January 3, 2002MINUTES
WEST MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL
JANUARY 3, 2002
A regular meeting of the West Memphis City Council was held on January 3, 2002 at 1:30 p.m.
in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 205 S. Redding, West Memphis, Arkansas. Mayor
William H. Johnson presided.
Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Reverend Herman Coleman offered
prayer.
Phillip Para, City Clerk called the roll. Those present were: Mayor William H. Johnson, City
Attorney David Peeples, City Treasurer Frank Martin Councilors: Harold Thomas, James
Pulliaum, Lorraine Robinson (late), Tracy Catt, Dr. C. W. Peeples, Al Felton, Hubert Bass,
Herman Coleman and James Holt. Absent: Councilor Gheric Bruce. Mayor Johnson declared a
quorum present and proceeded with the agenda.
Bids for Sanitation Department dumpsters were opened at 1:00 p.m. and copies of the bid
tabulation sheet (see attached) were presented to the city council. Councilor Peeples moved,
seconded by Catt to refer the bids to Public Works Committee for final disposition. Upon voice
vote, the voting was unanimous.
CITIZENS REQUESTS None
MINUTES
Councilor Pulliaum moved, seconded by Councilor Catt to approve the minutes of December
20, 2001 as submitted. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous.
OLD BUSINESS
3rd reading of an ordinance to redistrict the wards of the City of West Memphis, Arkansas, and
for other purposes.
Councilor Coleman moved, seconded by Councilor Holt to table the ordinance until the next City
Council meeting. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous.
NEW BUSINESS
Councilor Pulliaum moved, seconded by Councilor Thomas to suspend the rules and the title
only of R-1 be read. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous.
R-1 A Resolution to establish the pay scale for the personnel of the West Memphis Police
Department and the West Memphis Fire Department, and for other purposes.
City Attorney Peeples read the Resolution. Councilor Pulliaum moved, seconded by Coleman to
table until the next City Council meeting. Upon roll call vote, the voting was:
AYES: Pulliaum, Felton, and Coleman
NAYS: Thomas, Catt, Peeples, Bass, and Holt
The motion to table FAILED.
Councilor Thomas moved, seconded by Catt to approve the Resolution. Discussion was held.
Roll call vote was:
YES: Thomas, Catt, Peeples and Holt
NAYS: Pulliaum, Felton, Bass and Coleman
Councilor Robinson arrived during the vote and when asked for her vote she passed. The
motion to approve FAILED.
R-2 A Resolution that shall allow and authorize city employees (non-department heads) the
right of appeal of termination of employment by way of the West Memphis, Arkansas City
Council.
Councilor Bass asked the City Attorney's Office to correct the procedural problems with the
resolution and meet the objective of the resolution. Councilor Bass moved, seconded by
Pulliaum to table until the next City Council meeting until City Attorney Peeples can correct the
resolution and put it in its proper form. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous.
Approval of the 2002 budget was discussed. Due to the Resolution approving the pay scale for
the fire and police departments failing, Councilor Catt expressed concern with approving 1/12th
of the 2002 budget as presented with the amendments approved at the last meeting. Mayor
Johnson stated a 4% cost of living raise for everyone except fire and police was included in the
2002 budget but not all police and fire department employees would be receiving a 4% cost of
living increase and it would be difficult to program the computer to pay retroactive for just the fire
and police department. Councilor Catt moved, seconded by Councilor Thomas to approve 1/12th
of the 2002 budget which would include the 4% raise. Councilor Coleman stated he was not in
favor of anything that the employees did not receive their raise and asked if they approved
1/12th of the 2001 budget, and at the next council meeting approved the 2002 budget could the
raises not be given retroactive to January 1st. Mayor stated it would be difficult and asked
Robert Gunter, Finance Director. Mr. Gunter stated with 400 employees being paid semi-
monthly it would be difficult. Councilor Holt asked if the motion to approve 1/12th of the 2002
budget included raises for the police and fire department. Mayor Johnson said it would not until
their pay scale was approved. Councilor Holt said that they asked the voters to approve a 1/2
cent sales tax to give police and fire a raise and now they killed it. Councilor Pulliaum stated
they could give them the 4% now and then come back and make an adjustment later. Mayor
Johnson stated that they could give everyone a 4% raise, but when you make the adjustment for
the police and fire, someone might have to pay back some money. Discussion was held on how
to bring back the failed resolution to the floor. City Attorney Peeples stated they would need a
motion to set aside the decision of the police and fire department raises. Councilor Catt
withdrew his motion to approve 1/12th of the 2002 budget. Councilor Peeples moved, seconded
by Councilor Holt to rescind the decision of the pay scale for the police and fire department.
Councilor Bass moved, seconded by Councilor Felton to table the motion to rescind the police
and fire pay scale. Councilor Felton withdrew his second. The motion was withdrawn. Roll call
vote was held on the motion to rescind.
AYES: Thomas, Robinson, Catt, Peeples, Felton, Coleman, and Holt
NAYS: None
Councilors Pulliaum and Bass passed from voting.
The motion carried.
Councilor Holt moved, seconded by Councilor Thomas to approve R-1. Discussion was held.
Councilor Pulliaum stated he agreed with the raises but did not agree with the Resolution. Roll
call vote to approve was:
AYES: Thomas, Robinson, Catt, Peeples, Coleman, and Holt
NAYS: Pulliaum and Bass
The motion carried. The Resolution was adopted and assigned No. 1727.
Councilor Catt moved, seconded by Councilor Holt to approve 1/12th of the initial 2002 budget
as presented with the proposed amendments approved last week and again today in the budget
meeting. including a 4% raise for all city employees effective January 1st Councilor Catt
advised the amendment was for the three individuals only that were previously approved at a
budget meeting by seven aldermen. Roll call vote was as follows:
AYES: Thomas, Robinson, Catt, Peeples, Coleman and Holt
NAYS: None
Councilors Pulliaum, Felton, and Bass abstained .
The motion carried. See attachment for the approved amendments.
PERMISSION REQUESTS
Councilor Peeples moved, seconded by Councilor Thomas to give permission to pay Freeland &
Lemm Construction Company $56,527.93 for South 9th Utility-Street Improvements -Phase II -
permission request #3. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous.
Councilor Catt moved, seconded by Councilor Holt to give permission to pay Wholesale Lighting
$50,160.00. Upon voice vofe, the voting was unanimous.
Councilor Catt moved, seconded by Councilor Robinson to add the distribution of funds from
Southland Racing to the agenda. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous.
Councilor Peeples moved, seconded by Councilor Catt to distribute $6,723.86 from Southland
Racing to the Good Neighbor/Love Center. Upon voice vote the voting was unanimous.
Councilor Felton asked Mayor Johnson for the information he requested regarding sanitation
employees salary's. Mayor Johnson stated if he would tell Robert Gunter, Finance Director
specifically what information he wanted he would see that he received it.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Councilor Catt reported the next budget meeting would be next Thursday at noon in the Mayor's
Conference Room. Insurance Committee will probably meet the third Wednesday of the month.
Councilor Thomas reported the Utility Commission will meet next Thursday at 8:30 a.m.
Councilor Coleman thanked the citizens of Ward 5 for their phone calls and support and for their
vote of confidence. He also reported the Police Commission met January 2nd and discussed
burglary problems, an incident with a citizen, and payment schedule for officers.
Councilor Pulliaum stated in reference to the Resolution (R-1 ), he worked hard and was for the
half cent sales tax increase so the police and firemen could get a raise, but he felt like the
resolution was top heavy and the patrolmen need it, not the top administration.
Councilor Bass stated he opposed the sales tax increase and he opposed the police department
getting a raise at this point simply because he talked with the chief and feels like we should not
reward a department that was abusive to our people, has less than 20% black officers with our
community being 60% black and also the chief was to provide a racial profile policy and has yet
to do that. Councilor Bass asked Councilor Coleman how the situation with Sandra Hepron was
resolved. Councilor Coleman stated the chief put some procedural changes into effect that the
officers were to abide by and stated he felt like the chief was giving an honest effort to alleviate
that problem and was impressed with the attitude of the chief.
Having no further business to come before the City Council, Councilor Holt moved, seconded by
Councilor Coleman to adjourn. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The meeting
adjourned at 2:05 p.m.
PASSED and APPROVED this ~~~- day of January, 2002.
WILLIAM H. JOHNSON, R
ATTEST:
PHILL ,CITY CLERK
Minutes prepared by:
Cindy Green , Sr. Deputy Clerk
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