September 17, 2015 – City Council Meeting Minutes

Oct 20, 2015

REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

 

A Regular City Council Meeting was held on, Thursday, September 17, 2015 at 7:00 P.M. at the Portwood Arts and Civic Center, 800 E. Morris, Seymour, TX 76380.

 

Call to Order, Roll Call and Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Nan Gilbert-Mathis at 7:00 p.m.

 

Mayor Nan Gilbert-Mathis called for a moment of silence due to the passing of former City Employee Rick Garcia.

 

Council present: Mayor Nan Gilbert-Mathis, Council members Les Hons, David Horton, Jon Hrncirik, Greg Shumate 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, Street Supervisor Adam Sturgeon and Emergency Management Coordinator Billy Henderson.

 

Guest(s) present: Shirleen Bonacci, T.J. Sturgeon and Mary K. Fair

 

Announcements from the Mayor: No announcements from Mayor at this time.

 

Citizen’s questions and/or comments: Mr. T.J. Sturgeon introduced himself to Mayor and City Council. He thanked the street department for installing the front steps at his place of business.

He stated it gave him an incentive to keep improving his place and would like to see other businesses work on their places.

 

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. Approve August 11, 2015, Regular Meeting Minutes, Special Called Meeting Minutes for August 18, 2015, August 25, 2015, September 1, 2015 and September 8, 2015.
  2. Accept REPORTS
  1. Monthly Investment Report
  2. lst National Bank accounts report summary
  3. Employee List and SFRE Membership Reportc.) Designate the week of October 10th, thru the 18th, as Fall Clean-Up Week,                          official newspaper for legal notices and announcements for the City of Seymour, Texas, as      for the City of Seymour, Texas.Mary Griffin, Finance Director presented the Council with the over/under 5K, as recommended by Jeff Gregg, CPA.   Motion made by Council member Les Hons, second by MPT Monty Glass to approve Resolution No. 1405. Motion passed unanimously.10. Discuss, consider and take action on bid received from Freeman Paving, for Chip Seal Project, 2015-01. Total bid price $38,458.00.After receiving one bid from Freeman Paving for the amount of $38,458.00, City Attorney Cindy Ayres suggested that the bid be accepted with a mutually agreeable contract. Minor changes were made, by waiving the bond and getting a copy of the insurance. Motion passed by Council member Les Hons, second by Council member Jon Hrncirik. Motion passed unanimously. 11. Discuss, consider and approve the City of Seymour bills paid in August, 2015, excluding bills from Albert T. Hrncirik, Contech Engineered Solutions, Inc., and Les Hons.Council reviewed the August City bills and a motion was made by Council member David Horton, second by Council member Jon Hrncirik to approve the August 2015 city bills. Hrncirik.Motion made by Council member David Horton, second by Council member Les Hons, to approve the August 2015 city bills. Motion passed with 4 ayes and 0 nays. Council member Jon Hrncirik abstained.13. Discuss, consider and take action to approve August, 2015, bill paid to Contech Engineered Solutions, Inc.Motion made by Council member Jon Hrncirik, second by MPT Monty Glass, to approve the Contech Engineered Solutions, Inc. bills. Motion passed with 4 ayes and 0 nays. Council member David Horton abstained.14. Discuss, consider and take action to approve August, 2015, bill paid to Les Hons.Motion made by Council member David Horton, second by Council member Greg Shumate, to approve August, 2015 bill paid to Les Hons.   Motion passed with 4 ayes and 0 ayes. Council member Les Hons abstained.15. Discuss, consider and give direction to City Administrator Steve Biedermann, regarding mowing bid notice for assigned city properties.Motion made by Council member David Horton, second by Council member Les Hons to allow City Administrator Steve Biedermann, to proceed and find the best alternative for the properties.           Motion passed unanimously.21. Discuss and take action regarding deliberations from executive session.Motion made by MPT Monty Glass, second by Council member Jon Hrncirik, to leave the current status as is regarding the Portwood Park. Motion passed unanimously.22. Adjournment by MPT Monty Glass, second by Council member Jon Hrncirik at 8:33 p.m.PASSED AND APPROVED ON THIS THE 15th DAY OF OCTOBER, 2015.
  4. City Secretary, Conchita Torrez, TRMC
  5. ATTEST:
  6. Mayor Nan Gilbert-Mathis ­­­­­
  8.  
  12. Motion made by Council member Les Hons, second by MPT Monty Glass, to allow City Administrator Steve Biedermann direction and move forward regarding the R.O. Plant.
  13. 20. Discuss and take action regarding deliberations from executive session.
  14. Executive sessions close and Regular meeting resumes at 8:29 p.m.
  15. 19. An Executive Session (closed to the public) and pursuant to Chapter 551 of the Texas Local Government Code under §551.072; real property regarding Portwood Softball Field, located on the 900 block of N. Washington Street.
  16. Executive session closes and Executive session two begins at 8:14 p.m.
  17. 18. An Executive Session (closed to the public) and pursuant to Chapter 551 of the Texas Local Government Code under §551.074; Personnel – regarding R.O. Plant position
  18. Regular meeting closes and Executive Session(s) begin at 7:58 p.m.
  19. Motion made by MPT Monty Glass, second by Council member Les Hons, to support the Chamber of Commerce with $317.00, by paying a portion of the radio ad and port-o-potties for the October 17, 2015, Cruisin’ The Brazos Car Show. Motion passed unanimously.
  20. 17. Discuss, consider and take action to sponsor the Cruisin’ The Brazos Car Show, October 17, 2015, by paying for radio ad and port-o-potties, in the amount of $317.00.
  21. City Attorney Cindy Ayres, asked that a contingent on the Bridge Agreement be made for one month. It would be reviewed again in October.   Motion made by Council member Les Hons, second by MPT Monty Glass to pass with a contingent on the Bridge Agreement and allow Cindy to review it more carefully. Motion passed unanimously.
  22. 16. Discuss, consider and take action regarding the City of Seymour and Helen Farabee Center (MHMR) agreement.
  23. Motion passed unanimously.
  24.  
  31. 12. Discuss, consider and take action to approve August, 2015, bill paid to Albert Todd
  32. Motion passed unanimously.
  39. 9. Discuss, consider and take action to approve Resolution No. 1405 for over/under 5K,
  40. Motion made by MPT Monty Glass, second by Council member Greg Shumate, to approve the ad valorem tax rate for the City of Seymour at .40598. Motion passed unanimously and also by the formal ‘voice vote’.   Voice votes were 5 ayes and 0 nays.
  41. 8. Discuss, consider and take action to adopt Ordinance 2015-04, establishing the ad valorem levy tax rate for the City of Seymour, for Fiscal Year 2015-2016 at .40598/per $100 dollar valuation, which, is higher than the effective tax rate of .401810/per $100, and representing a levy of .40598/$100 for Operations and Maintenance, by conducting a formal ‘voice vote’, of the Ordinance.
  42. Motion made by Council member Les Hons, second by Council member Jon Hrncirik to approve Resolution No. 1404, adopting the Fiscal Year 2015-2016 Budget. Motion passed unanimously and also by the formal ‘voice vote’. Voice votes were 5 ayes and 0 ayes.
  43. 7. Discuss, consider and take action to approve Resolution No. 1404, adopting a Budget for the City of Seymour, Texas, for the Fiscal Year beginning October 1, 2015 and ends September 30, 2016, by conducting a formal ‘voice vote’, of the Resolution.
  44. Motion made by Council member Jon Hrncirik, second by Council member Les Hons to approve Resolution No. 1403, designating the BANNER as the official newspaper for the City of Seymour. Motion passed unanimously.
  45. required by State Law, for the year beginning October 1, 2015 and ending September 30, 2016.
  46. 6. Approve annual Resolution No. 1403, designating the BAYLOR COUNTY BANNER as the
  47. 5. Discuss, consider and take action to approve Resolution No. 1402, authorizing submission of an application to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for a 2016 Small Community Grant Program award to construct improvements in a new downtown pocket park in the City of Seymour.  Motion made by Council member David Horton, second by MPT Monty Glass to approve Resolution No. 1402, authorizing a submission of an application to the TX Parks and Wildlife for a 2016 grant. Motion passed unanimously.
  48. PUBLIC HEARING(S) CLOSE AND REGULAR MEETING RESUMES AT 7:15 P.M.
  49. Public hearing opened at 7:12 p.m. regarding the tax rate. Council chose to leave the tax rate at .40598 as the last two previous years. No one had any questions or comments regarding the tax rate. Public hearing closed at 7:15 p.m., and Regular meeting resumed.
  50. 4. Conduct a Public Hearing to consider an Ordinance to establish the ad valorem levy tax rate for the City of Seymour for Fiscal Year 2015-2016, at .40598/per $100 dollar valuation, which is higher than the effective tax rate of .401810/per $100 and representing a levy of .40598 for Operations and Maintenance.
  51. No one had any questions or comments regarding the budget. Public hearing closed at 7:12 p.m.
  52. Public hearing regarding the budget for Fiscal Year 2015-2016 was presented by Mary Griffin, Finance Director.   Mary stated that the City had two previous budget workshops regarding the budget and Council had made modifications and had previously approved all the figures presented to them.
  53.    3. Conduct a Public Hearing to consider a Resolution to adopt a budget for the City of Seymour, for Fiscal Year beginning October 1, 2015 and ends September 30, 2016.
  54. No more questions were asked and the public hearing closed at 7:11 p.m.
  55. City Attorney asked a question regarding the amount of the grant application. It was clarified by Ms. Bonacci that the amount could be up to $75k.
  56. Shirleen Bonacci with Grantworks conducted the public hearing regarding the city’s interest in submitting a grant application to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The City is in the process of creating a Pocket Park on the north side of City Hall. The purpose of the pocket park would be to provide the public with a recreation facility.
  57. 2. Conduct a Public Hearing regarding the City’s participation in the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Small Community Grant Program.
  58. Regular Meeting closes and Public Hearing begins at 7:06 p.m.
  59. Motion made by Council member Les Hons, second by Council member David Horton to accept consent agenda as presented by City Secretary Conchita Torrez. Motion passed unanimously.
  60.                                              END OF CONSENT AGENDA
  61. per recommendation of Street Supervisor, Adam Sturgeon.