Police may perform animal-control duties

Troy City Council members on Thursday

failed to apporove a budget for fiscal year 2011-’12, blowing past

a state-mandated Sept. 1 deadline.

The meeting began at 6 p.m. with Mayor

Pro Tempore Phil Fisher presiding in the absence of Mayor Don

Banning, who was ill.

During the first vote, just one of the

three agenda items was passed, ultimately ending the meeting with

Council not approving a final budget. City Attorney Charles Evans

arrived late and was made aware the Council had voted against the

budget.

“I advised the Council to reopen for a

special meeting,” Evans said.

However, Banning, reached later at

home, said the called special meeting was illegal because the board

did not give the public advance notice.

“What they did was illegal,” Banning

said. “You can’t call a special meeting on a whim.”

The city already has been penalized for

failing to submit an approved budget by the state-mandated deadline

of Sept. 1.

Banning said the city is looking to

approve a budget at its Sept. 21 meeting.

“Yes, there will likely be a fine (for

a late budget),” Banning said. “I don’t know what it is, but, yes,

I suspect we will be fined.”

Banning said he’s been calling state

officials to get background to discuss what the city’s options may

be in establishing a budget.

“I’m pulling my hair out,” Banning

said. “I’ve been calling all over the state.”

Before the meeting, Interim City Clerk

Tracy Rebo drafted a budget with specific modifications to Wages

and Salary Resolution No. 645 and the Annual Appropriations

Resolution No. 646. Evans advised the Council to adopt the

suggestions and finalize the budget.

As the second meeting began, the board

voted against the appropriation of wages for an animal-control

officer.

“Crime has decreased in the past two

years. The Council feels the Police Department can take over animal

control officer duties,” Evans said.

Council agreed to increase funds for

officers to receive training and supplies to manage the

animal-control complaints.

“Why are we as police put in this

place?” Chief Bob McLeod asked Council members. “This is a health

issue, not a law-enforcement issue.”

Additional modifications to the budget

include removing wages for the utility clerk, a position Sandi

Sullivan holds. Rebo will continue to perform city clerk and

treasurer duties, while the current utility clerk carries the

responsibilities as deputy clerk. An additional utility clerk

position was considered to assist both the deputy clerk and city

clerk/treasurer. However, the Council decided it unnecessary.

The last budget modification was to

appropriate $5,000 for mediation with the union. The funds will be

available to hire a mediator in the event negotiations stall.

The next meeting is 7 p.m. Sept.

21.