Fernandina Beach Names Operations Director as Interim City Manager as Another CM Search Begins; City Goes All In For “Pride” Month

News

By Michael Hernandez, 6-5-24

Interim City Manager Named, Replacement Recruiting Initiated

FERNANDINA BEACH, FLORIDA—Jeremiah Glisson, the Fernandina Beach Operations Director was named with unanimous support as the new Interim City Manager at the June 4 City Commissioners meeting replacing Charles George, who is out on medical leave. Glisson will get a contract that mirrors George’s current contract as he worked in two functions: City Manager and Engineer.

Meanwhile, city staff was directed to immediately contact the outside executive search firm that did the recruiting for the City Manager position eight to nine months ago and ask for some options and a timetable for making a more permanent appointment to the City Manager position with discussion given concerning Lee Smith—the second-place candidate for the City Manager position. Discussion was given on how long it would take to make the position a full-time appointment. A special meeting will be called on June 20 to continue to address the City Manager position.

City Proclaims June 9-15 as National Flag Week

Fernandina Beach City Commissioners proclaimed June 14 as “National Flag Day” and the week of June 9-15 as “National Flag Week.” The city proclamation urges all citizens to join “in proudly displaying our nation’s banners and live with the patriotism that the red, white, and blue so strongly represents.”

The proclamation also states that “the Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of our young republic on June 14, 1777” and “took up the fight for independence they came together under a standard that showed their common cause. When the wounds of civil war were still fresh and our country walked the long road to reconstruction, our people found hope in a banner that testified to the strength of our Union. Wherever our American journey has taken us, whether on that unending path to the mountaintop or high above into the races of space, Old Glory has followed, reminding us of their rights and responsibilities we share as citizens.”

On June 14 at 10 a.m. the Amelia Island Daughters of the American Revolution will retire the flag at Fire Station 20 with all retired flags going to deceased veterans.

City Proclaims June as “Pride Month” with Pride Parade and Festival on June 8

Fernandina Beach City Commissioners proclaimed June as “’Pride Month in recognition of progress towards equality for all people.” Fernandina Beach Pride President Jordan Morris, Vice President Don Harley, and Treasurer Genece Minshew and members of the Pride community attended the City Commission meeting to accept the proclamation which recounts the Supreme Court decision “guaranteeing marriage equality in all 50 States.

“Despite extraordinary progress, the Pride community still faces discrimination simply for being who they are and for loving who they love. Advancing the fair treatment of all people has long been a cornerstone of American diplomacy, similarly the City of Fernandina Beach’s commitment to combatting discrimination remains steadfast. (We) call upon all citizens to celebrate how far we have come, to eliminate prejudice wherever it exists, and to embrace the great diversity within our community.”

The local 4^th annual “Pride” Parade and Festival will be observed on Saturday, June 8 starting at 10 a.m. at Central Park, 1200 Atlantic Avenue (by children’s playground) and go to 2 pm with over 100 vendors, 7 food trucks, a live band with parade starting at 10 a.m. speakers and family zone with games for kids and face painting The 7 Street Band will play in the park. An after party will be held at Florida’s oldest bar The Palace Saloon until 4 p.m.

Other “Pride” Month activities include:

• A Drag Brunch on Sunday, June 9^th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Disco Witch Brewing, 46403 State Road 200, Yulee.
• A Short Film Documentary Series on Saturday, June 15^th from 6-8 p.m. at the Story & Song Bookstore Bistro, 1430 Park Ave., Fernandina Beach.
• A Panel Discussion on Thursday June 27 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Nassau County Council on Aging, 1901 Island Walkway, Fernandina Beach.

Fernandina Beach Main Street Executive Director Makes Presentation

Fernandina Beach Main Street Executive Director Lisa Finkelstein reported the following:

• 80 businesses responded to the City business survey.
• A downtown to dunes cleanup with 60 volunteers was organized by the non-profit Keep Nassau Beautiful and the Amelia Island Convention and Visitors Bureau.
• The holding of a Business Meet and Greet.
• Plans are being made to conduct the Island Hope Craft Beer Festival on Saturday, Oct. 5.

All Resolutions Pass Unanimously

We wonder if any of the commissioners read through the 2862 page agenda packet. Each agenda item was approved separately not as part of a consent calendar. One time during the meeting–a commissioner challenged another commissioner on the actual RFP–saying did you read this? No response given. Mayor Bean quickly moved the meeting forward and no such question was asked again.  It would have taken days or a week to digest the full application packet.

• 5.1: Grantworks Inc. awarded primary contract for FEMA Technical Support Services with Tetra Tech Inc. awarded secondary contract.
• 5.2: Tetra Tech Inc awarded primary contract for Disaster Debris Monitoring Services and DebrisTech, LLC as the secondary vendor.
• 5.3: DRC Emergency Services, LLC awarded primary contract, Phillips and Jordan, Inc.; Aftermath Disaster Recovery, Inc. and JB Coxwell Contracting, Inc as additional vendors for Disaster Debris Removal/Hauling Services.
• 5.4: ER Rooter Inc. was awarded the contract for the Atlantic Recreation Center women’s restroom and locker room renovations (which came under budget).
• Maximum contract of $108,933.
• 5.5: Approved budget transfers for the Fernandina Beach Gold Club. Total allocated: $42,795.
• 5.6: Approved amendment to the project cooperation agreement between the Department of the Army and the City of Fernandina Beach for construction of the Nassau County, Florida Shore Protection Project and the 2019 Engineering Documentation Report (EDR). The Army provides sand to the city at no cost.
• 5.7: Approve the sunsetting of the public, educational and governmental (PEG) Channel Committee.
• 5.8: Approved Greenfield Outdoor Fitness as a sole source vendor for the purchase of Egans Creek Park outdoor fitness equipment in the amount of $56,175 (approximately 50 percent off).
• 5.9: Approved a budget transfer of $15,000 to pay a current invoice and sent back to staff for recommendations on the remaining $45,000 that was initially on the agenda.
• 5.10: Approved the Cologix US, Inc. purchase agreement for server colocation and cloud storage for disaster recovery terminating the city’s agreement with the Arco Group for the same services. Not to exceed $34,488 for the initial year.
• 5:11: Approved a three-year facility use agreement with Driving Dynamics, Inc. for the use of airport property to conduct corporate driver safety training for up to 20 days per year. The City receives $1,000/day for use of the airport property.
• 5.12: Approved the expenditure of funds received in the opioid lawsuits settlement agreement in the amount of $38,870 for “safe” narcotics field testing. Presentation made by Police Chief Jeff Tambasco.
• 5.13: Approved the supporting of the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners’ grant application submission to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) for an all-hazards rescue vessel (boat). Abstaining from the vote which passed 4-0 was Commissioner Darron Ayscue—who is working on the Nassau County grant application.

Nassau Humane Society Presents “City Commission Dog of the Month”

Nassau Humane Society Executive Director Chantel Scherer presented Eloise–the “City Commission Dog of the Month” that was rescued from a kill shelter with her four puppies that have now been adopted. The shelter has 77 dogs and 60 cats up for adoption.

Commission Meeting Adjourns: 5:30 pm (2:23 minutes)

All five City Commissioners attended: Mayor Bradley Bean (Seat 1), Vice-Mayor David Sturges (Seat 2), Ronald “Chip” Ross (Seat 3), James Antun (Seat 4), and Darron Ayscue (Seat 5).

Agenda Overview: 4 pages

https://fernandinabeachfl.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3255/files/agenda/7796

Agenda Packet: 2,862 pages

https://fernandinabeachfl.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3255/files/agenda/7798

Video:

https://fernandinabeachfl.new.swagit.com/videos/306970

Workshop and Meeting Protocols (June 4): Prior to City Commission (1 hour)

• 4.1: Creating the Agenda
• 4.2: City Commission Public Comments & Questions
• 4.3: Townhall Meetings

Workshop Agenda: 1 page

https://fernandinabeachfl.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3441/files/agenda/7792

Workshop Video:

https://fernandinabeachfl.new.swagit.com/videos/306941

Upcoming Events

• June 21: 12-1 pm (Voices of Amelia Island): Museum of History
• July 4: 6-9 pm (Fourth of July Fireworks): 1 North Front St.

Michael Hernandez, from California, is co-founder of the Citizens Journal—Ventura County’s online news service. He is a former Southern California daily newspaper journalist and religion and news editor. Mr. Hernandez can be contacted at [email protected] and is editor of the weekly “Stories Speak Volumes,” “Nov. 5 Election Day Countdown,” and “Revive America.”