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Regular Council Meeting May 23, 2011 Page 11 Mayor Pro -Tem McCarthy recessed the City Council at 7:40 p.m. for a break. Mayor Pro-Tern McCarthy reconvened City Council into open session at 7:50 p.m. 25. Deliberate and act on participating in the funding of the Paris Diversity Initiative sponsored by PEDC and the Texas Workforce Commission. Gene Anderson said that the PEDC Board of Directors passed a motion requesting that the City and Lamar County participate with Workforce Solutions and PEDC in financing the diversity training program for small businesses and other related tasks. Mr. Anderson said an amount was not specified and if the City Council wished to make a financial contribution, a motion should be passed by the Council. Mr. Anderson also said this was a non - budgeted item and would probably require a budget amendment at the end of the fiscal year. Council Member Pickle said that he had asked Judge Superville if the County would, be willing to contribute $7,500.00 toward the project, if the Council also contributed the same amount. Council Member Pickle said that Judge Superville advised him that he would address this with the Commissioners during budget time. Council Member Rhonda Rogers wanted to know how they were going to fund this since it was not a budgeted item. Council Member Pickle suggested taking $3,750.00 from the Council's travel budget this year and the same amount next year. Mayor Pro -Tem McCarthy and Council Member Rhonda Rogers opposed that suggestion, citing reasons as being the need and expense of training for Council Members. Council Member Frierson said this was a very important issue and offered to pay his own expenses for any training. Council Member Jason Rogers stated that some members of the NAACP, some members of the Diversity Task Force and members of the African Community were not supporting this, because of the manner in which the selection process was handled. He also said that he had questions for PEDC, but they did not have a representative at the meeting. Council Member Pickle said that he had heard from several Diversity Task Force members who were in support of PEDC's selection. Council Member Rhonda Rogers said she thought they should table this item, bring it back to the next meeting, and invite the PEDC Board of Directors to the meeting. A Motion to contribute $3,750.00 from the Council's travel budget this year and $3,750.00 from the Council's travel budget next year to contribute to PEDC for this project was made by Council Member Pickle and seconded by Council Member Frierson. Motion failed, 3 ayes — 4 nays, with Mayor Pro -Tem McCarthy, Council Member Jason Rogers, Council Member Rhonda Rogers, and Council Member Richard Grossnickle casting the dissenting votes. A Motion to table this item and invite the PEDC Board Members back to the next meeting was made by Council Member Rhonda Rogers and seconded by Council Member Grossnickle. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays. 26. Deliberate and act on RESOLUTION NO. 2011 -048: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING