##VIDEO ID:GObfq1sq0PY## e e e e October 16 2024 the time is now 5:33 Madam clerk roll call vice mayor Irvin here commissioner Williams here mayor Taylor here as we stand for the invocation we thank you for all the many blessings you bestowed upon us we ask you that you continue to watch over this great city of opaka continue to bring bright opportunities and we know that in the future we will shine our lights bright amen amen I pledge of allegiance I pledge alleg to flag of the United States of America and to the rep for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liy and justice for all all right as we get ready to go into our public input Madam clerk do we have any virtual participants or any rights no Mr Mayor all right so those of you that are in the chamber public input is open thing on Can You Hear Me wa yes good afternoon everyone God bless everyone I'm here on behalf of the city Manch it's like deja vu here we go again not too long ago the same ones that are up here were clapping when he was chosen as the CD manager Bravo now all of a sudden things have changed you know what I'm I I'm reminded of a speech that the Reverend Dr M the king gave October 26 1967 he was speaking to a group of students students at Barrett Junior High School this was in Philadelphia and he began by asking what is your life blueprint what is your life blueprint and the way I tie that in into tonight is what is the plan for the city of opaka what is the blueprint what is the blueprint for the city poaka cuz honorable mayor we keep finding oursel in the same situation another city manager turnovers people wanting to leave people not being satisfied like because it's so much change that your head but we have someone city manager Darin Williams that came to the city that brought change and you see it everybody sees it you see it but yet there's people that look like they want to take us backward I know there's many people behind me just as tired as I am so tired of going around in circles with this wasting time just focusing on trying to get rid of a man that's doing a good work my God he started let him finish let him finish what he started so once again I'm sorry my name is John Renard 780 fisherman Street the president of the asme union and the union stands behind the city manager city manager Darin Williams the same way we clapped when he was chosen the same way we still clapped he's still doing a great job God bless you sir God bless the C we ask that you CL oh thank you I'm sorry sir good thank you though all thank you all right public good evening mayor and commission and I'm Mr Louis B Santiago from 11:56 Perry operai Street and I'm here today also to support that person that is doing a very great job in the city of opaka thank you for that words you say the truth about the circle about what what's going on all the time already we be here I believe this is the fourth time fourth time with the same thing and if it is something personal between I say between any of the Davis there just go and talk to him in this office be brave be brave because you know what happened right now in Talahi they're watching us okay 10 years and the same nonsense 10 years a five years that they giv to us and I know and people going to talk about me but I'm here and I know for sure what's going on I know and that's what I'm here because they have to stop let the man do what he doing and finish what he started he started to beautify this city he started to bring company to this city he United the whole Community okay that we have separated before and he United he anybody can come to this city today and ask him for the manager and he's there he's there for us sometime I even call people from the days and they don't even ask in the phone for me maybe they SC I don't know but I'm not citizen too I believe that we have to give him the chance to steal and do what he started years ago I think he's one of the best person that we ever have here in the great city of opaka let's St all this nonsense and let's give it a very good expression to Talahi today County like that we can get out of this mess thank you Mayors and commissioner okay so the only thing I'm want to ask we understand we want to respect everyone so while people are talking we ask that you keep the noise down please go ahead Mr Mr George uh George Suarez 1341 do not Avenue uh I love the the show that was just put on and again it's a show my thing is right now we are at a threshold where we can move our city in a positive light and I don't believe the gentleman that's sitting in that care can handle that because that whole situation that's been going on with countless things that's been happening in the city regardless you can't have a double head edged sword where One hand washes and the other hand makes it dirty and that's where we're at right now and you have the power to fix whatever needs to be fixed I'm not going to sit here and bad mouth anybody everybody understands the facts that's in front of their eyes and it's irony that somebody comes up in here and talk about how we had five and 10 years to do this stuff and they were the ones that set the blueprint for this whole thing and you're going to stand behind somebody and say that you want to be that person to stand behind the city manager come on you're the reason why our city is in the shambles that we are in right now so before before you sit here and say that you want this city to move forward let's unite the city because the city is not United because the people that are claiming to be for the community they're not and it's only a handful and the people that really know they know thank you thank you hello hello hello I'm back again I'm back again but you know what I ain't here up pass y'all because I I understand y'all don't know no better commissioner can you state your name commissioner G Miller 14235 North 22nd Place Obaka Florida I've been in this city for 67 years and I've never came up here and seen a comedy show that I have seen here do you all understand what we in facing right now we in a critical critical situation in two weeks we don't know where we going to be at when Trump get in there we don't know where we going to but y'all want to sit up here you cuz you don't want somebody can't give you what you want baby you need to make sure your hands clean for you jump on somebody else cuz your hands is not clean okay anyway we're not anyway we come on commission okay I'm I know but I don't want her to sit over there and giggle and have that smirk face and she ain't clean commissioner and um right now if we don't get together if we don't get together we gonna be divided again Trump already dividing us but y'all not y'all sitting up here dividing us some more people who don't got money from this city when they sued the city for water bill people got money a lot of people didn't get no money but certain people got money though so let me tell you something don't come up here and talk when your hands ain't clean but um Miss Williams I ain't calling you what I just said cuz I know you educated I'm talking to that anyway y'all have a nice night Comm Miller commissioner Miller we G we gonna move on we gonna move on to the next person um come on let's focus go ahead CA puit 2350 Northwest 141st Street all do respect Mr Suarez you know I love you but you know I'm one I don't do for show I speak from my heart and you WR you you okay with your opinion but the thing here we've been doing this over and over this revolving door it's something with the city manager seat this city is Never Satisfied I don't care who you put in there they never satisfied and I've been in this city for 54 years 54 okay and and it's a revolving door from day one when you all had your meeting over in the other building you all was already against this young man he was against him so therefore don't care what he does you're not gonna give him a chance even if he give you five stars you still not gonna Pat him on the back because you you have this this this Vendetta against him and and from the beginning when when all of you all got elected and I got up on the podium and I PL of each one of them I told you how proud it was and this is was a dream team for me okay we've had some in the past but I consider you all a dream team because a lot of you are are young ambitious you have visions and I told you I was going to support you and I still stand by that but I'm about fairness anyone who knows me I'm about fairness and it's not because I have him invited to my table we have dinner it's none of that because the same way I'm standing up here for him I do it for either each and every one of you I stand in the paint with you to the end and I don't mind getting up speaking my mind I can hold my own but this here I feel it's personal so it's not fair it's personal we need to check our attitudes and feelings at the door because each and every one of you was elected you was elected by all of us okay and we believe in you and I still believe in you and I believe tonight that you're going to do the right thing let this man do his job it's not easy running a city it's not easy being a a male a vice mayale on a commission it's not easy but as I told you before you all GNA agree to disagree do that if you got a problem with anybody that you work with go behind closed door but first you pray about it you put God first and God not in this here you're making it personal because some decisions he made you don't agree with and then y'all want to go through the back door and do whatever you want to do and you just gather everybody together and then y' it's like a Witch Hunt We're not gonna do that cuz believe me you reap what you sow whatever seed you sow you gonna reap it whether it's good or bad and I still believe in you all but do the right thing give him a chance to do what he need to do and if he got a clean house clean house because if it going to help this city because this city is in a in a about three minutes you know that already know hello I'm Kar I live at 1328 Shar afternoon thank you sweetie but the thing is what I'm trying to say Do Right impress this city I don't like looking I've been away on for health reasons and all I see I get news break I look on the TV from one thing or another open Locker in the news this got to stop we've been there before we've been there before let's change this whole dynamic and do the right thing keep him in office because you know what you always everybody always say oh we don't have enough money you know how much in debt we gonna be if y'all put him out of office that we can't afford so it's cheaper to keep him you understand me it's just like a bad marriage it's cheaper to keep them you hear me if yall doing something you know down in the D please chamber please so you are give him a chance to do what he needs to do and stand by him and you not gonna agree with everything but stand by just same as I ask him to stand by you all and you all work together as you should we elect you all into office to do the right thing and I trust and I pray that you do that give him a chance to do what he need to do and get out of the way get out of the way and mind your own business and do what you elected to do and get this city in order I'm done good evening Mark Cooper um 6801 Southwest 75 Terrace I stand in uh I come here with a heavy heart I uh I want to say I support commissioner Irvin not in her conclusion but I know she has a city best at heart just by coincidence yesterday my Facebook Fe Fe feed a year ago she was applauding the cheerleaders and the work that was being done so that being said I look back now a year later and here we are and and I wish what we could do is hit a reset button and it's almost like you see your two parents are fighting and you want your parents to stop and I know the city manager I know the vice mayor has the best for the city at heart but I don't want to focus on that I want to focus on me and I want to tell you something I got arrested the other day in the city of opaka in the junkyard area by durm because of environmental problems and that area owners Property Owners getting RIS is for this Mr Cooper we got to keep it's for this gerain to the it's going and property owners and tenants are getting pushed around by the County government and this city needs to focus on fixing that area and fixing the pollution and I think this city manager is focused on doing that and it's important and I've been here for 10 years and I've never seen a city manager that's willing to do the work to do it so I respect you commissioner Urban I disagree with you on this position I wish we could hit a reset button it's not about anything just please I can't be getting arrested I have three kids my nine-year-old son standing outside TGK waiting for me to come out because I own property note blockout I'm too old for that I don't need it I put two properties up for sale because I want to leave OA please I need you guys to get get together for me for my kids for my 9-year-old doesn't want Daddy walking out of jail please fix this situation please thank you thank you Mr citizens form public input is still open Roslin Kelly 420 Aladdin opaka Florida 33054 here we go again I think this is a travesty why are certain people that set up on this dasis attempt to make sure opaka never achieved its greatness this seems like a personal Vendetta no one's perfect you all are elected officials we the people vote for you and we will vote you out this body of government is supposed to be for the people not for personal gang or manipulation some people have been here for a long time it's time for New Blood changing of the garden I was excited to see younger people elected I thought they would do what's right for the city of opaka but I see it's the same old status quo it is it is disheartening to continue to see elected officials standing in the way of progress of the city of opaka this city has a terrible record of corruption there is so much corruption and spiritual wickedness in high places but we're living in a time when God will reveal all secrets so if you got any they will be revealed public input is still open let me tell you something I am so sick of coming up here Stephanie holding 200 perix Avenue I am can I turn it I am so sick of coming back and forth to months ago we was at the same place doing the same thing defending defending ding Williams defending him okay I mean when you gonna stop we need to move op Locka forward stop doing this okay stop this all this stupidness with this um the the ex what what she is the chief the what she used to be the chief at um the ex-chief over at Miami gens I mean why would you even hire her she all in a Miami town okay we going to keep it we going to keep her out of it CU she okay so I can't bring that up it's investigation that's not what this it's an investigation okay but I'm tired of this I'm tired of you need to leave Darin alone with this foolishness okay we need to get Irving up out of here when we gonna do that hold she need to go he is the best thing ever happened up in here okay she need to go she she need to go now enough is enough she's stupid okay that that we're not gonna do so we're not gonna do that no we're not doing that we're not okay hello hello hello hello hello chief where's my S come on I'm Sor very disrespectful yeah we got I'm sorry that is not right that's not it's not right it's not right no y we gonna ask you to leave please thank you thank you you ready okay Vicky Howard 14225 Northwest 22nd Avenue I'm here every time and every time I'm here it's about this guy I would like to know what is his job what is his job what do he's supposed to do he that empty field over there where Gil Miller Place at uh the he plant trees there the People Park their cars there they break the trees down he they site people give them tickets for parking over there now the people parking in the front of my house on my street the people live in apartments I would like to know what what is his job what he supposed to do you got to have an application what what the application say he supposed to do cuz look like anytime something go on here the first thing y'all do is fire this guy y'all put him on the chopping block what he supposed to do him come on y'all can speak speak say something we gonna allow you to finish no I'm finished tell me what he supposed to do what's his job input we don't do it that way man you don't do it like that man Miss Howard I'm sorry you sure I'm positive I like to know what he's supposed to do CZ I I don't see nothing wrong with that we need we need to stop this him I'm here all my life all my life you got G Miller him 68 years hell I'm man 70 years you understand we need to stop this I ain't got nowhere to go I'm in my house where I'm at all all the days of my life I ain't got nowhere to go let let let the guy do his job let him do his job give him a chance me if it was me I quit because I don't know what I'm doing right what I'm doing wrong cuz everything I do I'm wrong cause every month I'm on The Chopping Block something got to give him y'all y'all try to do the right thing we we supposed to be working together living together I don't see it cuz the trailer still there now they parking in front of my house what's going on with that I can hear y'all huh we'll get the staff member to yes ma'am okay somebody come talk I'm watching about the trail in I'm watching they'll come to you okay CUA I see the cars pulling up on in the front of my house yes ma'am I look at the guy get out his car put his trash in my garbage can and he go around the corner to the apartments over there that ain't cool yes M okay I got to pay for this now okay yes M come on y'all get it together okay friend all right public inut is still open good evening my name is Daniel whitebook um and a business owner 13449 Northwest 42nd Avenue I've been in opaka for 33 years in business I currently own and operate the flea market and other various businesses in the area and I want to speak on behalf of the city manager and all the people that have been the city managers over the years all the different people I've dealt with I've never met anybody that was more professional that worked as hard that cared more about the citizens of opaka cared more about the business owners in opaka and was constantly trying to figure out what's the best thing to make the city grow be more prosperous and help out all the individuals that are here from the people that are the uh residents all throughout the business people the um business owners in the flea market when they were losing their spot and losing their livelihood he worked tirelessly with the commission to save those people's life and their livelihood he spent all of this time trying to figure out what's the best thing I could do for all of these people a few hundred people that were going to lose their job we're going to lose their livelihood and he just selflessly worked hard with the city commission to save those people's life and livelihood throughout that time we're spending all of this time trying to build up the the city and Mr Williams constantly comes to the market comes to the people and other businesses what can I do to help what do the city need what could the city do to help the business owners so I can't imagine what other better person and my 35 years would would serve the community better and if there's any way or anything that I could say in support of him I would because he's been the best thing that I've ever seen in this city so I hope that um you take that under consideration because he really does care and really does work hard for the people the citizens and and the business owners thank you thank you Mr White Brook Public input is still open good evening Sharon Peterson 14250 Northwest 22nd Place I'm I'm really crying for Mr Williams due to the fact he worked so hard I don't know nobody's not saying why we hear tonight just a special meeting I would like to know why we here tonight besides trying to get rid of him miss the reason y'all can't talk to us about the reason why y'all want to take him away we'll get to that part we get to the resolution right now we have it for public input so you can give your okay opinion on the items he been working real dutifully with us yes ma'am with us seniors that's on the move and with the surrounding neighbors and as the F said just now business owners what we need to be doing you want me to tell you what we need to be doing we need to be going into them businesses and seeing what's inside there code enforcements pulling out stuff that's being hid money being laundering from hand to hand I don't know if any of y'all receiving any of it but something better need to be done I would like to have a job in Code Enforcement really I don't know if I'm too old or not I'm 70 years old all I and just now is I was coming in over here the bus bench on um Burlington and 27th Avenue is full of the um homeless G filth all over the bus benches all on the ground around the bus benches in front of Burger King on 27th Avenue the um the hurricane came in I didn't see nobody in my area cleaning out those um drains it was full of trash I think the trash still there good the hurricane didn't come and flood us you know God is good he brought us all through he us talk to one another again and I hope y'all have a change in your heart cuz God sit up high and look at all us all that's supposed to be members of the church we are the church that mean we supposed to do well with our citizens and our people because we are the people for the people God bless y'all and I wish you send somebody over to 14250 to cut down that around that oak tree I've been begging y'all to do all right so what we'll do is we'll get staff to talk to you Miss Peterson and then you give okay and I'm from I'm for the the victory that God's gonna get him tonight he's a very good-hearted person yes ma'am in Jesus name c public input is still open good evening mayor commissioner Audrey dingz C 1147 Jen Avenue I know in the position that each and every one of you are at right now I was there two years ago but at the end of the day you have to do what is best for the city for the residents and the businesses we can't just think about one person we have to think about everyone as a whole we are and have been on financial oversight since 2016 we're going on nine years November 1st we're supposed to get our audits in I'm not sure if that's done we had a deficit and it was said here mismanagement of $6 million nobody seems to know what happened so I'm going to tell you a quote my high school teachers to tell me you can please some of the people some of the time but you can't please all the people all the time so you do what is best and what your heart tells you to do because at the end of the day that's going to be your legacy and we need to save our city we need to save our city public input is still open you you spoke already Mr uh commissioner public input is still open good afternoon mayor Commissioners my name is Johnny Hall 12950 gun Road I'm here in support for my city manager Mr Williams if I'm not mistaken Mr Williams first came to work in the city he was here to help the financial oversight I believe that's what he was working on when he first got here before he became interim city manager before he became the city manager and he's accomplished a lot of that during his time he negotiated with the Union to give the workers the employees a country contract we receive raises because of him my wife told me not to get up here and talk so I normally be in trouble when she see this on YouTube baby I love you but I had to get up and say something for my boss he has an open door policy if I have a situation I can go to him not my direct I go to my director but I come to Mr w Mr Ellis they give me good wisdom and knowledge and he's moving the city forward so I want to say thank you boss and uh I really wish we keep him thank you thank you Mr Hall public input is still open all right public input is closed all right we going into our items for tonight Madame attorney 61 a resolution of the city Commission of the city of opaka Florida terminating city manager Darin Williams providing for incorporation of recitals providing for an effective date this is sponsored by vice mayor irvan all right can I get a motion move it move by vice mayor second second by commissioner Williams Vice M your item you go ahead and present it thank you Mr Mr the mayor it's a very simple resolution it is exactly what it says for us to remove Darvin Williams terminate Darin Williams as our city manager and you can call the question I'm done all right any um comments on concerns on this item thank you Mr Mayor in all in all thank you in all honesty I had no intentions of being here today none at all none but as I pulled up tonight's meeting on YouTube I just felt in my spirit that I needed to be here and not just for to voice my opinion but to also represent our residents who voted me in when I ran I ran as the voice for the people and tonight I hear your voices again it is not about me regardless of what you all my here it's not about me I have no dog in this fight none no personal gains nothing but I do have 13 grandchildren half of who ruin the city of opaka I've lived in opaka for almost 40 years worked in opaka for almost 24 years I know my community I've seen The Good the Bad and the Ugly I promised myself I was not going to preach tonight so I'm Not Gon to preach but I'mma tell you those of you who go and support this resolution the blood of opalak will be on your hands not mine and I want that written just like that in the notes just like that please and thank you ma'am the blood of opaka will not be on my hand any other concerns for this item all right Madame clerk we can call a question vice mayor Irvin yes commissioner Williams yes commissioner bath no mayor Taylor yes motion passes 31 all right item six two a resolution of the city Commission of the city of opaka Florida appointing blank as interim city manager providing for incorporation of recitals providing for an effective date one second one second Madam attorney we ask everybody to keep it down we're still in a meeting Madame attorney this is sponsored by vice mayor Irvin um can I get a motion move it move by commissioner Williams second second by vice mayor Comm um Vice this is your item you can go ahead and yes this is my item I um would like for us to Point um shamea Lawson as the intrum city manager all right so that's who you're adding into yes all right [Music] um okay all right it was moved in second already so Madam attorney we're gonna go ahead and call the question on adding Miss sha Lawson as the inum is that the only there is one other um blank um Mr Mayor in the resolution and it has to do with the salary okay all right um chief all right is this the only name that's being profit tonight yes I don't have any I don't have any all right um so Chief s off we're still in the meeting so can we can we keep the noise down so that we can move forward so as we um move on to Madam attorney what's the next one you you have to um insert the salary of the person that you're appointing that's another blank in the resolution all right um Can it mirror what we already have if that's the will yes you just need to state that on the all right M Madam Vice ma the salary to mirror what's already in place I'll accept that all right all right she made the motion we can call the question I'm I'm sorry Mr Mayor what are we inserting in the second blank it's going to mirror what's already in place the salary that's already and on the books as well but we have now commissioner Williams yes commissioner baz she left oh I'm sorry my apology vice mayor Irvin yes mayor Taylor yes motion passes 30 Z all right moving on to item 63 a resolution of the city Commission of the city of opaka Florida amending signatories for all bank accounts of the city of opaka and replacing Darin Williams's name with Shema Lawson for official purposes effective October 17 2024 authorizing City officials to execute all necessary documents to comport with this resolution and with said banking requirements providing for an effective date this is sponsored by vice mayor Irvin move it move by vice mayor second second by commissioner Williams um we can just go ahead and call the question Vice May Irvin yes commissioner Williams yes mayor yes motion passes 30 all right um and I do want to say going we do need to come up with a some kind of plan forward and I think the resolution states that we're going to do it for 90 days so within that 90 days we're going to I guess do another search or I guess we can discuss that at the next commission meeting okay sounds good all right okay thank you all for coming out this meeting is a j