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04-16-1963 Regular Meeting REGULAR MEETING MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE COUNCIL April 16, 1963 A regular meeting of the Miami Shores Village Council was held at 4:00 o1clock P.M. , April 16, 1963, at the Village Hall, with the follow- ing Councilmen present: Dale Miller, Mayor John F. Saxon Dean R. Claussen Spencer W. Rudnick Joseph H. Walker Absent: None Mr. Thomas H. Anderson, Village Attorney, was also present. Minutes of the last regular meeting were approved as written by motion made by Mr. Claussen, seconded by Mr. Walker and passed unanimously. The next business was to canvass the results of the Council election held on April 9, 1963. The Village Manager read the report from the official Return Sheet signed by the election judges which indicated a total number of votes cast - 2129 which included 32 absentee votes and the following individual returns: Dean R. Claussen 977 Raymond L. Clement 1276 James A. Dixon, Jr. 862 Elwood Jones 1111 Maurice J. Lanken 377 William L. Peters 442 Spencer W. Rudnick 668 Mr. Claussen moved that the election returns be certified and approved as presented. Motion was seconded by Mr. Walker and upon a roll call vote the following results were recorded: 4/16/675 -2- Mr. Walker "Yes". Mr. Claussen "Yes". Mr. Miller "Yes". Mr. Saxon "Yes". Mr. Rudnick "No " . Mr. Miller then presented Mr. Walker with a plaque in apprecia- tion of his services rendered, as a Councilman during the last four years. Mr. Miller also presented a similar plaque to Councilman Rudnick for his services on the Council during the last six years. At this point Mayor Miller brought up the subject of a letter circulated throughout the Shores prior to the election which, he stated, reflected on the honesty and integrity of Councilman Rudnick and Councilman Claussen. Mr. Miller stated that the letter was not only uncalled for but was inaccurate and false in every implication made in the letter. Further, he stated that both Mr. Rudnick and Mr. Claussen have served with great honesty, integrity and with dignity for the past two years that he ]fad served on the Council with them and that, as Mayor, he did not appreciate the actions of any group of persons who had implied other- wise. Mr. Miller stated he wanted to congratulate both Mr. Rudnick and Mr. Claussen for their attitude and actions with regard to this letter. Councilman Rudnick then asked the Council to adopt today and direct the Village Attorney to prepare in proper form an ordinance patterned after the section of the Florida Statutes concerning the making of charges against can- didates within 18 days of the election, so as to eliminate any action as happened last week. Mr. Claussen thought it might be necessary to have such an ordinance but thought it should be handled by the neve Council. Mr. Claussen added that he wanted to go on record that the retiring Council strongly recommend an ordinance QV 4/16/61 -3- of this type to protect candidates in the future. Mr. Rudnick stated if the next Council does not pass such an ordinance they will be derelict in their duty. Mr. Walker then moved that the Council place this matter on unfinished business so that it will be carried over for the future Councills con- sideration. Motion was seconded by Mr. Rudnick and passed unanimously. Mayor Miller stated that the lack of honesty was brought to the attention of the people of Miami Shores concerning the addition at the Country Club and felt that the facts of this case should be known to the residents of Miami Shores since they have only heard one side of it and Mr. Miller asked for a motion from this Council that we send a statement to the voters of Miami Shores stating factually what occurred in the addition of the Country Club as referred to in this letter. Mr. Rudnick wanted to know if the Village intends to explain also the facts on page one of that letter. Mr. Miller assured him that this was also his intention and Mr. Rudnick then moved that the Village Manager be directed to send a letter out informing the people of Miami Shores of the facts as compared with what was written in that letter with regard to Councilman Rudnick and Claussen. Motion was sevond.ed by Mr. Claussen. In the discussion that followed Mr. Walker stated that he didn$t think the Council should take this action and thought it should let a little time elapse before making this statement. A call vote was taken with the following results: Mr. Claussen "Yes." Mr. Miller "Yes." Mr. Rudnick "Yes." Mr. Saxon "No. " Mr. Walker "No. " STATE OF FLORIDA ) SS MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE) I, RAYMOND L. CLEMENT do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution and will obey the laws of the United States and of the State of Florida, that I will, in all respects, observe the provisions of the Charter and Ordinances of Miami Shores Village, and will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of Councilman. So help me God. w Signa e SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 16th day of April, A. D. 1963. Circuit Court Judge STATE OF FLORIDA ) SS MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE) I, ELWOOD JONES do solemnly swear (or affirm)that I will support the Constitution and will obey the laws of the United States and of the State of Florida, that I will, in all respects, observe the provisions of the Charter and Ordinances of Miami Shores Village, and will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of Councilman. So help me God. Signature SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 16th day of April, A. D. 1963. 0 Circuit Court Judge 99 STATE OF FLORIDA ) SS MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE) I, DEAN R. CLAUSSEN do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution and will obey the laws of the United States and of the State of Florida, that I will, in all respects, observe the provisions of the Charter and Ordinances of Miami Shores Village, and will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of Councilman. So help me God. Signature SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this 16th day of April, A. D. 1963. Circuit Court Judge 4/16/6EP® -4- Mr. Saxon stated that, without getting into the merits .or demerits of what was said or written during the recent campaign and without questioning the honesty and integrity of any member of the Village Council, he was voting "No" because he does not believe it is the business of the city to send out such a letter. Mr. Walker stated he had voted "No" because he believes that this matter before the group is between the parties involved and is not a matter of the Council. He stated that he was sure that time in itself will prove the merits of both positions, whichever is correct. Mr. Walker added that he has worked closely with these gentlemen and has a high regard for them but believes it would be improper for the Council to take this action. He stated that future audits and future Country Club work by the new Council will reflect their thinking, and review is always open to anyone who is interested to pursue this matter. . But, r he continued, for us to take a group expression here involving any individual i Councilmen is a bad precedent and should not be followed and if a letter should go out he wanted to have it reflect his not voting for it. The motion was carried 3/2. Mr. Rudnick wanted the Village Manager to send out the complete minutes of the Council meeting of December 5, 1961 which, he stated, is enough to satisfy him. Judge Harold Vann of the Circuit Court of Dade County was then introduced and he administered the oath of office to the newly elected Council- men, Messrs. Clement, Jones and Claussen. The retiring Mayor, Dale Miller, stated he has been a great honor 91 4/16/636 to serve as Mayor of Miami Shores; that it has been a wonderful experience and he has enjoyed serving with the other four men on the Council. Mr. Miller stated he has learned from the others and that they have all tried to do the best job possible as he has done and is proud of having served the Village and is grateful to have served. Following these remarks Mr. Miller called for nomination for Mayor. Mr. Saxon stated, "In accordance with custom and tradition of past elections whereby the Council has selected the man who has received the highest number of votes in the election, I am proud to nominate Councilman Raymond Clement for Mayor. " Motion was seconded by Mr. Miller and passed. Mayor Clement stated that he would endeavor to keep Miami Shores the finest place in which to sive and in his first job as Mayor he presented the retiring Mayor, Dale Miller, with a plaque in appreciation of services well done for this community and for being our Mayor for the past two years. The Village Manager then added Mayor Millerls picture to those of the past Mayors. Bank resolutions were presented to cover the new Mayorls signature on all Village checks and upon motion made by Mr. Claussen and seconded by Mr. Miller, RESOLUTIONS NO. 424, 425 and 426 were unanimously passed. Miss Stanley, on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, invited the Council, Village Manager and Chief of Police, to attend the Chamber luncheon 4/16/63 12 -b- at the Country Club this Friday, as guests of the Chamber. Mr. Harry LaFontaine, 130 N. W. 92nd Street, asked to be heard and to question each member of the Council on his knowledge of the letter sent out prior to the election. Mayor Clement denied having any prior knowledge of the contents of the letter. Mr. LaFontaine stated that he intended to start a recall of the whole Council if something isn't done to clear,Mr. Rudnick and Mr. Claussen of the remarks made in the letter. The discussion was terminated by a motion to adjourn at 4:45 P.M. Vi lage Clerk Approved: -' Vi age ager. APPROVED: Mayo