Remarks by Darrin Palumbo
628 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 21 of 26
“I just want to say in four years I've been sitting here, we've had some great financial reports, but this one suits my style. I think this is excellent. It has all the information attached to the agenda that we need, and then you hit the big broad strokes right here. I heard strong, strong, strong, financially stable, within budget. You gave us ratios, margins, told us where we're at in each department. It sounds like the city's in pretty good shape. It sounds like we're in good shape with you, so I appreciate it.”
“I see no other questions. Anybody signed up for a public comment on this?”
“Very good. Marcia, thank you. Jim, how many people signed up for Item 9, Citizens' Comments for Items Not on the Agenda?”
“Well, that's going to take us certainly past 6 o'clock. It gives people time to still sign up at 6 if they'd like. So why don't we start with the first speaker?”
“Folks, when you come up, if you just identify your name for the record, even though we might know who you are, just say it in the microphone, please.”
“Thank you, Terry, and good luck to yourself and all the candidates.”
“If you just state your name for the record, please, in the microphone.”
“So you could speak out your four minutes, right?”
“You got about 20 seconds. I can give you a little bit more, but if not, paraphrase the highlights.”
“Keep an eye, we're slating this for the first, trying to get to the first meeting in September, two meetings from now, but you'll see it published and you'll be able to have plenty of time to speak on that.”
“Thank you so much. Jim, next speaker, please.”
“All right, this will close public comment. We're moving on to item 10, city manager's report. Casey, I'm going to turn it over to you first, and also light signs if you have any questions for Casey. Please.”
“Chief, Chief, Chief, I know we're going to have probably something official, but come on up. Bring your officers up. Come right down here. I'll give you the microphone. Officers, come on up so we can see you and we can acknowledge you.”
“Officers, we need you to squeeze in for this one. Everybody doesn't have to get a little tight.”
“Oh, Casey, we have to follow that up, huh? I mean, geez, there's a precedent. Anything else you want to add?”
“Just a point of clarification. At these ceremonies, sometimes I see cake in the back area. We'll have cake. All right. I do see one light sign for you, Casey.”
“Very good. I actually... Councilor Gray, I had that one highlighted. And if I might be exact, congratulations to Diana Snover, the city's HR director, for being nominated as the 2026 AmeriCorps Day of Service Community Hero. Several months ago, Diana performed CPR on a resident while dining at Patty Murphy's. She stabilized the individual until first responders arrived.”
“And thank you for bringing that up, Councillor Gray. Councillor Henry, your light sign's on.”
“Casey, I want to discuss some good news here on the updates. The current net liability for the police pension is $507,922. The pension is currently funded to 98.29%. I know we thought it was a much higher number at one point, but that's actually great news. It also goes on to say we will have that payment made within the FY27 budget, correct? So that's tremendous. Councilors, if you haven't read the ordinance, I just want to touch base on this, and this is something I'd recommend you discuss with Manager Lucius in your meetings. It really is perceived that somehow council dropped the ball or…”
“All right, very good. Thank you. There's nothing for our city attorney's reports, but light signs if you have anything for our city attorney. Councillor Goller, you are up.”
“Thank you, Counsel. Any other questions? We'll open up for either Alan or department heads at this point. Vice Chair Champagne?”
“Thank you. Guys, this is a... This is a conversation on department head reports. We're kind of turning it into an advocation for and against bonds. State your point of order, please, Councilor Schwartz.”
“Councillor, since other councillors have had the chance to speak on this, I'll give you all a go around, but let's wrap it up after that, and then we'll move on.”
“It's going to be Councillor Dome first, but is it on? Just two quick questions. Councillor Dome, then you're up.”
“Thank you, counselors. This is getting real for the citizens, right? We talked about it for a tremendous amount of meetings, but now they're going to make a decision on it. I will just comment that, and I appreciate my co-counselors, I feel like you're helping me keep a promise. We've been telling them infrastructure is going to be a bond referendum for as long as I'm sitting here, and that's going to be a choice of the citizens, and the citizens will get to make their choice, and I think that's a beautiful thing. I also think we live in an incredible community. We are well financed. We have…”