INVOCATION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

  Chair Viegbesie welcomed everyone to the meeting and called it to order at 1:03 p.m.; asked everyone to bow their heads for a moment of silence and then led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the U. S. Flag.

Amendments and Approval of Agenda

  Dr. Grant asked to add Item 7 Resolution in Support of Medicaid Expansion for State of Florida.

COMMISSIONER HOLT MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED AND CHAIR VIEGBESIE MADE THE SECOND.  THE BOARD VOTED 4-0 BY VOICE VOTE TO APPROVE.

Chair Viegbesie said Commissioner Morgan was unable to join the meeting today due to unforeseen circumstances.

CONSENT

  Dr. Grant said the Consent Agenda was before them.

COMMISSIONER HOLT MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AND CHAIR VIEGBESIE MADE THE SECOND.  THE BOARD VOTED 4-0 BY VOICE VOTE TO APPROVE.

1.

Cr 268 Adams Street sidewalk LAP Agreement

2.

CR 159 Dover/Scotland Road Guardrail LAP Agreement

3.

CR 153 Iron Bridge Road LAP Agreement

CITIZENS REQUESTING TO BE HEARD (3-Minute Limit)

Due to COVID-19 and the efforts of the Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners to continue the practice of social distancing, Commissioners want to continue to hear from citizens under the Citizens Requesting to be Heard section of the agenda.

If citizens have any questions, comments, or concerns, please email CitizensToBeHeard@gadsdencountyfl.gov and anticipate receiving a response within 48 hours.

The Board of County Commissioners would like to thank everyone for their patience and flexibility during this time.

  Chair Viegbesie read the COVID-19 statement aloud.

  Perry Koussiafes, Havana, FL (email attached at end of final Minutes) concerning the curfew.

   Jackson Sumpton, Honolulu, HI  (email attached at end of final Minutes) concerning the Confederate Statue

  Jessica Sykes (email at attached at end of final Minutes) concerning the mural

  Commissioner Taylor responded to Ms. Sykes, heard her concerns; at the beginning and also was interested in the mural becoming multi-cultural.  She explained they had reached out to some of the physicians that would have made it diverse and was in the Minutes that she was vocal about that; however, the reason it was not brought up that night was some of those physicians that were being considered had not been spoken with by the time of the Commission meeting and timing was an issue at the time.  She added that she was not in favor of removing the mural in its entirety but she was in favor of making it more diverse and thought that would be a step to help the community come together, grow together and be together.  However, she did not have any confirmation at the time from any of the physicians so she did not speak out at that time.

GENERAL BUSINESS

4.

COVID-19 Resolution 2020-29 Update

   Dr Grant introduced the above item.

  Mr. Knowles explained the changes in the above Resolution, and said there were no changes other than the curfew being changed to 12:00 am to 4:00 am to facilitate walks.

COMMISSIONER HOLT MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AS IS AND CHAIR VIEGBESIE MADE THE SECOND FOR DISCUSSION.

Commissioner Taylor said she had no problem with the curfew changing to 4:00 a.m.

  Commissioner Hinson concurred with Commissioner Taylor on changing the curfew.

  Commissioner Holt said currently the curfew was keeping the elements at hand, if people were staying home, they were better off.

  Chair Viegbesie said in looking at the trend going on in the Country, Florida alone had 3,200 and Gadsden County had 319, 57 hospitalized and 6 deaths. He did not think this was the time to be relaxing the requirements.

  Commissioner Taylor said in listening to him, few weeks ago he was ready to get rid of the masks altogether.  She added there were other extenuating circumstances that has caused the increase in numbers other than someone taking advantage of walking at 4:00 a.m.  She added that this vote looked like it would be a 2-2 and asked that it come back when they had a full body to discuss.

Chair Viegbesie said he was not a “narcissistic, pathological psychopath that does not understand that when you see things change, you need to change the way you think”. 

  Commissioner Holt said with the elements she was talking about, if people were staying home and that was what they wanted them to do, then they do not change and allow them to get back out there and was what she was concerned about.

CHAIR VIEGBESIE CALLED FOR THE VOTE.     

COMMISSIONER HINSON             YES

COMMISSIONER TAYLOR              NO

COMMISSIONER MORGAN          ABSENT

COMMISSIONER HOLT                   YES

CHAIR VIEGBESIE                             YES

MOTION PASSED 3-1

5.

Joint COVID-19 Mitigation Re-Opening and Returning to Work Plan

  Dr. Grant introduced the above item and stated it was for approval to administer the Gadsden County, Chattahoochee, Greensboro, Gretna, Havana, Midway and Quincy Joint COVID-19 Mitigation, Re-Opening and Return to Work Plan.

   Commissioner Taylor asked if what was in front of them altered what they have done thus far or confirms it.  Dr. Grant said it confirmed what they have done and allowed them to move forward or go back if necessary.

Commissioner Taylor asked if there was anything additional the public needed to know.  Dr. Grant said this was a road-map to open up everything and how it should be done.  Commissioner Taylor asked if this had to do with the Board room being opened up and he stated it had to do with opening any facility in the County.  She asked if the next regular meeting would be open to the public and Dr. Grant stated should be and she asked what would hinder it and he stated with the spikes, he did not know what would come about.

  Leslie Steele, the Public Information Officer, pointed out the room capacity in the plan.

  Commissioner Taylor asked if this Plan would be made available to the public.  Dr. Grant said it could be shared, but after it was approved.

  Dr. Grant added not only were the cities’ names in there but they participated thoroughly in developing the document.

  Commissioner Holt asked how they would handle the mask wearing when people were not following it.  She wanted to make sure they could put “teeth” into the Ordinance in enforcing the mask ordinance.

  Mr. Knowles said he was not sure if they received his message this morning, Monroe County implemented an Ordinance requiring mask usage until June, 2021.  He stated this was done via an Ordinance so it has more “teeth” in it.  What Gadsden County was passing is Resolutions and they have to be updated every week and was costing the County money, Staff time, etc…

Commissioner Holt said she wanted to make sure they had the opportunity to change it later if they wanted to update it.

Mr. Knowles explained they could update the plan, for her specific question regarding mask usage to have “more teeth”, they would need to enact an Ordinance for that purpose.

Chair Viegbesie asked if a Resolution was as strongly binding as an Ordinance and Mr. Knowles replied no. 

Commissioner Holt said she did not want people to say that people were being allowed to come into businesses and they were not requiring masks and they should be available if they wanted customers to come in.  Mr. Knowles said that might be legally difficult for them to achieve to “force” a business to purchase masks.  Commissioner Holt stated they would not have to purchase them, she was saying if the person did not have one, (the rest was inaudible).

COMMISSIONER HOLT MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE AND CHAIR VIEGBESIE MADE THE SECOND.

  Commissioner Taylor said she would like to see this document put in the form of an Ordinance at some point soon

  Chair Viegbesie said his understanding was the aspect of what she wanted framed into an Ordinance would be the wearing of face covering or everything on the plan.  Commissioner Taylor said to carry the motion on the floor and they could digest the plan a little more to see what needed to be taken out and put in form of an Ordinance.  She said she had not had a had a chance to look at the plan yet.

  Commissioner Hinson said with the spike rising, he did not want to send the wrong message to the community; he could not support this today.

  Chair Viegbesie asked Commissioner Holt if she heard Commissioner Hinson’s comments.

CHAIR VIEGBESIE CALLED FOR THE VOTE. 

COMMISSIONER HINSON             NO

COMMISSIONER TAYLOR             YES

COMMISSIONER MORGAN          ABSENT

COMMISSIONER HOLT                   YES

CHAIR VIEGBESIE                             YES

MOTION PASSED 3-1

  Chair Viegbesie said they should strongly consider cutting back on the meetings they were having; did not think

  Holt said to show spreadsheet.  V said request was made yesterday for spreadsheet.

6.

2020 Summer Youth Program

  Grant introduced the above item and said this was to suspend this program this summer and add funds allocated for the 2020 program to the allocated to the 20/21 fiscal budget.

  Holt asked if this could be done during a regular meeting. 

  Hinson said need to send strong message to community that the Board supports them. 

Hinson said to keep at $100,000; strongly recommend Board follow Staff’s recommendation.  Keep $100,000, then go up or bring down $10,000 as need to do.  Was hoping Staff could be creative so kids could still work this year, but support staff.

  V said Staff also said Sheriff asking for additional $1.6 Million and if going with suggestion presented Sheriff will additional $1.6 Million.  Item in question is for $50,000 for this fiscal year, which is what Staff is saying should not be spent but carry over and guarantee it in addition to whatever is appropriated for the next fiscal year for that program.

  Holt motion to approve/V second

  Hinson said Sheriff makes great judgments sometimes and if he thinks there is need, we need to at least need to give to the Sheriff what he needs as well. 

Chair called for roll call vote.

COMMISSIONER HINSON yes

Commissioner Taylor asked if he understood the vote and stated he must not.  Commissioner Hinson asked what the vote was.  Chair Viegbesie stated the motion was recommendation of Staff was to hold in reserve, guaranteed reserve, the $50,000 from this year to add to whatever was appropriated next year, which was saying that the Summer Youth Program for this summer, this year should not be carried out. 

Commissioner Hinson changed his answer to no.

COMMISSIONER TAYLOR n

COMMISSIONER MORGAN absent

COMMISSIONER HOLT y

CHAIR VIEGBESIE y

Motion failed 2-2

7.

Medicaid Expansion for Certain Qualified Adults under the Age of 65 in an Effort to Address the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency

  Taylor motion to approve/V second

COMMISSIONER HINSON y

COMMISSIONER TAYLOR y

COMMISSIONER MORGAN

COMMISSIONER HOLT y

CHAIR VIEGBESIE y

4-0

  Grant asked for direction for people that are calling for Summer Youth Program for this year.  Holt said to let them know that due to the virus, there is no program this year and they will be looking at it during the budget.

Taylor said item was approved for 2019/20 fiscal year; if time and opportunity permits, have to implement that line item because was just voted down to move it; has to be implemented if time permits now. 

V asked what was response of business partners.

  Lonyell Butler, HR Director, appeared remotely before the Board and said made the effort to reach out to partners that have been utilized in the past.  They were not in favor of participating this year, they were looking at insuring safety and sanitation of their locations in order to bring their staff back and some are not even bringing staff back and opening until latter part of July and was what helped them come to recommendation of suspending plans for Summer Employment until next year.

  Holt said that was why she suggested to address this in the Budget workshop and to carry this over to the net fiscal year.   

  Hinson said wanted to point out there was still free Covid testing every Wednesday from 1-6 p.m. at the Health Department and can call 850-329-0685 to make appointment.

MOTION TO ADJOURN

  Adjourned at 2:06 p.m.