april 7 2022 town council budget work session minutes

Town Council of Centreville Budget Work Session April 7, 2022 5:30 p.m.

M I N U T E S

The April 7, 2022, Town Council budget work session was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by President Steven K.

Kline at the Vincit Building, 110 Vincit Street, Planning and Zoning meeting room. The following members and staff were present: Steven K. Kline, President; Jeffrey D. Kiel, Vice President; Shelby C. Anania, Eric B. Johnson, Jr, and Ashley H. Kaiser Members; Charles (Chip) Koogle, Town Manager; Karen Luffman, Finance Officer; Chief Joe Saboury, Centreville Police Department; Ashley Russ, Finance Specialist; Clifford (Kip) Matthews, Director of

Public Works; Krystel Ebaugh, Human Resources Manager; and Carolyn Brinkley, Town Clerk.

Citizens Forum Tim McCluskey, Watson Road provided comments on the budget, permanent fund, and the public utility tax.

Discussion  Department Budgets – Operating – Enterprise o Mr. Matthews discussed an increase in uniform costs for employees:

 Increase to Streets Department would be $5,850  Increase to Water / Wastewater would be $1,096.43 o By consensus, the Town Council agreed to move forward.

o Mr. Johnson discussed the Town Hall improvements and by consensus, the Town Council requested this project be bid out again to attempt to obtain additional bids on this project.

 Capital Requests o Mr. Matthews discussed the following:

 Sewer collection repairs – these repairs will need to be completed while waiting for the upgrade to take place.

 Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) – this report, similar to what was completed for the wastewater treatment plant, will need to be completed.

 Fire hydrant replacement program is included at $8,000  The pivot wheel track closer and the disc harrow was discussed. Mr. Matthews stated that the disc harrow is to close the deep wheel tracks to level the ground so it is not so compacted in order for the pivot wheel to move freely.

 Mr. Kline asked if funds should be encumbered each year to replace trees at the farm. Mr.

Matthews stated he does not feel this needs to take place.

 Mr. Kline asked if saplings should be planted on the farm to use later when trees need to be replaced. Mr. Matthews stated the transplant of these trees would be difficult with a high chance of them dying after they were moved.

 By consensus, the Town Council agreed to move forward with the Public Works capital requests:

 Sewer Collection System Repairs - $55,000

 WTP PER - $50,000

 Fire Hydrant Replacement - $8,000  Tree Replacement – Farm – $20,000  Pivot Wheel Track Closer – $7,000  Disc Harrow 12-ft – $14,000  Mr. Matthews stated that he is recommending removing the proposed Utility Worker position from the budget and to be considered at a later time.

 By consensus, the Town Council asked for the Utility Worker position to be removed from the budget.

o Ms. Luffman discussed the Council’s previous request to reduce Donations under Legislative Services to $1,000. She stated this was inadvertently missed and will fix for the following work session. She 2022-04-07 TC Approved Budget WS Minutes.doc stated that she will also place the amount previously removed for Contract Services under Planning & Zoning back into the budget.

o Ms. Luffman stated that when the Utility Worker position is removed and Contract Services under Planning & Zoning is adjusted, it brings the General Fund back into the positive. She stated the biggest driver of the budget deficit is debt.

o Mr. Kline stated that there is a tremendous amount of unknown in this year’s budget because of the wastewater treatment plant and what the Town will be receiving from the State. He requested waiting until mid-year to consider new positions.

o Ms. Kaiser stated that she is in agreement for a mid-year review but not in agreement to wait the full year.

o Mr. Johnson stated he has concerns waiting on additional police officers with the new reform.

o Ms. Kaiser recognized Mr. Koogle for his efforts for seeking congressional earmark funding and appreciates the work he put into applying for these funds.

o Mr. Kline asked if there was a consensus by the Council to wait on additional officers. Mr. Johnson stated that he would like to discuss this topic again before the end of the budget session.

o Ms. Kaiser asked for a proposal on selling the cemetery.

o Ms. Kaiser questioned the position of the Economic Development Manager and what the Town is benefitting from this position.

o Ms. Anania reported that she received an estimate of $138,000 for the extension of the Millstream Trail, which includes four (4) timber bridges. The Council decided to revisit this mid-year.

o Ms. Kaiser stated she would like to discuss the debt and then discuss the option of one additional police officer. She requested the following week’s budget be presented with one officer and without one officer.

Citizens Forum No citizens offered comments.

Motion to Adjourn Mr. Kiel made a motion to adjourn the April 7, 2022 Town Council budget work session. Ms. Kaiser seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 6:51 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, Carolyn M. Brinkley Town Clerk Action Items:

1. By consensus, the Town Council agreed to move forward with the increase in DPW uniform expenses.

2. By consensus, the Town Council agreed to move forward with the Public Works capital requests:

 Sewer Collection System Repairs - $55,000  WTP (PER) Preliminary Engineering Report - $50,000  Fire Hydrant Replacement - $8,000  Tree Replacement – Farm – $20,000  Pivot Wheel Track Closer – $7,000  Disc Harrow 12-ft – $14,000

3. By consensus, the Town Council asked for the Utility Worker position to be removed from the budget.

2022-04-07 TC Approved Budget WS Minutes.doc