Meeting Report, May 31, 2007
Since you asked, I'll give a report on last Thursday's meeting. The paper will cover it well in a couple of days. This will be brief.
Meeting was sparsely attended. Oh what a difference a week makes. There were maybe ten citizens in the audience and as many city employees. EMS gave a presentation so had a nice department turnout. The police chief and clerk were also there. It was standing room only a week earlier.
IV. Out of the nine sets of minutes, the older minutes were approved with some corrections needed on the most recent meeting or two.
V. Mayor reported that Blackwell reunion and Memorial Day events were successful. He also reported that Marfa's contract with the electric utility retailer expired that day and they were on the spot market until council could approve a new contract. Who dropped that ball before the new administration came in? Two COG grants are set to expire at the end of June; one has had no money drawn yet. I learned that some money (maybe 12 grand) was drawn for the police chief car that cost $20k and was intended for code enforcement of illegal dumping sites...
VI. Council comments: Rudy intends to use this time to declare agenda items he wants on the agenda next time. He would like to see a review of water and sewer pricing in the budget cycle; people who use less pay more. He would like to see a review of tax collection services, maybe in house or by the county to save expenses. He would like to see a review of city employee pay ranges. He would like to see the balance on bank accounts during financial reports. Scott would like to see shorter agendas and a program to help senior citizens that with trash collection assistance. Mary would like to see a five year comprehensive plan for the city (right on, Ms. Williams). Roger thanked the staff for putting together the packet material and the the paper for quoting him accurately. Leo re-emphasized the need for a professional grant writer.
VII. Accounts payable. Duncan Disposal is a month overdue, listed as $37,808. After paying them, the bank account will be near empty.
VIII. Easement deal with Doug Humble. Council reviewed past action and heard from Mr. Silva about some details. The city has agreed to move the sewer line in exchange for an easement. He wants to put a water line in the easement as well to make a loop for better pressure. Council voted against giving five free water and five free sewer hookups. Council voted to approve a compromise where Humble pays a standard tap fee of $75 per connection, and the city will create the taps when they install the new lines.
IX. Mayor Pro Tem. Leo appointed again.
X. Bank Signature Cards. Approved with changes to typos.
XI. Rules and Procedures Resolution. Council discussed what they wanted. Decision tabled for another go around.
XII. Administrator Ordinance. More good discussion, also tabled.
XIII. Recycling building grant bids. Three bids for $25k, $31k and $38k for a 30' x 40' metal building budgeted at $25k. Accepted the low bid from Herman Acosta even though it did not include electrical.
XIV and XV. Jerry Carvajal discussed issues with procurement for grant administration services. He agreed to help the city post the required notices to solicit bids. He is helping the city for free in the meantime.
XVI. City minutes format. I missed that discussion.
XVII. Parks Board Director. Scott May.
XVIII. Little league Baseball Field. Ratified the project to move ahead.
XIX thru XXII. Rudy off BoA now that he is on council. Gloria off BoA because she is gone. Carl Robinson and Evelyn Petrosky move from BoA alternates to board members. Ralph McKay and Jessi Silva named as BoA alternates.
XXIII. Zoning Map text ordinance. After much discussion, approved an ordinance adopting a text description of the zones in the zoning map. No changes to zoning, just text in addition to the map. Rudy has pushed for this for ages.
XXIV. Permit Review Advisory Committee. Appointed Francisco Borunda and Frank Nunez. Did not appoint Alan McClane because of questions about residency in the city limits.
XXV. Police v. Sheriff. Approved Mayor to research this issue some more for council to consider. Police Chief and former Mayor and Councilmember Martinez spoke against getting rid of police department to ensure dedicated resources.
XXVI. Ambulance. Voted to approve up to $18,000 in repairs to the main ambulance. It is in the shop and needs a $5k transmission because an engine oil leak trashed the old one. Also needs engine work to fix the leak. Mayor found $18,000 in underestimated EMS revenue to pay for work. $13,000 for engine work is worst case estimate but gives EMS freedom to repair anything up to that without waiting for council to meet again. Mayor will submit budget amendment ordinance at next meeting.
XXVII. City Secretary. Laura Granado appointed acting secretary to allow her to be a second signer to attest documents in the interim while looking for another administrator.
XXVIII. EMS presentations. Jesse and Bert gave interesting presentations on the history of EMS, recent activity, and a list of needs for council to consider.
XXIX. Adjourn.
All in all a long and productive meeting. There are a few issues that are cropping up due to the neglect of the previous administration. This will probably continue for some time. New council is moving forward to set a clear structure for municipal governance. Council seems to be working together nicely. A sign of better times ahead.
Meeting was sparsely attended. Oh what a difference a week makes. There were maybe ten citizens in the audience and as many city employees. EMS gave a presentation so had a nice department turnout. The police chief and clerk were also there. It was standing room only a week earlier.
IV. Out of the nine sets of minutes, the older minutes were approved with some corrections needed on the most recent meeting or two.
V. Mayor reported that Blackwell reunion and Memorial Day events were successful. He also reported that Marfa's contract with the electric utility retailer expired that day and they were on the spot market until council could approve a new contract. Who dropped that ball before the new administration came in? Two COG grants are set to expire at the end of June; one has had no money drawn yet. I learned that some money (maybe 12 grand) was drawn for the police chief car that cost $20k and was intended for code enforcement of illegal dumping sites...
VI. Council comments: Rudy intends to use this time to declare agenda items he wants on the agenda next time. He would like to see a review of water and sewer pricing in the budget cycle; people who use less pay more. He would like to see a review of tax collection services, maybe in house or by the county to save expenses. He would like to see a review of city employee pay ranges. He would like to see the balance on bank accounts during financial reports. Scott would like to see shorter agendas and a program to help senior citizens that with trash collection assistance. Mary would like to see a five year comprehensive plan for the city (right on, Ms. Williams). Roger thanked the staff for putting together the packet material and the the paper for quoting him accurately. Leo re-emphasized the need for a professional grant writer.
VII. Accounts payable. Duncan Disposal is a month overdue, listed as $37,808. After paying them, the bank account will be near empty.
VIII. Easement deal with Doug Humble. Council reviewed past action and heard from Mr. Silva about some details. The city has agreed to move the sewer line in exchange for an easement. He wants to put a water line in the easement as well to make a loop for better pressure. Council voted against giving five free water and five free sewer hookups. Council voted to approve a compromise where Humble pays a standard tap fee of $75 per connection, and the city will create the taps when they install the new lines.
IX. Mayor Pro Tem. Leo appointed again.
X. Bank Signature Cards. Approved with changes to typos.
XI. Rules and Procedures Resolution. Council discussed what they wanted. Decision tabled for another go around.
XII. Administrator Ordinance. More good discussion, also tabled.
XIII. Recycling building grant bids. Three bids for $25k, $31k and $38k for a 30' x 40' metal building budgeted at $25k. Accepted the low bid from Herman Acosta even though it did not include electrical.
XIV and XV. Jerry Carvajal discussed issues with procurement for grant administration services. He agreed to help the city post the required notices to solicit bids. He is helping the city for free in the meantime.
XVI. City minutes format. I missed that discussion.
XVII. Parks Board Director. Scott May.
XVIII. Little league Baseball Field. Ratified the project to move ahead.
XIX thru XXII. Rudy off BoA now that he is on council. Gloria off BoA because she is gone. Carl Robinson and Evelyn Petrosky move from BoA alternates to board members. Ralph McKay and Jessi Silva named as BoA alternates.
XXIII. Zoning Map text ordinance. After much discussion, approved an ordinance adopting a text description of the zones in the zoning map. No changes to zoning, just text in addition to the map. Rudy has pushed for this for ages.
XXIV. Permit Review Advisory Committee. Appointed Francisco Borunda and Frank Nunez. Did not appoint Alan McClane because of questions about residency in the city limits.
XXV. Police v. Sheriff. Approved Mayor to research this issue some more for council to consider. Police Chief and former Mayor and Councilmember Martinez spoke against getting rid of police department to ensure dedicated resources.
XXVI. Ambulance. Voted to approve up to $18,000 in repairs to the main ambulance. It is in the shop and needs a $5k transmission because an engine oil leak trashed the old one. Also needs engine work to fix the leak. Mayor found $18,000 in underestimated EMS revenue to pay for work. $13,000 for engine work is worst case estimate but gives EMS freedom to repair anything up to that without waiting for council to meet again. Mayor will submit budget amendment ordinance at next meeting.
XXVII. City Secretary. Laura Granado appointed acting secretary to allow her to be a second signer to attest documents in the interim while looking for another administrator.
XXVIII. EMS presentations. Jesse and Bert gave interesting presentations on the history of EMS, recent activity, and a list of needs for council to consider.
XXIX. Adjourn.
All in all a long and productive meeting. There are a few issues that are cropping up due to the neglect of the previous administration. This will probably continue for some time. New council is moving forward to set a clear structure for municipal governance. Council seems to be working together nicely. A sign of better times ahead.
posted by RobC at 7:35 AM
7 Comments:
[edited by RobC to remove irrelevant business name.]
Heard around town:
Why were city workers working on a Sunday installing a sewer at the (local new business) on overtime?
thanks, rob, for the meeting report. sounds like city business will get done and all the craziness will go away. YEAH!!!!
This is a can-do administration.
Yesterday there was a swimming pool meeting with Robert Arber to square away his certification as well as the operation of the pool, thereby removing the demerits we get from the state health dept.
There was a meeting with Rio Grande Council of Governments pulling the solid waste grants Flo mismanaged out of the fire.
There was another Rio COG meeting in which the status of the Youth Club grant was discussed and recommendations were made to Youth Club personnel on how to improve grant chances.
Out with the bad, in with the good.
Yes, from what I hear, it's all business and little show.
I understand the new mayor is spending most his time undoing the things done wrong by the previous admin or doing things they never did in the first place. For instance, the youth club contract had never been signed by the old mayor so Marfa was unable to get money from that grant.
Flo "forgot" to pay Duncan, then after being fired, he tried to get Duncan to extend Marfa more credit so that Marfa could pay Flo off early!
It will be a few months before all of the little loose ends from the Dave/Flo reign are identified. I have never seen two people work harder to accomplish less.
Flo "forgot" to pay Duncan, then after being fired, he tried to get Duncan to extend Marfa more credit so that Marfa could pay Flo off early!
That's rich!
In response to first blogger, found out that if a landowner wants to expedite installation of his sewer, he has to pay the overtime labor.
Public works is way behind on sewer installation because of....you guessed it....La Vista Marfa. All they did for months was cut weeds and clean lots. We've been hearing a lot about a large bill from Duncan Disposal that Flo didn't pay. Wonder what all those rolloffs that Leo kept asking about cost?
If there is a meeting set for June 12, would you be so kind to post the agenda?
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