NEWBERRY COUNTY COUNCIL

MINUTES

APRIL 23, 2007

Newberry County Council met on Monday, April 23, 2007, at 7:00 p.m. in the Conference Room at the Courthouse Annex for a budget work session.

Present were: Henry B. Summer, Chairman

William D. Waldrop, Vice-Chairman (late)

John E. Caldwell, Councilman

Mike Hawkins, Councilman

John David Dawkins, Councilman

Edgar Baker, Councilman (late)

Henry H. Livingston, III, Councilman (late)

Wayne Adams, County Administrator

Gary T. Pope, County Attorney

Susan C. Fellers, Clerk to Council

Debbie S. Cromer, Finance Director

Media: Cindy Pitts, Newberry Observer

Notice of the meeting was duly advertised as required by law.

Mr. Summer called the meeting to order and determined a quorum to be present.

Mr. Caldwell moved to adopt the agenda; second by Mr. Dawkins. Vote was unanimous. (Councilmen Waldrop, Baker and Livingston absent for vote, but came in immediately thereafter).

Mr. Adams reviewed the proposed budget with Council, and the following issues were discussed:

1. Council requested that Mr. Adams investigate and look into increasing the solid waste tipping fees.

2. In the Assessor’s budget, Council questioned whether $30,000 for overtime pay to expedite pending reassessment appeals was enough. They also felt the figure of $22,000 for an additional vehicle for the Assessor’s Office was too high.

3. Council requested additional information on the following items:

a. $10,000 for programming voting machines for Registration and Election.

b. Who will commission the bailiff for Central Court; how many hours will this person work; and obtain salary figure from Sheriff first.

c. Board of Rescue Squads’ request for service truck and extrication tool.

d. Board of Rescue Squads’ request for turnout/bunker gear.

4. Council asked that the words “or replace” be added to Hazmat’s request for $41,430 for refurbishment of 1979 Hazmat truck.

5. Council asked Mr. Adams to check into a group rate from doctors for the physicals for the firefighters and rescue squad volunteers.

6. Add to the Board of Rural Fire Control budget an amount for background checks for new volunteers.

7. By unanimous consent Council agreed to reinstate the $49,500 request from Piedmont Technical College for assistance in starting the new veterinary technician program. They also requested that Mr. Adams check into some type of internship program between Newberry County Animal Control and Piedmont Technical College.

On page 14 of the “Budget Transmittal Documents”, paragraph (D), the amount should be $6,410.000 rather than $9,000,000.

Council received a request from Newberry Opera House for funding in the amount of $100,000 for the ongoing operation of the Opera House. No action was taken on this item.

Mr. Summer requested that Council look at one of the provisos on page 10, last paragraph, relating to travel if over 500 miles as to whether Council would like to make any changes to that particular proviso. No action was taken on this item.

Council discussed merit increases for county employees and tax refunds, but no consensus was reached on either of these items.

There being no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m.

NEWBERRY COUNTY COUNCIL

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Henry B. Summer, Chairman

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Susan C. Fellers, Clerk to Council

APPROVED: May 16, 2007