City Council Workshop Session

CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP SESSION Monday, July 25, 2022 – 6:00 PM 109 North Kaufman Street, Mount Vernon, Texas 75457 Our mission: to provide effective and fiscally responsible municipal services in a manner which promotes our high standard of community life. Vision Statement Mount Vernon is a caring community committed to excellence and quality of life, aspiring to be the community of choice for ourselves, our children, and future generations – beautiful, clean, vibrant, and safe. We will strive to preserve our heritage, our friendly hometown atmosphere, and celebrate the diversity of all our citizens. MINUTES 1,078 Call to order and announce a quorum is present. Mayor Hyman called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and announced a quorum present. The Mayor also introduced Joseph McDaniel and the new commander of the the VFW. PRESENT Mayor Brad Hyman Mayor Pro Tem Mark Huddleston Councilwoman Sherelyn Roberson Councilwoman Rebecca Bailey Councilwoman Mary Keys City Administrator Tina Rose City Secretary Kathy Lovier ABSENT Councilman Harold Cason VISITORS Joseph McDaniel, VFW and Brittany Smith, KSA Engineers Invocation and Pledges Joseph McDaniel, Commander of the VFW lead the pledges and in the invocation. Citizen Participation (3 minutes) The Texas Open Meetings Act prohibits the Council from responding to any comments other than to refer the matter to a future agenda, to an existing policy, or to a staff person with specific information. Claims against the City, Council Members, or employees, as well as individual personnel appeals are not appropriate for citizens’ forum. No one asked to speak in citizen participation. Brittany Smith with KSA Engineers, presented water line and sewer line maps reflecting the lines to be replaced in Phase I of the latest identified projects that must be completed as soon as possible. Water and sewer rate increase was discussed again and was left at raising the current $23 water minimum to $25 and the additional per 1,000 gal rate to a flat $5.65. Mayor Hyman wants Colin Clasby to receive $500 per month as chief, with no call pay, to be added to the fire department budget. Also he wants him to be paid for the three months he was unable to collect due to not being certified. This can be taken from the current line item of .008 as in the past budgets for chief pay. Mr. Clasby will continue to collect his full salary from waste water budget as well. Apparently employees are discussing the current uniform company and their desire to change with Council, which is out of compliance with our current organization chart. City Secretary will be discussing current contract with City Attorney. The Vision and Mission statement will be postponed to another time, after settling the budget and bond issues. The three goals for 2022/2023 budget year will also be discussed at a later time. Council discussed the proposed tax rate, and their desire to raise, if necessary for the needed work on water/sewer lines and the waste water treatment plant. Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Huddleston to close the meeting at 8:50 p.m., Seconded by Councilwoman Roberson. Voting Yea: Mayor Pro Tem Huddleston, Councilwoman Roberson, Councilwoman Bailey, Councilwoman Keys __/s/ Brad Hyman________________ Brad Hyman – Mayor ATTEST: __/s/ Kathy Lovier______________________ Kathy Lovier – City Secretary