11/18/2008 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes of 11/18/2008 AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION 1) Charles Dial, 27959 Gardenia, was concerned about WWTP workers, with four trucks, who were working at 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 2, in the back yard and beside his house. The workers told him that roots had attached a sewer, but he wondered why the work couldn't wait until Monday morning instead of the city paying double time on a Sunday evening. On another issue, he is again concerned about the hot water system at the Recreation Center. Previously, he had complained about the lack of hot water in the showers, and a new check value and new temperature regulating valve had been purchased. This worked for a while, but now the problem has returned. In order to keep the water in the showers at a reasonable temperature, they have to be kept running. This is a huge waste of water Service Director Limpert came forward and said, when a sewer line clogs, it may not be noticed until all of sudden a piece of paper or something gets in there and it is fully blocked. Although it was a Sunday night, he did not want to be using residents' basements as a retention basin. Therefore, they responded on Sunday evening to get that cleared out so that residents would not be having sewage in their basements. 2) Dennis Lambert, 25057 Carey Lane, attended the Finance Committee meeting and feels the legislation regarding the salaries is a very good approach. He noted the Law Director's salary was an attempt to return to a part-time law director who is also possibly going to be engaged in a private practice. He believes there needs to be another ordinance to restrict the city regarding doing business with a law firm or employees of that law firm that has an affiliation with the Law Director. His proposal was "Council to put in place restrictions that prohibit the city from engaging in any legal or associated services with a law firm or employees of that law firm that represent *clients that have issues with the city or are involved in the city's operation or business when the Law Director has an *affiliation with that law firm. *Restricted clients include (within 180 days of termination of the relationship): 1. Those making applications (e.g. building or business permits); 2. Those appearing before board and commission; 3. Those involved in litigation with the city and/or prosecution; 4. Employees or contractors (including prospective and former employees or contractors) of the city. *Affiliation includes: 1. Working for or having worked for the law firm either as an employee or contractor; 2. Any level of interest or ownership in the law firm including family relationships, stock holding, accounts payable due (wages or commissions), etc." He felt this would be necessary for good government because he doesn't think the law firm that does business for this community should also be engaged in representing people before the community, especially if the law director has a job to do for this community. He believes it could be easily enforced as a voucher system to pay for law services could also include a sworn statement that there's no conflict of interest with the community and the laws. Regarding the salary cuts for officials, he felt that Council should reduce their salaries by $4,000 each, which would be more than enough needed to pay the increase for the secretarial positions that had been turned down. Law Director Dubelko said he appreciated Mr. Lambert's concerns about the new and revised Law Dept. that may be coming the city' way starting in 2010, but there are already things in place to help guard against those concerns. Number one, the Charter provides elected officials to not have any increase or decrease in compensation during term. If a person was to be elected and then somehow the city was to provide business to that law firm which resulted in the law director 8