Urban County Council

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Council convened on November 17, 2022, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers in Lexington, Kentucky, with Mayor Gorton presiding. The meeting addressed three agenda items, including two informational presentations and one ordinance that was approved. Council members heard presentations on the Dunbar High School Boys' Soccer Team and Clark County Fiscal Court Healthcare Revenue Bonds 2022, while taking action to approve the Paid Parental Leave Ordinance. The session included five motions and votes, and three members of the public provided comments during the meeting.

Attendance

The following members were present at the November 17, 2022 meeting:

Present: • Mayor Gorton • Kay • Lamb • McCurn • Moloney • Plomin • Reynolds • Sheehan • Worley • Baxter • Bledsoe • F. Brown • Ellinger

Absent: • Kloiber • LeGris • J. Brown

No members arrived late to the meeting.

Votes and Decisions

The council conducted five roll call votes during the November 17, 2022 meeting, with four measures passing unanimously and one failing.

Ordinance 1139-22 1:00, amending certain budgets of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government for municipal expenditures in FY 2023 Schedule No. 17, was motioned by Ellinger and seconded by Kay. The ordinance passed unanimously with 12 ayes and 0 nays. All council members voted in favor: Kay, Lamb, McCurn, Moloney, Plomin, Reynolds, Sheehan, Worley, Baxter, Bledsoe, F. Brown, and Ellinger.

Ordinance 1141-22 1:00, amending budgets for the ADA Improvement Plan from ARPA funds in FY 2023 Schedule No. 20, was also motioned by Ellinger and seconded by Kay. This measure passed unanimously 12-0 with the same voting members supporting it.

Ordinance 1140-22 2:00, creating Section 21-37.3 for paid parental leave, was motioned by Bledsoe and seconded by Ellinger. The ordinance passed unanimously 12-0 with all council members voting in favor.

Resolution 1076-22 3:00, approving Clark County Fiscal Court Healthcare Revenue Bonds, Series 2022, was motioned by Plomin and seconded by Baxter. This resolution passed unanimously 12-0 with full council support.

Resolution 1194-22 7:00, establishing a memorandum of agreement with the Bluegrass Fraternal Order of Police for a pay increase, was motioned by F. Brown and seconded by McCurn. This resolution failed by a vote of 5 ayes to 6 nays. Voting in favor were McCurn, Worley, Bledsoe, F. Brown, and Ellinger. Voting against were Kay, Lamb, Plomin, Reynolds, Sheehan, and Baxter.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed several significant financial contracts and expenditures totaling over $9.8 million across various county operations and infrastructure projects.

Technology and Software Contracts

Resolution 1084-22 authorized a $691,174 contract with Systems & Software, Inc. to upgrade the EnQuesta system for the Division of Revenue. Additionally, Resolution 1105-22 approved $147,528.86 for ongoing software maintenance services with Oracle America, Inc., covering PeopleSoft Financials and Human Capital Management modules.

Infrastructure and Engineering Services

The largest expenditure was Resolution 1159-22, which approved an $8,147,353 contract with Connhurst, LLC for the West Hickman E Trunk Sewer Project. This represents a major infrastructure investment in the county's sewer system.

Resolution 1086-22 authorized $900,000 for Sanitary Sewer Remedial Measures Program Management Consulting Services with Hazen and Sawyer, P.S.C., indicating continued focus on sewer system improvements and maintenance.

Financial Summary

The four resolutions collectively represent $9,886,055.86 in approved expenditures, with the majority ($8.1 million) dedicated to sewer infrastructure construction, followed by consulting services ($900,000), revenue system upgrades ($691,174), and ongoing software maintenance ($147,529). These investments span critical county operations including revenue collection, infrastructure development, and information technology systems maintenance.

Public Comment

Three individuals addressed the board during the public comment period.

Dotty Bean 13:00 protested what she described as a civil rights violation, stating that she had been prevented from speaking during a previous public hearing. Bean expressed concern about her right to participate in public meetings being restricted.

Britney Price 13:30 shared personal achievements with the board, announcing her acceptance of a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) position and updating the board on her academic progress in a class she is taking at the University of Kentucky.

Britney Rothmeyer 14:00 addressed concerns regarding the Goal 4 Work Group report. Rothmeyer emphasized the importance of obtaining additional public input and conducting further evaluation before any decisions are made related to the work group's findings. She expressed the view that more community engagement was necessary in the process.

The public comment period covered a range of topics from procedural concerns about meeting access to personal updates and policy-related feedback on ongoing district initiatives.

Appointments

The council made several appointments and reappointments to various boards and commissions during the meeting.

New Appointments: • Anita Britton was appointed to CASA of Lexington • Brenda Vance was appointed to the Ethics Commission • Lella Still was appointed to the Homelessness Prevention and Intervention Board

Reappointments: • Kevin Atkins was reappointed to the Industrial Authority Board • Derek Paulsen was reappointed to the Industrial Authority Board • Arthur Lucas was reappointed to the Internal Audit Board

The appointments represent the council's ongoing effort to fill positions on key municipal boards and commissions that provide oversight and guidance on various city functions, from ethics oversight to homelessness prevention and industrial development.

Contested Items

The November 17, 2022 meeting featured one contested item that resulted in a split vote among council members.

MOA with Bluegrass Fraternal Order of Police

The primary point of contention during the meeting was a resolution to accept a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Bluegrass Fraternal Order of Police that would have increased base pay for police officers. The proposal failed to pass due to a split vote among council members, revealing significant disagreement within the council regarding police compensation.

The split vote demonstrates that council members held differing opinions on the proposed pay increase for law enforcement personnel. While the specific voting breakdown and individual council member positions are not detailed in the available records, the failure of the resolution indicates that supporters of the MOA did not have sufficient votes to secure passage.

This contested item highlights the challenges local governments face when balancing public safety funding with other municipal priorities and budget constraints. The disagreement over police compensation reflects broader community discussions about appropriate levels of investment in law enforcement services.

The failed vote means that the proposed base pay increases for police officers represented by the Bluegrass Fraternal Order of Police will not be implemented under the terms of this particular MOA, though the matter could potentially be revisited in future meetings or through alternative proposals.

Dunbar High School Boys' Soccer Team

0:30

The council recognized the Dunbar High School Boys' Soccer Team for their outstanding achievement in winning the 2022 KHSAA State Soccer Championship. As part of this recognition, the council declared November 17, 2022, as Dunbar Boys' Soccer Day in Lexington.

The presentation featured remarks from several key speakers including Mayor Gorton, Ms. Bledsoe, and Coach James Wray. The agenda item, designated as 1137-22, served as an informational presentation to honor the team's accomplishments.

This recognition highlighted the team's success in capturing the state championship title, marking a significant achievement for both the school and the broader Lexington community. The formal declaration of Dunbar Boys' Soccer Day demonstrates the council's commitment to celebrating local athletic excellence and recognizing the hard work and dedication of student-athletes.

The item was presented as a ceremonial recognition without requiring any formal action from the council beyond the acknowledgment of the team's championship victory and the proclamation of the special day in their honor.

Clark County Fiscal Court Healthcare Revenue Bonds 2022

3:00

The meeting included a public hearing for agenda item 1196-22 regarding the Clark County Fiscal Court Healthcare Revenue Bonds, Series 2022. Mayor Gorton presided over this portion of the proceedings.

The public hearing was conducted as required for the healthcare revenue bonds, providing an opportunity for community members to offer comments or raise questions about the bond issuance. However, no members of the public came forward to speak during the hearing period.

Mayor Gorton facilitated the hearing process, ensuring proper procedures were followed for the public comment period. The bonds appear to be related to healthcare facility financing within Clark County's jurisdiction.

The hearing concluded without any public input or discussion, as no citizens chose to participate in the comment period. This agenda item was informational in nature, serving the procedural requirement for public notification and input opportunity regarding the healthcare revenue bonds.

The lack of public participation suggests either community satisfaction with the bond proposal or limited public awareness of the specific details and implications of the healthcare revenue bonds for local residents and taxpayers.

Paid Parental Leave Ordinance

The council considered Ordinance 1140-22, which establishes paid parental leave benefits for eligible city employees 2:00. The ordinance authorizes up to four weeks of paid leave for employees following the birth or adoption of a child, and up to two weeks of paid leave for employees who become foster parents.

Key speakers during the discussion included Ms. Bledsoe and Mr. Ellinger, who presented the details of the proposed policy. The ordinance is designed to provide financial support to city employees during significant family transitions while ensuring continuity of city services.

Under the terms of the ordinance, eligible employees would receive their regular compensation during the approved leave period. The policy distinguishes between different types of family expansion, with birth and adoption qualifying for the longer four-week benefit period, while foster care placement qualifies for up to two weeks of paid leave.

The council ultimately approved Ordinance 1140-22, establishing this new employee benefit for the city workforce. The paid parental leave policy represents an expansion of the city's employee benefits package and aligns with efforts to support work-life balance for municipal employees during important family milestones.