HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-11-13 - City Commission Special Meeting Minutes5811 NORTHWEST 88TH AVENUE 9 TAMARAC, FLORIDA 33321
TELEPHONE (305) 722-5900
November 7, 1980
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING
CITY COUNCIL
TAMARAC, FLORIDA
Please be advised of a Special Meeting of the City Council
to be held on Thursday, November 13, 1980 at 10:00 A.M.
in the West Conference Room at City Hall.
The purpose of the Meeting is to conduct Interviews for
the position of City Manager.
Council may consider such other business as may come before
it.
The Public is invited to attend.
Pursuant to Chapter 80-150 of Florida Law, Senate Bill No. 368:
If a person decides to appeal any decision made by the City
Council with respect to any matter considered at such Meeting,
he will need a record of the proceedings, and for such purpose,
he may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings
is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon
which the appeal is to be based.
Carol A. Evans
Assistant City Clerk
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11/7/80
CITY OF TAMARAC, FLORIDA
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
November 13, 1980
CALL TO ORDER: Vice Mayor Helen Massaro called the Special Meeting
to order on Thursday, November 13, 1980 at 10:20 A.M. in the West
Conference Room of City Hall.
ROLL CALL: PRESENT: Councilwoman Marjorie Ketch
Councilman Irving Disraelly
Vice Mayor Helen Massaro
ALSO PRESENT
ABSENT AND EXCUSED:
City Attorney,Arthur Birken
City Clerk, Marilyn Berthol£
Mayor Walter Falck
Councilman Irving Zemel
Vice Mayor Massaro stated that the purpose of this Meeting is to
interview Mr. William Law, an applicant for the position of City
Manager.
Vice Mayor Massaro asked the City Clerk to notify Mr. Evan Cross
that, if he is available, the Council would interview him after
Mr. Law. (Mr. Cross indicated that he would be available).
Mr. Law was invited to review his personal, educational background,
as summarized in his resume. (attached)
Following Mr. Law's presentation, Councilman Disraelly and Council-
woman Kelch asked questions specifically relating to Mr. Law's
professional career to which Mr. Law responded that:
The move from Pensacola to State government was not a political
appointment, but was a career improvement and explained the reason
for the state appointment, then a transfer to Boca Raton where there
was a problem between himself and the Council resulting in his
voluntarily leaving; and the problems seemed to remain with his
successors. Arvida was not involved in the politics of the City
or to have been a part of the problem.
Councilwoman Kelch asked Mr. Law to present his viewpoint of the
effectiveness of the City Manager/Council form of government and
how he thinks it is most productive.
Mr. Law responded that the Council/Manager form of government is a
very effective one when a good working relationship is established
among the Council, Manager, Department Heads and employees. Having
a professional staff on which to depend for information makes this
form of government more effective, for instance, than a strong Mayor
form of government. The Council/Manager form of government offers
stability, business type approach to government and gives the
department heads a resource with which to work in the form of a
knowledgeable supervisor.
In response to a question by ... Councilwoman_Kelch as to why Mr. Law
applied for this position.and is he familiar, generally, with the City;
he stated that he was generally familiar with Tamarac,"having been
through the City a few times. He feels he should move to the City
if he was given the appointment, that Tamarac is very attractive.
He is anxious to be a City Manager again, on a selective basis.
Mr. Law believes he has a forte in budgeting, finance, personnel,
public relations. His former staffs would like him to return to
former position because he is fair, consistent, but a firm
administrator. He indicated that, at this point, he doesn't have
a cadre of people to accompany him to Tamarac.
on
11/13/80 /lc
Mr. Law stated that he had Utility Management experience in both
Pensacola and Boca Raton and explained the situations.
Councilwoman Kelch questioned Mr. Law on his philosophy with respect
to the City providing services to the residents through the depart-
ments or the City contracting with the specialized businesses in
the private sector to supply services. In the long run, Mr. Law
stated that it would cost the City more money to contract for the
service performed if it is on a continuing basis. However, there are
areas that would be cheaper for the private sector to perform the
service in lieu of the City. An annual review and evaluation of
cost effectiveness of the individual programs should be made to best
serve the City.
Mr. Law, in response to a question from Vice Mayor Massaro, stated
that while he would not insist on a contract, he would like to have
a letter of understanding to include salary, fringe benefits and
severance arrangements. He didn't want to be specific on salary
_
desires, etc.
Mr. Law stated that he had a general awareness of the physical layout
of the City, as well as the situation as it relates to Management and
staff. He would like to use the first two or three months as a learn-
ing period. He emphasized a study of both utility systems, their
assets and deficiencies, etc.
Vice Mayor Massaro questioned whether Mr. Law had been fired from any
job or left under difficult circumstances other than Boca Raton, to
which Mr. Law responded in the negative. Mr. Law agreed to giving
the City written authorization to perform a past employment check.
Mr. Law, in response to a question by Vice Mayor Massaro, stated that
he believes in controlled growth and explained his point of view.
Mr. Law wondered whether Tamarac has, or would like to, establish a
list of goals and objectives to achieve for a specific period of time.
Vice Mayor Massaro referred to the Five Year Capital Improvement Plan.
Mr. Law questioned and discussed the City's litigation situation with
Mr. Birken.
Mr. Law was questioned on his feeling of the Council reviewing bills to
which he stated that he believes that that would be a satisfactory
situation.
Mr. Law and Councilman Disraelly discussed the frequency of attendance
in City Hall. by Council people by whom Mr. Law was employed in the
past.
Discussion was held concerning a time frame in which Council would
require the position to be filled, etc.
Vice Mayor Massaro explained the Council liaison system whereby each
Councilperson is assigned, by the Mayor, an administrative area to
monitor for the whole Council. She asked Mr. Law for his feelings
on this system.
Mr. Law stated that he has no objection to such a system; however, he
has two concerns. One is that the Council may not want to, as a group,
establish policies, practices, etc. that relate to a specific area
of interest. The Manager has to work for the entire Council; there-
fore, must do what the majority wishes.
Secondly, a Councilperson would then be expected to devote more time
to the job than desired which may cause him/her to become irritated
thus taking it out on the staff.
Mr. Law stated that while he doesn't object to this type of system,
he would expect the Council to, collectively have a responsibility
to the Manager to express to the Manager what their interests are.
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11/13/80 /lc
Councilman Disraelly clarified the system by stating that the Council
doesn't estabish administrative policy or problems, if they observe
a problem, etc. it is referred to the City Manager.
Further, Councilwoman Kelch explained the restrictions of the Charter
where Council is required to approve most operations in the City.
Discussion was held concerning personnel policies.
The interview was then concluded and Vice Mayor Massaro thanked Mr. Law
for his attendance.
Another Meeting will be set for additional interviews.
The Meeting was adjourned at 11:45 AM.
ATTEST:
J
CITY CLERK
This public docummt was promulgated at a cost of $ 3 or $ per
copy, to inform the general public and public officers and employees at out recent
opinions and considerations by the City Council of the City of Tamarac.
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APPROVED BY
11/13/80 /lc
J
Born:
Height:
Weight:
Colonie, New York
February 23, 1930
RESUME
of
WILLIAM H. LAW, JR.
PERSONAL
Mailing Address:
10010 S.W. 133 Street
Miami, Florida 33176
5' 10" Telephone: (305) 232-0006
225 lbs. Marital Status: Married - 4 children
University of Pennsylvania
Wharton School - Fels Institute
University of Maine
History and Government Department
Troy High School
Troy, New York
F.nT7r.ATTnXAT.
DATE DEGREE
MAJOR
Feb/59 MGA
Public
Sept/57
Administration
June/57 BA
Public
Sept/53
Management
June/49
General
Sept/44
The two university programs are considered among the best in the nation. Both were
accelerated, heavy duty formats. Maine had heavy engineering and business exposure
as a part of the Public Management Program; Pennsylvania stressed administration,
personnel and finance. Maine's course was oriented toward small jurisdictions and
Pennsylvania's was directed toward larger operations. Between the two schools, I have
an educational background in: Administration; Finance; Personnel; Labor and Management
Relations; History; Politics; Highway Construction; Public Relations; Municipal Law;
Accounting; Statistics; Surveying; Sanitary Engineering; Health; Police and Fire Admin-
istration; Assessment; Zoning; Planning; Federal and State Government. Other fields
associated with business and governmental activities were also explored during my
formal education.
ASSOCIATIONS
International City Management Association; American Society of Public Administration,
Gold Coast Chapter, Founder and Past President; Florida City and County Managers'
Association, Board of Directors; Florida League of Cities, Municipal Finance Committee;
Florida ,atlantic University, College for Public and Business Administration, Executive
Advisory Committee; Guest Lecturer for University of West Florida and Florida Atlantic.
MILITARY
United States Navy June 1953 Electronic Technician
Honorable Discharge July 1949
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EXPERIENCE
POPU- NUMBER OF
AGENCY DATES TITLE LATION EMPLOYEES
Dade County, Florida To date Assignments 1.7 mil. 17,000
Jan/76 noted below
Currently Special Assistant to the Manager with responsibility for negotiations relating
to major projects with goal of establishing a minimum or non -tax support funding base
for major zoo complex, major stadium and other similar activities.
Previously responsible for directing revenue producing facilities which included: five
golf courses, five marinas, two camp grounds, three parking lots, parking garage, public
gun range, thirty food dispensing sites including full restaurant, lease monitor for
privately operated facilities such as seaquarium and restaurants, all of which was ac-
complished within a proprietary fund. These activities have been placed in the Park
and Recreation Department.
Prior assignment was to direct a multi -faceted support agency, General Services Administra-
tion, which included: architectural design and construction of public buildings; pur-
chasing; insurance and risk management; mobile equipment fleet; central stores, printing
and mail service; building maintenance; property leases; electronic communications;
energy conservation and projects requiring interdepartmental coordination.
Initial position was as Staff Assistant to the Manager in areas of building and zoning;
airports, seaport and labor relations.
Boca Raton, Florida May/75 City Manager 49,000
Dec/72
710
Chief executive officer responsible for all municipal functions and services such as
police, fire, utilities, garbage collection, etc.
Tallahassee, Florida Dec/72 Staff Director ---
Jan/71
11
Directed staff effort to review, analyze and prepare legislation in the Committee's
area; approximately 15% of all legislation introduced in both houses.
Pensacola, Florida Jan/71 City Manager 59,500
Oct/65
950
Chief executive officer as noted above (Boca Raton); also with major utilities, regional
airport, seaport and two -county library function.
Between 1958 and 1965 I served as Chief Administrator in Irvington and Franklin Township,
New Jersey; Woodstock, Illinois, as well as Guttenberg, Iowa. These communities ranged
in size from 53,OOO.to 1,800, respectively. In each municipality I have been the chief
executive officer, negotiator, administrator. Collectively, these positions provided
me with wide administrative experience in small, medium and extremely large organizations.
In addition, extensive opportunities in land planning, data processing, building and
ground maintenance, recreation, governmental relations, utility operations, labor re-
lations and personnel administration were realized.