CITY OF KEENE PTEXAS  City Council Regular Meeting Minutes  November 21, 2024, at 6:00 PM  Keene City Hall - Robert G. Cooper Council Chamber 1000 N. Old Betsy Rd., Cleburne, Texas 76031  Recorded Live Stream Available at tpswww.owtupecem/Pelyokeenetess  Members present: Lisa Parrish, Mayor; Thomas Gutwa, Mayor Pro Tem; and Council Members Bob  Chapman, Charles Easley, Rob Foster, Johnny Shaw, and Troy Smith.  Members absent: none  City Staff present: Jonathan Seitz, City Manager; Holly Russell, City Secretary; Don Martin, Director of Keene Police Department; Chief Dan Warner, Keene Fire Department; Derek City Malone, Public Works Kidd, Dinah Morales, Interim Finance Director; Robert Brown, City Attorney; and Charles Williams, Finance Director;  Development & Neighborhood Services; Kit Kepple, Admin. Assistant to the  Manager; Chief James  Consultant.  1. Call to Order, Invocation, Pledge of Allegiance, Pledge to Texas Flag  The Mayor called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., and Council Member Foster gave the invocation.  2. Mayor Announcements  The Mayor announced the passing of former Mayor Dan Roberts, and that the city-managed fly at half-staff through Tuesday, November 26, the day of his memorial service. The Christmas flags Market is December 1, at Noon - 6:00 p.m.; and tree lighting at 5:30 p.m. City Hall will be closed next Thursday and  would  Friday for the Thanksgiving Holiday.  3. Public Comments  Paul Gnadt, 107 N. Old Mansfield Rd., mentioned the 28th Annual Keene Christmas Lights Parade and fireworks show are scheduled for December 8. He asked that the Council consider riding ini the parade Cheryl Schram, 1002 W. Fourth Street, grew upi in Keene with Dan Roberts and appreciates him Ray Johnson, 1009 Christine Street, asked that the City send flowers tot the funeral.  together.  remembered for all his contributions to the city.  being  4. Reports  A. Receive and discuss the City Manager's Report.  Jonathan Seitz, City Manager, reported that he has been made to feel very welcome in his new position and is excited to work with all of the great employees that are serving the City of Keene. B. Receive and discuss the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 year-end report ending September 30, 2024. Charles Williams, Finance Consultant, gave the Fiscal Year 2024 year-end report. He noted that there are still a fewi invoices to come in that will complete the fiscal year expenditures. Revenue was above  City Council Minutes Page I1of4    the projected target. Building permits, fire and rescue revenue, and court fines and fees all brought in much more than projected. In response to Council Member Foster's question, he confirmed that the City did not receive as much in Franchise Fees as expected due to competition in the communications market. Expenditures are below the projected target even though the City had unexpected, Ray Johnson, resident, asked the Council to look at other options that were more cost-saving than  costs high  with facilities and IT server repairs, and healthcare costs. continually repairing the building's A/C system.  Receive and discuss the Financial Report for the month ending October 31, 2024.  Mr. Williams gave the financial report for the month ending October 31, 2024, which is the first month of Fiscal Year 2025. Octoberi is the first month oft the new fiscal year. Sales taxi is higher in October 2024 than in October 2023, as is property tax. Everything is well below target, and no items to  about.  worry  5. Public Hearing Items  A. No public hearing was scheduled for this meeting.  6. Consent Agenda  All items listed below have been previously discussed, require no deliberation, or are routine Council and will be enacted with one motion. There will be no separate discussion of the items. by Items the City withdrawn from the Consent Agenda for separate discussion by the City Council. If discussion is to be the item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately. Otherwise, consent agenda authorizes the City Manager to implement each item in accordance with approval the of the A. Review, discuss, and consider the minutes of the regular Keene City Council meeting held on B. Consider acceptance oft the resignation letter of Troy Smith, Council Member-Place I, to formally end Ar motion was made to approve the consent agenda as presented. The motion carried. Voting Yea: Chapman, Easley, Foster, Mayor Pro Tem Gutwa, Smith, Shaw  desired, staff's  recommendation. November 7, 2024.  his appointment to the Planning & Zoning Commission. Motion made by Foster, Seconded by Easley.  7. General  A. Review, discuss, and consider the adoption of Ordinance No. 2024-675 adopting the Keene Charter amendments as approved by voters in the November. 5, 2024 City of Keene Special City Election. Mr. Brown, City Attorney, explained that this ordinance approves the updated version of the Charter. amendments as approved by voters in the November 5, 2024 City of Keene Special City Election. The  AI motion was made to approve Ordinance No. 2024-675 adopting the Keene  Charter  motion carried.  Motion made by Foster, Seconded by Smith.  Voting Yea: Chapman, Easley, Foster, Mayor Pro Tem Gutwa, Smith, Shaw  City Council Minutes Page 12of4    B. Review and discuss and consider possible action on the current appointments to the Planning & Council Member Smith brought forward concerns with current Planning and Zoning members, such as one member's excessive absences and the conduct of another member toward a developer. Ray Johnson, resident, spoke in favor oft the member that there were conduct concerns over, and asked that he not be removed. Cheryl Schram, resident, spoke about the difficulty in finding residents who would serve on the various boards. She encourages the city to continue to find new members for the boards. Mr. Seitz, City Manager, spoke in support of keeping a member who is very knowledgeable of code and practices. Mr. Brown, City Attorney, advised that the members not be removed unless there Ar motion was made to table item until Mr. Seitz was able to speak with the two members about the  Zoning Commission.  are other capable candidates ready to replace them. concerns expressed. The motion carried. Motion made by Easley, Seconded by Foster.  Voting Yea: Chapman, Easley, Foster, Mayor Pro Tem Gutwa, Smith, Shaw Review, discuss, and consider accepting the resignation of Pat Chesser as City Attorney. Mr. Chesser submitted a letter of resignation on November 8, effective immediately. Council Member Foster asked to discuss item 7D before considering Mr. Chesser's resignation. Mr. Johnson, resident, voiced his opinion that the Council needs to accept the resignation. Amotion was made to accept the resignation of Mr. Chesser. The motion carried. Voting Yea: Mayor Parrish, Chapman, Mayor Pro Tem Gutwa, Shaw  Motion made by Shaw, Seconded by Chapman. Voting Nay: Easley, Foster, Smith  D. Review, discuss, and consider a new schedule for regular City Council meetings.  This item was considered in response to Mr. Chesser's resignation since he is unable to be present at Council meetings on Thursday evenings, and a change to the meeting day would allow Mr. Chesser to be reconsidered for City Attorney. Mr. Brown stated that he respectfully declines to be considered for the City Attorney position for Keene because his schedule is rather full, but is agreeable to on short-term until a new City Attorney is appointed. Mr. Seitz asked the Council to meet with him stay on selecting a City Attorney and plans for moving forward. The Mayor asked about the first Thursday of the month only, and special meetings as needed. Mr. Easley asked the Council to consider until being able to speak with the City Manager. Wes Schram, 1002 W. Fourth Street, agreed tabling that the City Manager should meet with Council and encouraged an Executive Session if possible. Mr. Brown did not think it would apply to moving to Executive. Samantha Gillin, resident, also urged Council to table the item until the City Manager and Council were able to meet. Council Member Smith voiced that one meeting a month would make meetings too long, and urged there be a set day to meet and AI motion was made to make no changes to the current meeting schedule, and to direct the  find an attorney that can meet the current schedule. Manager to conduct a search for a new City Attorney. Motion made by Easley, Seconded by Smith. Voting Yea: Easley, Foster, Smith Voting Nay: Chapman, Mayor Pro Tem Gutwa Voting Abstaining: Shaw  City  City Council Minutes Page 13of4    8. Executive Session  There was no Executive Session held. 9. Reconvene into Open Session 10. Requests for Future Agenda Items  New City Attorney search Revisit new meeting dates  Mr Gnadt asked for action on the nuisance house and Collection Box Ordinance. Monday, 6 PM, special meeting in Executive Session to discuss real property.  11. Adjourn  The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 7:27 p.m. Approved on this the 5th day of December 2024.  APPROVED Ouos 20 Lisa Parrish, Mayor  ATTEST:  lly Bunill Holly Russe, City Secretary  City Council Minutes Page 14of4