031258-Special Session MINUTES'
City Commission, Sanford, Florida, Special - March 12 11
363
The C-[ty Commission of the City of Sanford, Florida, met in Special Session at the
City Hall in the City of Sanford, Florida, at ll:00 o'clock A. M. March 12, 1958.
Present:
Commissioner Merle W. Warner, Mayor
" Robert S. Brown.
" David M. Gatchel
" Earl Higginbotham
" A.L. Wilson
City Attorney W. C. Hutchison, Jr.,
City 'Clerk H. N. Sayer
City Manager W. E. Knowles
Deputy Clerk H. N. Tamm, Jr.,
Chief of Police R. G. Williams
Meeting called to order by the Chairman who announced that the meeting was called to
discuss with the Convention Committee of the Holy Cross Episcopal Church of Sanford, the use
of the Civic Center for a Convention of April 22-24, of the Episcopal Church, Diocese of South
Florida.
All members cf the Commission being present, moved by Commlssioner Higginbotham to
waive the requirement cf written notice of this called meeting.
Brown, and on roll call the vote stands as follows:
Commissioner Warner Yea
" Brown Yea
" Gatchel Yea
, Higginbotham Yea
" Wilson Yea
Seconded by Commissioner
Mayor Warner then advised the Convention Committee ~hat when arrangements were made
with the City to hold the convention in the new Civic Center, which was almost a year ago,
the Commission did not know that it would be an integrated meeting,_ and had not been informed
of this fact until within the past week. He then e×olalned that s~nce ~he Civic Center was
a public building and the City had never allowed the use of'~uch buildings for integrated
meetings or gatherings of any nature, it was felt that this-convention would be establishing
a precedent.
Mr. Frank Mebane, Convention Chairman, stated that there-has never been a segregated
Episcopal Church convention in Florida, and mentioned such cities as Fort Lauderdale, Daytona
Beach, Key West, Sarasota, and here in Banford in 1939 and in the '20's, with no trouble at
all,~ and that the convention is held in a devout atmosphere with the church's business run at
these meetings. He further stated that at least 750 people will be spending the night in
Sanford and only a small minority of them w~ld be colored.
Mr. Randall Chase, a ~estryman of Holy Cross, next appeared and pointed out that the
convention committee has used the same plans that have been carried out in other places for
over 50 years.
Rev. John Thomas, rector of Holy Cross Church, next appeared, concurring with the
aforementioned statements and urged the Commission to allow the convention to be held in the
Civic Center, advising that there were no other buildings available and it was too ]ate t°
cancel the convention. He assured the Commission that the convention would be handled in as
discreet a manner as possible.
Commissioner Gatchel then voiced his objections to the use of the Civic Center on an
integrated basis a nd cited recent Supreme Court rulings relative to~gregation, and Ihe
a~Itatlon and adverse publicity that could result from such a meeting. Also, the demands
that would be made on the City in the future. He also point ed out the bitter experiences he
had encountered in handling the local National Guard Armory for functions on an integrated
basis. Commissioner Gatchel stated that the City wanted to cater to conventions and would
364
MINUTES
City Commission, Sanford, Florida,_
March 12 at 11: A. M. 19 58
like to become known as a convention center, but had to think of the future in setting a
orecedent.
After discussi(~and careful consideration, Commissioner Brown made the following
motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Wilson and unanimously carried: "I feel that
certain information was withheld from the City when this convention was arranged by ~he
Church representatives forths use of ~he Civic Cen~er. The entire City Commission resents
~he embarrassmenZ ~ ~his has caused all. of. us, whether ~he i~rma~ion was intentionally
or unintentionally withheld, we have no. way of knowing. Since ~he CiZy did enZer in~o an
agreemen~ to provide ~he Civic Cente~ for this convention, and alnce ~he convenZimis of a
National Church 0rganiza~ion which has de~ermined i~ membership on its own volition, I
move Zhat the City of Sanford reluctantly authorize: Zhis convention to proceed a~ prev1~sly
agreed.
future".
This shall .in no way constitute a precedent as to the use of the Civic Center' in the
There being no further' business the meeting adjourned.
ATTEST:
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