Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened for a virtual meeting on July 7, 2020, at 5:38 PM, with Mayor Gorton presiding as the meeting officer. The council addressed three agenda items during the session, focusing primarily on administrative and financial matters for the upcoming fiscal year. All three items brought before the council were approved, including the approval of meeting minutes, budget amendments for FY 2021 Schedule No. 1, and an amendment to sewage disposal fees. The council conducted three votes during the meeting, with no public comments recorded for this session.

Attendance

The following members were present at the July 7, 2020 meeting:

• Mossotti
• Reynolds
• Swanson
• Worley
• Bledsoe
• F. Brown
• J. Brown
• Ellinger
• Evans
• Farmer
• Kay
• Lamb
• McCurn
• Moloney

Absent: Plomin

Late Arrival: Plomin

A total of 14 members were present for the meeting, with one member (Plomin) initially absent but arriving late during the proceedings.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted three votes during the July 7, 2020 meeting, all of which passed unanimously.

Motion 0613-20 6:00 - Councilmember Farmer moved to approve the minutes from the June 9, June 11, and June 18, 2020 Regular Council Meetings, seconded by McCurn. The motion passed unanimously with 14 ayes and 0 nays. All present council members voted in favor: Mossotti, Reynolds, Swanson, Worley, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, Evans, Farmer, Kay, Lamb, McCurn, and Moloney.

Motion 0609-20 12:00 - Kay moved to approve an ordinance amending certain budgets of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government to reflect current requirements for municipal expenditures, and appropriating and re-appropriating funds for FY 2021 Schedule No. 1, seconded by Evans. The motion passed by roll call vote with 14 ayes and 0 nays. Voting in favor were: Mossotti, Reynolds, Swanson, Worley, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, Evans, Farmer, Kay, Lamb, McCurn, and Moloney.

Motion 0590-20 20:00 - Farmer moved to approve an ordinance amending Section 16-48(c) of the Code of Ordinances to correct the fee for disposing of sewage, sewage waste, or similar refuse from tanks with a capacity of 1,000 gallons or more, seconded by Plomin. The motion passed by roll call vote with 15 ayes and 0 nays. All council members present voted in favor: Mossotti, Plomin, Reynolds, Swanson, Worley, Bledsoe, F. Brown, J. Brown, Ellinger, Evans, Farmer, Kay, Lamb, McCurn, and Moloney.

Budget and Financial Actions

The council approved three significant financial contracts during the July 7, 2020 meeting, totaling over $12.2 million in expenditures.

Infrastructure Projects

The largest expenditure was Resolution 0594-20, authorizing a $9,207,641 contract with Dugan & Meyers, LLC for Town Branch Aeration Improvements. This substantial investment represents a major infrastructure enhancement project for the community's water management systems.

Resolution 0584-20 approved a $2,854,768.01 contract with Central Bridge Co., LLC for the Brighton Rail Trail Bridge project. This contract supports the ongoing development of recreational infrastructure and trail connectivity within the urban county.

Administrative Services

The council also approved Resolution 0585-20, establishing a $153,500 contract with Strothman and Co. for conducting the financial audit of all Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government funds for Fiscal Year 2020. This annual audit ensures compliance with financial reporting requirements and maintains transparency in government operations.

The three approved contracts demonstrate the council's commitment to both major infrastructure improvements and essential administrative oversight, with the majority of funds allocated toward enhancing public utilities and recreational facilities.

Appointments

The meeting included several appointments and reappointments to various boards and organizations.

Reappointments: • Bethany Baxter was reappointed to the Administrative Hearing Board • Angela Campbell was reappointed to Bluegrass Crime Stoppers

New Appointments: • Chad Walker was appointed to the Board of Adjustment

These appointments represent the ongoing process of filling positions on municipal boards and community organizations that support local government operations and community safety initiatives.

Contested Items

The July 7, 2020 meeting featured two primary areas of contention among council members.

Police Chaplain Position

Council member Fred Brown raised significant concerns regarding the dissolution of the police chaplain position. Brown questioned the decision-making process behind eliminating this role and pressed for clarification on the implications of removing the chaplain from the police department structure. The discussion became heated as Brown challenged the rationale for the decision, though the specific details of other council members' responses and the final outcome of this debate are not detailed in the available records.

Special Meeting on Police Issues

A procedural dispute emerged over proposals to hold a special meeting focused on police-related issues. The disagreement centered on questions about how such a meeting would be structured, what items would be included on the agenda, and how public engagement would be facilitated. Council members expressed differing views on the necessity and format of the proposed special session, with concerns raised about ensuring proper public input and transparency in the process.

Both contested items reflect broader tensions within the council regarding police department policies and procedures, as well as questions about public engagement and transparency in municipal decision-making processes. The specific resolutions or outcomes of these disputes are not clearly documented in the available meeting materials.

Approval of Minutes

6:00

The Council considered agenda item 0613-20, an ordinance for the approval of minutes from three recent Regular Council Meetings held on June 9, June 11, and June 18, 2020.

Council members Farmer and McCurn participated in the discussion of this agenda item. The minutes represented the official record of proceedings from the three June meetings, requiring formal Council approval to become part of the permanent record.

The ordinance was approved by the Council, completing the formal process of adopting the meeting minutes into the official record. This routine procedural item ensures accurate documentation of previous Council actions and discussions for public transparency and legal compliance.

Budget Amendments FY 2021 Schedule No. 1

12:00

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government considered Ordinance 0609-20, which proposed amendments to certain FY 2021 budgets to reflect current municipal expenditure requirements and authorize fund appropriations and re-appropriations.

Key speakers during the discussion included Kay and Evans, who presented details about the budget modifications needed to align spending authority with operational requirements for the fiscal year.

The ordinance was designed to adjust various budget line items within the Urban County Government's financial structure, ensuring that departments have appropriate funding allocations to meet their service delivery obligations. The amendments represented routine budget adjustments that local governments typically make during the fiscal year to respond to changing circumstances and refined spending projections.

The council approved Ordinance 0609-20, authorizing the budget amendments as proposed. This approval allows the Urban County Government to proceed with the adjusted spending plans and fund allocations outlined in Schedule No. 1 of the budget amendments.

The passage of this ordinance ensures that municipal operations can continue with proper financial authorization and that departmental budgets reflect current operational needs and priorities for FY 2021.

Amendment to Sewage Disposal Fees

20:00

The council considered Ordinance 0590-20, which amends Section 16-48(c) of the Code of Ordinances to correct the fee structure for sewage disposal services. The ordinance specifically addresses the fee for disposing of sewage, sewage waste, or similar refuse from tanks with a capacity of 1,000 gallons or more.

Key speakers during the discussion included Farmer and Plomin, who presented the amendment to the council. The ordinance was described as a correction to existing fee schedules rather than the establishment of new charges.

The amendment focuses on clarifying the proper fee structure for larger capacity sewage disposal services, ensuring that the municipal code accurately reflects the intended charges for tanks of 1,000 gallons or greater capacity.

The council approved Ordinance 0590-20 following the discussion.