04-23-92SpMtg April 23, 1992
A Special Meeting of the City Commission of the City of Delray
Beach, Florida, was called to order by Mayor Thomas E. Lynch in the
Commission Chambers at City Hall at 5:00 P.M., Thursday, April 23, 1992.
1. Roll call showed:
Present - Commissioner Jay Alperin (Arrived 5:18)
Commissioner Armand Mouw
Commissioner David Randolph
Mayor Thomas E. Lynch
Absent - Commissioner William Andrews
Also present were - City Manager David T. Harden and City Attorney Jeffrey S. Kurtz
Mayor Lynch called the meeting to order and ammounced that this
meeting has been called for the purpose of considering the following:
1. Appointment of Assistant City Attorney/Police Legal Advisor.
The City Attorney stated that pursuant to the Charter, it is
the Mayor's responsibility to appoint the Assistant City Attorney. He
stated his recommendation for appointment as Assistant City Attorney is
Eric Hightower.
In reply to Mr. Randolph, the City Attorney stated he will make
the recommendation for a merit increase in salary after six month's
employment.
In reply to Mr. Mouw, the City Attorney stated the present
Attorney and Assistant City Attorneys' salaries are based solely on
merit, and the increase for Mr. Hightower would not be recommended as
substantial as would be for the other assistants who have been here
longer.
In reply to Mr. Mouw, the City Attorney advised that the car
allowance will be $200 per month. Mr Hightower's office will be in the
Delray Beach Police Department, but he will be traveling back and forth
between the City and West Palm Beach, taking depositions, etc.
In reply to Mayor Lynch, the City Attorney stated if Chief
Overman and the City Attorney disagree on performance, the evaluation of
the City Attorney will prevail.
The City Attorney stated Mr. Hightower will be attending all of
the attorney's staff meetings and the bottom line opinion will be that
of the City Attorney, as Chief Legal Officer of the City.
Mr. Mouw stated $200 per month car allowance is excessive for a
car allowance.
The City Attorney stated the appropriate time to discuss this
issue would be at budget time.
Upon question by Dr. Alperin, the City Attorney stated there
was not, at any time, a City provided car for the City Attorney, and
that initially everything Mr. Hightower produces in written form will be
reviewed by him until a comfort level is reached.
Dr. Alperin and Mayor Lynch stated they are hopeful that the
employment of Mr. Hightower will help to assist staff and the City
Attorney and will also make the Police Department much more effective in
making arrests stick.
The City Attorney stated he is very excited about municipal
prosecutions and misdemeanors being taken care of in a much more effec-
tive way by adding Mr. Hightower to the staff.
Dr. Alperin moved to appoint Eric Hightower as Assistant City
Attorney/Police Legal Advisor, at the annual salary of $41,000 including
the other terms as set forth in his contract, with funding to come from
the Police Law Enforcement Trust Fund, seconded by Mr. Mouw. Upon roll
call the Commission voted as follows: Mr. Mouw - Yes; Dr. Alperin -
Yes; Mr. Randolph - Yes; Mayor Lynch - Yes. Said motion passed with a 4
to 0 vote.
Mayor Lynch declared the meeting adjourned at 5:30 P.M.
- - C~itY- f~erk '
ATTEST:
The undersigned is the City Clerk of the City of Delray Beach
and that the information provided herein is the minutes of the meeting
of said City Commission of April 23, 1992, which minutes were formally
approved and adopted by the City Commission on ~,/ /2! /~ ·
'City Clerk ' - '
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NOTE TO READER:
If the minutes that you have received are not completed as indicated
above, then this means that these are not the official minutes of City
Commission. They will become the official minutes only after they have
been reviewed and approved which may involve some amendments, additions,
or deletions to the minutes as set forth above.
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