09/19/2016MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS
September 19, 2016
The City Council of the City of Paris met for a special session at 5:30 p.m. on Monday,
September 19, 2016, at the City Council Chamber, 107 E. Kaufman, Paris, Texas.
Present: Mayor: A.J. Hashmi
Council Members: Billie Lancaster; Aaron Jenkins; Billy Trenado; and
Steve Clifford
City Staff: John Godwin, City Manager; Stephanie Harris, City
Attorney; Janice Ellis, City Clerk; Gene Anderson,
Finance Director; Carla Easton, City Engineer;
Larry Wright, Fire Chief; Bob Hundley, Police
Chief; Kent Klinkerman, EMS Director; Doug
Harris, Utilities Director; and Jerry McDaniel,
Public Works Director
Absent: Council Members: Matt Frierson and Cleonne Drake
Call meeting to order.
Mayor Hashmi called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
2. Conduct a public hearing on amendments to the FY 2016 -17 budget.
Mayor Hashmi opened the public hearing and asked for anyone wishing to speak about
this item, to please come forward. Larry Schenk addressed the City Council about a cost of
living adjustment for city employee retirees. Mr. Schenk said he addressed the Council two
weeks ago and it was his understanding that a COLA would be included in the budget and that it
would be discussed at the last Council meeting according to the City Manager's letter to Council.
He said he did not understand why procedurally it could not be done. Mayor Hashmi deferred to
City Attorney Stephanie Harris. Ms. Harris said it was not one of the two amendments included
and could not be discussed because it was not on the agenda. Mr. Schenk said he wanted the
record to reflect that there was no formal vote on the amendments. Ms. Harris said this was the
public hearing on the amendments and Council would be voting under item 4 for the budget.
Tommy Haynes spoke in favor of retirees receiving a COLA and said after the last meeting he
spoke to the city manager who told him there was no interest in giving a COLA to retirees, but
that he spoke to Council Members Lancaster, Clifford and Trenado who said it was not too late.
Ms. Harris reiterated this was not a posted agenda item. Stephen "Red" Holmes asked if they
could possibly amend the budget at a later date and Mr. Godwin answered in the affirmative.
Council Member Trenado inquired of Mr. Godwin if the employees got a raise this year and Mr.
Godwin told him no.
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September 19, 2016
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A.W. Clem expressed appreciation about including $8,000 in the budget for the Northeast
Trail, to which Mayor Hashmi said had not been approved yet. Pat Cochran spoke in support of
the budget amendment for the Northeast Trail. With no one else speaking, Mayor Hashmi
closed the public hearing.
Discuss and act on ORDINANCE NO. 2016 -025: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING
THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO TRANSFER UNENCUMBERED FUNDS FROM
VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS WHICH ARE EXPECTED
TO OVER - EXPEND THEIR ORIGINAL BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS; MAKING
OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; PROVIDING
A REPEALER CLAUSE, A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, A SAVINGS CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Finance Director Gene Anderson explained this item was the annual year end
housekeeping ordinance that increases certain departmental budgets to cover anticipated
expenditures. He said the increases were offset by decreasing other departmental budgets which
have an appropriation surplus and by drawing down the General Fund Reserve as directed by the
City Council.
A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Clifford and seconded by
Council Member Trenado. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays.
4. Discuss and act on ORDINANCE NO. 2016 -026: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR THE
ENSUING FISCAL PERIOD BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2016, AND ENDING
SEPTEMBER 30, 2017, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CHARTER OF THE CITY
OF PARIS; APPROPRIATING THE VARIOUS AMOUNTS THEREOF; MAKING
OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; PROVIDING
A REPEALER CLAUSE, A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, A SAVINGS CLAUSE; AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
City Manager John Godwin said City Council was provided a copy of the budget several
months ago, they had discussed it, amendments were made and required hearings were
conducted.
A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Lancaster and seconded by
Council Member Clifford. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays.
5. Discuss and ratify the property tax increase reflected in the budget as required by Local
Government Code Section 102.007(c).
Mr. Godwin addressed items 5 and 6 because he said basically they were the same thing
but required two separate votes which were required by State Law. Mr. Godwin said even
though they were not raising taxes and the tax rate would remain at .50195, there would be an
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September 19, 2016
Page 3
increase due to additional construction and higher property values. Mr. Godwin said item 6 was
to specifically adopt a tax rate.
A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Trenado and seconded by
Council Member Lancaster. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays.
6. Discuss and act on ORDINANCE NO. 2016 -027: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, FIXING THE TAX RATE AND THE
TAX LEVY AND LEVYING AD VALOREM TAXES FOR THE CITY OF PARIS
FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 2016 UPON ALL TAXABLE PROPERTY WITHIN
THE CITY OF PARIS IN CONFORMITY WITH THE CHARTER PROVIDINS AND
ORDINANCES OF THE CITY; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS
RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF
ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
A Motion to approve this item was made by Council Member Trenado and seconded by
Council Member Lancaster. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays.
7. Adjournment.
There being no further business, a Motion to adjourn was made by Mayor Hashmi and
was seconded by Council Member Lancaster. Motion carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays. The meeting was
adjourned at 5:53 p.m.
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