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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1966-09-19 (special called)Called Meeting of the Euless City Council September 19, 1966 CALL TO ORDER Mayor W. G. Fuller called the meeting to order at 7:45 P.M., in the Euless City Hall Council Chambers, with the following present: Councilmen Bob Fuller, Bill Byers and Frank Douglass. (Absent: Council- men Harold Samuels and Don Warren.) 159 Also present were City Manager Lee Cowell and City Secretary Vada Ferris. Mayor Fuller stated that this meeting was called for the purpose of discussing the budget, prior to the Budget Public Hearing scheduled for September 20, 1966. 1966 -67 PROPOSED BUDGET City Manager Cowell informed the Council that,. as a result of the 77 tax rate set by the Council, he had, as instructed by the Council, prepared a budget for 1966 -67, based on the tax rate, which neces- sitated cutting his proposed budget by approximately $23,000,00. He explained that several departmental expenditures had been eliminated, namely the proposed Fire Captain, Director of Public Works and personnel from street maintenance crews. After discussing the proposed revenues, Mr. Cowell informed the Council that he, with the Council's consent, plans to promote Mr. Reace Brewer to the position of Water and Sewer Department Superintendent and employ Don Cowart as Assistand Superintendent. Mr. Cowell stated that Mr. Brewer i s dedicated and 'has beeh performing as Assistant and Acting Water and Sewer Dep partment Superintendent since the resignation of Mr. Sam Knight; that Mr. Brewer has recently gotten'his "B" license. Police Department personnel and salaries were discussed, and City Manager Cowell informed the council that he plans to t i t l e Chief of Police Sustaire as Director of Public Safety, as he has assumed the duties of the Chief Officer of the Fire Department, in addition to his position in the Police Department. Police Officer salaries were discussed, and Councilman Bob Fuller presented Hurst Pol ice Department salaries, as follows: Patrolman - $409.00 - $474.00 Sargeant - $474.00 - $548.00 Liehtenant- $548.00 - $590.00 Captain - $590.00 = $650.00 Councilman Fuller stated that the Police Department in the City of Hurst is on a forty (40) hour week; while Euless' Police Department is on a forty -four (44) hour week. Councilman Byers stated that, in his opin- ion, the Council Iro -u.ld consider a salary increase for the Police Department per- sonnel; that the City of Euless should be in line with neighboring cities in salaries, and the salary schedule of the Police Department should be independent of the other departments. The City Manager stated that he would like to have a proposed base rate for Police Department salaries. The City Manager 160 (Page Two, Minutes of Called Meeting, Euless City Council, September )g, 19664) inquired the Council's opinion of starting a new, experienced man at a salary other then the beginning salary. Mayor Fuller stated he would be agreeable if the man is experienced and .qualified. Councilman Fuller asked i f a person now making $435.00 would be raised to V0'4.0, the maximum, and C i t y Manager Cowell, an- swered a f f i rmat ivel'y. Councilman Douglass asked about salaries in the Cities of ,Irving and Arlington. City Manager Cowell stated that salaries in the Irving Police Department are considerably higher, while Arlington's are lower. Mayor Fuller stated he.recommends that the City of Euless prepare 'a salary schedule for the Police Department sirni lar to the City of Hurst Police Department salary schedule. Councilman Fuller stated that he had taken the liberty of talking with Hurst Mayor Johnson and suggested a joint Euless -Hurst Council Meeting to discuss salaries or airy other subjects which might be of interest to both cities. Merit raises were discussed, .and City Mana- ger Cowell read an excerpt pertaining to meritt raises, from the proposed Basic, Salary Schedule. (This schedule had been presented to the Council prior to this meeting.) (Copy of Basic Salary Schedule on fi I e as Council Exhibit in Office of City Secretary.) Several. of the Councilmen §fated that they did not approve o f merit increases for a given time. Mayor Ful ler stated' that it'would be best to give a bonus .rather than a.merit raise. the Mayor's suggestion. A l l members of the Council .concurred with City Manager Cowell stated he is dubious of this type plan.. After considerable discussion of the'propos- ed pay schedule and the three year pay schedvle.adopted.by the City of -.Hurst, Mayor Fuller stated that if the City of Euless would schedule patrolmen's salary at $408.00, with three dollars a month longevity, this would be $411.00 per .month for beginning Patrolmen. However, by following the plan used by the City of Hurst and reduce the salary one dollar ($1.00), we can still give the three dollar longevity, whereas, the City of Hurst gives two dollars (2.00).. A 4% increase,.with a 1% bonus was discussed. City Manager Cowell stated that he questions the legal i.ty of a bonus. He stated that you can deviate from the word bonus and use merit increase or merit increment. City Manager Cowell stated'that by increasing Police Department s a l a r i e s , the overtime automatically increased, which w i l l increase the budget by approximately $6,000.00. City Manager Cowell stated that he would like to delay too large an increase in salaries until, a salary schedule is adopted. In answer to a question, laity Manager Cowell stated that he would ,have to do further figuring before determining exactly how much the increase to the budget would be by giving the proposed Pol ice.Depart- ment in- creases and haw this would affect the overall budget figgre. Councilman Douglass presented a salary schedule with percentages and..discussed this schedule with Members of the Council. 161_ (Page Three, Minutes of Called Meeting, Euless City Council, September 19, 1966.) City Manager Cowell stated that the cost of living is now 14 %greater than i n 1959, and he pointed out that some of the pay plans used by other cities might suffice for Euless. He stated that a base rate can be established and a cost of living increase can be granted, and that if there is a recession, you can cut the cost of living increase, which was given previously. Mayor Fuller stated that the Council should be prepared to answer questions on salaries at tomorrow night's Public Hearing on the budget. However, it was agreed that only summary figures would be available. The matter of overtime was discussed, and the City Manager informed the Council that when the City reaches officially, the 25,000 population, we will have to pay time and a half for overtime. Mayor Fuller inquired of the City Manager if he had asked for a raise in the proposed budget. The City Manager stated thet he had not, and that the Council sets his salary. Councilman Byers stated that, in his opin- ion, the City Manager should have an increase in salary. It was pointed out that the City Manager's salary, at the present time,is $9,500.00 annually. After fur- ther discussion, Councilman Fuller inquired if $75.00 a month would be in line as an increase, which would amount to $900.00 annually. The City Manager stated that he could find funds in the fudget to finance this $900.00 annual increase. Members of the Council were in agreement with the salary increase for the City Manager. It was agreed that a budget should be pre- pared to include the salary increases as discassed. Councilman Douglass stated that within the next year he plans to present a proposal of salaries for Mayor and Members of bhe Counc i 1. ADJOURNMENT ATTEST C ity Secretary ZAL/ The meeting adjourned at 10 :05 P.M. APPROVED: Mayor 162