped out Curtis Young appeared before board Morgan returned Hinson thanked response team
COUNTY ATTORNEY
15.	Update on Various Legal Issues  nothing
DISCUSSION ITEMS BY COMMISSIONERS
16.	Report and Discussion of Public Issues
	Commissioner Gene Morgan, District 3
	Commissioner Sherrie Taylor, District 5  Taylor echoed sentiments of Hinson on job done during storm Presnell said 3 generators and are tested weekly-Taylor said need to have that know to other entities-schools, Sheriff Department know funds left over in paving fund-could be used for recreation-no restricted to paving, sidewalks, etc-asked for total amount left in district 5-finishing up third phase now-will be fourth phase if $ amts left over Holt said for looking at doing by district-have paving money for county-not going into cities to do paving
	Commissioner Anthony “Dr. V” Viegbesie, District 2  V said if recalled while on subject of paving-was told city roads and could not use-David said can potentially use gas tax $ if share road with municipality-because in best interest to pave road and share responsibility to pave entire road V said earlier regarding BBT-suggested giving commendation to Nick Brown-motion to recognize with plaque for driving so many miles without accident/Holt 5-0 Wanted to talk about the state of affair regarding health-asked they revisit position of health care coordinator-need someone to effectively coordinate to help get county more healthy-asking for creation of position with instruction to CA to prepare job description and document brought back to board for approval-David said suggestion since not emergency-agenda it-
	Commissioner Eric Hinson, Vice Chair, District 1  Thanked everyone that participated in help with storm Asked contracts that were up for bid-engineer on next agenda-had to delay until knew what final budget was
	Commissioner Brenda Holt, Chair, District 4  Holt said would like to publically thank everyone for things done during storm Hinson said wasn’t finished-about road cuttings-CA said printed schedule-will send to him Holt said could always ask CA and attorney questions before meeting to speed things along
Receipt and File
UPCOMING MEETINGS
17.	October 4, 2016-BOCC Regular Meeting – 6:00 p.m. October 18, 2016-BOCC Regular Meeting - 6:00 p.m.
MOTION TO ADJOURN  adjourned at 7:54 p.m.