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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/11/2022 - City Council - Minutes - RegularCity Council Meeting MINUTES Monday, July 11, 2022, 6:30 PM Work Session 5:45 P.M. Council Chambers Conference Room, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street, Salem, Virginia 24153 Regular Session 6:30 P.M. Council Chambers Conference Room, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street, Salem, Virginia 24153 WORK SESSION AMENDED AGENDA 1. Call to Order A work session of the Council of the City of Salem, Virginia, was held in the Council Chambers Conference Room, City Hall, 114 N. Broad Street, Salem, Virginia, on July 11, 2022, at 5:45 p.m., there being present the following members of said Council to wit: Renée Ferris Turk, Mayor; James W. Wallace, III, Vice-Mayor (participated remotely); Council members; Byron Randolph Foley, William D. Jones, and John Saunders; with Renée Ferris Turk, Mayor, presiding; together with James E. Taliaferro, II, City Manager; Rob Light, Assistant City Manager and Clerk of Council; Rosemarie B. Jordan, Director of Finance; Chuck Van Allman, Director of Community Development; Mary Ellen Wines, Zoning Administrator; Max Dillon, City Planner; Emily Stubblefield, on behalf of City Attorney, Jim Guynn; Crystal Williams, Assistant to the City Manager; and Laura Lea Harris, Deputy Clerk of Council; and the following business was transacted; Mayor Turk reported that this date, place, and time had been set in order for the Council to hold a work session; and 2. New Business A. Discussion Items 1) School Funding Request Discussion 2) Code Enforcement Update WHEREAS, Mayor Turk noted that The Salem City School Division has requested funding from the City of Salem for compensation purposes. Funds in the amount of $900,000 were set aside during the budget process for the schools until the State budget was finalized and the Schools were aware if any further funds would be awarded from the State. Funding amount options and the employee categories impacted were discussed by Council. Council also discussed compensation needs within City Staff. It was noted that a Comp. and Class study for City employees is in the beginning stages. WHEREAS, Mary Ellen Wines, Planning and Zoning Administrator, introduced Max Dillon, the new City Planner. She presented some concerns with the enforcement of current City Code in the areas of Nonconforming Signage (Section 66-7); Nuisances (Chapter 94), specifically rimless tires; storage containers (Section 106 -406.25); and exterior storage (Section 106-406.27). She shared how City Code currently reads, issues faced by citizens and the City in enforcing Code as it currently reads, and some options for dealing with this situation. Council discussed the options presented and Mr. Taliaferro requested that Council follow-up with this discussion in about a month. 3. Adjournment WHEREAS, there being no further business, Mayor Turk adjourned the meeting at 6:29 p.m. REGULAR SESSION 1. Call to Order A regular meeting of the Council of the City of Salem, Virginia was called to order at 6:30 p.m., there being present the following members to wit: Renée Ferris Turk, Mayor; James W. Wallace, III, Vice-Mayor (remote); Councilmembers: Byron Randolph Foley, William D. Jones, and John Saunders; with Renée Ferris Turk, Mayor, presiding together with James E. Taliaferro, II, City Manager; Rob Light, Assistant City Manager and Clerk of Council; Rosemarie B. Jordan, Director of Finance; Chuck Van Allman, Director of Community Development; Mike Stevens, Director of Communications; and Emily Stubblefield, on behalf of City Attorney, Jim Guynn. 2. Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Turk requested that Mr. Light read a request from Vice-Mayor Wallace to participate remotely in this Council meeting. The request from Vice-Mayor Wallace stated: "In accordance with Section 2.2- 3708.2 1(B) of the Code of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Remote Participation Policy of the City of Salem, I hereby request to participate remotely for a personal matter, specifically that I am out of town." Randy Foley motioned to accept the remote participation of Vice-Mayor Wallace. John Saunders seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk Abstain: Wallace Mayor Turk stated that we have an amendment for the agenda this evening and that Council would be adding Item #6D to the agenda having to do with School Funding Request discussion from the Work Session. 3. Bid Openings, Awards, Recognitions There were none. 4. Consent Agenda A. Citizen Comments Comments from the public, limited to five minutes, on matters not already having a public hearing component for the same meeting. The following have signed up to speak at this meeting: No citizens signed up to speak at this meeting. B. Minutes Consider acceptance of the June 27, 2022, Work Session and Regular Meeting minutes. The minutes were accepted as written. 5. Old Business There was no Old Business this evening. 6. New Business A. Abstract of Votes Receive the Abstract of Votes cast at the Republican Primary Election held on June 21, 2022. The Abstract of Votes was accepted by Council. B. Appropriation of Funds Consider request to accept and appropriate the Rescue Squad Assistance Fund (RSAF) grant. Mr. Foley clarified for the benefit of the public that the amount of $184,613 will be used to pay for half the cost of an ambulance. Mayor Turk noted that she is pleased to be able to apply the grant to purchase another ambulance for the City. John Saunders motioned to accept and appropriate the Rescue Squad Assistance Fund (RSAF) grant. William Jones seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace C. Boards and Commissions Consider appointments to various boards and commissions. Mayor Turk noted that Officer Clingenpeel took a job in another area; therefore, this approval will replace his spot on this Board. Randy Foley motioned to recommend Steve Garber to replace B. Todd Clingenpeel as alternate for the remainder of the term ending December 31, 2022, to the Western Virginia Regional Jail Authority. John Saunders seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace D. School Board Request for Funding Consider request from Salem City School Board for funding - SUPPLEMENTAL ITEM Mayor Turk noted that Item 6D is the item that was noted as being added to the agenda for this evening earlier in the meeting from a school funding request discussion during the Work Session. Mayor Turk explained for the benefit of the public that Council had received a request from the Salem City Schools several months back that Council consider approving funds in addition to the initial budget for the schools so that the School System would be able to increase the salary of hourly employees to a rate of $12 per hour and to help bring the teachers ’ salaries up to remain competitive in the area. Council worked with staff and was able to put $900,000 in contingency. Council asked that the school system wait to see if they would receive any further funds from the State. At this point, no further funds have been received from the State. She continued to explain that Council had considered three options during the Work Session. Option one was to approve $750,000 to the school system. Option 2 was to approve $900,000 to help increase salaries including staff members paid an hourly rate, support staff, and teachers. This does not include administrative staff. The third option that was considered was $1.3 million. This option would place the teachers' starting salary at $48,000, which would be equal to Roanoke City and put Salem as one of the highest in the area. She indicated that Council had discussed these options. Mr. Foley noted that this is also consistent with the promise that Council made at the time that any additional Real Estate taxes that were realized when the Real Estate tax rate was raised would go toward the schools. The amount of $900,000 is consistent with this amount. Mr. Taliaferro clarified that the handshake deal with the schools involved half of the Real Estate tax amount. Randy Foley motioned to authorize City administration to move $900,000 to the Salem City School budget to increase salaries as discussed. John Saunders seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace 7. Adjournment Mayor Turk commented on the success of the Salem Fair and recognized the hard work of all the people involved. The meeting was adjourned at 6:42 p.m.