CEB_08-24-99_Min1-
City of Longwood
� Code Enforcement Board
City Commission Chambers
175 W. Warren Avenue
Longwood, FL 32750
MINUTES OF MEETING
August 24, 1999
1, CALL MEETING TO ORDER
Meeting was called to order at 7:07 p.m. by Chairman Bundy
2, ROLL CALL
Members present: Haywood Bundy, Chairman
John Maingot
Cheryl Melvin
Ernest Tolos
Excused absence: John Lomax
Staff Present: Amy E. Goodblatt, CEB Attorney
Richard Taylor, City Attorney
Cathy Price, Code Enforcement officer
Daniel Spak, Code Enforcement Officer
Carol D. - Hoben, Recording Secretary
3, APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JULY 27 1999 MEETING
Motion made by Ernest Tolos and seconded by John Maingot to approve the minutes of
the July 27, 1999 CEB meeting. Minutes were accepted by unanimous vote.
4. PUBLIC HEARINGS
Attorney Taylor swore in all parties who would give testimony.
Code Enforcement Officer Cathy Price informed the Board that three of the cases were
currently in compliance: CEB 99 -08 -049, CEB 99 -08 -051, and CEB 99- 08 -52.
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op"k Attorney Taylor advised the Board that the City was voluntarily dismissing its case against
Dayalal G. Bharadva, CEB 99 -08 -050, because an arrangement had been worked out with
the property owner.
5. OLD BUSINESS
A. CEB 99 -06 -045 Howard C. Richmond
Request to waive administrative fee
Testimony by Howard Richmond: Mr. Richmond stated he was in total compliance
regarding signage and since he had been so cooperative with the City, he was requesting
that the administrative fee be waived. Mr. Richmond pointed out that the City had voted
him "Business Person of the Month."
Motion made by Cheryl Melvin to waive the administrative fee; no second and motion
failed. Mr. Maingot made a motion to reduce the fee from $100.00 to $25.00; motion was
seconded by Mr. Tolos and then brought for discussion. Mr. Maingot commented that
reducing the fee, but not eliminating it entirely, is a gesture of good will and a reminder
of the original matter. Mr. Tolos stated he was opposed to waiving the fee.
jpbk Chairman Bundy announced that if the City did not have a problem with waiving the fee,
then he was not adverse. He said that the fee was to cover costs, not to be punitive.
Discussion ensued and the members pointed out that Mr. Richmond was guilty of a
violation. Mr. Maingot decided to withdraw his motion.
Cheryl Melvin again made a motion to waive the administrative fee and the motion was
seconded by Mr. Maingot. Mr. Tolos repeated that he felt that since the City had
expended approximately $ 100. 00 on this matter, then an administrative fee of $100.00 was
appropriate. Chairman Bundy reiterated that he agreed with waiving the fee since Mr.
Richmond was in compliance and the $250.00 fine could be imposed for future violations.
Chairman Bundy, John Maingot, and Cheryl Melvin voted yes, and Mr. Tolos voted no.
Motion failed.
B. CEB 9907 -045 Gregory Gibson
Attorney Goodblatt asked about the status of this case. Mr. Spak informed the Board that
the City was trying to work with the owner to bring the property into compliance.
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6. NEW BUSINESS
Chairman Bundy requested the Board's permission to send a letter of condolence to
Commissioner Miles on the death of his father, Board member Charles Miles. The Board
agreed with Mr. Bundy's request.
Testimony by Mary Gamble, who resides at 565 Preston Road, about making anonymous
complaints. Ms. Gamble stated that no names should be required when reporting
grievances, since there could be retaliation. The Board thanked Ms. Gamble for her input.
Mr. Tolos stated that anyone should be able to phone in a complaint without giving a
name. A discussion ensued about the perception of selective enforcement, anonymous
verbal or written complaints, and whether code enforcement officers should be allowed to
cite violations they witness. Attorney Taylor commented that the Board should actively
look at violators in commercial and industrial areas. Mr. Tolos stated that residential
complaints should be anonymous. Mr. Maingot agreed, but added that the complaints
should be made in writing and that perhaps a form could be designed for this purpose.
Mr. Spak stated that he was frustrated by not being able to investigate violations that he
sees. It was agreed that the City commissioners should attend a CEB meeting. John
Maingot suggested writing a letter to the commissioners expressing the CEB's concerns
and Attorney Coodblatt advised inviting the commissioners to a workshop to be held after
one of the CEB meetings. It was agreed that Attorney Goodblatt would draft a letter to the
City commissioners requesting they attend the October meeting and a work session, or, if
A"k unable to do so, propose an alternate date.
New member of the Board: Larry Foughty, 595 Preston Road.
Chairman Bundy's term expires on September 12, 1999, and he has not been reappointed.
7. ADJOURNMENT
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Meeting adjourned by Chairman Bundy at 8:17 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Carol D. Hoben
Recordin Secretary
October 15 , 1999
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