CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MINUTES
SPECIAL SESSION
224 S. Jefferson Street
Perry, Florida
June 15, 2004

MEMBERS PRESENT: Shirley Scott, Bill Alexander, Pam Feagle and Doug Everett

MEMBER ABSENT: Richard Frith

STAFF PRESENT: Bill Brynes, Barney Johnson, Wayne Putnal, Glenn Ratliff, Bill Blue and
Annette Anderson

Vice Mayor/Councilmember Alexander called the meeting to order. Councilmember Scott led those
attending the meeting in prayer. Vice Mayor/Councilmember Alexander led the group in the Pledge of
Allegiance to the Flag. The secretary then called the roll.
PRESENT ABSENT
Councilmember Feagle X
Councilmember Alexander X
Councilmember Scott X
Councilmember Everett X
Mayor Frith X

MEETING ITEMS:

A. CITY COUNCIL TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT CANDIDATES HAVE MET THE

QUALIFICIATIONS FOR ELECTION TO THE CITY COUNCIL PURSUANT TO ARTICLE
II, SECTION 2.02 (B) OF THE CITY CHARTER.

City Manager Bill Brynes asked if the Council wished to qualify the candidates separately or as a
group. Councilmembers agreed candidates should be qualified individually. City Manager Bill Brynes
provided the Council with copies of candidates’ sworn statements for candidacy. The Council
reviewed information for the following individuals:
Richard D. Frith District 3
William Alexander District 1
Ivory Turner District 2
Alphonso Dowdell District 2
Ocie Reaves District 2
Emily Weed Ketring District 3
Sylvester Harris District 1
Roderick H. Williams District 2

Councilmember Everett asked, “What does this tell us?” Councilmember Everett said the information
doesn’t declare if the Supervisor of Elections qualified the individuals and noted the time period in
which candidates must qualify. Mr. Brynes stated that, as far as he knew, every candidate had met that
time period. Mr. Brynes said the City had received and he had forwarded to the Council letters from
the Supervisor of Elections with sworn statements of candidacy by the candidates. Mr. Brynes said, in
an attempt to clarify the dates candidates had completed their paperwork, he would read the letters
Page 2, June 15, 2004, Council Minutes-Special Session

from the Supervisor of Elections. Mr. Brynes did this. Mr. Brynes commented that a letter from the
Supervisor said candidate Emily Weed Ketring had completed her paperwork earlier but insisted, on
the advice of her attorney that she be allowed to complete another package of paperwork on June 11.
Councilmember Scott commented that, based on the information presented, it appeared all candidates
had met the qualifications. Councilmember Everett said the City Charter states that to qualify
candidates should pay their (qualifying) fee to the city manager not less than 30 days nor more than 45
days prior to the date of the election. Councilmember Everett noted that fees are actually paid to the
Supervisor of Elections, as the City contracts with the Supervisor to conduct the city elections.
Councilmember Everett said based on the qualifying papers, you don’t know when the candidates paid
their fees. Councilmember Scott said candidates paid their fee when they completed their package.
Councilmember Alexander concurred this was his understanding also.

Councilmember Everett asked city attorney Bill Blue to address the issue. Mr. Blue said the Charter
reads as Councilmember Everett read it, commenting the issue came up some meetings ago. Mr. Blue
said his advice at that time was that anyone who filed paperwork with the Supervisor of Elections
should re-file paper work during the time frame noted in the Charter. Referencing the City Charter,
Mr. Blue stated the City Council is the sole decision maker as to who is qualified and who is not
qualified. Mr. Blue told the Council whether or not these individuals qualify is determined by one
Councilmember making a motion by individually or collectively approving the candidate qualified and
the motion passing by a majority vote of the Council.

There was continued discussion regarding the length of time to qualify with Councilmember Scott
asking Mr. Blue what had prompted his statement regarding this time period. Mr. Blue said there was
an obvious problem between the facts as known as to respect to qualification of these candidates and
the literal wording of the Charter. Mr. Blue said quite some time ago the city manager had come to
him to determine exactly when the qualifying period would begin and end. Mr. Blue said it was
determined based on the wording of the Charter and the date of the election the time period for
qualifying was established. Mr. Blue said when this issue came up several meetings ago, he then said
even if candidates had already filed paperwork with the Supervisor of Elections, they should do so
again during this time period to remove any doubt of qualifying.

Councilmember Everett said at that time the item had been placed on the agenda and he requested the
Council wait until after the qualifying period to review candidates’ qualifications, as no one had
qualified at that time according to the Charter. There was a question of liability. Mr. Blue said the
City is liable anytime it breaks the law, saying the Charter is law, as are the city ordinances.
Councilmember Scott asked if the Council should have qualified those persons when the Supervisor
sent the letters saying such individuals had completed their paperwork (and qualified according to
residency, fees paid, etc.). Mr. Blue said not at that time because the qualifying period had not come
yet. Councilmember Feagle said it was unfortunate candidates were not specifically told of the actual
time frame.
Page 3, June 15, 2004, Council Minutes-Special Session

Councilmember Scott asked if the Council had all the information it needed to qualify the candidates.
Councilmember Feagle said she didn’t think so at this time. Mr. Blue said the Council had received
the stamped dated letters from the Supervisor of Elections. City resident Mark Southerland spoke to
say that the City contracts with the Supervisor of Elections to conduct the election process and posed
the question, “Do you think Molly would send someone who didn’t qualify?” Mr. Blue stated the
Council had to make the decision as to who qualifies. Candidate Ocie Reaves said the Supervisor of
Elections told candidates when they were to pay their qualifying fees and that everyone had paid at the
correct time. Councilmember Scott said the Council should determine whether or not this actually
occurred. There was a brief discussion about scheduling another meeting to allow time for further
information. Mr. Blue told the Council the ballots couldn’t be printed until the Council qualifies the
candidates and the election is less than a month away. After some discussion, Vice
Mayor/Councilmember Alexander directed Mr. Blue to try to contact the Supervisor of Elections by
phone and request her attendance this meeting. Mr. Blue left the meeting to make the call. Vice
Mayor/Councilmember Alexander stated the meeting would continue with the next item of business.

B. CITY COUNCIL AND STAFF TO DISCUSS RECREATION BASEBALL ISSUES.

Michael Albritton, coach and member of the Recreation Committee; Lynn Gilbreath, Coach; Wayne
Dunwoody, NAACP President; Buddy Humphries, County Administrator; Bruce Ratliff, Coach;
Reggie Wentworth, Coach and other interested parties were present and addressed the Council on
recreation issues, specifically pertaining to the all-star baseball program. Rules and regulations were
discussed as well as the process of player selection

Mr. Brynes said since the last meeting he learned the stat sheet discussed at the June 8, 2004, Council
meeting was not an official stat sheet and two members of the Recreation Committee had resigned.
Referring to specific discussion from Mr. Flowers and Mr. Dunwoody last meeting that a player (Mr.
Flowers son) had not been chosen for the all star team even though he had higher stats than other
players, Mr. Brynes said this had since been resolved and the player would now be on the all-star team.
Mr. Dunwoody said neither he nor Mr. Flowers knew at the time the stat sheet was not an official stat
sheet. City Attorney Bill Blue returned to the meeting. Councilmember Everett requested the Council
take up discussion of the qualification of candidates at this time. Mr. Blue said the Supervisor of
Elections indicated to him that everyone (candidates) who submitted information to qualify submitted
within the qualifying period.
Page 4, June 15, 2004, Council Minutes-Special Session

Mr. Blue said the Supervisor told him that each and every candidate had returned to her office last
week during the time period to qualify and finalize paperwork with respect to his or her qualifications.
Councilmember Feagle immediately made a motion that the following individuals had met the
qualifications for election to the City Council and that the Council so qualify them:

Richard D. Frith District 3

William Alexander District 1
Ivory Turner District 2
Alphonso Dowdell District 2
Ocie Reaves District 2
Emily Weed Ketring District 3
Sylvester Harris District 1
Roderick H. Williams District 2

The motion was seconded by Councilmember Scott and upon roll call vote was as follows:
YEA NAY
Councilmember Feagle X
Councilmember Alexander X
Councilmember Scott X
Councilmember Everett X
Mayor Frith ABSENT

Councilmember Everett said he had another meeting to attend and requested he be excused.
Councilmember Everett left the meeting at 6:18 p. m. City Attorney Bill Blue said he had been asked
to attend the meeting for the item of qualifying the candidates for election to the City Council. Mr.
Blue asked if the Council wished him to stay for the recreation issue. It was the consensus of the
Council that Mr. Blue’s attendance would not be necessary for the recreation issue and that he be
excused to leave the meeting. Mr. Blue left the meeting at 6:20 p. m.

The meeting continued with discussion of recreation issues.

Getting back to the selection of all stars, Councilmember Feagle asked if all were in agreement as to
how this was to be done. Mr. Albritton answered yes and said the all star section process hadn’t
changed much from the last few years. Mr. Albritton said everyone had agreed on the number of
players to be chosen.

Councilmember Scott said it’s her opinion there needs to be a paid person to keep the statistics, as paid
individuals are more likely to be more responsible. Councilmember Scott said she doesn’t think this
person should be a parent or anyone with a vested interest in the game. Mr. Albritton said the main
reason books are kept is that this is a requirement of the Babe Ruth Association.
Page 5, June 15, 2004, Council Minutes – Special Session

There was discussion of the coaches’ qualifications to choose the all-star players. Mark Southerland
commented there are no other individuals more qualified to choose the all-star players than the four
coaches.

Councilmember Scott commented to Mr. Dunwoody statements he made at a recent meeting appeared
racial. Councilmember Scott said she didn’t get that feeling at all—that the selection process was more
about favoritism. Mr. Dunwoody said he had specifically said the issue was not racial that the
problem concerns all kids in the league. Mr. Wentworth said favoritism is just an opinion and said
(you) could never pick a team to please everyone.

Noting there were several others who might wish to address the Council, Councilmember Scott
suggested each person be given a limited amount of time to speak. County Administrator Buddy
Humphries, former Perry and Tallahassee recreation department director, addressed the Council. Mr.
Humphries said the City’s purpose is to provide fields, equipment and utilities for the baseball season.
Mr. Humphries said the City should not be involved in all-stars. Councilmember Scott said it’s the
Council’s responsibility to address citizen concerns and direct the city manager and recreation director
to consider what could be done. After further discussion, Mr. Brynes said the whole point is the rules
say that the coaches can determine the number of players on a team and if they want to add another
player they can do so. Mr. Dunwoody said there was discussion that another player in the 12 and
under league should have been chosen for the all-star team based on similar circumstances. Director of
Recreation Glenn Ratliff said he would speak to the coach of the 12 and under league and see what
could be done about putting that player on the team.

ADJOURNMENT.

There being no further business to come before the City Council at this time, the meeting was
adjourned at approximately 7:45 p. m.

ATTEST:

_______________________________ _________________________________
William E. Brynes, City Manager Richard D. Frith, Mayor

Recorded in Official Minute Book:

___________________________ _________________________________
Annette Anderson, Secretary Date