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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/25/2018 - City Council - Minutes - RegularUNAPPROVED MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION June 25, 2018 A work session of the Council of the City of Salem, Virginia, was held in the City Manager’s Conference Room, 114 North Broad Street, Salem, Virginia, on June 25, 2018, at 6:30p.m., there being present the following members of said Council, to wit: Byron Randolph Foley, William D. Jones, Jane W. Johnson, James A. Martin, and James L. Chisom; with Byron Randolph Foley, presiding; together with Kevin S. Boggess, City Manager; James E. Taliaferro, II, Assistant City Manager and Clerk of Council; Rosemarie B. Jordan, Director of Finance, and the following business was transacted: Mayor Foley reported that this date, place, and time had been set in order for the Council to hold a work session; and WHEREAS, Mr. Boggess gave Council various updates; and WHEREAS, there were no other topics for discussion; and There being no further business to come before the Council, the work session was adjourned at 7:00 p.m. ____________________________________ Mayor _____________________________________ Clerk of Council Ci ty Counci l Meeti ng M INUTES Monday, June 25, 2018, 7:30 P M Council Chambers, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street, Salem, Virginia 24153 1.C all to Order A regular meeting of the Council of the City of Salem, Virginia, was called to order at 7:30 p.m., there being present the following members to wit: Byron Randolph Foley, Mayor, William D. J ones, Vice-Mayor, C ouncil members: J ane W. J ohnson, J ames A. Martin, and J ames L. C hisom; along with Kevin S. Boggess, C ity Manager; J ames E. Taliaferro, II, Assistant City Manager and C lerk of C ouncil; Rosemarie B. J ordan, Director of Finance; Melinda J . Payne, Director of Economic Development (absent); Mike Stevens, C ommunications Director (absent); Charles E. Van Allman, J r., Director of Community Development; and Stephen M. Yost, C ity Attorney. 2.Pledge of Allegiance 3.Bid Openings, Awards, Recognitions A.Salem High School State Championships C onsider adoption of Resolution 1342 commending the Salem High School Forensics Team for winning the 2018 Group A A State C hampionship, Resolution 1343 commending the Salem High School Baseball Team for winning the 2018 Class 4 State Championship, and Resolution 1344 commending Garrett Hicks and Samantha Hoyer for winning the individual state championship in the Group IV-A Public Forum Debate. Mayor Foley noted that C ity Council and the Salem School Board are recognizing several champions from Salem High School for the spring semester. Council is considering the adoption of Resolution 1342 commending the Forensics Team for winning the 2018 Group A A State Championship, Resolution 1343 commending the Baseball Team for winning the 2018 C lass 4 State C hampionship, and Resolution 1344 commending Garrett Hicks and Samatha Hoyer for winning the individual state championship in the Group IV-A Public Forum Debate. C ity Council and the Salem School Board presented resolutions and gifts to the team members and coaches. J ane J ohnson motioned to adopt Resolution 1342 commending the Salem High School Forensics Team for winning the 2018 Group A A State Championship, Resolution 1343 commending the Salem High School Baseball Team for winning the 2018 C lass 4 State C hampionship, and Resolution 1344 commending Garrett Hicks and Samantha Hoyer for winning the individual state championship in the Group IV- A Public Forum Debate. J ames C hisom seconded the motion. Ayes: Chisom, Foley, J ohnson, J ones, Martin 4.C onsent Agenda A.Minutes Consider acceptance of the minutes from the J une 11, 2018, regular meeting. Accepted as presented 5.Old Business A.Job Classes and P ay Ranges 2018-2019 Consider adoption of Resolution 1339, amending the schematic list of job classes and pay ranges previously set forth on May 8, 2017, to be part of the 2018-2019 fiscal year budget. (Continued from the May 29, 2018, meeting.) Audit-Finance Committee Vice Mayor J ones noted the Audit Finance C ommittee met this morning to discuss this request. T he C ity annually approves the schematic list of job classes and the pay scale that is included in the budget. T he proposed pay scale reflects changes resulting from the classification and compensation study done by Springsted. T hese changes are incorporated in the FY 2018–19 budget. T he committee reviewed the request and recommended adoption of Resolution 1339 for the City J ob C lass List and Pay Scale. Mr. Martin noted the pay study exercise has been great, and he thought the Springsted group laid out their methodology very well. Also, comparing all the C ity positions to market study he believes has also been good. But he thinks there could be more, and that we need to look at a few specific positions to see how they fall. He further discussed some positions and noted that those positions should be reevaluated. Although, he thinks this is a great step forward, and he is anticipating receiving the rest of the details and data from the consultants; however, as it currently stands, he is not able to support this request. Vice Mayor J ones noted he thought this is a good step forward, and he thinks there will always be issues when we do studies like this. His biggest question about the whole study is sustainability for the future versus everything else we have on the table. He thinks we need to be very careful. He is in support of the request, but he does have some concerns. William J ones motioned to adopt Resolution 1339 amending the schematic list of job classes and pay ranges to be part of the 2018-2019 fiscal year budget. J ames C hisom seconded the motion. Ayes: Chisom, Foley, J ohnson, J ones Nays: Martin 6.New Business A.Roanoke Valley Resource Authority budget Consider approval of the 2018-2019 annual budget for the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority. Mr. Boggess noted the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority budget was presented earlier in the spring. At that point, C ouncil had some questions particularly as it related to the operations of the Authority. He further discussed the issues related to the budget. As a result, the budget changed and actually became overall a little more costly per ton. Although in the proposed budget, our cost is a little less than last year's budget. T here was some concern about the direction of staying on the trains for several more years versus the transition to trucking and if Council takes no action on this or votes against adopting the proposed budget for the next year, then it simply reverts back to the prior year budget. T hen the Authority will operate on the prior year budget, which in our case is a little higher number than the proposed budget for next year. He further discussed the issue with regards to trains versus trucking the garbage to the Smith Gap Landfill. T he City's position is that trucking appears to be the better option. So, C ouncil will need to make a decision whether to adopt the proposed budget or they can choose not to adopt it or vote against it, and then we would revert to last year's budget, which will be a slightly higher budget amount for Salem. T here was further discussion regarding the proposed budget. J ane J ohnson motioned to approve the 2018-2019 annual budget for the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority. William J ones seconded the motion. Ayes: Chisom, Foley, J ohnson, J ones Nays: Martin B.Appropriation of F unds Appropriate funding for traffic signal replacement. Audit-Finance Committee Vice Mayor J ones noted the Audit Finance C ommittee also discussed this request. T he City receives funding from the state each year to use for various highway maintenance projects. If funding is not spent in the year it is received, the C ity is allowed to carry it over to the next year. Traffic signals at Fourth and Union Streets as well as Fourth and Broad Streets need to be replaced. T he total cost of the project is estimated to be $419,388. Funding of $286,008 is available in the current year highway maintenance budget. An additional $133,380 is available in highway maintenance reserves carried over from prior years. T he C ommittee reviewed the request and recommended appropriating the funds for the traffic signal replacement project. William J ones motioned to appropriate funding for the traffic signal replacement project. J ane J ohnson seconded the motion. Ayes: Chisom, Foley, J ohnson, J ones, Martin C .Appropriation of F unds Consider request to amend School Grants Fund budget as approved by the School Board on J une 12, 2018. Audit-Finance Committee Vice Mayor J ones noted the Audit Finance C ommittee also discussed this request. T he School Grants Fund was amended for fiscal year 2017-2018 by the School Board at their meeting on J une 12, 2018. Budget amendments totaling $10,619 were presented to increase the revenue and expenditure budgets in the Grants Fund. T he Grants Fund was increased due to receiving additional funding based on A D M (Average Daily Membership). T he Committee reviewed the request and recommended appropriating $10,619 to the School Grants Fund. William J ones motioned to amend the School Grants Fund budget as approved by the School Board on J une 12, 2018. J ane J ohnson seconded the motion. Ayes: Chisom, Foley, J ohnson, J ones, Martin D.Reimbursement Resolution Receive report and consider adoption of Resolution 1345 authorizing reimbursement from proposed fiscal year 2019 borrowing. Audit-F inance C ommittee Vice Mayor J ones noted the Audit Finance C ommittee also discussed this item earlier today. T he City intends to borrow funds during fiscal year 2019 to finance a variety of capital projects, including the replacement of the turf field at Spartan Field, replacement of the City's radio system, building improvements and various equipment purchases. Due to the timing of this project, the funds will be expended prior to the debt issuance. In order to ensure that the City can be reimbursed from the bond proceeds, a reimbursement resolution needs to be adopted giving the C ity the ability to reimburse any funds expended for this project prior to closing on the borrowing. T he Committee reviewed the request and recommended adopting Resolution 1345 for the Fiscal Year 2019 borrowing. William J ones motioned to adopt Resolution 1345 authorizing reimbursement from proposed fiscal year 2019 borrowing. J ames Martin seconded the motion. Ayes: Chisom, Foley, J ohnson, J ones, Martin E.Abstract of Votes Receive Abstract of Votes for the Dual Primary Election held on J une 12, 2018. T he Abstract of Votes was accepted as presented. 7.C losed Session A.Closed Session Hold a closed session in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.2- 3711A(3) of the 1950 C ode of Virginia, as amended, for a discussion or consideration of the acquisition of real property for a public purpose, or of the disposition of publicly held real property, where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body. Supplemental Item Vice Mayor J ones motioned to move to closed session in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.2-3711A(3) of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as amended, for a discussion or consideration of the acquisition of real property for a public purpose, or of the disposition of publicly held real property, where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body. J ane J ohnson seconded the motion. Ayes: Chisom, Martin, J ohnson, J ones, Foley William J ones motioned to reconvene at 8:24 p.m. and that in accordance with Section 2.2-3712D of the C ode of Virginia, 1950 as amended to date, C ouncil hereby certifies that in C losed Session only items lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act and only such items identified in the motion by which the Closed Session was convened were heard, discussed, or considered by the Council. J ane J ohnson seconded the motion. Ayes: Chisom, Foley, J ohnson, J ones, Martin 8.Adjournment Mayor Foley noted he wanted to recognize J im C hisom for his service on C ity C ouncil for a second time. He noted he was certain in Salem's history that no one has ever been appointed to City C ouncil twice. Mr. Chisom has served on Council for approximately 2 years, six months the first time and about 1 1/2 years the second time. In addition, he served on the school board for approximately 8 years. Mr. C hisom noted that it was actually 8 1/2 years, and Mayor Foley thanked Mr. C hisom for his service to the C ity. Members of Council thanked Mr. Chisom for his knowledge, dedication, and service to the community and asked him to stay involved. Mr. C hisom noted that it has been an honor to serve the last 20 months and the previous 6 months. He is really pleased and proud of what the C ity has accomplished over the last 24 months or so. T he economy has turned around and the City has turned around, and we starting to see more of this. He further discussed some of the changes going on with the downtown area, Wildwood Road, C hestnut Manor Apartments, etc. and noted that Salem is the place to be right now for development. He noted it has been a real pleasure and one of the highlights of his professional career to serve not only with the schools but also with City C ouncil. T his board is great and they have the best interest of the citizens at heart. It is not political games and this is the way it needs to be -- it needs to be what is best for the citizens of Salem. He commended Council for their work. Mayor Foley also recognized the new oncoming Council member, J ohn Saunders. He noted that C ouncil is looking forward to working with him. T he meeting was adjourned at 8:24 p.m.