Margate City Commission at April’s meeting.
The Margate commission is close to selecting a recruiter to help find a new police chief.
During the April 17 meeting, the commission agreed to ask Cale Curtis, city manager, to develop an agreement with Colin Baenziger and Associates to recruit candidates for the police chief opening.
On March 21, former Chief Joseph Galaska resigned after an investigation into inappropriate text messages reportedly found he subjected a female lieutenant to harassment and a hostile work environment.
Curtis asked the commission for direction on pursuing an agreement with Baenziger or the Florida Police Chiefs Association. There was concern that the Chief’s Association would not send a representative to meet with the commission in person or provide a warranty for their work. A contract will come before the commission at a future meeting.
Commissioner Anthony Caggiano said he wanted a warranty if the city paid a substantial amount for a search. Commissioner Joanne Simone said she was OK with Baenziger. Commissioner Antonio Arserio initially favored the Chief’s Association but lost interest when they would not visit the commission. Vice Mayor Arlene Schwartz said she would have liked to speak to representatives from the firms.
According to their proposal, Baenziger will charge Margate $34,500 to complete the search. The commissioners liked that they would do another search for free if the candidate selected by the commission leaves within one year.
The commission also approved a resolution to increase the staffing of fire trucks from two to three firefighters and to provide a budget amendment to pay for 12 new firefighters. There was no discussion during the meeting, as the extensive discussion had taken place on April 10 at a previous workshop, where fire chief Roberto Lorenzo presented the importance of having three firefighters on a truck. According to Caggiano, these firefighters will probably be added over two years.
After the meeting, Lorenzo said he was pleased the commission agreed to increase truck staffing.
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- David Volz has worked as a writer in South Florida for 35 years. He has written for the Sun-Sentinel, Hollywood Gazette, School Transportation News, South Dade News Leaders, Observer among others. He has an MA in Communications from Florida Atlantic University and a BA in Communications from Valparaiso University. Volz teaches Communications at Miami Dade College and Palm Beach State College. He lives in Coral Springs and enjoys running and participating in 5Ks and half-marathons.
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