2022 06 21 Minutes

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June 21, 2022
Page 2 of 5

d.) Approve the proposed Athens Utilities Board budget for the Fiscal Year 2022-2023.

e.) Approve Athens Board of Education Appropriation Resolution regarding fund balance
amounts at year-end that will be committed or assigned for specific purposes.

f.) Approve Athens Board of Education Appropriation Resolution stating the Athens City
Schools Federal Projects Fund shall be the budget approved for the separate projects
within the fund.

g.) Approve City of Athens Budget Amendment for Fiscal Year 2021-2022.

Approve Change Order # 11 and request additional funding for the Athens Public Works
Renovations and Addition project.

i.) Approve Change Order # 1 with Stantec for design services related to the Public Safety
Training Facility.

j.) Approve Resolution No. 2022-13 authorizing the City Manager to apply for a 2022-23 PEP
“Safety Partners” Matching Grant Program (50/50 match).

k.) Approve Resolution 2022-14 authorizing the City Manager to apply for a 2022-23 PEP
James L. Richardson “Driver Safety” Match Grant Program (50/50 match).

I.) Approve request to declare SCBA Bottles and Packs as surplus and sold on GovDeals.

Mayor Perkinson asked for a motion. Council Member Pelley moved, Council Member Witt-McMahan
seconded, that the Consent Agenda as stated above be approved. Roll call vote:

AYES: Curtis, Pelley, Witt-McMahan, Lockmiller, Perkinson
NAYS: None
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ORDINANCES

CITY OF ATHENS BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023

PRESENTATION OF BUDGET

City Manager Sumner shared his priority-driven budgeting philosophy and an overview of capital items
and changes in the 2022-2023 budget. He reviewed the items last year for accountability.

ORDINANCE NO. 1109 — SECOND READING/PUBLIC HEARING

AN ORDINANCE TO ADOPT A BUDGET AND SET THE TAX RATE ON TAXABLE PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN
THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, TENNESSEE, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 2022
THROUGH JUNE 30, 2023.

The recording clerk read the caption of the above-described Ordinance. Mayor Perkinson opened the
public hearing. Glenn Whiting felt it was offensive to give a five percent cost of living raise to department
heads and the city manager instead of giving more money to the workers. Steve Sherlin asked the Council
to reconsider spending $375,000 for pickleball and urged them to use that money for sidewalks, streets,
an overhead walkway at TWU, a large Olympic-size pool or community pool, or an amphitheater at Market
Park to name just a few things. He also felt a flat amount versus a percentage would be a fairer way of
handling the COLA. There being no one else wishing to speak, the public hearing was closed. Council
Member Curtis moved, Council Member Witt-McMahan seconded, to approve Ordinance No. 1109 on
Second and Final Reading. Council Member Curtis moved, Council Member Witt-McMahan seconded,
to amend the budget to increase the budget allocation for E. G. Fisher Public Library by $4,600. Council
Member Curtis stated that they were already making an investment in the Library’s bricks-and-mortar
capital but given all the services they provide, inflation, and to make sure they can hire competitively, he
felt they should add those dollars back into the budget that were taken out last month. Council Member
Witt-McMahan spoke in support of the amendment. She felt the work that the Library employees do is
vital to children in the community. If the Library should come under the umbrella of the City, it would be
less effort to catch those employees up to where the City employees are at that time and less hardship
on those City dollars. Vice Mayor Lockmiller commented that Library employees are not employees of
the City and until our employees’ salaries are up to par with other departments of their equal, he cannot
support this increase. This increase would go on the Maintenance of Effort (MOE) and once the MOE is
increased, the City’s contribution will never go down by State law. The amendment passed by the
following roll call vote:

AYES: Curtis, Pelley, Witt-McMahan, Perkinson
NAYS: Lockmiller