In The News 16 August 2010

Two executive sessions, no discussion during committee meeting WATCH THE VIDEO

By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com

The finance committee of the Hillsboro City Council has asked questions to Hillsboro Law Director Fred Beery regarding union contract negotiations, but did not elaborate further during a meeting in which the committee entered into two executive sessions. 

The committee met Monday at 5 p.m. with agenda items that included the 2010 budget, and health insurance to be discussed in executive session. 

The committee, along with Hillsboro Mayor Dick Zink, Safety and Service Director Ralph Holt, Hillsboro Auditor Gary Lewis, Law Director Fred Beery and council members Mary Brown Turner and Lee Koogler, met in executive session with the city's insurance agent Doug Wagoner. 

According to Pence, Beery had advised the committee that he believed it was required that discussion take place in executive session.

After the committee voted to go back into regular session, finance committee chairperson Peter Pence said the committee would be entering back into executive session to discuss contract negotiations. When asked by The Highland County Press if that had been advertised to the public, Pence said, "No, it was not. This is something that has just come up."

Beery said that while during a special meeting of council they would be "bound by an agenda" he did not think that committees had to strictly adhere to agendas. 

The committee, which includes Pence, Dave Shoemaker and Bill Alexander, asked that Beery accompany them into executive session, but asked that every one else leave. 

After the committee voted to go back into regular session, Pence said, "At this time the committee will wait for answers to questions that have been asked to the law director. He is to respond to us regarding certain questions and until then, until we get those answers, we will adjourn."

It was not specified what those questions were, and no other open discussion took place in open session, and the committee voted to adjourn around 6:30 p.m.

 During an Aug. 4 committee meeting, it was voted 3-0 by committee members Peter Pence, Dave Shoemaker and Bill Alexander to recommend council make the 10-percent cut across the board in the general fund, from September to December, after discussing the city's financial situation, in particular a recent decision by Hillsboro Mayor Dick Zink to cancel the layoffs of two city employees. The layoffs had been initiated as a costs-savings measure, as the city is facing a pending deficit by the end of 2011.
However, the committee did not make that recommendation to a full council during its regular session Aug. 9. Pence told The Highland County Press then that in order to make a reduction to the general fund budget in that it "needs to be more specific." 
  During an Aug. 4 committee meeting, it was voted 3-0 by committee members Peter Pence, Dave Shoemaker and Bill Alexander to recommend council make the 10-percent cut across the board in the general fund, from September to December, after discussing the city's financial situation, in particular a recent decision by Hillsboro Mayor Dick Zink to cancel the layoffs of two city employees. The layoffs had been initiated as a costs-savings measure, as the city is facing a pending deficit by the end of 2011.
However, the committee did not make that recommendation to a full council during its regular session Aug. 9. Pence told The Highland County Press then that in order to make a reduction to the general fund budget in that it "needs to be more specific." 

 

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