1.

Welcome

  Holt welcomed everyone to workshop at 4:01 p.m.

2.

INVOCATION, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Chair asked for moment of silence and led in Pledge of Allegiance.

3.

CITIZENS REQUESTING TO BE HEARD (3-Minute Limit)

Anyone wishing to speak on agenda items or non-agenda items should schedule or notify the County Administrator’s Office before attending the meeting and will be asked to follow the Gadsden County Public Meetings Citizens Access Guidelines.  Also, public comment for Commission meetings can be submitted via email to CitizensToBeHeard@gadsdencountyfl.gov until 11:00 a.m. August 17, 2021.  Comments submitted after the deadline but prior to the meeting will be added to the official record, but the County cannot guarantee that Commissioners and staff will have adequate time to review comments prior to the meeting.

   Commissioner Viegbesie read the statement aloud.

   Bishop Willie C. Green, 296 Bradwell Road, Quincy, FL - Budget appeared before the Board. 

Mentioned and hoped they would consider some things.  Budget process most important process.  1-any of groups requesting $ should have come before them before got to this point to stress why they should be in budget; should be accountable for funds have received;

  V stepped out 4:07 p.m.

  V returned 4:10 p.m.

4.

Introduction/Overview

  Georgette Daniels addressed the Board.  She said they had made a few adjustments to budget.  As Clerk pointed out at first public hearing his budget stayed same and they had indicated they had put in increase for FRS and for insurance but failed to follow through with that on paper and is done.  She said in Clerk IT area is increase of $21,619.00 and in Board finance area was increase of $29,776.00 and were minor increases they could not cover.  Also did little adjustment in their own IT, increased licensing so all employees could have emails.  Increase is $24,168.00 and will cover new IT Tech person that will handle radio communication area.

NeSmith asked if going through by line items.  Holt suggested to let her finish her presentation.

V asked where changes coming from, if they had a copy of the revised budget.  She explained it was transfer with Clerk and was based on increase with health plan, FRS and contributions required to make.  We had indicated had put in budget…Holt asked if already budgeted and Daniels said was General Fund transfer and was small amounts were able to shuffle things in budget to make sure was covered.

  V asked with changes made, is there a balance budget-yes.  What amount have in reserve?

  V said should have those numbers and be directed where numbers coming from. 

  NeSmith asked to start at top so can wrap head around it.

  Commissioner Green appeared at this juncture of the meeting 4:24 p.m.

  NeSmith asked about different budgeted item. 

  V said to expedite process, suggested they give credit to Administrator and staff that they know what needed to run government. 

  Hinson said Daniels highly intelligent person, doing multiple jobs and what told to do.  Been on Board for while, very visual and want to see things, made corrections such as aides and normally when that happens, get whole new budget so can see it.  He emailed Administrator, staff, attorney, clerk, etc. that would like to have whole new budget before meeting and have not seen it.  Think need to wait until properly advertised so citizens can see it, Commissioners can see…Think should adjourn, come back Friday when have new budget, advertise meeting so can be seen, be transparent, give budget to Commissioners so they can see it, and then go line by line. 

 Green asked if has been properly advertised and according to Hinson’s comment, info not out there.  Asked about deadline, will they have what needed to make sound decisions.  When can they have updated budget?

  Holt said entire budget not reprinted every time have meeting. 

  Green said with inserts, when could they expect that?  Daniels said she can provide.  The details NeSmith asked for is in book. 

  Hinson said first, the sheets talking about, their responsibility is for whole book.  In past, started budget season earlier in May and June.  Said this was County Commission meeting not County Administrator.  They should give him directions and him bring back to Board.  Said in 2020 Dr. Grant was Administrator and had ½ of staff and had everything in and everything done right way.  FS 129.03 says public should have access to this budget on the website 2 days prior to meeting so citizens can look at it.  Had budget hearing last week, not one citizen raised their hand and could not see on website and should be on for 45 days after.  We have to go by Florida Statutes, not by “he said, she said”.  Need to do right way and move on.  We should have another meeting in Friday, bring whole thing back showing changes made. We’re dropping ball. 

Daniels said meeting was advertised

 Hinson asked for attorney to enlighten.  Are they in line with FS?  Knowles said no and sent couple of emails.  Required to post tentative budget 2 days prior to first public hearing and don’t know what or if there is penalty for that.  Need to do that.  Not for him, not for them but for citizens.  It’s before the public hearing and keep on there for 45 days and post final adopted budget and must be on website for 2 additional years.

  Holt stated this was workshop not public hearing.

Daniels said public hearing advertised on TRIM notice sent to every property owner in county.  That is advertisement for first public hearing.

  Knowles said advertising not issue, budget is required to be on the website 2 days before.

Holt asked Daniels if posted, Daniels said yes.

  V said going back to what talked about earlier.  What Daniels reading from was made available to them as they arrived for meeting.  He also said no words that could express how grateful he was for staff.  Before adjourned last meeting, he asked when document would be made available to citizens and was told the next day.  Can she slip paper to staff and have copies made? 

 NeSmith said as sitting here now, is budget on line?  Daniels said budget summary is on-line.  Asked Knowles if was statutory requirements?

Knowles stated did not think so.  Think document they were looking at in books was the tentative budget; budget summary was different.  Tentative budget was all line items, Revenue, Board account, Department budget…

Holt asked what statute says.

Knowles said it states tentative budget and summary not budget.

NeSmith said County Administrator was reacting (came in and was sitting in audience).  Holt said going to get to him.

Holt said when have situation, and have had them before, had before when lost Administrator during the budget process.  Have that in turnovers.

 Holt asked if Dixon had anything to say and he stated no.

Holt asked if could get copy that Daniels wanted to insert and bring before Board?

Daniels asked if could recess and Holt asked for 10-minute recess.

 Hinson said think fair to citizens to show respect that they post budget today, have workshop Friday and won’t look like trying to circumvent anything so can be transparent.  He said to adjourn this meeting, come back Friday, post everything on website so can be seen.

 V said based on what Hinson said, think very good idea.  Friday would be good day for workshop. (Dixon approached podium.)  Have public hearing on Monday and will have budget to adopt.  Asked if budget could be uploaded tonight, make changes available to them Friday.  Don’t know what we’re doing right now.

  Holt asked Administrator, one looking at on-line now on screen, staff told her has always been there.  Dixon said that is total budget that they asked to be posted will be posted in next 30 minutes.  Holt asked what posted now and he said budget summary.  Holt asked if need to have 2 public hearings next week?

  V said had one and one next week. Was pointed out need two.

Leslie Steele, PIO, interjected and said tentative budget, the entire budget, there are 2.  Go to Finance page and both there.

  Holt asked that budget be placed back on the screen so can scroll through.

V said knew they were all under pressure, right now one hand not know what other hand is doing.  We should have been told when question was asked if was on-line

 Holt asked again for budget to be put back up.  When was posted, Holt asked how many pages it was and was told 2 ½ pages.  Holt stated not whole budget, was summary sheet.

Holt asked attorney when he found out this error occurred, date and time?  He said sent email Thursday at 3:30.   Also sent email on Monday that concerns not posted.  He said simple thing to fix.

Holt asked when had public hearing and Knowles stated Thursday.  When looked for budget, did not see it before meeting.  Holt stated staff under impression summary was what had to be posted.

Steele said budget not posted at all last year until after budget process completed and approved and Knowles stated not true.

Holt said not to discuss that, go ahead and see if can fix.

 Dixon said attorney is always right.  Information was privy to in regards to what received from Revenue, followed that information.  Reached out to powers that be that said continue on, posted budget just as soon as and followed what they believed to be the law. 

 Holt asked to nail down dates so staff knows what they were looking at because still have to meet October 1^st date.

 Knowles said key is finalizing budget, finalization of budget must be no less than 2 days and not more than days after first public hearing.  Can do first public hearing and two days later adopt final budget.  Have two weeks to do this.  Suggested do more time to be safe; have first public hearing Thursday or Friday and have next public hearing 2-5 days after first public hearing.  Cancel Monday and as long as done by Thursday, 30^th, should be good.

 Holt said do Friday, Sept. 24^th for first public hearing and Thursday for second

 Holt said to attorney expecting him to tell them, send to them in email, needed to tell them something out there.  Not beating up on him and he said not trying to beat up on anyone,

Knowles said trying to make sure is complying.  If pass budget and doesn’t go through, will fall back on him and Administrator.   

Holt said need to adjourn and V said wise thing to do. 

  V asked if could advertise multiple meetings at same time?  Knowles will check.  V said will save money and save time.

  Holt thanked Hinson for bringing this matter up. 

  Green said no meeting on Monday-correct.  Dixon said will advertise on Democrat. 

 V said since finding this situation, why not use Monday for workshop. 

 NeSmith wanted to make sure understood what happened.  Asked Knowles and CA was this just fact that was a misunderstanding as to what determined what was posted?  Knowles said did not look on Tuesday to see what was up and this is just getting things right procedurally.

 Dixon said he had different opinion, he thought summary would be ok.  They reached out to DOR and thought was doing right. 

 Holt asked when have things like that, want it in writing. 

  Holt said this means they will have public hearings back to back and have no time to stumble.   

  Holt stated needed 3 people in Budget.  Dixon said working on it. 

  NeSmith said appreciated her emphasizing the need for the Budget department.

5.

Board of County Commissioners Priorities and Direction

MOTION TO ADJOURN

  Adjourned 5:22 p.m.