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HomeMy Public PortalAbout05-27-1997 Continued Session I . . 143 MINUTES HILLSBOROUGH TOWN BOARD May 27, 1997 7:00 PM, Police Department Training Room The Hillsborough Town Board met in continued session on May 27, 1997 at 7:00 PM in the Police Department Training Room for the purpose of reviewing the FY' 97-98 proposed budgets for the Fire Department, Engineering, Raw Water Supply, Water Plant, Water Distribution, Wastewater Collection, Wastewater Plant, and General Fund Revenues. Present for the Board Meeting were Mayor Horace Johnson, Commissioners Richard Simpson, Catherine Martin, Evelyn Lloyd, Remus Smith and Kenneth Chavious. Staff present were Town Manager Eric Swanson, Town Clerk Donna Armbrister, Finance Director Sherry Carter, and Town Engineer Tom Hartye. Mayor Horace Johnson reconvened the meeting at 7:03 PM. After a brief discussion on the drafted revisions to the Skateboarding Ordinance, by consensus the Board moved this item to the agenda of the June 17, 1997 Regular Board Meeting and gave further amendment instructions to the staff Mayor Horace Johnson opened the Public Hearing. Wendy Olson addressed the Board as the Chairperson of the Parks and Recreation Board. She read to the Board a memorandum addressing the needs for parks in Hillsborough and for a Town staff person to be responsible for the daily management of the parks. A copy of the memo is hereby made a copy of these minutes as Attachment I. Beverly Payne addressed the Board voicing her concerns for the need for parks in Hillsborough, and her desire to keep the parks looking natural and historical. George Corbett also voiced his support for parks in Hillsborough. Hervey McIver expressed his appreciation for the funding contributions the Town has provided to the Occoneechee Mountain Park and extended an invitation to Town Board members to visit the park with him on the afternoon of June }8t or 8th. He also expressed his concern for the need to have a Town staff person to be responsible for the daily management of Parks and Recreational opportunities. Wendy Olson suggested that the Occoneechee Mountain Park not be officially opened until the Town can have a Town staff person to be responsible for the daily management of the park. 1 , . . 144, Mrs. Elizabeth Brooks addressed the Board to inquire about the status of the Fairview police sub-station. Mayor Johnson and Manager Swanson explained that there has not been any funding appropriated in the proposed FY 1997-98 budget for any type of sub-station. Commissioners Chavious and Simpson assured Mrs. Brooks that the Board has not forgotten this issue and it is still under investigation. The Board instructed the Town Manager to have the Police Sergeant Judy Jacobs meet with the Fairview Task Force and follow up on the status of this issue. Geoff Gledhill stated that he had come to address the Board regarding the Skateboarding Ordinance, but he understood that it will now be discussed at the June 17th meeting. He distributed to the Board members suggestions to be included in the amended ordinance. Mayor Johnson called a close to the Public Hearing, Commissioner Richard Simpson asked to be excused from the remainder of the meeting due to a conflict in his schedule. By consensus, the Board agreed, ENGINEERING Town Manager Eric Swanson reviewed the proposed FY 97-98 Engineering budget for the Town Board's consideration. Swanson stated that the proposed budget is primarily the same as last year except for the addition of a new computer in the 5- Year Capital Outlay Plan to be purchased during the 97-98 fiscal year. RAW WATER SUPPLY Manager Eric Swanson reviewed the proposed FY 97-98 Raw Water Supply budget for the Town Board's consideration. Swanson explained that the line items are essentially expense accounts to cover the Reservoir debt and reserve. WATER TREATMENT PLANT Manager Swanson reviewed the proposed FY 97-98 Water Treatment Plant budget for the Town Board's consideration. He explained the major differences in this years budget lies in the 5- Year Capital Outlay Plan with requests for a Gas Pressure Washer, Dual Head Chern. Pump, Alum Pump, and Pipe Galley Heat Pump. WATER DISTRIBUTION Town Engineer Tom Hartye reviewed the proposed FY 97-98 Water Distribution budget for the Town Board's consideration. Hartye noted the request for two (2) new positions to be funded ~ year each with hiring in January 1998 and two (2) requested vehicles. 2 I . . 145. FIRE DEPARTMENT Chandler Cates, representing the Orange Rural Fire Department, addressed the Board. He stated that Orange Rural needs three (3) suppression firefighters which would only fight fires and not do fire inspections. The Board instructed Finance Director Sherry Carter to provide Town Board members with a copy of the fire inspections which have been completed by the Orange County Fire Marshall. The Board expressed to Mr. Cates that it was their understanding that if the Town funded the three (3) firefighters, Orange Rural would provide fire inspections for the Town. Mr. Cates stated that was not stipulated in the contract. The Board instructed Finance Director Carter to do an analysis of the expense to the Town to employ their own fire department. The Board requested the Mayor and Town Manager to contact the Orange County Manager and Chair of the Orange County Board of Commissioners to request an extension to the fire inspections contract. WASTEWATER COLLECTION Town Manager Eric Swanson reviewed the proposed FY 97-98 Wastewater Collection budget for the Town Board's consideration. Manager Swanson explained that the major increase in this budget is ~ expense for two (2) trucks and new equipment to keep sewer lines open. Other items in the 5- Year Capital Outlay Plan included a Boring Machine, High Pressure Sewer Reamer, New Motors - Lift Stations, and a Plasma Cutter (1/3 cost- with other 2/3 being budgeted by Meter Reading and Water Distribution). W ASTEW A TER TREATMENT PLANT Manager Swanson reviewed the proposed FY 97-98 Wastewater Treatment Plant budget for the Town Board's consideration. He explained the major differences in this years budget lies in the 5- Year Capital Outlay Plan with requests for Chlorine Pacing, a Distiller, Chlorine Scales, and an Influent Bar Screen. Finance Director Sherry Carter reviewed the Board's request from the last Budget Work Session for information on the purchase of a generator for the Police Department through installment financing. Finance Director Carter reported the Town could purchase through installment financing through BB&T at 6% interest on an amount of $50,000. Iffinanced for 4 years, the Town would pay $14,429 each year for a total of$57,716. Iffinanced for 5 years, the Town would pay $11,870 each year for a total of $59,350, 3 I . . 146 In response to the Board's request for information on the cost to the Town to provide an additional position to the police department to man the building after hours and do some clerical work, Finance Director Carter reported a cost of approximately $24,000 which would include benefits on a 40 hour a week position. Commissioner Martin reminded the Board of issues which had been discussed during Budget' Work Sessions but which were not addressed in the Manager's Proposed Budget i.e" The Fairview Police Sub-Station, Fire Inspections, additional employee for Police Department to man building after hours, a paid staff person to handle Parks and Recreation, and the purchase of a generator for the Police Department. Again, the Board instructed the Town Manager to communicate to Interim Police Chief Nathaniel Eubanks issues discussed at the Board Retreat and instigate a follow-up by Police Sergeant Judy Jacobs with the Fairview Task Force on the status ofa mobile unit similar to the one that Sanford uses. Town Manager Eric Swanson reminded the Board of the census which is forthcoming and stated that if the results ofthe census are as anticipated, the state shared revenues would cover some of these questioned expenses, Commissioner Smith suggested not placing the appropriated two cents in the Fund Balance and use that to cover some of these expenses, Other Board members expressed their concern in not attempting to build the Fund Balance back up. Upon a motion by Commissioner Lloyd, seconded by Commissioner Martin, the Board moved to approve the tax rate of $.46 which was the target established at the Board's '97 Annual Retreat by a vote of 2-2 with Commissioners Lloyd and Martin voting Aye, and Commissioners Smith and Chavious voting Nay. Mayor Johnson voted Aye to break the tie and pass the motion. ADJOURN Upon a motion by Commissioner Lloyd, seconded by Commissioner Smith, the Board adjourn the meeting at 10:00 PM. The motion was declared passed. 4