Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council met on May 17, 2018, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Vice Mayor Kay presiding over the session. The meeting focused primarily on ceremonial recognitions and community acknowledgments, with three informational agenda items presented to the council. The agenda included recognition of Community Action Month, recognition of National Police Week, and recognition of Hadeel Abdallah for her contributions to the community.

During the session, the council conducted two formal votes on motions and heard one public comment from a community member. All three agenda items were informational in nature, serving to highlight important community initiatives and honor individuals and organizations making significant contributions to Lexington. The meeting provided an opportunity for the council to formally acknowledge the work of community action organizations, honor law enforcement during National Police Week, and recognize the achievements of Hadeel Abdallah.

Attendance

The meeting was presided over by Vice Mayor Kay in the absence of Mayor Gray.

Present: • Vice Mayor Kay • Henson • Lamb • Moloney • Mossotti • Plomin • Smith • Stinnett • Worley • Bledsoe • F. Brown • J. Brown • Evans • Farmer • Gibbs

Absent: • Mayor Gray

No members arrived late to the meeting. A total of 15 members were present for the proceedings.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted two roll call votes during the meeting, with both measures passing unanimously.

Ordinance 0495-18 2:00 Council member Henson motioned to approve an ordinance amending budgets for the Division of Aging and Disability Services for funds in the amount of $945. The motion was seconded by Mossotti. The ordinance passed by roll call vote with 15 ayes and 0 nays. All council members voted in favor: Henson, Kay, Lamb, Moloney, Mossotti, Plomin, Smith, Stinnett, Worley, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Evans, Farmer, and Gibbs.

Resolution 0468-18 3:00 Council member Farmer motioned to approve a resolution accepting the bid of J. Edinger & Son, Inc. for snow plows. The motion was seconded by Henson. The resolution passed by roll call vote with 15 ayes and 0 nays. All council members voted in favor: Henson, Kay, Lamb, Moloney, Mossotti, Plomin, Smith, Stinnett, Worley, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Evans, Farmer, and Gibbs.

Both votes demonstrated unanimous council support, with no abstentions recorded for either measure.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed two financial items requiring council action.

Appropriation for Senior Services

The council considered Ordinance 0495-18, which appropriates $945 to the Division of Aging and Disability Services for a sign language interpreter for the Senior Intern Program. This funding will provide accessibility services to ensure program participation for hearing-impaired seniors.

Snow Plow Equipment Contract

Resolution 0468-18 establishes a price contract with J. Edinger & Son, Inc. for snow plows. The specific contract amount was not disclosed in the available materials, though the resolution authorizes the procurement of snow removal equipment from this vendor.

Both items represent routine municipal expenditures - one for social services accessibility and another for essential public works equipment procurement.

Public Comment

During the public comment period, one resident addressed the meeting to raise a local infrastructure concern.

Mr. McCarthy spoke regarding a storm drainage issue in the community 10:00. He identified a specific problem with a malfunctioning storm drainage inlet located at the intersection of Fifth Street and Upper, requesting that the inlet be unclogged to restore proper drainage function.

No other members of the public provided comments during this portion of the meeting.

Appointments

The meeting included several appointments and reappointments to various city boards and commissions.

New Appointments:

• Ruthanne Dobbins was appointed to the Civil Service Commission

• Five individuals were appointed to the Commission on Veterans' Affairs:
• Charles Gamble
• Pat Ryan
• Col. Mark Roland
• Staus Sienicki III
• Dr. James Thurman

• Chris Woodall was appointed to the Greenspace Commission

• Lawrence Smith was appointed to the Library Board of Trustees

• Zachary Davis was appointed to the Paris Pike Corridor Commission

• Colleen Hall was appointed to the Social Services Advisory Board

• Two individuals were appointed to the Tree Board:
• Robert Allen
• Traci Wade

• Becky Alley was appointed to the Urban County Arts Review Board

Reappointments:

• David Elsen was reappointed to Keep Lexington Beautiful

• Alex Lugo was reappointed to the Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors

The appointments represent a significant expansion of the Commission on Veterans' Affairs with five new members, indicating potential growth or restructuring of that body. The Tree Board also received two new appointments. These appointments fill various civic roles across environmental, cultural, social services, and administrative functions within the city government structure.

Contested Items

The council engaged in a heated discussion regarding the allocation of a $500,000 grant application for an opioid abuse program. The primary disagreement centered on how the funds should be utilized, with council members divided between two approaches.

The debate focused on whether the grant money should be directed toward supporting first responders or allocated directly to rehabilitation services for individuals struggling with opioid addiction. Some council members advocated for using the funds to enhance first responder capabilities and resources, while others expressed a strong preference for directing the money toward direct rehabilitation services that would provide treatment and support to those affected by opioid abuse.

The discussion was characterized as heated, indicating significant disagreement among council members about the most effective use of the substantial grant funding. The $500,000 amount represented a significant opportunity to address the opioid crisis in the community, making the allocation decision particularly important and contentious.

The nature of the disagreement suggests differing philosophies among council members about how best to combat the opioid epidemic - whether through strengthening emergency response capabilities or investing in treatment and recovery programs. However, the outcome of this debate and any final decision reached by the council was not specified in the available information.

Recognition of Community Action Month

1:00

Vice Mayor Kay presented agenda item 0554-18, a proclamation declaring May 2018 as Community Action Month in Lexington. The presentation recognized the important work of the Community Action Council in serving the community.

Malcolm Ratchford participated in the presentation alongside Vice Mayor Kay, though the specific details of his role or remarks were not detailed in the available materials.

The proclamation formally acknowledged the Community Action Council's contributions to Lexington residents during the designated recognition month. This was an informational presentation with no action required from the council.

The agenda item served as a ceremonial recognition of community service organizations and their ongoing efforts to support local residents through various programs and initiatives.

Recognition of National Police Week

1:30

Vice Mayor Kay presented a proclamation recognizing National Police Week during the May 17, 2018 meeting. The proclamation officially declared the week of May 13, 2018, as National Police Week in Lexington, honoring the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers.

The agenda item, designated as 0555-18, served as a formal recognition of the contributions made by police officers in the community. Ken Armstrong also participated in the presentation alongside Vice Mayor Kay.

This was an informational presentation with no action required by the council. The proclamation acknowledged the dedication of law enforcement personnel and their commitment to public safety in Lexington.

The recognition aligns with the national observance of Police Week, which traditionally honors fallen officers and celebrates the service of active law enforcement members across the country.

Recognition of Hadeel Abdallah

2:00

Vice Mayor Kay presented the Spirit of Lexington Award to Hadeel Abdallah during this recognition ceremony. The award honored Abdallah for her significant community work and her achievement as a Truman Scholar.

The presentation highlighted Abdallah's contributions to the local community and recognized her academic excellence through her selection as a Truman Scholar, a prestigious national scholarship program that supports students committed to public service careers.

This was an informational presentation with no discussion or debate required. The agenda item served as a formal recognition of Abdallah's accomplishments and community service contributions to Lexington.