08-22-2024MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORKSHOP MEETING
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS
August 22, 2024
The City Council of the City of Paris met for a special session at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday,
August 22, 2024, at the City Council Chamber, 107 E. Kaufman, Paris, Texas.
Present: Mayor: Mihir Pankaj
Council Members: Shatara Moore, Mickey Ellis, Rebecca Norment,
Alix Putnam, and Rudy Kessel
City Staff: Rob Vine, Interim City Manager; Stephanie Harris,
City Attorney; Janice Ellis, City Clerk; Gene
Anderson, Finance Director; Rich Salter, Police
Chief, Todd Mittge, City Engineer; Osei Amo-
Mensah, City Planner; Thomas McMonigle, Fire
Chief, Tom Hunt, Municipal Judge; Danny
Rowell, Interim Utilities Director; Paul Strahan,
Airport Manager; Celso Arrieta, IT Manager,,
Sandy Collard, HR Director; and Clyde Crews,
Fire Marshal
Absent: Mayor Pro -Tem: Gary Savage
1. Call meeting to order.
Mayor Pankaj called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
2. Invocation.
Finance Director Gene Anderson gave the invocation. City Council led the pledge of
allegiance and the Texas Pledge of Allegiance
3. Citizens' Forum.
Alvin Atwood, 2419 Bonham Street — he said ambition should never override empathy.
He also said once the information about CARDS was explained to him, that he did not have a
problem with it. He said they should talk to the Sheriff about using inmates to cleanup around
the City.
Tommy Haynes, 3095 Abbott — speaking on behalf of Larry Schenk, he expressed
appreciation to City Council for listening to the retirees and asked retirees to stand showing they
supported a COLA.
Jimmy Steed, 9499 Firehouse Road, Powderly — he said inflation hurt everyone and
inflation for the past 20 years on top of not getting a COLA had been tough. He said those who
stood tonight had given most of their lives to the City.
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August 22, 2024
Page 2
Tiny Freelen, 804-12"' N.E. — he spoke in support of a COLA for retirees.
Bob Hundley, 130 CR 40300, Powderly — he spoke in support of a COLA for retirees.
He echoed Chief Salter, in that hardly any officer that went to other local agencies wasn't hired
and trained by the Paris Police Department. He also said giving a COLA to retirees would help
retain police officers.
Stephen "Red" Holmes — 146 CR 43600 — he spoke in support of a COLA for retirees.
4. Discuss and provide direction on the FY 2024-2025 budget for the City of Paris.
Interim City Manager Rob Vine said he and Mr. Anderson had met with all of the Council
Members and his understanding was that each Council Member wanted to increase police
salaries, give a credit service for current employees, and give a COLA to retired employees. Mr.
Vine also said that Ms. Harris had cut $15,000.00 from her budget, and that $10,000.00 of that
had been allocated to lot mowing with the other $5,000.00 going back into the general fund.
Council Member Putnam inquired about staffing for EMS and the Fire Department.
Chief McMonigle said they were fully staffed. She asked about the overtime of $55,000.00.
Chief McMonigle said this was needed when he had a couple of people out for injury or sickness.
Council Member Norment asked about the County and EMS Service. Chief McMonigle said
the City had a contract with the County for running EMS in the County.
Mayor Pankaj said they needed to allocate funds for a Strategic Plan. Council Member
Putnam suggested they slow down with regard to the COLA because they had almost another
year to consider it, and the cost was $1.1 million dollars. Mayor Pankaj asked why the COLA
for retirees stopped in 2018, and Mr. Anderson said it was a budget issue. Council Member
Kessel asked about the updated service credit. Mr. Anderson explained most cities had updated
service credits and when Paris had it in the past, it was at 100% but what was before them was
at 50%. Council Member Kessel inquired if the health insurance came in at the same price would
they take away the extra $25.00 stipend for insurance or would it go back in the general fund.
Mr. Anderson said employees could use it toward an HRA. Council Member Putnam said she
would like to cut the OT budget for the Fire Department and transfer it to Public Works. Mr.
Vine cautioned against doing so because if someone was sick or hurt, the Fire Department would
go over budget. Council Member Moore said she did not agree with taking the overtime away
from the Fire Department. Next, Mr. Vine reviewed the two positions in which reclassification
was budgeted. Mayor Pankaj asked what Council wanted to do with regard to a salary increase
for the police. Council Member Norment recommended $70,000.00. She asked Chief Salter
what was the national standard of staffing for a patrol shift and Chief Salter said he was not
aware of the national standard but the Paris Police Department was supposed to have ten officers
on each patrol shift and they had staffing for only four police officers for each patrol shift. Chief
Salter said the departments previously listed as comparison was not Paris' competition and must
have been an old list. He emphasized Paris' competition was the County, the four local school
districts and some regional competition between Paris and Dallas. Council Member Putnam said
it was important to close that pay gap and she was in favor of $70,000.00. Council Member
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August 22, 2024
Page 3
Kessel opted for $66,000.00. Council Member Ellis said they were worth $70,000.00. Council
Member Shatara said she was not against $70,000.00 but there was a shortage all over. Chief
Salter said media results in police being an unpopular profession and that also hurt retention. He
also said that Paris was unique, in that most officers were from here and wanted to stay here. He
also said if Paris could recruit from other agencies, then Paris would not have to pay for sending
new recruits to school which would save a considerable amount of money. Mayor Pankaj said
he originally thought $66,000.00 but after hearing discussions, he favored $70,000.00 and that
he also favored a COLA for retirees. Mayor Pankaj said Mayor Pro -Tem Savage could not be
there tonight and had relayed he wanted $68,000.00 or $70,000.00 increase for police officers.
Council Member Norment said her conversation with Mayor Pro -Tem Savage indicated he was
solid for $70,000.00.
Mayor Pankaj inquired about the direction Council wanted to proceed. Council Member
Putnam felt like they should look at COLA for retirees at a later date. Council Member Kessel
favored updated service credits and a COLA for retirees. Council Member Norment said if
COLA's did not happen this year, they could look at them next year. Council Member Ellis said
the employees before them put their lives on the line, and he favored updated service credits and
the COLA. Council Member Moore said she was ok with this. Mayor Pankaj said he was for
the COLA, and that a lot of men and women had worked for this City and it was frustrating that
this had been let go. He said he wanted to support employees, which could help recruit and
retain employees. Mayor Pankaj confirmed with Gene Anderson this would be a three year plan
with the de-minimis tax rate needing to be approved for the next three years.
Adjournment.
There being no further business, a Motion to adjourn was made by Council Member
Norment and seconded by Council Member Ellis
adjourned the meeting at 6:44 p.m.
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Motion carried, 6 ayes - 0 nays. Mayor Pankaj
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MK I PANKAJ, MAYOR