[0:22] If it bill passes, you're going to use
you're going to use the higher rate.
[0:28] And if it doesn't pass, you're going to
use the higher valuation and the lower
[0:32] rate.
Right? You're still just get to 20
[0:35] minutes.
Yeah.
[0:39] Sorry, nobody paying up.
[0:42] I think this is I'm surprised this
[0:46] When is your When do you have to sign
the budget?
[0:49] » Budget not first.
>> It has to pass before.
[0:52] » Yeah.
>> Or it doesn't and then you then you If
[0:55] it doesn't If it dies in committee, it
says it's in the
[0:59] referred referred to the Committee on
State and Local Government
[1:02] Rules and Calendar and Operations of the
House.
[1:06] » Okay, welcome to June 8th
Town Council regular workshop meeting
[1:10] regarding the budget.
Uh meeting come to order.
[1:15] Uh
at this point in time,
[1:18] I'll turn things over to Town Manager
Harris.
[1:21] » Mr. Mayor, Council, as we were just
having a
[1:23] little discussion prior to the meeting
on Senate Bill 889.
[1:27] Um the county has adopted their budget
as presented. Um as we discussed at
[1:34] previous budget workshop, we've got two
different tax rates depending on what
[1:38] this bill does.
Um we have talked with some lobbyists
[1:40] and one of their recommendations down
there as well as that that any hurricane
[1:46] or tropical storm Helene impacted area
uh be excused from this bill
[1:51] um due to
especially with Buncombe County what
[1:53] they're saying
um in the bill is that it would only
[1:56] delay it by 1 year. But the county's
already been on delay by 2 years if they
[2:00] would go that not just one year.
Um, so that's one of the reasons that we
[2:03] were pushing for the lobbyists on that
aspect. And so right now again it's
[2:08] still moving one side of the floor to
the other. Um, it still has not passed.
[2:12] But that was kind of the latest update
on it of where we are looking at that.
[2:19] Um, moving along to your proposed
budgets
[2:23] um, and for discussion and any type of
um, adoption possible adoption we'll go
[2:28] over some of the highlights from it.
Um, on your general fund
[2:32] um, 10,932,421
[2:36] um, your fire fund 5,113,557
[2:42] um, the water fund 4,279,970
[2:47] for a total of 20,325,948.
[2:51] Um,
again that's with a 32 cent tax rate.
[2:55] Um, reval after the reval process
um,
[2:58] some notable added items in in the
budget from previous discussions
[3:04] full-time positions were added at one HR
position, uh, one part-time finance
[3:09] front office position up front two
police officers, one maintenance tech
[3:13] and one of water treatment plant
operator.
[3:15] Um, we have a 3% cola cost of living
allowance in there. Our health insurance
[3:20] increase of 8%. Vehicles and equipment
added um, four patrol vehicles um, two
[3:26] for the police department, two public
works vehicles for Ford F-150 um, one
[3:31] swap loader um,
message board and arrow board with
[3:35] public works, light tower replacement,
security cameras, drone for PD, safety
[3:40] equipment and fire department and rescue
equipment. Uh, water meter replacement
[3:45] and the capital funding projects uh,
water line replacement, the water
[3:49] treatment plant chloroquine pond
installation,
[3:53] backup generator at the High Bluff tank,
stormwater improvements, playground
[3:57] resurfacing,
uh the fire department salaries for
[4:00] recruit-able wages.
Um they would did finalize um our
[4:03] portion of the county's um fire fund
from that, and it came in at uh
[4:08] $2,970,755
[4:12] on that aspect. Um PD salaries increased
for pay parity,
[4:17] uh retention holiday bonuses,
uh public works living wage, Main Street
[4:21] lighted holiday tree, IT services
increased,
[4:25] uh water engineering services, policy
amendments of 2% 401k contribution with
[4:30] matching up to 6%, increased paid
paternity leave uh from 2 weeks to 4
[4:35] weeks, and increased staffing um annual
leave from
[4:39] uh 2 weeks to four 2 weeks to three
weeks.
[4:44] That is the highlights of um the budget
that we reviewed and had a public
[4:48] hearing on in several public
discussions. Comments, I'm glad to
[4:51] answer any questions or more detail if
you want some more detail on the
[4:55] highlights or talk to you about the
water fund aspect and and the fire fund
[4:59] if you need those.
[5:04] » Yes, I I have a comment. Uh
I'd like to refer um council to
[5:10] manager's budget memo of April 13th.
Uh page nine.
[5:16] Um and and again, these are probably
trivial numbers uh to you, but um
[5:23] uh
manager Harris uh is uh telling me that
[5:27] the
um outside agency stipends that the town
[5:32] is offering uh to the WBA,
uh to senior meals in WeDAC, are still
[5:40] in the budget.
Um what I'd like to point out is um
[5:47] uh the WBA will see a $1,000 increase
from historical.
[5:53] I think senior meals is probably going
to see a $1,000
[5:58] increase in theirs, which was I think
5,000 unless higher than that.
[6:03] » It was six last year as well.
>> Was it six? Okay. WEDC has been cut
[6:09] from five to two and I'd like to
actually make a motion to council that
[6:15] we level those stipends all to 6,000.
If that's agreeable to you.
[6:23] The Economic Development Committee
basically has two
[6:28] significant projects running now. One is
hotel
[6:32] recruit recruitment and
evaluation. The other has to do
[6:38] with forming a new newcomers
organization
[6:43] that's going to
actually draw upon our 10 real estate
[6:49] project approvals.
So
[6:53] my request to you basically is that we
essentially level those all at six.
[7:00] » So raising WEDC $4,000?
>> Correct.
[7:03] » Leaving the others the same.
>> Correct.
[7:07] » Because last year you got 5,000, is that
right?
[7:11] » Yep.
>> Okay.
[7:14] » What was the I
Sorry, the the when you first started
[7:18] there was a you said there was a $1,000
increase to the WBA and then also a
[7:24] a cost increase to Meals on Wheels.
>> That was to the senior meal side.
[7:28] » Senior meal side.
>> So Tanya was WBA 6,000 last year?
[7:32] » It was 5,000.
>> Oh, okay.
[7:35] » It's historically been 5,000.
>> Yeah.
[7:38] So
again, you know, my
[7:41] recommendation to council basically is
we just level them all at six.
[7:46] » I'm fine with that.
>> So,
[7:48] any discussion about that?
>> Do we need to make a motion?
[7:53] » If you want to do that.
>> I made I made the motion.
[7:56] » No, you made the motion.
>> I made the motion. So, we have a motion
[7:58] on the table. All those in favor say I.
>> I.
[8:01] » Opposed?
I is carried.
[8:04] » Thank you, council.
[8:20] » Any other discussion on the budget
piece?
[8:24] Or water fund or fire fund?
>> Maybe walk us through the fire fund and
[8:29] the uniform tax rate and how that
affects the town a little bit, just for
[8:33] a refresher.
>> All right.
[8:34] Um the county has adopted a single wide
tax district, which was I think the tax
[8:39] rate ended up being 11.97.
Um previously in the North Buncombe
[8:43] district, we were 12.27. So, that kind
of equates it out to um
[8:49] Then you submit your budget to the
county. They determine what funding
[8:53] um you receive and every department
every department
[8:56] um for and to include our North Buncombe
district has to submit to the county
[9:01] itself.
Um then they
[9:03] Again this year, the funding came back
at two 2,970,755
[9:09] um for a cost share of roughly 57.43
split with the county's portion 57%
[9:17] um and ours is 43% on that aspect. So,
moving forward, they're starting to
[9:23] uh formalize some plans with the with
the contract and we'll be bringing you a
[9:26] contract at the June 22nd meeting for
you to review um with that aspect cuz
[9:32] ours is a little different than the the
incorporated boards department for some
[9:37] of the things that they were requiring
in the contract as far as insurance with
[9:40] our league insurance. There'll be some
different verbage that has to be in
[9:43] there for that aspect. So
[9:47] » Scotty, do we have any idea yet about
the capital projects from the county for
[9:52] the fire department?
>> Um any capital pro- I mean
[9:57] it'll be just part of the budget process
that they will submit every year. Um
[10:01] it'll be a cost share for our our aspect
from municipal.
[10:05] » So the cost share would be 57%.
Is that it?
[10:08] » That is this year's.
>> This year's.
[10:10] » Yes.
>> So was there money put in that for
[10:13] property for a new fire department?
>> Yes and no. Um what we did is we moved
[10:19] it moved it basically for the county it
was listed in there as part of the
[10:24] capital projects. We submit them a
10-year capital improvement plan. But on
[10:28] ours it was zeroed out for land purchase
because they would be it would be taken
[10:32] on as debt services and no payment would
be to a next fiscal year.
[10:36] » I see.
>> So that's why I say the yes and no. So
[10:37] it was factored in there but if we do
find land to purchase we had already
[10:41] talked with the with the lenders um
since we're having to finance the fire
[10:45] trucks and they said that it would
payment wouldn't be due to a next fiscal
[10:48] year.
>> Okay. So if by chance we were to find
[10:52] some property for a new fire department
and we found it in September, just
[10:56] picking a day,
then we anticipate the county will help
[11:01] supplement that.
>> Yes, I mean that's part of the the
[11:03] process. I mean it's
And that's the other reason when they're
[11:06] doing this contract they're looking at
um time distance response and putting 22
[11:10] people on the scene cuz they're going to
evaluate that as with your mutual aid
[11:14] responses, where does the station
placement location need to be and what
[11:17] is the likelihood of staffing and
different different metrics in there and
[11:20] that's that's what they're trying to run
the data on that aspect.
[11:24] » Okay. Thank you.
>> Yes, ma'am.
[11:28] Any other questions on fire fund or
water fund?
[11:32] » No.
>> Are we ready to
[11:34] » adopt and the only change is the $4,000
additional.
[11:38] I mean, Jennifer can speak more of this,
but I believe we could go ahead and
[11:41] adopt based on that one change. It would
come out of fund balance, so your fund
[11:45] balance would increase by 4,000 and the
governing body
[11:49] um
expenditures would increase by 4,000.
[11:53] » There is something I want to change on
fee schedule. I don't know if I need to
[11:56] wait for that or if that goes into this
discussion, too.
[12:00] » That'll be the next item.
>> So, if y'all are ready to vote on that,
[12:05] exactly what Ms. Osgerby said is you can
make a motion to adopt um the general
[12:10] fund and fire fund budget
with the change with a the add of 4,000
[12:15] to Weed Act, adding that to your fund
balance appropriation, and the water
[12:21] fund as presented.
[12:25] » And there is a suggestion or recommended
motion. Do you back it up?
[12:30] » Before we get Can I just ask one just
real general question in this regarding
[12:34] the the new positions and just um
just for my knowledge, is this Are these
[12:40] positions to catch up with like former
growth of the town or is it kind of more
[12:46] eyeing towards the future and and
looking to just add that capacity
[12:50] sooner rather than later?
>> I would say it's a combination of both.
[12:54] I mean, especially with the with the HR
position, we're getting close to a 100
[12:58] personnel on staff right now and don't
have a true dedicated HR person and
[13:02] three or four people have been picking
up that responsibilities. Um as far as
[13:06] the police department side, I mean, it's
you we're doing two this
[13:11] um this year or asking for two in there
um
[13:14] and basically in police department uh
one position
[13:18] what four equates to one, basically,
because um what these positions going to
[13:22] do, they're going to start out working
traffic and work a split shift, um but
[13:26] technically they would be four positions
with four shifts. Um Um, but we're
[13:30] trying to to maintain control of that
aspect as far as, um, not going too far
[13:36] into it and still have adequate
staffing. So, those two officers
[13:39] initially would work traffic and work a
split shift, so they're kind of working
[13:43] with both shifts day and night. They
might work out 10:00 to 10:00, 12:00 to
[13:46] 12:00, something like that. So, it's
kind of flexed out. Um, your um,
[13:51] part-time position,
um, it's needed up front to help
[13:55] distribute some of the workflow uh, with
our staff up there like this week, um,
[14:00] one's been on vacation, so you're kind
of short. So, if you had a part-time
[14:03] position, it kind of equates to three
people being there all the time. Our
[14:07] water treatment plant with the growth
and expansion that's occurring there,
[14:11] um, last year we were fortunate to add
two positions and still for the safety
[14:15] aspect out there of it being not a
totally 24/7 operation, but there are a
[14:20] lot of days that it is 24 hours and it
gives that safety aspect of two people
[14:24] uh, assigned to shift out there.
>> Okay.
[14:27] » All right.
>> Thanks.
[14:29] » So, would anybody like to make a motion
to adopt
[14:32] what we've been discussing?
>> I'll be glad to make a motion. I move to
[14:35] adopt the fiscal year 2026-2027 budget
ordinance for the general fund and
[14:39] special revenue fund with a change of
the $4,000 we discussed for weed act and
[14:44] also the budget ordinance for the water
and public enterprise fund.
[14:49] » All those in favor, say aye.
>> Aye.
[14:51] » Aye.
>> Opposed?
[14:53] » I'm opposed and it's because I don't
believe in a cola raises and I mentioned
[14:58] that at the beginning of this process,
so
[15:01] my I know my vote doesn't matter, but
I'm voting no.
[15:06] » Thank you very much.
[15:15] Miss Jackson, you want to do the
fee schedules?
[15:20] » Schedules to do what again? again.
>> Um, I'm going to do that from here if
[15:23] that's okay, since the lectern is not is
not set up. Can you hear me okay?
[15:27] » Yes.
>> Okay. Um, I'm not going to spend too
[15:30] much time on this, but but to tell you
as part of the budget process every year
[15:35] we do take a look at your fee schedules.
That is a is a revenue source, not a
[15:40] very large one, but it is revenue on the
general fund and fire fund. It is the
[15:45] revenue source or the primary revenue
source on the water fund side. Um, so
[15:50] you've got two two fee schedule
ordinances.
[15:54] Uh, the general fund and fire fund.
I'm just going to go through real
[15:58] briefly the the changes and they're
they're highlighted in your packets so
[16:02] you can kind of it's not word for word,
but but the the the changes are the
[16:06] areas where we we
made some tweaks or or or
[16:10] highlighted. Uh, we are going to note
that the parade entry fees will support
[16:15] community programming and events.
We are as you know the the United States
[16:21] has gone away from the penny.
That has some fairly significant changes
[16:26] to some of our operations and so this is
the first year that we really had to to
[16:31] deal with that. You're going to see
general statements in both both of these
[16:36] fee schedule ordinances that talk about
rounding. It's a symmetrical rounding.
[16:40] Sometimes it's up, sometimes it's down
uh, to get us to
[16:45] either a
within a nickel.
[16:48] Um, so that we can can do that. Some
places are doing that only for cash
[16:52] transactions. Because of our financial
system, we have to do it across the
[16:57] board and we can't say if if cash then
this amount.
[17:02] So you're going to see some rounding
for the some copying charges. We've also
[17:07] noted some of our our records records
requests we had to outsource if it's
[17:12] really large maps and so we've got
actual uh covered there.
[17:17] We've had a more detailed hourly um
charges noted for public works equipment
[17:23] and an increase in the hourly fee for
the public works department personnel
[17:27] from 30 to 35. I think council member
Young is actually proposing or maybe
[17:33] proposing to to send that to 45.
>> Yes, so I
[17:38] put it at everybody's seat, a copy of
the expenses for the WBA events.
[17:44] And I did it per event and it's per
police department and the and per public
[17:48] works department. And the total that
that the town offered in support of the
[17:53] WBA events were 18,825.86.
[17:58] So, if I look at the public work cost,
most of their costs are going to be
[18:02] overtime.
So, I don't believe that $35 is going to
[18:06] be enough since it's overtime costs, I'd
rather increase the public works fees to
[18:11] $45
instead of $35. And that's on page
[18:16] 18, I believe it is.
So, if we could just change that $35 to
[18:21] $45, that would help compensate for the
overtime fees that they use
[18:25] for these events.
So, I'll make a motion that we change
[18:29] that fee schedule to $45.
>> You want to wait You want to wait until
[18:35] do do that in a minute or you want to do
that in a separate item?
[18:39] » You're driving the boat, I'll do
whatever you
[18:40] » Okay.
Um hold that thought.
[18:43] We've got some amendments to the fire
code violation section just to to fully
[18:48] comply with North Carolina law on
tampering.
[18:51] Uh that's a whole hour discussion that I
won't take up your time tonight, but
[18:55] that's very complicated.
Um we've got some notes on that fees for
[19:01] the zoning map amendments and text
amendments are for citizen initiated or
[19:04] requested amendments.
Um that would not be
[19:08] You're not going to charge yourself if
if you decide that you want an
[19:12] amendment, we wanted to make sure that
that that clarification is in there. Uh
[19:16] we have made a note that subdivision
fees must comply with North Carolina
[19:20] law. They do. Uh the law though does uh
require you actually in a couple
[19:26] instances, if you're going to make
changes, you've got to have public
[19:29] comment periods and public hearings.
There were no changes to in the
[19:33] subdivision area this this year. Um so
so that didn't get triggered, but we
[19:38] want to make a note so we remember that
we've got some procedure to to handle if
[19:45] if we do talk start talking about that.
Um Kirby Curbside Management uh is your
[19:51] recycling uh contractor, and that's a
pass-through, and you've got a contract
[19:57] in place right now uh that does call for
a CPI increase, uh which was uh 2.1, I
[20:04] think, percent. And so it went from
$3.65
[20:07] per month to $3.73.
That's been very very typical. And then
[20:13] the symmetrical rounding that I talked
about a minute ago,
[20:16] um and then on the water side,
um we did uh
[20:22] um
some increases to your seasonal
[20:24] disconnect and reconnect fees. Those are
the citizen requested. Those are
[20:29] our summer homes or winter homes um
uh to to disconnect. Uh we've got some
[20:34] notes that meter rechecks and reread
fees are only going to apply if the
[20:39] meter is operational, meaning a citizen
calls and and they say, "I've got a
[20:44] crazy water bill. It It can you come
check my meter?" If that meter is
[20:49] operating, then they're going to be
charged the operating correctly, they're
[20:53] going to be charged the meter fee. If
the meter is not operating correctly,
[20:57] that means there's a a mechanical
failure, and so they will not be charged
[21:01] that meter fee. That uh re- re- recheck
fee.
[21:04] Uh Uh got some increases to some flow
test fees on the fire system. We've got
[21:09] some renaming um
of disconnect reconnect fees to
[21:13] non-payment processing fee.
Um we've got the the same ads that we
[21:20] did in the the general fund and fire
fund, we've got in the water fund as
[21:25] well for the public works equipment and
personnel.
[21:28] So, this we will need to make sure that
we add that we increase uh there as
[21:32] well.
>> Before you turn the page, just out of
[21:36] curiosity,
um
[21:39] so, when we go check a meter, how much
how much does it actually ta- cost the
[21:42] town to do?
>> Um
[21:58] » Well, I don't I don't know how you do
it. So, the question is this is So, I
[22:02] I doubt 25's enough.
Why would we Go ahead.
[22:06] » We do a lot of rereads anyway, upwards
of 40 to 50 each month.
[22:11] So, if if the customer's water bill is
extremely large, we look what it were
[22:16] the prior month, if something catches
our eye, we'll send them out anyway. So,
[22:20] this would be if a customer if we didn't
flag it,
[22:23] » Right.
>> and and we couldn't explain it to the
[22:26] customer and they insisted and they
wanted it anyway, this is a way for us
[22:29] to charge.
>> No, I'm in favor of charging.
[22:33] By the time I get in my truck, I drive
to the house and do it. So, you're we're
[22:38] saying there's nothing wrong, the
customer's saying, "Nah, we want instant
[22:41] video replay."
And you lose your time out if you're
[22:44] wrong. So, that's all. I mean,
>> It's just adding one more
[22:48] » Yeah, I mean, I'd charge 50 bucks for it
minimum, but I'd I'd I'd want to know
[22:52] what it costs. What would it cost us in
gas, time? Does one guy go? Does two guy
[22:56] go? But
>> I think this was this was an area where
[23:00] public works actually advocated for a
higher change than what's reflected, but
[23:05] it was going to jump from jump really to
a really much higher. And so we felt
[23:12] like maybe doing that incrementally
might be a better better play.
[23:15] » I bet you it cost you 100 bucks to go do
one.
[23:18] » At least.
>> Right. Because it's not just their
[23:21] hourly rate. It's what they call what
they what do we pay for?
[23:24] So, sure.
All right. Leave it alone.
[23:27] » that one again.
>> Yeah.
[23:28] » Maybe we should set it to 50.
>> No, I I'm fine with them doing what they
[23:32] want, but I I'm in favor of setting it
to what it cost the town to do.
[23:36] But you you know, if they're driving
around doing them anyways, but if
[23:39] somebody says
Yeah, or they go come out today, darn
[23:42] it, stop everything you're doing.
Okay, we'll do that and if we're wrong,
[23:48] you don't pay anything, right? If it's
our fault, they don't pay anything is
[23:50] what I heard, right?
But if you're filling your pool and you
[23:55] forgot you were filling your pool and
you wasted our money, then you should
[23:59] pay what what it costs.
So, I'm not I don't I'm saying what
[24:04] I couldn't say jump to 50.
Until I know what it costs.
[24:09] That's all that's my only recommendation
is charge when something like that just
[24:12] charge what it costs, but
you're already down the road pretty far.
[24:15] Maybe consider that for next year.
I'm in favor of user taxes.
[24:22] » We will We will certainly make that
note.
[24:24] Um we've got some changes to the meter
tampering charges to
[24:30] changing the name of that to interfering
with water appliances or meters and also
[24:35] making some other amendments in order to
comply with North Carolina law. Uh we've
[24:39] got a negligent reckless damage to water
system. This is your frontier
[24:46] um hit hitting doing their work and
hitting our lines. Uh we try to work
[24:51] with them, but when it's repetitive, um
that's a that becomes a problem. So So
[24:56] we want to make sure that that's in the
fee schedule to to handle those.
[25:00] » Okay.
>> Uh we've got we've simplified the bulk
[25:02] water purchase
um
[25:04] down to uh
uh
[25:08] essentially $50 per
What is it?
[25:13] » 25.
[25:16] » Is it
25 per 500 or what?
[25:20] Yeah, 50. Before it was a little more
complicated uh than that. So, we've got
[25:24] that. Yeah, $25 per 500 500 gallons and
and making a making a note that we're
[25:30] only going to be selling in 500 gallon
increments.
[25:33] Um
>> Mhm.
[25:39] Mhm.
>> So, in all the locations we have to
[25:42] determined
is that just based on the incident and
[25:46] not so much a a flat fee that we're
establishing for this?
[25:51] » For the negligent reckless
damage
[25:54] » Yep.
>> Yeah, that's based on a cost basis.
[25:58] » Mhm.
>> So, it we can't really it's not it's not
[26:01] effective to put a put a fee in there.
So, we just cuz it just depends.
[26:06] Uh there's a widely varying
uh
[26:11] uh cost.
>> Sure. Yeah, it could what written
[26:15] very much greatly so. Okay, thank you.
>> So, they just go to a cost cost plus 10.
[26:20] » Mhm.
Yeah.
[26:24] » Um under your emergency water rate, we
do uh
[26:27] that is that is cost of production plus
10% and um
[26:32] Randall has calculated that the the
current cost of production is $6.75
[26:38] per thousand gallons. And so, when you
add that 10% on on you get the emergency
[26:44] water rate in in there.
Um that is available to essentially
[26:50] right now Marcel and they were to have
an emergency, that's how we would sell
[26:54] sell them water. 10% really is more of
of an administrative type type fee to
[27:00] get that started, but but
we felt like that was a a reasonable way
[27:04] to to sell water to our neighbors.
Um, it adds a relocation of an existing
[27:10] tap. It adds some sidewalk cut cut and
repair fees. It amends the application
[27:16] fee to capture some administrative time
and handling those requests.
[27:21] Um, it does note that the the irrigation
and fire line connections are exempt
[27:26] from water system development fees.
We've got had some questions
[27:30] um, over the last year.
Last year was the first year we
[27:34] implemented irrigation um, irrigation
line connections and those those uh,
[27:39] fees and found that we really needed
some clarification on that to to not cuz
[27:45] those
those system development fees are
[27:47] expensive. They're $2,750
per residential tap and so that's a lot
[27:54] of money to to pay on top of a domestic
domestic line.
[27:59] Um,
increase this is the big one the the
[28:04] domestic water rates
5% increase and this is per the water
[28:09] study that was done
2 years ago.
[28:13] Um, keeping trying to keep on track with
that. It's possible
[28:19] um, Tanya, you may remember. I don't
know that we did the full 5% 2 years
[28:24] ago. I know we did it last year. So,
we're we may be just a little bit behind
[28:29] where they where they thought we would
be, but we're we're pretty close.
[28:34] Um, it does consolidate irrigation rates
into one rate. Last year we did a a
[28:38] residential rate and a commercial rate
and decided that that didn't really make
[28:43] make sense and so that's that's now one
rate. It does increase some fireline
[28:47] testing, and then it it notes that
consumption off of a water line, I'm
[28:52] sorry, off of a fireline that is as a
result of a
[28:57] a leak,
as long as they get it fixed quickly
[29:00] within 30 days, they're not going to be
charged that thousand dollar consumption
[29:05] consumption fee.
Uh for me, I'm going to come to you here
[29:08] just a second. Fire meters are
different, I've I've learned. They don't
[29:13] they they're not volumetric. They're
they're not they're they're not
[29:17] calculating how much water is passing
through a fireline.
[29:21] All they're all they're doing is it's a
detection meter. It's detecting flow.
[29:27] And so when you've got when you
we we learned that this is a a risk of
[29:33] folks um stealing water.
Um most of the time that's not an issue,
[29:38] but we have had some some folks cuz it's
not metered, we can't say we we you now
[29:44] owe us this amount of money because
you've used X amount of gallons of water
[29:48] cuz we can't calculate that. And so that
fee is actually we want that that flow
[29:53] to be available for emergency purposes
and not
[29:57] not somebody trying to get sneaky with
things.
[30:00] Yes, sir.
>> Yeah, I was just curious uh with respect
[30:04] to irrigation taps, uh it is you know in
in comparison to our subscriber base,
[30:12] uh it it is that um
is it really low or is it growing
[30:18] uh or are more people requesting
irrigation than than in the past?
[30:24] » Well, yes, because we haven't had them
in the past. So, this is kind of a new
[30:29] program. It's it's something that we
have in in the past said we don't have
[30:33] irrigation meters, you're going to have
to connect to your your hose your
[30:36] domestic uh domestic meter.
So, it is growing um
[30:41] uh
and I would I would absolutely expect
[30:45] that it will continue to grow. The nice
thing about the irrigation meters are
[30:50] that, um, when you get into a drought
situation and you're into your your
[30:56] your water shortage, uh, response plan,
it does distinguish between the first
[31:01] thing that's cut off is irrigation.
>> Uh, okay.
[31:04] » So, so having those having knowing who's
got irrigation meters is very helpful to
[31:10] us because we can then communicate with
them to say, uh, to make sure that that
[31:14] they're complying with the water
shortage
[31:17] um, plan.
>> Thank you.
[31:22] » Uh, last last thing I'll note, it just
like with the general, uh, the general
[31:26] fee schedule is the the penny shortage.
[31:35] If there are no questions, then one of
the motion that the motion, if you wish
[31:40] to entertain it, is to adopt both of
these both of these fee schedule
[31:45] ordinances with the amendment to
increase the, uh, public works hourly
[31:50] rate to $45.
>> Yes.
[31:54] I've got a just a question regarding,
um, on page 17,
[32:00] in the like in the permit fees, there's
a
[32:03] it says town sponsored event.
And then on page 18,
[32:08] uh,
the hourly charges for equipment
[32:11] personnel,
um,
[32:13] uh,
hourly charges are for special event
[32:16] permits unless town sponsored or
supported.
[32:20] So, is is town sponsored and town
supported, are those two different
[32:24] classifications?
>> For for clarification on that, what what
[32:27] you're referring to like the fire fees
and air supervisors, different things.
[32:32] Um,
if somebody wanted a have a fireworks
[32:34] show at a wedding,
um, they would have to provide we would
[32:38] provide service there for be an
apparatus or personnel on standby. So,
[32:42] that's now a town not a town sponsored
event. So, they would basically be
[32:45] contracting to provide personnel staff
for that.
[32:48] » Right. But, I guess I'm seeing two terms
for sponsored or supported and I'm
[32:53] wondering if those are two different
classifications.
[32:55] » Yeah, I think that they are they are I
think that
[32:59] we've got to we've got our own events
that we put on.
[33:03] So, we've got
we sometimes do special event permits.
[33:07] We did one for the music in the park. We
do one for 4th of July. Um so, those
[33:12] we're not going to charge ourselves for
4th of July. Now, WBA events, those we
[33:18] we have in the past considered those
town supported, not sponsored. And so,
[33:24] there's a little bit of a if y'all have
um
[33:28] uh we we sort of taken town council's
lead and if you want us to to to help
[33:33] with some of these events that the WBA
is putting on for the community, we have
[33:38] uh considered our our staff time as
support supporting.
[33:44] » Okay.
No, that's that's help- that's helpful.
[33:46] That's the kind of I was leading into
that the WBA discussion we've been
[33:49] having regarding that is if if if that
would fall under this sponsored or
[33:55] supported category.
I just yeah, advocate for just uh you
[34:00] know,
clarity in language or whatever
[34:05] » And I think town council is in a great
position to have some of those
[34:08] conversations and if there are there are
events that we are supporting
[34:13] in with our man hours that you don't
wish us to, you just need to be clear
[34:18] with us what those expectations are or
or any limitations that you want
[34:24] » So, with WBA events for example, we uh
sponsored 18,000 825.
[34:31] » Well, that's see that's that's under the
the rate fee
[34:34] » So, we're not charging them
>> does not support it.
[34:36] » So, we're not charging them for this,
but this is how much we supported them
[34:41] with man hours.
>> Well,
[34:43] that that rate is how much if we if it
was not a town supported
[34:48] project, how much we would have billed
them.
[34:51] But, the actual cost is less than the
personnel cost of a non-supported event.
[34:59] » I'm not following.
>> The actual rate, like in Angela's
[35:03] breakdown, she had what the actual
actual costs were.
[35:07] » Mhm.
>> And
[35:08] » Which is
this is your actual cost.
[35:11] » It was less than the the 65 for a police
and 35 for the
[35:17] » Well, it's it's probably more than 35
because most of this was overtime.
[35:22] So, that's why I want to increase the
fee schedule for public works because
[35:25] most of these hours that public works
put into this these events were overtime
[35:30] charges, and that's why I'd like to see
it increased to $45 instead of $35.
[35:34] Now,
>> But, this fee but that wouldn't apply to
[35:37] this.
>> Well, it would.
[35:38] » The the increase wouldn't because this
these WTBA events are are town
[35:42] sponsored.
>> Correct. So,
[35:44] one thing that I'm thinking is we're
already giving them $6,000 in the stop
[35:49] end.
And we're providing $18,800
[35:53] in support for an event.
But, do we need to cap the amount that
[35:58] we are supporting them?
I mean, put it at $20,000, and if they
[36:02] go over $20,000, then they have to pay
for it.
[36:05] » I think that's a discussion for a later
date. We're talking about
[36:08] » I think we're I think we've gone we're
way off the rails. We were talking about
[36:11] water rates.
>> Yeah.
[36:13] » All right.
>> And we're talking about fee schedule.
[36:15] » Well, we're talking about fee schedule,
but we were talking about whether there
[36:18] was a motion going to be on the floor
about whether we were going to do the
[36:22] two separate motions.
One for uh the fee um
[36:29] Let's see, for the general fund and one
for the fire fund.
[36:33] » So, we already did that one.
>> We already did that one.
[36:38] » Right?
>> I don't recall that we did that.
[36:41] » We just
>> There was there was
[36:43] There was somebody that said, "I'd like
to start this." And then we got off on
[36:46] track. So, I'd like to go back and
revisit this. Do we want to do this
[36:51] and do them both at the same time,
which we can do. Right, uh Jennifer?
[36:57] » Uh yes. So, if you're you're talking
about the motion for this fee schedule,
[37:01] it could you could take them separately
or you could take them together. Both I
[37:05] think both changes that that Council
Member Young had had suggested, they're
[37:11] they would be equally in both fee
schedules. And so, you could do one
[37:16] motion to um to adopt the fee schedule
ordinances with the the change from of
[37:22] the public works uh from 35 to 45. You
could do that as one motion.
[37:28] » Okay. I would I would like to get this
off the table if we could. If somebody
[37:31] would make that motion.
>> Okay.
[37:33] » All right. I'll I'll make that.
>> Okay. We have a motion
[37:37] uh for the fee schedules for general and
fire fund to
[37:40] bind those together.
>> And and water.
[37:43] » And water.
>> And water.
[37:44] » And water.
So, all in favor?
[37:46] » Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye.
>> Opposed?
[37:49] Motion carries. Thank you very much.
[37:54] » Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Mayor. I just
had to clarify on the
[37:59] ordinance adoption of the water fund.
Council Member Nagle, were you a
[38:04] negative or a Were you
for that?
[38:08] » That's one motion.
That was one motion and I did note that
[38:12] Council Member Nagle was a no.
>> for the
[38:16] water fund? Yes. Is that correct?
>> I was a no for the budget.
[38:20] » For the bud- for the budget ordinance.
>> Yeah.
[38:23] » For general fund and fire fund, you are
a nay.
[38:25] » Right.
>> And then for the water fund, you
[38:27] » Yes. Sorry.
>> Thank you.
[38:30] » Thank you.
I wasn't clear.
[38:33] » It was one It was one motion. Are you
>> Yeah.
[38:37] Trying to group things together. Sound
like Washington D.C.
[38:46] » All right, back to you, Mr. Harris.
>> All right, on your pay plan um
[38:51] we we don't have it ready tonight for
adoption, so we'll go over some
[38:54] highlights. Um
on your pay plan uh for a
[39:00] they're still under under development,
not quite ready. I'm looking at the base
[39:04] markets
um and based off of town council's
[39:06] consensus and direction with the living
wage, the recruit wages and pay parity,
[39:12] uh the 3% cola, and the newly created HR
position added in there, so we had to
[39:16] get some um
comparisons from other HR positions and
[39:21] municipalities alike. Um we're
separating out the pay plans from fire
[39:25] and police departments um as they would
be most impacted by job competition. Um
[39:30] and when you make increases at the
entry-level, um trying to separate out
[39:34] so we don't create so much compression.
Um
[39:37] so we're looking at our mid-range and
our top end on those as we do the the
[39:41] adjustments for our entry levels. Um we
just want to ensure that we're creating
[39:44] a career ladder in there um with the
some organizational structure looking at
[39:49] that.
Um so one example on that is adjusting a
[39:52] supervisor position um out of the water
treatment plant to accommodate positions
[39:56] um that were anticipated out there over
the last 2 years. Um so again, we'll be
[40:00] reviewing those for market adjustments,
and we'll have that to you at your June
[40:04] 22nd meeting for your pay plan to be
adopted that night.
[40:13] Moving along to your policy adjustments.
[40:20] When you go through this, if you're
following along, when you notice that
[40:23] the end of it, you know, on each policy
that I talk about where it says policy
[40:27] page 29, I know it can get a little
confusing, but that is the the page
[40:31] number out of the policy itself, not the
policy number and or the page number for
[40:36] your packet.
But some changes that were made to the
[40:40] to the policies in itself, personnel
policy, minor changes to workplace
[40:44] violence prevention section,
which is on the policy page 29, increase
[40:49] annual leave to a minimum of 3 weeks for
all employees,
[40:53] clarifies annual leave provision
regarding negative leave balance and
[40:56] payment upon separation, clarifies sick
leave provisions regarding negative
[41:01] leave balance and notices of use of sick
leave, modifies provisions concerning
[41:06] maternity and paternity leave and
increased paid sick leave,
[41:11] modified
Let me get the 4 weeks there, expanding
[41:14] that.
Adds automatic 401K contributions and
[41:19] funded with the budgets. Adds definition
of retaliation to the harassment policy,
[41:24] makes minor changes in harassment
complaint procedures, clarifies the
[41:29] disciplinary action that can be taken
based on the severity of situation.
[41:33] Harassment policy procedures that adds
definition of retaliation, makes minor
[41:37] changes in that complaint procedures,
and clarifies the disciplinary action
[41:42] for our workplace violence policy. Adds
a definition of retaliation, notes that
[41:47] disciplinary action should be
congruent and the severity of violation,
[41:53] requires that all complaints must be
submitted to the human resource officer,
[41:58] grievance policy procedures up states
the manager's name as a contact with
[42:01] general grievances on the policy.
The attached proposed amendments have
[42:05] been drafted and are proposed for
adoption. A resolution for the purpose
[42:09] is attached for your consideration and
action.
[42:14] We can get a motion for um a resolution
to adopt it. No one has questions on the
[42:19] policies or attachments.
>> Scotty, quick quick question. Um
[42:23] with with adoption of these policy
changes or or amendments, how is that
[42:31] communicated to everybody? Is that
through department heads or
[42:35] » Yeah, it goes back out and then they
have to they'll get a copy of what
[42:38] changes have been made and each employee
has to sign off acknowledging they've
[42:42] read the changes to the policy.
>> Got it.
[42:45] No, I you know, I think I think
everything that I read is fine.
[42:49] Um
and you know, my name is not Eustace. So
[42:54] uh
I I thought that was a good choice, too.
[42:58] » How does somebody get a
You've highlighted employees are
[43:01] expected to keep track of their leave
balance and are allowed to not allowed
[43:04] to have a negative sick leave balance.
How would somebody get a negative sick
[43:09] leave?
>> For example, if a brand new employee
[43:12] started um and hasn't accumulated or
acquired enough sick hours and you for
[43:16] that first month they were called out
sick, then they haven't
[43:20] accumulated the base off the hours that
they accumulate through the process of
[43:25] the payroll. I'm still confused.
>> So for me, maybe government works
[43:29] different than private industry.
>> You don't get your balance up front.
[43:32] It's automatically accumulated as you go
through the process. So if you're
[43:35] accumulating 3.62 hours per pay period
and I'm at the fire department and I
[43:40] take off 24 hours on my second or third
week or even that first month and call
[43:45] out sick, I haven't accumulated enough
hours yet. So it would be a they they
[43:49] would have to get approval from the
manager to go on leave or take on leave
[43:52] unpaid leave.
>> So Scotty, what happens because I mean
[43:56] Andrew and my
example or where we work
[44:01] if somebody were to be discharged
because of absenteeism and they had a
[44:04] negative sick leave, they actually owe
us the money back.
[44:08] They have to pay it back. Is Is that the
same here?
[44:11] » Yeah, I mean it would basically you put
the two-week notice. I mean we pay we
[44:14] pay out a maximum of 240 hours. So, if
they don't have any of that then it you
[44:19] know
>> So, what then happens? Do they have to
[44:22] go into their pocket or do they just do
they just
[44:24] » They leave leave without pay. Is it Is
there
[44:27] » We don't pay out any sick leave. We pay
out annually and holiday leave. So, if
[44:30] someone were to leave we would withhold
it from there.
[44:33] » That's what I'm asking. That's what I'm
asking.
[44:35] » And it all has to do with state
benefits.
[44:38] Correct. It's all tied to state
benefits. I'm still confused. Maybe I'm
[44:41] not asking my question right.
And maybe it has nothing to do with
[44:45] anything. Somebody starts
and I start. So, on day one how much
[44:50] sick days do I get?
>> Zero.
[44:51] » Right. So, if I don't show up for work
tomorrow and I work 32 hours this week,
[44:56] how many hours are on my paycheck?
>> If you work 32 it should be 32.
[45:01] » Well
>> Right?
[45:03] » No, I want to see I know what I do. I
want to see what they do.
[45:06] » I mean they can request to go go into a
negative leave balance.
[45:10] » But yes, so they got to get paid for 40
and owe us eight.
[45:13] » And it's depending upon the
circumstances
[45:15] in that aspect.
>> Never tried that.
[45:19] Huh? Okay.
>> But then once that is that is
[45:22] accumulated in there
>> Sure.
[45:24] » they get back to it. So
>> Right. You would Yeah.
[45:27] Okay.
>> You try it and let us know how it works
[45:29] out.
>> It wouldn't.
[45:31] If it doesn't work out in the real
world.
[45:34] » get abused.
>> Yeah. Yes. So, you just start
[45:38] and you go I want to dip into my reuse
PTO cuz we don't have it.
[45:42] » for someone that just started now. It
has to be justified has to be approved
[45:45] by town manager. And really it has to be
a good reason for it.
[45:48] » Sure.
>> Someone that's been at work for a while
[45:50] working hard they get COVID or they're
>> Right.
[45:53] » have surgery or something.
>> It just sound like when you were
[45:57] highlighting I'm like has this been Is
that the rule? Like or why are you
[46:01] highlighting it?
>> Is there an option to do like leave
[46:04] without pay? Like, let's say they do get
sick and they got to take a week.
[46:08] » Yeah, if the manager doesn't approve
them to go into a negative leave
[46:11] balance, then they have to take leave
without pay.
[46:13] » So, quick question.
Do we have a
[46:18] what what I would call an accounting
portal
[46:21] where individuals can sort of look at
you know, here are the hours that I put
[46:26] in my time card, here's the hours that I
classified as vacation, here's what I
[46:31] have
>> We're in the process.
[46:33] » Who?
>> our upgrades. One of our upgrades.
[46:35] » One of their hiring an HR person.
>> Yeah, yeah, no, that's great.
[46:38] » We're implementing it's called TimeClock
Plus where all your leave is is tracked.
[46:43] You can see your leave balances. You
request your leave out of there, so you
[46:47] can't request leave you don't have.
>> And
[46:50] And Tony, what system is that going to
be?
[46:52] » TimeClock Plus.
>> Okay, super. Yeah.
[46:57] » If they want to print a pay stub again,
they can do that on their own.
[47:00] Right, they get their W-2.
>> They get a link to log into it.
[47:02] » That's a separate portal, but yes.
>> Oh, that makes a lot of sense.
[47:06] » Thank you.
[47:09] » Well, I'll I'll make the motion to move
the the adoption of the proposed
[47:14] resolution which amends the town's
personnel policy, harassment policy and
[47:17] procedures, workplace violence
prevention policy, and ratifies an
[47:21] amendment to the grievance policy and
procedures made on May 18th, 2026.
[47:26] Just to clarify, are we voting on one
thing or two things?
[47:30] Cuz I'm confused.
>> I'm doing the the suggested motion.
[47:36] » So, the res- the resolution that's in
your packet does all of those things.
[47:40] » On 32, it's it's all encompassing on
page 32.
[47:44] » Did we talk about all that yet? Did I
Did I jump Did I jump the gun?
[47:47] » No, I've been an
>> He was referring to his earlier
[47:51] » I I was referring to myself voting no on
something I didn't know what I was
[47:54] voting. You do two
>> Just wanted to be clear if I'm bottom.
[47:58] » All right, so we have a resolution of
amending the town's personnel policy.
[48:03] To be approved.
All in favor say aye.
[48:05] » Aye.
>> Opposed?
[48:09] Motion carried. Thank you.
[48:24] » So, Mayor, we're at number seven.
[48:31] » Number seven is
further discussion and direction.
[48:38] » So, I would like to make a a motion.
>> Okay.
[48:42] » Um whenever we offer our services for
town events,
[48:47] be it sponsored or supported whatever
the term may be,
[48:51] we have not historically given an
accounting to the organization of which
[48:56] we are supporting as to the cost of
those events.
[48:59] So, for example,
this um spreadsheet that I did for you
[49:03] guys, um
musical main event was a cost of 2,000
[49:07] or 5,221.
And I would just like for us to give a
[49:12] statement of what is projected while
we're planning these events,
[49:18] and then another statement as to what
the actual cost of these events are.
[49:22] It's It's hard for
an organization to know how much
[49:26] something costs if we don't tell them
how much we're putting into it.
[49:30] And for the sake of transparency, I
think we need to give them a statement
[49:33] of the cost for each event for the man
hours
[49:37] and or equipment that are used.
>> It's a brilliant idea because, again,
[49:42] you relate things back to the private
world. If you're going to give away free
[49:45] things, typically we would give them an
invoice and then
[49:48] » And then no charge it.
>> Right.
[49:50] » Right. You
>> something that I want to charge them
[49:52] for.
>> No, I get it. No. No. It's a brilliant
[49:54] idea.
>> To understand what the value is.
[49:56] » Exactly.
>> Right. It's great. And we
[49:58] » validated.
>> I want to be validated.
[50:00] » Okay.
>> Yeah, I get it.
[50:02] » I mean, we do we do this at work all the
time where we have an invoice and then
[50:07] there is an overage, so we just do
professional discount and get it back in
[50:10] line where it needs to be and then they
can see the full
[50:13] » That's correct.
>> value of what was done on that project.
[50:19] » Why don't we think of this sooner?
[50:23] » Sir, did you make that in the form of a
motion?
[50:25] » I'll make a motion that we give a
statement of accounting of the
[50:30] anticipated charges up front during the
planning time and then an actual
[50:34] accounting after the event as to the
actual cost that the town has provided
[50:39] support for.
>> Before we vote, may I ask one quick
[50:43] follow-up question?
>> Tanya, how and
[50:46] how how much time
would this add to your job?
[50:51] » It's not just me, it's the department
heads.
[50:53] » Yeah. Okay.
>> So, there definitely would be an admin
[50:56] cost. Just like preparing all these
costs for you, like so far, it costs all
[51:01] of our time. So, yeah, we would want to
be mindful of how much time we spend,
[51:05] but I think we could we could definitely
come up with an estimate. We don't have
[51:09] to have actual, we could do an estimate.
We could have a
[51:12] » You could base it on what you did last
year.
[51:13] » Yes. And take an
an average salary, maybe not every Look
[51:18] to see who's working which events. We
could We could have an average public
[51:21] works salary
>> Or you got a fee schedule to go by.
[51:23] » So, you can use that fee schedule.
>> We can use the fee schedule.
[51:27] » So, it is So, it is a reasonable thing
for staff or for you to manage that.
[51:32] » Okay.
>> Okay.
[51:34] » Okay.
>> And I guess is there a need the need for
[51:36] both the estimate and the actual or is
it really when you can have the actual?
[51:41] » I think as events are being planned,
there may not be an awareness that oh,
[51:46] we you charge for police protection for
this event and it could be a wedding. It
[51:51] could be the fireworks. It could be
whatever.
[51:53] And I think it's only fair as we are
supporting these organizations or
[51:58] weddings or whatever we're doing, that
this is how much we think it's going to
[52:01] cost.
And so they have an idea, oh, I don't
[52:04] want to spend $5,000 on a fire truck and
firemen to be there for fireworks at my
[52:08] wedding.
But then you're going to get another
[52:10] statement that says this is how much it
actually cost.
[52:13] » Mhm.
>> Well, that would be the bill from the
[52:15] from the town.
>> Yes.
[52:16] » Yeah, but for WBA events, what you're
saying is, okay, so you're going to
[52:20] estimate out
but it needs to be very clear that this
[52:23] is not a bill.
>> Right, it's not a bill. It's just It's
[52:26] just for them to be able to understand
the cost it is for their event.
[52:32] » Yeah.
>> That they have to have an accounting of
[52:34] all the costs in there.
>> And with Time Card Plus,
[52:38] Tanya's going to give me a code and I'm
going to use it
[52:42] to to book my hours and then she just
pushes
[52:45] » Right, summary. Yeah.
I did
[52:48] » Fill that in.
>> Yeah.
[52:50] » You can do that simple.
>> So I I understand the there's probably a
[52:55] simplicity of just using the fee
schedule
[52:58] um opposed to differentiating between
sponsored not sponsored
[53:04] for the both the estimate and the act
and the actual cost.
[53:07] » is fine.
>> Right.
[53:08] » So we anticipate it's going to be five
employees at this many hours and then
[53:13] you have a cost.
>> Yeah.
[53:14] Okay, I was just thinking through if
there's any benefit to having more of a
[53:19] closer to an actual cost for the
sponsored events.
[53:22] Um and that's
for any any sponsored event.
[53:26] Um cuz like for like 4th of July, will
we estimate
[53:30] the cost of that based upon the fee
schedule?
[53:32] » We're not doing that, that's our event.
>> That's our event.
[53:34] » But we're still going to we're
summarizing these costs.
[53:39] That I don't believe that's That's
Jennifer's talking about. I think this
[53:41] is for third-party. I mean, you could do
that, sure. You could say
[53:46] so we as town council know what a July
4th costs if you want that. But
[53:51] you know, what
>> Yeah.
[53:52] » What And And you know,
they do it. The fireworks going to cost
[53:56] X and
>> Yeah, I I think it's like you get a
[53:59] quote.
The quote is the estimated cost.
[54:04] » Right.
>> And then you can compare that to what
[54:06] your actual cost was
>> Yeah.
[54:08] » how good your estimates were.
>> Well, I think it's
[54:10] » Well, so
>> Agree. Totally agree.
[54:12] » For example, like I asked Scotty when
we're having this discussion with WBA of
[54:16] like, "What's What are the costs of the
the other town events that are like the
[54:20] 4th of July?" And so, if we were going
to receive that estimate
[54:25] would it would we use the would we use
the the
[54:29] the fee schedule for that or would we
try to calculate the actual?
[54:34] Just for comparison.
>> Yeah, I I think that's one of those
[54:36] things that you get to kind of get to
pick and choose what you want to do
[54:39] given on what that particular event
might be.
[54:42] » Mhm.
>> Is are you going to Is an estimate close
[54:44] enough?
Or do we actually need to know what
[54:47] actual is? And we're not going to know
actual until it's done.
[54:50] » Yeah, so what it's for us. It's What
Jennifer said is correct. But they're
[54:55] getting it free anyway, so they're going
to go
[54:57] » Right.
>> I don't really care that you say it's
[54:59] costing 80 grand.
>> Right.
[55:01] » Thank you for doing it.
>> Yeah.
[55:03] » And then we're going to go, "Wow, we're
spending a quarter million dollars of
[55:06] town revenue to do free things that we
like
[55:10] and free things that we like that other
people ask for." They're still the same
[55:14] thing. Nobody You know, the town people
have said, "Do a July 4th." Okay. "Do a
[55:18] Christmas parade." Okay. And then WBA
saying, "Do a Musical Main." At the end
[55:22] of the day, Scotty and his department
head should know what these
[55:27] free things for the town cost.
>> Right.
[55:30] » Okay, quarter million bucks. Great.
>> Yeah.
[55:32] » We go, "All right, we're spending
uh 8% of our budget on stuff to make
[55:38] Weaverville a great place for people to
come to. And there is it no benefit, you
[55:43] know, you can't drive it to the economy
and sales tax and all that. You just go,
[55:47] "How much are we spending on having
parties in the town of Weaverville?"
[55:51] Quarter million bucks. Great.
Is that good or bad? I don't know. This
[55:55] is what it is, and I think that to your
point, I already said earlier, it's a
[55:58] great idea to tell the customer, which
in this case is WBA, what it's costing
[56:03] the town.
And to mark point, maybe we should know
[56:06] what we're spending, too.
>> Yeah.
[56:08] » Well, it's just for transparency's sake.
>> I think it's great.
[56:10] » And my my point is just more the
clarification of what it actually costs
[56:14] to what
>> I'd love to know what it actually costs.
[56:16] » builds in builds in extra to where it's
above our actual cost.
[56:21] » So, for example, and Chief Oberlin can
speak to this if if you have a question,
[56:26] any employer in the county that a police
officer goes to work other than their
[56:31] regular scheduled days, let's say they
pick up time to do security at the
[56:35] church.
The cost of that
[56:38] costs the county $65. Is that right?
Okay.
[56:42] So, they charge $65 an hour.
Well, that's not the salary of that
[56:46] police officer, but that's the cost of
the service.
[56:49] So, that's where the fee schedule comes
into play.
[56:53] For us doing an event for the town, it
should be an actual event cost.
[56:58] We're not I don't care what everybody
else costs. That's how much it actually
[57:01] costs the town to do it.
>> So, I would advocate then since WBA or
[57:06] town-sponsored events are in a similar
vein, that that should be the that
[57:10] should be the number then as well. Not a
fee schedule that is never filled.
[57:16] » I think it should be fee schedule.
[57:23] » Maybe we should have
>> May I ask a question as well while we're
[57:26] talking?
>> Please, ma'am.
[57:28] » Um for clarity, I like that that's what
you're going for, Mr. Embry.
[57:33] What do we classify as events? Would be
my next question. So, today
[57:40] the third graders walked down Yost,
crossed Merriman, as we know, there's no
[57:46] sidewalks to get to the lake. So, we had
to post officers
[57:52] to get them down Yost safely on both
sides of Merriman to shut the traffic
[57:57] down on Lake Louise Drive to keep cars
from leaving the park and running them
[58:02] over. That we did that to get them
there. We did that to get them back. We
[58:07] serve meals at the schools.
So, in these cases, those events can be
[58:14] handled by people that are on duty
barring some kind of call.
[58:19] But, things like 4th of July are
overtime and folks that are working on a
[58:24] day that they would normally be off or
working during the day when they would
[58:27] normally be on at night.
If If you could, and I don't expect an
[58:31] answer right now, but you're asking for
some of these things in the police as
[58:36] you've seen I've put presentations out
of the events that we do everything from
[58:40] going to churches and
and whatnot, Rotary Club meetings and
[58:46] things. Are you know, is that an event
or is that a courtesy?
[58:49] Is
>> Mhm.
[58:51] » the police department working for the
school
[58:54] a service or a billable hour?
>> I think if it
[59:00] causes an additional staff and hours
outside their normal work duties, then I
[59:06] think it's an event.
[59:12] » I What I What I hear between the two of
you is a debate between
[59:18] uh you know, actual cost versus cost
plus
[59:22] uh you know, a premium of of you know,
what what we would call structural costs
[59:27] that we may not be able to account for.
So, the fee schedule basically is an
[59:34] estimate of rates that will cover
uh not not only our actual
[59:41] hard dollar costs, but also an estimate
of the soft things that we're not
[59:45] accounting for that are still basically
in the structure.
[59:50] So,
I think the reason Jennifer is basically
[59:53] saying use fee schedule is that gives
the town basically some free board over
[59:59] and above, you know, hard dollar actual
penny costs.
[1:00:04] Uh
you know, that will will essentially
[1:00:06] keep the town whole,
uh
[1:00:09] you know, versus having to account for,
you know, down down to the minute and
[1:00:14] » Mhm. So, so no money's changing hands.
All right, so we're we're
[1:00:20] Yeah, we we talk about for next hour cuz
I got nowhere to go.
[1:00:24] Um
It's it's good. So, again, go back to
[1:00:27] the
real world.
[1:00:30] We're going to add margin
to what it costs us to make a patch when
[1:00:34] I'm giving it away for free. And I'm
going to say to the guy, "It's 250 bucks
[1:00:39] and it's a free because we like you."
And then I say to the purchasing
[1:00:43] department, "Make Andrew Nagel 100 of
those patches for me so I can hand them
[1:00:48] out when I come to town council and
Jennifer Jackson always can have her
[1:00:52] space patch."
I want to know
[1:00:56] I want to know what it cost us to make
it.
[1:00:58] » Mhm.
>> So, I do this all all the time. I go,
[1:01:01] "What did it cost us?"
>> Mhm.
[1:01:04] » Cuz I'm going to donate it.
Or and if I'm going to and then we'll
[1:01:09] you know, we're I'm going to show them
the margin. If you had to buy it, what
[1:01:11] would you pay? So,
July 4th in my mind is a town event. I'd
[1:01:15] like to know what it cost us.
WVA events, I'm in total agreement with
[1:01:19] Jennifer. What would we sell it for?
>> Mhm.
[1:01:21] » You know, we need to make money because
even though we're not no money's
[1:01:24] changing hands. For now, maybe one day
it will. We don't know. I know you're
[1:01:28] saying this is for transparency, but I'm
in favor of, you know, use your taxes.
[1:01:33] So,
maybe people should be paying us when
[1:01:36] they want to have an event.
>> Mhm. I think it's important that there's
[1:01:39] This would give a sense of proportion
for people that when they're planning to
[1:01:43] have an event and come to town, and say,
"We'd like you to sponsor this event."
[1:01:48] What's it What is it going to cost?
>> Right.
[1:01:51] » Well, we have a fixed place to go now to
generate that number.
[1:01:56] And it's it'll be consistent that way.
>> Correct.
[1:01:59] » You have to be consistent from one to
the next.
[1:02:01] » That's right.
>> But it does give a sense of proportion,
[1:02:03] like, you know, right now WBA, this is
how much
[1:02:07] the town is contributing.
>> Correct.
[1:02:09] » In in services.
>> Correct.
[1:02:11] » Right?
>> Correct.
[1:02:13] » And they come back with a bigger plan
next year, and they expect kind of the
[1:02:17] same thing.
>> Correct.
[1:02:18] » Maybe not.
>> Right.
[1:02:20] » You know, so I think it's important to
to be able to get some metrics around
[1:02:24] it.
>> And the other thing is how much will
[1:02:26] they have to go
buy that service from someone else?
[1:02:29] » Exactly.
>> Which would include margin.
[1:02:32] » Correct.
>> Right.
[1:02:33] » So, let's just be clear to Chief
Oberlin, we want you to keep the third
[1:02:37] graders safe.
Okay? I'm We're on the record. We We
[1:02:41] didn't need to think about it. I know
you told us
[1:02:44] we could think about it, but the press
does listen to the minutes. We are in
[1:02:48] favor of not charging the third graders
to keep them safe.
[1:02:52] » Not charging, but to document. I I guess
>> No, you don't need to document it.
[1:02:57] » What what do you want us to document?
>> an event. That's keeping third graders
[1:03:00] safe.
>> Should Should we let Tonya maybe present
[1:03:06] us with a example
plan of
[1:03:10] the the
estimated cost model, and then the
[1:03:14] actual cost model that we can study and
say, "Is this the information we want or
[1:03:17] not?
That is a reasonable for you to put
[1:03:19] together enough
in a normal time frame, not an
[1:03:23] exhausting time frame.
>> Then we're going to ask you what it will
[1:03:26] cost. You tell us what it's going to
cost.
[1:03:29] » Yeah, that was my original question.
How much more work does this put on
[1:03:34] I mean, and should we then maybe be
charging an admin fee for doing that?
[1:03:38] » Yeah.
>> Margin.
[1:03:40] » It's like, "Okay, we're going to give
you $18,000 worth of service.
[1:03:45] It's going to cost you $25 for us to do
the math."
[1:03:49] That's fine. But I But I'd like to just
go on record here also to say that this
[1:03:53] number, thank you for compiling this
number, but this number does not fit me.
[1:03:58] I think this is a very reasonable number
for what was brought into this town.
[1:04:02] So, that is not something that I am
driving toward even with this increase
[1:04:07] in transparency, which sometimes leads
to Now we have a basis for which to
[1:04:11] change our policy next year to start
charging. I hope that doesn't happen.
[1:04:16] » Right. And this this is not by any means
a method for me to charge WBA for these
[1:04:22] events. It's just to make them aware
>> of how much the friendship
[1:04:25] » the friendship is.
[1:04:28] And so, with the fee schedule, it's just
easier accounting for the staff to say
[1:04:33] it's $65 an hour for police officer and
it's $45 an hour for public works, and
[1:04:38] that's easy math.
>> Yeah, so I I totally get that. I
[1:04:43] I guess where I was getting back to We
just We just adopted this fee schedule,
[1:04:47] and it you know, it it it again it's it
talks about sponsored or supported
[1:04:52] um
uh and then I just just just trying to
[1:04:56] get clarity and and clear binning of
what things are so that we can then come
[1:05:02] up with our numbers and our
>> Some things continue to be a work in
[1:05:05] progress.
>> Yes.
[1:05:07] » Yes.
>> This has been very enlightening. Thank
[1:05:10] you for putting that together.
>> So, there is a motion on the table.
[1:05:14] » I was I was getting to that point.
>> I'm happy to try to restate it. If
[1:05:18] » Please.
>> So, I've got a motion for the town to
[1:05:21] provide statements to the WBA and others
for estimates of the cost of support of
[1:05:27] town support of events for transparency
purposes and then a post event revision
[1:05:34] with an actual accounting of costs
actually incurred so that they
[1:05:38] understand the true cost of events.
>> Yes.
[1:05:42] Thank you.
>> I have a
[1:05:43] comment.
>> Sorry, based on based on an actual
[1:05:47] accounting of costs based on the adopted
fee schedule.
[1:05:50] » Correct.
>> Okay.
[1:05:52] » Before we make any
motion or vote, should we let Tanya come
[1:05:57] back with a couple examples and models
on what she think she
[1:06:02] can put together and let us review those
and then make a decision?
[1:06:07] » I actually think this is good enough.
>> Okay.
[1:06:11] » I do, too.
>> All right.
[1:06:12] » All right.
>> Okay.
[1:06:13] » I think it's a great start.
>> I don't want to oppose tonight.
[1:06:15] » Mhm.
>> I don't have enough friends tonight.
[1:06:19] » I might be overthinking it. I don't
know.
[1:06:21] » So, so we have motion on the floor.
Uh all in favor say I.
[1:06:26] » I.
>> I.
[1:06:27] » All opposed?
>> He said I. He said I. He did.
[1:06:33] » Thank you.
>> I might be overthinking it.
[1:06:34] » Motion carries.
[1:06:38] » Uh let's see. Where are we?
>> There's like more documentation to go.
[1:06:42] » I hate to ask this question. Is there
any further discussion that we need to
[1:06:45] have about anything we've done this
evening?
[1:06:47] » Does everybody know what they're going
to pay in taxes?
[1:06:51] Mark, I expect you to come to the next
I'll have the answer for you.
[1:06:55] Since it's public record.
>> summarize it for everybody?
[1:06:58] » Sure. I did that when you got your
revals. I contacted each of you and told
[1:07:02] you which property went up. So, I'm a
I'm a I'm a sovereign nation. I don't
[1:07:07] » You're not paying taxes?
>> I don't know. I have one quick update.
[1:07:12] The the Urban 3
Consulting company basically has now
[1:07:19] decided to kick off the economic
analysis for Weaverville on July 1.
[1:07:26] And
you know, I think they have determined I
[1:07:30] think I sent all of you the note. They
they've determined that
[1:07:34] that's probably an effective start date
with with all the questions coming in
[1:07:38] from
appraisals and and basically challenges
[1:07:43] to appraisals.
So, they they think they're going to
[1:07:45] have enough
[1:07:48] data to start and they have specifically
requested
[1:07:53] a copy of the budget that we have
approved this this evening, which will
[1:07:58] also be numerical input to the analysis.
The second quick update is the Ball
[1:08:06] Crank
[1:08:09] the Ball Crank Arcade at 115
is
[1:08:14] going strong even without the lift grant
that would have covered our
[1:08:20] town-sponsored pavilion.
It sounds like the building now is fully
[1:08:27] sold out. And it's going to be
substantially directed to
[1:08:32] recreation and entertainment.
And
[1:08:36] Council Council member Young basically
is connecting investors also to Advent
[1:08:42] Health to explore
what I would call collaboration
[1:08:48] ideas
with with both the hospital and this now
[1:08:53] new recreation center.
So,
[1:08:57] the you know, all of the indicators are
still very positive for the town.
[1:09:03] » Thank you, Mayor.
>> You're welcome. Thank you very much.
[1:09:06] » Is there any further business to come
before council?
[1:09:10] None appearing,
the council is adjourned.