March 24, 2008
Monday
Meeting Minutes - Board Meeting
8TH FLOOR
5:30 pm

CALL TO ORDER By President Ellis at  5:35 PM 

ROLL CALL Genia Ellis, Tom Welch, Richard Mancuso, Ron Centamore, Gabriel Ocasio-Davila, Dennis Ulmer, Ray Dettman, Betty Hays – Late -  David Marshall, Excused, - Betty Shelley & Reid Morgan
REVIEW AND ACCEPTANCE: Meeting Minutes February 25, 2008 were reviewed and accepted with corrections as noted.
    
TREASURER’S REPORT by Ron Centamore was presented and accepted at the March 18th General Meeting and provided for information at the Board Meeting.

ANNOUNCEMENTS/GUEST INTRODUCTIONS

NEW BUSINESS:

1. General Meeting April 08, 2008 – Agenda is to consist of the Goal Setting discussion for the 5 items for the upcoming year.  Each association is to highlight the five items for the council to address in the upcoming year.  Items identified on the report provided at the General Meeting are the only items to be considered.
2. Committee Duties and Postings were discussed by Richard Mancuso.  Each Committee is to post their meeting schedule on the web for public participation.
3. The Citywide Garage Sale was discussed with Betty Hays agreeing to identify and arrange for 2 port-o-lets for the upcoming event.  We will buy cheap locks and lock them on Friday when they are delivered before the event.  Gabriel Ocasio Davila and Ray Dettman volunteered to assist with assigning spaces and getting vendors into position on the Saturday morning.  It was noted that we will need other from the General Membership to participate to make this a successful event.  Progresso Village would like to take the primary food concession for a fund raiser and advised that they would let Genia Ellis know.  It was understood that there will be other specialty food vendors (like the bread concession) etc. should they buy a booth.  Each District Representative and board member was given a set of flyers to be posted throughout the community and to encourage people to bring goods to sell.    Further discussion will be held at the General Meeting in April.

OLD BUSINESS

1. Dues notices for upcoming year have mailed and each District Representative has been provided with a list of all associations in their District, any with outstanding documents and asked to make a call to those associations to assure that they rejoin.
2. Tom Welch advised that the refreshment list is current through the fall and would address any needs in the future.
3. Dates for the upcoming Candidate’s Forum have been set and advertised as January 29, 2009, Thursday prior to the Primary, and February 26, 2009, Thursday, prior to the General Election.  Further information will be available as needed.
4. Committee Reports and Update – Crime Committee has not submitted its meeting minutes.
5. Current and complete member/alternate list for 2008 is being generated as applications for the upcoming year are process.
FOR THE GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY

 President Ellis raised the discussion regarding one of the announcement under “For the Good of the Community” at the general meeting on March 18th 2009.  The item of concern raised by Ron Centamore and Ray Dettman was regarding the announcement issued by the FOP that a “No Confidence” Vote had been issued regarding the performance of the City Manager, George Gretsas and the Assistant City Manager, David Hebert.  Genia Ellis provided the following information, any item that is not on the agenda for discussion and noted for a vote will be presented as an announcement or a request to be an agenda item at a future meeting.  Only items announced and advertised as being available for a vote would be voted on.  Concern and dismay was raised by Ron Centamore and Ray Dettman that they were not permitted to question guests that were in attendance.  

Ron Centamore left the meeting with Richard Mancuso however discussion continued and based on a motion and second, Chief Bruce Roberts will be invited to speak at our May meeting based on a set of questions that will be generated and provided ahead of time.  It was noted to all in attendance that questions regarding the contract negotiations would not be entertained as this is a closed door session between the Commission and its staff and the Union.  The public is not a participant.

Further, at the request of President Ellis, consensus was reached to write a letter to the Commission on behalf of the Council requesting an expedient conclusion to outstanding issues in discussion under the union negotiations to insure that the public safety is not impacted any further.

Meeting adjourned at 6:55 PM
       
*Indicates voting items

General Meeting – Tuesday– April 08, 2008 7-9 PM - 8th Floor

Board Meeting April 28, 2008 – 8th Floor
NOTE: 
Two of more Commissioners and/or city board members may be present at this meeting.

Resolution Letter referenced above

March 24, 2008

City of Fort Lauderdale
100 N. Andrews Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, FL. 33301

Attention: Mayor Jim Naugle
  Vice Mayor Carlton Moore
  Commissioner Christine Teel
  Commissioner Charlotte Rodstrom
  Commissioner Cindi Hutchinson

Mayor and Commissioners,

By resolution of the Board of Directors of the Council of Fort Lauderdale Civic Associations at the March 24, 2008 meeting, we would strongly encourage all participating parties in the FOP union contract negotiations to reach an expedient conclusion. Continuing concerns have been voiced by our membership regarding the obvious lack of officers on the street and the delayed response time to calls.  While we understand that contract negotiations are on-going, escalating public concern regarding public safety has brought the subject before our membership with increasing frequency.

A concerted effort on the part of both parties to reach a reasonable and fair conclusion is in the best interest of the public.  Please send all parties back to the table and keep them there on a fixed schedule until a conclusion is reached. 

Sincerely,
Eugenia Duncan Ellis
By Direction of the Board
Eugenia D. Ellis, President
Council of Fort Lauderdale Civic Associations

Cc: George Gretsas, City Manager
      Chief Bruce Roberts
      Jack Lokeinsky, President, FOP