Council Work Session

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council convened on June 10, 2025, at 3:00 PM in the Council Chamber of the Urban County Government Center in Lexington, KY, with Mayor Linda Gorton presiding. The meeting covered 9 agenda items, the majority of which were approved, including rezoning requests, budget amendments, new business, mayoral appointments, donations, and procurements. Two public comments were heard on agenda items, and the meeting also included a continuing business and presentations segment. In total, 8 motions and votes were taken over the course of the session.

Attendance

The June 10, 2025 Council meeting was called to order with 14 members present. Vice Mayor Wu and Council Member Hale were absent. No members arrived late.

Present (14): - Mayor Gorton - Council Member Brown - Council Member Ellinger II - Council Member Morton - Council Member Lynch - Council Member LeGris - Council Member Curtis - Council Member Sheehan - Council Member Gray - Council Member Beasley - Council Member Baxter - Council Member Sevigny - Council Member Reynolds - Council Member Boone

Absent (2): - Vice Mayor Wu - Council Member Hale

Votes and Decisions

All eight motions brought before the Council on June 10, 2025, passed by voice vote. No roll call votes were taken, so individual member tallies are not available.

• Approval of the Docket 0:46 — Moved by Council Member Ellinger, seconded by Council Member Reynolds. Passed by voice vote.

• Approval of the June 3, 2025, Work Session Summary 1:22 — Moved by Vice Mayor Wu, seconded by Council Member Baxter. Passed by voice vote.

• Approval of Budget Amendments 1:57 — Moved by Council Member Baxter, seconded by Council Member Curtis. Passed by voice vote.

• Approval of New Business 2:33 — Moved by Council Member Baxter, seconded by Council Member Gray. Passed by voice vote.

• Communications from the Mayor – Appointments 16:31 — Moved by Vice Mayor Wu, seconded by Council Member Curtis. Passed by voice vote.

• Communications from the Mayor – Donations 17:02 — Moved by Council Member Baxter, seconded by Council Member Gray. Passed by voice vote.

• Communications from the Mayor – Procurements 17:32 — Moved by Vice Mayor Wu, seconded by Council Member Baxter. Passed by voice vote.

• Council Capital Projects 18:05 — Moved by Vice Mayor Wu, seconded by Council Member Reynolds. Passed by voice vote.

Budget and Financial Actions

The Council approved a range of contracts, grants, appropriations, and ordinances at the June 10, 2025 meeting.

Contracts and Agreements - L0524-25: Authorized a $23,050.20 renewal agreement with Accruent for an asset and maintenance management software system. - L0536-25: Approved a 2-month extension to a Reimbursement Agreement with 4 property owners totaling $9,589.16. - L0539-35: Awarded the Electrical Safety Compliance Management Contract to e-Hazard, LLC for $339,950.00. - L0541-25: Approved an agreement with the University of Kentucky College of Nursing with no budgetary impact. - L0551-25: Entered into a Sole Source Agreement with Lexington Habitat for Humanity at $60,000 per year for recycling and reuse of latex paint material. - L0557-25: Executed an agreement with L-M Asphalt Partners Ltd dba ATS Construction with no budgetary impact. - L0558-25: Executed a Purchase of Service Agreement with the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Human Rights Commission for $451,710 for FY 2026. - L0559-25: Executed a software agreement with Home for Life Design at $5,000 per year for three years. - L0562-25: Accepted proposals for FY 2026 excess liability insurance through Marsh & McLennan Insurance Agency for $3,566,845.47. - L0565-25: Entered into an agreement with Stonewell Bodies and Machine, Inc. for the purchase of one truck command box for $79,308.00. - L0566-25: Approved a Purchase of Service Agreement with the Lexington Children's Museum for $400,000.

Appropriations and Grants - L0544-25: Approved the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Industrial Authority's FY 2026 budget of $146,000. - L0554-25: Authorized application for $68,280 in federal funds from the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet under the Victim Assistance Formula Grant. - L0555-25: Authorized application for $100,000 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under the 2024 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. - L0556-25: Accepted $7,273 in additional federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development HOME Investment Partnerships Program.

Grant Amendments - L0552-25: Approved Change Order 1 decreasing the full $35,000 FY23 Stormwater Quality Projects Incentive Grant award for the University of Kentucky Research Foundation. - L0553-25: Approved Change Order 1 decreasing the award to Walnut Hill Club at Chilesburg Owners Association, Inc. by $79,500 under the same grant program.

Ordinances - L0560-25 through L0564-25 addressed personnel matters including sick leave policy, a 3% salary increase for eligible classified and unclassified employees, creation of one Encampment Coordinator position, and reallocation of positions within the Division of Family Services and Division of Youth Services — all with no budgetary impact.

Public Comment

Two residents addressed the Council during the public comment period.

Rick Day 1:07:36 spoke critically about the MAG study, alleging that data had been manipulated and that salary increases resulting from the study were unfair. Day urged the Council to take action in response to his concerns.

Sally Hamilton 1:10:25 followed with a defense of both the MAG study and the HR department, directly countering the allegations raised by Day. Hamilton argued that the study was conducted with integrity and offered praise for Charlie Martin's leadership.

The exchange highlighted differing public perspectives on the MAG study's process and outcomes, with one speaker raising concerns about its fairness and another vouching for its credibility.

Contested Items

• MAG Study Review [timestamp: N/A]

The most contentious exchange of the meeting centered on a review of the MAG study. Rick Day criticized the study, alleging that its findings or process had been manipulated. Sally Hamilton pushed back, defending both the study and the HR function associated with it. The discussion was described as heated, with the two parties taking opposing positions on the study's integrity and credibility. No timestamp data is available to pinpoint the exact moment in the meeting recording. The outcome of the exchange was not recorded in the available data.

Public Comment - Issues on Agenda

0:00

The Council opened the floor for public comment on issues listed on the agenda. No members of the public signed up to speak, and no comments were received during this portion of the meeting.

Requested Rezonings/Docket Approval

0:46

The Council took up the approval of the docket for the June 10, 2025 meeting. Council Member Ellinger and Council Member Reynolds were the key speakers on this item. The docket was approved without noted opposition.

Approval of Summary

1:22

The Council took up the approval of the summary from the June 3, 2025, work session. Vice Mayor Wu and Council Member Baxter were the key speakers during this portion of the meeting. The summary was approved without noted objection.

Budget Amendments

1:57

The Council took up a resolution on budget amendments during the June 10, 2025 meeting. Council Member Baxter and Council Member Curtis were the key speakers on this item.

The resolution covered various budget amendments, though the specific line items, dollar amounts, and departmental allocations were not detailed in the available record. No specific concerns or debate points are reflected in the available record for this item.

The Council approved the budget amendments resolution.

New Business

2:33

The Council took up New Business, during which members considered various authorizations and agreements. Council Member Baxter and Council Member Gray were among the key speakers during this portion of the meeting.

The Council approved the new business items presented, which included multiple authorizations and agreements. No additional detail regarding the specific content of individual items, debate, or concerns raised is available in the provided record.

Communications From the Mayor – Appointments

16:31

The Council took up the Mayor's communicated appointments during this portion of the meeting. Vice Mayor Wu and Council Member Curtis were the key speakers involved in the discussion of this agenda item.

The Council approved the appointments as communicated by the Mayor. No additional details regarding the specific individuals appointed, the boards or bodies to which they were appointed, or any debate or concerns raised during the discussion are available in the meeting record for this item.

The appointments were approved by the Council.

Communications From the Mayor – Donations

17:02

The Council took up the agenda item covering donations communicated by the Mayor. Council Member Baxter and Council Member Gray were the key speakers during this portion of the meeting.

The Council considered and approved the donations as presented. No additional details regarding the specific donors, recipients, amounts, or nature of the donations are reflected in the available meeting record.

The item was approved by the Council.

Communications From the Mayor – Procurements

17:32

The Council took up the Communications From the Mayor – Procurements agenda item, which covered procurements submitted by the Mayor for Council approval.

Key Speakers: Vice Mayor Wu and Council Member Baxter were the primary speakers on this item.

Outcome: The procurements were approved by the Council.

*Note: The available record for this agenda item does not include a detailed breakdown of the individual procurement contracts, the specific dollar amounts involved, or the substance of any debate or concerns raised during discussion. Readers seeking the full details of the procurements considered are encouraged to consult the official meeting minutes or view the meeting video beginning at approximately the 17:32 mark.*

Continuing Business/Presentations

18:05

During this portion of the meeting, Council Member Gray and Council Member Morton delivered presentations covering updates on council capital projects and committee reports.

The presentations were informational in nature, providing the council and public with current status updates on ongoing initiatives. No votes or formal actions were taken as a result of this agenda item.

*Note: Detailed specifics of the individual project updates and committee report contents are not available in the source data for this meeting.*