M I N U T E S

WORK SESSION OF MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF JULY 6, 2010

Call to Order: The Work Session of Mayor and Council of July 6, 2010 was called to order by Mayor Corine Deyton at 6:00 p.m.

Present: Mayor Corine Deyton, Mayor Pro-tem Sparkle Adams, Councilman Donald Judson and Councilwomen Linda Lord, Maudie McCord and Karen-Brandee Williams.

Also present were City Manager John Parker, Director of Finance Mike Blandenburg, Captain Jamie Reynolds, Management Analyst Angela Redding, Director of Planning, Building and Zoning Steve Pearson, Director of Public Works Mike Gippert, Deputy Director of Recreation and Leisure Services Sharon Smith, Chief Eddie Buckholts and City Attorney Joe Harris.

Agenda Items: Public Hearing on the Local law Enforcement Edward Byrne Justice Grant Award Year 2010: Ms. Williams asked for more information on this grant. Captain Reynolds stated the stipulation for this grant is that it can’t be used for anything that is already in the budget or replace equipment we already have. It has to be for a new project which will consist of installing a camera system that will go on one of the patrol units to check license plates for stolen vehicles. He stated it is used in other areas.

Resolution – donation of 1991 Ford Explorer: Ms. Adams asked if we assume this vehicle for the volunteer CERT Team, would it be covered under our insurance. Mr. Parker stated it would be covered under our policy. Ms. Williams asked about the City accepting donations. Mr. Harris stated municipalities can accept donations and sometimes they are tax exempt donations for donor.

Other Business: Mr. Parker presented an additional list of documents to the Mayor and Council that will be destroyed from Archives. He stated no action is necessary.

Mr. Parker stated a memo was given to Mayor and Council from Mike Gippert addressing concerns made by Ms. Keith to Councilwoman Williams.

Mr. Parker stated the City has had a policy for the last 4 ½ years that employees does not attend out of State seminars. He stated he had received a request to attend a forum in Texas and asked for direction from the Council. Ms. Adams stated it was her position that the request not be granted because a transportation and infrastructure summit has nothing to do with the City, that is mostly the County and the State and Federal government. Ms. Lord stated she felt the same way.

Ms. Williams stated she received an e-mail concerning this summit and it was her assumption everyone got the same e-mail. The reason she wanted to go is because she does not have a lot of information locally about transportation issues. She stated she wanted to know what the procedures are and where is it written that it is a policy that City Council are not able to go out of town on any type of training, convention or forum. She stated she understands no, but where is it written. She referred to City Code, (2-1-93g) says that when transportation by common carrier is required, for an official, airline reservations should be made through the city whenever possible, if the official has to make their own reservation, the expenses shall be reimbursed by the City upon presentation of the ticket stub receipt or other documentary evidence of the expenditure. She asked for something in writing where it says she cannot go to a forum out of state that she felt would allow her to get more information to respond to constituents that are constantly asking her about what’s going on here with our transportation issues. She would like to be included in any meetings that involve discussion of transportation issues.

Mr. Harris stated there is nothing in writing one way or another whether it can or cannot be done, Mr. Parker asks the Council for their opinion. He stated he would be careful to set up a blanket policy where you can never travel out of state, and it should be done on a case by case basis.

There was a discussion concerning who would be in charge during the absence of the City Manager from the City. Ms. Williams quoted the Charter, which states, in the absence or disability, the City Manager may designate subject to the approval of the City Council, a qualified city administrative officer, to exercise the powers and perform the duties thereof. Mr. Harris stated the City Manager would appoint someone to stand in his place during his vacation next week. Mr. Parker stated he would make a decision.

Ms. Williams discussed the memo from Mr. William Folds regarding the Ethics Board, the method of appointing its members and his suggestions. She stated she is objecting to the consideration of this matter and making a motion to avoid the consideration due to the impropriety of its content and also making a motion to postpone or table this matter indefinitely in regards to making any changes with the Ethics Board requirements.

Adjournment: Ms. Adams made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Ms. McCord. Voting for the motion was unanimous.

The meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m.