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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/10/1991 City Council MINUTES OF T~E CITY COUNCIL MEETING RELD ON SEPTEMBER 10, 199! The Regular Session of the City Council of the City of The Colony, Texas was called to order at 7:00 p.m. on the ]0th day of September, ]99] at City Hall with the following Council roll call: Bill Manning, Mayor Present Mike Lynch, Councilman Absent Billy Sharp, Councilman Present Dale Therio, Councilman Absent Rob Burchard, Councilman Present Lou Gomez, Councilman Absent Joel Marks, Mayor Pro-tem Present and with four present, a quorum was established and the following items were addressed: ]. REVIEW OF THE PROPOSED MUNICIPAL BUDGET FY ]99]-92 LIBRARY The Council discussed the proposed change in hours for the Library with Joan Sveinsson. Councilman Sharp asked if Sunday is a wasted day. There followed a lengthy-discussion regarding the current hours of operation and the proposals. Mayor Manning asked if alternate ] would require all 3 new proposed personnel and what would happen if only the Youth Service Librarian was approved. Ms. Sveinsson said they could do it but not as well. Discussion regarding hiring a person to split the duties of the Secretary and the Circulation Clerk. Ms. Sveinsson said the Library would benefit from that proposal. Discussion regarding impact of such a program and the difference between the two positions. Councilman Marks suggested a high school student for the secretary position. After more discussion, it was a consensus to go with the Youth Services Librarian and to further discuss the Circulation Clerk position. 7:55 p.m. - Bill Hall arrived after attending a public hearing in Frisco regarding the airport. He said his main concern over the new personnel is funding. Mr. Hall said he has worked out the financing for the capital purchases and to add 3% to the top step Public Safety employees. There followed a discussion regarding financing for capital outlay and personnel changes and 3% increase for directors. After more discussion, the council decided to definitely add the Youth Services Librarian and to leave out the DARE officer. Mr... Ha.il reminded the Council there could be a 1 cent tax increase to fund the DARE program. Mayor Manning said he believes the. citizens would not object to that increase. Bill Hall said the DARE officer could be kept and eliminate 2 the additional patrol officer to eliminate the need for a tax increase. Councilman Burchard said line items should be squeezed to avoid a tax increase. Mr. Hall responded stating line items have been cut twice at staff level and they are 2% less than last year, which will be, extremely tight.. Councilman Burchard asked if new fees would pay for the DARE officer and Mr. Hall said no, noting that 1 cent only generates $52,000.00. Councilman Burchard said the tax payers are being hit hard this year and we should try to avoid a ! cent tax increase. Councilman Sharp said the tax was lowered ] cent three years ago and said if we are going to increase it ! cent we should go ahead and increase it ~ cents. Mr. Hall said we can add DARE, Patrol officer, Youth Services Librarian and can balance the budget, but we are still looking t a zero balance at the end of they year. Mr. Hall said all departments are coming in under their budgets this year so we will probably have a higher balance in contingency than is showing. Mayor Manning said if we keep operating in this manner maybe in 2 or 3 years, we will have to increase taxes 5 cents. If we have to do it we need to do it a little at a time. Bill Hall said we must address user fees, especially utility rates to pay for bond indebtedness and if that can be done right away, we may not need to raise taxes. The Mayor then addressed the worth of purchasing of mowers vs contracting. There followed a lengthy discussion. Mr. Hall said staff had been asked to re-evaluate the capital outlay requests with the following results: Public Works - can eliminate the $23,000 dump truck P & R - need front deck mower, but can do without in until next year. Mayor suggested deleting the $]950.00 trailer also. Inspections - 1/2 ton pick up is really needed in Animal Control. Fire Dept. - Air Compressor System can be deleted, but will have to go to Carrollton or Frisco for air. Would like to keep. Police Dept. - Discrepancy over whether 3 or 2 vehicles had been requested. If it is 3 then the figure is $55,000 not $37,000. Mr. Hall said there is one marked, low mileage unit assigned to a sergeant who has an administrative post and he recommended transferring a high mileage vehicle to that sergeant and the low mileage vehicle to patrol This would reduce the cars to be purchased to two. Utility Administration - $2000.00 UPS will be lowered to $800.00 Mayor Manning asked Council to scan the line items for specific questions, stating he does not want to go over them line by line. Councilman Burchard agreed, stating, if Bill Hall says staff has cut all that is possible then he is satisfied. Councilman Marks said that just as the Council has asked Bill Hall to ensure all cuts are made, he would like the Department heads to ensure that their employees are doing their jobs properly, to eliminate any future complaints to the council. 3 Mr. Hall said he will address that with Department Heads, noting that attrition will impact this budget just as it did last year . Mr. Hall said the Police Department has just hired 2 new officers and ] more will soon be hired. He suggested delaying the new patrol officer until January then the budget would only be impacted March - September. Mayor Manning said the next Budget meeting will be September ]8, 199] at 7:00 p.m. and adjourned the meeting at 9:4] p.m. APPROVED: 'Bill Manning ,-~ayo~ ATTEST: Patt~ A. Hicks, ~i~y Secretary [SEAL] 4