WHITE SPRINGS — The White Springs Town Council did not approve a new contract with town attorney Karen Hatton at its Jan. 8 meeting.

Hatton presented the board with a new contract that included a 25 percent rate increase.

“I would just like to hear what Mrs. Hatton has to say about this contract,” Councilman Walter McKenzie said. “Every time we have a rate increase of 25 percent, I would think discussion of the fees would be in order.”

Hatton said she felt the increase, which would make the monthly meeting attendance fee $309 and her hourly administrative rate $143.75, was justified due to the outdated state of the current contract.

“When I came I just agreed to take (previous town attorney Fred) Koberlein’s contract as is and I did not change anything in his contract,” Hatton said. “He hadn’t changed his contract in four to five years.

“I just felt like I was updating it as old as it was.”

Hatton said she does not bill the town for every phone call and email she receives.

“My billing is minimum,” Hatton said.

Added McKenzie: “The town of White Springs needs to have an attorney and I’m glad that when we were in the lurch we were able to find one.”

He then asked if she would be willing to accept a 10-15 percent increase instead.

“I could not in good conscience agree to a 25 percent increase right now,” McKenzie said.

The motion to approve Hatton’s contract failed with a 2-2 vote. McKenzie and Helen Miller voted against and Vice Mayor Tonja Brown was not present.

The current contract ended Jan. 9.

“I know you are in the lurch, I am not going to stick it to you by just walking out of here,” Hatton said.

She agreed to stay for 60 days under the old contract.

“I don’t know any governmental lawyers making less than $150 to be honest,” Councilman Rhett Bullard said. “And if you remember, it is not exactly easy to find people to work for this town.”

Charter Review

The Charter Review Committee presented the council several changes to the charter.

“We have an election every year which keeps things riled up,” Tracy Woodard, committee member said. “It is also expensive to have an election every year.”

The committee suggested changing from two-year terms to four-year terms with elections every two years.

“It was felt by the board that it was major thing we could do to make things better in White Springs and give members more time,” Woodard said.

The committee also suggested the council go back to having seat designations. This way when someone wanted to run for the council, the candidate would declare which seat they are running for.

Woodard compared the election to a beauty contest with first and second runner-ups.

“It is an extremely unusual way of choosing winners,” Woodard said. “We couldn’t find another municipality in the state of Florida that did it this way.”

The committee also recommended loosening but not scraping the requirements that Roberts Rules of Order be the procedural norm.

Woodard said workshops may not be best served by formal rules.

The committee also suggested adding gender neutral language to the charter.

Ordinances will be made based on the recommendations and must be approved in two public hearings before it can be placed on the April ballot.

County Fire Protection Agreement

The council did not approve the Fire Protection and Related Emergency Services Agreement with the Hamilton County Board of County Commissioners.

The town already submitted suggested changes to the commissioners and the BOCC made no decision at its Dec. 4 meeting.

The agreement currently states the county will provide up to $7,500 per quarter or $30,000 per year. The town will receive prorated amounts that reflect the total amount of calls answered versus the total calls for service.

White Springs asked for a $5,000 quarterly base amount with a prorated $2,500 for percentage of answered calls.

The town also asked the line requesting a certified volunteer firefighter respond to all calls of service be changed to an appropriately certified volunteer.

According to Town Manager Stacy Tebo, after tabling it in December, she informed Hamilton County the board tabled the agreement and had no response from Hamilton County.

“I think we should enter into it,” Council member Helen Miller said.

Fire Chief Steve Stith said the town has final say but recommended one year instead of a three-year agreement.

“I just don’t see how you are going to get a firefighter to go to a medical call every single time,” Bullard said. “That doesn’t make any sense.”

Bullard said it is the county’s responsibility to provide fire services in the county not the town.

“I don’t see how we can sign an agreement that we don’t think we can live up to,” Bullard said.

Miller made motion to accept the contract and McKenzie seconded.

The motion failed 2-2.