The Board of County Commissioners of Brevard County, Florida, met in special session on November 19, 1996, at 5:30 p.m. in the Government Center Commission Room, Building C, 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Melbourne, Florida. Present were: Chairman Mark Cook, Commissioners Truman Scarborough, Randy O?Brien, Nancy Higgs, and Helen Voltz, County Manager Tom Jenkins, and County Attorney Scott Knox.

The Invocation was given by Reverend Don Smith, Church of Nazarene, Rockledge, Florida.

Commissioner Randy O?Brien led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.

OPENING REMARKS

Chairman Cook welcomed everyone to the meeting; advised this evening will be the swearing in of three members of the Board of County Commissioners; and Commissioners from Districts 1, 3 and 5 will be taking the Oath of Office from Honorable Kenneth Friedland, County Court Judge.

OATHS OF OFFICE

Judge Friedland administered the Oaths of Office to Commissioner Truman G. Scarborough, Jr., District 1, Commissioner Nancy N. Higgs, District 3, and Commissioner Helen Voltz, District 5.

ACCEPTANCE REMARKS

Commissioner Scarborough expressed appreciation to Judge Friedland, the people that put this together, and the employees of Brevard County; stated when he talks to his constituents, they are happy with what is happening with the County; and its report card is an A+. He further expressed appreciation to the Board for having open forums; stated the citizens of Brevard County appreciate it; and the new Chairman of the Board needs to meet with NASA, U.S. Senators, and Congressmen to define clearly the role the space program is going to have, particularly as it is going to affect Brevard County. He thanked Chairman Cook for reaching out to government agencies to make Brevard County?s voice heard. He stated he is proud to be here; and thanked everyone for letting him come back and serve with the County Commission.

Commissioner Higgs thanked her family, including her children, Matthew and Alan; the District 3 Commission staff for its commitment and efforts over the past four years; and acknowledged the contribution and knowledge from County staff that have made it possible to do her job. She stated during the next four years, Brevard County and local government will face tremendous growth and change from the federal government; these will be tremendous challenges, but also unique opportunities for shaping the future of the County; they can determine if this will be another urban place, a corridor down I-95 and U.S. 1, or a quality community in which people can live, grow and work together; and she sincerely believes Brevard County, more than any place in Florida, has the opportunity to build a sustainable economic, human and environmental future. She noted it will require the Board to listen to each other, to the people who elected it, to those people who work with it, and those people who voted against it; it will require the Board to have a vision beyond every day; it will require the Board to have courage and commitment to the long-term future of the community; and it will require it to have a sense of humor and determination for serving the County. Commissioner Higgs advised she is deeply appreciative to the citizens for giving her this opportunity and the Commissioners serving with her; and she looks forward to serving with the Board and serving the citizens of Brevard County.

Commissioner Voltz stated she would like to thank her campaign workers, those who gave financially to her campaign, and anyone else who assisted her, including co-workers; and expressed appreciation to her husband for his support and assistance. She noted now that she is here, she wants to make a difference; she wants to make decisions based on citizen input, with the rights of individuals in mind; and she hopes to bring unity and consensus as an addition to the Board to work with each person respectfully. She stated the Board members will undoubtedly have their differences, but that is part of the political process; respect for each others decision is the key to making a good cohesive body; she would like to restore trust in government officials; and it can be done by listening to the people and making themselves available. She noted she plans to have regular town meetings within her District; she wants to make herself available and get input from the citizens; the citizens put her here; and it is the citizens that she plans to serve for the next four years. Commissioner Voltz advised there is much work that needs to be done; she cannot do it by herself; she is going to need input, suggestions and criticisms; and it is time to get to work.

ELECTION OF NEW BOARD CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN

Chairman Cook advised the County Charter requires the Board change Chairman each year; tonight a new Chairman will be elected to the Board of County Commissioners; it has been his privilege and honor to serve as Chairman during this last year; and expressed appreciation to each Commissioner for their support and cooperation during his tenure as Chairman. He thanked County staff who has assisted him during this time; stated its support has been exceptional; and expressed appreciation to the District 4 County Commission staff for its cooperation and the added work load it had to undertake when he was Chairman.

Motion by Commissioner Scarborough, seconded by Commissioner Higgs, to appoint Commissioner Randy O?Brien as Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners for 1997. Motion carried and ordered unanimously.

Commissioner Cook passed the gavel to Chairman Randy O?Brien.

Chairman O?Brien expressed appreciation to the Board for the honor of being elected Chairman; he speaks for his fellow Commissioners, County staff and the citizens of Brevard County in complimenting Commissioner Cook for doing an outstanding job during his tenure as Chairman and often having to deal with very difficult and lengthy agendas; and he is proud to be a member of the County Commission with Commissioner Cook and he will try his best to meet Commissioner Cook?s example. He presented a plaque to Commissioner Cook for his service as Chairman during 1996.

Motion by Commissioner Scarborough, seconded by Commissioner Higgs, to appoint Commissioner Helen Voltz as Vice Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners for 1997. Motion carried and ordered unanimously.

Chairman O?Brien stated the Board has had some very difficult problems to deal with; unfortunately, Brevard County?s economic difficulties, in his opinion, are going to get worse as competition for space dollars erodes away the jobs the County prizes the most; and it is of utmost importance that this next year the County Commission focus on the future economic problems of the County. He noted the Board?s job will also be to maintain necessary services and hopefully improve on many of them without raising taxes; to do that, the County needs to fine tune its economic development plan and take proactive, positive actions for economic development; the Board needs to ask and answer the right questions concerning economic development; and Brevard County has a real and critical need to be focused on this now more than ever. Chairman O?Brien thanked the Board for moving very quickly and decisively concerning Brevard County?s massive beach erosion problems; stated because of the Board?s actions, because it appointed him to lobby on behalf of Brevard County, and because it has worked as team mates with Port Canaveral, Congressman Weldon, the cities, and many others, it was able to achieve more in the past year toward getting the funding to put sand on its beaches than any Commission in the past 20 years, even though the Clinton Administration said the County would never get it. He stated the Board should thank all of its partners in this venture for the intensive effort they made in concert with the County and vice versa; team building and team work was and still is the key toward ultimate success in the restoration of the beaches; this is the same spirit of enthusiasm the County needs to bring to the cleaning up of the Indian River Lagoon; the Board needs to focus this year on health and restoration of the quality of the Indian River Lagoon; and staff should be directed to expend its energies on what specifically the Commission should be doing to save the River and enhance the communities. Chairman O?Brien stated the Commission needs to build a list of its priorities and diligently work toward these goals.

Chairman O?Brien welcomed new member Commissioner Helen Voltz and extended congratulations to Commissioners Scarborough and Higgs for their re-election to the County Commission.

Chairman O?Brien advised refreshments will be served after the meeting.

Upon motion and vote, the meeting adjourned at 5:56 p.m.

RANDY O?BRIEN, CHAIRMAN
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA

ATTEST:
SANDY CRAWFORD, CLERK
(S E A L)