HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/25/2017 City Council Work Session Meeting MinutesSTATE OF ALABAMA ) (
COUNTY OF BALDWIN ) (
The City Council met in a Work Session at 3:30 p.m.,
Fairhope Municipal Complex Council Chamber,
161 North Section Street, Fairhope, Alabama 36532,
on Monday, 25 September 2017.
Present were Council President Jack Burrell, Councilmembers: Jay Robinson,
Jimmy Conyers, and Robert Brown, Mayor Karin Wilson, City Attorney Marion E.
Wynne, and City Clerk Lisa A. Hanks. Councilmember Kevin Boone was absent.
Council President Burrell called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.
The following topics were discussed:
• The first item on the agenda was the discussion of the Fairhope Docks Rules and
Regulations; and License and Lease Agreement by Lynn Maser mentioned the
changes made by City Attorney Wynne. Council President Burrell questioned
liability insurance; fishing not being allowed at docks; swimming and diving not
allowed; and commercial slips. Councilmember Robinson questioned a penalty for
violations. City Attomey Wynne replied the rules would not have fines; just a
penalty clause. Ms. Maser commented the City would not go up on lease prices at
this time.
• Mayor Wilson briefly went over the new format for the budget. She discussed and
presented her proposed Budget for fiscal year ending September 30, 2018 focusing
on Revenue Opportunities, Infrastructure, and Personnel Needs. She said the
overtime would be managed by Department Heads.
Councilmember Conyers questioned the actual deficit. Council President Burrell
stated this is only a deficit on paper and not the actual amount. He questioned how
could we have a deficit if we paid $4.0 million towards debt. Mayor Wilson said we
are showing General Government before transfers. Council President Burrell said we
are an enterprise of City Govemment and Utilities. Councilmember Robinson stated
he does not think the City will not be able to not use Utilities.
Councilmember Conyers questioned Revenues and Transfers, Interest and Rents, and
Utility Administration. Finance Director Jill Cabaniss explained the 2017 was not
accurate. Mayor Wilson stated that all utility payments would go to the Utilities.
Councilmember Conyers also questioned engineering fees. Mayor Wilson mentioned
the Engineering Department with a Senior Engineer and an Entry Level Engineering
which is needed for the Public Works and Planning Departments. Council President
Burrell commented an engineering firm has its own engineers on staff and the
software expense. Mayor Wilson commented we have top people to sign-off on job,
but will not do the actual work. The costs will be expensed accordingly to
Departments managed by Operations Director Richard Peterson and Public Works
Director Richard Johnson.