SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING, August 26: Highlights Returning to City Hall for another ‘work session,’ this meeting was again closed to public comment, but enhanced by limited handouts to the gallery of the budget proposals under discussion. Council member Vince Osbourn also brought a video projector that permitted ‘live‘ updates of options in specific areas, and their impact on the ‘bottom line,‘ for all to see. All Council members and the mayor and executive principals were present (except Al Huber, who arrived 20 minutes into the meeting). Departing City clerk Stephanie Lee was replaced by pro tem clerk Robin Shouse. Two significant developments helped shape this session: - The Council having had a week to go over the latest proposals and prepare for discussion, this was a real working meeting, with specific questions and issues on individual budget lines. - Residents having had a chance to share their concerns, ideas and anger last week, the gallery was much smaller (the meeting room was still full, just not overflowing) and less prone to intervention. In general, the atmosphere was considerably more cooperative, though the most common responses heard from the mayor and executive officials to specific questions about budget lines were familiar: “I don’t have that number,” “I can get that for you [later],” or “I’m not sure.” Still, the Council was able to make progress on most of its key areas of concern, including: separating sanitation into a distinct, restricted account that can’t be commingled in the future with general City funds. arrangements for moving to a part-time City Clerk, with apparent consensus on a 30-hour week, 6 hours/day, at $15/hour, subject to negotiations with candidates. finding support for early re-codification of City ordinances, last done in 1996, with a potential combination of general fund and grant monies for contract support. dealing with unfunded pension liabilities, now increased with the departure of the ‘vested’ City clerk. determining best distribution of public works tasks to full-time, part-time, or contract employees. finding a balance of police personnel and resources to preserve full service in Audubon Park, at an affordable cost. applying what funds can be found to restoring the City’s natural resources and infrastructure. The pension discussion disclosed that the departing City clerk was awarded a pension based on the “wages, tips, general comp” entry on the last W2 form - which would include not just the ‘gross salary’ stipulated in the retirement plan, but all supplemental, incentive and benefit payments (and, for that matter, any outside income from other sources). This produced a basis, in Stephanie’s case, of over $40K - and further explains Chief Reesor’s earlier basis in excess of $100K. Together with the remaining payout for another former police officer, this leaves the City with an obligation for the coming year now exceeding $80K. Inquiries continue into various aspects of the propriety and legality of these payments. Public Works duties, in response to Council questions, were described by the mayor only as “many and varied.” In the interest of helping compile a more specific account, things heard in the ensuing conversation included mowing in common areas; watering plantings; brining and plowing streets; drain clearing; storm cleanup; collecting trash and debris in streets and public areas; and general maintenance at City Hall - all desirable things, the remaining question being just how best to afford them. Likewise police services, on a larger scale, with Chief Cox proposing three options for future staffing with different mixes of full- and part-time officers, and corresponding economies in equipment and fuel and maintenance costs. Council members expressed a range of preferences - though the cases proposed, from a 9-man force with 5 full-time and 4 part-time, to a 7-man force with 2 full-time and 5 part-time, varied in estimated salary cost by less than $20K. It wasn’t clear what operational differences would result from any of the options, other that a general assurance of preserving 24/7 coverage. Other savings in equipment and sustainment remain to be refined. This discussion also produced an especially odd outburst from acting clerk Robin Shouse (who, it emerged, is herself a former Louisville police officer), proclaiming, in particular, that Council member Cary Campbell “doesn’t know what he’s talking about” in weighing the merits of a largely full-time versus part-time force, and offering her own perspective at some length (and, not being a Council member, without any right to take the floor). This went on without any intervention from the chair (i.e., the mayor), until a member of the gallery asked if this meant the floor was now open for public comments - at which point the mayor said no, and finally called the meeting back to order. The Council also revisited elements of the City’s “Personnel Handbook,” adopting several changes to conform to budget developments - especially, eliminating provisions for extra employee benefits for longevity, health insurance supplements, and pension benefits. A Municipal Order will be published (after conforming, presumably) to incorporate these changes. With a number of elements still to be fixed, another working meeting was planned for Wed, Sep 4, 7 PM at City Hall, in the same format (working meeting, open attendance but no public comments). See you then.
Posted on: Fri, 30 Aug 2013 02:51:03 +0000
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