08-14-1973 Special Meeting SPECIAL MEETING
MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE COUNCIL
August 14, 1973
A special meeting of the Miami Shores Village Council was held at
the Miami Shores Community Center, 7:30 p. m. on August 14, 1973, with the
following Councilmen present:
Mayor James W. Condit
Dean R. Claussen
Elwood Jones
Harry F. Smenner, Jr.
Absent: Raymond L. Clement
Mr. John W. McIntyre, Village Manager, and Mr. Thomas H.
Anderson, Village Attorney, were also present, as well as, approximately
300 Villagers.
The meeting was opened with an invocation given by Councilman
Jones.
Minutes of the meeting of July 17, 1973 were approved as written
by motion made by Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Smenner and passed. Con-
cerning the meeting of July 27, 1973, Mr. Jones wanted the minutes to reflect,
in regard to the fire merger, that he had not voiced an opinion pro or con this
proposal. Mr. Jones then moved that the minutes be approved as corrected.
Mr. Smenner seconded the motion and added that his comment on this subject
in the minutes should stand as is. The motion was then passed.
Resignation of Chief Thurman.
After the Village Manager had read Chief Thurman's letter of
resignation effective as of September 30, 1973, Mr. Jones moved that it be
accepted. The motion was seconded by Mr. Smenner and passed.
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Appointment of a Chief of Police & Fire.
Mr. Claussen moved that the Council appoint Lt. John Fletcher as
acting Chief of Police upon the retirement of Chief Thurman. The motion
was seconded by Mr. Jones. In confirming the Council's opinion Mr. Smenner
read from Lt. Fletcher's personnel record listing his college degree, extra
credit hours in all phases of police work and a recommendation of high regard
from Chief Thurman. The motion was then passed unanimously.
Proposal on merger of the Fire Department with the County.
Mayor Condit explained that this proposal had come up in the budget
preparation and after discussing it at a special Council meeting it was decided
to send out letters to the Villagers asking for their opinion and notifying them
of this meeting. Mayor Condit th.ankedthe citizens who had assisted the Village
office in getting out this mailing, that is Mr. Jack Fitzgerald, Mrs. Richard
McKenna and Mrs. Condit. The Village Clerk was then called upon to report
the results of the post card survey which was as follows:
Approximately 3300 letters were sent to homes & apartments
Cards returned . . . . . . 1093
In favor of transfer . . . . . 347
Against transfer . . . . . . . 746
Mr. Smenner then made the following motion: "I move that Miami
Shores Village continue to operate its Fire Department as in the past, and
that negotiations regarding the merger of our Fire Department with the Dade
County Fire Department be discontinued." The motion was seconded by both
Mr. Claussen and Mr. Jones and Mr. Claussen added "that we instruct the
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Village Manager to proceed with labor negotiations with the labor union. "
Dr. Robert Isham, member of the Rescue Advisory Committee,
emphasized that the emergency rescue service in Dade County is nothing
compared to what Miami Shores can give.
Mr. Dave Tracy with the Hallandale Fire Department, stated that
our firemen are trained paramedics, and that we should pay them what they are
worth and keep them.
Mr. Ken Stucker, President of the Miami Shores Property Owners
Assoc. , read a statement prepared by the Directors of the Association, in
which they went on record as opposing this merger.
Mr. Walter Graff, President of the Miami Shores Taxpayers League,
stated that they were very much against giving up our Fire Department.
Mrs. Herbert Sayers, 150 N. E. 106th St. , thought we should be
able to come up to the County pay for our firemen.
The motion was passed unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p. m.
Village Clerk
APPROVED:
yor