April 21, 2016 – City Council Meeting Minutes

Jul 19, 2016

                            REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

                                          APRIL 21, 2016

 

A Regular City Council Meeting was held on Thursday, April 21, 2016, at 7:00 P.M. at the Portwood Arts and Civic Center, 800 E. Morris, Seymour, TX  76380.

 

Mayor Nan Gilbert-Mathis called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

 

Council present: Mayor Nan Gilbert-Mathis, Council members Les Hons, David Horton, Jon Hrncirik and MPT Monty Glass.

 

Counsel present: City Attorney Cindy Ayres

 

City Staff present: City Administrator Steve Biedermann, City Secretary Conchita Torrez, Finance Director Mary Griffin, Emergency Management Coordinator Billy Henderson, Chief Mike Griffin, Officer Casey Selman, Electric Supervisor Jay Barrington, Street Supervisor Adam Sturgeon, Salt Fork River Estates/Pool Supervisor Todd Hrncirik and Economic Development Director Lauren Bush.

 

Guest (s) Mary K. Fair, Wayne Cockrell, Jeannie Allbritton, Paula Vaden and Kathy Benson.

 

Mayor Nan Gilbert-Mathis read the Child Abuse Prevention Month Proclamation

 

Announcements from Mayor: The Mayor announced the Seymour Hospital Auxiliary Pink Ladies Bake Sale for Friday, May 6, 2016.

 

Citizen’s questions and/or Comments: At this time, Wayne Cockrell approached the podium and addressed the Mayor and City Council.

 

Mr. Cockrell expressed his concerns regarding traffic that comes from the Lubbock highway down toward Custer Street. Families have moved in to the neighborhood and he is concerned due to cars coming down at high rates of speed. Mr. Cockrell would like for City Council to consider some kind of device that would slow down traffic.  He thanked the Mayor and City Council for their attention and time.

 

CONSENT AGENDA: (Items listed under the Consent Agenda are considered routine and are generally enacted in one motion. The exception to this rule is that a Council Member may request one or more items to be removed from the Consent Agenda for separate discussion and action.)

 

  1. Consider Approving The Consent Agenda As Follows:

 

  1. a) Approve meeting minutes for March 17, 2016, Regular Council Meeting and March 29, 2016, Special Called Council Meeting.

 

  1. b) Accept Reports

1.)  Monthly Investment Report for the month of March, 2016.

2.) First Bank and Trust report summary for the month of March, 2016.

3.) Employee & Contract list /Golf Course Membership Report

 

End of Consent Agenda

 

Upon reviewing the consent agenda a motion was made by Council member

Jon Hrncirik, second by MPT Monty Glass. Motion passed unanimously.

 

  1. Review and approve the Second Quarter Investment Report, as presented by

City of Seymour Investment Officers.

 

Motion made by Council member Les Hons, second by MPT Monty Glass to

approve the Second Quarter Investment Report. Motion passed unanimously.

 

  1. Discuss, consider and take action from presentation received by Aaron

Farmer, Retail Coach Representative.

 

Aaron Farmer addressed the Mayor and City Council regarding the progress

that has been made. Mr. Farmer stated that they had looked at about 88

categories from restaurants to sporting good stores and also grocery stores. He

was pleased to announce that United Market would take over in May and

wanted to believe that they had a part in that. He will be focusing on general

merchandise and will let us know in the future what the progress is on that.

 

At this time Mayor Nan Gilbert-Mathis asked that Council allow Emergency

Management Coordinator Billy Henderson to speak and give his report.

 

Mr. Henderson attended a webinar concerning the NWS Chat conducted by the

National Weather Service in Norman, OK. He also brought the Emergency

Management Mobile Command Unit so that the Mayor and City Council could

view it. Mr. Henderson stated that Baylor County currently has 10 registered

sex offenders, 9 within the City limits and 1 in Baylor County. Mr. Henderson

reminded everyone that the sirens are tested on the 1st Wednesday of the month,

all sirens are operational. Mr. Henderson concluded his report and the regular.

meeting resumed.

 

  1. Discuss, consider and take action from presentation received by Steve

Moffitt, Schneider Engineering Representative.

 

Steve Moffitt with Schneider Engineering addressed the Mayor and City

Council with a Wholesale Power Update. He gave a report regarding the current

contract status, market overview and indicative pricing. He asked that the

Council considers allowing him to work on an RFP for the city. City Secretary

has a written presentation that may be viewed at City Hall.

 

Motion made by Council member David Horton, second by Council member

Les Hons, to allow Mr. Moffitt to move forward with RFP’S. Motion passed

unanimously.

 

  1. Mayor Nan Gilbert-Mathis to appoint and swear in Jeannie Allbritton to the

City of Seymour Planning and Zoning Committee.

 

Jeannie Allbritton was appointed to the Planning and Zoning Committee by

Mayor Nan Gilbert-Mathis. No further action was taken.

 

Recess Regular Called Meeting to hold Public Hearing at 7:47 p.m.

 

  1. Conduct a Public Hearing on Animal Ordinance 2014-01, redefining Section

XVI, Tethered Animal and Kennel Section.

 

City Administrator Steve Biedermann explained the following changes to the

current animal ordinance passed amendments to the City’s Animal and

Dangerous Dog Control Ordinance, Section XVI (16) titled “Tethered Animals

and Kennels”. It is no longer lawful to tether a cat; and while a dog can still be

tethered, there are specific conditions that are now in effect. Among these

changes are the person responsible must hold the tethering device; or if the dog

is to be tethered outside, the responsible owner or handler must remain outside

within 50 feet of the animal throughout the entire period of restraint. An animal

that is kept outside unattended will be confined within fencing appropriate for

the breed and be provided adequate shelter. The animals will also have access

to food and water in containers that are constructed or adapted in a way that

prevents said containers from being spilled. While we don’t expect the animal

to be fed 24 hours a day, the animal must have continuous access to water 24/7.

I realize that these new requirements may be inconvenient for some pet owners,

however, considering the number of abused animals that has been observed

within the city limits, the City of Seymour has had no recourse but to improve

humane pet ownership standards. I truly believe that those responsible, caring

pet owners within our community will understand these changes and comply.

 

Mary K. Fair addressed the Mayor and City Council and had a few concerns

regarding this particular ordinance.

 

One of her concerns was that as a citizen, how we make the determination

that these dogs are being neglected, because some dogs that have a kiddy pool

like to pull, turn and dump them over?

Mrs. Fair also stated that how you put enforcement into this if an animal does

these things, how does the owner control it from happening?  Mrs. Fair also

asked if some of the enforcement did not belong to the Zoning and Planning

Committee, and if so, would the neighbors have anything to say in this or the

zoning of property?

 

City Administrator Steve Biedermann, stated that the kennel portion was not

changed and that a fenced area for the dogs would be for a dog to have enough

room to run and not be confined.  It was more of a common sense decision.

 

No one spoke for or against the animal ordinance at the Public Hearing.

 

Public Hearing closes and Regular Meeting resumes at 8:01 p.m.

 

  1. Discuss, consider and take action regarding City of Seymour Animal

Ordinance 2016-03, redefining Section XVI, Tethered Animal and Kennel

Section and repealing Ordinance 2014-01.

 

Motion made by MPT Monty Glass, second by Council member Les Hons, to

repeal Ordinance 2014-01 and approve Ordinance 2016-03, Section XVI,

Tethered Animal and Kennel Section. Motion passed unanimously.

 

  1. Discuss, consider and give City Administrator Steve Biedermann further

direction on update received by Chief Griffin, regarding Custer Street.

 

City Administrator Steve Biedermann explained that at the Regular Meeting in

March, Mrs. Paula Vaden had addressed the Mayor and City Council regarding

the traffic situation on Custer Street.  Council had asked Mr. Biedermann to

have signs placed at the vicinity and let the Police Department to monitor the

situation. Mrs. Vaden came back today to re-discuss the issue.  She felt that the

signs had not helped much and were seeking other options. Mr. Biedermann

suggested placing speed bumps to see if this would actually slow down traffic.

 

Motion made by Council member Les Hons, second by MPT Monty Glass, to

allow Mr. Biedermann to move forward and place speed bumps where they

would be most beneficial. Motion passed unanimously.

 

  1. Hear and discuss monthly supervisor’s report from the following

departments: Administration, Finance, EDD, Police, Electric, Water/Sewer/

RO, Street/Park, Salt Fork/Pool, and Emergency Management Coordinator.

 

Each department gave their respective report. No action taken

 

  1. Discuss, consider and take action to approve Ordinance No. 2016-04, Fair

Housing Month, as required by law.

 

Each year the City of Seymour passes a Fair House Ordinance as required by

law. This ordinance is important and also a requirement when the City applies

for grants.

 

Motion made by Council member Jon Hrncirik, second by MPT Monty Glass.

Motion passed unanimously.

 

  1. 11. Discuss and take action to approve City of Seymour bills paid in the month

of March, 2016.

 

City Council reviewed the bills for the month of March, 2016. Motion made by

Council member David Horton, second by Council member Les Hons, to

approve bills. Motion passed unanimously.

 

  1. Discuss, consider and approve Resolution No. 1418, repealing Resolution

No. 1381, Personnel Policy Manual for the City of Seymour, Redefining

Attendance & General Section and Lunch Period Section.

 

Mr. Biedermann stated that changes had been made to the current Personnel

Policy Manual regarding the Attendance and General Deportment and the

Lunch Period Section as follows:

 

ATTENDANCE AND GENERAL DEPORTMENT

The basic workweek for non-exempt full- time employees is 8:00 a.m. to 5:00

p.m., Monday through Friday, including a daily non-compensable lunch period

of 60 minutes taken off-premises.

 

Authorized compensable rest breaks on premises for health and safety reasons

must not exceed 15 minutes in duration for each 4 hour period of work. These

breaks will not be scheduled in conjunction with the lunch period or at the

beginning or end of the workday.

 

LUNCH PERIODS

Lunch periods will not start earlier than 1 hour after reporting for work and not

later than 2 hours prior to the end of the workday.

 

An employee will not work through their lunch period in order to extend paid

time or to otherwise modify his or her established work schedule unless

extenuating circumstances justify an exception to the lunch period policy and is

approved by the City Administrator or City Secretary.

 

Motion passed by Council member David Horton, second by Council member

Jon Hrncirik, to pass and approve Resolution No. 1418, Personnel Policy

Manual. Motion passed unanimously.

 

At this time the Mayor called for a recess at 9:03 p.m.

 

Regular meeting closes and Executive Session to begin at 9:17 p.m.

 

  1. An Executive Session (closed to the public) and pursuant to Chapter 551 of

the Texas Local Government Code under §551.074- Personnel Matters

regarding complaints from Kathy Benson.

 

Executive session closes at 9:36 p.m., and session two begins at 9:37 p.m.

 

  1. An Executive Session (closed to the public) and pursuant to Chapter 551 of

the Texas Local Government Code under §551.074-Personnel Matters

regarding invoices received from Todd Hrncirik, dba Hrncirik Lawn Care.

 

Executive Session two closes and Regular meeting resumes at 10:31 p.m.

 

  1. Take action from deliberation regarding complaints from Kathy Benson.

 

No action taken on Executive Session One.

 

  1. Take action from deliberation regarding Executive Session on Hrncirik

Lawn Care invoices.

 

Motion made by Council member David Horton, second by Council member

Les Hons, to pay Hrncirik Lawn Care a total of $2,000.00 on invoices received

from Hrncirik Lawn Care for November and December of 2015, and payment

rendered as the final payment.

 

Motion passed with two (2) ayes and one (1) nay.

 

  1. Adjournment by MPT Monty Glass, second by Council member David

Horton, at 10:34 p.m.

 

PASSED AND APPROVED ON THIS THE 26TH DAY OF MAY, 2016.

 

MAYOR NAN GILBERT-MATHIS

 

ATTEST:

CITY SECRETARY, CONCHITA TORREZ, TRMC