December 29, 1976~C~l
MINUTES OF A RECESSED MEETING
OF THE WEST MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL
HELD ON DECEMBER 29, 1976
A recessed meeting of the West Memphis City Council was held at
six o'clock the evening of December 29, 1976, in the Council Chamber of
City Hall. Present were:
Mayor Joyce T. Ferguson
City Attorney Robert L. Smith
Aldermen:
R. S. Cosgrove
Tilden Rodgers
Jackie King
Robert Bentley
Don Grimsley
Doug Morris
Pritchard Horton
Tommy Dickerson
Willie Lee Harris
James Hightow e r
being a quorum.
Mayor Ferguson announced that the first item of business to come
before the Council was to approve the budget and asked for a report from
the Budget Committee Chairman.
Alderman Bentley, Chairman of the Budget Committee, reported that
according to Dick Tidwell it is necessary to approve the line item budget for the
year 1976 ~~ the City of West Memphis and that during 1976 the City was
able to perform tasks and operate business approximately two to three
percent below the budgeted figures. Alderman Bentley made a motion
that the Council adopt the line item budget for the year 1976. Upon motion
being seconded by Alderman Harris and roll call vote, it was unanimously
(1976 budget RESOLVED, That the line item budget
adopted) for the year 1976 be and hereby is adopted.
Mayor Ferguson asked the Council if it would like to take off the table
the matter of Amendment 56 salaries. Alderman King asked the Mayor to
recognize the budget chairman to read off the list of salaries as discussed.
Upon recognition from the Mayor, Alderman Bentley reported that the
matter has been discussed with all of the present Aldermen and the newly
elected Aldermen and a select citizen's advisory committee which the
Mayor had appointed and outlined the proposed salaries as discussed in
V
the budgetary process in the meeting as follows:
Mayor $12, 000 per year plus $4, 000 Expense
City Attorney $12, 000 per year plus $2, 400 Expense
City Clerk $ 2, 400 per year ~:~..~.
Treasurer $ 3, 000 per year plus $1, 200 Expense
Aldermen $2, 400 per year plus $600 Expense
Alderman Bentley made a motion that the aforementioned salaries be
approved for the elected officials of the City of West Memphis. The
motion was seconded by Alderman Grimsley and after discussion and upon
roll call vote, it was
RESOLVED, That the following salaries be and
hereby are approved for the elected officials of
the City of West Memphis:
Mayor $12, 000 per year plus $4, 000 Expense
City Attorney $12, 000 per year plus $2, 400 Expense
City Clerk $ 2, 400 -per year
Treasurer $ 3, 000 per year plus $1, 200 Expense
Aldermen $ 2, 400 per year plus $600 Expense
Roll Call vote on this motion was as follows:
Cosgrove No Rodgers Aye
King Aye Bentley Aye
Grimsley Aye Morris Aye
Horton Aye Dickerson Aye
Harris ~, No Hightower Aye
Alderman Bentley expressed concern for positions and not personalities in
voting for the salary increases and that a City with a $10. 8 budget should
~o to a City Manager type government.
The Mayor called for a motion on the budget for 1977. Alderman Bentley,
Budget Chairman, reported the next item from the Council and its budgetary
process is to approve the 1977 budget which shows approximately a 4 1 / 2%
increase over the 1976 budget. Over 90% of the increase is in salaries
for employees. We feel this is a progressive budget; it will be a challange
for incoming Aldermen to rework the budget in a businesslike manner. We
vote realizing we have had to work in short hours and hasty decisions had
to be made; if corrections have to be made it will be the responsibility of
the new Council. The act we are doing here tonight is a change in the
process to .expedite approval of the budget and keep the City moving forward.
History will reveal that the incoming Council approves their own budget
`> t
but what the Council is doing here is giving a real tight fine line on the
budget `that~.u~.e feel like they should be able to live with but as in all
budgets and with all councils before, they will have to make their own
adjustments. After this preface, Alderman Bentley made a motion to
adopt the 1977 Annual Budget as printed with one correction in Revenue
Sharing, that the $34, 000 excess be applied to the City Shop account which
will make it $234, 000 instead of the $200, 000 as printed on page 7, and
another correction that the previously approved salaries for elected City
Officials be corrected. Alderman Grimsley seconded the motion. Upon
Roll Call vote, it was unanimously
RESOLVED, That the 1977 Annual Budget
(1977 budget be and hereby is adopted with the following
adopted) changes: The $34, 000 excess in Revenue
Sharing is applied to the City Shop account
making it $234, 000; and the previously
approved salaries for elected City Officials
be corrected.
The Mayor announced the next order of business to be the matter of
the pension plan and asked for a motion to take it off the table. Alderman
King made a motion to take the pension plan off the table and let Aubrey
Holt explain the pension plan for City employees. Alderman Bentley
seconded the motion. Upon voting it was unanimously
(pension RESOLVED, That the matter of the pension
plan disc plan for City employees be taken off the table
cussed) and discussed at this meeting.
Whereupon Aubrey Holt explained that it is necessary to amend the present
plan in force at the Utility Department in order to protect the investment of
the employees at the Utility Department and he felt the plan should include
all City employees. Alderman King protested that this should be let out
for bids. Mr. Holt explained that only after the present plan at the Utility
Department is amended could the pension plan for City employees be put
up for bidding, and it would be to the advantage of the employees if the
present plan at the Utility be kept. After further discussion, Mr. Holt
advised that Connecticut General, the plan under which City employees
other than those at the Utility have been covered, has been asked for a
figure showing the requirement for the year 1976.
As no action was to be taken on this matter by the council, the Mayor
asked for any other business.
~~~~
Alderman Harris reported that employee Jim Mosely had been granted
a ten cent per hour raise some time ago and had never received the raise
on his pay check. The Mayor said she will check on this.
Alderman King reported that a new shop manager had been hired
and would report for work Monday, January 3, 1977.
The Mayor announced a meeting for all members of the new .Council
will be held Monday afternoon at 4;00 p. m. January 3, 1977, at City Hall.
Mayor Ferguson praised the outgoing council for their work and
devotion to the City.
Alderman King made a motion the meeting be adjourned and upon being
seconded and unanimously carried, the meeting adjourned at 6:45 p. m.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City erk