September 7, 2017 – Special Called Meeting Minutes

Sep 27, 2017

SPECIAL CALLED MEETING

SEPTEMBER 7, 2017

 

A Special Called Meeting of City Council was held on Thursday, September 7, 2017, at 7:00 p.m., at Portwood Art & Civic Center, 800 E. Morris Street, Seymour, Texas 76380.

 

Mayor Josh Sosolik led the call to order, roll call and PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE at 7:01 p.m.

 

A Proclamation regarding the Lake Creek Bridge Dedication was read by Mayor Sosolik.

 

Council present at the meeting: Council member Les Hons, MPT Jon Hrncirik, Mary K. Fair and Monty Glass.

 

Council absent at the meeting: Council member Paula K. Vaden

 

Counsel present at the meeting: City Attorney Jonathan Whitsitt was not present.

 

City Staff present: City Administrator Steve Biedermann, City Secretary Conchita Torrez, Finance Director Mary Griffin, and Accounts Payable Suzanne Shumate.

 

Guest(s): Don Gregg

 

Regular Meeting closes and Public Hearing begins at 7:03 p.m.

 

  1. City of Seymour will hold a Public Hearing regarding the Fiscal Year 2017-2018, Proposed Budget.

 

Finance Director Mary Griffin gave the Mayor and City Council the financial information to review earlier in the week. Council had agreed they would adopt the budget and allow changes as needed at a later date.

 

Council did not have any questions or comments regarding the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 017-2018.

 

Don Gregg, a guest at the meeting, addressed the Mayor and City Council regarding the budget. He stated he would like the City to lower their rates.

 

No more questions or comments were made

 

Public hearing will close and a second Public Hearing to be held at 7:22 p.m.

 

  1. City of Seymour holds a Public Hearing and establish the ad valorem levy tax rate for the City of Seymour, Texas, for Fiscal Year 2017-2018. The proposed tax rate is 0.43600/$100 and would increase total taxes in City of Seymour by 7.95%.

 

Finance Director Mary Griffin explained to City Council that the city had not raised the tax rate in about 6 years. Ms. Griffin felt it was time to do so and the rate would be lower than the roll back rate, but, higher than the effective tax rate.

 

The Council and Mayor did not have any questions or comments.

 

Don Gregg, a guest at the meeting, stated that he felt the city should not raise taxes due to the high electric bills that the citizen’s were already paying.

 

No more questions or comments were made at this public hearing.

 

Public hearings close and Regular meeting resumes at 7:22 p.m.

 

  1. Discuss, consider and take action to approve Resolution No. 1448, adopting the Fiscal Year 2017-2018, City of Seymour Budget, by conducting a formal ‘Voice Vote’ of the resolution.

 

Motion made by Council member Monty Glass, second by Council member Les Hons, to approve the Fiscal Year 2017-2018, Budget Resolution No. 1448, with changes. Motion passed with 3 ayes and 1 nay.

 

The Mayor conducted a formal Voice Vote from each council member present as follows:

Les Hons – aye

MPT Jon Hrncirik – aye

Mary K. Fair – nay

Monty Glass – aye

 

Ayes recorded 3                 Nays recorded 1

 

  1. Discuss, consider and take action by adopting Ordinance No. 2017-07, establishing the ad valorem levy tax rate for the City of Seymour, Fiscal Year 2017-2018, at 0.43600/$100 dollar valuation, which is higher than the effective tax rate of 0.40389/per $100, and representing a levy of 0.43600/per $100 for Operations and Maintenance by conducting a formal ‘Voice Vote’ of the ordinance.

 

Motion made by Council member Mary K. Fair, second by Council member Monty Glass, to adopt Ordinance No. 2017-07, establishing the ad valorem levy tax rate for the City of Seymour, Fiscal Year 2017-2018, at 0.43600 per $100 . Motion passed unanimously.

 

The Mayor conducted a formal Voice Vote from each council member as follows:

Les Hons – aye

MPT Jon Hrncirik – aye

Mary K. Fair – aye

Monty Glass   aye

 

Ayes recorded 4                     Nays   0

 

  1. Discuss, consider and take action regarding Resolution No. 1449, designating the Baylor County BANNER as the official newspaper for legal notices and announcements for the City of Seymour, as required by State Law, Tx Local Gov. Code §52.004.

 

Motion made by Council member Les Hons, second by MPT Jon Hrncirik, to approve Resolution No. 1449, designating the Baylor County BANNER as the official newspaper. Motion passes unanimously.

 

  1. Discuss, consider and take action amending the Personnel Policy Manual, by approving Resolution No. 1450, and making changes to section: Injury Leave.

 

Suzanne Shumate in accounts payable explained the changes to become effective immediately.

An employee injured while performing work for the City may receive Worker’s Compensation benefits. Benefits to the employee’s retirement plan will only be paid by the City if the employee makes his/her monetary contribution. For an employee to retain their medical benefits through the Texas Municipal League, the employee must be paid a minimum of twenty hours per week through the City or be on FMLA.  Because Worker’s Compensation benefits only pays 70% of an employee’s standard wages, employees also have the option of being paid a full eighty hours per two week pay period. This only applies if an employee elects to assign their Worker’s Compensation check to the City.  The City will then pay the employee by using accrued sick time first, then personal and vacation time; or the employee can retain the Worker’s Compensation check and only be paid for twenty hours per week through the City (using accrued sick time first, then personal and vacation time in order to be paid).  The employee will continue to accrue vacation and sick leave.

 

Motion made by MPT Jon Hrncirik, second by Council member Monty Glass, to approve Resolution No. 1450, the Personnel Policy Manual and making changes to section Injury Leave.

Motion passed unanimously.

 

  1. Discuss, consider and take action regarding request from Chamber of Commerce, to sponsor the 2017 Cruisin’ The Brazos Car Show by paying the cost of radio and two portable potties, in the amount of $321.00.

 

Motion made by MPT Jon Hrncirik, second by Council member Les Hons to approve Chamber of Commerce request, to sponsor the 2017 Cruisin’ in the Brazos Car Show in the amount of $321.00 for radio cost and portable potties. Motion passes unanimously.

 

 

 

  1. Adjournment by MPT Hrncirik, second by Council member Monty Glass, to adjourn at 7:38 p.m. Motion passes unanimously.

 

 

PASSED AND APPROVED ON THIS THE 21ST DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2017.

 

MAYOR JOSH SOSOLIK

 

ATTEST:

 

CONCHITA TORREZ   CITY SECRETARY,   TRMC