02/02/2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Jim Harpring, General Counsel for the Sheriff's Office, recalled that this Item was rescheduled from the January 19, 2010 Board of County Commission Meeting, due to issues and concerns that language included in the proposed Senate and House Bills could be construed to mean the Constitutional Officers could appropriate funds. He reviewed the language and definition of the proposed Bills and Impasse Resolution and acknowledged that the Amendment, which identifies the Constitutional Officers as the Legislative Body, is consistent with the language in Section 447.203, Florida Statutes, because the two provisions in the definitional language specifically refers to entities as Legislative Bodies for the purposes of resolving impasses, not the authority to appropriate funds. He informed the Board that a revised Resolution had been forwarded to Attorney Collins showing the added language that the Board specifically requested at the January 19th meeting. He thereafter presented the Sheriff's version of the Resolution with the proposed verbiage highlighted in Section 2. The Chairman opened the floor to public comment. Stephen Valis, 609 Fox Valley Drive, Longwood, Florida, representing the Coastal Florida Police Benevolent Association (CFPBA) and in negotiations with the Sheriff's Office, commented on what he believed was deficient in the content of the Resolution. He specified that the Tax Collector's Budget is approved by the State Department of Revenue, not the Board of County Commissioners; and that the proposed Resolution specifically states that a Constitutional Officer is not the final fiscal authority to appropriate funds. Discussion ensued between Commissioners, staff, and Attorney Harpring regarding a third party mediator, the Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC) decision, and Board options for using a Special Master for impasse recommendations. 19 February 2, 2010