City Council

CITY OF FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA HON. MARY KATHERINE GREENLAW, MAYOR HON. CHARLIE L. FRYE, JR., VICE -MAYOR, WARD FOUR CITY COUNCIL HON. KERRY P. DEVINE, AT-LARGE HON. MATTHEW J. KELLY, AT-LARGE HON. JASON N. GRAHAM, WARD ONE HON. WILLIAM C. WITHERS, JR., WARD TWO Council Chambers, 715 Princess Anne Street HON. DR. TIMOTHY P. DUFFY, WARD THREE Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401 Council Work Session March 30, 2021 Joint Work Session with School Board on Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Closed Meeting The Council and School Board of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia held a special joint work session on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, beginning at 5:30 p.m. using electronic communication through GoToMeeting pursuant to and in compliance with the City Council Ordinance 20-05, an ordinance to address Continuity of City Government during the pendency of a pandemic disaster. Council Present. Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw, Presiding. Vice-Mayor Charlie L. Frye, Jr. Councilors Kerry P. Devine, Timothy P. Duffy, Jason N. Graham, Matthew J. Kelly and William C. Withers, Jr. School Board Present. Chairman Jannan Holmes, Elizabeth Rehm, Jarvis Bailey, Kathleen Pomeroy, and Malvina Kay. Also Present. City Manager Timothy J. Baroody, Assistant City Manager Mark Whitley, Budget Manager Brenna Erford, City Attorney Kathleen Dooley, Deputy Clerk of Council Brenda T. Martin, School Board Superintendent Marceline Catlett, Assistant Superintendent Matthew Eberhardt and Schools Director of Finance Jennifer Brody. Mayor Greenlaw opened the meeting by announcing the electronic meeting compliance guidelines. Fiscal Year 2022 Recommended Budget Discussions. Councilor Duffy disclosed that he was employed by the Fredericksburg Schools System as the Principal at James Monroe High School but that he could participate in the budget discussion fairly, objectively and in the public interest. 1  Vice-Mayor Frye disclosed that his wife was employed by the Fredericksburg Schools System but that he could participate in the budget discussion fairly, objectively and in the public interest. City Budget Manager Erford presented a PowerPoint presentation and she gave key highlights on the following: Recommended Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Budget, FY 2021 Budget Year to Date, School Operating Transfer, Total City Debt Outstanding, New School Estimates, Current City Debt Service – Government & Enterprise, Future City Dept Service – Scenario, Federal and State Update on Anticipated Fiscal Aid from the American Rescue Plan and Budget Calendar for Upcoming Meetings. Superintendent Catlett thanked the budget team for their hard work and perseverance for a challenging pandemic year and planning for the coming year. And highlighted the topics to be presented. Schools Finance Director Brody presented a PowerPoint presentation and gave highlights on the following: Background and Trends, Challenges and Opportunities, State Budget Update, Operating Fund Budget Overview, and Capital Fund Budget Overview. Mayor Greenlaw opened the meeting for questions. Councilor Graham asked for clarification on the slide relating to teacher salaries lagging yet the per pupil spending being above a lot of other localities. Finance Director Brody said couldn’t explain it at the moment without doing further analysis and that she would follow up with information regarding that request. Councilor Kelly asked about the City’s capital budget as it relates to the new Fire Station and whether that figure includes equipment or just the construction of the station. Budget Manager Erford relayed that it is only for the construction costs. He asked for the breakdown of the capital and operational increases over the next five years so he can understand how that relates to building a new school and the impact of those costs. In regards to the school budget he asked how COVID-19 has impacted their budget. Finance Director Brody explained they have some savings in substitute teacher costs, transportation costs, and utilities but that was off set with additional purchases due to the pandemic. Mayor Greenlaw asked about additional funding from the state and federal government recovery funds that has provided assistance that was not known when the budget was first developed. Finance Director Brody explained that some of the funding will go to equipment and 2 summer school funding. Superintendent Catlett explained additional funding is also supporting additional staff and a staff raise that is proposed to go from 4% to 5%. Some of the funding will continue into 2023 to continue to support both known and unknown needs. Councilor Duffy thanked Superintendent Catlett and the School Board and Director of Finance Brody and the finance team for all their work on the budget and explanations on the details of the budget during the school board meetings. He also noted the work that the staff has done to get Wi-Fi to the students who needed access and other important services. He also asked about timelines as it relates to school capacity and whether staff was prepared to discuss that for the public. Councilor Withers echoed that request and that he appreciated Councilor Kelly bringing up the capital costs of the City’s other projects as it relates to building a new school. He is open and willing to have these important discussions. Councilor Kelly relayed his concerns about planning school capacity and normal expenditures beyond building a new school. He stated that in the recent past years the schools are asking for an additional $1 million each year, he asked Dr. Catlett if that will continue to be the pattern for the foreseeable future. She agreed it would. Mayor Greenlaw stated she is concerned about the increasing costs and how it relates to the City’s ongoing projects and needs as well. Chairman Holmes spoke to Councilor Graham’s earlier question on salaries and per pupil costs she believes it has to do with the extra staff needing to be hired as it relates to special education and English language learner’s increases. Director of Finance Brody explained roughly 50% of the students are disadvantaged and that doesn’t include this year which has gone up and special needs students are 11.5% of the student population as of two years ago which continues to increase. Councilor Devine stated that she and Councilor Graham have been serving on the Enrollment Expansion Task Force and that as the school population increases the need for a new school is at the eminent deciding point. She knows it will be challenging with the pressures of the other City projects, of which some will need to be delayed. She wishes that the schools will consider community needs when designing and planning the building for community usable rooms, and outdoor community spaces, etc. Vice-Mayor Frye stated to the School Board and Staff have been creative to assist students such as in the Mobile Food Bus that distributes meals. He stated he appreciated all the 3 great work the school staff is doing above and beyond due to the pandemic. He also mentioned that the need/want of a turf field at Maury Stadium is a conversation in happening in the community. City Manager Baroody did agree that is a project that is being discussed in the community and is the topic for an upcoming meeting and that he has discussed it with Superintendent Catlett. Vice-Mayor Frye mentioned the importance to the many CTE Programs and how important those classes were to him as a student at the city school when he was younger. Councilor Withers and Duffy echoed the importance of these programs as well. Mayor Greenlaw and Chairman Holmes thanked all the members for their hard work during these unprecedented times and collaborative efforts between the two boards. The work session meeting with the School Board adjourned at 7:15 p.m. Announcement of a Closed Session meeting for City Council meeting was made as detailed below. Closed Session Approved. Upon a motion Councilor Graham, moved approval of a closed session under Code of Virginia 2.2-3711 (A) (3), for discussion or consideration of the acquisition of the real property for a public purpose, where discussion in a an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining positon or negotiating strategy of the City Council; specifically, potential acquisition of real property or negotiating strategy of the City Council; specifically, potentially acquisition of real property in the City for public works and City School operations; seconded by Councilor Withers and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (7) Councilors Greenlaw, Withers, Devine, Duffy, Frye, Graham and Kelly. Nays (0). Return to Open Meeting Approved. Upon the motion of Councilor Devine; seconded by Councilor Graham and passed by the following recorded votes, Council approved a return to an open meeting. Ayes (7) Councilors Greenlaw, Frye, Devine, Duffy, Graham, Kelly and Withers. Nays (0). Resolution 21-_____, Approved, Certifying Closed Meeting. Upon the motion Councilor Devine approved Resolution 21-18 certifying the closed meeting; seconded by Councilor Graham and passed by the following recorded votes. Ayes (7) Councilors Greenlaw, Frye, Devine, Duffy, Graham, Kelly and Withers. Nays (0). Adjournment. There being no further business to come before the Council at this time. Mayor Greenlaw declared the session officially adjourned at 8:10 p.m. 4 ______________________ Brenda T. Martin Deputy Clerk of Council City of Fredericksburg 5