CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MINUTES
SPECIAL SESSION
224 S. Jefferson Street
Perry, Florida
August 17, 2004

MEMBERS PRESENT: Pam Feagle, Doug Everett, Sylvester Harris, Alphonso Dowdell, Emily
Weed Ketring

STAFF PRESENT: Bill Brynes, Barney Johnson, Wayne Putnal, Billy LaValle, Glenn Ratliff,
Rodney Lytle, Wayne English, Stephen Hollowell, Danny Lundy, Chester McAfee, Sarah Drawdy and
Annette Anderson

Mayor Feagle called the meeting to order 5:30 p. m. and led those attending the meeting in prayer.
Mayor Feagle led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. The secretary called the roll.

PRESENT ABSENT
Councilmember Harris X
Councilmember Dowdell X
Councilmember Ketring X
Councilmember Everett X
Mayor Feagle X

Councilmember Harris was not present during roll call but arrived at the meeting at approximately
5:35 p. m.

SUBJECT OF MEETING:

A. INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING – ORDINANCE NO. 789

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PERRY, FLORIDA, REDUCING THE SALARIES OF

THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM $12,000 PER YEAR TO $6,131 PER YEAR,
REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.

Councilmember Everett made a motion that Ordinance No. 789 be read by title only. The motion was
seconded by Councilmember Ketring and upon roll call vote was as follows:
YEA NAY
Councilmember Harris ABSENT
Councilmember Dowdell X
Councilmember Ketring X
Councilmember Everett X
Mayor Feagle X

This ordinance to be brought back for public hearing August 31, 2004.

B. INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING – ORDINANCE NO. 790

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PERRY, FLORIDA, DECREASING COUNCIL

MEMBER COMPENSATION TO EXCLUDE OPTIONAL HEALTH AND LIFE
INSURANCE COVERAGE, AMENDING SECTION 2-21 OF THE CODE OF
ORDINANCES, REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT, AND PROVIDING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
Page 2, August 17, 2004, Council Minutes – Special Session

Councilmember Dowdell made a motion that Ordinance No. 790 be read by title only. The motion was
seconded by Councilmember Everett and upon roll call vote was as follows:
YEA NAY
Councilmember Harris ABSENT
Councilmember Dowdell X
Councilmember Ketring X
Councilmember Everett X
Mayor Feagle X

This ordinance to be brought back for public hearing August 31, 2004.

Mayor Feagle told the Council she would like to discuss at some point in time how ex-
Councilmembers would be compensated in terms of their Council responsibilities through the first
Council meeting in August when the newly elected Councilmembers take their seat on the Council.
Mayor Feagle said, in the past, there had been a situation where an outgoing Councilmember did not
receive compensation beyond the month of July. Mayor Feagle asked, in conjunction with this issue, if
the Council would like to discuss, at some point, a change as to whether the outgoing Councilmember
would continue to serve until the first meeting in August or that their term end as of the election date
when new Councilmembers are elected. Mayor Feagle said there are a lot of pros and cons in keeping
outgoing Councilmembers in office until August but wanted the Council’s thoughts on this issue.

City Attorney Bill Blue suggested that the Council might want to consider moving the city election to
correspond with the November election. Mr. Blue commented that, presently, when new
Councilmembers take office they go right into budget discussions and are responsible for budget issues
immediately. Mr. Blue said moving the election to November could resolve the budget and the
compensation issue.

Councilmember Harris arrived at the meeting at approximately 6:35 p. m.

Referring to a previous Councilmember not being paid for any of the month of August,
Councilmember Everett said this should be addressed. Mayor Feagle said the individual did not want
to be reimbursed but just wanted to make sure things are done consistently. Mayor Feagle said there
could be an enormous expense in moving the election to November but agreed it might be unfair that
new Councilmembers coming into office are immediately faced with budget issues. When asked by
Mayor Feagle if Council compensation for this year’s outgoing and incoming Councilmembers would
be prorated, Mr. Brynes answered yes.

Councilmembers agreed they would like to see the item of possibly moving the city election to
November placed on the agenda for discussion in the future.

Councilmember Ketring asked if the City were due for redistricting. Mr. Blue said yes and commented
that state law requires redistricting be done with the census. Mr. Blue also noted moving the city
election to November would require a change to the City’s Charter. Mayor Feagle said before this
Page 3, August 17, 2004, Council Minutes – Special Session

item is placed on the agenda for discussion she would like information from the Supervisor of
Elections regarding what would be involved in moving the election to November and the cost
involved. As there was no further discussion of this issue, Mayor Feagle moved to the next item.

ORDINANCE NO. 791

City Manager Bill Brynes told the Council he had asked City Attorney Bill Blue to review the city’s
code of ordinances pertaining to dangerous animals. Mr. Brynes explained the ordinance would
protect the City from becoming the insurer of any damages and injuries caused by a dangerous animal.

INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING – ORDINANCE NO. 791

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PERRY, FLORIDA, AMENDING SECTION 4-3 OF

THE CODE OF ORDINANCES FOR THE CITY OF PERRY, DEALING WITH
DANGEROUS ANIMALS, DELETING THE ABILITY OF OWNERS OF DANGEROUS
ANIMALS TO POST A THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,000) BOND IN LIEU OF OBTAINING
ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($100,000) LIABILITY INSURANCE,
PROVIDING JURISDICTION TO THE CODE ENFORCEMENT BOARD, AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

After discussion, Councilmember Dowdell made a motion that Ordinance No. 791 be read by title
only. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Ketring and upon roll call vote was as follows:
YEA NAY
Councilmember Harris X
Councilmember Dowdell X
Councilmember Ketring X
Councilmember Everett X
Mayor Feagle X

The secretary read Ordinance No. 791 by title only. This ordinance to be brought back for public
hearing and final reading August 31, 2004.

C. DISCUSSION OF CITY OF PERRY FY 2004-05 BUDGET.

Mr. Brynes began discussion saying the budget information presented looks at the budget as a whole
rather than by line item. Mr. Brynes noted the total of all funds for the 2003-04 budget was
$6,873,761, whereas the proposed request for 2004-05 is $7,357,113. Mr. Brynes said the operating
budget summary for fiscal year 2004-05 sets out by fund the total revenue and expenditures per fund
and shows a shortfall of $645,364. Mr. Brynes reviewed a summary showing proposed operating
expenses at $7,357,113. Mr. Brynes reviewed a budget worksheet showing a proposal to balance the
budget. Mr. Brynes said proposed expenditures exceeding estimated income totals $645,364 with a
contingency of $29,636 bringing this figure to $675,000. Mr. Brynes said the only way to balance the
budget would be to increase revenue or decrease expenses. Mr. Brynes then reviewed a budget
worksheet with a second option with the Council as follows:
Page 4, August 17, 2004, Council Minutes – Special Session

CITY OF PERRY
BUDGET WORKSHEET
FYE 9-30-05

OPTION II
Proposed Expenditures exceeding estimated income 645,364

Budget reductions contingency 29,636

Total of proposed expenditures exceeding

estimated income. 675,000

1. Use of Local Option Gas Tax for Operating

Expenses rather than street paving 305,671 305,671

2. Downtown - Cemetery Budget 5,000 5,000

3. Let organizations share in shortfall 131,000 54,580

4. Educational Expense 2,500 2,500

5. Overtime (Amount unknown)

6. Since the County is constructing a sports

complex, the City has no need for the football
or baseball ball fields. Allow the school to take
these over (amount unknown)

7. Street department employee 29,009 29,009

8. Police Officer 45,006 45,006

9. Police Officer 45,006

10. Police Officer 45,006

11. Wastewater Utility Mechanic 29,812 29,812

12. Inmate Crew (plus vehicle) 54,000 54,000

13. Supt of General Services 47,810 47,810

14. Sanitation employee 31,431 31,431

15. Sanitation employee 31,431 31,431 351,921

16. Allow school to pay for school crossing guards 205,637

17. Allow school to pay for 100% of School 117,442

Resource Officer

18. Council Salary Reduction 38,750 38,750

TOTALS 841,432 351,921 205,637 117,442 675,000 675,000

OPTION II: Reducing expenses within the proposed

budget and shifting income.
_____

In looking at these options, Mr. Brynes said certain vacant employee positions had not been filled and
this could make up approximately half the deficit. Councilmember Everett questioned why if a street
department employee position was taken out of the budget last year it was put back in this year. Mr.
Brynes stated he did not think he had the authority to eliminate employee positions, only to remove the
funding. When asked by Councilmember Everett, Chief of Police Wayne Putnal said he needs all
three positions. There was discussion of employee overtime. Mr. Brynes suggested some overtime in
three departments (Finance, Gas and Water) could possibly be eliminated. Chief Putnal reviewed
police department overtime costs. Mayor Feagle said she really doesn’t have a problem with the police
Page 5, August 17, 2004, Council Minutes – Special Session

and fire department overtime but other departments could be looked at for ways to cut overtime. There
was also discussion about providing certain employees with compensatory time rather than overtime
pay. Mayor Feagle said she would like to see every department try to offset overtime by some
percentage. Mr. Brynes said this could be done in some departments but in some departments it could
not. Mr. Brynes said departments would cut overtime where they could cut overtime.

Discussing overtime in the Recreation Department, Department of Recreation Glenn Ratliff said some
recreation employees are also paid to referee recreation games. Mr. Ratliff said since they are in the
same department working 40 hours they are paid overtime. There was discussion about a Finance
Department employee working 40 hours and then being paid to work for recreation (score keeper,
concession stand, etc). Councilmember Everett said this employee should be paid overtime after 40
hours work with the City. There was some discussion it might be more economical to hire someone
other than a city employee to referee at ball games. Mayor Feagle discussed providing compensatory
time for recreation employees rather than paying overtime wages. Mr. Ratliff said this would greatly
impact his department.

Regarding the above option number 16 and 17, Mayor Feagle questioned how much money might be
saved by allowing the school to pay for school crossing guards and the School Resource Officer. Mr.
Brynes said this probably couldn’t be done this current school year but if the Council is interested in
doing this, it might be able to be done next year. Mayor Feagle requested Mr. Brynes bring back a
dollar amount that could be saved doing this.

Mr. Brynes said the budget is broken down into two sections: proposed budget and the capital outlay.
Mr. Brynes asked if the Council wanted to discuss the capital outlay portion of the budget at the
Monday, August 23, 2004 special budget session. Mayor Feagle said the issues discussed this meeting
need to be resolved at that meeting.

Referring to the options presented this meeting, Councilmember Ketring said she didn’t see a
difference from what the Council had previously received. Mayor Feagle said it looks like the city
manager had given ways the Council could consider for balancing the budget. Mayor Feagle said the
information was laid out in a way that shows options the Council could consider. City Attorney Bill
Blue asked if Option II, as presented, assumes the millage rate will stay the same. Mr. Brynes
answered yes. Director of Finance Sarah Drawdy said doing anything otherwise would increase the
budget deficit. Mr. Blue said speaking from a taxpayer standpoint, that on the side of increasing
revenue, he would like the Council to consider the possibility of an automatic increase in certain
services over a long period of time. Mr. Blue questioned how long the City could keep cutting
expenses before there is nothing left to cut.

With the Council’s approval, Councilmember Everett was excused from the meeting at 7:00 p. m.
Page 6, August 17, 2004, Council Minutes – Special

Mayor Feagle spoke about annual employee salary increases and said she would like to know what
other local employers were providing. Mr. Brynes said other employers probably would not provide
this information. Councilmember Ketring spoke about an incentive program whereby employees
could receive a bonus for a suggestion that would save the City money and reduce the deficit.

The City’s purchasing agent, Chester McAfee told the Council the City spends a lot of money on older
equipment and if anymore is cut, the City would probably be paying more for overtime.

Councilmember Ketring said there seems to be a discrepancy in what’s spent versus budgeted amounts.
Mr. Brynes said the Council had been provided information on the “actual” through June 2004. Mr.
Brynes commented the City Charter sets out the procedure to adjust the budget in the middle of the
year to do whatever is necessary to decrease those expenses. There was a brief discussion of possibly
gradually decreasing some funding for local organizations. Mr. Brynes said there are a lot of areas of
the budget where staff and Council have no control over. In summary, Mr. Brynes told the Council he
proposed for each department that amount of funding he felt Department Heads needed to run their
departments in an efficient, expert and professional way.

ADJOURNMENT.

There being no further discussion, Mayor Feagle adjourned the meeting at 7:30 p. m.

ATTEST:

______________________________ _______________________________
William E. Brynes, City Manager Pam Feagle, Mayor

Recorded in Official Minute Book:

______________________________ ________________________________
Annette Anderson, Secretary Date