November 20, 2014 – Regular Meeting Minutes

Jan 14, 2015

REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

NOVEMBER 20, 2014

A Regular City Council meeting was held on Thursday, November 20, 2014, at 7:00 p.m., at the Portwood Arts and Civic Center, 800 E. Morris Street in Seymour, Texas.

Call to order, Roll call and Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Nan Gilbert-Mathis at 7:10 p.m.

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

Council absent: MPT Billy Henricks was absent due to illness in family.

Counsel present: City Attorney Cindy Ayres

City Staff present:  City Secretary Conchita Torrez, EDD Lauren Bush, Water/Sewer Interim Supervisor Monty Glass, R.O. Production Supervisor Rick Garcia, Electric Department Jay Barrington and Street Supervisor Adam Sturgeon.

Guests: Brenda and Curtis Worthington, Tommy Holub, Mary K. Fair, Mike Doughty, Dennis Duke, George Nitschke and Braden Houston.

Proclamation read by Mayor Nan Gilbert-Mathis regarding Diabetes awareness month.

Announcements from the Mayor: Mayor Nan Gilbert-Mathis reminded everyone that the Annual Child Welfare Board Pie and Cake Auction would be held on Monday, November 24, 2014. The Seymour Hospital Pink ladies will host their bake sale on Tuesday, November 25, 2014, and Friends of The Library will have a bake sale on Friday, November 21, 2014.

Citizen’s questions and or comments: No one had questions or comments at this time.

Consent Agenda:

  1. Consider approving the consent agenda as follows:
  2. Approve the Regular Meeting minutes for October 16, 2014, Special Called Meeting Minutes for November 6, 2014 and November 11, 2014.
  3. 1. Monthly Investment Report
  4. First National Bank accounts report summary
  5. Employee list and SFREC membership report
  6. Seymour Police report

END OF CONSENT AGENDA

Motion made by Council member Les Hons, second by Council member Jon Hrncirik, to approve the consent agenda as presented by City Staff.  Motion passed unanimously.

Regular Meeting closes and Public Hearing begins at 7:15 p.m.

  1. A Public Hearing held regarding the submission of a Texas Department of Agriculture’s Community Development Block Grant Program for water and sewer improvements.

Mr. Cloy Richards explained the reason for this public hearing.

The City of Seymour discussed the citizen participation plan, local housing and community development needs which are funded through the Community Development Block Grant.

The City of Seymour is currently looking at sewer and water improvements. The grant application is for $275,000.00 and the City’s commitment is $27,500.00, if this project moves forward and approved.

No one had any questions for or against this public hearing.

Public hearing closes and Regular meeting resumes at 7:18 p.m.

  1. Discuss, consider and take action regarding Resolution No. 1394, a resolution authorizing the submission of a Texas Community Development block grant program application to the Texas Department of Agriculture for the Community Development Fund, and authorizing the Mayor to act as the City’s Executive Officer and authorized representative in all matters pertaining to the City’s participation.

Motion was made Council member Monty Glass, second by Council member David Horton to pass Resolution No. 1394, authorizing the submission of a TDBGP application.  Motion passed unanimously.

  1. Discuss, consider and take action regarding presentation from Mr. George Nitschke, Good Earth Mechanics, on information regarding selenium issue.

Mr. George Nitschke, gave a lengthy presentation to Mayor, Council and visitors regarding the possibility of a Salinity Gradient Solar Pond for the RO Discharge Disposal and Power Generation. His presentation was to propose a solution to comply with the TCEQ requirements for the Reverse Osmosis plant. For anyone interested in more details, please come by City Secretary office and view the brochure.

Motion made by Council member David Horton, second by Council member Monty Glass, to allow Mr. Nitschke, to proceed with project and present council with further information. Motion passed unanimously.

  1. Discuss, consider and take action regarding request from Brenda and Curtis Worthington, to place an R.V. Trailer at 510 S. Stratton Street, as a residence home.

Mr. Worthington approached the Mayor and City Council and asked to please be allowed to set a trailer at 510 S. Stratton Street, as a residence home.  This is their personal property and needed direction on how and what they should do in order to set their 2014 trailer on said property.  Mayor Gilbert-Mathis advised Mr. Worthington that council would need to look into more details.

Motion made by Council member Hrncirik, second by Council member David Horton to table this item until further information is received.  Motion passed unanimously.

  1. Discuss, consider and take action and allow engineer firm to move forward with city related business regarding selenium issue.

Discussion regarding whether council chose on Corlett, Probst, and Boyd or Jacob and Martin, both respected engineering firms.

Motion made by Council member David Horton, second by Council member Les Hons, to allow Jacob & Martin, to continue with city business relating to the selenium problem. Motion passed unanimously.

  1. Discuss, consider and take action regarding information received from EDD Lauren Bush, pertaining to Retail Coach project.

Mrs. Bush presented Mayor and City Council information pertaining to Retail Coach that she received from Aaron Farmer, Vice President of The Retail Coach.

The Retail Coach Company is to help Mrs. Bush become familiar with and help Seymour with their own unique retail atmosphere while developing and setting their own development and redevelopment of needs. The balance between independent and regional/national retailers should be the focus of Seymour’ Retail Economic Plan.

Motion was made by Council member David Horton, second by Council member Les Hons, to proceed with the Retail Coach project.  Motion passed unanimously.

  1. Discuss, consider and take action regarding information received from EDD Lauren Bush, pertaining to building inspector.

Mr. Mike Doughty, representative for Countywide Inspection Services, gave a presentation to Mayor and City Council. He gave a review on what their company does and how it would benefit the City in general.  Their chief goal is to develop and implement the exact services that would most benefit our specific needs with development, financial responsibility and customer service. They specialize in Residential and Commercial Plan Review, Residential and Commercial inspections, Code consultation to City Staff and Public.

Several other expertises they provide are Public works utility inspections, on-site sewage facilities plan review and inspections and health inspections. Mr. Doughty explained to council that they were committed to working with our city to create and implement an inspection and plan review process that builds on existing successes and enhances the ability of the City to provide outstanding customer service to residents and the development community.

Motion made by Council member Les Hons, second by Council member Monty Glass to proceed with a contract and allow City Attorney Cindy Ayres to review it.  Motion passed unanimously.

  1. Approve City Council report for City bills paid in the month of October, 2014, excluding bills from Albert Todd Hrncirik.

Motion made by Council member Les Hons, second by Council member David Horton, to accept city bills paid in the month of October, 2014, excluding bills from Albert T. Hrncirik. Motion passed unanimously.

  1. Approve City Council report for City bills paid in the month of October, 2014, from Albert T. Hrncirik.

Motion made by Council member David Horton, second by Council member Monty Glass, to accept bills paid by Albert T. Hrncirik.  Motion passed with three ayes and one Council member abstaining.

  1. Approve City Council report for City bills paid in the month of October, 2014, from Snyder Construction & Steel Sales.

Motion made by Council member Jon Hrncirik, second by Council member Les Hons, to accept city bills from Snyder Construction & Steel Sales. Motion passed unanimously.

  1. Discuss, consider and give direction to City Staff regarding Tech Service, utility pole project.

Mr. Jay Barrington addressed city council and asked what council would recommend doing. City Attorney Cindy Ayres addressed the subject and asked that Mr. Barrington get at least 2 written bids from other pole audit companies. The bids would be for the same services and same time frame as Tech Service’s bid. These guidelines fall into our Purchasing policy procedures. Mayor Gilbert-Hines suggested that the City Secretary place the bid notice in the Dallas Morning News.

These guidelines fell into our Purchasing policy procedures.

Motion made by Council member David Horton, second by Council member Les Hons, to allow Jay Barrington to seek out two more written bids, and, allow the City Secretary to place ad in the Dallas Morning News for two weeks.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

  1. Discuss and give City Staff direction regarding ad to be placed in BANNER, for the water and SFREC departments.

There was a discussion regarding the vacancy in the water department, due to Mr. Shumate retiring and the vacancy at Salt Fork, City Council chose to leave as is, with the current crew at hand. It will be reviewed again in spring, 2015.

Motion made by Council member David Horton, second by Council member Les Hons to leave status as is, until March 2015.  Motion passed unanimously.

  1. Discuss, consider and take action to allow the City of Seymour to be closed on December 26, 2014 for the holidays.

City Secretary addressed City Council and asked if they would allow the city offices to be closed on Friday, December 26, 2014.

Motion made by Council member Monty Glass, second by Council member David Horton to allow the city offices to be closed on December 26, 2014.  Motion carried by three ayes and one Council Member abstaining.

Regular meeting closes and Executive session one begins at 9:30 p.m.  Mayor Mathis called for a recess at this time.

Recess ended at 9:36 p.m., and Executive session began.

At this time Mayor Gilbert-Mathis asked that Executive Session one and two be moved.

  1. Executive Session closed to the public, pursuant to Chapter 551 of the Texas Local Government Code under §551.074:

Personnel matters regarding Interim water/sewer supervisor position.

Executive session ended at 10:20 p.m. and Executive session one begins at 10:21 p.m.

  1. Executive Session closed to the public, pursuant to Chapter 551 of the Texas Local Government Code under §551.074: General discussion regarding SFREC, R.O. Plant, Water/Sewer, Street, Administrative, Police, Park and Electric Department.

Re: Evaluations and sick leave incentive

Executive session two ends at 10:21 p.m., and Executive session one begins at t 10:55p.m.

Executive session one ends and Executive session three begins at 10:56 p.m.

 

  1. Executive Session closed to the public, pursuant to Chapter 551 of the Texas Local Government Code under §551.074: Personnel matters, to review and discuss the City Administrator applications.

 

Executive session three ends at 11:35 p.m. and Regular Meeting resumes.

 

  1. Discuss and take action resulting from deliberations during Executive Session, regarding general discussion on evaluations and sick leave incentive.

 

Motion made by Council member David Horton, second by Council member Jon Hrncirik to proceed with evaluations and allow pay increases on December 12, 2014, pay period, as approved by supervisors and allow employees to receive the sick leave incentive as scheduled on November 26, 2014 pay period.  Motion passed by 3 ayes and one Council Member abstained.

 

  1. Discuss and take action resulting from deliberations during Executive session, regarding general discussion on the Water/Sewer Supervisor position.

 

Motion made by Council Member David Horton, second by Council member Monty Glass to take no action at this time.   Motion passed unanimously.

 

  1. Discuss and take action resulting from deliberations during Executive Session, regarding the review and discussion of City Administrator applications.

 

Motion made by Council member Les Hons, second by Council member David Horton, to take no action at this time.

Motion passed unanimously.

 

  1. Adjournment made by Council member Jon Hrncirik, second by Council member Les Hons to adjourn meeting at 11:45 p.m.

 

Passed and approved on this the 18th day of December, 2014.

 

_______________________________

Mayor Nan Gilbert-Mathis

 

ATTEST:

 

________________________________

City Secretary, Conchita Torrez