MINUTES OF THE CITY OF HULLMAYOR AND COUNCIL March 27, 2025 The meeting was called to order by Mayor John Barber at 7:00 p.m, at Hull City Hall. Those in attendance in addition to the Mayor were the Clerk, and council members Mike McElroy, Paige Phillips, and Steven Hollingsworth, and attorney Danny Love. Also Chief Austin, Alan Lapczynski and several other members of the Hull Volunteer Department. A moment of silent prayer followed the pledge of allegiance. The minutes of the February meeting were approved unanimously after a motion by Mike McElroy and a second by Steven Hollingsworth. The financial reports were unanimously approved after a motion by Paige Phillips and a second by Steven Hollingsworth, After some discussion with the Mayor, Council and Chief Austin and other members of the Fire Department Mayor Barber advised the Department that the City was willing to double their current giving from $200.00 to $400.00 per month for 2025 and if they will present a budget along with their request for increased funding before the City approves its 2016 budget the City will be happy to consider an increase for 2026. Chief Austin indicated that the Fire Department was requesting an increase to $1,000.00 per month to re-sign a contract. This was an increase from the $705.41 the City was providing prior to 2023. The consensus of opinion by Mayor and Council was that the City was not yet in a financial position to increase to more than the $400.00 already offered. Chief Austin will take this back to the Fire Department to see whether are not they will agree to a contract for $400.00 per month for 2025 and let us know by the April meeting. At this time Attorney Love requested that we go into executive session to discuss a matter concerning services. Motion was made by Paige Phillips, seconded by Mike McElroy and unanimously approved to go into executive session. Motion was then made by Paige Phillips, seconded by Mike McElroy and unanimously approved to come out of executive session. No action was taken. Mayor Barber and the Clerk reported that they had met with the new company doing the lawn maintenance and obtained a signed contract. He will be starting right. It may be necessary to do an extra cut or extra work on the flower beds on Highway 72 but this will be coordinated through Mayor Barber. Council Member Hollingsworth requested the Mayor and Council look at the existing City Chsrter and consider some amendments, one being section 2.12(b) ad 5.14 having to do with the Mayor being able to appoint someone to complete a term and that we extend the time remaining on the terms to allow appointment from 12 to 24 months; and the other had to do with section 2.32 limiting terms for the Mayor that this be emoved. Attorney Love indicated that these types of amendments could be done without having to completely redo the Charter and just by advertising and having a local meeting. No action was taken but Mayor and Council were requested to review the current charter and come back to the April meeting with any other suggestions they may have. Attorney Love reported that he had finally beeen able to speak with the County Attorney, Mr. Pruitt and sent him some documentation to review having to do with our City adopting the County's zoning and ordinances through an intergovernmental agreement, Attorney Love hoped to have some further information to report at the April meeting, Under new business the Clerk recommended a budget amendment by taking $10,000.00 from the Other Purchased Services line item and adding to the Repairs and Maintenance line item. This is primarily to cover the cost of the new heating and air conditioning unit which was approximately $9,200.00. Motion was made by Paige Phillips, seçonded by Steen Hollingsworth and unanimously approved to accept this recommendation. The Clerk also distributed copies of the 2019 travel policy which was approved by Mayor and Council and a draft of a proposed amended Travel Policy which was never signed and asked that everyone review and that we might need to consider an amendment to the 2019 travel policy based on the proposed draft and/or other suggestions. This will be discussed again at the April meeting. Attorney Love then requested Mayor and Council go back into executive session to discuss a real estate matter. Motion was made by Mike McElroy, seconded by Paige Phillips and unanimously approved to go into executive session. Motion was then made by Mike McElroy, seconded by Steven Hollingsworth and unanimously approved to come out of executive session. No action was taken. There being no further business at this time the meeting was adjourned after a motion by Mike McElroy and a second by Paige Phillips. Respectfully submitted, Sandra Pou Hull City Clerk