Cc Meeting - Regular Meeting

are included. So moved. All right. Second approval of agenda. We did that. Um Mr. Mayor, I can I just can I just make a a brief comment that if the people who spoke earlier will stick around till the end of the meeting, we are going to address something similar with your concerns. Thank you. Um, approval of the minutes and we have a motion and a second. Do I have any discussion? Being hearing none, I'll take the vote. Dr. Johnson. I I I I I

and I. All right. Have a a motion to accept the consent agenda. So move. Second. All right. Any discussion? Being none, I'll take the vote. Dr. Johnson. I I I I And I uh in the consent agenda, we have um a couple of resolutions and I'd ask for uh the vice mayor to read the first one. Did I skip something? I thought we amended the agenda. We did. We did. Yeah.

Okay. All right. If you'll start um screen, will you come forward? A resolution commending Samara Green serves for completion of the International City County Management Association leadership program. Whereas Sam Green Serves as the parks and recreation director for the city of Franklin and has demonstrated a strong commitment to professional growth, public service, and excellence in local government leadership. And whereas Sam Green serves has successfully completed the international city county management association leadership program, a nationally recognized year-long professional development program for local government leaders that emphasizes core management practices, ethical leadership, and high performance organizational culture. And whereas the MMA leadership program is designed to cultivate the next generation of local government visionaries by strengthening skills in strategics, decision making, organizational management, community engagement, and the practical application of effective local government management and leadership practices. And whereas Sam Green Seros was selected as one of only approximately three dozen participants nationwide to take part in this cohort alongside city and county managers, assistant managers, and department directors reflecting both her professional potential and the respect of her peers in the field. And whereas through this intensive year-long program, Sam Green Sur strengthened her leadership, strategics, decision making, and government management skills while

continuing to fulfill her full-time responsibilities as parks and recreation director for the city of Franklin. And whereas IMA's leadership development programs help local governments deliver more effective, ethical, and accountable services to residents, thereby directly benefiting the communities whose professionals participate in them. And whereas Sam Green serves is scheduled to receive her official SEMA leadership program certificate in midappril, further distinguishing both her and the city of Franklin within the broader local government profession. Therefore, be it resolved by the city council of Franklin, Virginia, that the city hereby commends Sam Green Ser's Parks and Recreation Director for successfully completing the International City County Management Association leadership program and for her dedication to advancing her professional skills and service to the community. two that the city council recognizes and appreciates Sam Green Ser's willingness to undertake this rigorous year-long national leadership program while continue to perform her duties on behalf of the city of Franklin with diligence and distinction. three that the city council expresses its gratitude to Sam Green Slurs for her ongoing leadership of the parks and recreation department and for her continued work to enhance the quality of life for all residents of Franklin. and four, that this resolution shall be entered into the into the official minutes of the Franklin City Council and that a copy be presented to Sam Green serves as a token of the council's appreciation. adopted this 23rd day of March 2026 by the Franklin City Council. Paul Kaplan May, City of Franklin, Virginia.

Yep. Don't tell me. All right. Uh, now it's my turn to Thought I called her.

So Melissa, I called her. Did you call? Melissa, did I not call you? Did I skip you? Why don't you come on up? I'm sorry. Thank you. Good evening. Good evening.

My name is Melissa Bassie and I'm from Ward Three. We moved from Suffach, Virginia to Franklin in 2015 because we were looking for cheaper housing, cost of living, and we felt like we could find that here in Franklin. In 2016, Franklin was hit with a polar vortex and temperatures dropped into the single digits and our pipes froze. Um, we had a huge electric bill that month. Um the problem we're seeing is from the time we've been here, there's many electric bills. They're increasing constantly and they're inconsistent to the point our home is now for sale. Last month, our bill doubled from when it did when our pipes froze and water was running consistently and the heat was turned up because of the single digits. I can't understand a $375 bill one when our pipes froze to a $675 bill just this past month. It's only two of us living in the household. Um we're to the point where we turn the heat back at night. We sleep under blankets. We try to keep it I mean I wake up and it's it's 62 degrees in our house in the mornings. Um we've done everything we can to try to cut the bill. It seems costs are out of control with no accountability or transparency. Um this December we were out of our home. We went to visit my daughter for 10 days. We turned everything off in the house that we possibly could besides the refrigerator. Um our bill continued to grow to go up with no one home. It's no longer affordable to live in Franklin anymore. And and I hate to say it, but you know that's the reason why we're moving.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you very much. Yes, I apologize for skipping you. Um, it's my turn to re read the resolution expressing gratitude for the Franklin 150th anniversary celebration committee. Um, whereas on March 15, 2026, the city of Franklin celebrated its 150th anniversary, marking a century and a half since the Commonwealth of Virginia presented a charter to the village of Franklin Depot on March 15, 1876. Whereas the Franklin 150th anniversary celebration committee led by co-chairs Gayel Riddick and Liz Burgess organized a memorable community celebration at Barrett's Landing bringing together residents, visitors, and local leaders to honor the city's rich history and look with optimism towards its future. And whereas the the committee coordinated 150, excuse me, a 50 voice community choir featuring residents from across Franklin, a musical celebration of the city's heritage. And whereas the committee commissioned a commemorative ornament designed by the Charleston Mint showcasing enduring symbols of Franklin's founding including the steamboat and freight train that were instrumental in the town's early organization as well as the Blackwater River Lobly Pine and PL that played vital roles in the city's economic development. hand. Whereas the committee created a memory chest beautifully painted by local artist Louisa Landro uh containing items, photographs, and documents reflecting contemporary Franklin life, which will be placed in city hall, which has been placed in city hall actually, and sealed until the city's 200th anniversary in 2076, providing a lasting time capsule for future gener future generations. hand. Whereas the committee's efforts brought to life the story of Franklin's remarkable transformation from a 19th century depot into a thriving center of

commerce, community, and civic life in Southampton County. And whereas through their extraordinary dedication, vision, and countless volunteer hours, the Franklin 150th anniversary celebration committee created lasting memories and tangible legacies that honor Franklin's past while inspiring the future. Now therefore, be it resolved by the city council of Franklin, Virginia, that the city of Franklin extends its deepest gratitude and heartfelt appreciation to the Franklin 150th celebration committee and especially to co-chairs Gay Riddick and Liz Burgess for their outstanding work in organizing the CES cesential I can't say it um celebration as I was not in your history classes um held on March 15, 2026 that the city council commend commends the committee for creating the memory chest chest which will be preserved in city hall as historical record to be opened in the city's on the city's 200th anniversary in 2076 that and number three that the city recognized the committee's role in fostering community pride preserving civic memory and strengthening Franklin's collective understandings of its history and heritage and four that the resolution shall be entered into the official minutes of the Franklin City Council and that a copy be presented to of the Franklin 150th Anniversary Celebration Committee adopted this 23rd day of March 2026 by the Franklin City Council and signed by me, Paul Kaplan, as your mayor. If you all will come forward, all the members of the 150th anniversary celebration and um receive this honor. Won't you

think I'm gonna hand this to you and you put this on? Thank you. I want to get out of this city. We have unable to be here tonight. But unable to be here tonight and his wife are unable to be here tonight. So that's our

Let's go to the microphone.

I don't need a microphone, do I? Well, for the record, I'm loud. Where are parents?

Nelson come to Franklin and we're so happy to have you and thanks for bringing her talent. Franklin will know you forever. Thank you to all these people. I had a dream and I suspect nothing was going to be done and said it can. And we called the committee and we did and we thank you.

Thanks to all of you. Thank Thank Gayel and if Gayell and um and Clyde would stay at the front of the council chambers please. Mr. Kitchen. Yes. The two of you. Clyde.

Miss Rick, since you were my fifth grade teacher, I'm allowing you to sit down while I read this. Glad you can sit down as well, sir. A resolution designating Gel Rick and Clyde Parker as the city of Franklin historians laurate. Whereas the preservation interpretation of local history strengthens community identity, fosters civic pride and ensures that the lessons and achievements of previous generations past those who follow. Whereas Gayel Riddick has devoted decades to researching, documenting, sharing the history of Franklin and Southampton County through her work as an educator, author, and beloved local historian and tour guide. bring his Franklin story to life for residents and visitors alike. Whereas Gayo Riddick served as a featured historian at Franklin's 150th anniversary celebration on March 15, 2006, where he presented a compelling authoritative account of the city's history to the community gathered at Bears Landing. Whereas Goro Riddick has educated countless residents and visitors about his Franklin heritage through her writings, community presentations, and tireless efforts to make local history accessible, engaging, and meaningful. Whereas Clyde Parker has demonstrated exceptional knowledge of and dedication to preserving Southern County and Franklin history through his presentations, research, and active contributions to local historial organizations, including the Southampton County Historical Society. Whereas both Gel Riddick and Clyde Parker made significant and lasting contributions to documenting Franklin's transformation from a 19th century river and rail community into the vibrant city it is today. Whereas the history title of historian laurate is a designation recognized by miss talispies around the country to honor individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the preservation and sharing of local history. Whereas the city of Franklin desires to formally recognize and honor these two individuals the lifetimes of service and advancing historial preservation and community education. They have therefore be resolved by the city of

Franklin, Virginia, the Gerald Riddick and Clyde Park are hereby designated as the city of Franklin historians laurate in recognition their sexual and enduring contributions to preserving, documenting and sharing the history of Franklin Southern County. This honorary designation acknowledges their roles as community educators, historical researchers, and devoted ambassadors of Franklin's heritage and civic memory. that the city council ex expresses his profound gratitude for the decade decades of service and strengthening the community's understanding of its past and preserving Franklin historial legacy for future generations. This resolution may be entered in the official minutes of the Franklin City Council. The copies be presented again Riddick and Clyde Parker in recognition of this honor. Adopted 23rd of May, 2026 by Franklin City Council. Approved by Paul Kaplan, Mayor Gonna get rid of that. And I will say I'm not a singer. I think

Miss Banks probably is, but uh we were honored to be a part of that 50 person um uh chorus for the city.

I just want to say thank you to Jeremy for everything. Awesome rehearsals, Franklin Baptist Church, Miss Burgess certainly, and everybody who played a part. It was amazing. All right. This we're at the regular agenda. Did you want to

Oh, yes. Okay. All right. So, um, the first ordinance up for this is for a public hearing, I believe, is the ordinance on the on um ordinance number 20 220 2026-15 amending the um salaries for um council members effective July of 2027. Is there anybody that wishes to speak on this come forward please?

Please state your name again for the record.

Natalie Green. Um, I would, um, the comment that I would make on that is I'm not sure or I don't know if the residents would have knowledge of what this increase is going to look like, but uh, and you said it's for 2027. I would propose that it be put off until the residents are able to get their um utilities and and whatever else needs to be taken care of is in order. Thank you very much. All right. Anybody else? Second call. This sucks.

You got the piece of paper. You got it. What What I would like to know, Northish, what I would like to know is what you guys uh are getting paid now and then what are you going to be getting paid in 2027? I would say this, I really do believe it's worth it. you guys uh make million dollars deals for the for us and yet you get paid less than $5,000. So So I think that it's time for you guys to get an increase. Now, can someone tell me what it is you make now, the mayor makes, council make, and then what you'll be making. Is that

I don't think the numbers that are in the chart are correct. No, I think that the chart had a little lower than than it is. I think it's 11,000 for mayor for mayor. That's what I said for mayor. Vice mayor is 10,000 and 9,000 for council, I believe. 7880. Okay. All right. Okay. See? So, okay. So, yeah. So, I mean, hey, uh I'll say this guy, you guys do deserve it. I mean, you do, like I said, you make million dollar deals for for the city. So, uh And thank you for what you Thank you very much. That's a year. That's a year. Yeah. Not an hour. Not Not a month. A month. That's a year.

Anybody else? Third call. All right. Close the public hearing. I'll take a I'll take a motion, please. Anybody? I'll make a motion to accept increase. We have a motion over here. Can you speak up, please? Second. Oh, yeah. A motion and a second. Any discussion? All right. Take the vote. Dr. Johnson. I I I may not be here to see it, but I I I and I motion carries. All right. And then do we have to we need to put the deer deer park off because we didn't I would say still have the public hearing.

Still have the public hearing. All right. have a public hearing on the acceptance of the gift of deed for the expansion to Blackwater Park which is called Deer Deer Creek Parcel. Is anybody here to speak on that? Second call. Come forward. You know the process. Really? We have to be shy. Yeah. And would you speak up? I couldn't hear what you were saying last time. I really don't need the mic if you guys not to turn. Well, the mic is it gets it on the record. Yeah, but I'm saying that you probably need to turn that she who control the mic anyway.

But back. Yeah. Okay. So, whenever I come tell her turn it up.

Um so, um you talking about Deer Creek Extension. So now I I think that really you should have told us a little bit about what you're trying to do as far as with the extension, but I do know a little bit about it. Uh what I would say is this and I did mention a little bit earlier. I don't really see uh how you can really extend the uh you have 200 acres, you want to add a additional 90 acres when you don't have the manpower work the manpower to to manage it. So, uh until I mean I'm quite sure you guys know all the details about it, but you haven't told the public about it. So, therefore, if the public don't know about it, we can't say that we are for it. we support it. So if if the public don't support it, I don't think you guys should be willing to go forth with it, like I said, because we don't know. You haven't told us anything, but yet you want our opinion on it. So my opinion is uh

no, we we we had a presentation during the work session that was was voted on not to do it. It was one plan for the work session and that was uh a motion was made and seconded and and passed to postpone, but the work the the the hearing had already been scheduled and advertised. Okay. So, uh if if if my opinion matters at all, I would say this then uh this might say no to don't worry about I would say no. Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you very much.

All right. Anybody else on Deer Creek Extension? Third call. Close the public hearing. Um, all right. We have a before us an ordinance approving issuance of a Franklin redevelopment and housing authority of his uh multif family housing revenue bonds for the acquisition, rehabilitation, and equipping of of the it says approximately, but it's um for Dorchester Square. There's a proposal to um renovate at a purchase and renovate um Dorchester extensive renovations u for each of the 125 apartments there to the tune of aboutund a little over $100,000 per per um per unit. Uh the city's not borrowing the money. We're just giving the the housing authority the permission to to carry through this with this with the contractor. Um, so this is there's no impact on the city's city's budget. Do I have a motion to accept?

So moved. Second. I have a motion in a second. Any any discussion? And we'll take the vote. Dr. I I I I I and I. Motion carries. All right. Um and then we move on to the uh presentation from before from earlier. city manager while pulling it up if it's okay with council stay. It's a little easier to work with.

All right. So again, um good evening, mayor, members of council. For those in the audience don't know, my name is Lincoln Saunders. I'm the interim city manager for the city of Franklin for the next seven days. The uh next portion uh or excuse me, this portion tonight is uh presentation is related to um Franklin City Public Schools and um a review of fiscal year 2025 finances. My goal tonight is to present um to the best of my ability actual accounting of what has transpired um how we got here, what the numbers actually are and uh some recommendations for what to do going forward. Want to be clear, this presentation is not about assigning blame. Both the city and Franklin City public schools bear portions of the responsibility for breakdown in processes and communication. My goal simply to provide a full picture so we can address the underlying issues um and do our best to ensure situations like this don't occur in the future. So let's start with the headline numbers because these are the figures that have largely been in the public discussion. Council appropriated a total of 21.8 million in fiscal year 2025 for Franklin City Public Schools. That was your original appropriation plus mid-year amendments the council approved uh including a $2.8 million increase in state aid tied to the school's enrollment grow. Actual FCPS expenditures however came in at 27.7 million and you know both on the face and in reality that's a $5.9 million spend above the authorized appropriation. However, there is a little bit more to to the story into the picture. Um Franklin City Public Schools has an additional 6.83 million in documented

restricted grants uh prior year incumbrances as well as the increase to the local match which council did approve in October um which believe total to again 6.83 million which were they are they if they are accepted and appropriated uh would result in a roughly $925,000 uh under of their annual budget versus the 5.9 million projected over. Say that. Oh, back back. Say that again. Six point. Oh, clarify that for me. Let me get to the next step. I think it might make it easier.

It helps to start with the timeline of the key events. Get a sense of how we got here step by step. Pieces of the story actually go back as as far as 2022 and 2023. Um, when FCPS um returned just over a million dollars to the city for school roof replacements at Franklin High and SP Morning Elementary, council passed a resolution in August of 2023 setting those funds aside for school construction costs. Fast forward to March of 2025, um which is when really a lot of the discussion around the fiscal year 25 uh finances took place published updated enrollment numbers showing that Franklin's required local match had increased uh by over 725,000. FCPS at that time submitted a budget amendment. Uh but the decision at that time was to wait for the final ADM numbers to come before beginning for bringing it to council. Given that that you know eventually was reduced to I believe a $475,000 appropriation. Um there's certainly justification for that decision. Around May 9th u I think it's safe to say the situation escalated uh significantly. Uh the vendor payments were stopped, cards were cut off and approximately 400,000 in FCPS checks uh were held. It wasn't until May 27th, 3 weeks later, that FCPS submitted the 5.48 million grant carry forward uh amendments to the city. In my view, those amendments explain a bulk of the discrepancy.

I'll try to speak loud. I'll just repeat the last couple items. Yes. All right. Backing up just a couple steps here. Um,

okay. So March 2025, the Virginia Department of Education published the updated enrollment numbers showing that the city of Franklin's required local match would need to increase by over 725,000. At that time, FCPS submitted a budget amendment. Uh but a decision was made at that time to wait for the final ADM numbers that would come out at the end of the school year uh before bringing an amendment to council to increase the uh local match. Uh, as I said a moment ago, given the fact that that number between um, essentially the mid-year number and the final number reduced from 725,000 to roughly 475,000, there was certainly justification for waiting for the final numbers. Uh, on May 9th, as I mentioned a second ago, the situation escalated. Um given the concerns that had been relayed regarding uh school's budget, FCPS vendor payments were stopped, credit cards um were cut off and approximately 400,000 in FCPS checks um were physically held. It wasn't until May 27th, several weeks later, that Franklin City Public Schools submitted a $5.4 million budget amendment to carry forward restricted grants um into the fiscal year. Those amendments um can explain a bulk of the discrepancy, but it is also um fair to acknowledge that those amendments came significantly late in the fiscal year.

That was from 2024. Is that right?

These would have been prior year awards. So, it includes over 2 million in CARES funding that would have been, you know, um approved several years prior. But these were un unexpended restricted grants that the school division had received but had not brought forward into the fiscal year 25 budget from an appropriation standpoint. The payment stoppage became public um I believe at July 14th council work session. Uh and again then there was a joint meeting with the school board that followed on July 28th. Uh, as I mentioned earlier, council did ultimately adopt and approve the increase in the local match amendment this past fall uh for 475,000. Again, original less than the original estimate of 725,000. This slide shows a recon reconciliation table that shows how the numbers actually fit together. Starting at the top, council appropriated 18.6 6 million in original funding in their adopted budget, then approved 3.19 million in mid-year amendments. That brought the total authorized budget to 21.8 million. Actual expenditures were 27.7 million. So from a budget appropriation standpoint, there's a significant gap. However, the 5.48 48 million in restricted grant carry forwards which again are generally federal or state grants awarded in prior years that had not been fully expended expended uh don't operate like general operating funds. Uh general general operating funds at the end of a fiscal year would fall to fund balance or would return to the city. Uh restricted grants operate differently and it's important um that during the fiscal year those carry forwards happen. Um well just to add briefly that that can happen either through an estimate of the G grant carry

forwards that you would put in your introduced and adopted budget that could then be refined when you close your books and can get to your final numbers of how much remained expended unexpended and could be carried forward or it can be done after the close of the books in August and September. Um so for you know reasons we don't need to get into or for unknown reasons um it does not appear that those carry forward grants were considered either in the introduced and adopted budget or were brought forward by schools any earlier in the year. In addition to the 5.48 million in restricted gant ferry fords there was also a amendment for 874,000 in prior year recumbances that um was not acted upon during the fiscal year. uh as well as the increase to the required local match um that was approved in October which goes into the final accounting of the fiscal year 2025 budget. So again, if you um in if if as is in front of you tonight, council does appropriate those amendments, um the unodudited number would show FCPS um having a b positive balance of 925,000 as opposed to the um budget deficiency between their approved budget and what was actually expenditured. So, let's talk a little bit about the issues that um that I would just say allowed this to happen. It's safe to say that the budget amendment process did not work as it was supposed to. Um many of the budget amendments that do explain the difference between the approved budget and what was actually expended came after um those that that expenditures being above budget was um

discovered and discussed. Right. So many of these amendments came in later May after the earlier period where um checks have been frozen. Correct. I think it's also safe to say that the absence of a city finance director for much of fiscal year 25 contributed um to the both the um reducing of the central controls that should be in place to ensure that any issues like this are caught much earlier in the fiscal year. Um we had a series of contractors engaged for different periods but um the absence of a continuous dedicated director um means that communication was was fragmented at best. Um as I mentioned there was essentially no monthly reconciliations between appropriations and expenditures at the finance department level. um the discrepancy the uh spending above the you know on a on a pace to exceed budget um could have been found as early as August or September um had those reconciliations been taking place but again it really did not come to light until May. I will also say that it um I believe a contributing factor was in language around how we discussed beginning balances. Um I'm saying this from just my vantage point having read materials not citing anyone but it appears that to me that when schools was discussing their beginning balance they were including at least a portion of these grant carry forwards as part of what they consider their beginning balance. And from as council knows from a budget appropriation standpoint, it's not a beginning balance unless they are carried forward into the fiscal year. Three more quick issues to highlight.

Again, somewhat repetitive here, but the 5.48 million coming forward in late May after the concerns were raised um is certainly a contributing factor. However, once those amendments were submitted, um it is my assessment that it should have contributed to deescalating the controversy versus the controversy continuing to escalate through the summer. The last item I'll briefly mention is the refunds um because I think they do contribute to how schools was viewing their budget. Um FCC FCPS during the roof projects uh essentially paid the city returned a million $1 million50 to the city for school roof replacements. Um that was on top of the roughly $2 million received in literary loans. Um I'm going to say specifically for uh I believe the high school. Um those costs ended up coming in at just over 2.2 2 million which would leave a balance of over 700,000. Um roughly 287,000 was returned to school um in the prior fiscal year, but that leaves a balance of 509,000 um that could be reappropriated and that I'm recommending be reappropriated to schools um for use for capital maintenance. So, our recommendations coming out of this report, first would recommend that we make a retroactive appropriation for the 5.48 million in restricted grant carry fors. Um, these are legitimate expenditures um documented backed by restricted grants. uh and formalizing the appropriation

will bring us into compliance for their fiscical year 25 budget. Second, I would also recommend the council uh act tonight to establish a school capital maintenance reserve fund under Virginia code section 22.1-100B uh which relates back to House Bill 599 that I believe I mentioned um a little bit earlier. This is a fairly new this is a new code section. I believe it was first adopted in 2024. Uh, and what I would say its goal is is really meant to get localities out of the continuous cycle of um, schools having saying they have reserves and then the city be in a position of determining whether to return those to schools for their savings for their next year's budget or to to pull them back um, for the city either in fund balance or um, for other uses. What this would allow is that when schools do close their books um at the end of their fiscal year, if there are any operating dollars remaining that are not, again, this is this is where it's important to keep these streams correct, that are not in their restricted grant pool, those dollars could either automatically or by appropriation fall to this capital maintenance reserve. So, it's a way to seed your capital maintenance costs with your savings from your prior fiscal year and certainly give schools more ability to manage their their budget um not have any sort of uh let's say rush to encumber or expend funds towards the end of the fiscal year because they were afraid they're just will lo will be lost go back to the city or otherwise. Um, it allows them to be incentivized to save by allowing them to use it for other needs that they would have in their capital m maintenance side. Fourth would say, and this would be um work that needs to be done, but

establishing written budget procedures um defining the submission deadlines for schools, the documentation requirements, and the mandatory review paths. Um I will say that the process particularly between schools and the city has been fairly informal. Um the city would receive amendments and and there's um there needs to be a more formal way of both advising schools that of amendments that have been adopted are not being adopted etc. It it it feels more like amendments were submitted with without much feedback in the past and they we need to be able to close the loop with them on on those amendments. Fifth would recommend that we establish a grant tracking policy. Restricted state, federal, and state grants um need to have dedicated account codes or a special fund uh that does not essentially co-mingle with their operating funds um and cause additional confusion about either fund balance um or general operating you know fund availability. The last recommendation um is to set aside uh a local funding reserve. This is really uh a recommendation that's based on one of two paths. Um as the council knows, you know, I believe in this budget and in the prior budget, the city funds at the amount um required by the state, the lo the local match requirement. Uh, as I mentioned earlier, when the average daily membership changed in the middle of the fiscal year, that resulted in a essentially $700,000 bill being submitted to the city midfiscal year, which out of a budget of three 35 million, that's a pretty big number for any city manager to have to try to find and come up with

in savings um midfcal year. And so it's really kind of a if the city continues to fund at the local requirement level, I would say it's important to have reserves available and a plan available for what you will do if ADM increases and the local requirement increases midfiscal year. Um it's kind of a uh because we're we're we're operating so close to that line uh and because it's a state requirement that we fund the local match. Um you either need to build more buffer in what you fund schools at or have reserves so that you can make a mid-year adjustment if you need to. If that makes sense. All right. So try and wrap this up. Um, so close in with four quick points. First, FCPS and the city incurred roughly 5.9 million in expenditures beyond what council had legally appropriated. That's a fact and it's a compliance issue that must be addressed. Second, the expenditures were legitimate and they were funded. FCPS had 6.83 83 million in documented restricted grants incumbrances as well as the increase to the local match um that would account for the spending above budget. Third, both the city council and the school board um must continue to treat financial duty financial oversight as a core duty. Vacant positions, unanswered amendments are not acceptable operating conditions through a city government or a school division. Fourth, the schools were late in submitting their amendments and that's their responsibility. But once those amendments were submitted, the controversy should have wound down and not escalated through the summer.

The path forward is straightforward. Formalize the appropriations, return the roof funds, put proper seedures in place, and rebuild the working relationship between the city and the school division. I'm happy to take any questions.

I um I for one want to thank you for the hard work that you that you did on this uh Mr. Saunders. Um I I know this has taken a long time and a gone through a lot of detail. It does make us a little embarrassed, me personally, a little embarrassed that that I I' I've made accusations. um based on information I was being given um that I don't think anybody was intending to give wrong. I I think it was just a misunderstanding and possibly having um so many finance directors, so many so many what do they say? Too many cooks to spoil this to

and um while it's I I don't think the city needs to take the full blame for this. I I I take the blame for for what I've said this from this seat in the day and um and I I do apologize for that. but that we we need to have a better working relationship with the school systems. Um finance, our finance and their finance should be should be handinand uh making sure this stuff doesn't happen again. Um uh I I I echo Dr. Johnson's uh comment some of Dr. Johnson's comments to school board last week. We need to we need to put our differences and he and I spoke about this actually last week. Um the differences between our some of our some some of the some of us feeling uncomfortable with the current school administration and the students. It's two separate things and we we it's we should focus 100% on the students and then try to work out our differences with with um school administration uh through through the school board. Let them do their job. We have a we we we school board has grown nicely and and um um we hope that things will be better in the future. I I'll take one of any other comments.

Uh yes. Um I would like to thank uh Mr. Sanders, um, city manager for, um, taking the time and the effort to sort out what needed to be done. Uh, there are a lot of things that he said, if you were listening, that um, we're all human. We all make mistakes, but we learn from our mistakes and we go forward as one unit working together. And what I mean by that one unit uh the schools and city council working together for the children because at the end of the day it's about helping our children grow and develop into what they should be in this city and that is a monumental effort in any city. We are not the only cities that have um had problems like this, but at the end, we need to put our differences aside and work and do what we need to do. I know I'm going to do that as elected by the people. It's my job to do that. And I would still say again when we have an audit, make sure that we get a clean audit at the end and do not jump the gun because if we jump the gun, things happen and it'll bite you because numbers are so federal grants come in different from

and I know that because I work with grants Federal grants come in different from the way finance comes in. You may not get it before uh the end instead of the beginning. Those are things we have to take in consideration. But what I would say to our citizens is and the council and the school board, let us just work together for the betterment of our children. And that is the bottom line. I thank you.

Yeah. For the past two weeks, actually the past 13 months, been accusations, emails about me voting nay on the financial distributions. Two weeks ago, there was a call for my removal by an ill-advised aging school board member. Recently, let me know that I'm all for teacher raises and anything that helped the students at Franklin City Public Schools. Teachers and students are the real victims of this system. The issue I have is trusting those who are in charge of distributing these funds. If if and when I see proof of where this money is going to where it's earmarked, I'll vote for it. Meanwhile, trusting a system who fattens certain people's bank accounts and pays for excessive takeout lunches with just enough leftover to take home for dinner. And I feel that in a foyer request, it wasn't never answered. I will continue to ask questions as long as city money. Thank you.

So for the citizens in in layman's terms, we need to return the 509627. Correct. It's my recommendation. Yes. Okay. Correct. So the citizens will understand. Okay.

Well, I want to say I want to thank Mr. Saunders for putting together a more thorough presentation for us to get a better understanding because there has been quite a bit of controversy. I personally think I sat here one night and we got one number that the city was supposed to be owed from the city. We got another number that we were spo possibly owed from the school board. And I asked the treasurer and the treasurer sat down before she could tell us what she thought was the difference. I think that as an elected official, we have no control really of the treasurer, but I think that the treasurer should always know and have a system in place that if we allocate $25 for the schools, then she doesn't write checks any more than $25. It's not that complicated. even though she knows they may be getting money, you don't just go spending the city's money because the city's going to feel like you owe us money. And that led to a lot of the confusion. But I thank Mr. Sanders again for clearing up some of that confusion. And I would after my tenure on in municipal government, I would say that it's prudent that anyone taking responsibility for the um stewardship of the city's public funds. They should have a full accounting when they begin. It's not good to find out later that this wasn't right or that wasn't right. Start out knowing how much money you got to work with, how much money you owe, and how much money is required to operate whatever. And let the people who are responsible for that money know upfront.

I call it, for lack of another phrase, I call it having a forensic audit done before you change guards just so that you make sure that the ills of a previous administration don't fall onto the new administration because once you take over, it's your baby. So I would uh hope that we will this this report will help bring clarity to many of the people throughout the city. I know we have one of the executives from the school system here in the house tonight and I'm quite sure she feels good hearing this report and it gives a vindication to a degree to the school system and I'm just glad that we finally Mr. Sanders has been able to bring this to a conclusion in regards to the funding with the school system. Thank you. First of all, I'd like to commend you on getting you and your team together to work on this and finally get the answers that we've all been asking for for a good 13 to 14 months now. Um, I'm glad that has turned out the way it has. U I really did not want to see us in a deficit where it would have cost our taxpayers even more money after we're sitting here fussing about our utility bills as well. Uh this just would have been more stress on on everyone here. Uh so for that I'm very thankful to you and anyone else that helped as well as the schools or finance directors u treasurer whoever helped prepare this report and finally get it to clarity. Uh, moving forward, I want to see us work on some of the things that you've recommended to us. I think it uh helps with transparency. It'll help us with funding in the long run of of knowing that the money is actually going where it should

go. Um, there still needs to be more transparency, I believe, on both sides moving forward. And I look forward to working with them and getting this straight. Um, that's it. I'm going to entertain that two amounts here. First one is school system.

Mayor, would you like to do the maintenance reserve establishment first? 2019 or 26-9. Sorry. So the establish

I I have discussion Um, we we gave this money in 2025 and it wasn't spent then. No, sir. Clarify, Mr. Sanders.

Going off of memory here, but I want to say that um the money was given in fiscal year 2024. as they approached the end of fiscal year 2024, it was um clear that uh the work wasn't going to be completed and the funds would need to get carried forward in the next fiscal year, which is where I believe the prior city interim city manager and schools had had discussions about that money being carried forward so that it could be returned in balance, whatever's not needed for roof expenditures. So what they need is 509. I'm sorry, Mr. It's 59,000.

It's 59,000 is the balance of the 1,50,000 after covering the roof overages. I I I

I think your vote was on the reserve. The question was about the 509, but the vote was on the reserve. So move second. This is uh meeting state and federal grants matching those grants.

Yeah, Mr. S.

Mr. it. So, the roof and the the roof and the grants are are obviously separate ordinances. The roof, the 59,000 is tied to essentially from an accounting standpoint, repaying schools for the balance of the million dollars. That's essentially the the purpose of 2026-20. 2026-21 is the ordinance um to carry forward the restricted grants into the fiscal year 25 budget which addresses the ex um you know spending past approved appropriation. So the money has actually been spent.

Yes. I mean the the money would be spent with the exception of the balance of 900,000. The money would have been spent in the prior fiscal year. The grant funds would either have been received in the prior fiscal years like 2024 or they are reimbursement based grants that they've since submitted for reimbursement.

Yes, we'll we'll we will obviously So there's not a paper to deposit that 900,000 into the reserve. The reason for that is first schools needs to finish an accounting of whether any of that 900,000 is a restricted grant amount that needs to be carried forward as a restricted grant as opposed to return potentially either return to city funds or deposit in the maintenance reserve. Thank you, Mr. SS. So, in layman's terms,

509, we're paying them 509, reimbursing them.

Now, what about the uh grants? Explain that again. The grants are essentially funds that in so these were grants that schools would have received in a prior fiscal year. I'm going to use fiscal year 24 though some of them could predate that as well like CARES funds etc. um these are funds that they would have um received or or received the obligation, right? And then council would have received and appropriated that to the schools as a grant. Correct. So these are all funds that um were awarded in prior years and needed to be brought in to FY25 so that they could continue to spend and so that it gets counted into their total um authority to spend, right? Their budget authority. So, this does not create a new $5.4 million liability for the city or anything like that. This is cleaning up their appropriations.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. We to my not understanding, we have adopted 2026-9 2022. He asked

first one. Correct. For 509. We're on discussion for the 509. Yes. So the 509 um is different than the grants because this is essentially a new obligation of the city. new in the sense that you're fulfilling a prior obligation, but this would be a budget amendment in fiscal year 2025. This does not create uh because it's going in the reserve fund, the funds would be available to schools to use for capital maintenance now, but this is a fiscal year 2025 budget amendment. So, this the end of the day is going to shake out when you when we close the books on the fiscal year 25 audit. um a year

the the one that was was due in December or in January or so that we're still working our way through um but the 509 so again it becomes it's a fiscal year 25 budget amendment um to appropriate that as a positive increase that's not accounted for in the the spreadsheets you've seen is in it's not in the 900,000 this is a an additional appropriation that just clears the deck of another I will say dispute between schools and the city. Mr. How do we know that it's going there?

Well, the so by by funding a capital maintenance reserve fund, it allows the city to control how those funds are spent. Can only be used for approved capital maintenance expenditures. You would not be able to reallocate this fund to I'll just say, you know, to police salaries or anything else. um it can only be used for and and I will say I do think that this is is somewhat timely um given that it's my understanding that there are some maintenance some pressing maintenance needs that schools does not have the funds to um address at the moment um and these funds could potentially help address a an HVAC issue that they're trying to figure out how to advance This is on the 509.

Okay. I I I I understand.

So these would be these are grants that would have been received and appropriated in prior fiscal years like 2024 or earlier. And so, but they were never appropriated in fiscal year 2025 and they need to be in order to have been expended in 25 because they were new. Yeah. And if you're interested, there is a list of those carry for grants in the back of your packet for that particular ordinance. So moved.

I hesitantly I abstain. I

I So items 2026-24 and item 2026-25 are both they're they're al they're alternative proposals. So the the goal is not to adopt both of them but to adopt one of them. Um, as council's aware, this is the time of year where we get our updated insurance rates from our insurance providers for city employees. Um, and it's the time of year that we need to set the employee, you know, share so that we can enter go into open enrollment and, you know, both both open enrollment for employees as well as, you know, budget preparation for the city. um working with uh human resources. Um we'll start let me just start by saying um so our Anthem uh 1000 plans and the high deductible plans um all received an approximate 7% increase. Centa which is the essentially the third plan path that we offer as a city uh had a 26% increase in rates. uh obviously understanding the sensitivity and what we pass on to our employees, but also I will say that based on my analysis I did I do see where I think we do have a bit of an imbalance in between what percentage of um rates we cover for our employees depending on the plans. So both options that are in front of you do try to equalize or bring bring into closer par how much we're subsidizing um and and subsidizing is maybe the wrong word. what share what percentage of those total costs we pay of which you know the actual total premium costs certainly um

plays into it. Uh my recommendation would be to adopt um uh 2026-25 uh because it actually would reduce the costs for our Anthem uh employees. Um but you know to be transparent that comes at a cost to the city. Um we're looking at between a 375 or a $425,000 increase depending on which path you choose. Um it the the changes are primarily if you look at it in the Anthem plans into um making them more affordable for the family plans either the plus one or the full family. Um and I think you know essentially we had two two options. we can bring the cost of one up significantly to make it fair or we could lower the cost of one significantly to try and increase fairness. And I've I'm proposing the latter with um item 25. All the plans They like best really bad situation. What you need

to The vac.

No, please. I was just going to say um we need to to pick the best plan for our employees because we're in competition with other cities basically and if we don't have some perks for them that they feel comfortable with uh because they work for us and and and they do a great job and we need to reward them for the job that they do. That's why I'm I agree with uh the city manager. U 20 2026 uh-25 uh would be the best plan for our employees. Um that way we we're in comp we we are um we have a good plan for our employees that they will not drift uh to another city because we don't want to be um a training post to train people and and they get to train and then go go to other cities. We have competition around us. We need to this is very important for our employees.

So, mayor, I would just say um if anyone wanted to make a motion for the one they want to approve, the other one can just die by inaction. Okay. Um I so move that we u do uh 2026-25. Second. A second. I I

I and I thank you, mayor. Um, first I just wanted to um bring to everyone's attentions that there is a financial literacy workshop um taking place on Tuesday, April 21st from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Um, this workshop is a collaboration of the Franklin Department of Social Services as well as the Franklin City Public Schools and the um, Bronco Credit Union. Uh, before I move on to item B, I'll just briefly mention that um, got a report from our parks and rec director that the egg drop went incredibly well. I think we had over 500 individuals participating and sounds like it was a really great event. Um, so thank you to everybody who helped uh pull that off. The next item would be um just looking mayor uh and council members looking for consensus as to whether council uh having received word of a school board resignation if council is ready to um uh advertise a public hearing for your next scheduled meeting in April um where you would receive nominations from the floor. So, if council is prepared for that, we'll prepare um the public notice

if my memory serves me right. I'll look to the attorney here as well, but um your your hearing is to receive nominations from the from from whoever from the public. I have a question. Yes, ma'am. I thought we changed the applications. We changed the applications. We we agree we were doing applications. So um please then

Yes. Yes. That's correct. I think Miss Banks was correct. Okay. So, and then we did a public hearing to uh people speaking in favor of their candidates. I was going off memory. I thought I remember I thought I remembered a public hearing to receive nominations as as well as the applications, but um if give me some I mean do you guys is the request that we would post to receive applications at this point and and in addition should we schedule the public hearing to receive any additional nominations? I believe that's a date. It's just applications. I think the public hearing we did was public hearing came after the application process.

Correct. Yes. Yes. Okay. So, you want to fulfill finish the application process and then do a public hearing. Well, I would just like to say um suppose someone that night uh comes from the floor to nominate someone as a council to have an application process under Darlene Burchham and that's the way we've been doing it. I think we should continue to do it that way. I agree. What is is there an urgency to this? Yes, it is. And I think it should be noted that it's an atlarge position, right?

So that's within the city. I think that needs to be noted. Ditto that anywhere from anywhere in the city. Um, so we want to set April 9th as Well, one last question, Mr. Mayor. And and it it's for the duration of a term, correct? Be an unexpired term. And how long is the uh left on that term? I'm not sure. Someone from the audience said three years. I don't know if that's two years. I'm sorry. Two years left. Two years left. So we had three. We had two.

Well, confirm that. But that's let the city manager confirm that. Yeah. We'll get back to you on a Okay. Thank you for the gallery, but no, thank you.

I think I've got what I need. Sorry. I think I've got what I need. Okay. All right. So, we want to set the 9th as the deadline for the application process. Let Let me get back to you guys with the timeline. That's only two weeks.

Could we actually have the I think as council we can go ahead and decide this tonight. Um I think that we should if the application is still online it should be. If not it should be uploaded immediately and by our next meeting we should be able to have applicants submit applications for review. After that point we will go into a public hearing based off of the interviews and everything that we've conducted as council. And that's that's what we did last time I believe. And April 9th is our next meeting I believe. Correct. That gives people time to submit applications and it also should give us time to review applications. I'm sorry. Look at that date for me.

Looking at the schedule, April 13th would be our next meeting. I'm sorry. Okay. And the the only reason I asked about the expedition question was because um our new city manager coming in, he worked with Mr. Bertram and he's worked in Suffuk and Norolk and Dupa News and he may have a recommendation for us that we are unaware of as we move forward. So that's why I was just asking about the expedition but if you know we need to move forward we knew move forward. Unfortunately it's not a city manager decision it is a council that's right decision. Yeah but but the method is the council's decision.

We also came up with that method as a council. Okay. Um the only thing my thought and I I'm agreeing with the process is um we're replacing well excuse me we're taking nomination we'll be we we'll be taking applications for the July one changes in May. So we want to make this one now start the process for this one and then we then we'll do the May. Yeah. Okay. All right. Just want to bring that up.

So, do we need a motion for that? Okay. So, applications will be uploaded and submitted by our next meeting, April 13th. Now, are we going to have a work session before that meeting so that we can review applications? We certainly can. And when are we going to do the interviews? After we decide on the applicants that we would like to move forward with. Okay. Does that make sense? Yeah. Okay. And the term does expire June 30th, 2027. 2027. So that's just a year

a year of s a year and a couple month year and a month or two of service. All right. Anything else from Mr. Saunders? I think you've heard enough from me tonight. Okay. Um boards and commissions. Anything for boards and commissions? Uh yes. I would like to say that the uh the jail board we are working on um well we're going to meet the the application committee is going to meet um in about a week basically to u see who we have and see if we can come up with a selection for for a new jail superintendent.

Correct. Thank you. Anybody else? All right. go on to council comments.

Okay. Um I would like to thank um again uh Mr. Saunders for um his uh work done, leadership and so forth as we move forward with the new city manager. Uh we would like to keep him around uh to get some more things done with with this uh uh agency basically as far as um grants basically and um other developments are very it's a necessity for it's a necessity for the city uh to move forward. So basically um I would like to thank him uh for the work that for the work that he has done and I would like to say to um uh the individuals that um came up about the light bill. I've we've we've dealt with that for nine years. It's been a roller coaster up and down. We're still trying to um uh fix it in some way that is meeting the needs of our citizens because uh economically um things things are tough and um we realize that so we need to we need to work harder to make sure that uh we make the right decisions the best decisions for our for our uh citizens. I thank you.

I just want to say don't forget you got five or six people you promised to talk to somebody. Mr. Wright's gone. Right.

Just want to say I want to um thank Mr. Saunders for stepping into this position. I know he only has seven days left, but I do appreciate the things that you did bring to the table that were beneficial for us as a as a council and the city. I also welcome Mr. Freeman with open arms, and I look forward to working with you. Um, I just want to see unity in our city. Um, I thought that the 150th celebration was a great demonstration of that. Um, people are more alike than they realize. However, differences can really cloud vision and unfortunately that can put the city and important things in a paralytic state. So, I look forward to moving forward um, in whatever way that looks like. I would just like to echo the uh sentiments. Thank you, Mr. Saunders, for your hard work and dedication. But I just have one question. On a scale of 1 to 10, how's our budget looking in regards to the completion

work is underway. Um, I will say that the delay in getting the assessment schedule started, um, which was a contract I signed early after arriving, um, we are still waiting for the final numbers from the assessment contractor. Um, which certainly puts the budget in a tougher position without having those revenue numbers at hand. So, on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the highest, 11, one, 11. Oh, so Mr. Freeman, your job should be easy. back. That means the budget's done.

Okay. Uh well, first in addressing the uh citizens from Ward Three. I thank you so much for coming out tonight. Um I haven't met many of you. You uh I am your servant and I'm the councilman for W3. And what I wanted to let you know is I take this utility bill thing as serious as as you do because I have to pay it too. My bill doubled. It's not as large as some of you guys, but it has doubled and I'm very concerned about it. Um, I wanted to let you know that I'm having a ward meeting in case you didn't know because normally, and I'm sure you found some uh flyers in your mailbox about ward meetings because I put them in every mailbox, but this week I happened to be out of town and I was unable to get the flyers out. I've been announcing it. It's on the city website and um it's been all over Facebook. We will be having a ward meeting tomorrow night at the Franklin Library. And at that time, you'll be introduced to your new city manager as well as my guest will be the finance director in charge of utility billing as well as the director of Franklin Power and Lights. Come with your questions. Be expecting answers. I understand because I have been in your place when they told me I don't know and to me that is an unacceptable answer. This is a informal meeting. So it's a it's your meeting. It's Ward 3's ward meeting and each month I invite different guests to share with you

information about our city. Right now, these utility bills are the most important thing that's on everybody's mind. And I want our new city manager to hear from you, the citizens. So, as he begins his development of this city and moving forward with this city, he will know the primary concern of the people of this city, not from us or from me, but from the people themselves. So I would urge anyone that is in W 3 to come out to the meeting tomorrow. However, that does not restrict the attendance to only people from W 3. Everybody in this city is welcome to come to a W 3 meeting and I hope that you guys will come out for that. Now, I would like to say also that that's tomorrow night at 5:00 at the Franklin Library. Now, uh Mr. Saunders, my favorite interim city manager, I'd like to thank you for all that you have done since you have been here through your tenure. Uh I have appreciated our conversations that we've had in depth. I think you possess a great deal of vision in regards to economic development and I hope that somehow we can find a way that maybe you can still be able to help our city even if it's not in the capacity of city management. But thank you for all you've done for your sacrifices away from your family and throughout the time your time of mourning. Um, I'm so sorry that you had to go through that while you were dealing with just coming here, but thank you so much for everything that you've done and you've kept most of your promises that you made, most of

them. Um, and finally, there is a vote going on now, and I would like perhaps for Mr. kitchen to be able to chime back in on this because he is the chairman of the Franklin Republican Committee. But there is a vote going on right now that all citizens, Virginia citizens need to be aware of. The deadline is April 21st. Is it

21st? And it is to vote yes or no. Yes. Is to say that you want the Virginia to uh level the playing field because three other states at least Missouri, North Carolina and another state, they've done what's called gerrymandering so that they can have more seats in our federal congress. And new and um the Virginia said, "Well, Mr. M, I don't know if this is appropriate. This is This is This is council comments, right? No, it's not. This is council comments, right? Council comments. So, this is by

I can cut it short then. I told you you're welcome to speak. So, I'll cut it short. I think you should vote yes. Vote yes. Leave my name out of it. Okay. Okay. Mr. President, I'd like to say thank you to the

anniversary crew that put that project together and saw it all the way through. Um, that was pretty amazing even though I was unable to attend. Um, I think that was a great thing for the city. U, Mr. Saunders, I I really want to thank you deeply from my perspective. Um, even though we didn't talk a whole lot, you made sense when I needed something. Um, so I really appreciate that. And to Mr. Freeman, I look forward to the same relationship and moving forward and bigger and better things to come. bigger and better things to help our city and compliment our citizens. Um the whole reason we're sitting up here is for you all. We want to do the right thing. So keep voicing your opinions to us. It does make a difference. It does matter. This is your city just like it is ours, but more so for you. We're do we're sitting up here doing this. So looking forward I look forward to working with you as well as everyone on council. Um, tonight was a great night of of keeping everything under control and doing well. Um, I look forward to that being our future.

Thank you. Um, I also want to thank the the group from the 150th. Um, it was a great honor, as I said earlier, to even though I may have just been a placeholder in the in the choir lineup. I I did try to sing and not throw throw throw off my next door neighbors who were much much better singers. Um, but it was just a it was a wonderful wonderful event. Um, I want to thank Mr. Saunders. Um I we couldn't have had a better relationship. I think I think everybody on council has expressed similar similar views and uh you leave here with a um with a with a grateful city council and and uh you've integrated into the city very nicely and and come a part of this place and you have you have shown vision for our city that we didn't know sometimes existed. Uh as Dr. Johnson mentioned and Mr. Mammore mentioned, um I'm hoping that that through one way or another that you can continue to be of service to the city uh from an outside source and as a as a reference point and maybe working on grants or or or something, but that's going to be doc Mr. Freeman's choice. Mr. Freeman, I I welcome you. I'm glad to see you here tonight and we look forward to a wonderful work relationship. I'm also glad, very excited the fact that we've we've resolved the financial side of the school situation. Um, it it didn't turn out like a lot of us expected to, but but that's even better that that that that I don't mind admitting mistake mistakes. I had people telling me, "No, no, just keep your mouth shut. Don't don't admit anything." Um, I I think honesty is the best policy and and that's that if we were if I'm wrong, I I try to say I'm wrong. Um,

and I that's all I have. Miss Banks had one more comment she wanted to make. And

I almost forgot one important detail. Ward six, it's our time to shine. No, I'm just joking. Coffee time will be held at um storehouse on April 2nd from 6 o'clock to 8 o'clock p.m. Even though it is award 6 um time of just chatting and coffee time um it is definitely open to all citizens of Franklin and I hope that you all can meet me there um for chat some chat time and some coffee time. And also just um one more thing, former interim um city manager Darlene Bertram sent this message and said that you've got a good man in David Freeman. I have worked with him in the past and my daughter in Hampton has worked with him in recent years. I look for a better Franklin with his and your help. So once again, we welcome you.

Very nice. and Mr. and to you as well. Thank you. Uh take a motion to adjurnn. So move second. And all those in favor say I at one time. All right.