TOWN OF DUCK
TOWN COUNCIL
RECONVENED MID-MONTH MEETING
The Town Council for the Town of Duck reconvened at the Duck Municipal Offices at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 27, 2005.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Gene Schwarz; Mayor Pro Tempore Allan Beres; Councilor Nancy Caviness; Councilor Monica Thibodeau; and Councilor Neil Morrison.
COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None.
OTHERS PRESENT: Town Manager and Town Clerk Christopher Layton; Police Chief Dale Hamilton; Fire Chief John Brock; Planning Director Suzanne Cotellessa and Deputy Town Clerk Lori Kopec.
OTHERS ABSENT: Town Attorney Donald I. McRee, Jr.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Schwarz at 1:00 p.m.
Mayor Schwarz stated that the meeting was a budget workshop with Council present to discuss the proposed budget that the Town Manager put together previously. He stated that the proposed tax rate is 9.5 cents, with the revenue neutral rate at 7.5 cents. He stated the big issue is the reassessment on properties in Dare County. He stated that if the Town adopted the revenue neutral rate, the overall revenues would increase by approximately $60,000. The proposed budget includes most of the items that Council had been discussing over the past year. He stated the bulk of additional revenue source is from real estate tax. He stated he wished to start the meeting by discussing a tax rate that Council was comfortable with and agreed on.
Town Manager Layton passed out a chart to Council showing the tax rate from 7 cents up to 10 cents. He went on to explain how the different tax rates would affect real estate taxes in the Town.
He asked Council for their thoughts on the 9.5 cent tax rate. Councilor Morrison stated he is not comfortable with it and recommended an 8 cent tax rate. Councilor Caviness recommended a rate of either 8.5 or 9 cents. Councilor Thibodeau echoed Councilor Caviness’ recommendation.
Town Manager Layton stated that once the tax rate is established, Council will start looking at the projects to know what to cut or keep.
Mayor Pro Tempore Beres recommended 8.5 cents. Mayor Schwarz stated he was comfortable with 9 to 9.5 cents as the tax rate.
Mayor Schwarz stated that if the consensus for the proposed tax rate is 8.5 to 9 cents, it would mean a reduction of close to $200,000 in the proposed budget. He asked Council to consider using 8.5 to 9 cents as a starting point for reviewing the tax rate.
Councilor Caviness asked if the commercial property owners would feel the same effects of the tax rate as residential homeowners, depending on where they are located. Town Manager Layton stated they would.
Mayor Schwarz stated that Town Manager Layton had invited members of Tidewater Fibre to make a presentation to Council and the audience regarding recycling.
Ed Farmer and Dave May of Tidewater Fibre were recognized to speak. Mr. Farmer and Mr. May went on to give a short presentation to Council and the audience on the advantages of recycling in Duck.
Mayor Schwarz thanked Mr. Farmer and Mr. May for their time.
Mayor Schwarz recommended that Council go through the budget and review what should be kept and what should be cut. He stated he wanted to start with curbside recycling.
Town Manager Layton and Council went on to discuss curbside recycling for the residents of the Town of Duck. It was consensus of Council to keep recycling in the proposed budget.
Town Manager Layton and Council then discussed the Duck Trail construction. It was consensus of Council to defer the construction of the Duck Trail from the proposed budget until a better idea of what the construction would entail is obtained.
Mayor Schwarz suggested a fifteen minute recess. The time was 2:30 p.m.
Mayor Schwarz reconvened the meeting. The time was 2:45 p.m.
Town Manager Layton and Council discussed the Municipal Property improvements. It was consensus of Council to trim some of the improvements from the proposed budget.
Town Manager Layton, Council and Fire Chief John Brock discussed the Fire Chief vehicle. It was consensus of Council to defer getting the Fire Chief a new vehicle.
Town Manager Layton, Council and Police Chief Dale Hamilton discussed the new police vehicle and an additional officer. It was consensus of Council to keep this item in the budget.
Town Manager Layton and Council then discussed the Community Improvement grants. It was consensus of Council to keep this item in the budget.
Town Manager Layton and Council discussed the stormwater improvements and a part-time public relations/events coordinator. It was consensus of Council to keep these items in the budget.
Town Manager Layton and Council discussed the fire and police department space study. It was consensus of Council to keep this item in the budget.
Mayor Schwarz asked Council if they wanted Town Manager Layton to go back and review the budget to make changes so that the tax rate is down to 8.5 to 9 cents. It was consensus of Council to have Town Manager Layton review the budget and come back with his recommendations. Council also agreed that personnel increases would be left in the budget and not cut.
Mayor Schwarz recommended that Council have a final budget work session on Wednesday, May 18, 2005, a public hearing on the budget at the June 1, 2005 regular meeting and a vote on the budget at the June mid-month meeting. Council agreed.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Pro Tempore Beres moved to adjourn the meeting.
Motion carried 5-0. The time was 4:10 p.m.
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/s/ Town Clerk
Approved: ______________________
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/s/ Gene Schwarz, Mayor