[00:00:02]
WELCOME TO THE NEWBURN REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, UH, SPECIAL CALL, UH, MEETING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT, UH, TO THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY.
AGAIN, THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING.
THANK ALL, UH, EVERYONE FOR ALL THE CONVERSATION IN THE PAST WEEK.
WHAT I'M GONNA, UM, DO FIRST IS ASK THE, UH, ATTORNEY TO GIVE US THE PROTOCOL FOR THIS EVENING ACCORDING TO OUR ONE, UH, AGENDA.
UH, MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, UM, AS YOU ALL AWARE, THIS IS A SPECIAL MEETING AND AS A RESULT, THERE ARE CERTAIN CONSTRAINTS THAT YOU HAVE TO OPERATE IN.
UM, SOME OF YOU ARE ON THE BOARD, I BELIEVE, IN JANUARY, WHERE WE HAD A SPECIAL MEETING AND THERE WERE SOME CONSTRAINTS.
UM, SO THIS IS JUST A REMINDER FOR SOME, AND THEN FOR THE BENEFIT OF SOME OF OUR NEW MEMBERS, UM, JUST AN OVERVIEW OF HOW SPECIAL MEETINGS WORK.
SPECIAL MEETINGS ARE ANY MEETING OUTSIDE OF YOUR REGULAR MEETING, AND THERE'S SOME NOTICE REQUIREMENTS AND CHIEFLY AMONG THEM, AS WE HAVE TO NOTIFY THE PUBLIC OF THE PURPOSE OF THE MEETING AND OUR CONVERSATION AND DELIBERATIONS WITHIN THIS MEETING ARE CONSTRAINED TO HOW THIS MEETING HAS BEEN NOTICED.
SO BEFORE YOU TONIGHT, YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER, UM, FROM THE CHAIR TO MS. MAYO OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, WHICH LIST TWO ITEMS, UM, FOR DISCUSSION TONIGHT.
ONE IS CONSIDERING A, ADOPTING A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN ALLOCATE FUNDS APPROPRIATED FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S SALARY TO THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION AND TWO ADJOURNMENT.
UM, SO TONIGHT'S CONVERSATION SHOULD BE, UM, CONSTRAINED TO THOSE TOPICS.
IF THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT ARE TANGENTIAL THAT DO NOT PERTAIN TO THOSE TWO TOPICS, YOU'RE WELCOME TO DISCUSS THOSE AT ANY REGULAR MEETING.
[1. Consider adopting a resolution requesting the Board of Aldermen allocate funds appropriated for the Executive Director’s salary to the Redevelopment Commission.]
THIS TIME.I'VE HAD, UM, CONVERSATION WITH, UH, MANY OF YOU, BUT I THINK, UM, COMMISSIONER WALLACE HAS THE GIST OF IT.
SO I'M GONNA TURN, UH, TO HIM TO EX, EX EX EXPLAIN, TO GIVE US MORE, UH, INFORMATION REGARDING, UH, THIS ITEM.
THEN WE WILL GO FROM THERE FOR DISCUSSION.
UM, OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DIALOGUE, UM, REGARDING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR POSITION.
UM, AND, UH, IT WAS BROUGHT TO US TO, TO CONSIDER, UH, SUGGESTED THAT, UH, WE MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN FOR THE, UM, ED POSITION TO COME UNDER US, OR THE, THE WHAT FINANCES A POSITION TO COME UNDER US.
UM, I THINK I SPOKE TO EACH ONE OF Y'ALL EXCEPT KIM.
UM, AND UPON FURTHER REFLECTION AFTER I TALKED WITH, UH, STEVEN, HE GAVE ME PERMISSION TO NAME DROP.
UM, AND HE'S THE FINANCE GURU OF THIS, OF THIS, UH, GREAT GROUP THAT IS ASSEMBLED HERE.
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS NOW, UM, REGARDING THE PROS AND CONS OF A MOVE, LIKE, LIKE THIS.
UM, WHAT ARE WE LOSING? UH, WHAT ARE WE GAINING? UM, AND THE FEAR THAT WE HAVE ONCE WE, UH, DISASSOCIATE OURSELVES OR SEPARATE FROM THE CITY.
UM, TO ME IT'S LIKE A DIVORCE, AND I'VE NEVER SEEN A DIVORCE TURN OUT.
UM, SO, UM, JUST CONCERNED, UM, ABOUT MOVING FORWARD, IF THAT WAS TO HAPPEN.
WHAT ARE THE PROS AND WHAT ARE THE CONS? WHAT ARE THINGS THAT WE WILL NOT, WHAT WE'VE GOT GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO? UM, WHAT WILL DISAPPEAR? WHAT WILL REMAIN? AND THEN WHAT WILL WE GAIN FROM A MOVE SUCH LIKE THIS, UH, COUNSELING? THOSE QUESTIONS WERE POSED TO ME, MR. WALLACE? YES.
I WAS HOPING WE HAVE SOME SENIOR REPS HERE, BUT NOBODY'S HERE.
SO I, I JUST THOUGHT I, AND THEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE THOSE ANSWERS, WE CAN ADJOURN.
WE HAVE A MEETING COMING UP NEXT WEEK.
AND, UH, TALK TO, UH, COMMISSIONER PARHAM, IF YOU'RE, AND ONE OF THE PERSONS THAT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO BE THE FINANCE PERSON, AND SO OF COURSE THE FINANCE PERSON IS NOT HERE.
AND I, I DON'T THINK OUR ATTORNEY HAS TAKEN ON THAT ROAD JUST YET.
I DID NOT PUT YOU ON THE SPOTLIGHT'S.
BUT I'LL, TO THE EXTENT THAT I CAN BE HELPFUL.
COMMISSIONER WALLACE, I'LL SAY THESE THINGS.
UM, SO IN DETERMINING THE PROS AND CONS OF TAKING THIS ACTION THAT'S SQUARELY WITHIN YOUR PURVIEW, I WILL TELL YOU THAT, UM, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, WHAT YOU ARE CONTEMPLATING IS REQUESTING FOR FUNDS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN ALLOCATED IN THE CITY'S BUDGET MM-HMM.
[00:05:01]
ITEM TO YOUR LINE ITEM.SO I, I'M NOT SURE IF I CAN SPEAK TO THE DIVORCE ANALOGY, UM, BUT WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS THAT YOU ALL ARE CONTEMPLATING MOVING FUNDS FROM ONE BUCKET TO ANOTHER.
UM, FOR WHAT PURPOSES? THAT WOULD BE UP FOR YOU ALL TO DETERMINE, UM, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THAT, UM, THERE'S BEEN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHETHER YOU SHOULD HIRE STAFF OR CONTRACTORS OR WHATEVER RESOURCES THAT YOU MIGHT NEED GOING FORWARD TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR, YOUR GOALS AND YOUR OBJECTIVES AND YOUR PROJECTS.
SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TALK, UM, ABOUT WHETHER IT WOULD BE FRUITFUL TO YOU ALL TO ASK THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN TO CONSIDER REALLOCATING THOSE FUNDS TO THIS COMMISSION.
IT MAY BE IN YOUR DELIBERATIONS TONIGHT THAT ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ARE RAISED, AND YOU CAN FORWARD THOSE QUESTIONS TO, TO THE APPROPRIATE STAFF, WHETHER THAT'S THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER OR THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE OR WHO, WHO, WHOMEVER.
UH, BUT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TONIGHT TO KICK IT AROUND.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION TONIGHT IF YOU, IF YOU DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE.
UH, BUT THIS IS CERTAINLY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYBODY TO BE IN THE SAME PLACE AND HAVE THE BENEFIT OF THE SAME INFORMATION AT THE SAME TIME.
UH, AND I LEFT THIS OUT OF MY INITIAL DEBRIEF.
UM, WHAT CONCERNED ME DURING THE DIALOGUE CONCERNING THE SITUATION, IT WAS, UH, PRETTY MUCH STATED THAT ONCE WE DO THIS, THE ED WOULD NOT BE A CITY EMPLOYEE.
THAT IS A BREAK FROM THE CITY.
NOW WE'RE AWAY FROM THE RESOURCES, WE'RE AWAY FROM THE GUIDANCE.
WE DON'T HAVE THE HR DEPARTMENT, WE DON'T HAVE THE BUSINESS DEPARTMENT CUT YET.
WE DON'T HAVE, I CAN GO ON AND ON AND ON WITH THIS, YOU KNOW MM-HMM.
MY QUESTION WOULD BE, IF IT COMES OVER THEN, IS THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION RESPONSIBLE FOR FINDING MONIES TO PAY THE NEXT EXECUTIVE
RIGHT? I THINK THAT DEPENDS ON THE NATURE OF THE REQUEST THAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR.
THEY'RE GET, THEY'RE GOING THROUGH BUDGET WORKSHOPS, I THINK THIS WEEK, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN MM-HMM.
AND IF YOUR REQUEST IS TO HAVE THOSE FUNDS ON A RE RECURRING BASIS, THEN YOU CERTAINLY CAN ARTICULATE THAT.
I MEAN, COMMISSIONER, UM, IT JUST SAY, UM, THEY'RE GONNA BE SOMEONE, UM, TRANSCRIBING OUR MINUTES FROM, FROM THIS.
SO PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE SPEAKS, UH, MIC LOUD ENOUGH SO THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO
LIKE I SAID, IF, IF WE SWITCH IT OVER, MY QUESTION WAS, ARE WE RESPONSIBLE THEN TO COME UP WITH THE MONIES TO PAY AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IF WE SHOULD HIRE ANOTHER DIRECTOR MM-HMM.
IS THAT KIND OF, I WAS HOPING THIS WAS A REOCCURRING POSITION ANYWAY.
ONCE WE, THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF, THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I AM WITH THAT.
AND THEN MY OTHER QUESTION IS, IF WE SWITCH THE MONEY OVER TO OUR BUDGET, WHAT ARE THE PLANS TO USE THAT MONEY? IS IT PLANNED TO PURCHASE, I MEAN, TO HIRE SOMEONE OR IS IT USED MONEY PUT IN THERE TO DO SOMETHING ELSE WITH IT? YEAH, WELL, I MEAN, BEING FULLY TRANSPARENT, UM, SOME IDEAS WERE KICKED AROUND ABOUT THE, UH, THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS DIRECT.
YOU KNOW, WE NEED A HEALTH AND AWARENESS SITE MANAGER, THIS AND THAT.
THEY SAID IT COULD BE USED FOR THAT.
BUT WHEN YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT IT, WE NEED THAT ED TO CARRY OUT THE WORK OF ALL OF OUR COMMITTEES HERE.
IT SHOULDN'T JUST BE, YOU KNOW.
SO THEREFORE, I WAS A LITTLE CONCERNED WITH A LOT OF THINKING.
I THINK I CALLED THE CHAIR A HUNDRED TIMES.
I MEAN, IT'S, CAUSE IT WAS REALLY WEIGHING ON ME, YOU KNOW? CAUSE I'M THE ONE THAT I'M GUILTY.
I'M THE ONE THAT INITIATED ALL THIS.
AND SO I FEEL IT, MY RESPONSIBILITY TRYING TO MAKE SURE I MAKE SURE Y'ALL ARE FULLY INFORMED OF EVERYTHING THAT I KNOW.
UM, AND I JUST DIDN'T WANT US TO COME HERE AND MAKE A KNEE JERK DECISION WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT WE WERE GETTING OURSELVES INTO.
UM, CAN I GET THEM AND THEN I'LL COME BACK? OKAY.
DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS, MS. FOSTER, COMMISSION, PROCTOR? UM,
AND THEN WE CAN GET EVERYBODY'S COMMENT.
WELL, MY QUESTION WAS THAT IF YOU DO HAVE TO HIRE ANOTHER ED AND IT COMES OVER TO THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MM-HMM.
WOULD THAT CARRY OVER? WOULD THE CITY TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THAT? OR
[00:10:01]
AGAIN, HOW WOULD THAT WORK? YOU KNOW WHAT, WHAT THE ANSWER WAS TO ME, IT'S UP TO Y'ALL.HOW EASY WAS, IT'S UP TO Y'ALL, YOU PEOPLE THAT WENT WITH A STIPEND.
IF YOU, IF YOU WANT TO, I MEAN, BUT WE NAME FOR IT AND ONCE THAT MONEY IS GONE, IT'S GOING AND THAT'S, IT JUST GIVES, IT'S CONCERNED TO ME THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE I MEAN, YOU KNOW, UH, MY CONCERN IS WOULD THAT PERSON WORK OUT OR IS A CONTRACT, WILL THEY HAVE A OFFICE TO WORK IN? OR, I MEAN, HOW WOULD THAT WORK OFFICE SPACE WAS BROUGHT UP AND COMPUTER.
SO THE CITY PROVIDES ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.
YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? SO AGAIN, THAT'S WHY I NEEDED TO KNOW THE PROS AND CONS OF WHAT WE WERE GETTING OURSELVES INTO.
LIKE, UH, UH, OUR COUNSELOR SAID THAT MAYBE WE WOULD DRAW UP SOME QUESTIONS SO IT CAN BE PERTINENT.
YOU CAN GET ACUTE ANSWERS TO, TO, TO OUR QUESTIONS.
MOVE IT DOWN SO WE CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION.
OH, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, I THOUGHT THERE WAS DISCUSSIONS THAT THERE IS A PHYSICIAN, UM, A PERSON IN FOR THE CITY THAT HAS THIS TYPE OF ARRANGEMENT RIGHT NOW.
UM, SO WE, THERE WAS DISCUSSION, I TALKED TO SOME FOLKS LAST WEEK JUST BRIEFLY, AND I THOUGHT THERE WAS ALREADY SORT OF A LITTLE LIKE, PRECEDENT FOR THIS SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE CITY, UM, WHERE THERE'S A PERSON THAT'S WORKS FOR A CERTAIN COMMITTEE OR COMMISSION.
I'M NOT EVEN SURE I KNOW THE PERSON'S NAME, BUT I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION.
BUT THE CITY STILL PAYS ALL THE BENEFITS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
WELL, I, I GUESS ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED, AND THEY'RE ALL EXTREMELY VALID.
UH, NOBODY CAN ANSWER 'EM EXCEPT THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN
I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S THE REALITY STAFF PERSON FOR THE CITY MANAGER, STAFF FOR THE CITY MANAGER.
BUT ULTIMATELY THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN ARE GONNA HAVE TO ALLOCATE THE FUNDS, NOT JUST THE CITY MANAGER.
UH, SO I MEAN, AND, AND THE WHOLE THING, THIS IS, THIS IS THE INITIAL SHOT FOR A MUCH LARGER BARRAGE OF QUESTIONS AND ISSUES TO BE RESOLVED WITH THE, WITH THE CITY.
IF WE HIRE A PERSON, UM, THE OTHER, IF WE FIND A, THAT WE HAVE A DEFINITE NEED, UH, MY EXPERIENCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO GO HIRE A CONSULTANT AND PUT 'EM ON A 10 99, BUT THEN AGAIN, WHERE'S THE MONEY COMING FROM TO PAY FOR IT? AND THAT'S THE THING, I GUESS FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE SPECIFIC RESOLUTION THAT'S BEEN PROPOSED, IT'S TOO AMBIGUOUS,
AND WE MIGHT NOT LIKE THE STIPULATION VERY MUCH
SO IT, UH, IT'S, IT'S A VERY VALID DISCUSSION THAT NEEDS TO BE CONTINUED.
BUT IT, IT'S, AND WE'RE NOT GOING, WE'RE NOT GONNA SOLVE IT OURSELVES ON THIS BOARD.
SO WE DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS AND, AND, BUT WE CAN MAKE A DECISION WHEN WE GET THE ANSWERS.
IF WE GET ANSWER, THEN WE CAN LET YOU, YOU SAID WE CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION OF WHERE WE YES, SIR.
UM, THE THING THAT COMES TO MY MIND IS, AND JAMIE MIGHT HAVE SOME INSIGHT TO THIS IN, IN THE STATUTES THAT MAKE OR THE, YOU KNOW, THE RULES FOR OUR COMMISSION, IS THERE ANYTHING ABOUT HAVING EMPLOYEES OR HAVING, UM, PART-TIME STAFFER? I MEAN, WE OPERATED A LONG TIME THINKING WE WERE GONNA BE ABLE TO RENT PROPERTY AND THEN FOUND OUT THAT THAT WASN'T SUPPORTED BY THE STATUTES.
AND I'M JUST WONDERING IF THAT IS, IF THERE'S ANYTHING SIMILAR IN THERE.
YOU DO HAVE STATUTORY AUTHORITY TO HIRE, UM, EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS CONTRACTORS, CONSULTANTS, AND THE LIKE.
SO THIS FALLS INTO THAT WHOLE THING.
ARNOLD, BEST, YOU'VE, UH, HEARD ALL THE CONVERSATION AND SO, UH, YES.
UM, I, I JUST WANT TO GO BACK AND ASK THE QUESTION FROM THE BEGINNING, WHAT CONSTITUTED THIS CHANGE FOR Y'ALL? WHAT, WHY DID YOU WANT TO CHANGE NOT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S POSITION? UM, I, I'LL TURN TO YOU.
I'M WAITING ON YOU TO RAISE YOUR HANDS.
[00:15:08]
DIDN'T KNOW.SO, I MEAN, YEAH, I, I WANTED TO KNOW FROM, YOU KNOW, WHY, WHY, BECAUSE AS IT SITS RIGHT NOW, I MEAN, THIS POSITION IS A HARD POSITION UNDER THE CITY THAT COMES WITH ALL THE BELLS AND WHISTLES OF AN EMPLOYEE FOR THE CITY.
AND YOU KNOW THAT YOUR MONEY'S GOING TO BE THERE FOR THIS POSITION.
WHAT WHAT, UM, AND AGAIN, THIS IS THE TWO WEEK STRUGGLE WE'VE BEEN HAVING THE PAST TWO WEEKS.
UH, SHE WAS GOING TO, UH, RESEND RESCINDED.
UM, AND SO WE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER PEOPLE TO SEE WHAT THE PROCESS WAS ABOUT THAT.
AND THEN IT SUGGESTED, WELL, YOU DO KNOW, UM, I, I THOUGHT, I THINK THEY SAID IT COULDN'T BE RESCINDED IF YOU DID THIS.
WE CAN RESEND IT OR WE DO THIS.
THEY SAID, WELL, WHAT ABOUT THIS? WHY DON'T WE PULL THE POSITION FROM UNDER THE CITY? GET THE CITY OUT OF IT, THEN Y'ALL CAN HIRE WHO YOU WANT.
THAT'S HOW WE GOT TO THIS OF THE ACTUAL RE YOU KNOW, THE SUGGESTIONS, RIGHT? THAT SHIP SALE, THAT TIME IS PASSED.
UM, SO IT'S NO NEED TO RUSH THE REASON WHY WE CALL EMERGENCY MEETINGS OR WE CAN GET IN THERE BEFORE Y'ALL ALTMAN MEETING, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING ABOUT THE AGENDA NEED TO BE A WEEK OR SO IN, IN ADVANCE.
SO THAT'S WHY THE RUSH WAS TO THAT.
BUT NOW THAT THAT SHIP SAILED, AND THEN I HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO ALL OF MY, UM, COMMISSIONERS, EXCEPT KEVIN, I APOLOGIZE.
AND, AND SO WE, WHEN TALKED WITH EVERYBODY, UM, WE, EVERYBODY HAD CONCERNS AND WE LIKE, DO WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE GETTING OURSELVES INTO? IT SOUNDED GOOD AT FIRST TO RECTIFY THE LAST PROBLEM, BUT NOW THAT MOVING FORWARD, I JUST, I DON'T WANT MY ACTIONS AND MY AMBITIONS TO JEOPARDIZE THE SUCCESS OF THIS COMMISSION.
SO THAT'S ALL THAT, THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.
THANK, THAT'S, THAT WAS A MISDEMEANOR.
THE, THE DEADLINE FOR THE AGENDA WAS LAST FRIDAY MM-HMM.
UM, BUT OBVIOUSLY YOU ALL WEREN'T ABLE TO HAVE A MEETING THAT QUICKLY.
SO SINCE IT'S, YOU KNOW, A BUSINESS DAY, HE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS REASONABLE TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO DELIBERATE.
AND IF ANYTHING COMES OUT OF IT, THEN YOU'LL, YOU'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THAT AT THE NEXT AGENDA FOR THE BOARD OF ALMAN.
THANK MY NEXT, SO, UM, COMMISSIONER WALDEN SINCE
SO, SO THIS INFORMATION CAME FROM THE CITY MANAGER WITH THOSE OPTIONS OF COMING FROM UNDER THE CITY.
AND I MEAN, LET'S JUST BE TRANSPARENT HERE.
I MEAN, I, I, UM, NO, IT DIDN'T COME FROM THE CITY MANAGER ALL.
SO IT CAME FROM A CITY OFFICIAL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO NAME ANY NAMES, BUT I MEAN YES.
WELL, I, ME PERSONALLY, UM, UH, I, I JUST, ME PERSONALLY, I JUST DON'T SEE THE BENEFIT OF THIS COMMISSION NOT HAVING AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND THAT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FALLS UNDER THE CITY AS A CITY EMPLOYEE.
AND WE ARE ALL ENTITLED TO IT.
I JUST, SO YOU, YOU'RE SUGGESTING LET IT STAY LIKE IT IS MM-HMM.
YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT'S MY OPINION.
AND, AND I DON'T KNOW ALL THE PACIFICS OF THE PAST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OR WHATEVER, BUT IF YOU HIRE IN HER DIRECTOR, LET THAT DIRECTOR YOU HIRE IN TO DO A JOB.
I, I, FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, I MEAN, YOU EITHER SINK OR SWIM AND YOU GOT THE COMMISSION, THE WHOLE COMMISSION BEHIND YOU, Y'ALL, Y'ALL ARE A TEAM.
AND YOU NEED TO TALK TO THAT PERSON DIRECTLY AND MOVE UP FROM THERE.
IF YOU DON'T GET NO SATISFACTION THERE WITH THE DIRECTOR, FOLLOW THE CHAIN OF COMMAND AND MOVE ON UP.
I JUST THINK Y'ALL ARE A TEAM.
YOU'RE A GOOD TEAM, YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF GOOD WORK.
AND I TALK ABOUT YOU ALL THE TIME, ABOUT ALL THE GOOD WORK YOU'VE DONE.
SO JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU GOTTA, YOU, YOU GOTTA WORK TOGETHER.
YOU GOTTA BE RESPECTFUL TO EACH OTHER AND WORK TOGETHER AND SOLVE YOUR PROBLEMS. AND, AND, AND I'M NOT GONNA GO ANY DEEPER DIVE ANY DEEPER INTO IT, BUT I JUST THINK THAT I, ME PERSONALLY, I THINK YOU'RE GONNA BE LOSING A LOT IF YOU TAKE THIS POSITION FROM UNDER THE CITY.
[00:20:01]
ONE MORE TIME BEFORE WE DID MAKE A DECISION.COMMISSIONER PARKER, NO QUESTIONS COMMISSIONER BRYANT? I HAVE PLENTY, BUT I'LL WAIT.
ARE WE GOING TO SEND, I GUESS, MARVIN, OUR LIST OF QUESTIONS OR ARE WE GONNA MAKE A DECISION TO NOT NOT MOVE FORWARD? THAT'S WHAT I NEED TO, BEFORE I SAY, OR IF I GOT ANY QUESTIONS,
WELL, WE HAVE, WE HAVE A RESOLUTION BEFORE.
I KNOW WHAT I'M, SO WELL, I'LL TELL YOU THIS.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OPTIONS TONIGHT.
YOU COULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AS IT IS BEFORE YOU, YOU CAN MAKE SOME OTHER AMENDMENT TO THE RESOLUTION.
IF YOU ALL HAVE QUESTIONS THAT NEED ANSWERS BEFORE YOU CAN MAKE UP YOUR MIND, YOU CAN ARTICULATE THAT LIST OF QUESTIONS AND DIRECT STAFF TO, UM, GET THOSE ANSWERED AND TABLE THE MOTION, UM, UNTIL YOUR NEXT REGULAR MEETING SO THAT YOU CAN GATHER SOME MORE INFORMATION.
MAD CHAIRMAN, I'LL BACK THE MOTION AT THE TABLE.
QUESTION I GETTING IT TO FOR A TIME FACTOR, IT SEEMS LIKE TO ME THIS IS TIME IS OF ESSENCE HERE BECAUSE YOU WANT TO GET IT ON THE MAY 9TH MEETING BOARD OF ALTMAN MEETING.
AND I DON'T KNOW FAR AS YOUR QUESTIONS, WE'RE GETTING, UM, CITY ASSISTANT, CITY MANAGER INVOLVED BECAUSE HE'S OUT OF THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW MM-HMM.
SO I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR TIME FACTOR MIGHT BE.
AND THAT'S A GOOD POINT THAT ALTMAN BEST RAISED.
IF YOU ARE INCLINED TO GET MORE INFORMATION SO THAT YOU CAN DELIBERATE FURTHER ON THIS ITEM, UM, YOU WILL NOT HAVE AN ANSWER MORE LIKELY THAN NOT, UM, SUCH THAT YOU CAN CONVENE THIS BODY AND VOTE TO TAKE ANY OFFICIAL ACTION BEFORE THE MAY 9TH MEETING.
YEAH, WE HAVE MEETING ON THE 10TH, BUT ALSO IF IT'S GONNA BE A MONTH BEFORE WE GET THOSE ANSWERS, THAT'S THE NEXT TIME WE MEET YOU.
UM, THAT'S A WHOLE TWO MONTHS WE GO WITHOUT AN ED.
IT'S POSSIBLE TO HAVE SOME ANSWERS.
I'M NOT, DEPENDING ON WHAT YOUR QUESTIONS ARE, I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH LEGWORK WILL BE NECESSARY TO ANSWER ALL THOSE QUESTIONS, BUT I'M SURE STAFF WILL MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO TRY TO GET YOU SOME ANSWERS BEFORE YOUR NEXT MEETING ON THE 10TH.
SEE, MY, MY THOUGHT IS LEAVE IT LIKE IT IS LEAVE, DON'T THIS RESOLUTION, DON'T, DON'T SUBMIT THE RE DON'T, DON'T SUBMIT THE RESOLUTION.
CONTINUE TO MAKE, KEEP THINGS AS IS AND LET'S BEGIN TO LOOK FOR AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOUR BENEFIT, YOU DON'T WANNA LOSE THE BENEFITS.
AND WHEN YOU BEGIN TO LOOK FOR SOMEBODY, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN? WELL, WHAT ARE MY BENEFITS? RIGHT? HOW AM I GETTING PAID? RIGHT.
WHO, WHAT CAN INSURANCE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THOSE ARE THE THINGS PUT WELL, I'M JUST SAYING WHAT, WHAT YOU GOTTA REMEMBER IF YOU'RE GONNA HIRE A NEW ED THROUGH THE CITY, THAT AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN REAL FAST.
THE LAST, THE LAST, THE LAST PROCESS TOOK.
HOW, HOW LONG DID IT TAKE? THAT IS MY QUESTION.
IT TOOK FROM NOW ON WHO'S FIVE MONTHS.
AND THAT'S, SO, I MEAN, AS YOU TALK ABOUT TIMING AND SO FORTH, IT'S NOT GONNA, THAT'S A LOT OF THE REASON WE'RE HERE BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO WAIT THAT PROCESS AGAIN AND GET, SO I MEAN THAT'S, THAT, THAT'S A LOT OF THE REASON WE'RE HERE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT PROCESS TAKES A LONG TIME.
SO THE DISCUSSION WAS MAYBE IF WE TAKE OVER THIS POSITION OURSELF AS WAS OURSELVES, AS WAS SUGGESTED TO US, THEN MAYBE IT CAN BE A FASTER PROCESS SO WE GET THE HOPE WE NEED SOONER.
UM, BUT I THINK, I MEAN, I THINK IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE EITHER WAY IT'S GONNA TAKE A LONG TIME.
SO I WOULD SUGGEST NOT PASSING THIS RESOLUTION TONIGHT, MOVE FORWARD WITH THE HIRING PROCESS, BUT THE DISCUSSIONS CAN STILL CONTINUE.
AND IF AT SOME POINT IN OUR NEXT MEETING MM-HMM
I MEAN, THE LIKELIHOOD THAT A NEW ED'S GONNA BE HIRED AND IN POSITION IN A MONTH IS SLIM.
UM, AND, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LIKELIHOOD IS.
IT KIND OF SOUNDS LIKE THERE ARE A LOT OF NEGATIVES TO MOVING IT.
SO I MEAN, I THINK WE WOULD JUST GO FORWARD WITH THE HIRING PROCESS AND UM, JUST TRY TO USE WHATEVER POWERS WE HAVE TO SEE IF IT CAN GO FASTER THIS TIME.
CUZ WE'RE IN A REALLY CRITICAL SPOT AND EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT.
WE REALLY NEED SOME SUPPORT RIGHT NOW.
SO, I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT WAS THE DISCUSSION WE HAD ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY WAS, YOU KNOW, WE, WE GOTTA GET SOMEBODY IN THIS POSITION.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GONNA TAKE THROUGH THE CITY TO MAKE IT GO FASTER, BUT I GUESS THIS WAS SORT OF OUR DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO
[00:25:01]
MAKE THAT HAPPEN.WELL, UM, WE KNOW ACROSS THE, ACROSS THE NATION, UM, WHAT THE HIRING PROCESS IS, BUT THE CITY'S ALREADY BEEN THROUGH IT ONCE AND DESCRIPTION HAS ALREADY BEEN WRITTEN.
SO IT DEFINITELY WILL BE A LITTLE BIT FASTER AND AS IT IS WITH THE CITY AT ALL TIMES, WHEN THERE IS A VACANT POSITION, A LOT OF OTHER STAFF, UM, STEP IN AS WELL AS, AS PART OF THE CHAIR'S ROLE, UH, AS WELL.
SO, UM, I WILL TALK WITH FOSTER, UH, ABOUT THAT, THE CITY MANAGER AND SEE WHERE WE GO, UH, FROM THERE, DEPENDING ON WHAT OUR MOTION IS TONIGHT.
BUT I WOULD SUGGEST TOO THAT YOU SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO ME TOMORROW BY FIVE O'CLOCK.
SO I CAN GET THEM TO CITY, CITY STAFF, UM, BECAUSE IF YOU WANT ANSWERS, YOU, YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO, WE NEED TO MOVE ON THIS, UM, QUICKLY.
AND I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, UM, WE APPRECIATE OUR AUTUMN BEST BEING IN BEING IN ALLY, AND SO WE NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF GOING AND DO WHAT IT IS THAT WE NEED TO DO.
UM, CAN I, I WAS IN A RUSH, HAD COME FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE.
CAN Y'ALL READ, CAN SOMEONE READ THE RESOLUTION THAT'S BEFORE YOU TONIGHT? UM, SO I CAN KNOW WHAT THE RESOLUTION IS, TURN, AND THEN I HAVE A QUESTION.
UM, MY NEXT QUESTION IS THIS, HOW MAY I PUT THIS? UM, MISS, MISS, MS. BOWMAN, SHE RESIGNED, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
UM, IS, HAS ANYONE SPOKE WITH HER IN REFERENCE TO HER WANTING TO RESEND HER RESIGNATION? YES, MA'AM.
AND WAS THAT A YES OR NO FROM HER? IT WAS A YES.
WITHIN, IF THAT WAS A YES FROM HER IN THIS COMMISSION, ALL VOTES OR DECIDES ON THAT OR WHATEVER YOUR DELIBERATION MAY BE.
UM, I, I CAN'T SEE THAT AS BEING A LONG PROCESS, UM, OF REINSTATING HER, UH, HOW CAN I PUT THIS? WE CANNOT, I MADE THE MISTAKE OF TRYING TO DELIBERATE ABOUT A CITY EMPLOYEE, UM MM-HMM.
UM, THE CURRENT STRUCTURE FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR POSITION WITH THAT POSITION BEING A CITY POSITION MM-HMM.
SO THIS COMMISSION, DESPITE ITS INTENTIONS OR WHAT HAVE YOU, DOES NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO INFLUENCE, UM, SOMEONE ELSE'S HIRING, FIRING, OR ANY OTHER EMPLOYMENT TYPE RELATIONSHIP MM-HMM.
AND BECAUSE PERSONNEL ISSUES ARE CONFIDENTIAL, I'M NOT SURE HOW DEEPLY, UM, ANY OF THESE MEMBERS COULD BE KNOWLEDGEABLE OR DISCUSS IT OPENLY.
SO IF SHE WANTED TO RESINS, YOU WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE CITY MANAGER.
IF ANY EMPLOYEE WANTED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE NATURE OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT, THEY WOULD NEED TO DISCUSS THAT MATTER WITH THE CITY MANAGER.
AND THE REASON WHY I ASKED THAT QUESTION, UM, I WAS ALLUDING TO THIS WHEN MS. BOWMAN WAS HIRED IN, DID THIS COMMISSION HAVE, UH, MAYBE NOT THE NEW MEMBERS, BUT UM, DID THIS COMMISSION HAVE A PLAY A PART IN THAT HIRING PROCESS? YOU NEED TO ANSWER THAT.
YOU WERE ON, YOU WERE, I MEAN, YOU WERE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE, YOU WERE ON THE SEARCH COMMITTEE.
THE SEARCH COMMITTEE WEREN'T, YEAH, I THINK SHE JUST DID THE SAME THING.
YES, I WAS ON THE, UM, SEARCH COMMITTEE AND THE INTERVIEWING COMMITTEE.
SO THAT PLAYS A, A FACTOR IN THE HIRING PROCESS WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH THE CITY MANAGER WHO IS TRYING TO SELECT SOMEONE FOR A POSITION MM-HMM.
UM, AND I'M QUITE SURE MR. HUGHES WOULD TAKE ANY
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT I THINK THAT PLAYS A BIG FACTOR THERE.
BUT THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE.
YOU SURE? UH, CAN I, UH, ASK A, A SUGGESTION IF I'M OUTTA LINE, PLEASE TELL ME.
I'M, I'M SAYING I'M GONNA LOOK AT YOU SO I CAN READ IT ALL.
[00:30:03]
AM I INCLINED TO ASK ALTMAN BEST IF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO MAKE A MOTION AT THE ALTMAN MEETING THAT THE ED SEARCH OR THAT PROCESS BEGIN WITH ALL DELIBERATE SPEAK? CAN, IS THAT POSSIBLE OR AM I THE LINE AGAIN? WHAT WAS YOUR LAST PART? I HAVE TO MAKE THAT MOTION FOR YOU.UM, TO ASK THE CITY MANAGER TO BEGIN THE PROCESS FOR THE ED, FOR THE, UH, REDEVELOPMENT, UH, COMMISSION WITH ALL DELIBERATE SPEED, MEANING THAT THEY EXPEDITED THAT IT'S NOT LIKE A PASS THING OR THEY JUST GO THROUGH THE MOTION THAT WE REALLY PROBABLY NEED SOMEBODY IN PLACE LIKE NOW BECAUSE WHATEVER WE GOT SOMEBODY TRANSCRIBING RIGHT NOW.
I'VE GOT A MEETING LATER WITH THE COUNSELOR NEXT FRIDAY ABOUT GROUNDBREAKING, AND I DON'T, WHO DO WE TALK TO ONCE THAT HAPPENS? WE DON'T HAVE AN ED HERE TO, TO, TO CONNECT AND EVERYTHING.
SO I, I, WHATEVER I CAN DO TO HELP YOU THE COMMISSION, I'M HERE TO HELP YOU.
COMMISSIONER WALLACE, I THINK YOUR, YOUR QUESTION WAS, CAN WE TABLE THE RESOLUTION THAT'S BEFORE US TONIGHT AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR LIAISONS TO THE BOARD ABOUT HOW YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH YOUR AIMS? YES, MA'AM.
SO CAN I MAKE THAT AS A MOTION? GO AHEAD.
SO MOVE JUST TO, JUST TO CLARIFY THE MOTION FOR WHOMEVER WILL BE DOING THE MINUTES IN THE FUTURE.
COMMISSIONER PAR IS YOUR MOTION TO TABLE THE RESOLUTION ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA UNTIL THE MAY 10TH REGULAR MEETING OF THE REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION TO BE HELD AT 6:00 PM CITY HALL COURTROOM TO GIVE THIS COMMISSION AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH ITS LIAISONS AND GATHER ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
ANY, UH, ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? UH, YES.
AND, AND IT, I MEAN, IT NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED BEFORE IT PRESENTED TO THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN.
WHY WE'RE, WHY WE'RE REQUESTING WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH IT.
AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED THE OTHER QUESTION.
I MEAN, WHAT WE GONNA SO TABLING THIS MOTION TO BE, UH, BROUGHT BACK UP AGAIN.
THERE NEEDS, I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A NEW, AFTER WE GET ANSWERS, THERE NEEDS TO BE A NEW MOTION.
A NEW MOTION, A NEW RESOLUTION CREATED OR, OR REVISIONS.
LET'S SKIP I GO WITH ALL THAT.
SO IS THAT STILL TAPING IT? THAT'S STILL TAPING.
ONCE WE GET SOME ANSWERS, IT MIGHT BE LIKE, OOH, THAT WON'T WORK.
AND WHEN WE TALK TO THE, UH, TRANSCRIBER HAVE, UM, THE ATTORNEY, UH, CLARIFY
SO WE GOT A, WE GOT A FIR WE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND.
DO WE NEED A ROLL CALL? IF IT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE COMMISSION, YOU CERTAINLY CAN.
WE GOT EVERYBODY, WE GOT EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY DOWN THERE.
YOU DIDN'T OFFER ANY NAYS, SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT, OKAY.
SO ON OUR MAY 10TH AGENDA, THIS WILL BE ON THE MAY 10TH, UH, AGENDA.
AGAIN, REMEMBER TO SEND ME YOUR QUESTIONS BY 5:00 PM TOMORROW SO WE CAN GET 'EM TO CITY STAFF.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE TIME AND THE SACRIFICE.
THANK YOU, ALTMAN, BEST FOR, FOR COMING AND SPEAKING, UH, WITH US.