City Council

Florence City Council Special Meeting Tuesday, March 5, 2024 6:00 p.m. MINUTES The City Council of the City of Florence, Kentucky, met in special session on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at the Florence Government Center, 8100 Ewing Boulevard, Florence, Kentucky, with Mayor Julie M. Aubuchon presiding as chair. CALL TO ORDER & WELCOME: Mayor Julie M. Aubuchon called the special meeting to order and declared the meeting open for the presentation of items on the special meeting agenda. INVOCATION & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Mayor Aubuchon and Members of City Council recited the invocation. All attendees recited the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL: The roll was called, and the following five (5) members of council were registered present: Mel Carroll, Lesley Chambers, Jenna Kemper (Vice-Mayor), Patricia Wingo, and Gary Winn. Councilmember David A. Osborne was absent. Staff members present were: City Attorney, Thomas R. Nienaber; CFO/HR, Linda Chapman; Fire/EMS Chief, Rodney Wren; Chief of Police, Tom Grau; Public Services Director, Eric Hall; Director of Administration/City Administrator, Joshua J. Hunt; City Clerk, Melissa Kramer; Videographer, Joel Clines; and Police Lieutenant, Roger Allen. The following were also present in the audience: Resident of Florence, Angie Cable; Resident of Florence, Nancy Corman; Resident of Florence, Stacey Arnett; Resident of Florence, Brian Kinross; Resident of Florence, Thomas Judd; and Northern Kentucky Tribune Reporter, Trisha Scheyer. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Mayor Aubuchon called for a motion to approve the minutes of the February 27, 2024, business meeting. Councilmember Kemper motioned to approve the minutes with a second from Councilmember Wingo. All councilmembers present voted aye. Florence City Council (Special Meeting) Minutes: Tuesday, March 5, 2024 SECOND READING ORDINANCE O-4-2024: Mayor Aubuchon read Ordinance O-4-2024. An Ordinance relating to personnel: amending Ordinance O-33-2023 relating to personnel policies, job descriptions, authorized positions, and the pay plan. This Ordinance makes revisions to the Job Descriptions, Pay Plan and list of Authorized Position Sections of the Personnel Policies and Procedures. The full text of Ordinance O-4-2024, including its exhibits, is available for examination in the office of the City Clerk of the City of Florence, Kentucky, in the Florence Government Center, 8100 Ewing Blvd., Florence, Kentucky, during regular office hours. Mayor Aubuchon called for a motion to approve the second reading of Ordinance O-4-2024. Councilmember Wingo motioned to approve, with a second from Councilmember Winn. Mayor Aubuchon requested a Roll Call Vote. Councilmember Carroll, yes; Councilmember Chambers, no; Councilmember Winn, yes; Councilmember Kemper, yes; Councilmember Wingo, yes. Roll call recognized four yes votes and one no vote approving the second reading of Ordinance O-4-2024 by 4-1 majority. SECOND READING ORDINANCE O-5-2024: Mayor Aubuchon read Ordinance O-5-2024. An Ordinance Amending Ordinance O-9-06 And O- 14-21; Fixing The Compensation Of The Office Of Mayor For The Term Of Office Beginning January 2027. This Ordinance makes revisions to the annual compensation for the Office of Mayor. Beginning with the Mayor’s term of office on January 1, 2027, the Mayor shall receive compensation in the amount of Eighty-Six Thousand Nine Hundred Thirty-Seven Dollars ($86,937.00) per year payable in equal bi-weekly installments. Compensation for Council Members shall remain at Seventeen Thousand Five Hundred Sixty-Three Dollars ($17,563.00) per year payable in equal bi- weekly installments. The full text of Ordinance O-5-2024, including its exhibits, is available for examination in the office of the City Clerk of the City of Florence, Kentucky, in the Florence Government Center, 8100 Ewing Blvd., Florence, Kentucky, during regular office hours. Mayor Aubuchon called for a motion to approve the second reading of Ordinance O-5-2024. Councilmember Wingo motioned to approve, with a second from Councilmember Winn. Mayor Aubuchon requested any further discussion based on the changes as amended at the prior meeting. Councilmember Kemper stated she had decided to change her previous vote in response to the concerns and discussions with citizens. Despite her initial support, she now planned to vote against the increase and expressed interest in revisiting the issue in the future. No further discussion was necessitated and based on the motion to approve the second reading of 2|Page Florence City Council (Special Meeting) Minutes: Tuesday, March 5, 2024 Ordinance O-5-2024 by Councilmember Wingo and seconded by Councilmember Winn, Mayor Aubuchon requested a Roll Call Vote. Councilmember Carroll, yes; Councilmember Chambers, no; Councilmember Winn, yes; Councilmember Kemper, no; Councilmember Wingo, yes. Roll call recognized three yes votes and two no votes approving the second reading of Ordinance O-5-2024 by 3-2 majority. RETIREMENT OF CHIEF OF POLICE TOM GRAU: Mayor Aubuchon announced the retirement of Chief of Police Tom Grau. Chief Grau announced his retirement effective May 1. Chief Grau, a 1995 graduate of the University of Cincinnati with a degree in Criminal Justice, began his career with the Florence Police Department on May 1, 1995. Over the years, Chief Grau has held every rank, from Corporal to Chief of Police. Throughout his tenure, Chief Grau has served in every part of the department, including patrol, detectives, community resources, and the Crime Suppression Unit/Drug Unit. Additionally, he served as an Accident Reconstructionist, Hostage Negotiator and Field Training Officer. Chief Grau was instrumental in creating the Teen Academy, a groundbreaking program diverting youth offenders from the criminal justice system. Mayor Aubuchon encouraged everyone to extend their retirement wishes to Chief Grau and stated Chief Grau would issue remarks later. Mayor Aubuchon stated they are actively seeking a new chief and expressed her gratitude for Chief Grau’s years of mentoring officers within the department. Councilmember Carroll expressed his appreciation to Chief Grau and commended his leadership of the police department. CLOSED SESSION: Mayor Aubuchon called for a motion to go into Closed Session pursuant to KRS 61.810 (1)(b) acquisition/sale of real property - where publicity would be likely to affect the value of property to be acquired for public use or to be sold by the city and KRS 61.810(1)(c) litigation – proposed or pending against or on behalf of the city. Councilmember Wingo so moved with a second from Councilmember Carroll. All councilmembers present voted aye, the time being 6:07 p.m. Mayor Aubuchon advised they would return to the room to adjourn and did not anticipate any further business taking place following Closed Session. Mayor Aubuchon called for a motion to come back into session after the Closed Session. Councilmember Winn so moved, with a second from Councilmember Wingo. All councilmembers present voted aye, the time being 6:40 p.m. 3|Page Florence City Council (Special Meeting) Minutes: Tuesday, March 5, 2024 ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Aubuchon called for a motion to adjourn the Special Meeting. Councilmember Winn so moved, with a second from Councilmember Kemper. Councilmembers present voted aye, the time being 6:41p.m. APPROVED: /s/ Julie M. Aubuchon Julie M. Aubuchon, Mayor ATTEST: /s/ Melissa Kramer Melissa Kramer, City Clerk 4|Page