Oh, you're an attorney, too. God bless you. >> What's that? Yeah, exactly. [laughter] Don't be funny. I don't remember you. I'm just joking with And uh so the charge dropped, right? I walk away. That's it. Right. And I'm moving on. No
attorneys. You're an attorney. Do you agree with that? Can't kill a dead man. Walk away. No. Absolutely. I didn't walk away. What was I charged with? >> Think about what? >> No. I love Phyllis. I love you know how
much love I've always had for you. She you truly I mean you're a sister. So um no I get charged with attempted murder. >> Well understand that. Now bring up this city. This city the FBI in this citizens crime report revealed that out of the
100 safest cities in this state north beach ranked number 95 >> under the time. >> Yes. You have three minutes. >> That's it. 95. >> 95. Number 95. >> Next speaker, please. Thank you so much.
>> She's going to yield her three minutes to me. Thank you. Thank you very much. >> Next speaker, please. >> Thank you very much. So much. >> Thank you so much. Um, the FBI citizens crime report reveals up, sir. >> She just yielded her time to me. Ma'am, >> we're going to move to the next speaker. >> No, no, ma'am. No, no. Did you study the
city charter? I'm one of the original title holders in this sound, my young lady. I get my time. She yielded her time to me. >> She yield. That's allowed in the court. That's allowed in Senate in the House of Representatives. It's allowed here. She yielded her time to me. We're number 95
out of the 100 safest cities in this this Florida. In Florida, this state. Our murder rate is more than three three times triple the national average. I mean, good lord, we're making Opalaka look like the Vatican.
And our police department has lost its accreditation. The only police department in the nation that lost its accreditation. It's not an accredited police department. All under the opices of this man, our mayor, our chief executive. Also, ergo the
president of the city of North Miami Beach. >> All right. Thank you. >> That's it. >> Karen Harold. >> God bless. >> Joey, if Joey, if Phyllis is your sister, what am I? Well, you're both my sisters. Oh, wait, wait, wait. Thank you
so much. Let's keep it moving, Madam Cl. It's okay. >> All right. Karen Herald, resident of North Miami Beach. Thank you for your service. >> She called me. I don't think he spoke for three minute. Anyway, whatever you want to do. I did, but he didn't speak for the three minutes. Do you do you
want me not to speak? >> You didn't use it all. >> No. Anyway, I just want to say thank you to the mayor, vice mayor, all the commissioners, city manager, and to the city attorney. Thank you for serving us, the residents of North Miami Beach. And
I just ask that you make this process of finding our next wonderful city manager very transparent, and that you look out for us. It's our tax money that goes towards creating that budget. We live here. I just had a shooting on 5:30
Saturday afternoon right on the corner of my house. Rash Low is going alive. But I came here. I came here because I care about the city and I want you all to care about us and not pick somebody because it's easy. Go through the process. Do the background checks. Be
transparent. Okay? We need you to watch out for us. Thank you, >> Maril Hawk. And then Irene Pelinger. Good evening, mayor. Where is him? commissioners and um
city staff. My name is Mara Hawk. Um I am a proud resident of North Miami Beach. Um I am here tonight because the
position of city managers is one of the most important decision you will make for our city. We deserve a process, a process that is completely transparent,
um, professional and fair. I respectfully ask, ask that you do these two things. First, do not appoint anyone to this uh
to this position until an exhaustive um and proper back background check has been completed and um [clears throat]
completed appropriately. Sorry. [snorts] Uh, second, give residents the right to observe at least one public interview with the candidate or candidates.
rushing to an appointment. A pre-selected individual at this meeting without these basic steps will feel like a lack of respect, accountability,
and fairness to the people who live here and pays the bills. We are watching the process very closely. We trust that you will choose openness and integrity
over a speed. Thank you for your service to our city and I pray you all will have the wisdom to do the right thing. Um I would like to say this today I called
like over 30 people and 25 told me that they could not come here but they would be washing on live because they want to see the third
things done too. Thank you. >> Irene Pellinger and then former Commissioner Barbara Kramer. Good evening. My name is Irene Pillinger. Um I sent you all uh an email. I only um got a response from one
of you. So um that was so encouraging. Um, so my understanding is that the way this process is working, each commissioner is supposed to select three recommendations
from an approved list [snorts] of qualified candidates. The number of selections published with the list attached to the today's meeting has a total of 22 recommendations.
If seven people each have three choices, the maximum number of selections should be 21. And I'm not really good at math, but I mastered that little thing there. It seems to me that someone submitted
more than three recommendations while others may have stuck to only the three allowed. That makes this an unfair playing field. Secondly, some candidates don't seem at all qualifi excuse me at all qualified. Although I didn't read
all the resumes, the very first one belongs to a person who managed a lacrosse team and worked in a restaurant and a few other little jobs. How is it that any commissioner supports
this person to manage the city? Would you allow a physician's assistant to perform heart surgery on you or be open to having a plumber set your broken leg?
How is it that a commissioner has such poor judgment to give this person one vote for lack of better word? [snorts] I'm thoroughly disheartened that any of our elected officials would make a choice like this. Throwing away your
recommendation on an unqualified applicant diminishes the process of choosing the person who is most likely to succeed in leaving our city. In my opinion, having a track record of turning around a city's budget from red
to black in a single year is pretty good evidence of being qualified. In my opinion, ignoring this and putting forth a candidate who is good at the grill of a restaurant reflects poorly on your judgment and shows the public that you
are qualified to make important decisions on our behalf. >> Amen. Please get it together and ensure that you adhere to the process you agree to and that there is someone overseeing the process who has the backbone to make
sure the rules are enforced. It doesn't bode well when it seems that we haven't even been able to execute the first step of the process correctly. >> Thank you and the best of luck to you. I want to recognize North Miami in the
house. Thank you for coming. We love you. >> Good evening. I don't know where the mayor is, but when the public's talking and especially about something this serious, the fact that he's not sitting up here is not only insulting, it's very
discouraging to the process that's about to be before you. Um, I am unprepared, which is kind of unusual. Oh, I'm sorry, Barbara Kramer. >> I'm unprepared. I just, you know, can't tell you how many phone calls I've been
on this weekend today. I mean, it got to the point that I was actually ordered not to talk about the city yesterday from my husband, whose birthday it was. Happy birthday, honey. I know you're watching. Um anyway, I don't understand why the names of each um that each of
you submitted has not been um sent to me. I did a public records request. The apparently the clerk still hasn't received that. This is public knowledge. You have it. You have it right with you now. And I think that needs to be brought by the forefront. We all need to
know who you put in place because as one of our residents said there's 23 names and it's rumored that some people might have put in four but some people only put one which is ex which is just shocking. There should be three names by each of you. So I would like for you all
to hopefully ask um for this information and bring it forward this evening. Um there's so much concern about this manager appointment. uh our city continues to move sideways. It moves backwards. It it goes nowhere. Um we need an experienced city manager with
proper credentials and proven leadership of many employees, not just a few. We need transparency. We need accountability. We need background checks and we absolutely need an interview process that we can all witness.
wake up NMBB would like nothing more to implaud your decision in the upcoming weeks that that it'll take to do it. Um we don't want to constantly have to shine a light on this city. We we want to um applaud you and not always show
the misgovernance that we keep seeing by many of you. So please get this right. Please turn our city around. K. Joim then Leven Jean. >> She's first. >> Ladies first.
>> Thank you. >> Good evening, mayor, vice mayor, commissioners. My name is Kitley and I reside in the city of North Miami Beach. in the years that I've lived. First of all, I would like to
thank Andrew Platkin for stepping up in this position. [applause] I know it's not easy. >> It takes someone with backbone to put their name on this list to want to be
city manager of North Miami Beach. I've lived there here in the city and I am telling you the things that we have all seen the ones of us who have lived here have lived here since 1995. The city managers that have been chewed
and spit out. It takes someone who really wants to do right by North Miami Beach to apply for this. So I thank each and single candidate that have applied. I'm sure they have watched us over the news. They have gone into
YouTube and see what most members of this commission of other commissions have done to the people that h were our city managers. I've spoken I think all of you by now should know
where I stand. I've uh given you the candidates that I feel um that the people that are with me think would be able to do this job. But at the end, it's up to
them if they really want to step up into the city because we have not really been very cordial or when it comes down to be civil. It has gotten really nasty
when this commission, this body or others have had to let people go. So, I want to thank of thank you all candidates who have put your name on this list. I really care about you and I really love the city of North Miami
Beach. Otherwise, I would have left a long time ago. So, I'm asking each and single one of you on this body, take your time, do the research, and really do pick the right person
because you have some great candidates, but you all know where I'm at. So, have a wonderful evening. Thank you. There you go. Good evening. My name Leven Sajin. Before I start, let me clap my hand for my police officer. They
always do a good job. Guys, folks, you do a good job in this area. I'm watching you all the time. When I call you guys, you never couple second you come to my house. Couple second when I see something, you always be there. So, I'm so happy for you guys. Police officer. You always working hard. You know
exactly how to talk to the people. you know exactly how to manage the situation. Now I'm talking to the city mayor. The new mayor came in. I heard about that. That's why I came here for that. Thank you guys. And I would like to ask the mayor, the new mayor in the city, the council in the city. You guys need to
help us in this community. First of all, I'm the homeowner. I live in Miami Beach 29 years. I know a lot of faces of front know my face, but I need your help. I need help for everybody in this area. Not even that when the
election came in, you need us. No, I need you now and you need to help me now. I got problem in my house between about 2 years from now. Never result. I went to the city fighting for the um problem when uh the inspector came in
always company always give us problem but I need that to be done. I'm tired about that. I love my area. I love my community, but I wake up for us. We need to fight for us. That's why I need I need you guys fight for us. And also I
request that on the street east drive need to repair. I don't know who's on charge. The east drive need to be repaired. When the accident came in, you guys are in trouble. The sidewalk need to be fixed. The road need to be fixed. They never fixed between 29 years. Crack
everywhere. That's why need to be done. I request that to the young ladies behind me. She know what I'm talking about. She's coming to M was to make a picture. But I'm not satisfied. Nobody do nothing. But at this time, please help this community. Help each drive.
Remember the Jackson hospital. All employer Jackson car pass by speed up. We need a speed bump in this area. Please let our kids play in this in the sidewalk. We need a speed bump. Too many car driving. Speed, not
highway. I don't want something happen now trouble channel 10 channel blah blah blah I don't want that so if I'm in leave of this area I need to fight for my community that people know me please my name leven I need you I need your
help guys I need your help thank you >> Daniel Pier and Trish Good evening. [clears throat] My name is Daniel cuz my address is 15 1524 nor distant court. Okay.
So tonight I am here tonight to speak to my neighbor because our commissioner we vote we choose you.
My neighbor they send me here tonight to tell each of you thank you. Thank you. Cuz for the good job, y'all been done in
my neighborhood. Cuz we've been fight for that thing for a long time. Long time. Nothing ever evident. So, so far
at this year all seven [snorts] of you listen to us to our neighbors. You make everybody happy. Thank you very much. Keep doing good job. Cuz now
another thing each of you, everyone up here vote for you. vote for each of you. We put just and you and everyone will put you here. We don't go
out to vote just like crazy. We vote for for anything like that cuz we living in the city. We care. We spend money. We pay tax. We have to choose the
good people who could lead us to do thing for us for everyone [clears throat] not one group for everyone who live in that city. So you have power to choose
any one your leg he could do the job. the city manager. You got the key to choose it. Don't be afraid. Scare anybody
say thing different about us. We put trust in each one of you. You do good. You can you not going to choose someone who don't have no experience for that position. send three month,
five month, we have to looking for the another one. Now you all got my vote. My neighbor, you got my vote. Choose. Don't be afraid. >> Do the best thing for the city. Choose whatever you let the city, you choose
it. That's my neighborhood. That's why they send me here to tell you do your job. Fine. Don't be afraid. Do the thing. Everybody, I put trust in you. You all doing good. All right. Thank you. >> Time
>> Trish, >> Trish Miller. I live on Lake Moffett over here uh on 171st Street uh where it floods every single time it rains. And anybody who comes down there knows there's there's a
wake. Um, and then it dissipates after a while. I don't know what causes it, but it'd be nice if the city would look into uh what causes us to to have to deal with that every single time it rains. But that's not what I'm here for. Here
to talk about discipline. We're about to appoint a city manager. And the city manager has to be somebody that we trust and somebody that has the stones to say, "No,
no, you can't afford that. No, you don't need to be doing that right now. No, you need to look at the bigger picture and look at the neighborhoods that have not been serviced, the neighborhoods that need you over here,
and you need to think about what the people need." And sometimes it's hard to listen to somebody who says no. Suz Orman is a financial advisor and I don't know how many people here are familiar with her, but she has a show
and she has people come in and they say, "Well, Suz, I've done this my whole life and I've saved up all this and I've worked very hard and I really want to take this trip on the Queen Mary over to England." And she'll go, "You can't
afford that. And it's hard. People think they deserve it. You think you're commissioners. You think you want to go on trips. You think you deserve it. You got this far. But we are a city. You represent all of us, all
the people. And we need you to be fiscally responsible. And we need to care for all of us. And you need to think about if I do this today, what does that mean down the line? If I hire somebody who's just
gonna yes me to death, where's the discipline? Without discipline, there is no success ever in anything. Discipline, internal discipline, not the kind where you beat somebody, but internal discipline is the precursor to
success and everything. And that's what our city needs. And we need somebody who will carry a big stick uh and not be afraid to say no and not be afraid of being fired because they're honest. And that's my fear.
So, I hope you all put your heads together and we get the best possible person. Thank you, >> Bruce Lamberto. Good evening, Bruce Lamberto. Um, as Trish just mentioned, you know, we
have an opportunity here to pick somebody with a backbone. Somebody that's going to be able somebody that's going to be able to count to [snorts] four or five or six, you know, instead of just one or two because that seems the way our city's being run. We have
some honorable people up here, but your voices aren't being heard. you're being overshadowed by the mayor, maybe one or two of the other strong commissioners here with Big Mouse. Um, we talk about the flooding issue. We have a lady that lives over by Ruth that
lives on 174th Street, has to have kneedeep water to get to her front door. Our public works director came out there and looked at it and said, "Yeah, this is a problem. Uh, you don't have drainage here in the street in front of your house. It's going to take a lot of
money and a long time to fix this. Well, we had a a quarter inch deep puddle 4T in diameter in front of one of our commissioner's houses over in Eastern Shores. All of a sudden, all of you vote for to to spend $253,000 to repave a street that was just
recently repaved. We didn't have that money. We didn't have that money to do traffic calming. We moved the traffic calming to next year so that we can use that money to pay for some emergency uh storm water repairs on 164th Street, but yet we had the money to come up with to
pay this thing. And I'm I'm really disappointed because this affects one commissioner, but we have seven up here, six up here, and you guys should have the intestinal fortitude to tell say, you know, we're not going to vote for this. This is our this is taxpayer money. We're not going to play these
special games. And this is just one example. This this goes on with other issues that are here. The only way we closed our budget this past year was by taking $12 million out of our reserves. And the mayor's real proud that we left 5 million there. We left 5 million for
you people. What are you going to do this year? We're still in deficit spending. We're still spending $12 million a year more than we're taking in. We're not cutting back. And where are you going to get the money when budget time uh comes up um nine months
from now? Millage rate increase. I mean, I guess that's the only option you're going to have unless you cut spending. And stuff like this Japan trip and Morocco trip and all these other trips everywhere else is not you don't do that when
you're when you're when you owe money. you know, if we had a big budget surplus, have at it, you know, but we don't we're not there and you guys aren't doing anything to to cut it back. So, I'm just hoping that we do hire a strong manager,
not somebody that's already employed here because it's just going to be more of the same. You need somebody that's outside the city to come in and have the backbone to say no to the mayor or a commissioner. and everything of substance should go before all of you.
>> All of you should vote on a trip to Japan or some other >> Thank you. >> extraneous feature there. Thank you, >> Mr. Mayor. That was the last line speaker. [clears throat] >> You >> Oh, okay.
>> Good evening everyone. My name is Mubarak Kazan. Thank you for inviting me. I want to thank the staff. This is the end month of the year. A lot of staff had responded to residents cleaning the alleyways,
chopping trees, you know, a lot of things and I just want to reach out and thank them all. Thank you very much too, Mr. Mayor, um, city manager, interim. Um, tonight you're here. I don't think
you're here according to what I heard from Mr. together. This tonight is where you're going to narrow the field down to a smaller group and then they would be getting a vetting process.
You would be getting a background check. This city is under the operation table to get a heart surgery. That is how bad we are. The ship is sinking. We need a captain who can take this ship
across the straight safely. We need a surgeon who can do heart surgery really well. Not the janitor who was walking and give you a smile and you oh man that that person smiled at me so nicely. Let
let them do the job. It it doesn't work like that. This is not your own cook shop. According to Mr. Geller, he said, "If you running a shoe store, manager for a shoe store or or a burger a burger joint, don't apply for the job. You have
to get experience." That is what we're looking for here tonight and onwards. This is just one of the process to begin the process of hiring a proper city manager. We've had as soon as we fire somebody,
a name is pushed out right away. No vetting, no nothing. The person who came we buying buildings without the right appropriate funding using wrong funds and all of these things that that was a city attorney that you
had hired. We need to be careful. We hired friends. We hired friends of friends. It didn't work out. If most of you were here for like at least the last 8 years, six 8 years and if you have not learned anything
over the last 6 to 8 years of the mistakes that we've made hiring people then you do not deserve to be there. I think Mr. Chernov you probably there now for like 20 years. You you have good experience in hiring.
We need somebody right now to do a heart surgery. This is what we need. Not a friend of a friend or you know we don't need inbreeding in breeding you would not get good results.
You know it a a a guy who wants to get a good cattle farm going he he borrows the neighbors um >> time >> bull for that. So we don't need inbreeding. Thank you very much for having me. >> Any other speakers?
None has come forward. Mayor, >> thank you, Madame Clerk. We're next item on the agenda is 4.1. >> Public comment is closed. >> Public comment is closed. Uh next item is 4.1.
Um city manager position and action plan. Uh, I know that we initially um put this out to put this posting out several months ago. We were going back and forth in the process. Um, had a couple of at least
one special meeting since then. Um, that led us to where we are now. So, now we we've gotten applications and we're following pretty much, you know, this I wouldn't say official process because we we kind of did it a undo undid it a little bit. undo it a little
bit not too long ago, but now we have we're we have I'll speak up that >> I'm not shouting, I'm speaking up. That being said, we're in this pro we're in a pro position now to really make a decision. I hope you know we can be a
little bit more serious and taking this because obviously there's a lot of people here and I want us to be taking this very seriously. So, I'm going to start off off to my right side and then go down to here. Everybody starts. Commissioner Smith, >> thank you. I appreciate the opportunity
to speak on what I would like to see. First and foremost, I know that math is one of my favorite subjects and I know that 3* 7 is 21.
This was not from the human resource department. This was from us personally. And if we call 26 people and we felt out of the 26, four of them needed to be heard
by our fellow commissioners. That's what our job is, is to make sure the people that we feel would be good in that seat are heard. So I personally put in four names.
And I did that by saying, "Why don't I put in three names with an alternative?" And our director said, "Can I narrow to three?" I went back and spoke to them again and I said, "No,
my third choice is too close. Why would I not give all of my commissioners an opportunity? Somebody put in five names. Somebody must have put in two names.
The point is we've narrowed it down to the names we want to interview. Now, I hope my colleagues will give us each an opportunity to say who we put down and why.
the person that they're talking about. I spoke to every single person on that list except one, the person that has experience as a lacrosse player. I did not get to speak to him because he didn't call me back.
So, I would like to know what am I missing? I would like to know from my colleague whoever recommended him. Why? Maybe there's something I don't know from his resume that said he has no experience. Maybe there's something I don't know. So, I'd like us to say, why
did you select that person? What are the qualities you see that would make that person be our manager? There's not that many that would take that long. When we narrow it down, I want to make sure
that human resource and the police department have time to do the proper background check. It can't be done in a day or two. I was hoping to have a at least a preliminary, but there is no preliminary. It takes a
few days. It could take a week, but I think that that is imperative. And I think that when we narrow it down and get the police reports back, that should be a public
question of the last few people. The public should have a right to hear the questions we ask. The public may even write down some questions. We may not have time to get to them. But that was a suggestion. I thought a good one. If we have time to get to them, we're happy to
do it. Or we could review those questions and maybe we could ask them. But this is a very serious prop. This is of all the decisions we make up here and millions of dollars are involved and
lives can be affected whether you have a flood on your street or not. This is the most important decision we make. And I'm telling you, there's reasons people are selected
and there's reasons they leave. But we need to look for somebody that wants to be here, somebody that has the desire to face the challenge. And Mr. Mayor and fellow commissioners,
I hope we get an opportunity not to rush this night through, but to say here's who I picked and here's the reason I picked them. And if you have any questions in your mind about them, then that's a good opportunity to hear
what the person selected those names are all about. I'll tell you, I spoke to some darn good darn good candidates. darn good candidates. Unfortunately, maybe their time. There's a gentleman that was I spoke to him today. His name
was Shane. Now, I don't remember his first name or last name and I didn't bring my own records, but he withdrew. >> He wanted me to tell the commission that he unfortunately had to withdraw. His wife has become ill, but he returned the
call. And you know, some of the people I spoke to who wouldn't make it on my list, who wouldn't be the manager, I hope they have a place in our city. These are extraordinary people that have degrees in engineering, that have
degrees that we need. Extraordinary people. So, they won't be manager, but I threw out there maybe maybe there's a place in our city for you and I'm going to share them with the new manager, whoever the new manager is. So, I thank
you for my time. Uh, I I hope we do the process that we each get to know who you wanted to be the new manager through you and the reasons why. And I hope then at that point if we're going to narrow to
for a few that's when we'll the city will kick in, the city will make sure that their police record is clean and they'll set up a date with all of them. It takes a little while to set up when they can all come the same night and be
interviewed. So I thank you very much. [applause] Commissioner Flormont. >> Uh thank you, Mr. Mayor, and thank you, Commissioner Smith, and everyone that's here this evening. Um so, as it relates to this process, it it has been one that
I think is is uh a bit exhaustive for our residents because um it's been pretty fluid in nature, right? So, um, one of the reasons why we had talked about getting a firm to help us in this process was so that we can have, um,
some some sort of a of an outside, um, uh, assistance to help us manage this. And, and so, um, we we decided with time that that wasn't the best route to go. Um but I do applaud our team um for all of the
assistance that they've given thus far in HR and the management office um and our city attorney's office to get us uh this far. Now, as far as the list is concerned, um the the first round, we had several names that were put on the
list and we agreed that um those names that were on the list the first round, we would not um we we would we would accept those names, right? Um [snorts] and and I believe um those names are in
fact reflected on this list. Um so in my seat, I decided to add one name to that list. um in addition to whatever was already there. Um and so I I decided to add uh Marlene Monesteem to the list. And so there's there's value in a lot of
the different names that we have on this list. Um but I I I think that we need to look at a lot of different things. It um to me and my seat, it it it's valuable that somebody's able to have five people that say, "Hey, we're willing to uh look
at a particular um a particular candidate for this position." And I think that's valuable because you need to make sure that you have buyin from a lot of your um a lot of your quote unquote bosses. Um so so so that's a good thing. I think we heard comments
also about picking someone or bringing someone from the inside from North Miami Beach. I believe we have a lot of qualified people in our city. Um we have a lot of um employees that are working very very hard to make sure that this city uh moves forward.
um some employees that are balancing several positions um that are not filled to make sure that they do what's necessary to move their departments forward. So we we do have a lot of talent here. Um aside from that, there were some others
that I did notice as well that I did sit down and meet with. Some of them are here right now um that are on this list. Um you know, Mr. Williams and um Miss Camo are here. I had an opportunity to sit down with them and talk with them. So, um, and then, um, Mr. Leonard as
well, I see, is on this list. So, had an opportunity to talk to several people. I got a few phone calls as well. And, um, honestly, in my seat, I think that I'm I can make a decision tonight. Um, that's something that I can do. I'm
not certain that that's what we as a collective will do. there's value in in uh everyone's thought about having a a more uh longer process. So, we'll continue to talk about it and see what we what we come up with. Um but um
that's my comment for now. Thank you, >> Mr. Smuckler. >> Thank you. [clears throat] So, um I just want to make sure because he added one, did you count his original two in this
list? So, did you give him Did he get three? No, I I know that. I'm just want to make sure he got three. The three that he Because you did two and then you did one. >> Okay. So, based on what um city attorney said, we can pick up to three names, >> right? But I just want to make sure that
those original two were put in here that you didn't just add one. And >> well, I was satisfied with the names that I that I see on this list, so I added one to the list. >> Okay. Just want to make sure you got three. >> Thank you. >> One. >> He he my understand.
>> So I I think I was clear. I said that the first process had three had several people included in it. Okay. Several people that I spoke with >> that we decided that would remain on the list. >> So in addition to those people, I added one name.
>> Right. One name and that was it. So >> one is >> you just got one. And you didn't get the other three in here. The other two. >> Okay. So So >> I I understand. I just want to make sure that you know that only one of your one
of your names went on here. >> Yes. Yes. Okay. So So >> not all three names went on here. Just one. Just one, Commissioner Smuggler. So >> No, I understand that. I want to make sure he's >> even know that. >> Okay, guys. Guys, this is it's not that complex. I'm saying that there were names on the list from the first round
that I was okay with. >> Mhm. And so I added one more name to this list and that was Marlene. So >> Commissioner please go on your comments. Sorry. >> One. Okay. So he had one. >> Okay. >> I'm not supposed to have I'm not
supposed to have any number of names. >> There's two people who I spoke to that are qualified people that are on this list already. So that they're already on this list. >> Yeah. >> All right. So, I do have a problem with anyone that voted for more than than
three because I was told to choose up to three names. And in fact, there was somebody that I liked that I would have liked to have picked as my fourth, but because I was told up to three names and I was following the rules and this is
not to me that's not fair and it's not right. If we were told up to three names, I respectfully request that the person who put four and the person that put five remove the names and make it to three because that's what we agreed on
on here on the commission. We agreed up to three names >> or the attorney said three, four, five when he was talking about it, >> but then we said up to three things. >> Well, just a Okay, >> hang on. The memo was never voted on. It was a proposed memo. Let me please.
>> It was a proposed memo. I understand I understand your standpoint, Commissioner Smith. I understand your standpoint, Commissioner Flormont. We never voted on it. >> Commissioner SM, is there any other topics? >> Yeah, I want to add 10 names now. >> It's your parameters. I want to
>> I just want to >> I'm just saying that we set up to three names and that's what it should be. >> You also said that we're going to give the three names October 28th. >> Okay. That being said, are you have any other thoughts? Welcome. All right, Vice Mayor Shaw. >> Thank you so much. Good evening,
everyone. I did um consult with HR. I submitted I'm the mysterious five name person. The mystery is over. >> Wow. [laughter] >> No, what I did was I asked Jacob, I said I we had to interview or oversee 120
applications. There were 120 130. When I started doing interviews, I did about maybe 10 or 15 interviews. Uh, I sat with certain people, some of them are here tonight. I asked Jacob, Jacob, I said, "Do we have to choose three or do we have the allowance to choose more?"
The answer was, "You can choose more." >> Yeah, cuz we never voted. >> So, with that being said, I am the mysterious five five people. Um, but what I will also say is that the decision for me to choose the names that I did was a difficult decision. Um,
there were many people on the list to Commissioner Smith's point that were wellqualified and I would have needed even more time to really vet. So, I do recommend that we do have an interview where we can bring maybe the top five people on the list, maybe people who
have gotten multiple names, and that's even up to discussion. But I do feel like we need to have a public interview where folks can come in and the public can have a chance to speak or even observe. and we are a because we are the voice of the people ideally that's what
it's supposed to be but I did consult with HR mentioned that I can go to a higher number of names with that being said um I think some have mentioned to make justifications why we've selected some of the names um you know I I want
us to have a public interview because that way we all can express our concerns or our hopes with each candidate and be transparent and I do understand the public is watching and a lot of us are torn between people be it um we have
Miss Modesty is on the list. She's been working here for quite some time but I've shared with her the concerns that I have with her and the hopes that I also have for her as it relates to if she were to go forward and it's the same with each person that I've selected on
the list. So for me, I I want us to have that process where the seven of us can dialogue w with the uh participants so we can move positively forward as a city. Thank you. >> Civility, please. Commissioner Sue,
>> thank you for uh clearing the mystery. So we have three extra votes in there or extra nominations. Um, I am still, you know, when I was looking through 130 something applications, it was I was just thinking about who was it that said
that we didn't need a head hunter because like calling and talking to and reading each resume was a lot of work. Um, and I understand why um, Commissioner Jean is interrupting my speak.
I know. I'm just teasing. I got it, Mr. Mr. Mayor. Um, so first of all, I'd like to address uh former commissioner Kramer's uh request for us to um put out that num that name the the list of names
of who nominated who. And if that's possible, if you can read that by today through the mayor manager, is it possible to have um Mr. Newman read out the names because I'm sure we're all interested to find out who those uh who was nominated by who.
Um then secondly I think that um I understand everybody's standpoint about the nomination of how many people we have. I do think that we need to nom we need to narrow that down. The second thing that I think is we need to look um
I I don't know is anybody curious about the background checks and um do we know what like what kind of questions we're asking? Are we asking every candidate the same question or are we customizing each candidate to the question that you know per candidate? That's something
that I would love to hear what my colleagues think about what kind of questions that maybe we asked we do what Bokeh did, right? Which is uh ask the same question to every single candidate. That way we can really compare apples to apples. Um then after you know when when
are we scheduling that? Are we narrowing this down? And how are we going to narrow that? I hope that we would have a very vibrant discussion where we all come to an agreement that we want to narrow it down this way or you know how is it how is that list of 11 people
going to be narrowed down. That's uh I hope that is part of our conversation today. And that's it for me. Thank you. >> Oh, did I get a response? Can can you actually >> let me just go down please? I don't want to take too much time. Commissioner Chernoff. Good evening everybody. Thank
you for all the calls today and emails. Appreciate it. Um the the bottom line is is that I'm happy that we have so many applicants. Okay. The last time that we went through this process, we only had two. So if we have 22, I'm happy with
that. We're and and again we all got the memo from Jacob that limited showed how they all rated and that I don't think I heard any objection to what the ratings were. All my from my seat I would like
to see the background checks be next. We all limit the ones if we're going to use all fives, all fours, all threes, all twos, all ones. We we make that decision collectively tonight and give Jacob the
order to go out and do the FDLE background checks and then we set up another meeting. >> Well, here's the thing. Oh, no. I want to make sure you're finished. I'm Commissioner Turn off. >> Yeah, you fine. >> All right. All right. So, um, so just so everyone knows, I only picked three. Not
because we voted. Not because we voted on it. I just that was just my choice. Three. We didn't vote on it. So you could have put 20 30 didn't matter and I want to make that very clear or just one. So this whole misconception that it was three that never happened because we
never voted on it. [snorts] So everybody has their own choice and I was being very respectful on people's choices because I was being blamed for a bunch of stuff that I was glad that was cleared up because of misinformation and people just coming up with whatever innuendos
they want to come up to justify whatever misconceptions they may have. That's just the way people are sometimes. I understand people are passionate about this. I understand that. I understand the transparency aspect of it all. I get that. But at the end of the day, the
decision rests with us. >> Absolutely. >> Because the manager works under our direction, nobody else. Because we were elected to represent them. >> That's how it is. I mean, that being said, I understand there's background checks
that have to be made. I also I also threw in there last time when we when we were talking about this to have social media backgrounds as well to bring up all that to be inclusive of that. That was inclusive. I remember that was part of my my my my part of direct directive all those months ago. People want to go
back to how we got to this point, right? Remember? Okay. So my thing is that like that is I would assume that's the next step doing the background checks making sure that it's very extensive or what have you narrowing it down like I'm not saying that everybody on that list it's
supposed to get it because I nominated someone it was just one person it was one right that being said it is a public record I want to clarify I'm not saying for you guys to release the information you have right now but if this evening release it to a group that's just been
hawking on this issue to make sure that not just them, the entire public sees how this was all listed out. That needs to be put out. >> That needs to be put out. >> Thank you. >> No, no, I know he has a name, but that that's not what we're discussing today. That's that's not what we're discussing today. What we're discussing today is to
narrow the list down, pick a date of when we could follow up. And and I'm I'm I want to give a little bit more flexibility. We can have these meetings over Zoom. You can record them. People can look back at them or what have you. I'm not saying that we could we we should have like a a a meeting where we
go back and forth. I'm saying you got if you guys want to have that meeting and you want to record it with that particular person, it's your prerogative. If they want to work for us, that's their prerogative to do the same. >> But Michael, Michael, as you said, go ahead. >> This is the most important decision we can make. I think we all should be >> No, no, I understand. No, but what I'm
saying is that from a timing perspective, I know you have I'm not saying I don't want to speak to what you got have going on with the next week or so, but I want to be I want to be cognizant to how each of our schedules are set up and I want to give that flexibility. That's all I'm trying to say. That's all you understand what I'm saying, Commissioner. I want to give
everybody that flexibility. That's all I'm trying to do. I I would you know I think the best procedure that ever worked of all the times that I've selected a manager was they make the staff talks to the people that we narrow
it to they see when is the availability where they can all come one afternoon say from 5:30 to 8:30 they come in for half an hour one at a time while the other four outside do not hear the answers do not hear the questions as
commissioner Sue said, "Maybe we make up a list of questions and we ask them all the same thing and see how they react." They go out of the room. The next one comes in and then after it's all said and done, they leave and we discuss among ourselves. I don't think Zoom
gives you the same strength. I spoke to a woman I spoke to 30 people today. Please talk about husbands getting angry. But I spoke to a woman Peara from Texas. She has an 11th grader. Her
and her daughter willing to move here in January. A personality that could burst this room. But unfortunately, her experience didn't show to me better than others. Better
than others. But there's so many people that we talk to to narrow it down so that we pick the premium of this list is what we should focus on also. So then the staff can get working on what day
can they come and we have to the seven of us have to be available. It doesn't work with six. It doesn't work with five. >> Okay. So what I'm Okay. So So take this into consideration. Okay. Um I don't know how long the background checks would take. How long um HR
director how long it takes to do the extensive one with the social media and everything else because I know that that that does have a process time >> especially given the holidays too. So >> anticipate 7 to 10 days. >> 7 to 10 days, right? >> Let's >> I didn't recognize but can I finish?
>> Sure. Okay. After you're done may I? >> Yes. Let me get to that point because I'm just trying to make sure on an issue. But if you're talking about the background, Go ahead, Commissioner S, please. >> Thank you. Um, I wanted to echo what uh, Commissioner Chernov said, which is about the FDLE. I think the FDLE
background check is about $25. Is that correct? >> Yes, ma'am. >> And is that um, how long does that normally take? >> Uh, it's instantaneous results for uh, Florida Department of Law Enforcement uh, background check. >> I can't hear you.
>> It's instantaneous. immediate. >> Immediate. >> Immediate. >> Oh, instantaneous. Wonderful. Okay. Yeah, because I would love to have that also added on as well. >> Thank you. Oh, and expanded nationwide. >> Okay. Um, that being said, the the
extensive one because that's inclusive of FDLE and every and a whole bunch of other checks. That's why I was discussing that issue with the HR direct. That's about 8 10 days, give or take. 8 to 10. >> 7 to 10 or 8 to 10. You >> Yes. 7 7 to 10 days. Um
>> so let's just say on the worst case 10 days, right? >> Yes, sir. >> So 10 days from now, Madam Clerk, what date is that? >> The 18th. >> The 18th, right? That's our city commission meeting. I don't It's all the background checks coming back. Commission is having a meeting.
>> Our meeting is on the 16th. >> It's on the Oh, I'm sorry. You're right. It's on the 16th, right? So we'll be going into the to to Christmas, the following week. So that being said, just from like a a logistics standpoint, from a logistic standpoint, wait and
city attorney cuz [clears throat] what I don't what I want to make sure is that we we do this process that it is as open it is not just for one or a few but for all. And that's why I was giving options for the Zoom because like I understand
that that's that's a lot easier to do and people can record those with different individuals and answer questions and different individuals to make it more cognitive when we get together for that meeting when we make when we after like we get the background checks and we have a in-depth discussion
those whatever those people are listed out we can still pose those questions during that meeting but at that point I don't want us to stop us reaching out to each one of these individuals having more in-depth conversations. You understand what I'm saying? Commissioner Smith I first place I think that the in-depth
conversation about with you and the candidate. See I was looking for somebody my new word for B LS is grit. I found a new word. >> I was looking for somebody that had grit because
you know to be a commissioner is hard enough. They push you down. They threaten you. They put their finger in your nose. They're getting rid of you. They hate you. But to be a manager, you know, if you don't have that personality, how long are you going to
last? You're going to come here and be pushed and pushed and pushed until you had enough. Is that two months? Is it four months? Is it 6 months? We have to find somebody that will have stability and have that grit for you to talk to
them or Phyllis to talk to them personally on onetoone. How does that benefit the rest of the commissioners? And how does that benefit the public? The public has to see why. Why would you make that your choice? Why are you doing
that? I'll tell you, there's a gentleman named Brown. He lived a little far away. There's somebody, a wonderful woman that Peggy that I spoke to that had all the qualifications. I didn't quite feel she had the grit, but
such strong personality. Scott Israel, I mean, strong personalities and strong qualifications. But now when we narrow it down to this list, now it should all be in public. You can still talk to them yourself if you want. Nobody's stopping
you. But the the real focus on why we're hiring them, I feel, should be in public. >> No, no, no. I'm saying we can still have that, but nothing stopped Nobody's stopping you from from us when we have that meeting to bring to pose those questions. I'm saying that we shouldn't be like held back from reaching out
ourselves and having conversations. >> Oh, no. I never had the power to control any of you anyway. So, >> Oh, yeah. [laughter] >> No, Commissioner Smuggler. >> Okay. So, we have there was 12 names on the list, but now it's down to 11.
So, are we going to narrow this line this list down first? If we do, then we will only need the background checks on those people. And also, I have a little bit of a concern about the background
checks. I I I don't I I understand we're it's an open >> a public record, but I don't feel comfortable with sharing people's background checks with with so many
people. >> No, they don't have they don't have to submit it. I mean, each one >> check this out. All when we ran for office, each one of our background we all had to do background checks and all that's public record, >> right? >> That's all public record. is when we receive it via email
>> at the end of the process it could be available but it doesn't have to be during the process. >> I'm not saying during before or after. But I'm just saying that, you know, sometimes people apply for a job and they have a background and we may not pick them because of that, but but they may have
done a bad thing. And I just don't think it's right to to for the public to see them, especially if we don't pick them. And now we're we're wait No, I'll get I I'll say this because I I know we're trying to we need to limit
the name so we can move forward. What I'll say is this. Mr. Smuggler, >> our lives are open books. >> I know, but No, no. To to >> to a lot of >> to a lot of people. >> And some people believe it's like we're supposed to be open up to our DNA because they feel that that's the way
they see it. >> If you they're going to have that that same intensity on the manager compared to us, if not more. So, that's just it is what it is what it is. I mean, I'm not making that up. >> I don't agree with I don't agree. I I
We we are open to to the public, but I don't think a manager should should have to deal with that. And then the last thing I I want to say is that I want to see how the rest of my commission voted. >> So, I' I'd like to see that. >> Um, Mr. Mayor, I think the public will
know when when we start interviewing and we don't interview one person that was our final selection because they didn't have a good police record. I think the public will know. Well, look now before let's let's to to to narrow it down. We have I I'm saying can we narrow it down
to three submit the names for for a full for a full full background check social media included. We I mean it we can go down the list right now. It kind of ranks them all to to that degree. Is do I have like a motion? >> Can we can we >> Can we just do Can we hear from the
attorney? >> Oh, city attorney. Go ahead. Just very quickly. Um, mayor, I I I do think this is basically it's a personnel matter and I think that the point I I'll yield to some degree to our HR director, but I I
tend to agree with Commissioner Smuckler that these entire background checks should not be released routinely to the public. And that's probably uh people do have some right of privacy. And to the
extent that these aren't cursory, they're very detailed checks, that's probably safer. In terms of your previous discussion about doing background checks and holding a public interview just from the count, I mean,
listen, this is your process. There's no one to tell the seven of you what to do other than the seven of you. But in terms of when the background checks would be complete, I just want to point out that when it was contemplated to be
a larger number, there had been some discussion about the week of January 5th. However, if you're narrowing it substantially, you have three dates before the Christmas holiday. You have the 18th and you have Monday and
Tuesday, the 22nd and 23rd. And you also have the privilege of doing it between Christmas and New Year's. It's entirely up to you how quickly you're able to do it, but you will have background. >> So this is what I'll say. This is what I'll say. We can narrow it down to three, right?
>> Five >> or five or five or five. >> Once we by by our next commission meeting, we'll decide on on a date from that point on. >> May it be the that that Thursday or the following week or what have you. But I want to give us time to figure out when we could have that interview date and
selection date on the 16th during our city commission meeting. Can we not just do that? Cuz it's next week anyways. We're going to hopefully maybe some of those checks will come back sooner around later. But if we we do this now and agree on this to five, whatever those numbers are and then move forward from there. I think it's going to be a a
a dangerous date if you do it between the Christmas week and the New Year's week. >> I'm not I'm not I'm not saying that I would go for that, but what I want to do is like I want to narrow it down to three. You guys want to go five? I'm I just want to move the process along. That's all. So like that's my that's my
consensus. I say I see where the consensus is. Yeah, I see I see the numbers. It's pretty clear. I don't want to waste anybody's time. So that's why I was saying like we just cut it down to three because it kind of breaks it all down and and I want to make a a decision where there's a lot of pe there's a lot
of consensus is clear from it. You know, >> I think the thing is the fourth name here is an outsider and I think that we should interview an outsider. >> So I I'll agree to four. So can we just say four? >> Anybody with two or more votes I think should be heard should be interviewed
two or more votes. >> Wait, what did you say? >> Anyone with two or more >> I agree. I second. I think we should pick the first five. >> All right, the first five. I have a motion for for the first five. >> Motion letter. >> I I make a motion to pick the first five. >> Second.
>> Second. All in favor say I. >> I. >> At our next commission meeting, we'll pick a date when we're going to decide on the manager and which will be the date to to have an interview and a selection on that date. >> Well, why do we have to wait till the next meeting to pick a date? I want
because because I want to make sure that >> I want to make sure that depending on when these background checks come back because I don't know if all of them going to come back um with a um sooner rather than later that we have enough time and I think we will come up with a date on the six. It's next week.
>> Mayor to be clear you're authorizing commission is authorizing full background checks on the five you just indicated. >> Yes. >> Social media the whole nine. I've I've expressed this to to Jacob and he knows what I mean by that. If we can go down to the DNA, please do that. >> Okay. Uh, Mr. Mayor, just just so
everybody's aware, and I know it's just my was my recommendation memo, but in the recommendation memo, it was on the week of January 5th to move um to have the special meeting and to do the interviews and the um selection. >> And if we and if we and if we change it, we'll change it, but we'll have we'll
make a final determination next week. Is that okay? >> I think by the I think by the 16th, we'll have an idea how close we are. So maybe on the 16th we could set the date. >> Yes, I agree. So >> I won't be available. >> No, wait. On t next Tuesday?
>> Next I don't think I'll be available because I'll have stitches. >> I Well, no. What I'm saying we're just going to make the we're going to pick the date. I would hope that you know taking into consideration how long it's going to take to recover you. And you said why? >> One week. >> Yes. So we I don't think we'll do it then. Just >> Wednesday to Wednesday.
>> Yeah. The 18th is after your time. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Then no, I want to be I want to be respectful for that. >> Guys, I don't know why we just can't pick it. The 18 he can't until the 18th. The 18th we can't do it because it's the manure lighting. So we have the week of the 22nd. Let's just pick a date. I
don't understand why we by by >> it's going in Christmas. It's going into >> Okay. So then let's just pick a date for January now so that no one >> I I just want to give leeway to staff and I >> we don't need a month leeway. >> Well, it's still an option to do it on the 5th. That's what I'm saying.
>> I just want to give them I just want to have a a little bit of leeway. Please can >> it's a good day. >> It's a good but just in just in case the the 5th unless we change our minds on the 16th. We'll just revisit it then. Okay. >> And if we're all in town on the week of Christmas if we're all here.
>> Yeah. >> I mean, we could we don't have to set it in January. We could set it in >> the 22nd. Well, that's why I want to pick a date so that people don't make plans because as as every day goes by, people make plans and then then we don't
have the date. >> The the fallback date will be the 5th. But I'm just saying if we change our minds on the 16th, we can. Okay. That being said, we've made a decision on the the top five. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> Motion. >> All in favor say I. I. >> Happy holiday.
>> People are people with the highest the two votes or more. >> Wait, hold on. I never heard who voted for who. >> No, we're going to get we're going to get the list. Oh, yeah. We're going to get the list. >> It's going to be emailed. >> Can Can we announce it publicly now? Anyway, >> it's going to be emailed to each one of us. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Today, why don't we why don't we say it
out loud for the record, Mr. Attorney? They adjourned, but can we say it out loud? >> Thank you, Phyllis. Marlene Monestine. I'll be happy to read it in the director. >> Okay. I think we should read in the names, >> but we we already adjourned the meeting.
>> So, after the meeting, we're we're reading them in because the public's here. >> Oh, the five nominees. Go ahead. >> The the top five uh candidates based on nominations. >> Say it louder. The five nominees um put
forth by the commission are going to be Marlene Monesteem, Rasha Kimu, Darvin Williams, Ricardo Mendes, and Jame Nickman. >> All right. Thank you. >> Um so I I want to be clear, Mr. Manager,
the mayor had requested that you're going to email every single commissioner's nominees are going to be sent to us. Is that correct? >> Yes. >> Thank you. Thank you. All right. I yay to adjurnn. >> Madam clerk, can we Madame clerk? Madame
clerk, can we can I make a request to add those names to the commission meeting even though it adjourned?