08-12-2021MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS
August 12, 2021
The City Council of the City of Paris met for a special session at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday,
August 12, 2021, at the City Council Chamber, 107 E. Kaufman, Paris, Texas.
Present: Mayor: Paula Portugal
Mayor Pro -Tem: Reginald Hughes
Council Members: Gary Savage; Mihir Pankaj; Linda Knox; and
Clayton Pilgrim.
City Staff: Grayson Path, City Manager; Stephanie Harris, City
Attorney; Janice Ellis, City Clerk; Gene Anderson,
Finance Director; Richard Salter, Police Chief;
Russell Thrasher, EMS Director; Thomas
McMonigle, Fire Chief; Andrew Mack, Director of
Planning & Community Services; Doug Harris,
Utilities Director; Tim DeGhelder, Library Director;
Clyde Crews, Fire Marshal; Randy Tuttle, Assistant
Police Chief; and Tom Hunt, Municipal Judge;
Absent: Council Member: Renae Stone
Opening Agenda
Call meeting to order.
Mayor Portugal called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
2. Citizens' forum.
No one spoke during citizens' forum.
Council Member Savage left the meeting at 5:35 p.m.
3. Discuss and provide direction on the FY 2021-2022 budget for the City of Paris.
City Manager Grayson Path said the City's consultant Matthew Waverly with Public
Sector Consultants was present at the meeting via Zoom to discuss the recently conducted pay
study survey. Mr. Waverly explained the process he used in comparing pay scales with ten other
cities comparable in population, demographics, and staff size. He said the city of Marshall was
the closest comparison. He further explained he reviewed ninety pages of benchmark
information, job by job and aimed at a plus or minus of 5% of market pay to define
competiveness in making salary recommendations. Mr. Waverly pointed out that the salary
Special Council Meeting
August 12, 2021
Page 2
recommendations were based on job specific information rather than people -specific
classifications.
Council Member Pankaj inquired if there would be an annual increase. Mr. Path said yes
and no. He said for Civil Service, there would be a three-year plan to get those employees
caught up according to the survey. Mr. Path said this would get the non -civil service employees
caught up. Council Member Pankaj also inquired if they could adjust the three-year plan later
down the road. Mr. Path said they could do so, as there was not a guarantee for the next year.
Mayor Portugal inquired if there was equity based on qualification and experience. She also
asked if Mr. Path ever saw a need to re-classify a position and the responsibilities, would that
person be eligible for a pay increase. Mr. Path said yes, if there was a reclassification he would
get Mr. Waverly to study and give them a fair market value for that position. Mayor Portugal
expressed appreciation to staff for their hard work and to Mr. Path for all of his hard work. She
thanked Mr. Path for tackling this long over -due project. Council Member Pilgrim commended
City staff for their service and thanked Mr. Path for a good budget. He said he believed in Mr.
Path and his team. Council Member Pilgrim asked about the 7-14 proposed match for the fund
retirement and inquired if they could instead do some type of sign on bonus. Mr. Path said the
firefighters had their own pension fund. Fire Chief Thomas McMonigle said the increase in
salaries would be helpful in recruiting and retaining employees. Assistant Police Chief Randy
Tuttle also said the increase in salaries would help in getting people with experience, and they
could start an officer at a level pursuant to experience. He also said the police department did
have a sign on bonus with the exception of former employees.
Mayor Portugal said that over the last couple of months she had met nearly every
employee. She said Mr. Path had worked very hard on this process. Mayor Pro -Tem Hughes
said he was pleased with the study and that the employees needed and deserved an increase in
their salaries. He thanked the employees for their service to the City. He also thanked Mr. Path
for his hard work on this needed salary survey.
Council Member Pankaj left the meeting at 6:50 p.m.
Mr. Path clarified the total proposed revenue budget was $58.6 million which included
$11.3 million in funds dedicated for specific purposes of the proposed $47.3 million operational
budget, which was a $7.3 million increase from 2020-21. He said the general fund budget of
$25.9 million included a $1.1 million increase from last year, and the Water and Sewer fund of
$16.6 million reflected a $1.3 million increase from 2020-21. He said the additional increases in
the proposed operational budget included $656,872 for the Cox Field Airport Fund, a
Coronavirus Relief Fund of $714,930 and an American Rescue Plan Fund of $3 million with
$640,000 in reserve. Mr. Path said the budget came with a proposed 45.373 cents per $100
valuation tax rate, a decrease of 2.7 cents from the prior year and one that brings a 3.5% increase
in general fund revenue which was the highest amount allowed by State law without voter
approval. Mr. Path reported the budget was balanced with roughly $343,000 from the general
revenue fund balance.
Mr. Path gave an overview of each department and asked if there were any questions.
Council Member Pilgrim wanted to know if they were going to improve the fire rating. Chief
Special Council Meeting
August 12, 2021
Page 3
McMonigle said no, not until staffing was addressed. He explained that the State changed the
standards, which would require an additional three or four firefighters for each shift. With regard
to water production, Mayor Pro -Tem Hughes asked Mr. Path to explain the generator. Mr. Path
said during the snowstorm and rolling blackouts, such as what we had this past winter, we
needed a generator to keep the pumps going to meet water needs. In reference to new equipment,
Council Member Pilgrim expressed concern about getting into the mill and overlay business.
He said the mill and overlay process for street repair would be a more lasting process than the
Band-Aid approach currently used and that the employees were good at many things, but said
they may get too spread out.
Mayor Portugal said that Council Member Savage had to leave during the meeting due to
an emergency and Council Member Pankaj had a family matter he needed to take care of
Mr. Anderson went over the budget timeline and pointed out they had a tight schedule.
Mr. Path inquired if Council wanted to have any additional workshops to which it was a
consensus not to have additional workshops, with the exception of Thursday. Mayor Pro -Tem.
Hughes said he really did appreciate the employees and he trusted Mr. Path and his team. He
also expressed appreciation to his fellow Council Members.
Mr. Path said if they did not mind, he would like to get started on advertising for the
assistant city manager position. It was a consensus of the City Council to place an item on the
next agenda when the entire Council would be present.
4. Adjournment.
There being no further business, a Motion to adjourn was made by Council Member
Pilgrim and seconded by Mayor Pro -Tem Hughes. Motion carried, 4 ayes — 0 nays. The meeting
was adjourned at 7:04 p.m.
w.........� _�w _...�...
........_.....�.�...�.�....................._� ._.��
PAULA PORTUGAL, YOR