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FORSYTH COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
SPECIAL CALLED WORK SESSION
DECEMBER 14, 2009
On Monday, December 14, 2009 at 2:05 p.m., in the Commissioners’ Conference Room of the Forsyth County Administration Building, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners held a Special Called Work Session with the following persons present: Charles Laughinghouse –Chairman, Jim Harrell – Vice Chairman, Patrick B. Bell – Secretary, Brian R. Tam – Member, Jim Boff – Member, Doug Derrer – County Manager, Ken Jarrard – County Attorney and Cindy Henderson – Deputy Clerk.
AGENDA
SPECIAL CALLED WORK SESSION
FORSYTH COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2009 @ 2:00 P.M.
FORSYTH COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
110 EAST MAIN STREET - SUITE 210
CUMMING, GEORGIA 30040
I. Call Meeting to Order
II. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance
III. Adoption of Agenda
IV. Items for consideration and discussion:
(1) Discussion of proposed Fiscal Year 2010 Operating Budget for Forsyth County – County Manager.
(2) Resolution regarding new Policy 9, Section 19 “Furlough Leave” – Director of Personnel Services.
(Postponed from 12/08/09 Work Session Agenda).
(3) Resolution regarding Policy 9, Section 4(a) “Holiday Observed”; Policy 9, Section 4(b) “Holiday Pay”; Policy 9, Section 4(c) “Work on Holidays”; Policy 9, Section 5(d) “Unused Personal Leave” – Director of Personnel Services.
(Postponed from 12/08/09 Work Session Agenda).
(4) Resolution regarding reducing employer contributions to the 401K Employee Contribution Retirement Plan – Director of Personnel Services.
(Postponed from 12/08/09 Work Session Agenda).
V. Recess Work Session
VI. Executive Session if Needed
VII. Adjournment
The Chairman recognized a quorum and called the meeting to order.
The Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance were given by Chairman Laughinghouse.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
There was a motion by Commissioner Harrell and a second by Commissioner Boff to adopt the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
UNDER ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION AND DISCUSSION THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS WERE TAKEN:
Discussion of proposed Fiscal Year 2010 Operating Budget for Forsyth County
Doug Derrer, County Manager, made a presentation to the Board. Work Sessions regarding the proposed FY 2010 operating budget were held November 18, 2009, November 24, 2009 and December 8, 2009. A Public Hearing was held December 3, 2009. Budget discussion and potential adoption is scheduled for the December 17, 2009 meeting.
FY 2010 Budget Assumptions:
• National and local economy continues to show weakness and no upturn is projected in 2010 – thus no new revenues.
• No new positions are anticipated.
• No Cost of Living or Merit Increases.
• Sheriff’s Office Budget is reduced by $3.0 million.
• Reduction in County’s contribution to employees’ 401K retirement plans.
• Five (5) Furlough Days.
• Seven (7) Unpaid Holidays.
• Existing vacancies removed.
• Non Department Funding significantly reduced from prior years’ level with Vehicle Replacement funding reduced to $240,000 and no funds for Capital Improvements.
The reconciliation to the General Fund Budget was reviewed with the Board. As of December 3, 2009 the General Fund projected revenues were $77,972,050 with projected expenditures of $79,109,250 resulting in a projected deficit of $1,137,200. Since that time, adjustments totaling $37,400 have been made for Elected and Constitutional Officers budgets which increased the proposed expenditures to $79,146,650. As of December 14, 2009 the projected deficit is $1,174,600.
Commissioner Bell had requested that Director of 911 Center Pat Giordano, Sheriff Paxton and Fire Chief Bowman address the Board regarding the effects of the proposed budget on the operations of their respective departments. The potential effects on their departments included less deputies on the streets; increased crime, increased response times, estimated that no less than one, and as many as two, fire stations will be temporarily closed on a sporadic basis and the ISO Town Class Rating 5 could be in jeopardy.
The following also addressed the Board:
Dawn Childress on behalf of State & Superior Court
Leslie Abernathy, Solicitor General
Greg Allen, Clerk of Court
Matthew Ledbetter, Tax Commissioner
There were discussions regarding possible alternatives to the proposed furlough days. Alternatives discussed included 10 unpaid holidays rather than 7; across the board salary reductions; reduction in staffing levels, further reduction in the County’s contribution to employees’ 401K plans; removal of funding for vacant positions and an increase in fees.
There was discussion regarding scheduling a Special Called Work Session on Thursday, December 17, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. for further discussion on the budget.
Resolution regarding new Policy 9, Section 19 “Furlough Leave”
There was a motion by Commissioner Laughinghouse and a second by Commissioner Tam to postpone the adoption of the Resolution regarding new Policy 9, Section 19 “Furlough Leave” to the next Special Called Work Session. Motion carried unanimously.
Resolution regarding Policy 9, Section 4(a) “Holiday Observed”; Policy 9, Section 4(b) “Holiday Pay”; Policy 9, Section 4(c) “Work on Holidays”; Policy 9, Section 5(d) “Unused Personal Leave”
There was a motion by Commissioner Harrell and a second by Commissioner Laughinghouse to adopt the Resolution regarding Policy 9, Section 4(a) “Holiday Observed”; Policy 9, Section 4(b) “Holiday Pay”; Policy 9, Section 4(c) “Work on Holidays”; Policy 9, Section 5(d) “Unused Personal Leave” as distributed by the Director of Personnel Services.
There was a motion by Commissioner Laughinghouse and a second by Commissioner Harrell to amend the original motion that in the Resolution that will be formally adopted in an open meeting that it be addressed that this Resolution will sunset at 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2010. Motion to amend carried unanimously.
Original motion, as amended, failed due to lack of a majority vote with two members in favor (Laughinghouse and Boff) and three members in opposition (Harrell, Bell and Tam).
Without exception, this item will be considered at the next Special Called Work Session.
Resolution regarding reducing employer contributions to the 401K Employee Contribution Retirement Plan
There was a motion by Commissioner Tam and a second by Commissioner Harrell to postpone the adoption of the Resolution regarding reducing employer contributions to the 401K Employee Contribution Retirement Plan to the next Special Called Work Session. Motion carried with four members in favor (Harrell, Bell, Tam and Boff) and one member in opposition (Laughinghouse).
There was a motion by Commissioner Harrell and a second by Commissioner Bell to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously.
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Clerk/Deputy Clerk of Commission
The above and foregoing Minutes are hereby certified as being correct and ordered
recorded.
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CHARLES LAUGHINGHOUSE, CHAIRMAN
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JIM HARRELL, VICE CHAIRMAN
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PATRICK B. BELL, SECRETARY
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BRIAN R. TAM, MEMBER
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JIM BOFF, MEMBER
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