HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Council 020309 - WorkshopI CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS
2 CITY COUNCIL
3 WORKSHOP MEETING
4 FEBRUARY 3, 2009
5
6 The February 3, 2009 Workshop Meeting of the City Council was called to order at 6:00
7 p.m. by Mayor Eric Jablin.
8 I. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
9 H. ROLL CALL
10 Present: Mayor Eric Jablin, Vice Mayor David Levy, Councilmember Joseph Russo,
11 Councihnember Jody Barnett and Councilmember Robert Premuroso.
12 Also seated at the table were City Manager Ron Ferris and Interim City Attorney R. Max
13 Lohman.
14 Mayor Jablin noted that tonight's meeting is a workshop so no comments will be taken,
15 nor will the City Council be taking any action.
16 III. WORKSHOP
17 Mayor Jablin stated there was no set agenda for the meeting and asked for comments.
18 Vice Mayor Levy stated that during his five (5) years he has come to admire and respect
19 each member for their contributions and expressed his respect for staff members and
20 stated he has found everyone to always have the best interests of the City at heart.
21 Councilmember Russo stated we have an excellent City Manager and an excellent City
22 staff and a way must be found for all to work together and he believes all
23 Councilmembers should get all of the same information.
24 Councilmember Premuroso stated he has a good relationship with staff and they have
25 been very attentive.
26 Councilmember Barnett stated she has no communication with the other four
27 Councilmembers except during meetings and she would prefer information come from
28 the City Manager when she asks.
29 Councilmember Russo stated that in the future each member should report on any
30 special task at each City Council meeting.
31 Councilmember Premuroso supported Councilmember Russo's suggestion that
32 meetings attended by individual Councilmembers be reported at the subsequent City
33 Council meeting in accordance with Councilmember Barnett's request.
34 Councilmember Barnett reiterated that she wasn't looking for information from the
35 other Councilmembers, but looks to the City Manager for background information that is
36 pertinent to anything that the City Council may vote on in the future and finds the weekly
37 telephone conversations with the City Manager beneficial. It was agreed that the City
38 Manager is available to Councilmembers by telephone during off - hours.
39 Interim City Attorney R. Max Lohman explained appropriate communication for
40 Councilmembers.
41 Vice Mayor Levy stated that getting information can sometimes require patience.
42 Councilmember Russo stated he believes trust, respect and good communication with
43 each other is necessary and believes the meeting has accomplished its goal in putting the
44 City Council back on track.
45 City Manager Ferris explained he will communicate directly with the Councilmembers
46 or direct someone to do so through telephone, e-mail or face -to -face meetings. Staff is
CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS COUNCIL WORKSHOP PAGE
02.03.09
I excellent and it is impossible for all communications to come from the City Manager. He
2 stated he does not like to provide information that is premature or incomplete. He
3 encouraged communication with both himself and staff to develop a team with
4 confidence and trust in each other. He stated his commitment to making weekly
5 telephone calls to each Councilmember and for Councilmembers to call him if they do
6 not receive a telephone call from him.
7 Councilmember Premuroso agreed that the telephone calls are very helpful.
8 Mayor JabTm clarified that if he speaks to staff he will let the City Manager know.
9 Councilmember Premuroso requested a telephone call from City Manager Ferris on the
10 Friday following the City Council agenda distribution.
11 City Mana¢er Ferris stated he would try to keep that schedule.
12 Councilmember Barnett reiterated City Manager Ferris stated he likes to disseminate
13 information after the process is complete, but she likes to have information during the
14 process. She stated past problems with the budget preparation process and asked for a
15 round table discussion in the early stages of preparation and not wait until the process is
16 complete.
17 City Manager Ferris stated he would like to have a meeting prior to the round table
18 discussion to discuss his role and City Council's role in the budget preparation process.
19 Mayor Jablin thanked everyone for their participation in the meeting.
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IV. ADJOURNMENT
Councilmember Russo made a motion to adjourn.
Vice Mayor Lew seconded.
Motion passed, 5 -0.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:16 p.m.
APPROVED: Z
Robert G. Premuroso, Councilmember
ATTEST:
Z��'
Patricia Snider, CMC
City Clerk
Note: These minutes are prepared in compliance with 286.011 F.S. and are not verbatim
transcripts of the meeting. A verbatim audio record is available from the Office of the City Clerk.
All referenced attachments on file in the Office of the City Clerk.
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