BCC Minutes 05/20/1980 W
Naples, Florida. May 20, 1980
LET IT BE REME'~ERED, that the Board of County Commissioners in
and for the County of Collier, and also acting as the Governing Board(s)
of such special districts as have been created according to law and hav-
ing conducted business herein, met on this date at 1:30 P.M. in Workshop
Session in [luilding "F" of the Courthouse Complex with the following mem-
bers present:
VICE-CHAIRMAN: Thomas Archer
CR. "Russ" Wimer
John A. Pistor
David C. Brown
CHAIRMAN: Clifford Wenzel - Absent
ALSO PRESENT: William Norman, County ~'anager~ Tony Pires. Assist-
ant County Attorney; Terry Virta, Community Development Administrator;
Lee Layne, Planner; Mary Morgan, Administrative Aide to the Board;
Louis Capek, CAPC; William Walters, CAPC; William McGrath, CAPC, Steve
Martin, EAC and Jean Swindle. Deputy Clerk.
AGENDA
1. Advisory Board Policy re Alternates
DISCUSSIO~l RE ADVISORY BOARD POLICY - CHANGE IN PROCEDURE FOR FILLING VACANCI
TO BE INCORPORATED IN CURRENT ADVISORY BOARD POLICY - APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNAT
TO ALL ADVISORY BOARDS TO BE REINSTATFO
Vice-Chairman Archer stated that Chairman Wenzel would be absent
from the Workshop session due to an unavoidable conflict 1n appoi~tments.
Mr. Archer reviewed the item on the agenda, saying that the removal of
alternates from the membership of the Advisory Board~ (said policy adopted
by the Board of County Commissioners on April 17, 1979) had been implemented
because there was question as to whether or not there was an equal distri-
bution between the five districts and the appointments to the various committ
Since that time, though, there has developed a problem in having the proper
quorum present for the individual board meetings particularily during such
times as vacations, illnesses, etc. and the questions to be discussed during
this session will be as follows:
1. Should the positions bf "Alt~rnates. be reinstated for
the various Advisory Boards?
BO~K 053 PACE ~14f
May 20, 1980
2. Are the resumes of those interested in serving on
the various boards to be distributed to the chairmen
of these boards and staff with their combined recom-
n1pntation tn IJ1tirniltely be submitted to the BCC for
approval?
Mr. William Walters, Chairman of the CAPe. before stating the
membership's stand on the agenda item, asked that the legal que~tion of
110W many members torm a quorum be answered as there is a difference of
opinion expressed in the relevant State's Special Act and the local Or-
dinance. (State's Special Act qualifies a quorum as being "5" members
while the local Ordinance states .:I quorum consists of "4" members)
After research, Asslstant County Attorney Tony Pires said that the word-
in9 of the Special Act applies only to the proper number of members
on the board, not to the number that constitutes a quorum, and the least
number of members to be a full board is five (5). Continuing, Mr. Walters
said that t.he CAf'C had o[lerated quite successfully when the procedure
was to have the seven (7) member board with two alternates, saying that
previous mBnbers have been appointed according to their capabilities, avail-
~bil;ty and lastly, the district in which they reside. He asked that
the "alternates" be reinstated as part of the Advisory Boards Policy then
requested that the BCC consider the ~rocedure of having the senior alternate
move up into any future vacancy with the concurring appointment to be for
the second alternate. In this way, Mr. Walters explained. there would be
incentive for the two alternate members to remain in their posltion of
alternates until such time when the opportunity to "move !.i''' wo~ld present
itsel f.
Mr. Lou Capek, member of the CAPC. concurred with Mr. Walters'
statements and explained that it had taken him some six (6) months to be-
come acouainted with the duties and requirements of the board before
he felt comfortable, ind;cating the: members that hold the alternate posi..
tion could use this time in the same manner. He stated that the majority
of advisory board members think of themselves as "volunteer technicans"
not "political appointees" and with this basic attitude, futJJre members
should be appointed according to their dedication, capabilities, talent
May 20, 1980
and lastly, the location of their residence according to districts. Mr.
Capek stated that in the past, a~plication~ of interested parties have
LJeen relayed to the appropriate advisory group for a review and a personal
interview with the most feasible applicant following which a recommenda-
tion was made to the BCC requesting their approval. It was Mr. Capek's
opinion that this was the best method of procurement as it would be in
the best"interest of both the advisory board and the BCC.
Mr. McGrath, member of CAPC, emphasized the need of having the
cha i rman of the ,1 ppropri ate advi sory board screen the appl ica t ions and
hold a personal interview with the most qualifying applicant, acknowledg-
ing that the forthcoming recommendation would have to be approved by the
llCC. He also suggesteci that the two following areas be considered in
the screening process:
1. Whether the applicant being consider~d can make a con-
trihution
2. The extent of the demands that such an appointment will
make on the prospective member.
Following this discussion, Vice-Chairman Archer voiced the con-
sensus of the fJllard as bei ng: The amending of the present Advi sory Board
Policy to indicate that resumes of interested persons will be sub~itted
I
to the Staff: then the Chairman of the respective advisory board together
1
with the Staff "ill review and interview said applicants following which
a tecommendatlon will he made to the BCC for their approval.
t Mrs. Joyce Hancotte, resident of Golden Gate Estates, asked if the
decision concernlng the applications and made by the above-referenced per-
i
sons would be binding to which Vice-Chairman Archer replied they weuld
t;
be recommendations only. He also asked that I.lrs. Hancotte forward her
written resume to the Staff in order that her application for a vacancy
on the CAPe could be reviewed. Additionally, Commissioner Archer stated
that Chai rmiln \~enzel had left a statement with him which approved of
the proposal of "Alternate advancdllent" placing his emphasis on the process
work i ng for the good 0 f the County ra ther than on the 1 oca t i 011 of the pro-
spective member's district.
BOOK 053 PAGE'342
lOOK 053 PACE 343
May 20, 1980
COlTlTlissioncr Brown stated he had no personal policy regarding
this item but did mention that he, himself, has no alternate to sit
on the [lCC I'lhen he i ~ absent and if the advi 50ry boards can operate
without such, lie would just as soon not have them.
Connlissioner Wimer was in accord as was COlTTllissioner Pistor.
Mr. Steve Martin, member of EAC, spoke in favor of the reinstatement
of the alternates.
Discussion followed which ccvered the amount of absenteeism that
would warrant the compulsory resignation of a member; the proposal that
al ternates "move up" to fill any vacancy leaving the resulting appoint-
"~nt to be for an alternate; the cost of approximately $2,000 annually
to serve on the CAPC that a future memtrer should be made cognizant of;
Conrnissioner Pistor'~ and ~lr. ~lartin's cOlTTllents that the time spent being
an alternate is well spent on the learning process; Commissioner Wimer's
statement that each COlTTllissioner will have the opportunity to "recommend"
dn alt~rnate instead of a r~gular member; and the concurrence by the BCC
of the rt:instaternent of the "alternates" for the Advisory Boards.
Vice-Chairman Archer stated it was the consensus of the Board
that the procedure of "alternates" be reinstated and incorporated in the
present A']vi5or~' [Joanl Policy; that the "advancement" theory be employed
for all alternates end that resumes from any interested persons wanting
to serve on any of the Advisory Boards be accepted.
There heing no further business to come before the Board,
the meeting was adjuurned by order of the Chair: Time: 2:30 P.M.