06-27-11 Personnel & Finance - Laserfiche WebLink

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r,...- � � `_, •., ' PERSONNEL AND FINANCE JUNE 27, 2011 Committee Members Present: Tom LaFountain; Oliver Davis; Karen White; David Varner Other Council Members Present: Derek Dieter; Henry Davis; Ann Puzzello; Tim Rouse;AI Kirsits Others Present: Gary Gilot; Don Inks;Jeff Parrott; Mayor Steve; Gene Oakley; Gregg Zientara; Murray Miller Agenda: Bill No. 27-11 —Appropriation $9.2 Capital Projects Bill No. 37-11 —Budget Transfers Bifl No. 38-11 —Budget Transfer Bill No. 31-11 —Block Party Applications Bill No. 27-11 Appropriation of$9.2 Million for Capital Projects Chairperson LaFountain opened the meeting by announcing a substitute bill which would appropriate only$1.35 million of the original $9.2 million that had been submitted by the administration. The balance would be taken up at a later date when more information and discussion can be put forth. The scaled back version accepted by the Council includes $1.2 millions for the purchase and demolition of the Family Dollar store at the new St.Joe High School site. Three other small requests were 1. $60,000 utility relocation on U.S. 31 S. 2. East Bank River Walk repairs of $50,000 and 3. An Elbel Golf Course water pump, $40,000. The Mayor made the presentation. He emphasized there was precedent for the City using public dollars to help private enterprise assuring the Council this would pass a constitutional challenge of separation of church and state. He went on to say these dollars are fungible that is other costs could be substituted using the same dollars. Oliver Davis declared opposition to spending pubic dollars for a private religious based business enterprise. The Mayor responded saying there was precedent for this, further explaining the fungible dollars could be assigned to infrastructure. Councilmember Varner said the dollars amount to a gift to the church whatever iYs used for. Councilmember Henry Davis surmised the high school construction project would go ahead with or without the$4.2 million. Councilmember's White and Oliver Davis agreed the three smaller projects should be voted separately from the$1.2 million. During the public section Gene Oakley said the$1.2 to benefit SJHS was assuredly a violation of the constitutional principle of separation of Church and state. Tom LaFountain calling for a vote heard a motion of support for the three smaller projects from Oliver Davis seconded by Dave Varner. All affirmed.