Smithfield
Town Council report from May 14 & 18 sessions |
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Council members present May 14:
Mayor Andy Moore, David Barbour, John Dunn, Marlon Lee,
Steve Rabil, Travis Scott, David Stevens, Roger Wood
Absent: none
Council members present May 18:
All except David Stevens
WATER AND SEWER RATES GOING UP JULY 1
Taking another step Monday night toward adoption of the town's budget for fiscal 2020-21, the council approved an increase in water and sewer rates to take effect July 1. Town Manager Mike Scott said the new rates will cost a residential customer using 4,000 gallons per month $3.95 more --- 83 cents of that for water consumption, $3.12 for sewage treatment. He said the sewer-rate hike would have been higher, but the County of Johnston has decided to reduce its charge to Smithfield for accepting sewage for treatment at the county's plant on the Neuse River here. On a related matter, Councilman Travis Scott asked about a project that's replacing the town's water meters with new electronic devices that can be read remotely, thereby saving the town labor costs. Public Utilities Director Ted Credle, noting that about 4,500 of the town's 5,500 meters remain to be changed, said his department is soliciting prices from contractors who could help town employees speed up the pace of the project.
SARAH
YARD CENTER FUNDED TO EXPAND HOURS
The council instructed the town manager to add $5,400 to the budget to expand operating hours of the Sarah Yard Community Center at Smith-Collins Park. Recreation Director Gary Johnson said the extra funding would enable part-time staff to open the center during the summer months from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Wednesday and noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. When school is back in session, new weekday hours will be 10 a.m. to noon Monday and Wednesday, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. The new schedule will increase the number of hours the center is open from 852 to 1,156 yearly.
RESCUE MISSION ADDED TO SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS
The council approved a motion at last Thursday's session to add $ 3,500 to the proposed budget for the Smithfield Rescue Mission, $1,000 for the Career & Technical Leadership Academy operated by Johnston County Public Schools at Johnston Community College, and an extra $1,000 to double the annual contribution to West Smithfield Elementary School as requested by Councilman Marlon Lee, who pointed out the lack of a PTA at that school which enrolls a high percentage of children from low-income households. Councilman Steve Rabil cast his vote against the motion, declaring that all Smithfield-area schools should be receiving extra aid this year. Already budgeted prior to Thursday's vote are $1,000 grants for South Smithfield Elementary, Smithfield Middle, Smithfield-Selma High, the Innovation Academy at South Campus, and Neuse Charter School as well as West Smithfield Elementary.
PAY RAISES LIMITED, HEALTH INSURANCE ENHANCED
The council instructed the town manager to add $5,400 to the budget to expand operating hours of the Sarah Yard Community Center at Smith-Collins Park. Recreation Director Gary Johnson said the extra funding would enable part-time staff to open the center during the summer months from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Wednesday and noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. When school is back in session, new weekday hours will be 10 a.m. to noon Monday and Wednesday, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. The new schedule will increase the number of hours the center is open from 852 to 1,156 yearly.
RESCUE MISSION ADDED TO SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS
The council approved a motion at last Thursday's session to add $ 3,500 to the proposed budget for the Smithfield Rescue Mission, $1,000 for the Career & Technical Leadership Academy operated by Johnston County Public Schools at Johnston Community College, and an extra $1,000 to double the annual contribution to West Smithfield Elementary School as requested by Councilman Marlon Lee, who pointed out the lack of a PTA at that school which enrolls a high percentage of children from low-income households. Councilman Steve Rabil cast his vote against the motion, declaring that all Smithfield-area schools should be receiving extra aid this year. Already budgeted prior to Thursday's vote are $1,000 grants for South Smithfield Elementary, Smithfield Middle, Smithfield-Selma High, the Innovation Academy at South Campus, and Neuse Charter School as well as West Smithfield Elementary.
PAY RAISES LIMITED, HEALTH INSURANCE ENHANCED
Town Manager Scott is
recommending 2.5% across-the-board pay raises for all
town employees in the year ahead. Because of fiscal
uncertainties surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, he
advised the council during Monday's session to delay
those raises till September, and possibly later, to see
how the town's revenues are coming in after July 1. He
also recommended postponing consideration of 3% merit
raises until January for the same reason. At the same
time, the council accepted a recommendation from Human
Resources Director Tim Kerigan to budget for a cut in
health insurance co-payments required of town employees.
A 6% increase in health-insurance premiums plus the
enhanced employee benefit will cost the town an
additional $138,000 in 2020-21. "What's the value of
that policy?" asked Councilman Scott. For each town
employee, it's a town-provided benefit of $674 a month,
Mr. Kerigan replied.
PAY
RATES TO BE
RAISED FOR
FIRE
INSPECTORSThe council gave the town manager the go-ahead to add $5,755 to the new budget to raise hourly rates of pay for fire inspectors employed by the town. Fire Chief John Blanton sought the increase --- from $22.92 an hour to $26.19 for an often-used level of expertise --- to match what the Town of Knightdale in nearly Wake County pays its inspectors. Both Fire Chief Blanton and Police Chief Keith Powell have recently cited Knightdale as a key competitor when it comes to recruiting and retaining personnel.
SECOND GARAGE MECHANIC "NOT COST EFFECTIVE"
Town Manager Scott told the council that employing a second mechanic who could help take care of town-operated vehicles beyond the Public Works Department "would not be cost effective." Public Works Director Lenny Branch had requested the new position to assist the lone mechanic presently employed. Council members had wondered if the second employee could save the town money by servicing vehicles used by other departments, especially Police and Fire. Mr. Scott said the town could "save a little bit on labor" with the arrangement, but costs of tires and parts could be more expensive if the town had to make such purchases on its own. Furthermore, he said, now is "not a good time to stop paying our local businesses" for taking care of the town's rolling stock.
RETIRING POLICE OFFICER TO KEEP WEAPON & BADGE
In approving the consent agenda at the outset of Monday's regular session, the council authorized retiring Police Sergeant Robert Dale Wood to purchase his service weapon and badge for $1.00. Chief Keith Powell made the request, noting that Mr. Wood has served the Smithfield department for 20 years after 10 years with the Benson Police Department and the Johnston County Sheriff's Office. "This has been an ongoing tradition with prior officers that retired," Chief Powell said.
DOWNTOWN, LIBRARY, PLANNING & OTHER APPOINTMENTS
The council made the following appointments at Monday's meeting:
• Rick Herndon and Kay Kennedy to the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation's Board of Directors.
• Alesia Sanders as a new trustee and Richard Childrey as a returning trustee on the board of the Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield.
• Ashley Spain to a fourth term on the town's Planning Board as an extraterritorial representative.
• David Johnson to a second term on the town's Board of Adjustment.
• Jan Branch to a fifth term on the town's Historic Properties Commission.
Town-appointed positions currently vacant include three seats on the Appearance Commission, two in-town seats on the Board of Adjustment, one seat on the Library's Board of Trustees, and two seats on the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission.