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CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MINUTES

BUDGET SESSION224 S. Jefferson Street

Perry, Florida

August 26, 2002

MEMBERS PRESENT: Shirley Scott, Richard Frith, Pam Feagle

MEMBERS ABSENT: William Alexander and Doug Everett

STAFF PRESENT: Bill Brynes, Barney Johnson, Wayne Putnal, Billy LaValle, Sarah Drawdy, BillBlue and Annette Anderson

Mayor Frith called the meeting to order at 6:00 p. m. Mayor Frith led those attending the meeting inprayer and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. The secretary noted those members in attendance.

PRESENT ABSENT

Councilmember Feagle XCouncilmember Alexander XCouncilmember Scott XCouncilmember Everett XMayor Frith X

It was noted that Councilmember Alexander had surgery this day and was unable to attend.

Councilmember Everett had telephoned the city managers office earlier to say that he would be out of

town and unable to attend the meeting.

GENERAL BUSINESS.

A. CITY COUNCIL AND STAFF TO DISCUSS FISCAL YEAR 2002-03 BUDGET.

The Council and staff began by discussing capital outlay items. Specific items discussed were:

Inventory: Computer and software.This item had been requested but not recommended by the city manager.

Garbage Solid Waste Disposal: Trash Truck and Rear-loading Garbage Truck.

These items had been requested but not recommend by the city manager.

Mayor Frith said the Council has talked about what it would like to accomplish with

demolishing old buildings and trash pickup in the city. Mayor Frith said this is fairly expensive

equipment but thinks at sometime the City will have to make these purchases. City Manager

Bill Brynes told the Council these items would not expand the departments equipment but

would be a replacement. Councilmember Scott asked about the possibility of purchasing just

one of these vehicles and asked which is needed more. Councilmember Feagle commented shehad heard more complaints about trash pickup. Councilmember Feagle noted her request for

general clean up of the city streets. Councilmember Feagle noted that the proposed budget is

approximately $87,000 in the hole with just operating expenses and questioned where any

additional monies would come from for capital outlay items not proposed. Councilmember

Scott questioned the possibility of raising taxes, based on the above observation of

Councilmember Feagle. It was noted it is too late to consider raising taxes this budget year.

Councilmember Feagle said no one wants to raise taxes but her observation is that the City is

going to have to cut expenses. Councilmember Feagle said the City might think about raising


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taxes and fees if it wants to continue to offer the level of service to residents and purchase

needed items. Councilmember Feagle said the City does not have the funds without going to

its savings for operating expenses. Councilmember Feagle said this might be for certain

capital outlay items.

City Attorney Bill Blue made two suggestions, neither of which would be politically easy he

said. The first would be to expand the tax base (annexation). The second would be if all

property had more tax assessed value that was more in line with the fair market value. Mr.

Blue said this could generate more tax revenue without an increase. Another suggestion by Mr.

Blue was to consider increasing fees for non-residents. It was noted non-residents already pay

10 percent.

Councilmember Feagle said, in reviewing the budget, she feels all the department heads should

be at the meetings. Councilmember Feagle suggested the city manager cannot do it all himself

i. e. cut expenditures and identify ways to make revenue. Mr. Brynes said the biggest source of

new revenue would be to extend sewer service everywhere. When asked if there funds to do

this, Mr. Brynes said the City would borrow the money against what it would receive in

revenue. Mr. Brynes said a big problem is that there is no growth in the City. Mr. Brynes said

another item facing the Council is the Countys proposed sports complex. Mr. Brynes said it is

not known how the complex will be paid for now how to pay for the upkeep. Mr. Brynes said

the City cannot shut down its own sports activities and grounds. Councilmember Feagle agreed

but expressed concern about funding such a project.

Councilmember Feagle began discussion of employee salaries and said there are some hard

decisions to be made before the budget is complete. Councilmember Feagle said she would

like to see the City have a crew for street clean up year round. There was discussion of what

this might cost. Councilmember Feagle asked Director of Public Works Barney Johnson to try

and come up with some ways and costs as to how to clean up the City. There was some

discussion about the possibility of the City paying the Department of Corrections (DOC) for

inmate labor and guards. Mr. Brynes said he had tried this option some time ago but DOC

would not allow it. Councilmember Feagle asked that Mr. Brynes try again. Mr. Johnson said

the City could also try to get an inmate crew from the Mayo or Madison Correctional Institute

if the Taylor County Correctional Institute cannot provide a crew. There was also a suggestion

that Judge Buddy Murphy be approached with the possibility of assigning certain offenders to

community service to the City.

City Garage Reroof the Building:

Mr. Brynes posed the possibility of installing a metal building rather than reproofing the

existing building, which is in much need of repair.

Police Department Storage Cabinets


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Mr. Brynes informed the Council the police department is in need of two video storage

cabinets, which is not currently listed in the capital outlay. Mr. Brynes said each cabinet costs

$470.00 and would hold approximately 256 tapes. The total cost for this capital outlay item

would be $956.00.

Fire Department Fire Truck Pumpers:

Two trucks at $150,000 each. Councilmember Feagle asked the upkeep cost on the current

trucks. Mr. Brynes noted there is not much and most of the cost of the upkeep is not in the

trucks but in the equipm4ent. Mr. Brynes noted these items were presented as something the

Council needs to keep in mind for the future.

Transportation Equipment

Mr. Johnson said items in this department would need to be increased if the City adds a crew

for city cleanup.

Recreation: Fence at City Park.

Councilmember Feagle suggested cost comparisons for a black aluminum-type fence when the

City considers replacing the fencing at the park.

Sewer: Computer

Mr. Johnson said the employee who had requested this item no longer requests a computer.

Councilmember Feagle suggested computer training for the employee as she feels the

department could benefit by use of a computer.

On Employee Salaries:

Councilmember Feagle then asked to review information she provided to the Council regarding

city employee salaries. Councilmember Feagle said what she does not know and needs from

the city manager to detail and quantify what the impact will be to the budget for the salary

increases she proposes, if implemented.

Police Officer Comparison:

Average Salary for the Area: $22,536

Perry Police Department $22,861

Taylor Correctional Institute $27,768

Goal $28,000

Current $22,861

Increase $ 5,139

Councilmember Feagle recommended the increase be divided into two years and give

$2,569.50 beginning this year and the remainder next year. Councilmember Feagle noted the

increase in necessary due to the high turnover and the fact that another employment opportunity

exists locally.


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Firefighter Comparison:

Average Salary for the area: $28,106

Perry Fire Department 22,351

Goal $28,000

Current $22,351

Increase $ 5,649


$2,824.50 beginning this year and the remainder next year.

Wastewater Operator Comparison:

Average for the area: $24,000

Perry Wastewater Operators $19,573

Goal $28,000

Current $19,573

Increase $ 4,420


$2,213.50 beginning this year and the remainder next year.

All other City Employees:

Councilmember Feagle recommended that all employees receive a 0-3% performance-based

annual salary increase. Councilmember Scott said one thing she does not like about a

performance-based increase is that it could be subjective. Councilmember Feagle suggested

use of job descriptions and a rating scale to determine increases. Mr. Blue suggested an

indexed cost of living allowance (COLA), whereby employees are eligible up to 3 percent. Mr.

Blue said employees could get the COLA as long as it would not exceed 3 percent and be

eligible for performance the difference between the 3 percent and COLA. Referring to giving

an increase based on performance, Councilmember Feagle questioned why one employee

should get the same increase as another who is a really good employee (always on time,

dedicated) and the other employee is not. Councilmember Feagle said she doesnt think an

employee should get a 3 percent increase across the board just because they work for the City.

Discussing the shortage of employees in certain work areas, Mr. Johnson said this is true

throughout the City, as his department is short several employees.

Mr. Blue said, if it was communicated to the community taxpayers what the purpose of a tax

increase was to be used for, he doesnt think they would have a big problem with raising taxes.

After further discussion, Councilmember Feagle asked if the Council wanted to give a salary

increase, could it consider not giving as much this year (as she had recommended in her

information to the Council) and give the raises next year by raising property taxes. Mr. Brynes

said the Council could do this. Councilmember Feagle suggested a salary survey for other

employees could be done next year. Councilmember Feagle asked Mr. Johnson his

recommendation. Mr. Johnson stated, Treat everyone the same. It was noted it would cost

approximately $320,000 to give each employee a $2,500 salary increase.


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Councilmembers and staff then reviewed line items by department. Some of the specific items

reviewed were overtime, training and per diem, vehicle maintenance and education expense.

Discussion on the budget came to a close and Mayor Frith recognized City Attorney Bill Blue

for discussion of an ordinance coming before the Council at the August 27, 2002, Council

meeting.

Mr. Blue reviewed changes made to Ordinance No. 763 after the first reading on August 13,

2002. Mr. Blue told the Council he had met with Doctors Memorial Hospital (DMH)

Administrator Jim McKnight, DMH Board Member Wayne Jones and others who had concerns

with the ordinance as originally written. Mr. Blue provided the Council with the latest draft

based on comments from the DMH Board of Directors. Councilmember Feagle questioned

the need for the ordinance saying if anyone came before the Council requesting funding and

would not provide the requested documentation, the Council has the option of not providing

them with any monies. Mr. Blue said the Council has this option.

Mayor Frith asked Mr. Blue if the ordinance needed to be re-advertised for a public hearing

since these changes had been made to the ordinance. Mr. Blue answered no. Mayor Frith

asked Mr. Blue if he were strong on this. Mr. Blue answered yes, but it will not remove the

opposition to the ordinance. Mr. Blue said he thinks the Council should pass the ordinance and

challenge the organizations to help clean up the City.

Mr. Blue told the Council the ordinance does not apply to Doctors Memorial Hospital unless

the Board should come to the city asking for moneythat the hospital board is not subject to

this ordinance at all.

AGENDA ITEM (4)ADJOURNMENT.

There being no further business to come before the City Council at this time, the meeting was

adjourned at approximately 8:55 p. m.

ATTEST:

_______________________________ _________________________________William E. Brynes, City Manager Richard D. Frith, Mayor

Recorded in Official Minute Book:

___________________________ _________________________________

Annette Anderson, Secretary Date


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26aug02 specmin amended

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