Minutes Town Council Special Meeting and Public Hearing on the Budget

Transcription

1 Town of Pleasant Garden June, 0 Kirkman Municipal Building Minutes Town Council Special Meeting and Public Hearing on the 0- Budget In attendance Mayor Anne Hice Councilwoman Chris Johnson Mayor Pro Tem Nancy Jo Smith Councilman Wallace Councilman Bob Wyrick Also in attendance Sandy Carmany, Town Administrator/Clerk Linda Baker, Assistant Clerk William Hill, Town Attorney Audience Call to Order Mayor Hice called the meeting to order at :0pm. Mayor Hice welcomed everyone. Councilman Wallace delivered the invocation. Mayor Hice led the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll Call Town Administrator/Clerk Carmany called the roll, and all members were in attendance. A quorum was present. Approval of Agenda Councilmembers discussed the appropriate length of time to be allotted to each speaker during the Public Hearing and if there should be an ending time for the Public Hearing. MOVED by Mayor Hice to approve the agenda with an allocation of five minutes for each speaker. Councilman Wyrick asked why Item # was on the agenda since the Recreation Board had the authority to plan new programs. Town Attorney Hill responded that the Town Ordinance requires that the Town Council approve the Recreation Board s new programs. Councilman Wyrick noted that the Town Council did not approve the new Kids Day event; Mayor Hice responded that nothing in the Town Ordinance refers to programs planned by committees. Councilman Wyrick requested Town Attorney Hill to research and draft a provision for the Town Council s consideration requiring events planned by committees to be approved by the Town Council. APPROVED -0 Town Council Special Meeting and Public Hearing on the 0- Budget Minutes June, 0 Page 1

2 Presentations/demonstrations of defibrillators A. Ed Hampton of Southeastern Emergency Equipment spoke about the features of the HeartStart FRX and demonstrated its use. He noted that the Pleasant Garden Fire Department uses this same defibrillator; this would speed up the transfer of care to the Fire Department and Guilford County EMS. Required CPR training is available from Red Cross or Heart Association and he will provide AED training at no charge for an unlimited number of people. He noted that this AED could be upgraded in the field. B. Jan Eger of NC Mom on a Mission spoke about the HeartSyne and demonstrated its use. She said this AED is used by Secret Service, Proehlific Park, and various Guilford County schools. Her training includes CPR and AED; the first ten individuals are trained at no charge. In response to questions, she acknowledged that her AED was not compatible with other brands; upgrades are available online. MOVED by Mayor Hice that staff work with Marie Byrd to determine which unit should be purchased out of the 0-0 budget. SUBSTITUTE MOTON: MOVED by Councilman Wallace to match with the Pleasant Garden Fire Department and Guilford County EMS and purchase the AED as a complete unit from Southeastern Emergency Equipment out of the contingency funds in the 0-0 budget. Councilman Wyrick said he had met with Fire Chief Cole and an EMS official and agreed with Mr. Wallace. Marie Byrd of the Healthy Living Committee was called forward to respond to questions and said she agreed with the purchase of compatible equipment. After asking several questions of Mr. Hampton, she suggested his model should be purchased and said she would be willing to provide all the needed CPR and AED training. APPROVED -0 Town Attorney Hill was directed to develop a policy on use of the AED and who would be trained. The meeting was recessed at for a break at :pm. The meeting was reconvened at :0pm. Public Hearing on the proposed 0- budget Mayor Hice reviewed the guidelines for the public hearing. Bill Greene of 0 Stonebridge Road said he personally liked the town staff and thought they did a good job but requested that the Town Council rethink their proposed salary increases due to the current status of the economy and high unemployment rate. He shared an analysis of the staff salaries and the percentage of the increases. He questioned funding for the library and how it would be operated. Alan Marshall of Carlford Road echoed concerns about staff salaries and commented about the out-of-control budget. He cited costs for the proposed library, the blood drive/health fair, and the e-cycling event funding. The Pleasant Garden Lions Club could provide the Health Fair at no cost to the taxpayers and Guilford County could pay for the e-cycling service. He asked that the Town Council cut spending and bring the budget under control. Pam Lemieux of Foxview Drive said she had done her own analysis of the proposed budget and disagreed with statements in the budget message regarding comparisons with the 0-0 budget. She cited differences in the figures on the summary page and the detail page. Town Council Special Meeting and Public Hearing on the 0- Budget Minutes June, 0 Page

3 Bill Greene of 0 Stonebridge Drive was granted permission to speak again as the president of the Pleasant Garden Lions Club. He reviewed the Request for Funding submitted by the Club. They were unable to single-out a specific project for that funding due to the numerous services they provide to the community. MOVED by Mayor Hice to close the public hearing. APPROVED -0 Consideration of quote to replace the motor on the screen MOVED by Councilman Wallace to accept the $0 estimate that was presented. APPROVED -1 (Yes Hice, Johnson, Wallace and Wyrick; No -- Smith) MOVED by Councilman Wallace that the purchase be paid out of the Contingency Funds. APPROVED -0 Consideration of quotes on Town Hall repairs Mayor Hice reviewed the list of needed repairs and said she saw no need to repair the laminate strip on the dais at this time. Town Administrator/Clerk Carmany explained how both bidders proposed to repair the cracks in the crown molding. MOVED by Councilman Wallace to accept the bid of Carolina Home Improvements for all the necessary repairs and take it out of the Contingency Fund. FAILED - (Yes Wallace and Wyrick; No Hice, Johnson and Smith) MOVED BY Mayor Pro Tem Smith to go with Alert Construction for the repairs, taking it out of the Contingency Fund, and removing the repair of the laminate strip and crown molding. Councilwoman Johnson requested that new quotes be obtained minus those items. Councilman Wallace said the $00 price difference was worth the quality and he would not support this motion although he recognized the need for the repairs. APPROVED - (Yes Hice, Johnson and Smith; No Wallace and Wyrick) Consideration of Recreation Board new proposals Town Administrator/Clerk Carmany explained that Recreation Board member Nancy Martin had asked her to insert an article in the upcoming town newsletter about the presentation on Social Security planned by the Recreation Board in August, but she was unable to do so because the Town Council had not yet approved this new program. Recreation Board chairman Steve Brandt said the Recreation Board wished to expand their activities by offering informational programs on a variety of topics. The program on Social Security would be the first; future topics would be Medicare and one on the identification of at-risk children to be held at a local school. Light refreshments would be served at the meetings. MOVED by Councilman Wallace to approve these new programs and let the Recreation Board continue with them. There was discussion about the timing of the programs and possible conflicts with staff s time for soccer sign-ups. Chairman Brandt said that town staff would not have to be present. He thanked Mrs. Martin for the pre-planning she had already done. APPROVED -0 Budget work session Finance Officer reviewed the June financial report; $,0 was received from the Franchise Utilities Tax. $1,000 was budgeted for Cable Franchise revenue with actual receipts exceeding $,000 when the Sales Tax on Video Programming was moved into that line item. The total amount Town Council Special Meeting and Public Hearing on the 0- Budget Minutes June, 0 Page

4 is on target for the 0- projections. She mentioned a check for $ that was received as part of a class-action lawsuit settlement regarding junk faxes. Revenues for the year were final and equaled.% of projections. Mrs. Carmany noted several line items that will be over-budget and require a budget amendment; total expenses amounted to % of projections. There should be an excess of revenues over expenditures between $0,000 0,000 once the books are closed out. Councilmembers worked from the draft budget from June that was put on the table for public review. No changes were made to the projected revenues. Councilman Wyrick offered changes to balance the budget without using reserves. Those included the elimination of Interior Plant Care, Equipment Purchases of < $00, Continuing Education Staff, Retreats/Training/Speakers, Meeting Expenses, Kids Voting, Operation Safe County, E- cycling Event, Farmers Market, Pleasant Garden Fire Department Dinner, Board Appreciation Dinner, Blood Drive/Health Fair, and Reading Grows Community for a total of $,00. Line items to be reduced included staff salaries, Office Supplies, Council Travel and Expenses, Newsletter Printing and Postage, and Senior Luncheon for a total of $,0. This would create a balanced budget without using any fund balance. Councilman Wallace said he agreed with a majority of those suggestions and cited figures on the national deficit and the interest accumulating on it, salary reductions and staff lay-offs in other governments, health care concerns, and the actions of non-profits. He stated using fund balance was not a wise option because this budget had no objective. Mayor Pro Tem Smith said last year s budget was based on community needs. She explained the Reading Grows Community/library proposal and the possibility of a part-time library in Pleasant Garden operated by the Greensboro Public Library. The surveys will be used to create a proposal that the Town Council would then determine if the needs would be met. A part-time facility will help gauge the community s interest in the library. She suggested removing the additional money that was placed in the staff salary line items and set the salaries at the at the current year s level. She also asked for the removal of the National League of Cities dues and Council Travel and Expenses. She suggested adding $00 to Senior Luncheon and eliminating the health screening and lowering the number of lunches ordered. Councilwoman Johnson said she had very few phone calls out the budget; most focused on the need to hold staff salaries at the current level and the use of $,000 for council travel. The appreciation dinners could be reduced to $0 each and the NLC dues eliminated. Mayor Hice called a five-minute recess at :1pm. The meeting was reconvened at :pm. Mayor Hice asked that the actual numbers for the current staff pay grade for be inserted into the appropriate line items with no overtime hours figured in (Town Administrator/Clerk -- $0,; Assistant Clerk -- $,1). She proposed the elimination of the NLC dues and Council Travel and Expenses along with adjustments to the Senior Luncheon expenses. Mayor Hice expressed support for the Blood Drive/Health Fair, E-cycling, and Reading Grows Community. She suggested funding the Christmas Parade, Veterans Appreciation Day, and Pet Day be at the 0-0 level. Mayor Hice asked Town Attorney Hill to explain the meaning of the term zero balanced budget. Mr. Hill responded it was a policy decision as to whether to use fund balance/reserves to balance the budget or to balance it strictly on current revenues. Councilman Wyrick expressed opposition to Town Council Special Meeting and Public Hearing on the 0- Budget Minutes June, 0 Page

5 putting money in the budget for new events/programs until details for them were worked out and to spending money out of the reserves. Councilwoman Johnson responded that these projects and services would benefit the community. The councilmembers agreed to consider each suggestion separately. MOVED by Mayor Hice to keep line item Interior Plant Care at $1,0. APPROVED -1 (Yes Hice, Johnson, Smith and Wallace; No Wyrick) MOVED by Councilman Wallace that line items 1.01 and 1.0 (staff salaries) remain at the actual salary for 0-0 ($0, and $,1). APPROVED -0 MOVED by Councilman Wyrick to reduce line item Office Supplies to $,000. FAILED 1- (Yes Wyrick; No Hice, Johnson, Smith and Wallace) MOVED by Councilman Wyrick to eliminate line item.00 Equipment Purchases < $00. FAILED 1- (Yes Wyrick; No Hice, Johnson, Smith and Wallace) MOVED by Councilman Wyrick to eliminate line item.00 Continuing Education Staff. FAILED 1- (Yes Wyrick; No Hice, Johnson, Smith and Wallace) MOVED by Mayor Pro Tem Smith to eliminate.00 NLC dues. There was discussion about the benefit of being a member of the NLC and the information that could be gained to apply for grants and stimulus funding. FAILED - (Yes Hice and Smith; No Johnson, Wallace and Wyrick) MOVED by Mayor Pro Tem Smith to eliminate the entire $,000 from line item 0.00 Council Travel and Expenses. APPROVED - (Yes Hice, Johnson and Smith; No -- Wallace and Wyrick) MOVED by Councilman Wyrick to put $,00 back into line item 0.00 Council Travel and Expenses. FAILED - (Yes Wallace and Wyrick; No Hice, Johnson and Smith) MOVED by Councilman Wyrick to reduce line item 0.00 Retreat/training/speakers to zero. Councilman Wallace stated he was not voting on these items any longer because they made no sense. Town Attorney Hill advised that by law he must vote on every motion unless recused for having a financial interest in a particular matter. APPROVED - (Yes Smith, Wallace and Wyrick; No Hice and Johnson) MOVED by Councilman Wyrick to reduce line item.00 Meeting Expense to zero. FAILED - (Yes Wallace and Wyrick; No Hice, Johnson and Smith) MOVED by Councilman Wyrick to reduce 0.01 Newsletter printing by $1,00. FAILED - (Yes Wallace and Wyrick; No Hice, Johnson and Smith) MOVED by Councilman Wyrick to reduce 0.0 Newsletter Postage to $00. FAILED - (Yes Wallace and Wyrick; No Hice, Johnson and Smith) Town Council Special Meeting and Public Hearing on the 0- Budget Minutes June, 0 Page

6 MOVED by Councilman Wyrick to remove an additional $ from 0.01 Senior Luncheon. APPROVED -1 (Yes Hice, Johnson, Wallace and Wyrick; No Smith) Town Administrator/ Clerk Carmany reminded councilmembers that Ellen Whitlock of Senior Resources had requested them to identify where the cuts to the program should be made. MOVED by Councilman Wyrick to reduce 0.0 Kids Voting by $0. FAILED 1- (Yes Wyrick; No Hice, Johnson, Smith and Wallace) MOVED by Councilman Wyrick to eliminate the $0 for line item 0.0 Operation Safe County. FAILED - (Yes Wallace and Wyrick; No Hice, Johnson and Smith) MOVED by Councilman Wyrick to eliminate the $,000 for line item 0.00 E-cycling event. FAILED - (Yes Wallace and Wyrick; No Hice, Johnson and Smith) MOVED by Councilman Wyrick to eliminate the $00 for line item 0.00 Farmers Market. Town Administrator/Clerk Carmany explained that the expense was for the portable toilet placed at Town Hall for the duration of the Farmers Market. FAILED 0- MOVED by Councilman Wyrick to eliminate the $00 for line item.00 Pleasant Garden Fire Department (First Responders) dinner. FAILED - (Yes Wallace and Wyrick; No Hice, Johnson and Smith) MOVED by Councilwoman Johnson to cut $0 from line item.00 Pleasant Garden Fire Department (First Responders) dinner. APPROVED - (Yes Hice, Johnson and Smith; No Wallace and Wyrick) MOVED by Councilman Wyrick to eliminate the $00 for line item.00 Board Appreciation Dinner. FAILED - (Yes Wallace and Wyrick; No Hice, Johnson and Smith) MOVED by Councilwoman Johnson to cut $0 from line item.00 Board Appreciation Dinner. APPROVED - (Yes Hice, Johnson and Smith; No Wallace and Wyrick) MOVED by Councilman Wyrick to eliminate the $,000 for line item 1.00 Blood Drive/ Health Fair. FAILED - (Yes Wallace and Wyrick; No Hice, Johnson and Smith) MOVED by Councilman Wyrick to eliminate the $,000 for line item.00 Reading Grows Community/library. There was extensive discussion about offering library services in the Town and other book-related event and if this would be a good use of tax money. FAILED - (Yes Wallace and Wyrick; No Hice, Johnson and Smith) MOVED by Mayor Hice to reduce line item Christmas Parade by $00 to $1,0. APPROVED - (Yes Hice, Johnson and Smith; No Wallace and Wyrick) MOVED by Mayor Hice to reduce line item 00.0 Veterans Day by $0. FAILED 1- (Yes Hice; No Johnson, Smith, Wallace and Wyrick) MOVED by Mayor Hice to reduce line item 00.0 Pet Day by $00. APPROVED -1 (Yes Hice, Johnson, Smith and Wyrick; No Wallace) Town Council Special Meeting and Public Hearing on the 0- Budget Minutes June, 0 Page

7 1 1 Mayor Hice noted there must be hours public notice given to call a special meeting. The Town Council agreed by consensus to call a special meeting to adopt the budget on Monday, June at :00pm. MOVED by Councilman Wallace not to transfer any money out of the fund balance/reserves to balance the 0- budget. FAILED - (Yes Wallace and Wyrick; No Hice, Johnson and Smith) MOVED by Mayor Hice to balance the 0- budget using fund balance/reserves as needed. APPROVED - (Yes Hice, Johnson and Smith; No Wallace and Wyrick) Adjournment MOVED by Mayor Hice to adjourn the meeting. Councilman Wyrick said he wanted to make a statement about the budget and requested space in the upcoming town newsletter for his comments. APPROVED -0 The meeting was adjourned at :1pm. Clerk Mayor Date Town Council Special Meeting and Public Hearing on the 0- Budget Minutes June, 0 Page