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01-14-13 Workshop Meeting MinutesWORKSHOP MEETING JANUARY 14, 2013 A Workshop Meeting of the City Commission of the City of Delray Beach, Florida, was called to order by Mayor Thomas F. Carney, Jr. in the First Floor Conference Room at City Hall at 6:00 p.m., on Monday, January 14, 2013. Roll call showed: Present - Commissioner Christina Morrison Commissioner Alson Jacquet Commissioner Adam Frankel Commissioner Angeleta E. Gray Mayor Thomas F. Carney, Jr. Absent - None Also present were - Douglas E. Smith, Interim City Manager Brian Shutt, City Attorney Lanelda D. Gaskins, Deputy City Clerk Mayor Carney called the workshop meeting to order and announced that it had been called for the purpose of considering the following Item. WORKSHOP MEETING AGENDA 1. Discussion regarding the Background Check Conducted on Mr. Louie Chapman Mayor Carney stated this is a special meeting to discuss the background information that has been obtained regarding Mr. Chapman. He stated Mr. Ron Holifield will give a presentation and Mr. Chapman will comment and give any pertinent information he may wish to provide. Then, Commission will ask their questions or give comments. Mr. Holifield noted specifically what his company was contracted to do i.e. reference calls, media search and background check. He stated when issues began to show up he did additional follow up with numerous calls being made and highlighted the individuals they had spoken with during this time. He stated they went through and pursued every issue and allegation as it has come up trying to track them down and they did not do any site visits or any deeper investigation. Mayor Carney asked that Mx. Holifield describe his company and Mr. Holifield provided an overview and reiterated that they have attempted to follow up on every item as it has come up. Mayor Carney asked Mr. Chapman to make any comments he would like to make. Mr. Chapman stated that he is available to answer any questions that the Commission may have. Mr. Frankel thanked Mr. Holifield and stated his questions are regarding emails that he received. He briefly discussed the emails and asked Nlt. Chapman to explain. Mr. Jacquet thanked Mr. Chapman for taking time to come down for the meeting and stated he did not have any specific questions. He asked about a lawsuit that was filed and who was it filed against. Ms. Morrison asked about Bloomfield's form of government, budget and Mr. Chapman's oversight responsibility to the Police Department. She also asked about the park and Mr. Chapman provided background on the park. In addition, Ms. Morrison asked Mr. Chapman about the ethics laws in Connecticut, conduct of the Police Department and search warrants/investigation. Mr. Chapman explained the issue regarding the termination of an employee. Ms. Morrison asked what percentage of the $90 million budget is for the Police Department and how long his contract is with Bloomfield. Mrs. Gray thanked Mx. Holifield and asked how long he has been in business, if they have made recommendations, why one of the candidates withdrew and how his company missed some of the information regarding Mr. Chapman. In addition, she asked how much more time did his company spend on searches regarding the allegations. He stated they are above 125 hours. Mrs. Gray asked if it is uncommon for allegations to tonne up during searches. Mr. Holifield stated it is not uncommon. Mrs. Gray asked Mr. Chapman to give information regarding the Human Resources (HR) Director; and asked who selects the Police Chief and why a particular employee feels he was passed over for the position. Mr. Chapman explained the situation. In addition, Mrs. Gray briefly mentioned dating and stated Mr. Chapman stated there was no rule regarding this. She asked if the city of Delray has a policy in place regarding dating. Mayor Carney responded yes and explained the city's policy. Mr. Chapman reiterated that there is no rule regarding dating in Bloomfield. Mayor Carney stated each issue has been addressed and asked about the age discrimination case - Mr. Chapman stated the Chief of Police made the decision and he supported that decision. Mayor Carney asked about the port -a -potty, the dating issue and discussed the van and the "Simmons" case. Mr. Frankel asked if Mr. Chapman was responsible for the park and Mr. Chapman stated Parks and Recreation was responsible for the park. Mr. Frankel continued asking follow-up questions regarding the Chief's decision, complaints that had been filed regarding the HR Director. He asked if it was possible to get a background check that allegedly had a negative response from DCF report. Mr. Chapman stated he never saw that. Mr. Frankel reiterated that Mr. Holifield stated the search that the city did was not typical; because typically when he assists other cities he is involved from beginning to end. He asked him to expound on this as far as what Mr. Holifield normally does and what we have done here. Mr. Jacquet thanked Mr. Holifield for all the work he did during the process. He asked about the list that was put together regarding the qualities the Commission was looking for in a City Manager; and asked about the process. Ms. Morrison asked about site visits and phone calls and if Mr. Holifield had done any other searches for our city. She asked Mr. Holifield if he had met Mr. Chapman before today. He responded that he had not. Mrs. Gray thanked Mr. Holifield and Mr. Chapman. She stated she felt that all of their issues had been discussed. Mayor Carney asked Mr. Chapman to describe the process of review for the Police Chief's recommendation. He asked if the process of review is the same for Department Heads. 2 January 14, 2013 Mr. Chapman explained the process and stated Department Heads will have done a complete report and the city operates on progressive discipline. Mayor Carney asked Mr. Holifield if there was anything to give him cause to expand the group that was initially identified regarding the search. Mr. Holifield stated the information they received was consistent. He stated they have taken every allegation very seriously, and have approached it from the standpoint of trying to document the credibility of them. Mr. Holifield stated they have not been able to document any of the allegations as being reliable. Mayor Carney discussed the allegations. Mr. Holifield stated they have not followed up on the most recent emails that were received last week. Mayor Carney asked Mr. Holifield and Mr. Chapman to make final comments. Mr. Holifield stated he appreciates Mr. Bruce Koeser calling his company and they have taken everything very seriously and the amount of time, energy and effort they have put into this goes well beyond the contract. He stated this is a high stare decision for Mr. Chapman, staff, community and the Commission. He stated he is at peace that they have pursued everything there was to pursue. Mr. Chapman stated the person the Sun -Sentinel has described in the newspaper he does not recognize. He stated he lives his life as a public official and is meticulous about how he conducts his affairs. He discussed the employee he dated. In addition, Mr. Chapman discussed protecting the interest of the community and some of the issues that were brought up. He stated he appreciates the opportunity to speak to the Commission about this. Discussion continued between the Commission. Mayor Carney adjourned the Workshop Meeting at 7:27 p.m. City Clerk Mz4YOR The undersigned is the City Clerk of the City of Delray Beach, Florida, and the information provided herein is the Minutes of the Workshop Meeting of the City Conan-ission held on Tuesday, January 14, 2013, which Minutes were formally approved and adopted by the City Commission on April 2, 2013. ;F 3 January 14, 2013 City Clerk NOTE TO READER: If the Minutes you have received are not completed as indicated above, this means they are not the official Minutes of the City Coma -fission. They will become the official Minutes only after review and approval, which may involve amendments, additions or deletions to the Minutes as set forth above. January 14, 2013