08-25-2021MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS
August 25, 2021
The City Council of the City of Paris met for a special session at 5:30 p.m. on
Wednesday, August 25, 2021, at the City Council Chamber,, 107 E. Kaufman, Paris, Texas.
Present:
Absent:
Mayor:
Mayor Pro -Tern:
Paula Portugal
Reginald Hughes
Council Members: Renae Stone; Gary Savage; Mihir Pankaj; and
Linda Knox
City Staff: Grayson Path, City Manager; Stephanie Harris, City
Attorney; Janice Ellis, City Clerk; and Clyde
Crews, Fire Marshal
Council Member: Clayton Pilgrim
1. Call meeting to order.
Mayor Portugal called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
2. Citizens' forum.
Patsy Davis, representing Paris Historical Society she said they were not requesting
funds and expressed appreciation to the City Council for all that they do.
3. Receive presentations from non-profit agencies requesting funding for public purpose;
rank agencies for priority; discuss and act on requests,.
City Manager Grayson Path said last year they implemented a new policy by which to
guide, review and select awarding of funds to non-profit agencies. Mr. Path reviewed the policy
specifically with regard to public purpose. He said he and City Attorney Stephanie Harris
reviewed the applications for compliance and public purpose, and the groups presenting tonight
met those qualifications. Mr. Path also said there was $ 100,000 budgeted for assisting non-profit
agencies and there was an additional $5,000 that could be accessed. Mr. Path explained the
process for selection of funds, which included hearing the presentations, discussing among
themselves the presentations and scoring each organization with the highest being number one.
Mr. Path said staff would take up the scorecards, tally them and from there they could discuss the
agencies beg -inning with the highest ranked. Mr. Path said they could award the agency the full
amount requested or a lesser amount but once the budgeted $100,000 mark was reached; there
maybe some agencies that leave with no funding from the City.
City Council heard presentations from the following:
Special Council Meeting
August 25,, 2021
Page 2
Diane Stegall, representing Casa for Kids
Rebecca Peevy, representing Children's Advocacy Center of Paris
Maggie Kirby, representing City Square
Linda Hoyter & Daryl Bruce, representing ETCADA
Julia Trigg Crawford, representing KPB
Shelly Brazeal, representing Lamar County Human Resources
Keith Flowers, LeAndra Maughon, Dr. Draft & Dr. O'Bryan, representing Lamar County
Human Association
Sabra Vaughn, representing Paris Optimist Club
Charla Bowen, representing Safe-mT
Major Gary Watts, representing the Salvation Army
Jenny Wilson, representing United Way
Don Yarbrough, representing Weald Workers of Lamar County
After hearing the presentations, Mayor Portugal asked for discussion. Council Member
Stone said she saw everything United Way did for those families with children, such as rent and
electricity. She said they were here asking for assistance for the first time and they helped
immediately with essential needs. Council Member Savage said all of the agencies deserved
funding aand he hoped they all could get something. Mayor Pro -Tem Hughes said it would hurt
his heart if not everyone got funds. Council Member Pankaj echoed Council Member Savage
and Mayor Pro -Tem Hughes comments. Council Member Knox said it was overwhelming to
think about not funding all of these. She expressed appreciation for the presentations because the
presentations were much different from just reading applications. Mayor Portugal said a few
summers ago, she worked with the United Way Board and being a retired teacher that her heart
went out to the children and the elderly. Mayor Portugal said it was a consensus that the City
Council wished to see all of these agencies receive something. City Council discussed different
options. Following additional discussion, Mr. Path suggested they might wish to decide on the
amounts based on everyone getting the same percentage. City Council favored that idea and
provided their scorecards to staff for tallying.
Mayor Portugal recessed City Council at 7:20 p.m. and reconvened City Council into
open session at 7:44 p.m. She said that Council Member Stone had to leave the meeting a few
minutes earlier.
Mr. Path presented City Council funding disbursements under a Ratio Method based
upon $105,000.00 and a Ratio Method based upon $100,000.00. Council Member Pankaj",
Council Member Savage and Mayor Pro -Tem Hughes favored funding based on the $105,000'.00
option. Mr. Path read aloud the funding disbursements based under the Ratio Method of
$105,000.00 (see Attachment A).
A Motion to approve Option 1 funding, the Ratio Method based upon $105 ,000.00, was
made by Council Member Savage and seconded by Council Member Knox. Motion carried, 5
ayes — 0 nays.
4. Adjournment.
There being no further business, a Motion to adjourn i
Pankaj" and was seconded by Mayor Pro -Tem Hughes. Motion
meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
Special Council Meeting
August 25,, 2021
Page 3
,as made by Council Member
carried, 5 ayes — 0 nays. The
PAULA PORTUGAL
YOR
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Total Request
'o Metho
Ratio Method
Order Non -Profit Organization
$ 105,000.00
$ 100,000.00
1 Children's Advocacy Center
$
12,500.00
$
9,375.00
$
8,928.57
2 United Way
$
15,000.00
$
11,250.00
$
10,P714629
3 City Square
$
15,000.00
$
11,250.00
$
10,714.29
4 Safe -T1
$
8,000.00
$
6,p000600
$
5,s714629
5 Lamar County Human Resources
$
15,000.00
$
11,250.00
$
10,714.29
6 Salvation Army
$
15,000.00
$
11,250.00
$
10,714.29
7 CASA for Kids-.--
$
10,000.00
$
7,500.00
$
7,142.86
8 ETCADA
$
4,500.00
$
3,375.00
$
3,214.29
9 Lamar County Humane Association
$
15,000.00
$
11,250.00
$
10,1714029
10 Weald Workers of Lamar County
$
15,000.00
$
11,250.00
$
10,1714029
11 Keep Paris Beautiful
$
5,000.00
$
3,750.00
$
3,f571643
12 Paris Optimist Club
$
10,1000,000
$
7,500.00
$
71142,586
$ 140,000.00
$ 105,000.00
$ 100,000.00
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