City Council

CITY OF FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA HON. THOMAS J. TOMZAK, MAYOR HON. MARY KATHERINE GREENLAW, VICE MAYOR CITY COUNCIL HON. KERRY P. DEVINE, AT-LARGE HON. BRADFORD C. ELLIS, WARD ONE HON. GEORGE C. SOLLEY, WARD TWO HON. FREDERIC N. HOWE , III, WARD THREE Council Chambers, 715 Princess Anne Street HON. BEATRICE R. PAOLUCCI, WARD FOUR Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401 Council Work Session April 26, 2011 Final Budget Work Session – “Straw vote” propositions The Council of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia, held a work session on Tuesday, April 26, 2011, beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the conference room of City Hall. Council Present. Mayor Thomas J. Tomzak, presiding. Vice-Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw. Councilors Kerry P. Devine, Bradford C. Ellis, Frederic N. Howe, III, Beatrice R. Paolucci and George C. Solley. Also Present. City Manager Beverly R. Cameron, Assistant City Manager Mark Whitley, City Attorney Kathleen Dooley, and Deputy Clerk of Council Brenda T. Martin. Recommended Budget Fiscal Year 2012. City Manager Cameron opened the discussion by stating the purpose of the meeting was to have final discussions on the budget by reviewing the propositions and taking straw votes. Assistant City Manager Whitley outlined the propositions list worksheet (see attachment). Discussion surrounded the first and second proposition of hiring consultants for the class and compensation study and the overall management study. Proposition #1, hiring a consultant for a class and comp study was not supported by the majority, at this time. It was suggested that after reviewing the management study recommendations, a class and compensation study would be more appropriate. The majority supported proposition #2, hiring a consultant for an overall management study. The timing of doing the study is important for being able to carry through with what the study recommends. 1  Proposition #8, funding all outside agencies by increasing the real estate rate by two cents was proposed by Councilor Ellis and discussed by Council. The consensus was that there are a lot of worthy outside agencies and they do provide a high return on investment but there is a need to be cautious on full funding all the agencies when some were mindful of not asking for an increase, due to economic conditions. The increase on the real estate rate to fund all agencies requests was not supported by the majority. Proposition #3, retaining part-time victim witness employee in Commonwealth Attorney’s office was supported by the majority. Proposition #4, funding Safe Harbor their $5,000 request was supported by the majority. Proposition #5, hiring an accounting technician for Treasurer’s office was supported by the majority. It should be re-evaluated next year. Proposition #6, various miscellaneous items (see attached) was approved by the majority. Proposition #7, increasing tree budget by $10,000 was supported by the majority. Discussion continued on funding outside agencies. Mayor Tomzak requested Council consider funding $5,000 to the RACCAP agency for the services they provide. This was supported by the majority. The Fredericksburg Area Museum requested an additional $20,000 for the upcoming sesquicentennial events. Councilor Howe said funding could come from the agencies that have requested a salary increase for their employees over and above what would be equal to the $850 bonus for City employees. Other discussions suggested giving only $10,000 due to the very late request and that fund raising can occur. Concerns were discussed that the library and the schools are giving their employees a raise in the coming year. Assistant City Manager Whitley pointed out that with regional agencies like the library it is more difficult to mandate equability in raises. The majority supported the $10,000 additional request for the museum’s sesquicentennial events, with the appropriate justification. Adjournment. There being no further business to come before the Council at this time, Mayor Tomzak declared the work session officially adjourned at 7:10 p.m. Brenda T. Martin Brenda T. Martin 2