22 BudgetCITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM BRIEFING SHEET
Submittal Date:
Originating Department:
Presented By:
Agenda Item No.:
O 1 /20/09
Council Date:
City Council
Kevin Carruth
22.
O 1 /26/09
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Not an action item
POLICY ISSUE(S):
Budget
BACKGROUND:
During the council meeting of January 12, Council Member Brown asked for a discussion item on the
positions and funding of the building and electrical inspector and chief building official.
In February 2008 the Chief Building Official (CBO), Rick Hundley, retired. Building and Electrical
Inspector (BEI) Jason Browning was temporarily promoted to CBO and the BEI position was left
vacant. At the time staff was working on a departmental reorganization plan to handle the additional
work brought on from the ordinance changes recommended by the Code Enforcement Task Force and to
improve overall efficiency and responsiveness. The reorganization was delayed to become part of the
FY 2008-2009 budget process. Council declined to include the reorganization in the budget and by this
time Mr. Browning had been promoted to permanent CBO. In November the Director of Community
Development requested permission to post the BEI position and it was posted at the end of December
with the same title, pay grade, and description it has had for many years. After ten days only one
application was received (from a current employee).
Since the BEI position was posted, Council Member Brown has publicly commented that he thinks that
the Council was "duped" or otherwise mislead by staff because his understanding was that the October
pay increase for the CBO position was to be accomplished by eliminating the BEI position. This has
never been the understanding of the City Manager, Director of Community Development, Director of
Finance and Human Resources, or any other staff inember. A review of the video recording of the
October 13 and October 27 council meetings where the budget amendment required to fund the CBO's
salary increase was acted upon shows no discussion whatsoever about eliminating the BEI position, nor
does a review of the meeting minutes. Also, none of the packet materials for these meetings discuss
eliminating the BEI. On the contrary, in the ordinance amending the budget several line items were
reduced to offset the increases in the other line items, such as the CBO's higher salary. Had the BEI
position been eliminated, none of the other reductions throughout the ordinance would have been
necessary because the BEI salary savings would have been enough to compensate. While there may
have been a misunderstanding or miscommunication regarding the Building and Electrical Inspector
position, there certainly was no attempt to deceive Council.
If there is discussion that the BEI position is not needed and should be eliminated, staff still maintains
that the position is critical to the functioning of the department because the inspection and plan review
volume in Paris is too great for a single person. Coincidental to the discussion of this issue, staff has
been conducting the most comprehensive survey of Texas Cities regarding fire and building plan review
and inspections that has been done. One of the questions in the survey is how many building
inspectors/plan reviewers (non-fire) the city has. For the 25 Texas cities with populations
approximately 10,000 of the Paris population, the average number of inspectors is 3.08 and the average
for the 11 cities with populations in the 20,000's, the average number of inspectors is 2.7.
City of Paris - 000105 Revised 2/04/08
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
EXHIBITS:
Council Member Agenda Item Request
ACTION:
BUDGET INFO:
❑ Financial Report ❑ Minute Order
Expense
$
❑ Department Report ❑ Resolution
❑ P
Budgeted Amt.
$
resentation ❑ Ordinance
❑ Public H
rin
E O
h
y'I'D Actual
$
g
ea
t
er
Acct. Name
Acct. Number
FiscAiL NoTES:
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
E Administration E City Clerk E Community Development ❑ EMS/IT E Finance ❑ Fire
❑ Municipal Court ❑ Legal ❑ Library ❑ Police ❑ Eng./Public Works ❑ Utilities
City of Paris ~ 000100 Revised 2/04/08
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
City of Paris, Texas Council+Staff Operating Agreements
Council Ask For List
1. Complete and accurate information in the context of the question
2. History on the issue
3. ROW - Results Oriented Work
4. Don't assume we have the information or knowledge the staff does
5. Change the paradigm from "Can't Do" to "Can Do"
Council Commit To List
1. Never give instruction to a city employee
2. Be willing to listen
3. Provide direction to staff through the City Manager
4. Work issues through the City Manager
5. Stand behind staff when they have done what was asked
6. Provide open communication
7. Acknowledge accomplishments and milestones achieved by the departments
Staff Ask For List
1. For the Council to seek clarification on issues and ask questions before meetings
2. Adequate resources (Human, Financial, Time)
3. Live the Golden Rule
4. Clearly defined priorities and goals
5. No micromanagement - Just buy the bus, determine the destination and let staff
drive it
6. Follow the chain of command
7. Acknowledge that we are professionals and know our jobs
8. Support council decisions in public and to the media
9. Allow the system to work
Staff Commit To List
1. Being Honest
2. Admitting when we don't know something and committing to obtaining the answer
3. Helping to achieve goals
4. Not being antagonistic
5. Supporting council decisions in public and to the media
6. Maintaining and improving excellent customer service
7. Helping council find solutions
Paris City Council
7-18-08
n ()U()10 ,`'_i
Quality Quantifiers
Requested "IVlust Nevers"
Staff
Must Never Deceive Council
Must Never Discredit Council or Members to Others
Must Never IVfiake False Promises to Council
COU11C1l
Must Never Publicly Humiliate Staff
Must Never flAake Assumptions Without Asking for Facts
Must Never Under Resource a Project or Activity
Must Never Assume Expertise Because of Elected Status
Must Never Shoot the Messenger
Must Never Over React to Single Complaints
Must Never Lie
Must Never Forget to Get all of the Facts First
Must Never Forget the Golden Rule
City of Paris, Texas
Final Draft 7-18-08
0001UJ
We Define Success
Council
Hearing Praise
Hearing Declining Severity of Comments
Hearing Truth
Hearing Facts
Seeing Progress
Seeing Teamwork
Seeing Results
Seeing an Increased Level of Service
Feeling Pride
Feeling Accomplishment
Feeling Respect
Feeling Cooperation
Feeling the Confidence of the Staff
Feeling Focus
Staff
Hearing Open, Vigorous and Respectful Debate
Hearing Reasonable Direction
Hearing Appreciation for a Job Well Done
Seeing Fewer Negative Newspaper Articles
Seeing Civility
Feeling Trust
Feeling Positive Perception
Feeling Understanding and Tolerance for Human Error
Experiencing Mutual Respect
City of Paris, Texas
Final Draft 7-18-08
■ 000110
NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING
OF THE
PARIS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Notice is hereby given that on the 12TH day of JANUARY, 2009, the Board of Trustees of the Paris Independent
School District will hold a SPECIAL meeting at 5:30 P.M., at the Elaine Ballard Administration Building
Conference Room, 1920 Clarksville Street, Paris, Texas, 75460. The subjects to be discussed are listed on the agenda
that is attached to and made a part of this Notice.
If, during the course of the meeting covered by this Notice, the Board of Trustees should determine that a closed
meeting or closed session of the Board of Trustees is required, then such closed session or closed meeting as authorized
by the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code Section 551.001 et sea., will be held by the Board of Trustees
at the date, hour, and place given in this Notice or as soon after the commencement of the meeting covered by this
Notice as the Board of Trustees may conveniently meet in such closed session or closed meeting concerning any and all
purposes permitted by the Act, including, but not limited to the following sections and purposes:
Texas Government Code Section:
551.071 Private consultation with the Board's attorney.
551.072 Discussing purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property.
551.073 Discussing negotiated contracts for prospective gifts or donations.
551.074 To deliberate the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline,
or dismissal of a public officer or employee; or to hear a complaint or charge against an
officer or employee.
551.076 Considering the deployment, specific occasions for, and or implementation of, security
personnel or devices.
551.082 School Children; School District Employees: Disciplinary Matter or Complaint -
Considering discipline of a public school child, or complaint or charge against personnel.
551.0821 Consider personally identifiable information about a student
551.083 Considering the standards, guidelines, terms, or conditions the Board will follow or wi❑ instruct
its representatives to follow, in consultation with representatives of employee groups.
551.084 Excluding witnesses from a hearing.
Should any final action, final decision, or tinal vote be required in the opinion of t6e Board of Trustees with regard to
any matter considered in such closed session or closed meeting, then the final action, tinal decision, or final vote shall
be either:
(a) in the open meeting covered by the Notice upon reconvening of the public meeting; or,
(b) at a subsequent public meeting of the Board of Trustees upon notice thereof; as the Board of Trustees
shall determine.
On the 7TH day of JANUARY, 2009, this Notice was mailed/FAXED to news media who had previously requested
such Notice and an original copy was posted on the bulletin board in the Elaine Baliard Administration Building at
3:00 p.m. on the said date.
Rebecca Norment
Secretarv, Paris ISD Board of Trustees
_i
~ Pt:p1l
The mission of Paris ISD is to provide a quality education
to a diverse student population, enabling each to achieve
fu[l potential and become a productive, responsible
citizen.
AGENDA
PARIS I.S.D. BOARD OF TRUSTEES
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING
~
ELAINE BALLARD ADMINISTRATION OFFICE
1920 CLARKSVILLE - PARIS, TEXAS
The Board of Trustees will convene in Open Session at 5:30 p.m. and immediately convene into Closed
Session in accordance with Texas Government Code. Section 55I.001, et seq.,
The subjects to be discussed or considered or upon which any formal action may be taken are as follows:
1. Call to Order - Announce Quorum Present and Meeting Called and Posted as Required by Law
551.074 To deliberate employment
2. New Paris High School "Project Schedule" (Revised 12/18/08)
3. Donation of Outdoor Electronic Sign from Peoples Bank
4. Superintendent Evaluation and Contract
5. Announcements
6. Adj ournment
Items do not have to be taken in same order as shown on meeting notice. If, during the course of the meeting, any discussion
of any item shown on the agenda should be held in closed session, the Board shall convene in such closed session
in accordance with the Open Meetin s Act, Texas Government Code Section 551.001 et. Sep. Before any such
session is convened, the presiding officer shall public identify the section or sections of the Act authorizing the
executive or closed session. All final votes, actions, or decisions shall be taken in open session.
UOUli:.
AGENDA
ARK-TEX COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING ~
JANUARY 29, 2009
`-s.
The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Ark-Tex Council of Go~~n,e,ameet
at 7 0:00 AM, Thursday, January 29, 2009, at the First National Bank Omaha Office, 200 Big League
Bend, Omaha, Texas.
Item 1. Call to order.
Item 2. Invocation.
Item 3. Approve the minutes as submitted in the mail of the Ark-Tex Council of Governments
Executive Committee Meeting held Thursday, October 30, 2008, in Omaha, Texas.
Review and Comment
Item 4. Review and Comment on a grant application to the Arkansas Department of Human
Services/Office of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention, from Faith, Love & Hope Youth
Corporation, in the amount of $55,000, for continuation of ACROSS AGES Mentoring
Program to target high-risk youth to combat use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. (to be
presented by staff inember Genevieve Burtchell)
Item 5. Review and Comment on a Texas Community Development Block Grant application to the
Office of Rural Community Affairs, from the City of Como, in the amount of $28,800, to be
matched with $1,440, for a total of $30,240, for a Planning/Capacity Building Program
project. (to be presented by staff inember Genevieve Burtchell)
Item 6. Review and Comment on a grant application to the Health Resources & Services
Administration, from Special Health Resources for Texas, Inc., in the amount of $400,000,
for "Survival of the Fittest" project, through Special Projects of National Significance Program,
to serve Bowie, Cass, Delta, Franklin, Hopkins, Lamar, Morris, Red River and Titus Counties in
our region. (to be presented by staff inember Genevieve Burtchell)
Item 7. Review and Comment on an Environmental Assessment for JELD-WEN, Inc., who has applied
to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for amendment of air quality permit to
authorize modifications to its exterior door manufacturing plant located in Sulphur Springs,
Hopkins County, Texas, by authorizing an increase in emissions. (to be presented by staff
member Paul Prange)
Item 8. Review and Comment on an Environmental Assessment for the City of Mt. Pleasant, who
has received partial funding by the Texas Water Development Board Revolving Loan Fund, for
construction of the new Lake Bob Sandlin Water Treatment Plant in Titus County, Texas. (to
be presented by staff inember Paul Prange)
Regular Business
Item 9. Review and consider approval of changes made to the FY 2009 solid waste grant scoring
criteria as recommended by the Solid Waste Advisory Committee. (See Attachment 1) (to be
presented by staff inember Paul Prange)
m uool1'0
Item 10. Review and consider approval for the Executive Director to submit a grant application for
$301,390.00 to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for construction of a Regional
Multi Agency Coordination Center and Emergency Operation Center at the ATCOG office
building at 4808 Elizabeth Street in Texarkana, Texas. (See Attachment 2) (to be presented
by staff inember Genevieve Burtchell)
Item 11. Review and consider approval of new appointment to the Regional Criminal Justice
Advisory Committee to serve through December 31, 2009. (See Attachment 3) (to be
presented by staff inember Patricia Haley)
Other Business
Item 12. Quarterly financial update as requested by members of the Executive Committee. (to be
presented by staff inember Brenda Davis)
Item 13. Group discussion on the benefits/drawbacks of groundwater districts in Northeast Texas.
(speakers to be introduced by Judge M. C. Superville, Jr., Lamar County)
Announcements
The next Executive Committee Meeting will be held Thursday, February 26, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. at
the First National Bank Omaha Branch, Omaha, Texas.
0 U0U11`t
NOTICE OF MEETING OF THE
COMMISSIONERS' COURT OF LAMAR COUNTY, TEXAS
Notice is hereby given that a Special meeting of the Lamax County
Commissioners' Court will be held on the 26' day of January, 2009 at 9:00 a.m.,
in the Commissioners' Courtroom, located on the first floor of the Lamar
County Courthouse, 119 North Main Street, Paris, Texas, at which time there
will be discussion and/or action on the following subjects:
1. Approval of minutes. - M.C. Superville, Jr., Lamar County Judge
2. Discussion and/or action regarding a Proclamation of the Lamar County
Commissioners' Court to declare January 24, 2009 as "Project H.O.P.E.
Day." (Helping Our Pets through Education) in Lamar County. - Mrs.
Debb Fleming's fifth grade students at A.M. Aikin Elementary School;
Lamar County Humane Association
3. Discussion and/or action regard.ing a Proclamation of the Lamar County
Commissioners' Court to declare the month of February, 2009 as "Project
H.E.A.L. Month." (Helping Everybody Accept Life) - Matthew Draeger
with Project H.E.A.L.
4. Discussion and/or action regarding Lamar County Commissioners' Court to
come join the Keep Paris Beautiful (KPB) Retreat. Keep Paris Beautiful is
planning a community retreat from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Friday, February 13,
2009, at Love Civic Center. - Paula McFadden, Keep Paris Beautiful
5. Discussion and/or action regarding Lamar County Commissioners' Court to
participate in the "Trash Offl' on Saturday, March 28, 2009 from 7:30 a.m,
until noon at "The Home Depot". This will be in conjunction with Keep
Paris Beautiful. - Paula McFadden, Keep Paris Beautiful
Meeting of the Lamaz County Commissioners CouR
Janoary 26, 2009
1/3
ft 000115
6. Discussion and/or action regarding Lamar County Commissioners' Court
receiving racial profiling reports from Constables in Precincts 2, 3 and 5;
Jason Garrett, Larry Cope, and Gene Hobbs respectively. - M.C. Superville,
Lamar County Judge
7. Discussion and/or acrion regard.ing Lamar County Commissioners' Court
receiving notification from the Texas Department of Transportation
regarding the availability of surplus road materials. These materials are
available for use by the county as directed by Senate bill 370 - County
Assistance Program. Lamax County allocation for FY2009 is $17,491.00. -
M.C. Superville, Jr., Lamar County Judge
8. Discussion and/or action regarding Lamar County Commissioners' Court
demolishing and removing the "Hickory House" building located at 35
Graham Street. - M.C. Superville, Jr., County Judge
9. Discussion and/or acrion regarding Lamar County Commissioners' Court
executing a"Communications Pernut" and an "Agreement" with the United
States Department of Energy Southwestern Power Administration. This
"Permit and Agreement" will a11ow Lamar County to relocate emergency
response radio equipment on a tower owned by Southwestern Power
Administration. - M.C. Superville, Jr., Lamax County Judge
10. Discussion and/or action regarding Lamar County Comrnissioners' Court
approval of bonds for Gary Young, Lamar County, County Attorney. - Kathy
Marlowe, County Clerk
11. Discussion and/or action regarding Lamar County Comrnissioners' Court
receiving the County Treasurer Reports for the periods of October 1, 2008 -
October 31, 2008; November 1, 2008 - November 30, 2008; and December 1,
2008 - December 31, 2008. - Shirley Fults, Lamar County Treasurer
Meeting of the L<vnar Counry Commissioners' Court
January 26, 2009
28
- 000110
12. Discussion and/or action regarding Lamax County Commissioners' Court to
purchase pickups for Pct. 1 and Pct. 3 through the Buyboard. - Kevin
Jenkins, Lamar County Auditor
13. Discussion and/or action regarding Lamar County Commissioners' Court to
receive the county auditor's monthly financial report for the periods ending
November 30, 2008 and December 31, 2008. - Kevin Jenkins, Lamar County
Auditor
14. Claims - Kevin Parsons, Lamar County Auditor
15. ADJouxlv
Dated this the day of , 2009
By
M.C. Superville, Jr., Lamar County Judge
I, the undersigned, County Clerk, do hereby certify that the above Notice of
Meeting of the above named Commissioners' Court is a true and correct copy of
said Notice on the bulletin board at the Courthouse door of Lamar County,
Texas at a place readily accessible to the general public at all times on the 22nd
day of January, 2009, and said Notice remained so posted continuously for at
least 72 hours preceding the scheduled time of said meeting.
Dated this the day of .2009
By
County Clerk
Deputy
Meeling of the lamar County Commissionecs' Court
January 26, 2009
3/3
U0011 i