Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Urban County Council convened on October 27, 2022, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gorton presiding over the session. The meeting addressed two agenda items, including the adoption of pay grades and salary ranges, which was approved by the council, and an informational recognition of Jack Pattie. During the proceedings, the council conducted two motions and votes while hearing from two members of the public who provided comments on matters before the body. The session combined both legislative action on municipal compensation structures and ceremonial recognition, reflecting the council's dual role in governance and community acknowledgment.

Attendance

The following members were present at the October 27, 2022 meeting:

• J. Brown
• Ellinger
• Kay
• Kloiber
• Lamb
• LeGris
• McCurn
• Moloney
• Plomin
• Reynolds
• Sheehan
• Baxter
• Bledsoe
• F. Brown

Absent: Worley

Late arrivals: None

A total of 14 members were present with 1 member absent.

Votes and Decisions

The council took action on two items during the meeting, both passing with different levels of support.

Ordinance 1053-22 2:30 addressed adopting pay grades, job codes, job classifications, job titles, and salary ranges recommended by MAG. Vice Mayor Kay made the motion, which was seconded by Ms. Lamb. The ordinance passed on a roll call vote of 12 ayes to 2 nays with no abstentions.

Those voting in favor were: J. Brown, Kay, Kloiber, Lamb, LeGris, McCurn, Plomin, Reynolds, Sheehan, Baxter, Bledsoe, and F. Brown. The two dissenting votes came from Ellinger and Moloney.

Resolution 0967-22 6:00 concerned accepting bids for traffic signs. Mr. Ellinger made the motion, with Ms. Baxter providing the second. This resolution received unanimous support, passing 14-0 with no abstentions.

All council members voted in favor: J. Brown, Ellinger, Kay, Kloiber, Lamb, LeGris, McCurn, Moloney, Plomin, Reynolds, Sheehan, Baxter, Bledsoe, and F. Brown.

The traffic signs resolution achieved complete consensus among council members, while the pay grade ordinance saw some opposition, with Ellinger and Moloney casting the only dissenting votes on that measure.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed two significant financial contracts totaling $119,708 for county operations and emergency preparedness.

Equipment Procurement The county approved Resolution 1002-22 for a forklift rebid contract with Prolift Toyota Material Handling in the amount of $69,808. This procurement is designated for the Division of Facilities and Fleet Management to support county operational needs.

Emergency Infrastructure Investment Resolution 1029-22 authorized a $49,900 contract with FPF Concrete Service Inc. for the installation of a tornado shelter for the Division of Emergency Management. This investment represents the county's commitment to enhancing emergency preparedness and public safety infrastructure.

Both resolutions represent standard procurement processes, with the forklift contract being a rebid situation, indicating the county went through multiple rounds of competitive bidding to secure equipment for facilities and fleet operations. The tornado shelter installation demonstrates ongoing efforts to improve emergency response capabilities and provide protective infrastructure for county operations during severe weather events.

Public Comment

Two speakers addressed the board during the public comment period, both focusing on concerns related to a compensation study and its impact on municipal employees.

Jeff Jones 1:00 spoke about the compensation study and its effects on waste management employees. Jones expressed concerns about how the study would impact these workers, emphasizing their essential role in municipal operations. He highlighted the importance of waste management staff to the community and raised questions about how the compensation study findings would affect their employment conditions.

Rob Wilson 1:30 also addressed the compensation study, specifically focusing on its limitations and impact on fleet services employees. Wilson discussed ongoing issues with employee retention and problems with the current pay structure within fleet services. He highlighted how the compensation study's findings or methodology may not adequately address the challenges faced by fleet services staff, potentially exacerbating existing retention difficulties in this department.

Both speakers' comments centered on the compensation study as a key concern, with each representing different municipal departments - waste management and fleet services. Their remarks suggested that employees in these essential service areas may be facing challenges related to compensation and retention that the current study may not fully address or resolve.

Appointments

The meeting included two appointments to local boards and commissions.

Andrew Walker was appointed to the Affordable Housing Governing Board. This appointment will add Walker to the board responsible for overseeing affordable housing initiatives and policies within the jurisdiction.

Tanjinora Burns was appointed to the Black & Williams Neighborhood Center Board. Burns will serve on the governing body for this community center, which provides services and programming to the local neighborhood.

Both appointments were approved during the meeting, expanding the membership of these important community oversight bodies.

Contested Items

The October 27, 2022 meeting featured significant controversy surrounding the Compensation Study, which generated heated discussion among attendees and resulted in a divided vote on related ordinances.

Compensation Study Dispute

The primary contested item involved concerns raised by several employees regarding the fairness and implementation of the compensation study. The discussion became particularly contentious as employees questioned various aspects of how the study was conducted and how its findings would be applied.

The disagreement centered on the perceived fairness of the compensation study's methodology and the proposed implementation of its recommendations. Multiple employees voiced their concerns during the meeting, leading to an extended debate that consumed a significant portion of the proceedings.

The controversy ultimately resulted in a split vote when the matter came before the governing body for decision on related ordinances. The divided outcome reflected the deep disagreements that had emerged during the discussion phase of the meeting.

The nature of the dispute suggests that employees felt the compensation study either did not adequately address their concerns about fair compensation or that the implementation process was flawed in some way. The lengthy discussion indicates that multiple perspectives were presented, though the specific details of individual arguments and the exact vote tallies were not provided in the available meeting data.

This compensation study controversy represents a significant policy disagreement that divided both staff and decision-makers, ultimately requiring a formal vote that did not achieve consensus among the governing body members.

Adopting Pay Grades and Salary Ranges

The council considered Ordinance 1053-22, which adopts new pay grades, job codes, job classifications, job titles, and salary ranges based on recommendations from Management Advisory Group, Inc. (MAG) 2:30.

Vice Mayor Kay and Ms. Lamb served as the key speakers during discussion of this agenda item. The ordinance implements a comprehensive restructuring of the city's compensation system following the professional analysis conducted by MAG.

The proposed changes encompass multiple elements of the city's human resources framework, including:

• Updated pay grade structures
• Revised job codes and classifications
• Modified job titles to reflect current responsibilities
• New salary ranges aligned with market standards

The ordinance represents the culmination of MAG's study of the city's compensation practices and provides a framework for standardizing employee pay scales across different positions and departments.

Following discussion, the council approved Ordinance 1053-22, formally adopting the recommended pay grades and salary ranges. This approval establishes the new compensation structure that will guide future hiring and employee compensation decisions within the city government.

The implementation of these MAG recommendations is intended to ensure the city's pay scales remain competitive and appropriately structured to attract and retain qualified personnel across all municipal departments and positions.

Recognition of Jack Pattie

0:30

Mayor Gorton presented a special recognition during the meeting, officially declaring October 27, 2022, as Jack Pattie Day in Lexington. The proclamation honored Jack Pattie's remarkable 47-year career on the air in broadcasting.

The agenda item 0980-22 served as a ceremonial presentation to acknowledge Pattie's nearly five decades of service to the community through his work in radio. Mayor Gorton led the recognition, highlighting the significance of Pattie's long-standing contribution to local media and communications.

This was an informational item that did not require any formal action or vote from the council. The proclamation represents the city's formal acknowledgment of a community member's substantial professional achievement and service to the area's broadcasting industry.

The recognition reflects the city's practice of honoring residents and community figures who have made notable contributions through their professional careers or community service. Jack Pattie's 47 years on the air represents a significant milestone in local broadcasting history.