Board of Mayor & Aldermen

MINUTES BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN SPECIAL MEETING JULY 30, 2013 Board present Staff present Mayor Billy Paul Carneal City Manager Paul John Nutting Alderman James Hubbard Asst. City Manager Regina Holt Vice Mayor Jerome Ellis City Recorder Jane Shugart Murphy Alderman Ann Schneider City Attorney Jim Balthrop Alderman Bruce Head City Clerk Connie Watson Alderman Clay Sneed Board absent Alderman Willie Mason 1.1 Mayor Billy Paul Carneal called to order the special meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen at 7:00 p.m. 1.2 Alderman Hubbard moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen held on June 18, 2013. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously. Alderman Sneed stated that he would like to have more of the comments made by Board members entered into the minutes. 2.0 Legislative 2.1 City Attorney, Jim Balthrop, briefed the Board on the agreement between City of Ridgetop and the City of Springfield. Mr. Balthrop stated that City of Springfield had nothing to gain by entering into this contract; it is just a matter of proving assistance to City of Ridgetop until they are able to get in compliance with certain requirements of the Tennessee Regulatory Authority. He informed them the agreement is for six (6) month, but there is a clause in the agreement where either party can terminate the contract within thirty (30) days, with a written notice. Mr. Balthrop stated the only change in the current proposed agreement from the last one is, that if an accident occurs while employee is in transit to and  from Ridgetop or while they are working for City of Ridgetop, and it causes Springfield’s TML Pool insurance premium to increase, City of Ridgetop will pay the difference of the increase. Alderman Sneed requests that Mr. Balthrop briefly review and explain the language pertaining to the insurance premium increases due to an accident. Mr. Balthrop explained that if an accident occurs with while working for City of Ridgetop, resulting in City of Springfield’s insurance premium to increase, City of Ridgetop will pay the increase differences in the premium. Alderman Sneed moved for the approval of the six (6) month agreement between the City of Springfield and City of Ridgetop. The motion was seconded. Board members were given the opportunity to express their opinions of the contract. The motion was brought back and passed by 5-1 roll call vote. Ayes: Schneider, Carneal, Sneed, Head, Ellis Nayes: Hubbard 2.2 The City Manager advised that no action is needed; this is to inform the Board of the report that will be filed with the State Comptroller on Debt Obligation. No action was taken. 2.3 Alderman Hubbard moved for the approval of authorizing the contract with Insituform Technologies, the general contractor for the rehabilitation of sewers that are in the Sub Basin 3BCC. The motion was seconded and passed by 6-0 roll call votes. 2.4 The City Manager briefed the Board on the current rental fee to rent the Martin Luther King Jr. football field. He informed the Board that recently the Electric Department reevaluated the cost to light the field and has arrived at an estimated cost of one hundred fifteen dollars ($115,00), a reduction of three hundred thirty- five dollars ($335.00) from the current rate of nine hundred dollars ($900.00). Tony Felts, Director of Parks and Recreation, informed the Board that along with lighting costs, there are other charges that are included in the fee, such as painting of the field, and staff working on game day. Alderman Sneed asked the Director of Springfield Electric, Robert Gardner, for an explanation as to why there is such a difference in the two fees. Robert Gardner, Director of Springfield Electric, explained that athletic facilities such as Martin Luther King Jr. football field and Travis Price Park are not being charged a demand charge; they pay a minimum, at a reduced rate in comparison to a residential rate.  Alderman Ellis moved to amend the motion by reducing the fee to rent the Martin Luther King Jr. football field to a flat six hundred and fifty dollars ($650.00), regardless of how many consecutive days someone wish to lease it. The motion dies for lack of second. Alderman Sneed inquired of other events held at the Center and the fees involved. He asked if the Center is receiving any money or a percentage of any fees that are charged at the door of an event. Tony Felts, Director of Parks and Recreation Department, stated that every event that is held at the Center is charged a fee with the exception of an event that is sponsored by the City. Mr. Felts stated that he did not feel it would be necessary to charge the City since the Center belongs to the City. He also stated that Parks and Recreation Department is not getting any money for fees that are charged at the door of an event. The City Manager commented that scheduling a workshop to address rental fees for facilities owned by the City may be a good idea. The motion was brought back and passed by 6-0 roll call vote. 2.5 The Board and staff discussed ways to modify the budget for FY2014. Alderman Head moved to remove the funding in the amount of $20,771.00, for the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA). The motion dies for lack of second. Alderman Head moved to reduce the funding for street repairs by 1/3 of what has been budgeted, in the amount of $45,000. The motion seconded and failed by 2- 4 roll call vote. Ayes: Schneider, Carneal, Hubbard, Ellis Nayes: Sneed, Head Alderman Head moved to reduce the funding for Community Development’s demolition cost by 50% to $22,000. The motion dies for lack of second. Alderman Sneed requests that a draft of a Fund Balance Policy for the City be presented at the next Board meeting in August. 3.0 Adjournment With no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned. ______________________________ Billy P. Carneal, Mayor Attest: ______________________________ Jane Shugart Murphy, City Recorder