Present were Mayor Pro Tem Bill Strom, Council Members Laurin Easthom, Sally Greene, Ed Harrison, Cam Hill, Mark Kleinschmidt, Bill Thorpe, and Jim Ward.
Staff present were Town Manager Roger Stancil, Deputy Town Manager Florentine Miller, Assistant Manager Bruce Heflin, Attorney Ralph Karpinos, Inspections Director Lance Norris, Finance Director Kay Johnson, Police Chief Greg Jarvies, Fire Chief Dan Jones, Planning Director JB Culpepper, Public Works Director Bill Letteri, Transportation Director Steve Spade, Housing Director Tina Vaughn, Engineering Director George Small, Information Technology Director Bob Avery, Interim Parks and Recreation Director Bill Webster, Assistant Human Resources Director Anissa Graham, Town Information Officer Catherine Lazorko, Library Director Kathleen Thompson, Mayoral Aide Adam Schaefer, Development Coordinator Gene Poveromo, Long Range and Transportation Coordinator David Bonk, and Town Clerk Sabrina Oliver.
Mayor Pro Tem Strom called the meeting to order.
Mr. Stancil told the Council that tonight staff would present the results of the Council’s Retreat in January. He noted that Assistant Clerk Amy Harvey had compiled a summary chart of priorities and goals that had been arrived at by the Retreat break-out groups of Council and staff. Mr. Stancil said the chart listing those priorities had been distributed to each of them.
Mr. Stancil said he would go through the list and the Council could affirm the priorities. However, he noted that the budget costs associated with some goals were only estimates. He said he was reviewing each department’s needs. He said that the Council and staff could arrive at priorities based on shared information.
Mr. Stancil listed the following as the top six priorities with their associated costs:
Council members and staff indicated that there was consensus on the top six priorities. Mr. Stancil asked for comments regarding other priorities.
Ms. Johnson explained that Town housing was now being treated as a business, just like an apartment complex. She said there was a material shortfall and the Town would have to subsidize the program due to government cutbacks. She added that the Town would have to adjust how it is managing housing.
Mayor Pro Tem Strom said the Town was being forced to do this due to federal pressure. He said Council would need a budget working paper on the issue of housing.
Council Member Hill said the Town had inherited this challenge just as it had the fuel prices increases.
Council Member Greene said that housing is an essential service and agreed that it needed a separate discussion.
Council Member Ward asked if there were any implications beyond not providing an employee position for the Active Living by Design program, noting that he did not want to see this program disappear. Ms. Culpepper said the grant that funds that position will continue through 2008. She said the implication would be how the Planning Department would continue to achieve those programs and studies without the position, and would staff be responsible for the program, she asked.
Mr. Stancil then outlined the remaining priorities on the list and their associated costs, which are listed below.
Mr. Stancil noted that the cost for some of the priorities was for consultant fees. Council Member Thorpe said it appeared that there were a number of consultant requests and he needed to know how many were being considered.
Mr. Stancil said he had gathered from the conversation that housing and Active Living by Design needed more discussion and information. Mayor Pro Tem Strom asked Council members if there were any other priorities that needed additional information.
Council Member Hill noted the reference to “Council Champion” on the budget discussion memoranda in the meeting packet. He said discussion needed to take place on how objectives would be achieved, and he questioned if all objectives needed a Council champion.
Mayor Pro Tem Strom said the objective champion would keep Council members informed on the priority.
Mr. Stancil said that when the Council determined what priorities remained on the list then they could determine the champions. He added that some objectives may not need a champion. Mayor Pro Tem Strom encouraged Council members to think about the objectives they would like to champion.
Mr. Stancil announced that the Budget Public Forum would be held on February 28, with a presentation from Transportation Director Steve Spade. He said a Budget Work Session would also be held on April 11.
Council Member Kleinschmidt referred to the priority of improving or replacing the Town’s website. He said he would like to see a new website that was constantly upgraded. He said he would like the Town’s interface with the public to be proactive and responsive. He said the budget for that needed to be looked at differently and additional positions needed to be considered.
Council Member Greene said staff should maintain the site because it is the Town’s site. Mr. Avery said that the idea was to convert a commercial product into an in-house product with open source software.
The meeting adjourned at 8 p.m.