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Home My WebLink About07/25/1988 City Council MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON JULY 25, 1988 The Special Work Session of the City Council of the City of The Colony, Texas was called to order at 7:30 p.m. on the 25th day of July, 1988 at City Hall with following Council roll call: Don Amick, Mayor Present Rick Harris,Mayor Pro-tem Present Johnny Spears,Councilman Absent Michael Robinson,Councilman Present Steve Glazener,Councilman Present Dick Weaver,Councilman Present Joel Marks,Councilman Present and with six members present a quorum was established and the following items were addressed: 1. CONSIDERATION OF THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS HELD ON JULY 11, 16 AND 18, 1988 Councilman Robinson abstained from the 16th meeting. Councilman Harris said he would like the statement in the 18th minutes regarding the E.A.S. meeting he attended to be moved to page one of those minutes. Councilman Harris then moved to approve the minutes as written and Councilman Marks seconded the motion which carried with a unanimous roll call vote. 2. REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF THE PROPOSED MUNICIPAL BUDGET FY 1988/89 Mayor Amick began by stating there would be a budget Work Session on Saturday, July 30, 1988 at 8:00 a.m. The Mayor and Council then proceeded to discuss the expenses of various departments in the following manner: Personnel Katherine Martinez, Personnel Director, was present to answer questions regarding the budget for her department. There was a brief discussion regarding her salary, after which the Mayor stated salaries would be reviewed later by the personnel committee. Mayor Amick did ask how the salary of $23,487 compares to other cities and Bill Hall, City Manager said it is low. Mayor Amick asked how $700.00 had been spent in travel this year and Ms. Martinez said she had attended several seminars in Austin and Arlington. The Mayor also asked why dues and memberships had gone up from $40.00 to $200.00 and Ms. Martinez said she is now a member of two associations. There were no further questions regarding the Personnel Budget. Ms. Martinez did show the Council the watches she had acquired as samples, to be used as possible service awards for employees. There was a lengthy discussion regarding the type of awards which should be given at various stages of employment. The Mayor asked Ms. Martinez to bring back the cost of the program if implemented this year and to get information from other cities as to how their programs are hand]ed. There was also a brief discussion regarding military service credit and updated service credit for employees. Court Brenda Mosley, Court Clerk, was present to answer questions regarding the budget for her department. The increase in sa]aries was brought up by the Mayor and Ms. Mosley said she has budgeted for some part time help to fill in while she is away on maternity leave. Mayor Amick also asked why education and training had gone up and Ms. Mosley said State law mandates persons dealing with municipal court attend training sessions and she has budgeted for her deputy, the judge and herself to attend these seminars. At this time, Councilman Harris noted that benefits in all departments seem to be higher this years,~ ~Bill Hall said that.' hospitalization may fluctuate, howeuer, the~city has no control. over Social Security and Workmen's Comp, both of which have gone up. Mr. Hall noted that in past years workmen's comp had not been budgeted for and he and Mr. England both felt it is better to budget for it than to have to take it from contingency. Councilman Harris also said that he~ would like ~o see an additional column on the budget print out ~to reflect the actual amount budgeted for the previous ye,ar, ~not just the amount of projected expenses for that year. Mayor Amick~ agreed, stating especially in salaries, that would be helpful. After a brief discussion, it was'~decided that Councilman Harris should be given that information right away. (the City Secretary will provide that information to him.) Councilman Harris requested that next the budget print out sheets have that column included. Mayor Amick asked what professional services is for and Mr. Hall said that pays the judge and prosecutor, stating it has gone up because last year a portion of the prosecutor's salary had~ been paid out of General Administration Legal Fees. Mr. Hall went on to say he had worked with the attorney's office to agree on a flat rate to be charged by the prosecutor. The Mayor asked about contractual services, and Ms. Mosley said that includes jury fees at $6.00 a person and maintenance on computer software at $1680.00. There followed a dis~c, ussion. regarding the high cost of the maintenance and the Mayor asked if a new computer is purchased for Court, how would the cost of maintenance on the software and hardware compare to the cost now. There was then a discussion regarding how many jury trials are held each year. Mayor Amick said this figure should be more ' realistic and suggested budgeting for only 4 instead of 12 per year. After a brief discussion, all agreed to cut to 6, which brings this line item down to $2220.00, including the software maintenance. All Council agreed that jury fees should be broken out as a separate line item, so that anyone reviewing this budget could readily see what that money is spent for. Councilman Harris asked why the 31.61% increase over all stating that is too high. Mr. Hall said the actual amount budgeted last year was $65,550 so really this department is coming in under budget. Councilman Harris again noted that without that figure available on this sheet, you cannot see that. Mayor Amick said this may have to be reduced before the process is finished. Councilman Harris asked again, why the high increase. Mr. Hall~ stated again that last year the salary for the prosecutor was taken out of General Administration and this year it will come from Court. Mayor Amick noted that professional services should~ be reduced by $1500.00 by cutting jury trials to 6. Councilman Harris asked if anything had come ~of day court and Mr. Hall said it had not been abandoned, going on to say that staff is not sure it will benefit the City, but that Brenda Mosley, Gwen Love, and Bob van Til have been working on a positive proposal regarding day court. Councilman Harris said he believes it is a good idea and it should be pursued. Inspections Mike Russell, Building Official, was present to answer questions regarding the budget for his department. Councilman Marks asked why the increase in salaries was so low. Mayor Amick explained that this is a fairly mature department, with fewer step increases than some other departments with heavy turn over. Councilman Marks said he thinks the Inspections Dept. is very necessary and maybe they need more people. Mayor Amick said he would like, to; give Mike Russell an opportunity to work with what he has f'or~'ia~While and see if more personnel is necessary. Mike Russell said he does have 2 students that are working in the office, paid by Denton County and that has helped out. There followed a lengthy discussion regarding weed and trash enforcement. Mr. Russell said he is implementing a new procedure that he believes will work very well. Councilman Harris asked why telephone service, fuel and lubricants, and vehicle maintenance had gone up so much. Mr. Hall said that was due to cutting private auto allowance, noting that old police cars are rotated to various other departments that use vehicles and employees use them instead of their own personal vehicles. Mr. Hall said this will decrease private auto allowance, but increase fuel and lubricants and vehicle maintenance. Mr. Hall said the increase in telephone service is due to the telephone being used much more to contact out of town landlords to encourage compliance with the landlord licensing ordinance. Councilman Marks asked why printing is going down 20%. Mr. Russell, said that printing forms currently being used will no longer be necessary if the Council approves the purchase of a computer for his department, going on to say the forms will be loaded on the computer and printing will no longer be done. There were no further questions. Mayor Amick again stated there would be a budget work session on Saturday, July 30, 1988 at 8:00 a.m. and the following departments would be addressed: Public Works and Police Department At this time the Council addressed the following: EMERGENCY AGENDA ITEM 1. CLOSED DOOR SESSION AS AUTHORIZED BY ARTICLE 6252-17, V.A.C.S., SECTION 2G, REGARDING PERSONNEL, TO-WIT: A. PROPOSED 1988/89 MUNICIPAL BUDGET - PERSONNEL BENEFITS Upon reconvening in Open Session and with no action to be taken regarding the Closed Door Session, Councilman Harris moved to adjourn the meeting and Councilman Robinson seconded the motion which carried with a unanimous roll call vote. Mayor Amick adjourned the meeting at 10:35 p.m. APPROVED: Don A~ick, r _ ATTEST: 's, City Secretary