REGULAR MEETING

ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL

 

OCTOBER 1, 2007

 

 

     The Ashland City Council met for a regular meeting on October 1, 2007 at 5:00 P.M. in the Ashland City Hall Auditorium with Mayor Terry Turner presiding. Council Members present were Zeola D. Echols, Bobbie J. Steed, Gail E. Thompson, Rebecca G. Boddie and Mike Beale. Also present was City Clerk Charles E. Foster, Asst. City Clerk Donna J. Bennett, Maintenance Supervisor Randy Hanners, Code Enforcement Officer Terry Raughton, Donna Smith and Lillian Patterson both teachers at Ashland Elementary School along with members of the Jr. Beta Club and Abby Pruet of the Clay Times-Journal.

 

     Fire Chief Chad Toland was absent due to family illness.

 

     Council Member Thompson moved to approve the agenda with the following changes.  Under New Business, add Item No. 5. - Two step pay raise for City Clerk  and Item No. 6. - Changes in dispatchers pay rates.  Removal of Item No. 1 under Resolution, ordinance, orders and other business, Approval of Ordinance No. 2007-10-01-01 adopting Personnel Policies and Procedures for the City of Ashland.  This item will be placed on the agenda for the October 15^th meeting.  The motion was then seconded by Council Member Beale.

 

     Council Member Steed moved to approve the minutes of the previous planning meeting.  Seconded by Council Member Boddie and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Boddie moved to approve the minutes of the previous meeting.  Seconded by Council Member Thompson and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Under Informational Items, Mandy Mattox, President of the Ashland Elementary Jr. Beta addressed the Council with a request to use the Northside Park for a Diabetes Walk on November 3, 2007 at 9:00 A.M.  Permission was granted.

 

     Alfredo Hernandez was denied his request to place a pool table at his business located on AL Hwy 77 North.

 

    Everyone was reminded of the meeting with Cathy Gerachis on Wednesday, October 3^rd at 10:00 A.M. and the annual Chamber of Commerce Membership Dinner on October 2^nd at 6:30 P.M.

 

     Under committee reports, Council Members Echols, Steed, Thompson and Boddie did not report. 

 

     Council Member Beale expressed his appreciation to Terry Raughton, Randy Hanners and the Maintenance Department for their assistance on the repairs on Tyson Road.

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     City Clerk Foster, Police Chief Davis and Code Enforcement Officer Raughton did not report.

 

     Maintenance Supervisor Hanners reported that the large Bradford pear tree on the west side of City Hall had grown too large and needed to be removed.

 

     Under new business, Council Member Thompson moved to approve the bills received since the last meeting in the amount of $11736.35.  Council Member Boddie seconded the motion and all votes were unanimous.

 

     There was no action taken on Item No. 2 under New Business.

 

     Council Member Thompson made a motion to table a vote on the approval of the Budget for FY 2008.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Boddie.  Upon call Council Member Thompson and Boddie voted yes and Mayor Turner and Council Members Echols, Steed and Beale voting against the motion.

 

     Council Member Steed made a motion to approval the Budget for FY 2008 in the amount of $1,667,100.00.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Echols.  Upon call Mayor Turner and Council Members Echols, Steed and Beale voted yes and Council Members Thompson and Boddie voted against the motion.

 

     Council Member Thompson asked that it be stated in the minutes that her vote against the approval of the budget was not for or against the budget, but that she was not prepared to vote either way due to the fact that she had not received a copy of the completed budget until 4:00 P.M. this afternoon.

 

     Council Member Beale made a motion to reappoint Mayor Turner to the Water Works & Sewer Board of the City of Ashland.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Echols and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Echols made a motion to increase the City Clerk’s pay by two steps.  This motion was seconded by Council Member Steed and all votes were unanimous.

 

     Council Member Boddie made a motion to increase the pay of all Police Department dispatchers as per request of Chief Davis.  These increases are included in the Budget for FY 2008.  This motion was seconded by Council Members Echols and Thompson and all votes were unanimous.

 

     There was no old business to discuss.