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Aldermen propose to cut city staff position
By Nancy Hull
Smithville Board of Aldermen members are proposing a trade: cut economic development director Jim Clarke’s position from the next annual budget and then divert his salary to improving city parks and helping a tight budget.
Following a heated discussion during the Aug. 19 board meeting, the proposal narrowly received preliminary approval with a 4-3 vote.
The proposal was one of a few issues that divided the board during the meeting, resulting in a few 4-3 votes.
Board members Bob Foreman, Jake Hild, Carol Shaffer and Mayor Carol Troutwine gave preliminary approval to a proposal to restrict City Administrator Gerry Vernon’s spending power as well as a proposal to amend the proposed 2008-2009 budget to include the parks/economic development director change. (The mayor votes only to break ties.)
Board members Brian Fullmer, Kelly Edwards and Todd Justice voted against the proposals.
The budget and possibly the city administrator spending change will be up for final approval at the Wednesday, Aug. 27, meeting.
Board members opposing the budget change said that the economic development director position should be the last position to go during these tough economic times since the director works on bringing new companies to the city and other efforts that aim to grow the tax base and improve the local economy.
“It would be a very, very poor decision to eliminate this position,” Fullmer said. “This position is necessary for Smithville to have the progress that we’re really looking for.”
Those for the proposal stressed the importance of cleaning up the parks and questioned the importance of the economic development position.
“We haven’t really seen any results from this position,” Hild said.
Hild also suggested that existing staff could take on the duties of the economic development director if the position was cut.
Shaffer stressed that the parks need more funding, calling them “disgraceful.” She named trash and smelly rest rooms as examples.
The proposal asks to “temporary eliminate” the position by cutting it from the next budget. Foreman, who proposed the idea, said that if, down the road, the city’s budget picture improved, the board could consider reinstating the position.
If the proposal passes, the $51,000 position would be cut from the proposed $3.3 million general fund budget, and a proposal to cut parks spending by $21,000 would be thrown out.
The proposal to limit Vernon’s spending power proposes lowering the maximum amount of money that Vernon can approve without board consent from $5,000 to $1,000.
Those for the change emphasized their disagreement with recent staff expenditures, such as spending money on fireworks and an event that sought public input on building soccer fields.
“I feel we’re spending money down here that we don’t need to be spending,” Foreman said. “I have concerns over whether or not we have control over the purse.”
Those against the change called the move unnecessary micromanaging and said they thought Vernon and his staff had made good spending decisions.
“I don’t see the big urgency. You say that we’ve got to get a hold on the purse,” Edwards said. “But I don’t think anybody has got their hand in it.”
Board members also split 4-3 in favor of going into executive session to discuss litigation.
Public Hearing:
The Smithville Board of Aldermen will hold a public tax rate hearing during its 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, meeting. Following the hearing, the board could vote on the new property tax rate. Currently, the tax is .4487 per $100 of assessed valuation.
Smithville Editor Nancy Hull can be reached at 532-4444 or nancyhull@npgco.com.
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Following a heated discussion during the Aug. 19 board meeting, the proposal narrowly received preliminary approval with a 4-3 vote.
The proposal was one of a few issues that divided the board during the meeting, resulting in a few 4-3 votes.
Board members Bob Foreman, Jake Hild, Carol Shaffer and Mayor Carol Troutwine gave preliminary approval to a proposal to restrict City Administrator Gerry Vernon’s spending power as well as a proposal to amend the proposed 2008-2009 budget to include the parks/economic development director change. (The mayor votes only to break ties.)
Board members Brian Fullmer, Kelly Edwards and Todd Justice voted against the proposals.
The budget and possibly the city administrator spending change will be up for final approval at the Wednesday, Aug. 27, meeting.
Board members opposing the budget change said that the economic development director position should be the last position to go during these tough economic times since the director works on bringing new companies to the city and other efforts that aim to grow the tax base and improve the local economy.
“It would be a very, very poor decision to eliminate this position,” Fullmer said. “This position is necessary for Smithville to have the progress that we’re really looking for.”
Those for the proposal stressed the importance of cleaning up the parks and questioned the importance of the economic development position.
“We haven’t really seen any results from this position,” Hild said.
Hild also suggested that existing staff could take on the duties of the economic development director if the position was cut.
Shaffer stressed that the parks need more funding, calling them “disgraceful.” She named trash and smelly rest rooms as examples.
The proposal asks to “temporary eliminate” the position by cutting it from the next budget. Foreman, who proposed the idea, said that if, down the road, the city’s budget picture improved, the board could consider reinstating the position.
If the proposal passes, the $51,000 position would be cut from the proposed $3.3 million general fund budget, and a proposal to cut parks spending by $21,000 would be thrown out.
The proposal to limit Vernon’s spending power proposes lowering the maximum amount of money that Vernon can approve without board consent from $5,000 to $1,000.
Those for the change emphasized their disagreement with recent staff expenditures, such as spending money on fireworks and an event that sought public input on building soccer fields.
“I feel we’re spending money down here that we don’t need to be spending,” Foreman said. “I have concerns over whether or not we have control over the purse.”
Those against the change called the move unnecessary micromanaging and said they thought Vernon and his staff had made good spending decisions.
“I don’t see the big urgency. You say that we’ve got to get a hold on the purse,” Edwards said. “But I don’t think anybody has got their hand in it.”
Board members also split 4-3 in favor of going into executive session to discuss litigation.
Public Hearing:
The Smithville Board of Aldermen will hold a public tax rate hearing during its 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, meeting. Following the hearing, the board could vote on the new property tax rate. Currently, the tax is .4487 per $100 of assessed valuation.
Smithville Editor Nancy Hull can be reached at 532-4444 or nancyhull@npgco.com.