HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/14/1969
MINUTES
October 14, 1969
The lOth regular meeting of the Wheat Ridge City Council was called to
order at 7:35 p.m. by Mayor Albert E. Anderson in the Wheat Ridge City
Office at 7390 West 38th Avenue.
Aldermen attending were: Ray Pepe, Robert Eckhardt, Calvin Hulsey,
Dana Bowling,and Jack Bramble.
Others attending were: Mayor Anderson, Clerk Louise Turner, Treasurer
James Malone, Attorney Maurice Fox and citizens.
A Hearing was held on the 1970 Budget. Mr. Anderson stated that the city
mill levy would be 5.46 mills and that this figure included 1 mill for
recreation. If the city had not incorporated the residents of the area
would have been paying a total of 4 mills-l for recreation and 3 for
Law enforcement that are now absorbed in the 5.46.
The Budget was taken by pages and opened for comments.
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Page 11
Revenue Classification. A comment was made by a citizen that
the County should be removing the snow from streets.
Classification. No comments.
Revenue Commentary. No comments.
Legislative and Legal. Comment that the Mayor's salary might
not be enough and that there should be a difference in the pay
of a full time and a part time mayor.
Municipal court. No comments.
Clerk. No comments.
Recreation. Comment that it might be better to state an amount
for recreational programs than to specify Wheat Ridge Youth
Council.
Planning. One comment reserved for later.
Treasurer. Dr. Wolf asked the duties of the Finance Officer and
it was explained that the Finance Officer is the full-time
representative of the Treasurer.
Administrative services. No Commonts.
Public Services. Dr. Wolf asked if the Engineer could be
combined with Planning Office. The reply from Alderman
Eckhardt was that they have different functions but that one
secretary and one draftsman could be shared by both offices.
The two offices need to be budgeted separately because highway
money must be accounted for to the state.
Page 12 Police Budget. It was clarified that the $203,206 figure covers
the whole contract on a phazing in basis. If omnibus crime money
is added, the city could have the whole complement at once.
Page 13 Other Administrative. Comment by Mr. Bowling that cost of insur-
ance might be less expensive if paid for the whole year instead
of on instalment basis.
Page 14 Capital Facilities. No Comments.
Following the analysis, Dr. Wolf made comments indicating that he and
the economic government committee felt that the Mayor's and Councilmen's
salaries were too high, that meetings were too frequent..., that planning
department salaries were too high, that appointed committees that are not
paid sometimes give more dedicated work, that not enough defeated
candidates were being used on committees but that a very good job is being
done in the department of police protection.
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Mr. Stewar~ said the city was fortunate in having a full time Mayor
for $7,200. Several people defended $25 per meeting for Aldermen and
these comments were summed up in a statement by Mr. A. F. Williams
"that the salary set is a fair salary considering the amount of work to
be done" and that "under this set up the city will benefit...".
Questions were asked as to the length of time the present office would
be used and if future employees would fit into the present space.
The Mayor called for any motion to amend the budget.
Motion was made by Alderman Eckhardt "that the wording be changed from
"Wheat Ridge Youth Council" to "Recreational Programs" on page 7."
Motion was seconded by Alderman Hulsey and passed 5-0.
Treasurer James Malone stated that a person cannot devote full time to
the job of Mayor for ~7,200 and suggested that consideration be given to
the matter.
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The meeting was turned over the Mayor Pro Tem Dana Bowling and Mr.
Anderson left the room. Alderman Eckhardt asked for an executive session
which was denied.
Alderman Bowling suggested the figure $12,000 and Alderman Bramble
suggested $14,000 or $15,000, and the salaries paid to city managers,
which Wheat Ridge as a statutory city cannot have, were compared. Mayor
Pro Tem Bowling asked for comments from citizens. Mrs. Scoma said $7,200
was definitely not enough. Mr. Stewart said'oa minimum of 12 or 12 fifty,"
Mr. Donaldson agreed with $15,000.
After considerable discussion, a Motion was made by Alderman Bramble,
seconded by Alderman Hulsey "that the 6udget be changed in the following
way--that the salary of Mayor set at $7,200 as a full time Mayor be
increased to $15,000 per year." Motion passed 4-1, Alderman Pepe voting
"nay" .
Motion was made by Alderman Hulsey, seconded by Alderman Bramble that
facilities maintenance, account number 444.70, be changed from $11,500
to $3,700 and the difference transferred to account number 410.02.
Motion passed 5-0.
Motion was made by Alderman Pepe and seconded by Alderman Eckhardt that
the budget be adopted as amended. Passed 5-0.
Comment was made by Mayor Anderson that it was due to the efforts of
Walter Johnson that the budget preparations were completed in the
specified time. ~lr. Johnson commented that the proposed sales tax is the
equivalent of just under 4 mills.
Ordinance #7, setting the salaries of the Mayor and Council, was intro-
duced by Alderman Hulsey and the Ordinance read by the Clerk.
Motion to adopt Ordinance #7 on the first reading and ordered published
and posted in the Arvada Citizen was made by Alderman Bramble, seconded
by Alderman Hulsey. (!c-If..ktcr1c,/C TNt' A;'l'cT/A-C; /0 -}S "/, 'h/'- :/'U'/i.~/L'Et?
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There was considerable ciiscu~~s1c;r(~r{~t8~ding ~th~ c'h':~~ge "in the organizational
structure of the city. {Alderman Eckhardt stated in his opinion it was not
proper for the Manager to be presiding over the board. The City
Attorney pointed out that by statute the Mayor "shall be the presiding
officer" and that the change in salary doesn't change the organizational
structure or the duties of the Mayor.
The Council was polled on the Motion to adopt ordinance #7 and motion
passed 4-1, Alderman Pepe voting "nay".
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Ordinance #8 setting the salaries of the Clerk and Treasurer was
introduced by Alderman Bowling and read.
Motion was made by Alderman Pepe, seconded by Alderman Bowling that
Ordinance No. 8 be passed on first reading and be ordered published
in the Arvada Citizen and posted in six public places. Motion passed
5-0.
~esolution #17 was introduced, authorizing the city through its
Treasurer to issue no fund warrants totaling not more that $25,000,
such warrants to be redeemable at the First National Bank of Westland
and stating that this resolution shall supercede Resolution No. 1
previously passed by the Council.
Motion was made by Alderman Bramble and seconded by Alderman Pepe "to
adopt this resolution as read." Motion passed 5-0.
Motion was made by Alderman Pepe and seconded by Alderman Eckhardt
"that Resolution #18 asking for the appointment of a Wheat Ridge Fire
Steering Committee be adopted." Motion passed 5-0.
Resolution #19 regarding the transferral of functions from the County
to the city and setting forth guidelines for doing so, was read and
diScussed. Voting on it was tabled until Thursday in hipes that answers
might be obtained in the meantime to questions as to the price of
contracting for building inspections and whether or not there is suffi-
cient building in a years time to justify a full time building department
at this time.
At 12:20 a.m. the meeting was declared continued to Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
Louise F. Turner
City Clerk
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