Loading...
10.28.13 MinutesMINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS October 28, 2013 The City Council of the City of Paris met for a regular session at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, October 28, 2013, at the City Council Chamber, 107 E. Kaufinan, Paris, Texas. Present: Mayor: A.J. Hashmi Council Members: Aaron Jenkins; Billie Lancaster; John Wright; Richard Grossnickle; Matt Frierson; and Cleonne Drake City Staff: John Godwin, City Manager; Kent McIlyar, City Attorney; Janice Ellis, City Clerk; Gene Anderson, Finance Director; Shawn Napier, City Engineer; Larry Wright, Fire Chief; Bob Hundley, Police Chief, Doug Harris, Utilities Director; Alan Efrussy, Planning Director; and Priscilla McAnally, Library Director Opening Agenda 1. Call meeting to order. Mayor Hashmi called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. 2. Invocation. Reverend Gentry gave the invocation. 3. Pledge of Allegiance. Council Member Grossnickle led the pledge. 4. a. Citizens' Forum. No one spoke during citizens' forum. b. Proclamation recognizing the month of November as National Hospice Month. After reading the proclamation, the Mayor presented it to Ms. Garner. Consent Agenda Mayor Hashmi inquired of Council Members if they wished to pull any items from the Consent Agenda for discussion. A Motion to discuss item 9 with regard to a proposed program Regular Council Meeting October 28, 2013 Page 2 was made by Council Member Wright and seconded by Mayor Hashmi. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays. Mayor Hashmi expressed appreciation to Liberty National Bank, Lamar National Bank, First Federal Bank and Guaranty Bond Bank in support of a possible new program for residents which would involve loans in the amount $5,000 to assist residents in repairing their homes. He said an item would be brought to the City Council for consideration at the next meeting. A Motion to approve the Consent Agenda was made by Council Member Frierson and seconded by Council Member Drake. Motion carried, 7 ayes — 0 nays. 5. Approve the minutes from the City Council meeting on October 14, 2013. 6. Receive reports and/or minutes from the following boards, commissions, and committees: a. Paris Economic Development Corporation minutes (9 -10 -2013 and 10 -1 -2013) b. Historic Preservation Commission (9 -23 -2013) c. Main Street Advisory Board (9 -17 -2013) d. Building and Standards Commission (9 -16 -2013) e. Paris Public Library Advisory Board (9 -18 -2013) 7. Receive September monthly financial report. Receive September drainage ditch maintenance report. 9. Receive dilapidated structure report. 10. Approve an Agreement for Arbitrage Rebate Compliance Services between the City of Paris and First Southwest Asset Management, Inc. 11. Award the bid to the highest responsible bidder for three surplus police vehicles. Regular Agenda 12. Receive presentation from John O'Donnell of Toys for Tots. Gunnery Sergeant John O'Donnell recognized employees Shane Grissom, Robert Smith, Jerry Musik, Jody Wood and Chris Larue for their expedient response to a flooded warehouse that contained Christmas toys for children. Sgt. O'Donnell said if not for these employees, over $15,000 worth of toys would have destroyed instead of delivered to children. He presented awards to the employees. 13. Hear a request from Maxey Rifleman Gun Club to renew their lease at Lake Crook. City Council heard from Reagan Skaggs who explained the history of the club, as well as the activity at the club. Mr. Skaggs asked for a five year extension on the lease. Council Regular Council Meeting October 28, 2013 Page 3 discussed with Mr. Skaggs a plan for improvement of the property, competition, and berm height. Mr. Napier explained the property behind the range was in a flood plain. Mayor Hashmi asked Mr. Skaggs if the club would put together a plan for improvement and bring it back to the Council and Mr. Skaggs answered in the affirmative. 14. Presentation by PEDC Board Chair Rebecca Clifford on PEDC expenditures and oversight. Mrs. Clifford said at the October 14, 2013, City Council meeting she requested to be placed on this agenda to address questions raised by citizen Don "Pinky" Wilson. Mrs. Clifford also said her initial presentation included concerns regarding past operations of PEDC. She said she had hoped since that presentation the PEDC Board and staff would be allowed to focus on what should be their mission of promoting, assisting and enhancing economic development through the creation of primary jobs for the betterment of the citizens of Paris, Texas. Mrs. Clifford said her report to the Council contained the most accurate numbers available to her at the time of her presentation, and the PEDC expenditure numbers that Mr. Wilson said she should have used had been proven to be incorrect by the audit performed by McClanahan and Holmes. She also said to use the numbers that were proved to be incorrect would have been unethical. Mrs. Clifford reported that the accurate numbers reflected PEDC spent 74 percent in operating expenses, which was 3.52 times the average of peer cities and if one used the incorrect numbers advocated by Mr. Wilson, that the PEDC spent over 2.7 times the average of peer cities. She commended board members Bruce Carr and Vicki Ballard for many hours spent working on research and policies. Mrs. Clifford said twelve policies had been approved by the board and four more were going to be presented at their next board meeting. She pointed out that the overspending had consequences and voiced concern that when the next industry wants to locate in Paris that PEDC would not have the financial resources to make a competitive offer. Mrs. Clifford said they owed it to the citizens of Paris to spend tax money wisely and create true economic development. In closing, Mrs. Clifford said documentation was provided for the numbers she used for PEDC expenditures and there was nothing false or misleading, and the numbers were the most accurate to which she had access. Council Member Wright expressed his appreciation to Mrs. Clifford for safeguarding the taxpayers' money. Council Member Jenkins thanked Mrs. Clifford for all of her time and hard work. Council Member Lancaster said she appreciated the information. Council Member Grossnickle said he appreciated the explanation and did not think that she was an unethical person. Council Member Frierson questioned if the other cities' numbers on the website were also wrong. Mrs. Clifford said she had met with Council Member Frierson and at that time told him she did not have any information regarding whether those numbers were right or wrong. Council Member Frierson said they needed to compare apples to apples and that was the basis of Mr. Wilson's letter. Mrs. Clifford said the point was that policies and procedures were needed for PEDC. Council Member Drake said she appreciated Mrs. Clifford's presentation and the fact that they had a Board that was looking into the future for the community. She said she agreed that policies and procedures needed to be in place and she hoped that everyone could move forward and work together. Mayor Hashmi expressed appreciation for all of the time and effort by Mrs. Clifford and the PEDC Board to help PEDC reduce expenses. Regular Council Meeting October 28, 2013 Page 4 15. Discuss a possible personnel audit and provide direction to staff. Council Member Wright said he made this request when Mr. Godwin first came to Paris. He said the City had 325 budgeted employees and at the end of September had 17 people from Hiring Partners and the amount of money paid plus benefits was Eighteen - Million, Fourteen Thousand Seven - Hundred and Sixty -Six Dollars ($18,014,766.00), and he felt it was important enough that they consider this as part of their budget making process and they did not. Mr. Godwin direction was needed from the Council as to whether or not they wanted staff to issue a request for proposals and if so, how much detail. Council Member Wright said the City had some excellent employees, but there might be instances where some employees would be more valuable in other positions. He suggested that someone outside be brought in to do the audit. Council Member Grossnickle inquired of Mr. Godwin if he thought there was a lot of fluff. Mr. Godwin said he had not seen a lot of fluff and in fact, staff was quite a bit smaller than in the past. Council Member Wright asked Mr. Godwin if he had conducted a personnel audit. Mr. Godwin said staff did begin a survey of other cities and not all of the information had been analyzed. Council Member Grossnickle said he would like to conduct the audit in- house, because of the $30,000 to $80,000 fee. He said if they were not sure they have adequate data, then they could seek an outside audit. Council Members Frierson and Drake agreed with Council Member Grossnickle. Council Member Wright questioned how one could be objective when performing a self - evaluation. Mr. Godwin suggested that a couple of Council Members might want to work with staff. It was a consensus for the personnel audit to be conducted in -house with Council Members Wright and Frierson working with staff. 16. Receive presentation from Shawn Napier on MyGov Permitting Software. Mr. Napier explained that staff began setting up software in September 2012 and included modules of code enforcement, request tracker, permits and inspections and contractor registration. He said that staff had been working with MyGov staff and hoped to have the process completed by the end of the year. Mr. Napier said the cost was $2,000.00 per month 17. Consider and approve future events for City Council and/or City Staff pursuant to Resolution No. 2004 -081. Mayor Hashmi asked Mr. Godwin to give the Council information about a recycling program at the next Council meeting. Mayor Hashmi referenced the upcoming holidays and said if it was okay with everyone, that Council would not meet on November 25th and move their December meetings to December 2 nd and December 16th Regular Council Meeting October 28, 2013 Page 5 18. Adjournment. There being no further business, a Motion to adjourn was made by Council Member Frierson and was seconded by Counci meeting was adjourned at 7:04 p.m. l � J ICE ELLIS, CITY CLERK e