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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/14/2020 - City Council - Minutes - RegularUNAPPROVED MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION December 14, 2020 A work session of the Council of the City of Salem, Virginia, was held in Parlor A of the Salem Civic Center, 1001 Roanoke Boulevard, Salem, Virginia, on December 14, 2020, at 5:30 p.m., there being present the following members of said Council, to wit: Renee F. Turk, James W. Wallace, III, Byron Randolph Foley, William D. Jones, and John E. Saunders; with Renee F. 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; Crystal Williams, Assistant to the City Manager; and Tammy Todd, Assistant Director of Finance; 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 WHEREAS, Ms. Jordan introduced John Aldridge with Brown, Edwards & Company as the principal in charge of the City’s fiscal year 2020 audit and Mr. Aldridge presented the overall results and highlights from the independent audit; and WHEREAS, Mr. Light presented information on the City’s mobile cellular devices and general future policy recommendations; 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 6:09 p.m. ____________________________________ Mayor _____________________________________ Clerk of Council Ci ty Counci l Meeti ng M INUTES Monday, December 14, 2020, 6:30 P M Community Room, Salem Civic Center, 1001 Roanoke Boulevard, 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 6:30 p.m., there being present the following members to wit: Renee F. Turk, Mayor, J ames W. Wallace, III, Vice-Mayor, Council members: Byron Randolph Foley, William D. J ones, and J ohn E. Saunders; with Renee F. Turk, Mayor, presiding; together with J ames E. Taliaferro, II, C ity Manager; Rob Light, Assistant C ity Manager and Clerk of Council; Rosemarie B. J ordan, Director of Finance; C harles E. VanAllman, J r., C ommunity Development Director; Mike Stevens, C ommunications Director; and J im Guynn, Interim C ity Attorney. 2.Pledge of Allegiance 3.C onsent Agenda A.Citizens' Comments Comments from the public, limited to five minutes, on matters not on the regular meeting agenda. T he following have signed up to speak at this meeting: 1) J ohn Breen, 142 Bogey Lane, Salem. Topic: Improving Salem - Part I Salem's Vision 2) Christopher Burton, 506 Oakview Drive, Salem. Topic: Noise Pollution Problem J ohn Breen of 142 Bogey Lane and Christopher Burton of 506 Oakview Drive signed up to present comments to Council at this meeting. However, neither was able to attend to the meeting due to illness. B.Minutes Consider acceptance of the minutes from the November 23, 2020, regular meeting and work session, and the December 1, 2020, special meeting. T he November 23, 2020 City C ouncil meeting minutes were accepted as presented. 4.Old Business A.Ordinance for B onuses Consider ordinance on second reading approving salary bonuses for employees of the City of Salem. William J ones motioned to adopt an ordinance on second reading approving salary bonuses for employees of the C ity of Salem as amended. Randy Foley seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, J ones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace 5.New Business A.Comprehensiv e Annual F inancial Report Presentation of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the year ended J une 30, 2020. J ohn Aldridge with Brown, Edwards and C ompany, Roanoke, presented the C ity's fiscal year 2020 C omprehensive Annual Financial Report (C A FR). He noted that all localities are required to have an annual audit and that the auditor is also required to present the report and any findings in a public meeting. He said that he also met with Council in work session prior to this meeting and reviewed the report in detail. Mr. Aldridge indicated that Brown, Edwards and C ompany has issued an unmodified or clean opinion to the City. T here were no compliance issues noted. T he report has been filed with the State by the required December 15th deadline. Mr. Aldridge informed Council that there was one piece related to the audit that remains to be completed. T he Federal testing component can't be completed until the Federal government issues guidance on the C A RES funding. Once this guidance is issued, this item will be completed. Mayor Turk thanked Mr. Aldridge and his firm, accepted the information as presented and thanked him for his detailed review in the work session. Mr. Foley thanked Ms. J ordan and the Finance staff for their work in preparing the C A FR. B.Appropriation of F unds Consider request to appropriate local funding for the VD O T East Main Street Project. Audit - Finance Committee Vice Mayor Wallace noted that the Audit Finance Committee met to discuss the local funding requirements for the East Main Street project. T he C ommittee reviewed the request and recommends approval of appropriating $58,128 for this project. J ames Wallace motioned to appropriate $58,128 for the East Main Street project.. J ohn Saunders seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, J ones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace C .Appropriation of F unds Consider request to appropriate local funding for Downtown from Broad Street to White Oak Alley. Audit - Finance Committee Vice Mayor Wallace noted that the Audit Finance Committee met to discuss the local funding requirements for the Downtown Improvement Project between Broad Street and White Oak Alley. T he Committee reviewed the request and recommends approval of appropriating $50,000 for this project. J ames Wallace motioned to appropriate $50,000 for the Downtown Improvement Project between Broad Street and White Oak Alley.. Randy Foley seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, J ones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace D.Appropriation of F unds Consider request to appropriate local match for the VD O T Revenue Sharing Grant for Downtown from Union Street to Broad Street. Audit - Finance Committee Vice Mayor Wallace noted that the Audit Finance Committee met to discuss the local funding requirements for the Downtown Improvement Project between Broad Street and Union Street. T he C ommittee reviewed the request and recommends approval of appropriating $250,000 for this project. J ames Wallace motioned to appropriate $250,000 for the Downtown Improvement Project between Broad Street and Union Street.. Randy Foley seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, J ones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace E.Appropriation of F unds Consider request to amend School Operating Fund and School Grants Fund budgets as approved by the School Board on October 13, 2020. Audit - Finance Committee Vice Mayor Wallace noted that the Audit Finance Committee met to discuss the School Board's amendment to the Operating Fund and G rant Funds budgets. T he C ommittee reviewed the request and recommends approval of the School Board's requested appropriation of a $2,992 reduction in the School Operating Fund and a $980,536 increase in the School Grant Fund. J ames Wallace motioned to approve appropriation of a $2,992 reduction in the School Operating Fund and a $980,536 increase in the School Grant Fund.. J ohn Saunders seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, J ones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace F.Appropriation of F unds Consider request to appropriate funds for bonuses. Audit - Finance Committee Vice Mayor Wallace noted that the Audit Finance Committee met to discuss the appropriation of funding for employee bonuses for employees that did not receive hazard pay. T he C ommittee reviewed the request and recommends approval of appropriating $426,492 for employee bonuses in General Fund departments, C ivic C enter employees, and Catering Employees. J ames Wallace motioned to approve appropriation of $426,492 from prior year fund balance for employee bonuses in General Fund departments, C ivic Center employees, and C atering Employees.. Randy Foley seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, J ones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace G.Appropriation of F unds Consider request to appropriate funds from the Library of Virginia. Audit - Finance Committee Vice Mayor Wallace noted that the Audit Finance Committee met to discuss the State-aid appropriation of funding for the Library. T he Committee reviewed the request to carry over $23,980 from fiscal year 2020 and recommends approval. J ames Wallace motioned to approve appropriation of $23,980 of State-aid carry over funding from fiscal year 2020 for the Library.. Randy Foley seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, J ones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace H.Boards and Commissions Consider appointments to various Boards and Commissions. Mayor Turk made a motion to approve the reappointment of Clark "Rob" Robinson, J r. to the Economic Development Authority for a four-year term ending December 14, 2024; and the reappointment of J ohn R. Hildebrand to the Board of Appeals (USBC Building C ode) for a five-year term ending J anuary 1, 2026. Mr. J ones noted a vacated Board position for the Economic Development Authority and due to the importance of the position, asked if it would be appropriate for C ouncil to conduct interviews with candidates. Mr. Foley agreed that interviews would be appropriate for this separate vacancy. Mayor Turk noted that there are currently vacancies on several Boards or C ommittees including the Board of Appeals (USBC Building Code), Board of Equalization, Board of Zoning Appeals, Community Policy and Management Team, Economic Development Authority, Fair Housing Board, and Personnel Board. She encouraged citizens that may be interested to review these on the City's website and apply for these vacancies. Mr. J ones asked if we can put something out on our site or as otherwise appropriate to promote the vacant Economic Development Authority position due to it's importance. Mayor Turn concurred. Mr. Taliaferro responded that staff could accommodate this request. Renee Turk motioned Motion to approve the reappointment of Clark "Rob" Robinson, J r. to the Economic Development Authority for a four-year term ending December 14, 2024; and the reappointment of J ohn R. Hildebrand to the Board of Appeals (USBC Building C ode) for a five-year term ending J anuary 1, 2026.. Randy Foley seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, J ones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace 6.Adjournment Mayor Turk asked that everyone remember the spirit of giving during the holiday season as we look around to the businesses and individuals that have been so severely affected by the Pandemic in the last year. Mayor Turk thanked the Emergency Management Team, Fire and EMS, Police, and doctors/nurses that have served our community. She noted that we are all working through this together and to continue to work safely and strongly going forward. T he meeting was adjourned at 6:44 p.m.