HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 09-03-1963• •
Minutes of Regular Meeting
City Council
September 3, 1963
A Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Cape
Canaveral, Florida was held at 7:30 PM, September 3, 1963 at the
Temporary City Hall, 109 Buchanan Ave., Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Members .present were: Mayor Richard R. Thurm, William Eberwein,
Jack Hurck, Eugene Jandreau,.F.L. Murphy, George Ritchie - City
Attorney, and Maxine Pearson, Deputy City Clerk.
The Meeting was called to order by Mayor Thurm.
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of August 20, 1963 were read.
Corrections under "Old Business" re "Library" - Members of the
"Civic Association: was changed to indicate the uiibrary Committee '.
Under "New Business'! re: paragraph one, .the ' resume of charges for
gross negligence re: the Building Inspector, should read "Mr. Hurck"
Instead of "Mayor Thurm'. Paragraph 4. , the part that states
next Tuesday's "Regular' Meeting . should be changed to read "Special"
Meeting - August 27th... ". Mr. Hurck made a Motion that the Minutes
of the Regular Meeting be approved. Mr. Eberwein seconded the Motion,
and they were approved by Mr. Jandreau, Hurck and Eberwein. Mr. Murphy
abstained.
Minutes of the Special Meeting of August 27o 1963 were read.
Mr. Hurck questioned the verbal resignation date pertaining to Mr.
Murphy. With no further discussion a Motion was made by Mr. Jandreau
that the Minutes of the Meeting be approved. The Motion was seconded
by Mr. Hurck. The vote was carried unanimously.
1. AGENDA: The Mayor asked permission to move Item 5 (BUDGE!)
to the beginning of the Agenda to clear up Old .Business. No objections
were stated so Mayor Thurm pointed out the following changes:
a. The City Clerk and City Administrator positions could
be combined into one with the salary of $7800.00 per year.
b.. The Fire Department would be appropriated $10,000.00 and
would have to be approved by the Council. At this time it can not be
definitely determined when this can be dispersed.
c. The Police Department would be given an additional
patrol car, equipment, and a $600.00 increase' in salary for the Chief
and two patrolmen for the forthcoming year.
hinutea of Regular Oeting - September 3, 19630 PAGE 2
d. Funds of $1,000.00 were included for street lights.
Mr. Murphy made a Motion to adopt the 1963 - 1964 Budget. Mr. Jan -
dreau seconded the Motion. The vote was carried unanimously.
Mayor Thum addressed the Council and Citizens regarding the
"duties of the Mayor ". The Mayor stated that several weeks ago, a
Councilman questioned him as to what he was doing to enforce the
Ordinances of the City of Cape Canaveral. The Mayor briefly empha-
sized that he cannot enforce or execute . these duties, unless he is
fully informed of the .Councilmen's actions and meetings. Mayor Thum
read a letter addressed to Chief Winnett, Police Department, informing
him of his termination of duty. Mayor Thum requested information
leading up to the circumstances of this letter. Mr. Westman, Attorney
representing the Building Inspector,' questioned the "letter of termina-
tion" received by his client. The Mayor stated he had no copy of this
letter. A Motion was made by Mr. Jandreau to put this issue next on
the Agenda. Mr. Murphy seconded, the Motion. Attorney Westman read
the "letter of termination re: the Building Inspector and asked what
charges were revelant.to his termination. Mr. Hurek stated he had
read a three page statement of charges previously, and was put in
the paper. Mr. Jandreau stated that there were "new" charges which
were his own, against the Building Inspector and that he, Mr. Jandreau
had requested the Building Inspector to resign. The Attorney again
asked clarification for these "new charges ". The Councilmen refrained
from further comments regarding the discussion. Much discussion and
questions were asked by the Citizens of the Councilmen, but the
refusals to answer were stated - that areason was not by law,
necessary as this was already made a Motion, seconded and voted on
unanimously . that the services of the Building Inspector was terminated.
Queries were asked by Citizens if the Chief of Police was still
In office. Mr. Murphy made a Motion to terminate the duties of the
Chief of Police now. Mr. Hurck made aMotion tabling the issue until
a Special Meeting was called. Mr. Jandreau seconded the Motion and
later withdrew his .Motion, asking the City Attorney how this should
be done,. legally. The City Attorney stated - thatin.: all fairness the
Chief of Police should have an opportunity to have an open meeting.
The Citizens demanded a vote of the council and the reasons "why" the
dismissal and what charges. The Mayor asked for retention of the
Building Inspector and the Chief of Police.
Minutes of the Regular Meeting - September 3, 003 PAGE 3
At 8:55 PM, A Motion was made by Mr. Hurck for a ten minute-
recess. Mr. Jandreau seconded the Motion.
The Mayor called the Meeting to order again at 9:05 PM and
reitereated that regardless of the Councilmen's refusal to answer
questions pertaining to the dismissal of the Chief of Police - the
Chief is entitled to a justification of this termination. A vote
was taken re: the termination,of the Chief of Police. The vote was
unanimously passed that the termination of the Chief was as of tonight.
it 01%v,
Mr. I)urek made a Motion appointing Mr. W.H. Wimberley as the
Temporary Chief. of Police as of tonight. Mr. Jandreau seconded the
Motion. The vote was passed unanimously.
2. The second item on the Agenda: Mr. Jandreau made a Motion
for the termination of the Building Inspector. Mr. Murphy seconded
the Motion. Mr. Weetman„ Attorney again asked if the Building Inspec-
tor has an opportunity to be re- instated, and if the client was
officially notified by laws of. the Charter. Mr. Hurck stated the
Building Inspector had other opportunities to come to his defense,
but has not done so. A vote was taken on the termination of the
Building Inspector. All voted unanimously in favor of the termination
of the Building Inspector.
3. Zoning Department: Mr. Jandreau made a Motion for an amend -
-IL 3c
ment to the Zoning Ordinance furnished to the City Attorney and put
in legal form. Mr. Murphy seconded, the Motion and the Vote was carried
unanimously In favor of the amendment.
4. Building Department: Mr. Jandreau made a Motion appointing
Mr. Jim Morgan as temporary Building Inspector, Mr. Murphy seconded
the Motion. Citizens questioned the qualifications specified by the
Southern Building Code. Mr. Hurck stated that a Building Inspector
must have five (5) years experience consisting of contracting,
supervision of construction, construction, and various other qualifica-
tions. A vote was taken to appoint a temporary Building Inspector.
The vote was carried unanimously for Mr. Morgan to the vacancy.
A Motion was made by Mr. Murphy to adjourn the Meeting.
Mr. Jandreau seconded the Motion.
The Meeting was adjourned at 9:30 PM.'
/ 2 I11Rxine R. Pearson
„l,(��� �c a,.�Q Deputy City Clerk
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