05 - COUNCIL MINUTES FROM 07/13/2015

Home Browse Search

Regular Council Meeting July 13, 2015 Page 10 said if they were to issue certificates, then they could work on drainage and possibly spent $250,000 on one park in East Paris and $250,000 on one park in West Paris. Council Member Pickle said he was opposed to certificates of obligation as taxes would go up and he thought people should have the right to vote on this. Council Member Frierson agreed and inquired how far the money would go on projects. Mr. Godwin said it would take care of about one drainage project, but that it would make a difference. Council Member Clifford said he sees a lot of ditch problems and this is something they needed to think about. Council Member Plata said he thought the citizens should have a say in this matter especially if taxes were going to be increased. Council Member Lancaster said they need to start addressing these issues. Mayor Hashmi said he was not in favor of certificates of obligation, but if spending 2.5 million dollars would make a difference he would like to consider it. Mayor Hashmi asked Council Members to think it over and suggested they discuss it again at a future Council meeting. Council Member Frierson said he would like to see what Mr. Godwin suggested in way of a plan or projects. A Motion to table this item was made by Mayor Hashmi and seconded by Council Member Pickle. Motion carried, 6 ayes — 0 nays. 16. Discuss and act on a request to remove Grover "Michael" Glatfelter from the Historic Preservation Commission. Council Member Pickle referenced policies and the code of conduct for boards, commissions, committees. He said things got out of hand at the PEDC meeting and he felt like the only way to put a stop to this was to remove Mr. Glatfelter from the HPC. Council Member Pickle said Mr. Glatfelter's behavior at the PEDC meeting and other meetings had been less than desirable and that he hoped the mayor and mayor pro -tem agreed with him, in that that this type of behavior was unacceptable for a board member. Mr. Glatfelter said he went to the PEDC meeting to talk to new members and within ten seconds Mr. Grubbs stopped him from speaking and they began talking over each other. He said one of the board members ran a hospital that neglects and abuses patients, one of the board members had tried very hard to sell the City's water while trying to recruit industry and another board member works for PJC and received endowments for the jewelry department yet was planning to shut down the jewelry department. Mr. Glatfelter also said the PEDC audit reflected there was a lot of criminal activity at the PEDC and the report needed to be forwarded to the federal government. Mr. Glatfelter apologized for yelling at the board and then stated that Council Member Pickle wanted to punish him for exercising his right to freedom of speech. Council Member Frierson said as leaders they had a responsibility to maintain a positive image and conduct themselves in a professional manner. He said he was not at the meeting but heard about it and was disappointed. Council Member Frierson informed the Council he had heard from multiple downtown business owners who had difficulty with Mr. Glatfelter in his capacity as a HPC member.