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 April 27, 2021 Fiscal Year 2022 Recommended Budget Discussions Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) Report Update The Council of the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia held a work session on Tuesday, April 27, 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. Also Present. City Manager Timothy J. Baroody, Assistant City Manager Mark Whitley, City Attorney Kathleen Dooley, Budget Manager Brenna Erford, Police Chief Brian Layton, Captain Patrick Reed, Captain Mary Mason, Captain Mike Presutto and Clerk of Council Tonya B. Lacey. Fiscal Year 2022 Recommended Budget Discussions. Assistant City Manager Whitley noted that the public hearing was held open for more discussion and that the budget was on the agenda for first read. He reminded Council that the school budget must be approved by May 15. Staff’s plan was to vote on the entire budget on May 11 and bring the Capital Improvements Plan back for approval later in May because of changes. He said there were major expenditure changes from the FY 2022 City Manager’s Recommended Budget which include: • Increases to the Recommended Budget’s across-the-board pay increase for City employees from 3% to 4% at a cost of approximately $297,000; 1  • Increases to revenue estimates for business license tax receipts and receipts from the Virginia Compensation Board for constitutional officers; • Increases to the City’s contribution to the local health department by $24,997 in accordance with new state requirements; • Increases to state-shared revenue for the Voter Registrar office, and includes associated increases to the Voter Registrar’s compensation; • Addition of $15,000 for police investigative software, $40,000 for regular wheeled refuse cart replacements, and $40,000 for a proffer study; • Increases to the transfer to FCPS by $1,000,000 for planning and programming work for a new elementary school; • Includes a $70,000 decrease to the transfer to City Grants for regional tourism, instead re-locating that support to the Economic Development and Tourism budget; and • Addition of $5,000 for Virginia Food Connections into the City’s total support for community partner agencies. Councilor Kelly said he wanted more discussion on the positions before voting on the budget because he said the public does not understand what the plan was for the defined positions. Councilor Withers suggested posting the job descriptions online for the public to review. Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) Report Update. Chief Layton began with a YouTube video explaining the update on the PERF Report. He had each of his Captain’s review each of the recommendations and state the status of each. See Attachment II more information. Chief Layton stated that the Police Department had come a long way since May 2020. With recent activity in the area the Department had been exercising what they have learned and all was well. Councilor Devine asked if there was overlap with the accreditation process and the PERF recommendations. Chief Layton stated that with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) tell you that you need to do certain things but they do not tell you how to get them done. 2  Captain Reed explained that PERF was a governing body of CALEA. CALEA gives a generalized focus but they do not tell you how to implement the policies. CALEA recently came out with new standards one was that every officer must receive training on civil disturbance and the duty to intervene. CALEA was more broad where PERF narrows in on the steps needed to implement the new standards. Captain Reed said a lot that came out in the PERF report was now a standard that the Department must meet. Disclosures Councilor Duffy complimented the Chief and everyone on an impressive job scope of PERF recommendations. He was grateful that the department was including neighboring counties. Councilor Duffy disclosed that he was an employee of the Fredericksburg City Schools and he was able to participate in the budget discussions fairly, objectively and in the public interest. Vice-Mayor Frye disclosed that his spouse was an employee of the Fredericksburg City Schools and he was able to participate in the budget discussions fairly, objectively and in the public interest. Adjournment. There being no further business to come before the Council at this time. Mayor Greenlaw declared the session officially adjourned at 6:25 p.m. ______________________ Tonya B. Lacey Clerk of Council City of Fredericksburg 3