City Council - Special Meeting

It's expenditures, and that's exactly what is in this. But you have to admit that you're doing that.

18-year-old platform.

I grew up here, right up there on Ash Street, and right down here at Bridge Street.

We're all here together as one sitting body, that we should be able to look everyone in the eye and say, listen, this is what this should be, and tell our employees that's what it will be, and not have them, you know, trying to make a living. Here's the most disheartening thing to me. When you've got people in public works out there making, I think it's like $40,000 a year, which equals about, what, $17, $18 an hour. So if they bring home, if they're getting $800 a week and you take the taxes out, they're only getting like $630. So you add that times four, that's $2,520 each month. They still have to be able to have an automobile way to work and a place to live and things like that. And if you increase the budget, I mean, give them a 2% raise, it's just like walking up to them and slapping them 29s because they can't live on that. But we have money here tonight in this budget. If everyone would hear me out and adopt the budget like I would want to be adopted, which I don't have a vote, that we're in discussion, that's not the reason I'm speaking. After the votes, you can look back and say, this is what we did. Just like when we cut the taxes in the beginning, the council did, and the council kept the same tax rate. But what they failed to tell people is this. We're paying 35 and a half cents for our city taxes, 11 and a half cents to the county for the fire department, that's 47 cents. When we got elected... we were paying 49 cents at the lower tax and eight and a half cent for the fire tax was 57 cents so we're still under what we were paying at the time but what do we really get for our money that's what i don't understand and what it used to be when we had the volunteer fire department which is still supposed to be a volunteer fire department the county came in here and threatened to take our fire department last year no one got off the high and tried to save it so it's really like You know, we're upholding what they did, and that was give the fire department to the county, not for us, but to the county. And that's wrong because this fire department has started very, very weak means, like maybe a horse and buggy. I don't know, but still, it started. And they have a 1955 Ford fire truck out here for airmen. And then now they got a brand new fire truck. It's not even the same color that the county bought from. Yes.

With all respect, I think we're getting off track.

Not really. It's just trying to figure out how we can manage to pass this budget without hurting it.

Here's my thing about 2%. I think at least, you know, I'll let the other one speak how that feels.

Yes, good.

If you give, you're correct, the money's there. Yes. Because we're going to give money later on if it passes. I personally don't agree with doing 5% across the board with every employee because I think there are some employees that work harder than others. And you talk about a slap in the face when one of them is out here doing a job of busting their butt and they get 5% across the board, but the one over here that may not be doing as much get 5% across the board. How does that seem fair to the employee? That brings the morale of that good employee down. And I think possibly 2% now, that way everybody does get a percentage and an increase, and it's gonna be a increase in salary. Nobody's gonna have the same amount of increase with the 2%. But maybe when the new city manager comes in, whatever money is left to 3% whatever that totals up to, maybe take that and divide that equally between all 3233 employees over how many that we have, minus the new position that we have coming in.

That I mean, okay, I couldn't agree with you more. But here's the thing about what you don't understand from my standpoint, okay. I have to understand you have to understand I don't care how you respect me or not, but here's the truth. Money is what everyone is seeking to live. They have to have money to live, cost to live. We can't just put our hand on top of him and say, man, you're going to have to live what we give you. You've got to adhere to that because we're the law. I understand that, Mayor.

Did you not have a conversation with me that none of the employees should get a raise?

They shouldn't. They should not get a raise. What they should get is a cost of living. No, it's not. If you do it like this, if you just listen, please, and don't get upset with me, but understand this. What you could do tonight is make things whole. Listen, there's ones out here that should not get a raise. They're making too much money. That's been already talked about. I'm sorry. My eyes have affected me a lot. Everything has affected me, but I'm still able to talk. God gives me wisdom, and I practice. There's no use being hurt. Hear me out, and I'll let you talk. Let me finish saying what I was saying. Scott's right about this. The 2% raise is totally wrong for anyone. What needs to happen? The people are making too much money, which you know.

I didn't say 2% is wrong.

You said 2% is what you wanted to give them right now, right?

Yeah, but I didn't say it was wrong. No, I said it's wrong.

I said 5% across the board. I said it's wrong. I'm sorry. I stand corrected. I said it's wrong. Don't put words in my mouth. You say give them a 2% raise later on, come back and give them a raise later on. That's your opinion, and that's well and good if it passes. But the way I look at it is like this. People have to live. They have to live starting when we leave here tonight, and their salaries or checks and things, it's based upon what they make and how they live. And I guarantee you, and I don't care. I'll say what I have to say, and I mean it. People are overpaid in some of these jobs, way overpaid. We've already had studies to tell us that. None of these people making over $75,000 a year should get a raise this year. That's my opinion. But the people out here working, these young folks in the police department, these young people over here in the public works that's out there just starting, and you're paying them $600-some dollars a week after taxes, you know, we're wrong for that. And we're wrong to not take care of our policemen, the young policemen. Listen, everyone out there should be making a minimum in the police department to put their life on the line and take a bullet. They should be making at least $60,000 a year, every one of them. The people up here in the office, we're paying them $88,000, $87,000, $114,000 for a city manager, a public works guy at $100,000, a police chief at over $100,000. These things, that's what I'm telling them, and it could be all done tonight in a nice, cordial way. If you listen to old Grandpa, and you can call me Grandpa, you can call me whatever you want to, but still, if you just listen, there's a way to make this thing work and make it work good. We all know we've got more money than what we say we have. But I also know expenditures are way higher than what they should be. There's so many ways that you can cut money, like going to Sam's Club and getting these gas cards, things like that. You could save probably 30%, 35% on your fuel in a year's time, which is an enormous amount of money. We're losing four million gallons of water each month. No one was, you know, that hair on your neck should stand up. That's been standing on my neck for two and a half years almost, you know, two and a half years since we got elected two years ago, two and a half years ago. Me and you don't know it, but we're losing four million gallons of water a month. I'll do respect.

We're moving off the topic.

We do have a motion on that.

We've got a motion and a second. We said have a discussion, right? You're going off topic.

How's that off topic? We're not talking about 4 million gallons laws.

Well, it's not about your budget. That entails your budget has to have it. If you're losing that kind of money, your budget is affected. Am I right, Ms. Attorney?

Well, Sam's Club right now is not really on the topic. Okay.

I'll take off Sam's Club. Do you remember what I said?

Mayor, can we call a point of order and get back to discussing the budget?

Yes, sir. Do you have anything you'd like to say about that? I do. Go ahead.

If we don't pass a budget tonight, we default to last year's budget. And if I'm incorrect being at any time, please tell me. That means the police department does not get their police card. That means Andrea does not get her help. It's very possible our grant money is frozen. We don't get to use it. We could possibly lose it at this point. That's $10 million that is on the line. I agree 100% with the stormwater position, keeping recycling. We're giving the police department their car. We're giving Andrea her help. But I would like to counter that motion and make a motion of everything stay in the same.

Okay. He can make a substitute motion if he chooses to make a substitute motion.

This one would have to then close out.

He can make a substitute motion now if he's got a second to pass or supersede this motion. It doesn't matter. Still, any council member is not voting.

After seconding, we have to vote to close it out since we've received a second already.

Have you not ever heard a substitute motion?

So the motion just dies if there's not?

We can just vote it out.

We have to go by procedure. Procedure is this. We have a motion and a second and we have a discussion. Any council member sitting at this table that hasn't voted has the right to make a substitute motion at any time they like.

Preferentially, I would prefer it to be the vote.

That's not a preference for you or for me. It's just the way the law is. He has a right to make a substitute motion. If they don't make a substitute motion, yes, we vote on the original motion.

Mr. Attorney, who votes? What's the next step?

you got a discussion once you just got a discussion as far as if are you the remaining vote basically so you're saying that your vote is so we don't have a majority we haven't even took a vote yet because he's kept talking about it in the discussion so we need to take a vote i prefer a vote to close it out and then you can present your motion just because we do have a second on the table already so mayor call for a vote i think you got a motion second your motion was to give them a two percent raise can you can you repeat that motion miss ford

Can you repeat the motion that Mr. Bates made?

There's a 2% raise keeping the stormwater and the remaining three.

Keep the recycling center. The recycling center, which is added into it and doing salary adjustments with the full-time manager.

And it will include the full-time position for parking wrecks and a new patrol vehicle.

So you have a motion and a second.

I'm glad that

people like Mr. Bastion, Mr. Knox and a lot of other people came and said let's keep this recycling center open. It needs to be open and I'm glad it's in the budget. Thank you for letting in our band. Thank you for filling in for being our interim city manager because I don't think they should put you through this.

And I'm glad we are getting parks, you know, Andrea

assistant you know for recreation and a stormwater person so I'm just glad those things were put back in and you do understand the motion correct you have 2% somebody else might have a discussion any more discussion with any council members all right all in favor all opposed Jesus Christ it's a two to two time call in call the neighbors call everyone Now Paul's got to break the time.

Well, if I can make another motion.

You have a motion second. It's two to two. Two in favor, two opposed. I have to break the time, but here's what I'll do.

We're not under discussion. Just break the time. Listen, listen. So we can move on. Because it's either going to be what the motion was made. That's right. Or you can vote against it. Or. And it will go with his opinion.

Or Larry can say, I'm going to make the substitute motion as a voting candidate, as a voting representative of this council. I can make a substitute motion, correct? No, you can't. No, you can't.

We'll prefer you to break the tie. If it's a no, then we can close out.

There's going to be no action if I don't break the tie, but I have to vote one way or another, but I suggested that I make a substitute motion as I can. No, so no substitute motion.

You can't make a substitute motion. You can't ask me to make a substitute motion.

You can either vote yes or no.

That's all it is, either yes or no. Not a substitute.

It's either yes or no.

Then I'll have to turn it down because I don't agree with the whole motion, so I'll be voting not in favor of it. Three to two in favor. Now you go back to another motion to see what can happen and what can transpire and see if that works.

Correct? My motion includes everything included in Mr. Bates' motion except for a 3% raise instead of a 2%. Second.

We've got a discussion on that. But what you're saying is this. A 3% increase to all employees, right? Every one of them. And the kids out there, the young people, the young police officers, the police officers making the minimum amount of money. that the people making the upgrade, the higher issue on $100,000, $105,000 a year, you're giving them a $10,500 raise. But you're giving these people out here to do the work for you, and all of them do the job. But here's the thing about it. Before you, I would just say this. I would recommend to the council that we don't pass anything until we have all the facts and figures in front of us.

Again, Mayor, if we don't pass a budget tonight, we're at risk of losing $10 million, a police car, Andre's. We're at risk of losing it all at this point.

I hate to tell you this, but that's not true. It's very true. Because you've got until June the 30th to pass this budget.

We've been through this since January of this year, Mayor. I don't think a couple more weeks is going to do anything.

Well, if you can find out where your money is and how much money you really have, don't you think that would be beneficial?

The motion is there.

I'm just going to bring discussion. Just like we had discussion a while ago.

Mr. Smith, if I understand your motion correctly, it's 3% and including salary adjustments.

Future salary adjustments, including the recycling center.

Yes, sir. And that's in the budget.

Yes, sir.

And the two positions as well.

Yes, sir. I got a motion and a second. Any more discussion on that? All in favor? All opposed? I'm against that one, too. It fails, too. I'll make a motion. I don't think you can because your motion failed.

I didn't make a motion.

I'm sorry. You did. I'll stand corrected. You make a motion. Go ahead.

I'll make a motion that we go 2.5 since we're going to meet in the middle. 2.5 the and all the other stuff the recycle center and the And that's all in the budget? It's all the stuff that's already in the budget. I'll go 2.5. And with the salary adjustments, when the new manager comes in and under discussion with that, have a discussion with the council how it's proceeded to be divided amongst.

State your motion, please, for the clerk. I did. I don't understand it. Okay. I'll second. Do you understand the motion?

I'll second.

Got a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor? Thank you. Passes. Thank you. Next item of business will be a city manager's contract. Who has that?

I'll make a motion that we approve the city manager's contract.

I'll second. Have any discussion? All in favor? Thank you. The thing that I brought up tonight was discussion of the 4th of July and the 250th anniversary for our city that we have we need to have something for the people here rather than having something on June the 27th whenever we all know that July the 4th our city and our state becomes 250 years old. Our city doesn't. Our city was born in 1879 but our country is 250 years old. But for people to go out here and have the audacity to say we're going to celebrate on June the 27th for our state, I mean, for our country to be 250 years old and also our 4th of July celebration should be on the 4th of July. And that's what I recommend. I would recommend that we have some on 4th of July, such as having gospel singing, have watermelons and drinks and things like activities. over here at the McCord Park and go out and I know it's gonna be at the last minute trying to get groups to come in, but I've talked to some of our ministers here in town and they're willing to help us and try to figure out a way to get it done. But I think it's so important and it's really important for our children to know we're celebrating 250 years of our country and also the Fourth of July every year, our Declaration of Independence every year, and for it to be in a godly manner to let God lead us. and at least have a gospel singing and have people together to give them an opportunity to where people can come out and celebrate together in freedom. And like we are, it's because we're free to do something like this. But to have it on another date is really a slap in the face of all of us. I don't like it. And we've got the mural being taken care of on the back of the building, which is beautiful. I don't see no reason why we shouldn't be allowed to come together and maybe get a group of people together to have a celebration for the 250th celebration on that day. They would require council action to do that.

No, that's something that should have been taken up with the city manager a while back. I'm not going to give interim or the new city manager direction to do that for the simple fact of they've already, the employees are off. and on july 4th and also there is other festivities going on in the county and bigger than what the law would say so i i meet i say no that should have been discussed months ago it's been discussed this last year but anyway go ahead all right so i say no i say no

How's the rest of the council fit? I agree. I mean, the boys were off, and it shouldn't be waiting until three weeks to the holiday to try to do this stuff. And it shouldn't have come before the council anyway, I don't think, on the agenda, because this is something that should be handled within the administration and parking recs.

Yeah, but you see, whenever they had their meeting, and what I understand, the recreation director said she couldn't be here on the 4th of July. And that's understandable.

But it doesn't matter.

The fact of the matter is our country turns 250 years old on July 4th.

I care about everyone, but our citizens... Listen, it doesn't matter. If you take a job, if you're working somewhere...

It is a federal holiday.

So what?

So what? I mean, it's a holiday for our employees.

It's a holiday, so what? It's also the 4th of July. It's also 250 years of celebration. You're right. It's a federal holiday, and we should be celebrating.

Go ahead, Candy. I'd just like to say... Can I be excused? Thank you.

I'd just like to say Dallas is hosting for the county a huge celebration.

There's no longer a mayor.

And Lowell was invited to participate, and Michael... committee the lowell community committee we're going to be in the parade saturday at 2 p.m and you were invited i don't know what your plans are and in three years lowell will be 150 and the lcc have are starting to plan probably next year to have a great big celebration and then we talked about we don't have any money in the lcc because of the budget and maybe the Okay, Thomas, you make a motion to give us a lot of extra money in the next couple years so we can plan something huge.

We don't have a quarrel.

I know that word.

It's so disrespectful, especially to our young folks across this city and everywhere. If it's a 250th year celebration on July 4th, I think that's something Federal holiday, whatever you want to call it, that's fine. But a day of celebration for our country, our freedom, Declaration of Independence, 250 years, that trumps anything. And I'm not talking about Donald Trump. I'm talking about that trumps everything. And also, every year, the 4th of July, we should celebrate it.

Years ago, we never had a parade at Christmas.