|
Transition Team Minutes July 21, 2005 TWENTY-TWO WEEKS UNTIL UNIFICATION |
| Members Present: Chuck Anderson, Leroy Carter, Jim Frazier, Lula Hicks, Henry Richmond |
| Members Absent: Chuck Anderson, Leroy Carter, Rayne Gordon, |
| Observers: Charles Hathaway, Consultant to Transition Team |
| Donna Rice, Administrative Assistant |
| Jim Frazier convened and conducted the meeting. The minutes of the meeting of July 14 were approved. Donna Rice was introduced as the new administrative assistant. |
| He reported that he had contacted both Andre Valley and Brian Miller about extending an invitation to Mark Hayes, General Counsel of the Arkansas Municipal League, to visit with the Transition Team on August 11. Both City Attorneys are willing to participate in such a meeting. Mr. Frazier asked C. E. Hathaway to assume the responsibility for arranging for this meeting. |
| Mr. Frazier distributed letters he had sent to the city clerks of Helena and West Helena requesting a complete listing of Boards and Commissions. |
| Review of Items of Concern Raised at the June 30 Meeting: C. E. Hathaway presented a consolidation of items that the team will be considering to assist in achieving the merger of Helena and West Helena with members of the Transition Team assigned to the various items. |
| Report on Ordinances and Fees: Materials covering Ordinances 1596 (Building and Construction) and 9-2005 (Building and Construction) for West Helena, Ordinance 3396 (Sewer Services), 3145 (Cemetery Services), 3372 (Occupational Licenses), 3376 (Peddlers Permit), 3382 (Tourism Tax), 3387 (Criminal Prosecution Fees), 3390 (License Tax for ARKLA 1991), 3389 (License Tax for APL 1991), 3391 (License Tax SBS 1991), 3398 (Water Rate for City of Helena), 3478 (Amendment of 3398), 3407 (Amendment of 3128 – Permits for Cutting Streets and Fee), 3441 (Financial Assistance for Magnolia Cemetery), 3419 (Cable Service Fees), 3443 (Extension of Cable Service to Davco Electronics), 3464 (Replace 3058 – Plumbing Inspections), 3467 (Distribution of Court Costs), 3470 (Fees for Construction – Electrical and Natural Gas) 3482 (Bail Bond Collection Fees), 3483 (Commercial Building Permits and Fees), 3509 (Street Cut Permits), and 3515 (Tax Millage for Pension for Retired Policemen, Firemen and Widows and Children - 2005) for Helena for distributed for Chuck Anderson. |
| Report on Obtaining the Budget of Helena and W. Helena: Henry Richmond reported on progress in obtaining budget materials from Helena and West Helena and distributed letters he has sent both mayors requesting the current 2005 city budget, expenditures by category, list of elected officials and employees by department with current salaries, list of accounts payable by category, list of all debts with current balance due, list of leases or rental contracts, list of all sources of revenue and schedule of payments, and a list of anticipated capital expenditures. |
| Report on Inventory of Property other than Real Estate: Leroy Carter indicated that this will be difficult information to obtain and that he will likely have to seek information from each separate department. Lula Hicks will assist in this task. After a brief discussion the Team felt that a potential recommendation might be developed calling for a more uniform and consistent annual inventory. |
| Report on Real Property: Dorothy Martin reported that neither city hall was located centrally or conveniently to the maximum number of citizens. She provided information provided by First Delta Realty on the Ross Ford Building that might be considered for a consolidated city hall for Helena-West Helena. The Ross Ford Building is located centrally within the consolidated city. |
| Action 5: The first reading was made of an initial recommendation on the addition of staff to the new community of Helena-West Helena that would give preference, inasmuch as possible, to hiring current employees of Helena at the time of the unification. |
| Setting Tasks and Agenda for Next Meeting |
| The Team agreed to bring forward names of persons who could help on the various subcommittees at the next meeting and to consider what will transpire at the meeting with Mark Hayes. The second reading of Action 5 will take place. |
| The meeting adjourned at approximately 11:00 AM. |
| Web Site: www.ualr.edu/cehathaway/hwh |