CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MINUTES
BUDGET SESSION
224 S. Jefferson Street
Perry, Florida
August 26, 2002

MEMBERS PRESENT: Shirley Scott, Richard Frith, Pam Feagle

MEMBERS ABSENT: William Alexander and Doug Everett

STAFF PRESENT: Bill Brynes, Barney Johnson, Wayne Putnal, Billy LaValle, Sarah Drawdy, Bill
Blue and Annette Anderson

Mayor Frith called the meeting to order at 6:00 p. m. Mayor Frith led those attending the meeting in
prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. The secretary noted those members in attendance.

PRESENT ABSENT
Councilmember Feagle X
Councilmember Alexander X
Councilmember Scott X
Councilmember Everett X
Mayor Frith X

It was noted that Councilmember Alexander had surgery this day and was unable to attend.
Councilmember Everett had telephoned the city manager’s office earlier to say that he would be out of
town and unable to attend the meeting.

GENERAL BUSINESS.

A. CITY COUNCIL AND STAFF TO DISCUSS FISCAL YEAR 2002-03 BUDGET.

The Council and staff began by discussing capital outlay items. Specific items discussed were:

Inventory: Computer and software.

This item had been requested but not recommended by the city manager.

Garbage – Solid Waste Disposal: Trash Truck and Rear-loading Garbage Truck.
These items had been requested but not recommend by the city manager.

Mayor Frith said the Council has talked about what it would like to accomplish with
demolishing old buildings and trash pickup in the city. Mayor Frith said this is fairly expensive
equipment but thinks at sometime the City will have to make these purchases. City Manager
Bill Brynes told the Council these items would not expand the department’s equipment but
would be a replacement. Councilmember Scott asked about the possibility of purchasing just
one of these vehicles and asked which is needed more. Councilmember Feagle commented she
had heard more complaints about trash pickup. Councilmember Feagle noted her request for
general clean up of the city streets. Councilmember Feagle noted that the proposed budget is
approximately $87,000 in the hole with just operating expenses and questioned where any
additional monies would come from for capital outlay items not proposed. Councilmember
Scott questioned the possibility of raising taxes, based on the above observation of
Councilmember Feagle. It was noted it is too late to consider raising taxes this budget year.
Councilmember Feagle said no one wants to raise taxes but her observation is that the City is
going to have to cut expenses. Councilmember Feagle said the City might think about raising
taxes and fees if it wants to continue to offer the level of service to residents and purchase
needed items. Councilmember Feagle said the City does not have the funds without going to
its “savings” for operating expenses. Councilmember Feagle said this might be for certain
capital outlay items.

City Attorney Bill Blue made two suggestions, neither of which would be politically easy he
said. The first would be to expand the tax base (annexation). The second would be if all
property had more tax assessed value that was more in line with the fair market value. Mr.
Blue said this could generate more tax revenue without an increase. Another suggestion by Mr.
Blue was to consider increasing fees for non-residents. It was noted non-residents already pay
10 percent.

Councilmember Feagle said, in reviewing the budget, she feels all the department heads should
be at the meetings. Councilmember Feagle suggested the city manager cannot do it all himself
i. e. cut expenditures and identify ways to make revenue. Mr. Brynes said the biggest source of
new revenue would be to extend sewer service everywhere. When asked if there funds to do
this, Mr. Brynes said the City would borrow the money against what it would receive in
revenue. Mr. Brynes said a big problem is that there is no growth in the City. Mr. Brynes said
another item facing the Council is the County’s proposed sports complex. Mr. Brynes said it is
not known how the complex will be paid for now how to pay for the upkeep. Mr. Brynes said
the City cannot shut down its own sports activities and grounds. Councilmember Feagle agreed
but expressed concern about funding such a project.

Councilmember Feagle began discussion of employee salaries and said there are some hard
decisions to be made before the budget is complete. Councilmember Feagle said she would
like to see the City have a crew for street clean up year round. There was discussion of what
this might cost. Councilmember Feagle asked Director of Public Works Barney Johnson to try
and come up with some ways and costs as to how to clean up the City. There was some
discussion about the possibility of the City paying the Department of Corrections (DOC) for
inmate labor and guards. Mr. Brynes said he had tried this option some time ago but DOC
would not allow it. Councilmember Feagle asked that Mr. Brynes try again. Mr. Johnson said
the City could also try to get an inmate crew from the Mayo or Madison Correctional Institute
if the Taylor County Correctional Institute cannot provide a crew. There was also a suggestion
that Judge Buddy Murphy be approached with the possibility of assigning certain offenders to
community service to the City.

City Garage – Reroof the Building:

Mr. Brynes posed the possibility of installing a metal building rather than reproofing the
existing building, which is in much need of repair.

Police Department – Storage Cabinets

Mr. Brynes informed the Council the police department is in need of two video storage
cabinets, which is not currently listed in the capital outlay. Mr. Brynes said each cabinet costs
$470.00 and would hold approximately 256 tapes. The total cost for this capital outlay item
would be $956.00.

Fire Department – Fire Truck Pumpers:

Two trucks at $150,000 each. Councilmember Feagle asked the upkeep cost on the current
trucks. Mr. Brynes noted there is not much and most of the cost of the upkeep is not in the
trucks but in the equipm4ent. Mr. Brynes noted these items were presented as something the
Council needs to keep in mind for the future.

Transportation – Equipment
Mr. Johnson said items in this department would need to be increased if the City adds a crew
for city cleanup.

Recreation: Fence at City Park.

Councilmember Feagle suggested cost comparisons for a black aluminum-type fence when the
City considers replacing the fencing at the park.

Sewer: Computer
Mr. Johnson said the employee who had requested this item no longer requests a computer.
Councilmember Feagle suggested computer training for the employee as she feels the
department could benefit by use of a computer.

On Employee Salaries:
Councilmember Feagle then asked to review information she provided to the Council regarding
city employee salaries. Councilmember Feagle said what she does not know and needs from
the city manager to detail and quantify what the impact will be to the budget for the salary
increases she proposes, if implemented.
Police Officer Comparison:
Average Salary for the Area: $22,536
Perry Police Department $22,861
Taylor Correctional Institute $27,768
Goal $28,000
Current $22,861
Increase $ 5,139

Councilmember Feagle recommended the increase be divided into two years and give
$2,569.50 beginning this year and the remainder next year. Councilmember Feagle noted the
increase in necessary due to the high turnover and the fact that another employment opportunity
exists locally.
Firefighter Comparison:
Average Salary for the area: $28,106
Perry Fire Department 22,351
Goal $28,000
Current $22,351
Increase $ 5,649
Councilmember Feagle recommended the increase be divided into two years and give
$2,824.50 beginning this year and the remainder next year.

Wastewater Operator Comparison:

Average for the area: $24,000
Perry Wastewater Operators $19,573
Goal $28,000
Current $19,573
Increase $ 4,420
Councilmember Feagle recommended the increase be divided into two years and give
$2,213.50 beginning this year and the remainder next year.

All other City Employees:

Councilmember Feagle recommended that all employees receive a 0-3% performance-based
annual salary increase. Councilmember Scott said one thing she does not like about a
performance-based increase is that it could be subjective. Councilmember Feagle suggested
use of job descriptions and a rating scale to determine increases. Mr. Blue suggested an
indexed cost of living allowance (COLA), whereby employees are eligible up to 3 percent. Mr.
Blue said employees could get the COLA as long as it would not exceed 3 percent and be
eligible for performance the difference between the 3 percent and COLA. Referring to giving
an increase based on performance, Councilmember Feagle questioned why one employee
should get the same increase as another who is a really good employee (always on time,
dedicated) and the other employee is not. Councilmember Feagle said she doesn’t think an
employee should get a 3 percent increase across the board just because they work for the City.
Discussing the shortage of employees in certain work areas, Mr. Johnson said this is true
throughout the City, as his department is short several employees.

Mr. Blue said, if it was communicated to the community taxpayers what the purpose of a tax
increase was to be used for, he doesn’t think they would have a big problem with raising taxes.
After further discussion, Councilmember Feagle asked if the Council wanted to give a salary
increase, could it consider not giving as much this year (as she had recommended in her
information to the Council) and give the raises next year by raising property taxes. Mr. Brynes
said the Council could do this. Councilmember Feagle suggested a salary survey for other
employees could be done next year. Councilmember Feagle asked Mr. Johnson his
recommendation. Mr. Johnson stated, “Treat everyone the same.” It was noted it would cost
approximately $320,000 to give each employee a $2,500 salary increase.
 Councilmembers and staff then reviewed line items by department. Some of the specific items
reviewed were overtime, training and per diem, vehicle maintenance and education expense.

Discussion on the budget came to a close and Mayor Frith recognized City Attorney Bill Blue
for discussion of an ordinance coming before the Council at the August 27, 2002, Council
meeting.

Mr. Blue reviewed changes made to Ordinance No. 763 after the first reading on August 13,
2002. Mr. Blue told the Council he had met with Doctors’ Memorial Hospital (DMH)
Administrator Jim McKnight, DMH Board Member Wayne Jones and others who had concerns
with the ordinance as originally written. Mr. Blue provided the Council with the latest draft
based on comments from the DMH Board of Directors. Councilmember Feagle questioned
the need for the ordinance saying if anyone came before the Council requesting funding and
would not provide the requested documentation, the Council has the option of not providing
them with any monies. Mr. Blue said the Council has this option.

Mayor Frith asked Mr. Blue if the ordinance needed to be re-advertised for a public hearing
since these changes had been made to the ordinance. Mr. Blue answered no. Mayor Frith
asked Mr. Blue if he were strong on this. Mr. Blue answered yes, but it will not remove the
opposition to the ordinance. Mr. Blue said he thinks the Council should pass the ordinance and
challenge the organizations to help clean up the City.

Mr. Blue told the Council the ordinance does not apply to Doctors’ Memorial Hospital unless
the Board should come to the city asking for money—that the hospital board is not subject to
this ordinance at all.

AGENDA ITEM (4)…ADJOURNMENT.

There being no further business to come before the City Council at this time, the meeting was
adjourned at approximately 8:55 p. m.

ATTEST:

_______________________________ _________________________________
William E. Brynes, City Manager Richard D. Frith, Mayor

Recorded in Official Minute Book:

___________________________ _________________________________
Annette Anderson, Secretary Date