City Council Special Meeting

Minutes CITY OF CHEROKEE VILLAGE, ARKANSAS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2023, 6: 00 P. M., CHEROKEE VILLAGE CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER by Mayor Rose at 6: 00 PM PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER ROLL CALL; ESTABLISH QUORUM— Roll call by the City Clerk, Penny Trumpy. Council Members present: Pam Rowland, Heather Harrison, Jeff Tatum, Andrew Hefley, Eddie Ishmael, Steve Thompson, Rob Smith, Peter Martin, and Steven Rose. Absent Jon Abele Attorney APPROVAL OF AGENDA— Council Member Smith moved to approve the agenda, seconded by Council Member Tatum. Discussion concerning the Mayor' s and Clerks salary being on the agenda. ( 7 yea' s) motion passed. PUBLIC COMMENTS/ QUESTIONS ON AGENDA ITEMS( limit 3 minutes per person) NONE 1. FINANCIAL REPORT: Council Member Martin questioned the NEA Grant— Our Town Grant as to when it was discussed. Council Member Thompson explained that this Council did vote on participating in this grant. It was not discussed because there was no action taken to report. Council Member Thompson read minutes from 2019 on the Our Time Grant. Treasurer Deanna Hefner provided paperwork to Council and explained the report. There was much discussion on procedures and Council follow up. Council Member Rowland expressed that Council needs to tighten up and follow procedures, and re- evaluate items of concern. Council Member Tatum provided information that states the county splits the salary of the District Clerk of Courts with the City. Mayor Rose state this is a question to be asked. Council Member Thompson questioned the way the reports show debits and credits. The reports are pot easy to read for the public and someone needs to be accountable. A better way is needed to present the information tothe Council and the public. Council Member Thompson asked employees if anything was unaccountable and not reconciled. The answer was yes. The City of Cherokee Village has passed Legislative Audits every 2 years with the last audit in 2022. Council Member Thompson asked that the Mayor get with the city employees and any consulting the want to include to make the corrections to the financial reports to make them compliant with the State Audit format and understandable, seconded by Council Member Tatum. Council Member Martin states that Council has the ability to set policy and should have input to the procurers. Council Member Rowland suggests that this be put into an Ordinance to put it into Councils hands. Roll Call Vote: Ishmael yes, Thompson yes, Smith yes, Martin yes, Rowland yes, Harrison yes, Tatum yes, Hefley yes, Motion passed( 8 yea' s) 1. Fund Balance— 1 page - 2. GF— Admin.— 2 pages 3. GF— Animal Control— 2 pages— Council Member Smith question how the V Pour Trust is to be paid out. There are guidelines in the Trust paperwork. 4. GF— ARPA— l page 5. GF— Building& Grounds— I page 6. GF— Community Service— 1 page 7. GF— Court Automation— 1 page 8. GF— District Court— 1 page 9. GF— Fire Dept— 1 page 10. GF— Planning and Zoning— 1 page 11. GF— Police Dept- 2 pages 12. GF— Police Aux— 1 page 13. Street Fund— 2 pages  14. Fire Fund— 1 page 15. End of the Year State of the City 2022— 1 page 16. GF AR Treasurer 2022— 1 page 17. Street Dept AR Treasurer— 1 page Council Member Hefley moved to accept the Financial Reports with corrections, seconded by Council Member Tatum. Roll Call Vote: Tatum yes, Hefley yes, Ishmael yes, Thompson yes, Smith no, Martin abstained, Rowland yes, Harrison abstained. Motion passed( 5 yea' s)( 1 no)( 2 abstained) 2. Mayor and Clerks Salary— Council Member Thompson read paperwork from the ML about elected and appointed official' s salaries. The action the Council took may not be in the guidelines of the State Statute and Municipal League. After discussion Council Member Tatum moved to get a legal opinion from the City attorney and ML attorney, also is there room in the budget for salary increases and come back to the Council at the regular meeting. Council Member Rowland reminded everyone that this was discussed and to be reviewed in the first quarter of the year. Council Member Tatum stated that if it is a salary it doesn' t matter how many hours you work a week. The pay needs to reflect that, can the budget committee help determine if the budget can accommodate the increase. Council Member Thompson said he believes there is money in the budget to pay the Mayor and the Clerk the increase in income, Seconded by Council Member Hefley. Roll Call Vote: Thompson yes, Smith yes, Martin yes, Rowland yes, Harrison yes, Tatum yes, Hefley yes, Ishmael yes. Motion passed( 8 yea' s) COMMENTS/ QUESTIONS ON CITY RELATED BUSINESS( limit 3 minutes per person) Mayor Rose explained that a statement he made about the emails being removed from his computer was due to the emails did not get transferred in to his account, not that the previous Mayor removed them. The Working meeting on February 13, 2003 will not be in the Council room due to elections. Location will be announced. Council Member Tatum asked if Zoom meeting were am option as he will be unable to attend the next council meeting. Zoom meetings are not an option due to the cost. A Council Member can attend virtually by phone. Council Member Martin moved to adjourn, seconded by Council Member Hefley. Motion passed. ADJOURNMENT— 7: 40 PM DATE: v1--31, 2- 202 7 APPROVED-. Steven R. Rose, Mayor ATTEST-- T_ Penny rumpy, City Clerk