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08-16-1978 - Budget Workshop u Q .. - j - - CITY OF EDGEWATER CITY COUNCIL BUDGET MEETING August 16, 1978 Mayor Christy called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M. in the City Clerk's office. ROLL CALL Mayor Robert H. Christy Councilman Louis J. Rotundo Councilman Carl Shell Councilman Walter B. Sikes Councilman Calvin R. Dietz City Clerk Sue Blackwell Police Chief Earl Baugh Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Also present: James Nichols Mr. Opal (arrived later in the meeting) Fire Chief Russell Foster (arrived later in the meeting) The Council continued the discussion of the proposed budget. There was a discussion about the amount of money proposed for extra meetings for Councilmen. . Mayor Christy said that he had not submitted requests for reimbursement for all the meetings he had attended even though they werp approved by the Council. He did not anticipate requesting, reimbursement next year for all the meetings he would attend. Councilman Dietz said that was up to the individual Council members. Councilman Dietz said that Sue Blackwell has done the best job possible with what she has had to work with and he wants to see her salary raised from $12,000 to $14,000 per year. The additional money will come from the Water Department and will not change the appropriated money for General Fund. If she is going to be acting as City Manager then she should be paid for it. Councilman Sikes called the Council's attention to the salaries that New Smyrna Beach is paying for City Manager, Finance Director, Personnel Director and City Clerk. Mrs. Blackwell handles all these departments so she would not be overpaid. The City Clerk has figured a 5% raise in the administration department. This would not necessarily be an across the board raise. Councilman Rotundo said he hoped everybody would be given a raise. Councilman Dietz said that everyone would not get a raise, if they were not working enough they should not receive a raise. Councilman Rotundo said that if they were not working they should not be kept in the City's employ. There was a lengthy discussion about wage increases. o Q ~ ._~-- --' The City Clerk explained to Councilman Rotundo the difficulty in firing an employee under the new laws. Councilman Dietz said that some employees are more valuable to the City than others and therefore should be paid accordingly. The City cannot afford across the board raises for everyone. Mrs. Blackwell said that the money for raises was included in the budget but this does not guarantee everyone a raise or the same amount of raise. The Council decided on an increase in legal fees. -11 Councilman Dietz said that the salary of the City Planner should be raised. He suggested $200 per week or $10,400. per year. Councilman Dietz suggested a 5% raise for the Police Chief. Councilman Sikes said that the incentive pay should also be considered which would make a total of $13,980. Councilman Rotundo suggested that the Council raise the Police Chief's salary by $1,000 for the year. Councilman Dietz suggested that the Council put the Building Inspector and his assistant on regular salary as City employees. Councilman Shell suggested that Earl Copeland, Street Supervisor, be raised to $11,000 per year. There was some adjustment made in the amount for machine and equipment and road materials and supplies. Councilman Sikes said that there was additional monies necessary for resurfacing the tennis courts and protecting the courts so that the work will last. Councilman Dietz made a motion that the Council cancel tomorrow night's meeting. Councilman Sikes seconded the motion. Upon roll call the motion CARRIED 5-0. The Council decid~d to meet again on August 24 at 6:30 P.M. Councilman Sikes asked if it would be possible for the City to give some kind of incentive pay to departments that are able to save some of the money allocated to them. The City Clerk said that she didn't know how this would work out. She also reminded the Council that the employees should be notified now that the Council has not budgeted any Christmas bonus. Councilman Dietz said that Councilman Rotundo had made an excellent suggestion about adding to building permits to create a fund to maintain streets, recreation, etc. It would be similar to an impact fee in the water department. He also reminded the Council about items that should go on the referendum. The City Clerk said that in a few years the State will probably make it mandatory that cities elect their official at the same time. The meeting was adjourned. 2