WHEELCHAIR SO FAST AND THEY PUT ME ON A CHAIR. SHE I THINK SHE DID GIVE ME ANOTHER DOSE OF 
          [CALL TO ORDER]
          [00:00:05]
WHATEVER STEROIDS, WHATEVER. OKAY. WE'LL GET STARTED TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. ROLL CALL PLEASE. MAYOR DEPAOLO HERE. VICE MAYOR PEREZ HERE. COUNCIL MEMBE. PALMER. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER. 
          WATERS. BROWN HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. ANSORGE HERE. OKAY. WE'RE ALL HERE. GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY, AND WELCOME TO OUR JUNE 26TH INDIANTOWN VILLAGE HALL MEETING. I'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU TO SILENCE YOUR PHONES. THE BATHROOM'S LOCATED THROUGH THE DOOR TO YOUR LEFT. EXIT DOORS ARE LOCATED TO THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT, CLEARLY MARKED BY EXIT SIGNS. YOU'LL HAVE THREE OPPORTUNITIES TO SPEAK TONIGHT. YOUR FIRST OPPORTUNITY WILL BE DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENTS SECTION, WHERE YOU CAN SPEAK ABOUT ANYTHING THAT IS NOT ADDRESSED ON THE AGENDA. THE SECOND OPPORTUNITY IS DURING THE DISCUSSION OF THE AGENDA ITEMS, AND YOUR THIRD WILL BE AT THE END OF TOWARDS THE END OF THE MEETING WHEN WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER ROUND OF THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS WHATEVER YOU WANT TO ADDRESS. IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK, THIS CARD IS ON THE BACK TABLE THERE. PLEASE FILL THEM OUT AND HAND THEM TO THE DEPUTY. WE'LL GIVE THEM TO THE CLERK. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU ALL TO STAND FOR THE INVOCATION GIVEN BY PASTOR WILLIAMS. PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. OUR KIND FATHER IN HEAVEN. WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. WE HAVE TO SEE OUR OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN ACTION. WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THESE HARD WORKING PEOPLE WHO HELP, HELP MAKE INDIAN TOWN A GREAT PLACE TO BE AND TO GROW. 
          WE PRAY THAT THEY'LL INSPIRE US TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS, AND THAT GREAT THINGS MAY CONTINUE ON, THAT WE CAN PREPARE FOR THE CHANGES IN GROWTH THAT ARE IMMINENT HERE IN INDIAN TOWN. 
          AND WE MOST OF ALL PRAY THAT THERE WOULD BE UNITY AND THAT WE'LL KEEP FOCUSED ON WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT HERE IN INDIAN TOWN. AND THIS IS A CLOSE IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, AMEN. 
          AMEN. PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. 
          [ADDITIONS, DELETIONS, PULLED ITEMS OR OTHER MODIFICATIONS]
OKAY. MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY ADDITIONS, DELETIONS, PULLED ITEMS? ANY OTHER MODIFICATIONS? 
          [Proclamation for 4th of July]
NO, SIR. OKAY. PROCLAMATIONS, PROCLAMATION FOR THE 4TH OF JULY. WHEREAS JULY 4TH, 1776, THE FOUNDING FATHERS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DECLARED THE NATION'S INDEPENDENCE, ESTABLISHING THE PRINCIPLES OF LIBERTY, DEMOCRACY, AND SELF-GOVERNANCE. 
          AND WHEREAS INDEPENDENCE DAY IS A TIME FOR ALL AMERICANS TO CELEBRATE THE FREEDOMS AND RIGHTS ENSHRINED IN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND TO HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE FOUGHT AND CONTINUED TO FIGHT TO PRESERVE THESE LIBERTIES. AND WHEREAS THIS DAY PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS OF INDIAN TOWN TO COME TOGETHER IN THE SPIRIT OF PATRIOTISM, TO CELEBRATE WITH PARADES, FIREWORKS, FAMILY GATHERINGS AND OTHER FESTIVITIES. AND WHEREAS IT IS FITTING TO REFLECT ON THE VALUES OF FREEDOM, UNITY AND COMMUNITY THAT DEFINES OUR NATION, AND TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR THE SACRIFICES MADE TO SECURE AND MAINTAIN OUR INDEPENDENCE. NOW, THEREFORE, THIS COUNCIL FOR THE VILLAGE OF INDIAN TOWN DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM JULY 4TH, 2025 AS INDEPENDENCE DAY IN THE VILLAGE OF INDIAN TOWN AND ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO JOIN IN CELEBRATING THE FOUNDING PRINCIPLES OF OUR NATION AND TO PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE UNITY, PATRIOTISM AND CIVIC PRIDE. AND WE HAD OUR RECIPIENT OF THIS PROCLAMATION. NOT HERE, THE CHAMBER, THE INDIAN TOWN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, TO PROMOTE AND TO INVITE EVERYONE TO THE FIREWORKS CELEBRATION NEXT WEEK ON SATURDAY AT TIME OF POWER PARK. 
          BUT THEY COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY. OKAY, OKAY. PROCLAMATION FOR PARKS AND RECREATION. PARK 
          [Proclamation for Parks & Recreation]
AND RECREATION MONTH, JULY 2025. WHEREAS PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS ARE VITAL TO THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, SOCIAL CONNECTION AND MENTAL WELLNESS. AND WHEREAS, THE PARK AND RECREATION FACILITIES ENHANCE 
          [00:05:04]
THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS BY OFFERING SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE SPACES FOR LEISURE, SPORTS, CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION. AND WHEREAS, PARKS AND RECREATION MONTH IS A TIME TO RECOGNIZE THE DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS WHO PLAN, MAINTAIN AND PROVIDE THESE ESSENTIAL SERVICES, CONTRIBUTING TO A HEALTHIER AND MORE CONNECTED COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS THIS MONTH ENCOURAGES ALL RESIDENTS TO EXPLORE OUR LOCAL PARKS, PARTICIPATE IN RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND APPRECIATE THE NATURAL BEAUTY AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS THAT PARKS AND RECREATION PROVIDE. NOW, THEREFORE, THIS COUNCIL FOR THE VILLAGE OF INDIAN TOWN DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM JULY 2025 AS PARKS AND RECREATION MONTH IN THE VILLAGE OF INDIAN TOWN AND ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO RECOGNIZE AND SUPPORT THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF PARKS AND RECREATION IN ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL. AND WE HAVE OUR PARKS TEAM HERE, THE WHOLE TEAM. GOOD EVENING. DEBBIE RUSSO'S, PARKS DIRECTOR. FOR THE RECORD, ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, I AM DEEPLY HONORED TO BE HERE AND ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION. 
          RECOGNIZING JULY AS PARKS AND RECREATION MONTH. THIS MONTH IS MORE THAN A CELEBRATION OF OUR PARKS. IT'S A CELEBRATION OF THE CONNECTIONS THEY CREATE. PARKS ARE WHERE FAMILIES GATHER, WHERE CHILDREN PLAY, WHERE NEIGHBORS MEET, AND WHERE WE ALL GO TO RECHARGE AND RECONNECT WITH NATURE AND EACH OTHER. OUR WORK IN PARKS AND RECREATION IS ROOTED IN SERVICE. SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY, TO EQUITY, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, AND QUALITY OF LIFE. WHETHER IT'S MAINTAINING SAFE PARKS THAT MY STAFF WORK SO HARD TO DO, KEEPING THEM CLEAN, AND BEING A WELCOMING SPACE, PRESERVING FIELDS AND PAVILIONS, OR HOSTING EVENTS THAT BRING JOY AND UNITY TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. OUR MISSION IS TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF AGE OR BACKGROUND, HAS ACCESS TO THE BENEFITS OF RECREATION AND THE OUTDOORS. THIS PROCLAMATION IS A RECOGNITION OF THAT MISSION AND OF THE HARD WORK OF OUR STAFF, OUR VOLUNTEERS, AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS. WE INVITE YOU, EVERYONE, TO JOIN US THIS THIS COMING SATURDAY, JULY 12TH, AS WE CELEBRATE PARKS AND RECREATION MONTH AND WE CELEBRATE THE VILLAGE'S THIRD ANNUAL FAMILY FUN DAY EVENT. WE'VE HAD GREAT SPONSORSHIPS THIS THIS YEAR. WE'VE RAISED OVER $7,000 FOR THIS EVENT. THANK YOU TO FOOD STOP, INDIAN TOWN CHAMBER, BAY STATE MILLING, PRP, MERITAGE HOMES, KIMLEY-HORN, CEDRON AND RYAN HOMES. AND THANK YOU TO JULIE AND JEAN, WHO JUST AGREED TO BE IN THE DUNK TANK. AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL VOLUNTEERS. BUT THANK YOU FOLKS, AND PLEASE, THANK YOU TO MY STAFF WHO I COULDN'T GET DONE WHAT WE DO WITHOUT ALL OF THEM. YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU PICTURE. THIS IS THE FIRST ACQUISITION IN 34 FINISHING GETTING THAT GOLD WREATH. BETTER YOU THAN ME. ANGELINA. SHORT PEOPLE. COME RIGHT HERE. HOLD ON. ARE WE GOOD? YEAH. LAURA, I THINK I KNOW. NO NO NO NO NO NO. 
          YEAH. RIGHT RIGHT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. YEAH. OKAY. AND SINCE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PARKS AND RECREATION, OUR PARKS RECREATION BOARD THAT WE HAVE ASSEMBLED, WHICH SUSAN GIVES THOMAS WAS A PART OF, SUSAN RESIGNED FROM THAT POSITION. AND I'M GOING TO REPLACE HER WITH MR. GUERRERO. SO ROBERT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG, LONG TIME AND HAS HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN SPORTS FOR A LONG, LONG TIME, AS FAR AS I CAN REMEMBER. AND I'VE BEEN HERE FOR QUITE A WHILE, SO I THANK HIM FOR STEPPING UP AND JOINING THAT BOARD. AND HOPEFULLY YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. AND IF YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING, YOU CAN AND WE'LL NEED HIS CONTACT INFORMATION. YEAH. THE PEOPLE TO THE MIC. THAT'S OKAY TO BE ON THE MICROPHONE SIR. HEY YOU'RE 
          [00:10:07]
ON AN IMPORTANT BOARD NOW. YOU'RE GOING TO BE ADDRESSING PEOPLE. SO YOU DO THAT. SORRY YOU CAN'T SEE ME. BUT ANYWAY, I APPRECIATE IT. I ACCEPT, YOU KNOW, THE CHALLENGE AND STUFF LIKE THAT. AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET SOME THINGS DONE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I GOT A LOT OF THINGS IN MIND AND, YOU KNOW, AND WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME THINGS DONE. WE'RE GOING TO GET STARTED. 
          YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO GET STARTED AND STUFF LIKE THAT. AND I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS THINKING OF ME. I'LL DO MY BEST. AWESOME. THANK YOU ROBERT. SIR. SIR. ROBERT. YES. DEBBIE'S GOING TO 
          [PUBLIC COMMENT (3 MINUTES EACH)]
NEED YOUR STUFF. OKAY. MOVING ON TO PUBLIC COMMENTS. DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS TONIGHT? YES, SIR. 
          MISS LINDA NICCUM. LINDA NICCUM. WELCOME. GOOD EVENING. FOR THE RECORD, LINDA NICCUM. THIS MAY BE A RINSE AND REPEAT OF EARLIER REMARKS THAT I'VE MADE, BUT I FEEL THAT WITH ALL OF THE CURRENT DISCUSSIONS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON, IT'S WORTH MY THREE MINUTES. I'VE EXPOUNDED A LOT OVER THE LAST 5 OR 6 YEARS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION BEFORE FOCUSING ON GROWTH. I DON'T CARE IF YOU LOOK AT THAT STATEMENT BIBLICALLY, HISTORICALLY, ARCHITECTURALLY OR ECONOMICALLY. IT'S ALL THE SAME. IN THE BEGINNING, THE VILLAGE WAS AIMING AT CREATING THAT SOLID BASE, A SOLID FOUNDATION. THE PURCHASE OF THE WATER PLANT WAS A MAJOR STEP TOWARD CREATING THAT SOLID FOUNDATION, BUT IT ALSO CREATED A HUGE MONEY PIT FOR THE REPAIRS, THE EXPANSIONS, THE RENOVATIONS ALL IN ORDER TO GIVE US A BASIC FOUNDATION ON WHICH WE WOULD BE ABLE TO BUILD AND EXPAND. BUT UNTIL THAT'S COMPLETED, WE SHOULD NOT BE MAKING COMMITMENTS FOR THINGS THAT REST ENTIRELY ON OUR ABILITY TO COMPLETE THAT FIRST PROJECT. I'M TALKING ABOUT COMMITTING TO PROMISES FOR SERVICES THAT MAY TAKE SEVERAL YEARS TO COMPLETE, WHETHER THEY ARE FOR RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL PROJECTS, OR EVEN ANNEXATION OF LARGE PIECES OF ACREAGE. I'M TALKING ABOUT OFFERING TAX BENEFITS, THUS REDUCING OUR INCOME THAT'S ALREADY NEEDED TO PAY FOR WHAT WE HAVE AND WHAT WE NEED. I'M TALKING ABOUT INCREASING THE COST OF RUNNING OUR VILLAGE GOVERNMENT JUST TO KEEP UP WITH THE JONESES. DOES THIS REPRESENT WHAT INDIAN TOWN IS OR SOMEONE'S DREAM OF WHAT IT COULD BE? GROWTH AND EXPANSION ARE INEVITABLE AND NECESSARY, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT NOW IS THE TIME FOR THAT TO BE OUR FOCUS. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE AVERAGE RESIDENT IN INDIAN TOWN IS THAT WELL INFORMED ABOUT THE DIRECTION THAT I SEE US GOING IN RIGHT NOW, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT GROWTH IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY OF OUR RESIDENTS ROADS, WATER, PARKS, SCHOOLS. IF YOU ASK THEM, THEY WILL TELL YOU THEY WON'T MIND AN INCREASE IN TAX MILLAGE. IF THEY KNOW THAT IT'LL BE FOR BETTER, SAFER WATER OR THE POTHOLE REPAIRED ON THEIR STREET. BUT TO ASK THE RESIDENTS TO PAY A LITTLE MORE JUST TO HAVE THE DEVELOPERS PAY LESS? I DON'T THINK SO. LET'S GET BACK TO OUR PRIORITIES. GO BACK AND REREAD OUR MISSION STATEMENT DURING THE INCORPORATION PROCESS. GO BACK TO WORKING FOR OUR PEOPLE, MAKING THIS A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE AND RAISE A FAMILY. NOT JUST ANOTHER COG IN THE WHEEL OF HURRY UP AND BUILD AND GET BIGGER. WE'LL THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? NO, SIR. OKAY. COMMENTS BY VILLAGE COUNCIL MEMBERS. NOBODY'S GOT 
          [COMMENTS BY VILLAGE COUNCIL MEMBERS]
ANYTHING. THERE YOU GO. I HAVE THREE THINGS. THE FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES CONFERENCE ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN AUGUST. SO I WANTED TO GET PERMISSION TO ATTEND OR THE BOARD APPROVAL. AND SECOND, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW I SEE THAT FIELD E AT BIG MOUND IS CLOSED, BUT I ALSO SEE PEOPLE JUMPING IT. STILL, HOW CAN WE EASE IN A REALLY BAD SHAPE? HOW 
          [00:15:03]
CAN WHAT ARE WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO TRY TO IMPROVE THAT FIELD. AND B HOW ARE WE GOING TO TRY TO GET THESE PEOPLE'S OFF THE FIELD? OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LIMITED ON STAFF AND IN BETWEEN TIMES. BUT I JUST DON'T WANT D TO BECOME E AND THEN WE'RE. YEAH WE HAVE CAMERAS I DON'T KNOW IF THEY CAN CAPTURE THAT. DEBBIE RIZZO'S PARKS DIRECTOR. FOR THE RECORD, WE HAD PROBLEMS WITH PEOPLE JUMPING THE FENCE ON FIELD D AS WELL. WE HAVE CAMERAS. WE WILL WORK WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. THERE ARE SIGNS POSTED THAT ARE CURRENTLY SAY, SAY OFF THE FIELD. IT'S CLOSED. THE ONLY WAY THOSE FIELDS WILL GET BETTER IS IF THEY GET REST. YOU KNOW THAT WHEN WE PLAY, WE PLAY HARD AND THOSE FIELDS GET A LOT OF USE. SO WE'LL REINFORCE THAT THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THERE. WE'LL HAVE STAFF GOING BY THERE MORE REGULARLY, BUT WE'RE LIMITED TO WHAT WE SEE AND DO. AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO TRY TO IMPROVE THAT CONDITION, THAT FIELD CONDITION? WELL, THAT FIELD RIGHT NOW HAS BEEN REALLY IN BAD SHAPE BECAUSE THE WELL, WELL FAILED. SO THERE WAS NO IRRIGATION GOING ON IT THAT IT HAS NOW BEEN REPAIRED. SO WITH THE REST AND, AND WE'LL GET SOME FERTILIZER, I MEAN IT'S BEING FERTILIZED, BUT WE'LL GET THAT OUT THERE. AND THEN THE ADDITIONAL IRRIGATION IT WILL START TO IMPROVE. WE'LL PUT SOME SAND OUT AND START FILLING IN THE HOLES, BUT STEPS IN A PROCESS. AND AS YOU SAW, WE ARE, YOU KNOW, TWO FULL TIME PEOPLE AND FOUR PART TIME PEOPLE. AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO. 
          AND THAT'S WHY I SAID I WAS LIKE, OH MY GOD. LIKE I CAN SEE IT FROM MY HOUSE. SO I'M LIKE, BUT I APPRECIATE YOU LETTING US KNOW THEY'RE HOPPING THE FENCE. YEAH. IT'S JUST THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF WHAT WE GOT. YOU KNOW, WE'RE VERY LIMITED ON OUR ON OUR FIELD CAPACITY AS WELL. YOU KNOW WE AND BOOKER PARKS LOOKING BEAUTIFUL. COME ON OVER. THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. AND I GOT ONE MORE THING. I WANT THE RECORD TO REFLECT THAT. I DO RESEND MY VOTE FOR THE WAIVER AT LAST COUNCIL MEETING. SO I'M RESENTING MY VOTE FOR THAT AGENDA ITEM. YOU CAN CERTAINLY PUT IT ON THE RECORD THAT YOU CHANGED YOUR MIND. YES, I DID DON'T LIKE IT ANYMORE THAT THE MINUTES ARE GOING TO REFLECT WHAT WAS THEN. AND AS LONG AS IT'S ON THE RECORD, IT'S ON THE RECORD THAT YOU REGRET THAT DECISION OR CHANGE YOUR MIND. THANK YOU. OKAY, I'D LIKE TO SAY GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE. I'M GLAD THAT EVERYONE ATTENDED. IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE EVERYONE. AND ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK FOR PERMISSION FROM THE BOARD TO ALSO ATTEND THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES CONFERENCE. 
          OKAY, WHO'S WHO SITS ON THAT? FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES. WHO'S WHO'S WHO. IT'S ALL OF YOU. ALL OF YOU ARE PART OF THE FLORIDA LEAGUE OF CITIES, RIGHT. MEMBERSHIP BOARD. ARE YOU GOING TO BE GOING TO. WELL, THAT WAS PART OF MY ASK LATER, BUT WHAT IS THE DATE? IS THE 16TH OF 14TH OR THE 16TH? IS IT DURING THE WEEK? IT IS 15. 16. YEAH. IT'S AUGUST 36TH, 14TH THROUGH THE 16TH. THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE IS USUALLY THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL FOR HERE. IT'S UP IN ORLANDO. 
          YEAH. DO WE KNOW WHAT THE COST IS FOR REGISTRATION IS SIX 8606 8686 8080. I'M NOT GOING. OKAY. 
          DO WE HAVE THE MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR IT? YES. OKAY. SO WHO WANTS TO GO? ONE, TWO. I'LL LISTEN TO MINE. OH. OH, IF YOU WANT TO GO, THAT'S FINE. WE HAVE THE MONEY. I'M NOT GOING. I'M GOING TO GO. GO. IF I GO, I'LL GO ON MY OWN BECAUSE I WANT TO DO OTHER THINGS. YES. BUT. YES. 
          SO YOU GOT THREE. OKAY. WHAT'S THE CONSENSUS? I'M A YES. YES, YES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO WE GOT THREE GOING AND WHO KNOWS WHERE I'LL BE. BUT I'LL BE AT SCHOOL. YOU'LL BE AT SCHOOL. THAT'S A GOOD PLACE TO BE. ANY COMMITTEE REPORTS? NO COMMENTS BY OUR VILLAGE MANAGER. I JUST HAVE A 
          [COMMENTS BY VILLAGE MANAGER]
COUPLE THINGS. ONE, PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND I'LL SEND OUT A INVITE FOR AUGUST 9TH AT 9:00 FOR YOUR STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION. I KNOW AT LEAST ONE COUNCIL MEMBER CAN'T MAKE THAT DATE, BUT IN POLLING EVERYBODY ELSE TO SEE WHICH DATE WOULD WORK BEST FOR THEM, THAT SEEMS LIKE THAT WOULD BE YOUR YOUR BEST DATE THAT A SATURDAY? YES, MA'AM. YES. THE TREASURE COAST REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL WILL BE FACILITATING THAT. THANK YOU. DID THEY HAVE A VOTE ON CONSENT 
          [00:20:01]
YET? RIGHT. NO, ON THE CONSENT. IS THE LEASE AGREEMENT FOR THE CANE CENTER. THEY HAVE BECOME SO SUCCESSFUL THAT THEY'VE OUTGROWN THEIR CURRENT SPACE. SO WE ARE LOOKING TO HAVE THEM BE THE FIRST INDIVIDUALS TO UTILIZE OUR NEW SPOT OVER HERE AT THE BOB SOUSA CENTER. SO THAT'S THAT'S VERY THAT'S A GOOD THING. AND THEN ALSO YOU HAD IN. THE MAYOR HAD BROUGHT FORWARD AN ITEM TO LOOK AT SOME VARIOUS PROPERTIES. AND I JUST GOT IN THE LATEST APPRAISAL FOR THE PROPERTY THAT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VACANT PROPERTY IN BOOKER PARK, THAT WHERE THE EARLY LEARNING CENTER AND ALL THAT WAS. AND THEN I GOT THE APPRAISAL FOR THE OTHER PIECE THAT'S ADJACENT TO OUR BASKETBALL COURTS. SO I WILL BE BRINGING THOSE BACK TO YOU TO HAVE A CONVERSATION AND, AND FURTHER CONSIDERATION. AND THEN THE LASTLY. WE WERE ASKED TO LOOK AT CHANGING OUR HOURS FOR THE LOBBY SO THAT THE LOBBY COULD STAY OPEN UNTIL 5:00. AND SO I KICKED THAT BACK TO THE STAFF, AND THEY CAME UP WITH A RECOMMENDATION SO THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP THE LOBBY OPEN UNTIL FIVE, AND WE WILL PROVIDE A DROP BOX SO INDIVIDUALS CAN EITHER DEPOSIT CASH, MAKE A CREDIT CARD PAYMENT, DEPOSIT A CHECK OR MONEY ORDER. WE FOUND OUT YOU CAN GET A MONEY ORDER AT RYAN'S FOR A DOLLAR, AND THEN THOSE PAYMENTS WILL BE WILL NOT BE SUBMITTED SUBJECT TO A LATE FEE. THEY WILL GO IN AS PAYMENT RECEIVED ON THAT DAY AND GO FROM THERE. OKAY. SO THAT'S IT FOR M. 
          OKAY. I HAVE A QUESTION. SO IF THEY BUY A MONEY ORDER ON THE 20TH AND IT FALLS ON A SUNDAY, YOU SAID THAT THEY WILL NOT BE PENALIZED FOR A LATE FEE. HOW DID THEY DO? IT'S THE NEXT DAY. 
          IT'S NEXT BUSINESS DAY. IF IT FALLS ON A SUNDAY OR SATURDAY, PROBABLY NOT ON SATURDAY. THAT'S RIGHT. IT WOULD BE IT. THEY'D BE CLOSED. BUT LIKE, NO, BUT LIKE IN THE DROP BOX, LIKE IF THEY DROP IT OFF ON A FRIDAY NIGHT OR SATURDAY OR I MEAN, IF YOUR MONEY ORDER STAYS THE 20TH AND YOU AND IT, IT FALLS ON THE WEEKEND, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET PENALIZED. NO. THE LATE FEE BECAUSE WE WOULD BE CLOSED ANYHOW. DROP IT IN THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY. YEAH. WHICH IS THAT MONDAY WHEN YOU DROP IT OFF IT'LL BE PROCESSED THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY, WHICH WOULD BE MONDAY. OKAY, OKAY. ALL RIGHT. GOT AN APPROVAL FOR THE AGENDA. WE HAVE A MOTION. MOTION TO 
          [1) APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
APPROVE. HOLD ON ONE SECOND FOR ME. SO, ANGELINA, YOU'RE ASKING IF THEY BUY IT ON A SATURDAY OR SUNDAY, THEY WILL HAVE TO GET A LATE PENALTY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE IT IN THE BOX ON FRIDAY BEFORE THEY CLOSE. IT'S DUE ON FRIDAY BEFORE 5:00. BUT EVEN THOUGH THAT. SO IT HAS TO BE TURNED IN FRIDAY BEFORE £0.05 CORRECT. SO ANYTHING AFTER IT'S THERE'S A LATE FEE. YEAH. YEAH OKAY. THANK YOU THANK YOU PHYLLIS NO PROBLEM. OKAY. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. DO I GET A MOTION. MOTION? THE MOTION. AND I MEAN. COUNCILWOMAN ONSLOW, SECOND BY PALMER, WHO SECONDED? PALMER. PALMER. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. PASS UNANIMOUSLY CONSENT AGENDA. A MOTION TO 
          [2) CONSENT AGENDA]
APPROVE. MOTION TO APPROVE BY COUNCILWOMAN ONSLOW. SECOND BY SECOND. WATERS. BROWN. YES. 
          WATERS. BROWN. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OKAY. PASS UNANIMOUSLY. REGULAR AGENDA. 
          [Approval to Implement Paypoint HR Compensation and Classification Study Including Salary Adjustments and 2025 Pay Plan and Pay Grade Table]
APPROVAL TO IMPLEMENT PAY POINT HR COMPENSATION. VILLAGE MANAGER. YES, SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO LAST YEAR, THE VILLAGE COUNCIL AGREED TO ALLOW THE VILLAGE TO PIGGYBACK ONTO A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF STUART FOR COMPENSATION AND CLASSIFICATION STUDY TO BE PERFORMED BY PAY POINT HR. THIS STUDY WAS TO INCLUDE JOB ANALYSIS AND SALARY ANALYSIS, A RECOMMENDED PAY PLAN, AND THEN IDENTIFY THE STATUS OF POSITIONS THAT WERE BASED UPON THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT, WHICH IS REALLY FLSA, WHICH DETERMINES WHICH POSITIONS ARE EXEMPT VERSUS NONEXEMPT, AND THAT DETERMINES WHO'S OVERTIME ELIGIBLE OR NON OVERTIME ELIGIBLE. SO THE ANALYSIS OF THE FROM FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, AN ANALYSIS OF THE POSITIONS WITHIN THE VILLAGE HAVE NOT BEEN PERFORMED FOR MORE THAN FIVE YEARS. AND THE CONSULTANTS THEN DID SUBMIT THEIR COMPENSATION AND CLASSIFICATION STUDY, WHICH WHICH IS VERY DATA DRIVEN, VERY 
          [00:25:05]
FORMULA DRIVEN. AND THEY SURVEYED THEY SENT OUT SURVEYS TO 25 DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, AND THEY RECEIVED 15 BACK. SO FROM THAT THOSE SURVEYS THEY RECEIVED BACK, THEY THEN GO AND THEY START DOING THEIR CALCULATIONS TO COME UP WITH WHAT THOSE RANGES SHOULD BE, WHAT THE POSITIONS SALARIES SHOULD BE, AND THEY COME BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE I'VE EVER DONE IN MY CAREER, AND I'VE PROBABLY DONE AT LEAST A DOZEN. 
          THEY ALWAYS COME BACK AND RECOMMEND PLACING YOUR EMPLOYEES AT THE 50TH PERCENTILE. AND THE REASON THEY SAY THAT IS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT YOUR EMPLOYER TO BE THE HIGHEST PAID, NOR DO THEY WANT YOU TO BE THE LOWEST PAID. WHEN I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THAT 50TH PERCENTILE, BASED ON THE 15 SURVEYS THAT WERE SUBMITTED, THOSE THOSE OTHER ENTITIES ARE COMPARING US TO OUR COASTAL. AND THEY'VE BEEN SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS. SO TO JUMP TO THAT 50 PERCENTILE I DIDN'T FEEL WAS WHERE WE SHOULD BE. YET GIVEN HOW NEW WE ARE AND GIVEN OUR STRUCTURE. SO THEN I LOOKED AT THE 25 PERCENTILE TO SEE WHAT WHAT THAT WOULD DO, BECAUSE THE 50 PERCENTILE WOULD BE ALMOST A $300,000 IMPACT TO OUR BOTTOM LINE WITHOUT BENEFITS. SO IN LOOKING AT THE 25 PERCENTILE, THEN I STEPPED BACK AND SAID, OKAY, IF I YOU NORMALLY THE VILLAGE HAS BEEN GIVEN EMPLOYEES A 3% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT ON OCTOBER 1ST. SO IF I TAKE THAT 3% ADJUSTMENT AND APPLY IT TODAY OR AS SOON AS IS PRACTICABLE FOR AFTER TODAY, IF THIS GETS APPROVED, THEN EVERYBODY IN THE ORGANIZATION WILL GET THAT 3% ADJUSTMENT. THEN I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT, OKAY, AFTER THAT 3% ADJUSTMENT, WHO STILL IS NOT IN THAT 25 PERCENTILE. AND THEN THERE'S WAS LIKE NINE POSITIONS AND MAJORITY OF THOSE ARE IN MANAGEMENT. SO MY RECOMMENDATION INCLUDES TAKING THOSE NINE POSITIONS UP TO THAT 25 PERCENTILE. IF THEY'RE NOT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T REACH IT WITH THE 3% ADJUSTMENT FOR EMPLOYEES THAT ARE ON PROBATION. CURRENTLY, WHEN YOU HAVE AN EMPLOYEE ON PROBATION AFTER THEY COME OFF PROBATION SIX MONTHS, THEY GET A 5% ADJUSTMENT. SO MY RECOMMENDATION ALSO INCLUDES THAT THOSE PROBATION EMPLOYEES WOULD GET THAT 3%. AND THEN WHEN THEIR PROBATION ENDS, THEY WOULD GET THE ADDITIONAL 2%. AND AFTER THAT ADJUSTMENT, IF THEY STILL ARE NOT ABLE OR IF THEY'RE STILL UNDER THE NEW MINIMUMS THAT WE'RE ESTABLISHING, WE WOULD BRING THOSE POSITIONS TO THE NEW MINIMUMS. ONE THING THAT'S NOT IN HERE THAT MR. NOLAN AND I TALKED ABOUT IS WE HIRE TRAINEES, AND WHEN WE BRING THOSE TRAINEES IN, MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD BRING THEM IN BECAUSE THE NEW MINIMUM WILL BE ESTABLISHED. THEY WOULD COME IN AT 5% BELOW THAT NEW MINIMUM UNTIL THEY GET OFF PROBATION, AT WHICH TIME THEN THEY WOULD GO TO THAT NEW MINIMUM. AND SO WHEN I MEAN, THERE'S VERY THERE'S VARIOUS WAYS THAT YOU CAN IMPLEMENT THESE STUDIES. AND I THINK THAT AFTER I STEP BACK AND LOOK AT WHERE THE EMPLOYEES FALL, KNOWING WHO HAS WHAT LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE, KNOWING WHAT JOB DESCRIPTIONS REQUIRE X, Y, AND Z. AS FAR AS EXPERTISE AND TECHNICAL, I THINK THAT THIS IMPLEMENTATION THAT I, THAT I'M RECOMMENDING WILL PUT THE POSITIONS IN A MUCH BETTER POSITION FOR RETAINING AND ATTRACTING OUR EMPLOYEES HERE, AS YOU ALL HAVE RECOGNIZED, AND WE JUST RECOGNIZED ALL OF OUR PARK EMPLOYEES. WE'RE REALLY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE. THEY'RE THEY'RE THEY DO AN AWESOME JOB. THEY'RE COMPETENT, THEY'RE RELIABLE, THEY'RE CAPABLE, AND WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE THEM HERE. AND THE KEY FOR ME, I CAN'T DO MY JOB WITHOUT GOOD STAFF. YOU KNOW, THE THINGS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH, WHETHER INDIVIDUALS LIKE THEM OR NOT, IS NOT BECAUSE OF ME. IT'S BECAUSE OF THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE HERE. AND SO THE WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE COST OF THIS IS, IT COMES OUT ROUGHLY AROUND $88,000. AND MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE WOULD USE LAPSED SALARIES, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, MR. FLORIO SHOWED YOU LAST YEAR WE HAD OVER A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND IN LAPSED SALARIES. THOSE ARE POSITIONS I CAN'T FILL BECAUSE 
          [00:30:03]
WE'RE NOT COMPETITIVE. AND THEY'RE THEY'RE THEY'RE KEY POSITIONS. IN SOME INSTANCES AN ACCOUNTANT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THERE'S THINGS THAT MR. FLORIO NEEDS TO HELP HIM BE MORE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT IN HIS ROLE BECAUSE HE'S DOING A LOT OF OTHER THINGS. SO I THINK I THINK IT'S I KNOW IT'S FAIR. I BELIEVE THAT IT WILL GET OUR EMPLOYEES INTO A GOOD PLACE, AND IT WILL GET OUR SALARY STRUCTURE TO A POINT THAT I THINK FOR A 7 OR 8 YEAR OLD VILLAGE, IT WOULD REFLECT APPROPRIATELY WHERE WE SHOULD BE. SO I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE. 
          BUT MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE THAT WE WOULD LOOK AT HAVING THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THAT I'VE PROVIDED TO IMPLEMENT THIS PAY POINT HR COMPENSATION AND CLASSIFICATION STUDY, AND THEN DO THE SALARY ADJUSTMENTS THAT I EXPRESSED, AND THEN THAT YOU WOULD APPROVE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2025 PAY PLAN AND THE POSITION GRADE TABLE. AND THE POSITION GRADE TABLE CREATES A MINIMUM AND A MAXIMUM FOR EACH OF THOSE POSITIONS, WHICH IS NECESSARY TO HAVE OUR OUR OUR EXISTING PAY PLAN, AS THE CONSULTANT POINTED OUT, DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH OF A SPAN TO CREATE ENOUGH OF A DIFFERENCE, IF YOU WILL, BETWEEN GRADE TO GRADE TO EVEN ENCOURAGE PROMOTION FROM WITHIN. AND SO BY HAVING THAT STRUCTURE ESTABLISHED, I THINK IT WOULD HELP US AS IT WOULD ENTICE INDIVIDUALS TO WANT TO TAKE ON THOSE ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND BE PROMOTED WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION, WHICH I'M A HUGE I'M A BYPRODUCT OF I, AND I'M A HUGE FAN OF IT. SO. I KNOW I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT IT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THIS IS THIS IS ONE OF THE STEPS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE IN ORDER TO ATTRACT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED FOR THE FUTURE, PARTICULARLY. AND SO ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I THINK WE SHOULD REVISIT THIS MAYBE IN A COUPLE OF YEARS, ONCE I THINK IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOME THINGS ACTUALLY START CHANGING HERE IN THE VILLAGE. WE'RE GOING TO BE MORE BUSY. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE RESPONSIBILITIES DOWN THE ROAD. TERRA LAGO IS GOING TO BE PROVIDING US WITH PARKS TO MAINTAIN AND ROADS TO MAINTAIN. I MEAN, WE HAVE A LOT ON OUR PLATE. AND IF I CAN SAY, AND THAT'S ONE OF MY CONCERNS, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE IN THE PAST, BUT. I DON'T WANT TO LOSE WHAT WE HAVE, BUT I WANT TO BUILD ON WHAT WE HAVE. IF 5%. THAT YOU RETAIN UNTIL THE PERSON IS OFF OF PROBATION, COULD WE TAKE THAT 5% AND ADD IT INSTEAD OF AS A REWARD? BECAUSE YOU PASSED PROBATION, JUST MAKE THAT BRING THAT SALARY POINT UP TO THAT 5% SO THAT WHEN WE'RE HIRING SOMEBODY, THEY COME IN AT A HIGHER SALARY RATE. BECAUSE I'VE SENT I'VE SENT PEOPLE OVER TO THE WATER PLANT, YOU KNOW, AND THEY COME BACK TO ME AND SAY, CARMINE, I CAN'T SUPPORT MY FAMILY ON THAT. YEAH. YOU KNOW, AND SO AND THESE ARE QUALITY PEOPLE THAT KNOW THE BUSINESS. 
          YEAH. IT'S NOT SOMEBODY JUST OFF THE STREET THAT HAD, YOU KNOW, THEY KNOW WATER AND IT'S TOO BAD BECAUSE WE, WE DON'T WE DON'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CAPTURE THAT PERSON. SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. IT'S AN INVESTMENT. LISTEN, YOU YOU'RE ONLY AS GOOD AS YOUR WEAKEST LINK. I DON'T CARE WHATEVER WHATEVER BUSINESS YOU'RE IN, WHETHER YOU'RE IN GOVERNMENT OR SELLING HOT DOGS ON THE STREET. AND IT TAKES PEOPLE TO RUN. OBVIOUSLY, OUR GOVERNMENT. SO WE GOT A GREAT, GREAT STAFF AND I THINK THEY OUGHT TO BE REWARDED. THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PAYING THEIR WATER BILL. OKAY. AND I THINK WE NEED TO ATTRACT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE LOST PEOPLE TO CITY OF STUART, RIGHT? YES, SIR. YOU KNOW, I'D LIKE I'D LIKE TO GET PEOPLE FROM OTHER CITIES TO SAY, HEY, I WANT TO GO WORK FOR THE VILLAGE. YOU KNOW, IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO WORK. FAMILY ATMOSPHERE. AND I CAN AFFORD TO GO THERE BECAUSE THEIR THEIR SALARY IS, YOU KNOW WHAT I'D BE MAKING SOMEPLACE ELSE. SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU THINK ABOUT THAT. I DON'T KNOW HOW THE REST OF THE, THE BOARD FEELS ABOUT WHAT YOUR, YOUR WHAT YOU WERE DISCUSSING. THAT'S WHAT I'M 
          [00:35:06]
RECOMMENDING. SO YOU WOULD BRING SOMEBODY IN AT 5% BELOW. BUT ONCE THEY GOT OFF OF PROBATION, THEN YOU WOULD TAKE THEM UP TO THAT MINIMUM, THAT NEW MINIMUM. THAT WAY THE PERSON WHO'S BEEN OFF OF PROBATION ALREADY, WHO'S BEEN HERE FOR ANOTHER SIX MONTHS OR WOULD NOT BE AT THE SAME LEVEL AS THAT PERSON AFTER SIX MONTHS, OKAY. TO KEEP THAT A LITTLE BIT OF A DISTANCE, IF YOU WILL, IF THAT MAKES SENSE. BUT ARE WE AT ARE WE AT A STARTING SALARY. THAT'S. STANDARD. LIKE IF IT'S COMPARABLE TO THE MARKET WORK FOR PORT SAINT LUCIE, I'D BE MAKING THE SAME MONEY OR. 
          WELL, NO, BECAUSE PORT SAINT LUCIE DIDN'T DIDN'T SUBMIT POINT. NO, IT'S NOT COMPARABLE. 
          TEQUESTA, WE MATCH YOU UP WITH TEQUESTA RIGHT NOW. THAT'S ABOUT THE SIZE OF US. YEAH, BUT FOR YOUR SALARIES, WE'RE NOT. WE'RE WE'RE NOT THERE BECAUSE TEQUESTA IS ANOTHER COASTAL COMMUNITY. 
          YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT YOUR MORE RURAL COMMUNITIES. I KNOW WHEN WE WERE DOING THE UTILITY FEES, WE WERE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, CLEWISTON, PAHOKEE AND SOME OF THOSE OTHER AREAS. 
          AND THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THEY THEY CAN ONLY BASE THEIR DATA ON WHAT THEY RECEIVE. AND IF THOSE FOLKS DIDN'T RETURN A SURVEY, THEN THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY TRY TO CHASE THEM DOWN AS BEST THEY COULD. AND I WAS SENDING EMAILS TO PEOPLE ASKING THEM TO RESPOND, DO WE HAVE THE STRUCTURE IN PLACE NOW? THE PAY STRUCTURE AT ALL? DO WE? WE DO, WE DO. IT'S WITHIN THE STUDY. I DON'T KNOW THAT IF THEY ACTUALLY LAY IT OUT, BUT THEY DO LOOK AT THE VARIOUS PAY GRADES AND THEY DO, I THINK I'M PRETTY SURE THEY DID INCLUDE WHAT THE PRIOR WAS, I THINK SO, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S US OR NOT. YES. AT EACH IF YOU, IF YOU START LIKE ON PAGE. 20 AFTER 26 SIX. 20. YEAH. THEN IN EACH WHAT THEY'VE DONE IS THEY HAVE THEY HAVE A TABLE FOR ADMINISTRATION AND IN THERE THEY, THEY LIST THE ADMIN ASSISTANT, THE DEPUTY VILLAGE CLERK, THE OFFICE COORDINATOR, THE VILLAGE CLERK. AND THEN THEY SAY WHAT THE CURRENT SCALE IS, MIN AND MAX. AND FOR EACH ONE OF THOSE AND THEN THEY SHOW THEIR, THOSE MARKET PERCENTILES UNDER THAT. SO FOR INSTANCE ON THE ADMIN ASSISTANT, THE MINIMUM WE CURRENTLY HAVE IS $17 AND THE MAX IS 29. AND THEY WERE LOOKING AT I WAS LOOKING AT THAT 25 PERCENTILE, WHICH WOULD BE 1953, WHICH DOESN'T GET YOU TO THE MIDPOINT OF OUR EXISTING SCALE. BUT FOR THE ADMIN ASSISTANT THEY'RE RECOMMENDING. IT BE. OH, LET'S SEE, THEY'RE RECOMMENDING IT FALL, I DON'T OH, HERE IT IS. 
          IN A GRADE. GRADE. THREE WHICH THE PROPOSED SALARY WOULD START WITH AN HOURLY MINIMUM OF AT LEAST 1733. SO IT'S $0.33 HIGHER THAN WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE FROM THE STARTING MINIMUM. OUR STARTING SALARY IS $17.32. NO, THEY'RE THEY'RE RECOMMENDING $17.33 FOR A MINIMUM FOR THAT GRADE. CURRENTLY WE ONLY START THEM AT 17. WE HAVE SOME FOLKS THAT START AT 16. THEY CAN GO TO MCDONALD'S FOR THAT. THAT'S TRUE. WELL. OH, WE BOTH ARE. YOU DONE? YES, MA'AM. I HAVE A COMMENT TO MAKE. STATISTICALLY, IT'S THREE TIMES CHEAPER TO KEEP HER THAN IT IS TO GO OUT AND LOOK FOR NEW PEOPLE, TRAIN NEW PEOPLE, AND OFTEN YOU GET NEW PEOPLE IN AND YOU RETAIN THEM JUST LONG ENOUGH TO GET THROUGH PROBATION. AND THEN THEY GET A BETTER OFFER SOMEWHERE ELSE. 
          LOOKING AT THESE NUMBERS, I KNOW FOR A FACT YOU CAN MAKE MORE AT TACO BELL THAN A LOT OF THOSE, AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE AN EXAMPLE. PART OF OUR MISSION STATEMENT IS THAT WE ARE A COMMUNITY THAT HELPS OUR OWN STAY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORTS EACH OTHER. SO I THINK WE SHOULD BE OFFERING OUR PEOPLE. THIS ISN'T EVEN I'LL BE HONEST, IT'S NOT A LIVING WAGE, BUT AT LEAST THE BEST WE CAN DO. I THINK WE HAVE A TREMENDOUSLY 
          [00:40:08]
LOYAL GROUP OF PEOPLE. YOU DO, AND LOOKING AT THEIR SALARIES, IT'S SHAMEFUL THAT WE MAKE THEM WORK FOR THAT. SO I, I LIKE YOUR PLAN. I THINK IT'S VERY REASONABLE. AND I THINK THAT WE WOULD BE REALLY NOT LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURE TO NOT RETAIN OUR FOLKS THAT WE HAVE NOW. 
          YEAH, I AGREE, $88,000 IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS ANNUALLY IS NOT IT'S NOT A LOT TO RETAIN GOOD INDIVIDUALS AND TO BE ABLE TO BRING IN OTHER PEOPLE THAT WE NEED. YOU BURN OUT SOMEBODY THAT'S IN A POSITION. THAT'S BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE HELP THAT THEY NEED. THEN YOU LOSE THAT PERSON TOO. YES. SO IN MY OPINION, LOOKING OVER THE NUMBERS, I WAS AN ACCOUNTANT FOR 20 SOME ODD YEARS MY YOUNGER DAYS. AND LOOKING OVER THESE NUMBERS, I THINK IT'S A GOOD STARTING POINT. I THINK AS WE BUILD THE VILLAGE, WE NEED TO BE SURE WE'RE PAYING LIVING WAGES. 
          YES. AND ONE COMPONENT, I JUST IT JUST DAWNED ON ME THAT I HADN'T EVEN FACTORED IN HERE. IT HELPS OUR ECONOMIC SITUATION FOR THE VILLAGE. IF YOUR EMPLOYEES HAVE HAVE ENOUGH, IF YOU WILL, BEING PAID ADEQUATELY, WELL, THEN THEY'RE GOING TO GO, THEN THEY'RE GOING. HENRY FORD STARTED THE LIVING WAGE SO THAT PEOPLE COULD BUY HIS CARS. YES. SO PEOPLE WILL SPEND MONEY IN OUR VILLAGE IF THEY LIVE IN OUR VILLAGE, IF THEY CAN WORK IN OUR VILLAGE. YES. AND IF WE CAN ATTRACT YOUNG FAMILIES TO BUY THESE HOMES THAT WE'RE BUILDING, YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO PAY MORE THAN YOU CAN MAKE AT TACO BELL. AND I APOLOGIZE THAT WE CAN'T PAY YOU WHAT YOU'RE WORTH, BUT I THINK THIS IS A GOOD START, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A DEDICATED STAFF THAT SHOULD BE REWARDED FOR THEIR DEDICATION. THANK YOU. 
          OKAY. MISS CHRISSY. SO AFTER WE AFTER WE FINISH THIS PORTION, THEN WE WANT TO WORK ON A STRUCTURE OR WE HAVE A STRUCTURE. WE. SO AS WE AS WE GROW, WE CAN'T SAY OKAY, WELL THE NEXT GROUP, LET'S DO THIS OR THE NEXT OR THE NEXT GROUP, LET'S DO THIS. ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IS TO GO AHEAD AND APPROVE IMPLEMENTING THIS 2025 PAY PLAN THAT THEY HAVE RECOMMENDED, ALONG WITH YOUR POSITION GRADE TABLE. AND THAT WILL START LAYING THAT FOUNDATION. THEY ALSO RECOMMEND AND THIS IS NORMAL. AND WE WEREN'T DOING THAT HERE THAT WHEN YOU DO A COLA ADJUSTMENT, A COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT, THAT YOU MOVE YOUR PAY SCALE ACCORDINGLY. WE CREATED COMPRESSION. I SAY WE WHEN I GOT HERE, COMPRESSION HAD BEEN CREATED BECAUSE YOU WERE DOING CROSS THE BOARD LIVING ADJUSTMENTS BUT NEVER MOVING THAT PAY SCALE. SO THE PEOPLE WERE GETTING ADJUSTMENTS AND BUT YOU KNOW, STARTING TO BUMP UP TO THOSE MAXIMUMS WHERE THEY WOULD NO LONGER BE ELIGIBLE FOR THOSE INCREASES. SO THAT'S WHY WHEN I REALIZED THAT, THAT'S WHEN I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT WE NEED? WE NEED TO HAVE A STUDY AND SEE WHERE WE SHOULD BE. SO WE HAVE A GOOD PLACE TO START. AND THIS IS MINUS THE BENEFITS, CORRECT? CORRECT. THE BENEFITS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE INCREASE. MIKE. WHAT'S THE NORMAL PERCENTAGE LIKE 2025. ABOUT 20 TO 25% ON TOP OF THAT. BUT IT'S STILL WITHIN THE RANGE OF THE SALARIES THAT WE'RE SITTING ON. WELL, DO I HAVE A MOTION I MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THE REPORT FROM THE VILLAGE MANAGER. OH, YOU HAVE ON READINESS. YEAH. OKAY. YOU KNOW, WE MAKE DECISIONS AND I, I, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M FULLY UNDERSTANDING THIS. I'M NOT AN ACCOUNTANT. IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN HAVE A WORKSHOP? I JUST, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I WAS LOOKING AT WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, AND THEN YOU SAID SOMETHING ELSE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS WHAT WE'RE DOING IS, IS CORRECT TO EVERYONE, AND EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS. HEY, YOU KNOW, I LOVE OUR STAFF. I THINK THEY DO AMAZING. BUT I THINK WE OWE IT TO THE RESIDENTS TO EXPLAIN, OKAY. THIS IS A DECISION THAT WE MADE BASED ON THIS STUDY. YOU KNOW, FOR ME, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, OKAY, THE STUDY WAS WHAT WAS THE CLOSEST YOU SAID COASTAL CITIES, BUT WHAT WAS THE CLOSEST? SOMEWHAT LIKE OUR TOWN. I MEAN, THERE THERE AREN'T ANY. YOU'RE THE YOU'RE THE YOUNGEST 
          [00:45:02]
MUNICIPALITY IN THE IN THE STATE. ALL THE OTHER ONES HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR SOME, LIKE I SAID, SOME 50 YEARS AND SOME 75 YEARS, I, I DON'T MIND DOING A WORKSHOP, BUT BUT I'M NOT I'M I'D HAVE TO PULL THE CONSULTANTS IN WHICH WILL COS I CAN'T EXPLAN THEIR METHODOLOGY. I MEAN, I CAN, BUT THEY HAVE A VERY PRECISE METHODOLOGY THAT THEY GO THROUGH WHEN THEY DO THESE CALCULATIONS AND THEY LOOK AT STANDARD DEVIATIONS AND DEVIATION OF THIS DEVIATION AND THEIR DEVIATIONS ALL DOWN THE PIKE. I MEAN, I SEE MR. VOSS IS LOOKING AT THE LIST OF THE COMPARABLES. I DON'T KNOW, IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, YOU REPRESENT WHAT A 18 DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES. 13 DIFFERENT 13. WHAT'S YOUR OPINION ON THIS? COMING IN. COMING. YEAH. NO IT'S FINE. YEAH. COMING IN AT THE AT THE 25% PERCENTILE IS I MEAN THAT'S, THAT'S DOWN AT THE BOTTOM QUARTILE OF, OF A COMPETITIVE SET YOU'RE LOOKING AT. AND I UNDERSTAND YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A DISCRETE SET OF, OF NUMBERS THAT CAME IN FROM CERTAIN CITIES AND SO ON. BUT I DON'T THINK ANY OF THAT'S OUT OF WHACK TO ESTABLISH WHAT THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THOSE SET OF PERCENTILES ARE. AND WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE ESTABLISHING. SO WHAT'S WHAT'S BEFORE YOU RIGHT NOW IS COMING FROM THIS PROFESSIONAL FIRM THAT THAT DOES THESE PAY STUDIES TO FIND OUT WHAT'S THE STATE OF THE MARKET RIGHT NOW. AND THEN THE DIRECTION FROM THE VILLAGE MANAGER WAS NOT PUT US IN THE MIDDLE BECAUSE IN HER JUDGMENT, WHILE I THINK THE MANAGER WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO, THAT'S NOT WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW. THE DIRECTION WAS BASED ON ALL THAT DATA. YOU KNOW, DON'T PUT US IN THE 50 PERCENTILE. DON'T PUT US IN THE MIDDLE, PUT US DOWN IN THE BOTTOM QUARTILE. BUT EVEN IN THE BOTTOM QUARTILE, YOU KNOW, AT THE AT THE 25% MARK IS HIGHER THAN WHERE THE VILLAGE IS RIGHT NOW, WHICH MEANS THE VILLAGE IS WAY DOWN THERE. AND. YEAH. AND I, I DON'T WANT TO REITERATE ALL THE, YOU KNOW, GOOD ARGUMENTS. YOU HEARD FROM THE VILLAGE MANAGER CONCERNING THIS, BUT IT IT IS A PERENNIAL PROBLEM. I CAN TELL YOU JUST MY EXPERIENCE HERE IN INDIANTOWN FROM THE BEGINNING, IT HAS BEEN A PERENNIAL PROBLEM RECRUITING. 
          AND YOU HAVE OUTSTANDING STAFF RIGHT NOW. BUT IT IS IT IS DIFFICULT TO RECRUIT WHEN YOU'VE GOT THE NUMBERS SITTING AT THAT POINT. AND QUITE FRANKLY, AS YOU ALL KNOW BETTER AND AS WE ALL KNOW, INFLATION IS VERY REAL THING. INFLATION HAS BEEN GOING ON. SO. HOPE THAT HELPS. I I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT THAT. ALTHOUGH I APPRECIATE THAT WE NEED TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED, WE WERE ALSO PUT UP HERE TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS. SOME OF US HAVE BEEN IN POSITIONS WHERE THEY'VE HAD TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS FOR THEIR OWN BUSINESSES, AND HAVE HAD EMPLOYEES AND THOSE THINGS, AND SOME HAVE DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS. AND SO I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS WITHOUT FEAR OF RETRIBUTION. THAT IS OUR JOB. IT'S WHAT WE'RE UP HERE FOR. AND I THINK A LOT OF NEGATIVITY HAS MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR US TO FEEL COMFORTABLE MAKING DECISIONS. HOWEVER, IF WE DON'T, WE'RE NOT DOING OUR JOB. SO I, I MOVED THAT WE ACCEPT THIS. THIS IS CLEARLY BEEN DONE PROFESSIONALLY. IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS DONE LAST NIGHT AND WE DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW IT BEFORE COMING HERE PRETTY EXTENSIVELY AND BEING AT THE 25TH PERCENTILE IN PAY RATES IN THE STATE IS PRETTY SAD, CONSIDERING WE'RE IN THE THIRD RICHEST COUNTY IN THE STATE. SO I WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE THAT. WE ACCEPT THIS VOTE ON THIS. NOW. I DON'T WANT TO SPEND ANY MORE MONEY. THIS STUDY IS SUFFICIENT. THANK YOU. OKAY. 
          MOTION HAS BEEN MADE. YOU CAN YOU CAN SPEAK. OKAY. YOU CAN SPEAK. BUT SHE'S MADE THE MOTION OKAY. BUT I MADE A MOTION ALSO. NO, SHE MADE THE INITIAL MOTION. YES, YES OKAY OKAY. BUT I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS SOMETHING. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY. I JUST WANT TO STATE THIS. THAT. THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR, FOR BRINGING THAT UP. BECAUSE WE ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONSCIOUS ABOUT WHAT OUR CONSTITUENTS WOULD, HOW THEY WOULD FEEL. WE ALWAYS WANT TO BE 
          [00:50:05]
CONSCIOUS OF WHAT WHAT THE RESIDENTS WOULD FEEL. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. OKAY. I THINK THAT WAS VERY POSITIVE. ALSO, I'M AN EDUCATOR AND WHEN YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT LOWBALL, THE PRISONS ALWAYS SEND ME. THEY WANT ME TO COME WORK FOR THEM, BUT THEY WANT TO START ME AT 55,000. AND I HAVE A MASTER'S DEGREE AND I AM A VETERAN TEACHER. SO I'M LIKE, SO MY FRIENDS WILL SAY, WELL, ERNESTINE, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T PAY THAT MUCH. THE BENEFITS, NOT THAT MANY BENEFITS THAT I NEED TO WORK $55,000 A YEAR. NO. SO I DO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU'RE LOOKING OUT FOR THIS VILLAGE, WHEREAS WHERE IT'S CONCERNING, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING YOU DO, I THINK IS GREAT. AND I APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. AND THE STAFF IS WELL, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A GREAT STAFF AND SOMETHING YOU SAID AND I THINK THIS AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A IS AN ISSUE, BUT WHEN YOU SAID ABOUT WHO LIKE WHO, NONE OF THAT MATTERS. JUST LIKE YOU SAID IT, WHAT MATTERS IS THAT THAT PERSON OR PERSONS ARE ABLE TO DO WHAT THEY'RE DOING, WHICH IS GREAT. SO THAT THAT'S RIGHT THERE, BECAUSE WE ALWAYS HAVE TO TAKE OUT THE PERSONAL AND DEAL WITH THE FACTS. YES, MA'AM. SO I I'M 1 A.M. IN AGREEMENT THAT WITH YOU AND THE FACT THAT YOU TOOK THE TIME TO GET ALL OF THIS DONE, BECAUSE CLEARLY, WHEN I LOOK AT WHAT MY FRIENDS MAKE IN THE STATE AND IT'S NOT, WELL, WE'RE, WE'RE WE'RE A STATE. WE'RE COUNTY, I'M LIKE, Y'ALL CAN'T EAT Y'ALL BORROWING MONEY FROM ME, YOU KNOW, AND I'M TIRED OF HELPING Y'ALL. SO YOU KNOW AND I DON'T YOU KNOW, IT'S AND IT'S CRAZY. JUST LIKE YOU SAID, PEOPLE ARE MAKING 15 TO $18. I DON'T EVEN THINK THEY'RE AT $20 AN HOUR AT FAST FOOD RESTAURANT. AND THAT'S TALKING ABOUT THE MANAGER. SO, YOU KNOW, SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT AND TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE CLARITY, VICE MAYOR, BECAUSE WE ALL NEED CLARITY. NO MATTER WHAT IS BEING SAID OR DONE. WE ALL NEED CLARITY. AND THAT'S A POSITIVE. SO THANK YOU. OKAY. WELL, I'D LIKE TO END BY SAYING GO AHEAD. 
          GO AHEAD. I DON'T THINK THE VICE MAYOR WAS INTIMIDATED OR ANY OF THAT. THE FIRST THING I HEARD HER SAY WAS, I DON'T UNDERSTAND. SO I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF SHE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND IT. HOW ARE WE TALKING ABOUT INTIMIDATION? SHE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND IT IN ORDER TO VOTE. 
          AND IF SHE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND IT, WHAT ARE WE DOING? WHAT ARE YOU SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT TO UNDERSTAND IT. I DIDN'T HEAR ANYONE SAY ANYTHING ABOUT SOMEBODY BEING INTIMIDATED. 
          NOBODY SAID. I DIDN'T SAY THAT. I DIDN'T SAY IT. I'M JUST SAYING BECAUSE YOU SAID IT. SO WHERE DID IT COME FROM? I THINK I'M JUST ASKING A QUESTION. I THINK THAT WAS AT THE AT THE END. AT THE END OF THE DAY, SHE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. OKAY. AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. RIGHT, OKAY, MAYBE WE CAN GET AND I ASKED MY QUESTION, MAYBE WE CAN GET EXPLAINED. AND BECAUSE THIS WASN'T DONE BY THE VILLAGE, THIS WAS DONE BY A PROFESSIONAL COMPANY THAT DOES THIS FOR A LIVING. THAT'S WHAT THEY DO. THEY DO THESE STUDIES AND THEY PUT THIS OUT. SO WE WERE A 50%. THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE RECOMMENDING. BUT THAT WOULD CAUSE A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP ON THE VILLAGE. YES, SIR. SO. SHARON DECIDED THAT SHE WAS GOING TO CUT THAT IN HALF, WHICH WOULD MAKE IT MORE PALATABLE FOR THE VILLAGE. OKAY. AT THE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GIVING OUR EMPLOYEES A RAISE THAT THEY DESERVE, AND THEY PROBABLY DESPERATELY NEED. AND SO WE CAN RETAIN OUR EMPLOYEES AND WE CAN ATTRACT OTHER EMPLOYEES BECAUSE WE HAVE SEVERAL POSITIONS THAT ARE NOT FILLED THAT NEED TO BE FILLED. 
          AS THIS VILLAGE GROWS, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO FILL POSITIONS. OKAY. SO WE NEED TO ATTRACT QUALITY PEOPLE BECAUSE WE'RE QUALITY ORGANIZATION AND WE'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE A QUALITY SERVICE. SO HOW THEY CAME TO THAT I CAN'T TELL YOU EITHER, BUT I CAN I CAN SEE WHAT THE RESULTS OF THIS STUDY IS. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE TO ME, WE DO HARD THINGS. YES, WE DO HARD THINGS. WE SIT UP HERE AND WE DO HARD THINGS. TO ME, THIS IS NOT HARD. THIS IS AN EASY ONE. OKAY? THIS IS AN EASY ONE FOR ME. SO. YEAH, I MEAN, I IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, I PROBABLY CAN'T ANSWER THEM, BUT MAYBE MIKE OR SHARON CAN ANSWER THEM. I DON'T KNOW, BUT I'M I'M HAPPY 
          [00:55:01]
TO ANSWER ANY, ANY QUESTIONS THAT THAT INDIVIDUALS WOULD HAVE. I MEAN, I'VE DONE LIKE I SAID, I'VE DONE ENOUGH OF THESE. AND I KNOW MR. VOSS HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN NUMEROUS OF THESE AND THE METHODOLOGIES, THE METHODOLOGY, AND IT'S THESE PEOPLE. THAT'S WHAT THEY DO FOR THE CITY, STUART. THEY DO FOR THE VILLAGE OF INDIANTOWN. THEY'RE GOING TO DO FOR PORT SAINT LUCIE OR WHOEVER ELSE THEY'RE ENGAGED WITH. SO IT'S. IT'S PRETTY IT'S PRETTY STANDARD, YOU KNOW. ARE WE READY TO MOVE? OKAY. SO WE GOT WE HAVE A MOTION BY. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT. YES. BUT YOU WANT YOUR MOTION AND YOUR RIGHT MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCILWOMAN PALMER, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN ONSLAUGHT. BEFORE WE GO INTO OUR VOTE, MR. LINDA NICCUM. FOR THE RECORD, LINDA NICCUM. I TOO HAVE BEEN IN ACCOUNTING FOREVER. I WENT THROUGH THIS THIS WHOLE PRESENTATION THING. AFTER AFTER SHIFTING SOME THINGS AROUND, I STARTED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY WERE TRYING TO, TO BRING FORTH, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IF ANY OF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ON I MEAN, NOT, YOU JUST CAN'T GO THROUGH IT AND SAY, OH YEAH, THE END RESULT LOOKS OKAY. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. THIS IS A COMMITMENT OF $100,000 FOR THAT FIRST YEAR, 88 PLUS 20%. SO THAT'S THAT'S THE FIRST COMMITMENT. THEN A RAISE ON TOP OF THAT IS A SECOND COMMITMENT. SO IF YOU'RE NOT ABSOLUTELY SURE ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE BEING ASKED TO VOTE ON, THEN IT'S TIME TO KIND OF DRAW BACK ON THE REINS AND ASK THOSE QUESTIONS. CLARIFY IN YOUR MIND, YOU CAN'T. IT'S NICE TO SAY, WE'D LIKE TO GIVE ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES A WORKING SALARY. 
          IT'S NOT THE SAME. WHEN WE WERE GROWING UP, THERE WAS ONE SALARY RUNNING THE HOUSEHOLD. NOW THERE'S TWO OR MORE RUNNING THAT HOUSEHOLD, SO IT'S SOMETHING TO TAKE INTO AN ACCOUNT, INTO ACCOUNT. BUT THAT IS THAT'S AN EMOTIONAL DECISION. THAT IS NOT A BUSINESS DECISION. AND YOU'RE UP HERE TO MAKE A BUSINESS DECISION FOR THE VILLAGE. IS THIS. YES. IT WOULD BE GREAT TO GET ALL THE GOOD WORKERS, BUT THERE ISN'T. THERE ISN'T ANY VILLAGE OR CITY IN IN PLACE THAT CAN SAY THEY'VE GOT ALL GOOD WORKERS, THEY'VE GOT ALL THE, THE BEST ONES. JUST MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE VOTING ON, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO AFFECT ALL OF US DOWN THE ROAD. 
          THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? NO, SIR. OKAY, LET'S DO A ROLL CALL. VOTE ON THIS ONE. OKAY? OKAY. 
          COUNCILWOMAN ONZAGA. AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER WATERS BROWN. I'M NOT SURE. COME BACK PLEASE. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER. WILLIAMS. PALMER. YES. VICE MAYOR PEREZ. NOT SURE. MAYOR DEPAULO. YES. 
          COUNCIL MEMBER. WATERS. BROWN. I AGREE THAT THE EMPLOYEES NEED A RAISE OR WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THEM A RAISE. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A. DISCUSSION. VICE MAYOR PEREZ. YOU KNOW, OUR JOB AS COUNCIL MEMBERS IS TO LOOK AT WHAT'S BEST FOR THE RESIDENTS. YOU KNOW, IS IT ALL IMPACTS? I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 39 YEARS. I LIVE HERE, I PLAN TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, I RAISE MY KIDS HERE, MY GRANDKIDS. YOU KNOW, I THINK WE OWE IT TO OUR RESIDENTS, YOU KNOW, LET'S DO OUR RESEARCH. WE GOT THIS. WHAT? FRIDAY AFTERNOON. AND HERE WE ARE THURSDAY MAKING THIS DECISION. 
          OBVIOUSLY, I KNOW OUR STAFF DESERVES A RAISE, BUT FOR ME, I JUST WANT IT FURTHER EXPLAINED. 
          OKAY, WELL, MAYOR, WE HAVE A THREE. WE HAVE WE HAVE 3 TO 2. OKAY. SO WE HAVE A PASS. WE 
          [01:00:03]
PASS. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. LET ME JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT ABOUT US. IT'S NOT ABOUT US. IT'S NOT THAT I LIVE HERE OR ANYTHING ELSE. THIS IS ABOUT RUNNING AN ORGANIZATION, OKAY? AND DOING THE RIGHT THING BY YOUR EMPLOYEES AND BEING ABLE TO ATTRACT OTHER EMPLOYEES AS WE GROW. THIS IS PART OF THE PAIN OF GROWING, YOU KNOW? I MEAN, YOU CALL UP THE WATER COMPANY AT AT AT 6:00 AT NIGHT BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE WATER AND, AND THE PHONES NOT ANSWERED OR, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A, A LEAK OUT IN THE STREET AND THE PHONES NOT ANSWERED BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY TO SEND OUT TO YOU TO FIX YOUR PROBLEM. YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT. THIS IS EVERYBODY HERE THAT WORKS HERE IS PART OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, YOU KNOW, AND I UNDERSTAND MAYBE SOMEBODY MIGHT SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T NEED TO PAY THEM THAT MUCH. WE NEED TO RETAIN OUR QUALITY PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE, AND WE NEED TO ATTRACT MORE PEOPLE TO COME AND DO THE WORK THAT'S GOING TO NEED TO BE DONE. AS THIS VILLAGE GROWS AND AS THIS VILLAGE GROWS, THIS VILLAGE IS GOING TO MAKE MORE MONEY. THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE IN, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE MORE TAX DOLLARS. 
          WE'RE GOING TO TAKE MORE. TAXES AS OUR, OUR OUR COMMERCIAL GROWS AND AS OUR INDUSTRIAL GROWS, WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO NEED MORE PEOPLE TO, TO RUN THIS ORGANIZATION. IT CAN'T BE RUN BY A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE. IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. SO I THANK YOU TO THE EMPLOYEES. I THANK THE WATER DEPARTMENT. I KNOW YOU GUYS WORK HARD. I COME IN HERE JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY. I'M IN THIS OFFICE AND I NEVER SEE ANYBODY SLOUCHING. EVERYBODY'S ALWAYS AT THE COMPUTERS AND THEY'RE WORKING, YOU KNOW? SO EVERYBODY'S WORKING HARD, SOMETIMES DOING 2 OR 3 DIFFERENT JOBS FROM WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING, YOU KNOW, AND. I THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE NOT IN HERE EVERY DAY AND YOU'RE NOT, YOU DON'T SEE WHAT'S GOING ON AND YOU DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, HOW DOES HOW DO THINGS GET PROCESSED? THEY GET PROCESSED BY A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE BACK THERE. AND IT'S A LOT. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. I'LL GET OFF THE TRAIN RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S INPUT. UNDERSTAND EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU PERSPECTIVE. I PERSONALLY DON'T HAVE A MOTION IN ANY VOTE I MAKE IN THIS ROOM. I'M NOT VOTING FOR A RACE FOR ME. BUT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF WHETHER WE GROW OR NOT, LET'S PRETEND WE DON'T GROW AT ALL. WE'RE HOPING WE DO. THE FACT IS, TO REPLACE PEOPLE IS THREE TIMES MORE EXPENSIVE THAN TO RETAIN PEOPLE. THAT'S THE ONLY FACT YOU'VE GOT TO KNOW. AND THESE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE ARE OUR CITIZENS, THE PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE, A LOT OF THEM ARE OUR CONSTITUENTS, CONSTITUENTS. IF THE CONSTITUENTS WANT THE OFFICE OPEN TILL 5 P.M, THEY WANT THESE THINGS THEY KEEP COMING TO US WITH, WE WANT THIS, WE WANT THIS, WE WANT THIS, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO PAY. THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE TO DO IT MAKES NO SENSE TO ME TO CALL THAT AN EMOTIONAL DECISION. IT'S PURE BUSINESS DECISION TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR PEOPLE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WANT TO STAY IN THEIR JOBS, BECAUSE WITHOUT THESE INDIVIDUALS, THIS COMMUNITY WOULD SHUT DOWN PRETTY DOGGONE QUICKLY. AND WE DON'T HAVE BACKUP FOR ANY OF THEM. AND THAT IS A PRECARIOUS POSITION FOR US TO PUT OURSELVES IN TO SAVE A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY, $100,000 A YEAR. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SAVE THAT MONEY IF NONE OF THE SYSTEMS ARE WORKING. IT'S NOT A SAVINGS. THIS IS AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE. AND IN THE CURRENT POSITION OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND I, FOR ONE, DON'T MAKE EMOTIONAL DECISIONS. SO THANK YOU. YEAH. PERFECT EXAMPLE. SHERIFF'S OFFICE. A FEW YEARS BACK WE HIRED A BUNCH OF PEOPLE. ONCE THOSE PEOPLE GOT OFF OF FTO AND HE'S SMILING BACK THERE BECAUSE HE KNOWS THOSE PEOPLE WENT TO WORK FOR PALM BEACH COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, MAKING $25,000 A YEAR MORE. OKAY. THESE ARE VERY LOW EXPERIENCED PEOPLE THAT WENT THERE. AND WHEN THEY HEARD MARTIN COUNTY, YOU HAD A JOB IN PALM BEACH COUNTY, THEY WANTED YOU. BUT WHAT DID THAT DO? IT TOOK GOOD PEOPLE PROTECTING THE STREETS OF MARTIN COUNTY OFF OF THE STREETS OF MARTIN COUNTY, AND PUT THEM IN PALM BEACH 
          [01:05:02]
COUNTY. SO NOW WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO? OKAY. IF YOU EVER LEAVE INDIANTOWN AND GO DOWN TO THE OUTLET MALL DOWN IN PALM BEACH, PALM BEACH GARDENS, IT'S ACTUALLY WEST PALM BEACH, AND YOU GO THROUGH THE MALL, YOU WILL SEE BILLBOARDS ADVERTISING JOBS FOR THE MARTIN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE DOWN THERE. I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THAT IN PALM BEACH COUNTY, ADVERTISING FOR MARTIN COUNTY. IT'S HARD TO GET GOOD PEOPLE, OKAY? AND WHEN YOU HAVE GOOD PEOPLE, YOU HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM BECAUSE THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU. IF YOU CALL A 2:00 IN THE MORNING AND YOU GOT A WATER LEAK OR YOUR WATER'S NOT WORKING, GUESS WHAT? THAT MAN SITTING BACK THERE, PAT, IS GOING TO CALL ONE OF HIS GUYS IF HE DOESN'T COME OUT HIMSELF, WHICH HE PROBABLY WILL, AND HE'S GOING TO COME OUT AND FIX YOUR PROBLEM. WE HAD A PROBLEM IN INDIANWOOD. WE HAD SOMEBODY CALLING AND COMPLAINING THAT SHE WAS USING 300 GALLONS OF WATER WHEN SHE WASN'T HOME. 
          OKAY, I'M I'M NOT GOING TO SAY WHO IT IS, BUT I CAME INTO THIS OFFICE BECAUSE SHE SHE SENT ME AN EMAIL, A SCATHING ONE. SO I SAID, OKAY, I CAME INTO THE OFFICE, WE PULLED HER RECORDS. I GOT PAT END OF THE DAY, THE PROBLEM WAS PAT FOUND IT WAS HER WATER SYSTEM WAS DUMPING 300 GALLONS OF WATER ON A CYCLE. IT WASN'T THE VILLAGE'S FAULT. WASN'T THE VILLAGE'S FAULT AT ALL. BUT HE WAS THERE TO BE ABLE TO FIND THAT PROBLEM, TO STEER THAT PERSON IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED. IF YOU WANT THAT KIND OF SERVICE, YOU GOT TO HAVE THE QUALITY PEOPLE THAT CARE. I'M HERE BECAUSE I CARE. THESE PEOPLE ARE HERE BECAUSE THEY CARE. YOU KNOW, WHEN I SIT HERE AND I MAKE A DECISION OR I'M OUT LOOKING EVERY DAY FOR PEOPLE TO COME TO THE VILLAGE, I'M LOOKING FOR THE QUALITY PEOPLE BECAUSE I WANT QUALITY PEOPLE IN THIS VILLAGE. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S GOING TO MAKE YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE A WHOLE LOT BETTER. I KNOW IT PROBABLY DOESN'T SEEM THAT WAY FOR SOME PEOPLE, BUT IT'S COMING. IT'S COMING LITTLE BY LITTLE. YESTERDAY WE WERE AT AT THE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FOR THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND EVERYBODY KNOWS INDIAN TOWN, EVERYBODY KNOWS INDIAN TOWN. AND THERE'S GOOD THINGS COMING TO INDIAN TOWN. AND HE MAY BE BUILDING THAT WATER PLANT SOONER THAN HE THINKS. BUT GROWING IS PAINFUL AND THIS IS PAINFUL. BUT WE GOT PEOPLE WE'RE GOING TO RETAIN THEM AND WE'RE GOING TO ATTRACT NEW PEOPLE, THE SAME CALIBER OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE HERE. AND THAT'S HOW THIS VILLAGE IS GOING TO WIN. THANK YOU. AND I'M SORRY FOR GOING ON SO LONG. OKAY. WE HAVE ANY MORE PUBLIC COMMENTS? NO, SIR. OKAY. 
          [ANNOUNCEMENTS]
ANNOUNCEMENTS. VICE MAYOR, I HAVE TWO. WE HAVE OUR FAMILY MARKET, WHICH IS SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW THE 27TH, 10 A.M. AT BIG MOUND. WE ALSO HAVE A MOBILE POP UP. THEY'RE LIMITED TO 100 CARS. IT'S GOING TO BE 8:00 IN THE MORNING AT IN BOOKER PARK, THE SAME SPOT THAT WE USUALLY HAVE OUR MOBILE. THEY JUST DECIDED THEY'RE GOING TO JUST POP UP 8:00 IN THE MORNING FOR THE FIRST TOMORROW. SO THERE'S TWO TOMORROW. OKAY. 8 A.M, BOOKER PARK, 10 A.M. AT BIG MOUND. OKAY. WOW. OKAY. THEY HAVE A WATER DAY TOMORROW AT BIG MOUND AT TEN. FROM 10 TO 12. 
          WHAT TIME? 10 TO 12. THERE'S GOING TO BE AT THE SAME TIME AS THE. YEAH. THE SPEAKER. OH, 
          [NEXT REGULAR MEETING (ANNOUNCE TIME, DATE AND LOCATION)]
OKAY. OUR NEXT REGULAR OUR NEXT REGULAR MEETING IS GOING TO BE JULY 10TH. SO I WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY 4TH OF JULY. AND DON'T FORGET TO COME TO TIME OF POWERS PARK ON THE FIFTH. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GOOD TIME OUT THERE. YES. AND I'LL BE OUT NEXT WEEK. BUT MR. BEZOS AND MR. NOLAN WILL BOTH BE HERE, AS MR. FLORIO WILL BE INTERMITTENT. BUT I WILL NOT BE HERE FOR NEXT WEEK. THANK YOU. WELL, ENJOY YOUR VACATION. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. OKAY. THIS MEETING IS
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.