6169  The Smithfield" Town Council reconvened its May 20, 2021 meeting on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 ate 6:30 pmi in  the Council Chambers oft the Smithfield Town! Hall, Mayor M. Andy Moore presided.  Councilmen Present: John Dunn, Mayor Pro-Tem Marlon Lee, District1 David Stevens, District2 Travis Scott, District3 Dr. David Barbour, District 4 Stephen Rabil, At-Large Roger Wood, At-Large  Councilmen Absent  Administrative Staff Present Michael Scott, Town Manager John Blanton, Fire Chief Lawrence Davis, Public Works Superintendent Gary Johnson, Parks & Rec Director Tim Kerigan, Human Resources/PIO R. Keith Powell, Chief of Police Greg Siler, Finance Director Stephen Wensman, Planning! Director Administrative Staff Absent Ted Credle, Public Utilities Director Shannan Parrish, Town Clerk  Reconvene: May 20th Meeting Mayor Moore reconvened the meeting at6 6:35 pm Budget Discussion Fire Department - Part-Time Staff Manager thanked him for his service.  Chief Blanton provided challenge coins to the Mayor and Council. He also explained a parting message, ast this was his last official meeting with the Council priort to! his retirement. Councilmembers, the Mayor and Chief Blanton passed out a cost/benefit analysis regarding the hiring of partt time fire fighters for EMS, as opposed to using full-time fire fighters and a full-size fire engine for response. Chief Blanton estimated a Mayor Pro Tem Dunne explained that the volume oft these service calls were only going toi increase int time, Councilman Steven's asked the Manager how the Town might fund the additional manpower costs. The Manager stated that there existeda an additional $30,000i inc contingency, above and beyond normal funding and an additional $12,000 in Public Works General Services, Salary line as the result ofL Lawrence Davis salary being less than the previous Director, Lenny Branch. After that there still over $60,000 in CARES reimbursement for police andi fire salaries that could be used, but the Manager cautioned against usinga Chief Blanton recommended to the Council that an outside assessment group be paid to come in and Mayor asked we note thesei issues and come back tot them after discussing other agenda items. Councilman Scotts stated he agreed but he hoped ift the part-time positions were funded that the part-time employees would! be allowed to comingle with thet full-time staff and rotate positions with them. Thel Manager discussed the Federal House Bill, H.B. 1280. This Bill had already passed the House and was int the Senate, though no action was yet taken. This Bill include police reform measures and includes funding for local government to purchase and maintain body cameras and data for two years. The Manager askedt the Council tof forgo further discussion until this Bill works its way through the Federal Legislature to ascertain iffunding may become available for body camera purchases. The Council  net cost of$ $101,298 as the annual cost oft the part-time EMS staff. sot this issuer needed to be kept on everyone's mind.  one-time revenue source top payf for on-going expenditures. complete af futures fire needs studyf for the Town.  Police Department- - Body Cameras  agreed. Stormwater The Council agreed.  The Manager requested that all storm water discussions take place after budget adoption, as the Federal American Rescue Plan funds will then be available and are an accepted use for storm water infrastructure. Councilman Wood discussed the hiring ofa a part-time mechanic, as opposed to a full-time mechanic for public works. The Manager was asked what the additional cost would be. He estimated the costa at $36,900. The Mânager suggestèd the Public Works Department be allowed to try to hire an additional part-time mechanic for the first six months oft the year. Ifthis is unsuccessful, then the money can be used foraf full- time position later in the fiscal year. Councilman Wood was concerned because oft the cost of outsourcing mechanical work ifthe Town experiences another vacancy. Councilman Barbour asked the Council move  Public Works Garage - Part Time Mechanic Position  on and discuss att the end oft the workshop.    6170  Employee salaries and Benefits  Salaries and Benefits fore employees were discussed. Thel Manager explained the 7%i increasei inh healthcare costs and the state mandated increase in pension costs. The Manager explained that a 2.5% salary adjustment wasi included int the budgett to bei implemented around. July 1st. Council discussed the possibility of meriti increases and dates for salary increase implementation. Councilman Scott stated he preferred a blended salary adjustment system similar to what the County does where an across-the-Doard salary increase was provided, as well as as smaller merit increase for those employees who earnedi it. Mayor Pro-Tem Dunn asked thatt the Council consider leavingt the 2.5% increase as existsi int the budget for FY 2022 and place staff on noticet that a blended system will be in place for FY: 2023. The Manager was asked to included a blended salary increase in FY 2023 along the lines of a 2.5% across the board  adjustment and a1 1.5 % meriti increase. Asphalt Speed Bumps  Asphalts speed! bumps were then discussed. The Mayor cautioned the Council thatr many requests fors speed Lawrence Davis of Public Works stated that his research showed, that many communities, with Durham being ane example, required all members ofa ane effected negnbomoodlcommunty would have top petition the Council for the Speed Humps and then the neighbors would pay for them, either up front or through an Chief Powell advisedt that his department was int the process ofa acquiring as speed measurementreconing device that could be used to evaluate the need fori the speed humps ori increased enforcement. Thel Manager indicated that hei feltt that one street could be done within the existing budget, ifthe Council Councilman Barbour indicated that he would recommend using the new speed recording device first to ascertain the need for the humps. If warranted, the Council could discuss atai future meeting.  humps would likely ber made following anyi implementation oft them.  assessment.  wanted to experiment with them  Debt Service - EMS Building  The Manager askedi for permission to use existing General Fund, Fund Balance to pay off the existing debt ont the EMS Building. The estimated pay-offv was $103,000. This would net as savings of $38,000in interesti ifthel loan was allowed to continue tof fruition. Greg Siler, the Finance Director, supported the  paying off oft the loan.  Councilman Barbour made a motion, seconded by Councilman Wood, to use fund balance top pay offt the existing EMS Building Loan. Unanimously approved  The Council then revisited the issues that were temporarily tabled. Consensus decisions included the Leavet the part-time mechanic request as in, in thej proposed budget. Come back to Council during Move $42,0001 intot the part-time salary linei itemf fort the fire department tol begin the requested EMS program These funds would be moved from PW General Services/Salary Line and General Fund Contingency. The Manager suggested that the Finance Department track expenditures in other departments through FY 2022 and be allowed to move funds between department to pay for the The Council discussed recessing the. June 1st meeting to. June 24th at7:00 pmi to approve year end budget Councilman Scott made a motion, seconded by Councilman Stevens, to adjourn the meeting. The meeting  following:  the! budget year ift the position needst to be full-time.  fully year of part-time EMS services. The Council agreed to this via consensus.  amendments. Adjourn  adjourned at approximately 8:55 pm.  Moore, Andy Mayor  EE sympe RLE  ATTEST:  iie  Monos arrish Shannant_Parish, Town Clerk