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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-30-19Minutes of the Pulaski Town Council Budget Meeting held at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, 2019 in the Council Chambers of the Tcwn Municipal Building at 42 First Street, N.W. In attendance were: Mayor: David L. Clark, presiding Councilmen Present: G. Tyler Clontz, Brooks R. Dawson; Joseph K. Goodman, Lane R. Penn, James A. Radcliffe Councilmen Absent: Gregory C. East Administration: Shawn M. Utt, Town Manager Staff: Kim Caudill, Administrative Manager, Public Works David Quesenberry, Clerk of Council Rebecca Reece, Finance Director 1. Call to Order Mayor Clark called the Council to order at 6:07 p.m. 2. Roll Call Roll was then called. Present were: Mr. Clontz; Mr. Dawson; Mr. Goodman; Mr. Penn, Mr. Radcliffe. Absent was Mr. East. Since a majority of Council was present, a quorum existed to conduct business. 3. Modifications to the Agenda There were no modifications made to the agenda. Council then moved on to the public hearings. 4. Public Hearings a. Proposed Operational Budget, FY 2019-2020 b. Proposed Capital Improvements Plan, FY 2019-2020 Mr. Utt said there would be two public hearings and that he would cover the highlights of the budget. Mr. Utt noted that the budget appeared to have large cuts from last year, but that was due to taking out $5 million in water/sewer projects. The actual decrease of the budget was approximately 6%-7% total which was due to savings and adjustments in different departments. Mr. Utt briefly reviewed the five major General Fund revenue categories of the Town noting the largest was local taxes with state funding limited to VDOT funds and 599 Police funding. He reviewed the different local revenues and the amount each contributed to the budget. The review was followed by a graph showing General Fund revenues vs. expenditures for each fiscal year using audited numbers. Page 1 of 5/April 30, 2019 Mr. Utt reviewed the revenue vs. expenditure graph for the Water Fund, noting an approximately $90,000 difference due to the Northwood water line replacement which cost more than expected. Concerning the Sewer Fund, that gap (revenues over expenditures) was charged back to savings on James Hardie budgets, which he noted, did not happen often. Mr. Utt then reviewed the capital items budget which called for $728,906 in investment in capital items. A large portion of this was for capital reserve funds while the balance was for police cars and Public Works equipment. The $728,906 represented capital spending for all three major funds (General, Water, Sewer), which would require a separate public hearing. Mr. Utt then conducted a review of the balances for the restricted reserve capital funds that had accumulated over the last four years for various projects. One project he mentioned was lining the sewer line that was replaced several years ago from Randolph Park into Dublin. However, Volvo's planned expansion of their test track will require moving the Town's main sewer line. The line would be moved at Volvo's expense and would allow the Town to check the condition of the line without the Town having to do any work or investment to it. Mr. Utt then reviewed budget highlights concerning revenues and expenses focusing on modest growth in revenues and investment in capital projects. He concluded his presentation by reviewing the FY 2019-2020 budget goals of capital improvements investment and employee recruitment/retention. He added that there should be a report on the public safety facility possibly by mid-May. Draper Aden, who had been performing site analysis and cost estimates, had reported back to the architectural firm the previous Friday. Mr. Utt said it appeared the project was again underway. He finished by telling Council that two public hearings were needed: one for the overall operations and one for the capital improvements budget. Mr. Goodman asked if the program for Public Works was being started earlier. Mr. Utt responded that the Town could afford to do it depending on how Council felt about the budget. The Town could afford to go ahead and do Public Works now in this fiscal year from what was saved from the vacancies. Mr. Utt said that was what he preferred to do but he did not want to start it until there was a firm grip on next year's budget. That he said was his plan and that he told Mr. Pedigo that if he could hire someone for $12.50 per hour to do so. To Mr. Goodman's question on starting rates, Mr. Utt replied if the starting rates were raised, then everyone would have to be done to include laborers, operators, and crew leaders. Mr. Goodman asked about rolling funds into next year's budget to do that. Mr. Utt replied that the funds were in next year's budget, but it could be done earlier by using the savings from the vacancies in this year's budget. Mr. Goodman said he was okay with it but was a little uncomfortable that some employees would not get a raise until January 1St. Since there was such a great need Page 2 of 5/April 30, 2019 and issue to retain employees for Public Works, he didn't feel there was much of a choice. Mr. Utt said he had told the Department Heads he had been staunch about not giving raises to one employee without giving it to all. Mr. Goodman noted that other positions got applicants that have a chance to get in, but he understood that Public Works was not getting any applicants. Mr. Utt replied they were getting applicants, but Mrs. Caudill added that many applicants could not pass the drug test. Mr. Radcliffe asked if Mr. Utt wanted to start the pay now. Mr. Utt said he did but he wanted to gauge the conversation as to whether or not he could do it. Mr. Radcliffe expressed concern that the situation had become crucial and he supported the idea. Ms. Caudill said the laborers would be most impacted since their salary was low (Grade 4). Mr. Goodman suggested a vote be taken so there would not be a question on the decision process. Mr. Radcliffe clarified that it would be specifically for Public Works pay. Mrs. Reece said the effective date would be the next pay period because in order to go into VRS it needed to start at the first of a pay period. After discussion on the form of the motion, Mr. Goodman moved to implement the Springstead Study pay increases for laborers, operators and crew leaders in Public Works effective May 13th. The motion was seconded by Mr. Radcliffe and approved on the following roll call vote: Lane R. Penn -Aye Joseph K. Goodman -Aye Brooks R. Dawson -Aye G. Tyler Clontz -Aye Gregory C. East -Absent James A. Radcliffe -Aye Following the vote, at 6:22 p.m. Mayor Clark opened the public hearing on the operational budget for FY 2019-2020. Receiving no comment, he closed the public hearing at 6:23 p.m. Mayor Clark opened the public hearing on the Capital Improvements Plan for FY 2019- 2020 at 6:23 p.m. There being no comments the hearing was closed at 6:24 p.m. 5. Budget Update/Discussion Mr. Penn brought up that it had been 18 years since Council had received a raise and that a raise was appropriate after that length of time. Mr. Utt said that staff could look into the matter. Mr. Dawson said the only issue he had with the budget was adding two new positions to the Police Department and funding them with this budget with what was advertised. The issue he had was it appropriate to go at this budget designating that money until it was appropriately, as a Council, discussed whether or not that was an appropriate way of using that money. Noting short discussions and good information on the topic, he felt that it was not an appropriate use for the money. Page 3 of 5/April 30, 2019 Mr. Radcliffe said that there was a chance to pass the budget and there were some questions. He felt it the issue should be set aside and the budget approved. If the issue was still there it could be discussed and questions answered. Mr. Radcliffe emphasized he wanted a budget passed. Mr. Goodman said that a decision needed to be made because Chief Roche was recruiting for the Academy and that there was a 2-3 week period for a decision. While he understood Mr. Dawson's position, he felt the number one priority was quality of life for the citizens. Mr. Penn objected to the use of the term "quality of life" in that it was widely misused. Mr. Goodman replied that Council had a responsibility to the citizens to make the Town a good place to live. The perception of the Town having the worst drug problem must be addressed by having officers focused on it. Otherwise we would still have problems recruiting new people here. He added that the Town should attack those perception issues. Mr. Utt said that all services except for water and sewer did not give a return on investment. He had challenged the Police Department to come up with a business plan of sorts for the narcotics. A rough estimate, Mr. Utt said, would be that 70% to 80% of crimes in the Town were related to drugs. Given that, he said he asked the Police Department to provide real data comparing the Town, using hard numbers (e.g. crimes per 100,000, etc.), to other localities' as to how they were affected by drugs. The results would then be presented to Council. Mr. Utt suggested the funds be placed in a contingency fund for a May 7th vote. There could be two votes or a budget work session on May 14th. This would give P.D. time to pull their data together and give him time to address other questions. The 14th was probably a drop -dead date for hiring since that gave close to three weeks to work out a two week notice and account for several days in the office before the Academy began. Mr. Goodman said he could not be at the May 7th meeting but would be present at the 14th, which made that date probably better for a budget conversation. Mr. Penn expressed concern that the Chief said that it took about 2 years before an arrest could be made. In a year, the Town could be out $100,000 and not made any arrests. Mr. Utt responded that a certified officer had applied to the Town. In theory, the certified officer could be hired and be on the street in six weeks. Another narcotics officer could be on the street by August and the replacement officer by the first of the year. Mr. Penn also expressed concern that in Pulaski only the lower level people would be apprehended when, given the expenditures discussed, he wanted to get higher level persons. Mr. Utt replied that in talking with officers who had been narcotics officers, the strategy was to get the small person to lead them to the bigger dealers. Mr. Utt also told Council that if department personnel were involved in a seizure without assistance from another agency, the seizure would be retained by the Town. A short discussion then ensued on the potential scenarios for bringing personnel into the department and the narcotics unit. Page 4 of 5/April 30, 2019 Mr. Dawson noted the discussion was being made after the decision, without a discussion as to the appropriateness of increasing police positions by two officers. Mr. Goodman responded that he made the decision years ago that if funds became available to do narcotics officers, he wanted to do it. Mayor Clark noted that morning he did an interview with NPR radio concerning the revitalization conference. During the interview, the interviewer noted that other localities in the NRV had people assigned to narcotics. He was then asked given the drug problem in Pulaski, when are persons going to be put on that problem. Mayor Clark said it was difficult to answer the question. Mr. Dawson asked if there were $70,000 in salaries associated with the task force. Mr. Utt estimated that it was about $60,000 plus. That officer was under the supervision of a state trooper with the task force. Mr. Dawson noting inoperative fire hydrants, and curbs in disrepair, said there was a larger conversation, which was not taking away why the narcotics officers were a great thing. Mr. Goodman responded that there were plans to fix fire hydrants, sidewalks, etc. The question was to deal with those issues right away or start attacking the drug problem. 6. Future Budget Meetings Mayor Clark said the rest of the discussion should be planned for the 14th. Mr. Utt said he would do what he could to have the data ready for the 7th, but that it was a good idea to have the budget work session on the 14th. Mr. Utt added that the funds could be set aside in a contingency fund if that was what Council wanted to vote on. Mr. Goodman asked if any other Council member had something to say. Mr. Clontz said that people in Christiansburg spoke often of Pulaski's drug issues. Mr. Utt said that the crime statistics showed Christiansburg had a stronger drug problem. Mr. Radcliffe felt the budget was solid and urged Council not to let one thing pull the process down. 7. Adjournment Mr. Goodman moved to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Mr. Clout nd approved by unanimous voice vote at 6:44 p.m. ATTEST: David N. Quesenb rry Clerk of Council Approved; Page 5 of 5/April 30, 2019 Mayor L. Clark