CALL TO ORDER:  Mayor Gary Combs called the special meeting of the Shalimar Town Commission to order at 5:00 p.m. in Town Hall chambers.  He led the “Pledge of Allegiance” to the Flag. 

ROLL CALL FOR THE RECORD:

                             Mayor Gary Combs:  present

                             Mayor Pro-Tem Elaine Tucker:  present

                             Commissioner John Henderson:  present

                             Commissioner Ricardo Garcia:  present

                             Commissioner Kevin Reeves:  absent (out of town) 

Others in attendance:  Town Manager Tom Burns, Lisa Spencer (Sitting in for Town Attorney Mike Chesser), Deputy Town Clerk Tina Smith, Police Chief Charles Self, Patrol Officer John Spohn, and Patrol Officer John Cash, and Town resident Rik Larson. 

OLD BUSINESS: 

I.          APPROVE MINUTES OF MAY 14, 2002 TOWN COMMISSION MEETING – Mayor Combs said that he had a few minor changes and, instead of spending time at this special meeting, we would table the minutes approval until the next meeting.  Everyone agreed. 

II.          AUTHORITY TO PROCEED WITH ORDINANCE SUPPLEMENTATION – Mayor Combs relayed that it was decided at the last meeting that Town Manager Tom Burns was to continue on with the Ordinance recodification.  Manager Burns explained that, since the amount is more than $3000, we needed recorded authorization.  Commissioner Tucker moved to allow Town Manager Tom Burns to use the budgeted $4000 from the FY02 budget cycle and an additional $1000 from FY03 budget cycle for the ordinance recodification.  Commissioner Henderson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.   

III.          ADMINISTRATION POLICY CHANGES DRAFT – Commissioner Tucker went over some of her changes to the administration policy draft.  Mayor Combs told Town Manager Tom Burns to draft up the resolution for the next meeting.  Mayor Combs also advised all of the Commissioners to highlight their changes and bring them to the next meeting so that Commissioners suggestions can be evaluated individually. 

IV.          FIGURE OUT MEMORIAL DAY REPRESENTATIVE – Mayor Combs nominated Commissioner Henderson to be The Town of Shalimar’s representative for the Beal Cemetery’s Memorial Day ceremony.  Commissioner Henderson will be out of town that weekend so it was decided that the police officer on duty will represent the town and Tom Burns will be the back up. 

V.          POLICE COMMISSIONER SALARY CHANGE REQUEST – Commissioner Tucker presented her proposal for the police officers’ salaries.  Mayor Combs suggested getting the FY03 salaries for all of the town employees out of the way.  Mayor Combs passed out his suggestions for salary changes.  The Mayor asked the Commissioners if they had a copy of Manager Burns’ Excel spreadsheet outlining his salary proposals and funding sources.  All had a copy.

The Commission agreed on making the decisions for each employee individually, starting with Patrol Officer John Cash.  

The Commissioners discussed trying to set a standard percentage for all future fiscal year raises.  The Commission decided on 3%.  After some discussion regarding Patrol Officer Cash’s possible salary change and taking into consideration that Patrol Officer Cash already has experience, Commissioner Tucker moved to start Patrol Officer John Cash on full-time status starting 1 June 2002 at a gross annual salary of $20,000.00 with a 3% raise on 1 October 2002.  Commissioner Henderson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. 

Police Chief Charles Self will receive a bonus of $2,000.00 immediately and his annual gross salary will jump to $26,000.00 starting 1 October 2002. 

Patrol Officer John Spohn will receive a bonus of $1,000.00 immediately and his annual gross salary will jump to $23,000.00 starting 1 October 2002. 

The Part-time Police Department hourly pay was discussed.  Commissioner Henderson moved to give the Police Commissioner and The Chief of Police leeway between $9.00 and $12.00 basing part-time pay on employee experience and training.  Commissioner Tucker seconded the motion.  A lengthy discussion ensued and Mayor Combs and Commissioner Garcia voted nay.  Since no decision was made, Commissioner Tucker moved that part-time pay be at the discretion of the Police Commissioner and the Chief of Police within the range of $10.00 and $11.00 per hour.  Commissioner Garcia seconded the motion and it passed with Commissioner Henderson voting nay. 

Commissioner Tucker moved that the Commission approve the FY03 Police salaries with Patrol Officer John Cash receiving a starting annual gross salary of $20,000.00 effective 1 June 2002 and an annual gross salary increase of 3% on 1 October 2002, Chief Charles Self receiving a bonus of $2,000.00 immediately and an annual gross salary increase to $26,000.00 starting 1 October 2002, Patrol Officer John Spohn receiving a bonus of $1,000.00 immediately and an annual gross salary increase to $23,000.00 starting 1 October 2002, and the part-timers pay between $10.00 and $11.00 per hour at the discretion of the Police Commissioner and Chief of Police based on experience and the quality of the employee.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Garcia and it passed unanimously. 

Commissioner Tucker motioned that Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Dowda get a 3% pay raise, as the new standard for pay raises, effective 1 October 2002.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Henderson.  Commissioner Garcia and Mayor Combs voted nay.  Commissioner Garcia motioned that Maintenance Supervisor Dowda receives an 8% raise effective 1 June 2002.  Commissioner Tucker and Commissioner Henderson voted nay.  Commissioner Tucker moved that the town give Maintenance Supervisor Dowda a 4% raise effective 1 October 2002.  Mayor Combs stated that he would back that motion if there were also a $1,000.00 immediate bonus.  Commissioner Garcia agreed with Mayor Combs.  Commissioner Henderson explained that the reason for the increases in the Police Department’s salaries is that the officers are required to have a lot of training before they can even start working and any of the other employees could be replaced tomorrow.  Commissioner Tucker again motioned that Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Dowda receive a 4% raise with no bonus effective 1 October 2002.  Commissioner Henderson seconded the motion.  Mayor Combs and Commissioner Garcia voted nay.  The Mayor suggested that either Maintenance Supervisor receive a 4% raise effective 1 June 2002 with no bonus or he receives a 4% raise effective 1 October 2002 and he receives an immediate bonus.  Commissioner Garcia agreed with this suggestion.  Commissioner Henderson moved that Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Dowda receive a 4% raise effective 1 October 2002 with an immediate $200 bonus.  Commissioner Tucker seconded the motion.  Mayor Combs and Commissioner Garcia vote nay.  Commissioner Garcia motioned that Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Dowda receives a 4% raise effective 1 October 2002 with an immediate $500.00 bonus.  

At this point in the meeting, Commissioner Henderson motioned that we adjourn and Commissioner Tucker seconded the motion.   Commissioner Tucker explained the reason for the emergency meeting was to take care of the Police Department salaries right now before any more of them accepted job offers with the Sheriff’s Department.  Commissioner Henderson referred to Commissioner Garcia’s last motion (Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Dowda receives a 4% raise effective 1 October 2002 with an immediate $500.00 bonus) and Commissioner Henderson seconded the motion.  The motion passed with Commissioner Tucker voting nay. 

Mayor Combs had no change to the administrative department’s budgeted hourly employee.  She will remain at $8.00 an hour and work within the current budget through the end of this fiscal year. 

Commissioner Tucker moved that the town give the Town Manager Tom Burns a 4% pay raise effective 1 October 2002.  Commissioner Garcia seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. 

Mayor Combs brought up his suggested 7.8% raise for Deputy Town Clerk Tina Smith.  Commissioner Henderson moved to give Deputy Town Clerk Tina Smith an 8% pay raise effective 1 October 2002.  Commissioner Tucker seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. 

Commissioner Tucker moved that the Commission approve the FY03 Administration and Maintenance Department salaries with Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Dowda receiving a bonus of $500.00 immediately and a salary increase of 4% starting 1 October 2002, Town Manager Tom Burns receiving a salary increase of 4% starting 1 October 2002, and Deputy Town Clerk Tina Smith receiving a salary increase of 8% starting 1 October 2002.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Garcia and it passed unanimously. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

First Budget Workshop – June 11, 2002 at 5:00 p.m.

Next Commission Meeting – June 11, 2002 at 6:00 p.m.

Second Budget Workshop – June 18, 2002 at 5:00 p.m. 

ADJOURNMENT:           Commissioner Henderson moved to adjourn at 6:10 pm.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Garcia and it passed unanimously.