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Home My WebLink About12/12/2011 - City Council - Minutes - RegularUNAPPROVED MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION December 12, 2011 A work session of the Council of the City of Salem, Virginia, was held in the City Manager’s Conference Room, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street, Salem, Virginia, on December 12, 2011, at 6:30 p.m., there being present the following members of said Council, to wit: Byron Randolph Foley, John C. Givens, Jane W. Johnson, and William D. Jones (Lisa D. Garst – absent); with Byron Randolph Foley, Mayor, presiding; together with Kevin S. Boggess, City Manager; Frank P. Turk, Director of Finance; and Mary Ellen H. Wines, Secretary to the City Manager; 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, a discussion was held regarding the VHSL State Champions reception to be held at the January 9, 2012, meeting; and WHEREAS, a discussion was held with Delegate Greg Habeeb on concerns before the 2012 General Assembly; and WHEREAS, there were no other topics for discussion. There being no further business to come before the Council, the work session was adjourned at 7:21 p.m. Mayor Clerk of Council UNAPPROVED MINUTES COUNCIL MEETING December 12, 2011 A regular meeting of the Council of the City of Salem, Virginia, was held in Council Chambers, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street, on December 12, 2011, at 7:30 p.m., there being present the following members of said Council, to wit: Byron Randolph Foley, John C. Givens, Jane W. Johnson, and William D. Jones (Lisa D. Garst - absent); with Byron Randolph Foley, Mayor, presiding; together with Kevin S. Boggess, City Manager; Frank P. Turk, Director of Finance; Melinda J. Payne, Director of Planning and Economic Development; Charles E. Van Allman, Jr., City Engineer; Mike Stevens, Communications Director; Mary Ellen H. Wines, Executive Secretary to the City Manager; and Stephen M. Yost, City Attorney, and the following business was transacted: The November 28, 2011, work session and regular meeting minutes were approved as written. The report by the Director of Finance of the City’s financial status for a four-month period ending October 31, 2011, was received and ordered filed. Mayor Foley requested that Council receive a presentation regarding the Comprehensive financial Report for fiscal year ending June 30, 2011; and WHEREAS, the Director of Finance stated that Council has received the Comprehensive Annual Report for the City of Salem for the Fi scal Year ending June 30, 2011; he stated that Chris Banta with Brown -Edwards, and Tammy Todd with the Salem Finance Department, were also present at the meeting; he commended Mrs. Todd and the staff she has working for her for their hard work during the audit; he then briefly discussed the report; and WHEREAS, Chris Banta, a director with Brown-Edwards, appeared before the Council to discuss the report; he stated that he has worked on the audit for the City for the last eight or nine years; he stated that the audit is a long, drawn out process that initially begins in April and goes through November; he stated that compliance with federal funds, and specific items the state asks them to look at are reviewed, the numbers get looked at in October and November, and then everything gets pulled together and filed with the state by the middle of November; he asked that Council look at the Independent Auditor’s Report on the Financial Statements; he noted that Salem received an unqualified opinion on financial statements, which is the highest level of assurance that auditors can give when auditing financial statements; he commended the Director of Finance ITEM 1 COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2011 2 and his staff for their efforts; he stated that internal controls are also looked at and any weaknesses must be documented; he reported that there were no control findings found; he also reported that the City complied in all aspects when dealing with federal money allocated to the City and there were no significant control weaknesses in monitoring or spending the federal money that was looked at; he again commended the Finance Director and his staff for all their hard work; and WHEREAS, the Director of Finance stated that Tammy Todd coordinates the audit, and is responsible for making sure the internal controls are in place; he again commended her for her efforts; and WHEREAS, Mayor Foley questioned where the controls are placed; and WHEREAS, the Director of Finance stated that the Finance Department places controls throughout the City departments; the Treasurer’s Office also has internal controls that are required to be followed; he stated that an auditor from the Commonwealth audits the state funds collected by the Treasurer’s Office; and WHEREAS, the Vice Mayor commended the Director of Finance and the Finance Department staff for their hard work; and WHEREAS, Councilman Jones and Mayor Foley also commended the Director of Finance and the Finance Department staff; ON MOTION MADE BY VICE MAYOR GIVENS, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN JONES, AND DULY CARRIED, City Council hereby received the Comprehensive Financial Report for fiscal year ending June 30, 2011 – the roll call vote: Lisa D. Garst – absent, William D. Jones – aye, Jane W. Johnson – aye, John C. Givens – aye, and Byron Randolph Foley – aye.THEREUPON, said presentation was received. Mayor Foley requested that Council consider an appointment to fill the expiring term of David Preston on the Salem School Board; a public hearing was held at the November 28, 2011, meeting; and ON MOTION MADE BY COUNCILWOMAN JOHNSON, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN JONES, AND DULY CARRIED, David H. Preston was hereby reappointed to the Salem School Board for a four-year term, said term will expire December 31, 2015 – the roll call vote: Lisa D. Garst – absent, William D. Jones – ITEM 2 DAVID PRESTON REAPPOINTED TO SALEM SCHOOL BOARD 3 aye, Jane W. Johnson – aye, John C. Givens – aye, and Byron Randolph Foley – aye. Mayor Foley requested that Council consider an ordinance on second reading to amend, revise, and reordain Chapter 82, Article IV, Section 82-102, of the Code of the City of Salem, Virginia, increasing the tax on prepared foods and beverages and dedicating the increase to school capital projects; ordinance was passed on first reading at the November 28, 2011, meeting; ON MOTION MADE BY VICE MAYOR GIVENS, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN JONES, AND DULY CARRIED, an ordinance entitled, “AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND, REVISE, AND REORDAIN CHAPTER 82, ARTICLE IV, SECTION 82-102, OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF SALEM, VIRGINIA, PERTAINING TO TAX ON PREPARED FOODS AND BEVERAGES,” was hereby adopted – the roll call vote: Lisa D. Garst – absent, William D. Jones – aye, Jane W. Johnson – aye, John C. Givens – aye, and Byron Randolph Foley – aye. Mayor Foley requested that Council adjust the time of the January 9, 2012, Council meeting to 6:30 p.m. for the purpose of recognizing the Salem High School State Champions of 2010-2011; ON MOTION MADE BY VICE MAYOR GIVENS, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN JONES, AND DULY CARRIED, the January 9, 2012, Council meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. for the purpose of recognizing the Salem High School State Champions of 2010-2011 – the roll call vote: Lisa D. Garst – absent, William D. Jones – aye, Jane W. Johnson – aye, John C. Givens – aye, and Byron Randolph Foley – aye. Mayor Foley requested that Council consider appointments to the Western Virginia Regional Jail Authority; ON MOTION MADE BY COUNCILWOMAN JOHNSON, SECONDED BY VICE MAYOR GIVENS, AND DULY CARRIED, the following were reappointed to the Western Virginia Regional Jail Authority: Councilman William D. Jones with Mayor Byron Randolph Foley as alternate; James E. Taliaferro, II, with Frank P. Turk as alternate; and Sheriff Ric Atkins with Keith Mucha as alternate – the roll call vote: Lisa D. Garst – absent, William D. Jones – aye, Jane W. Johnson – aye, John C. Givens – aye, and Byron Randolph Foley – aye. ITEM 3 ORDINANCE ADOPTED TO AMEND, REVISE, AND REORDAIN CHAPTER 82, ARTICLE IV, SECTION 82-102, OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF SALEM, INCREASING THE TAX ON PREPARED FOODS AND BEVERAGES AND DEDICATING THE INCREASE TO SCHOOL CAPITAL PROJECTS ITEM S1 JANUARY 9, 2012, COUNCIL MEETING TO BEGIN AT 6:30 PM TO RECOGNIZE SALEM HIGH SCHOOL STATE CHAMPIONS OF 2010-2011 ITEM S2 REAPPOINTMENTS TO WESTERN VIRGINIA REGIONAL JAIL AUTHORITY 4 There being no further business to come before the Council, the same on motion adjourned at 7:49 p.m.