TOWN OF MOUNTAIN VIEW
REGULAR TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
September 20, 2021
MINUTES
(These minutes are not a verbatim transcript, but rather the attempt of the Clerk to capture the intent of the speaker. All votes were taken via Roll Call Vote.)
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Glenn Levy called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. The meeting was held virtually through GoToMeeting.
ROLL CALL
Present: Glenn Levy, Sean Davis, Kathleen Bailey, Abby Laib, Brent Metz, Brittany Loecher, and Mlandenka Boehrer. A quorum was established.
Others in attendance: Police Chief Steve Davis, Interim Town Clerk Margy Greer, City Attorney Evin King, Public Works Director Gene Bird, RG Consultant’s representative Jim Landry, Accountant Lorraine Trotter, and Auditor R.L. Farmer.
Mayor Levy stated the rules and procedures for the meeting.
CONSENT AGENDA
Metz made a motion to approve the January 25, 2021 meeting minutes as presented. It was seconded by Loecher. Vote: 4 Yes (Metz, Loecher, Davis, and Bailey). 1 No (Laib). Boehrer was absent for this vote. The motion carried.
Bailey made a motion to approve the March 16, 2020 meeting minutes as presented. It was seconded by Metz. Vote: 4 Yes (Metz, Loecher, Davis, and
Bailey). 1 No (Laib). Boehrer was absent for this vote. The motion carried.
Laib stated that the reason she voted no was because she didn’t feel comfortable voting on a meeting where she was not in attendance.
Metz made a motion to approve the March 26, 2020 meeting minutes as presented. It was seconded by Boehrer. Vote: 4 Yes (Metz, Loecher, Davis, Boehrer, and Bailey). 1 No (Laib). The motion carried.
Boehrer made a motion to approve the November 16, 2020 meeting minutes as presented. It was seconded by Metz. Vote: 5 Yes (Boehrer, Metz, Loecher, Davis, and Bailey. 1 No (Laib). The motion carried.
UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC COMMENT
Emilie Mitcham – Resident – Stated Council is not getting monthly financial information in their packets and voiced her concern.
STAFF UPDATES AND REPORTS
Chief Davis – Police Department – gave an update on his department which included stopping a potential shooting, an increase in stolen cars, thanking Councilman Metz for new refrigerator at Town Hall, gave an update on body cam grant for $36,695, and a DOJ grant has been approved which will be used for capital improvements. There is about $30,000 a month in a training grant also being used. He stated that he is being filmed and interviewed by the “True Murders of Orange County.” Davis also read a statement about his personal feelings regarding the operation of the Town and stated that the Mayor and the rumors that are out there about him are not true to his interactions with the Mayor. He stated that he would stand up for anyone he felt was being treated unjustly. He also spoke to an incident regarding a mental health issue and the asset of having a mental health victim-assistance person working for the department.
Gene Bird – Public Works – stated his report was in the agenda packet. He requested if Council members know of someone who did not receive a trash can to let him know. In answer to a question from Council, Bird stated that he only had one volunteer to shovel sidewalks for seniors in need this winter and only one senior who has requested help. Three Council members immediately volunteered to help as well. Bailey asked about the requested citation issues since there was an agreement amongst councilmembers that this would be useful information. Bird stated it was in his report. Nine warnings/violations were issued for weeds and trees overgrown in alleys and sidewalks, blocking stop signs, etc.
Town Attorney – Evin King – No report.
Margy Greer – Town Clerk – stated that the meeting minutes for August were not in the packet due to a backlog of work in the office and being given the January 2021 minutes to transcribe. They will be in the next agenda packet. Bailey asked about the backlog of work and Greer stated that there is a backlog of work in almost every area including insurance, records management, and more.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON CURRENT AGENDA ITEMS
Tara MacNeill– Resident – asked that more detail and decision-making go into the resolution regarding the $15,000 sidewalk program.
Emilie Mitcham – Resident – stated she liked the creative thinking in terms of the possibilities of having the Town fix sidewalks. She stated she was confused by the resolution and there’s a blank check for $15,000 which will not go very far. She asked why there was not more about the program in the resolution and if it is going to be a new responsibility for the Town Manager it should be an ordinance where the Town Manager is given the authority to do this. She stated it is confusing to the residents, does not follow the Town Code, and should be given more attention.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION NO. 2021-9-20-A, A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE RIGHT-OF-WAY PERMIT FEES FOR SIDEWALK AND DRIVEWAY REPAIRS/REPLACEMENTS WITHIN THE TOWN OF MOUNTAIN VIEW
Mayor Levy stated that the fees were lowered in the past, they are still not comparable to surrounding communities. He reviewed the changes to the fees. Metz stated that he would like to include a cap on the commercial businesses. Metz asked to change the resolution to remove the word “residential” and simply state “property owner” so it would include commercial and residential. Discussion ensued. By general consent, council members agreed to the proposed change. Boehrer made a motion to approve Resolution 2021-9-20-A, as amended. It was seconded by Davis. Vote: With all those present voting yes, the motion carried.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION NO. 2021-9-20-B, A RESOLUTION ALLOCATING $15,000.00 FOR A SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENT PLAN
Town Attorney King spoke to the concerns raised by resident Emilie Mitcham. King explained that the section spoken about in the Code specifically refers to the Town Administrator, not a Mayor. She stated the Mayor has the authority to oversee this program. An ordinance is needed if money is being allocated above the budgeted amount. The budget adoption process should include the funding amount required. Levy stated that there are funds available in the budget to do the project.
Levy stated the program is intended to be a pilot program for low to moderate income-based residents as a loan and Council should review the program for its effectiveness before expanding the program.
After discussion amongst Council members, Bailey made a motion to table the resolution until the next meeting. It was seconded by Boehrer. Vote: Yes (Laib, Bailey, Loecher, Boehrer, Metz). No (Davis). The motion carried.
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION NO. 2021-9-20-C, A RESOLUTION APPOINTING MARGY GREER AS THE TOWN CLERK AND TOWN TREASURER
Boehrer made a motion to approve Resolution No. 2021-9-20-C. It was seconded by Davis. With all those present voting Yes, the motion carried.
PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF GRANT-FUNDED CURB AND GUTTER PROJECT.
Jim Landry of RG Consultants presented the 2021 DOLA Storm Water Project which included the scope of the project, the W. 41t Ave Improvements, and the project costs. He gave a PowerPoint presentation showing before and after pictures and the project costs totaling $676,700. The pending DOLA grant should pay $600,000, leaving the projected cost to the Town of $76,700.
Landry stated that the work is designated to be done in the early part of 2022, with public notification going out prior. Levy stated that it also depends on the timing of receiving the grant funding from DOLA. The grant is approved and the Town is waiting on the actual contract for execution.
Mayor Levy recessed the meeting at 8:08 pm and reconvened the meeting at 8:20 p.m.
PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF AUDITOR’S REPORT
CPA/Auditor Ronny Farmer presented the Financial Statements with the Independent Auditor’s Report for the Year Ended December 31, 2020.
Draft Audit Reports were in the Agenda packets and final bound Audit Reports are in the Councilors’ mailboxes.
Farmer’s review included a section-by-section review of the Audit Report, clarifying his responsibilities and duties surrounding the Audit, as well as the Town’s. Farmer stated that the financial information was found to be a fair and accurate analysis of the Government’s finances.
2022 BUDGET DISCUSSION
Town Accountant Lorraine Trotter asked Council members to please forward to her any requests for budgetary items. She stated she would be meeting with each department to review their requests. Council members made suggestion of items to add to the proposed Budget. Trotter’s budget presentation and first reading of the Budget ordinance will take place at the October Council Meeting.
It was decided that the financial statements will be forwarded to all council members.
COMMITTEE UPDATES
Economic Development Committee
Davis stated the report was in the Agenda packet.
Public Safety Committee
Metz stated they met with the Police Chief and talked about how Council can help with creating efficiencies for the Department, how to provide funding, and how to make their jobs easier, keep the officers safe, and be more productive.
CDOC
Bailey stated that the September Issue of the newsletter was completed and sent out in a timely manner. Stories from other Committees are needed to help keep the residents informed. The Committee would like to have an Instagram account as well.
Sustainability Committee
Laib stated they finished the Beautification Project and will be sending thank you cards to all the volunteers. There were 28 volunteers and it turned out to be a great event. Next project is working on getting a bin for the terra cycle program and updating residents on same.
MAYOR’S REPORT/ITEMS
Mayor Levy stated that SafeBuilt will be used to do more of the permit work for the Town. He stated that movie night was very good and the food truck was excellent.
COUNCIL MEMBERS’ REPORTS/ITEMS
Metz – would like to transition toward normal business hours while managing the staffing and COVID issues.
Bailey – would like to improve the permitting process as well, as she is hearing complaints from residents. Levy stated that residents could ask Margy about the permitting process. Once the Town transitions to SafeBuilt, they will be able to contact SafeBuilt. He stated that the Administrative Assistant has resigned and staffing is an issue right now.
Chief Davis brought Officer Hicks on screen to be recognized for his appointment to the Post State Training Board. Congratulations were given by Council.
ADJOURNMENT
Boehrer made a motion to adjourn the meeting. It was seconded by Bailey. Vote: With all those present voting Yes, Mayor Levy adjourned the meeting at 9:13 p.m.
______________________
Glenn Levy, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Margy Greer, MMC, Town Clerk