Board of Commissioners Meetings

117 CITY OF HENDERSON – RECORD BOOK Record of Minutes of A Called Work Session Meeting on May 30, 2018 A Called Work Session of the Board of Commissioners of the City of Henderson, Kentucky, was held on Wednesday, May 30, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. in the third floor Assembly Room, Municipal Center, 222 First Street, Henderson, Kentucky. There were present the Honorable Steve Austin, Mayor, presiding. PRESENT: Commissioner Patti Bugg Commissioner Robert N. Pruitt, Sr. Commissioner Bradley S. Staton Commissioner Austin P. Vowels CITY STAFF MEMBERS included Russell R. Sights, City Manager; Dawn Kelsey, City Attorney; Maree Collins, City Clerk; William L. “Buzzy” Newman, Jr., Assistant City Manager; Donna Stinnett, Community Relations Manager/Public Information Officer; Robert Gunter, Finance Director, Dawn Winn, Assistant Finance Director; John Stier, Accounting Manager; Connie Galloway, Human Resources Director; Jason Hargitt, Interim Police Chief; Wendy Sugg, HPD Administrative Secretary; Greg Nunn, Information Technology Director; Scott Foreman, Fire Chief; Cindy Phillips, HFD Administrative Secretary; Brian Williams, Public Works Director; Sam Lingerfelt, Sanitation Superintendent; Brenda Wethington, Transit Superintendent; Dylan Ward, Public Works Engineer; Donna Coomes, Administrative Secretary; Terry Stone, Municipal Facilities Superintendent; Trace Stevens, Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Director; Owen Reeves, Gas System Director; Ray Nix, Code Administrator; Jennifer Latimer, Executive Assistant; and Daniel Pennaman, Police Officer. ALSO PRESENT: Tom Williams, HWU General Manager; Todd Bowley, HWU Chief Financial Officer; and Douglas White, The Gleaner THE FOLLOWING AGENDA ITEM WAS DISCUSSED: 1. Review and Discussion of 2018-2019 Draft Operating Budget  City Manager Russell Sights indicated that feedback since the previous budget meeting was to include the roof replacement project of the former IBT building ($175,000.00), add in approximately one-half of the South Main Street sidewalk project ($70,000.00) to do this project in phases over the next two fiscal years, remove the Water Street sidewalk project (- $51,000.00), and/or remove the Municipal Center phone system project (- $28,000.00). He also recommended that the Henderson Water Utility PILOT dollar amount be increased from $400,000.00 to $600,000.00 or $650,000.00 per year to start bringing it more in alignment with the other utilities. DISCUSSION WAS HELD regarding which, if any, of these projects were critical; the various options and configurations for deleting and adding projects; if other projects in the budget should also be prioritized; the sale of City owned property near Second and Alvasia Streets; the wash bay project for the Municipal Service Center including size, cost and MS4 requirements; Henderson Water Utility’s PILOT amount and if it should be raised, and if so the amount and when; all the utility PILOT amounts; whether the Gas System Manager position is necessary; the amount of healthcare increase and if any of that should be passed on to the employees; that leaving the employee contribution for healthcare low could be used as a drawing card to attract and retain better qualified candidates; if sufficient cuts could be made in the Gas Department budget to allow the position to be included in the upcoming budget; the amount of reserves being spent each year to balance the budget; increased pension costs for coming years and how to address that additional expense; and a reminder that this year’s budget includes a new pass-thru fund to accommodate the newly formed Tourist Commission. It was determined that the South Main Street sidewalk and roofing projects would be included in the budget offset by the removal of the phone system, the Water Street sidewalk project, and the future sale of City 118 CITY OF HENDERSON – RECORD BOOK Record of Minutes of A Called Work Session Meeting on May 30, 2018 owned property and that the Gas System Manager position would be left out of the budgeted positions at this time with the opportunity that it could be added in at a later date upon review and additional expense cuts. NO FORMAL ACTION WAS TAKEN BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. MEETING ADJOURN: MOTION by Commissioner Staton, seconded by Commissioner Bugg to adjourn. The vote was called. On roll call, the vote stood: Commissioner Pruitt ------- Aye: Commissioner Bugg ------- Aye: Commissioner Vowels ----- Aye: Commissioner Staton ------ Aye: Mayor Austin --------------- Aye: WHEREUPON Mayor Austin declared the work session adjourned at approximately 12:50 p.m. ________________________ Steve Austin, Mayor ATTEST: June 12, 2018 ________________________ Maree Collins, City Clerk