Councilman Berlon Weeks has reopened discussions on whether to hire a city manager.
By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter
Bronson Town Council members are once again talking about the possibility of hiring a city manager following the resignation of Town Clerk Shirley Miller.
In her letter of resignation, Miller didn’t cite a reason for leaving, saying the town has seen many changes over the past two years and she had mixed feelings about leaving town government.
The council voted unanimously Tuesday to accept her resignation.
“I have learned much about this community and have worked hard to further the goals of the town for residents I served. However it is with both happiness and regret that I resign from my position with the Town of Bronson,” she said. Her final day is June 12.
Council members voted to hold a workshop at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9 to discuss potentially replacing the city clerk position with a city manager, a move long advocated by Councilman Berlon Weeks.
Weeks said the town also needs to look at the possibility of removing town council members from positions where they oversee the various departments and exert influence over employees doing their jobs.
“We honestly should not be over individual departments pulling employees in different directions,” he said. “The employees should answer to a manager and the manager should talk to us. We can stay out of their business and the manager determines how the town of Bronson flows.”
Weeks said the council has enough money in its budget to hire a manager. He said it’s something the council needs to examine seriously.
As it stands now, the clerk is the city’s chief administrator. She has a deputy clerk who handles other chores. The City of Chiefland has a manager and deputy clerk and Williston has a manager and clerk.
Weeks said a manager would be doing everything Miller does and more.
Canceling July 4th
The coronavirus is having its impact everywhere.
Council members voted to cancel their planned July 4th fireworks celebration for the second consecutive year. Last year’s fireworks display was washed out by a storm. This year, there is uncertainty about how they would meet state regulations for social distancing if a crowd of 5,000 to 10,000 showed up at James H. Cobb Park.
Fire Chief Dennis Russell was the first to bring up the potential consequences of allowing a large crowd to gather. He said the town would almost certainly have to limit entry to the popular fireworks show to avoid having thousands in the park. He said the state hasn’t defined the maximum crowd size at large outdoor events like fireworks shows, but the state is discouraging large gatherings to prevent the spread of the virus.
Russell said he was also concerned about the lack of staff in the fire department and in public works to help him manage the large crowd while firefighters light up the fireworks. One of the city’s two field crew members was seriously injured when he was rear-ended two weeks ago behind a stop sign at County Road 337 and County Road 32. Russell Mitchem was hit from behind at high speed by a pickup truck. He is recovering at home. The town is hiring a part-time worker and a day worker to take over his duties until he returns.
Russell warned regulating crowd size wouldn’t be optional.
“We have to regulate it to a certain amount. How are we going to regulate it? How are we going to put it in place to regulate how many people are allowed in the park? Russell said.
He said he heard that Williston might not have a fireworks display and if Williston didn’t stage its show as planned, it would result in more people coming to see Bronson’s show.
The council decided to cancel the fireworks show as well as the parade to honor Bronson High School seniors. Mayor Beatrice Roberts said school officials told her 15 seniors indicated an interest in taking part in the parade.
Weeks said the town may be able to stage the fireworks show later in the year on a holiday such as Labor Day.
Suncoast Wish List
Chiefland and Williston developed a list of projects they want the state to build for them in connection with construction of the Suncoast Parkway.
Bronson is about to add their requests.
Chiefland was the first to ask, Williston followed, and at Tuesday’s meeting the council agreed Bronson should do the same.
Councilman Robert Partin said Andrea Garcia, a senior communications specialist connected with the Suncoast Connector study contacted him and suggested Bronson make its requests.
“I said it will look like we’re shooting at the wind trying to get some of this stuff,” Partin said. “She said if you don’t try you’ll never get it.”
Council members will discuss their Suncoast Connector requests at the workshop next Tuesday.
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Town of Bronson Regular Meeting June 1, 2020; Posted June 1, 2020
