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HomeMy WebLinkAbout95 1005 min MINUTES Council Work SessiOn City October 5, 1995 The City Council of the City of Plainview met in a Work Session on October 5, 1995, at 11:30 a.m. at the Plainview Country Club, 2902 West Fourth Street. Mayor Lloyd Woods presided. Councilmembers present were: Mary Virginia Kirchhoff-Precinct 2, Rey Rosas- Precinct 3, Dwain Dodson-Precinct 6 and Irene Favila-Precinct 7. Absent were Councilmembers Alton Jackson Sr.-Precinct 1, Mike Hutcherson-Precinct 4, and Barbara Dorman-Precinct 5. Staff members present were: James P. Jeffers-City Manager, Dale Simpson-Civil Service Director, Roy Osborne-Chief of Police, Barbara Sullivan-Municipal Court Judge, Wally Hatch-City Attorney, Muff London-Director for Community Development, Roland Asebedo- Asst. Fire Chief, John Castro-Health Department Director, Norman Huggins-Director of Finance and Karen McBeth-city secretary. News media present: Steve Barrett-Lubbock Avalanche Journal and Richard Orr-Plainview Daily Herald. Guests present were: Grady Elder and Rollie Hyde from the Plainview/Hale County Industrial Foundation. OPEN MEETING Mayor Woods called the meeting to order at 11:30 a.m. The Council reviewed the agenda for October 10, 1995. Mayor Woods and the Council then heard the City Manager's Reports. Liaison Reports: Mary Virginia Kirchhoff suggested since the City was entering into an agreement with the Senior Citizens Center a Senior Citizens Commission might be formed whereby the City could exchange ideas with and perhaps utilize some of the wisdom and experience of the elderly in the community. Staff is to research this topic and bring a proposal to the Council. Dwain Dodson reported the Turn Around Plainview group met Wednesday night and planned the march to be held tonight. He said the T-shirts were available for the marchers to wear and he believed there were people coming from Lubbock to participate. He stated he felt very confident about the project and everyone was excited about the positive results of working together as a community. Irene Favila said she attended the public hearing in Lubbock about the Texas Workforce lof3 Commission, which is to take the place of the Texas Employment Commission as we know it. She said funds would come from block grants and there were many different entities requesting funding. She expressed disappointment the cities were not included in the initial planning of this commission. She stated that apparently the county judges were the major decision makers and that Judge Hollars from Hale County was there and apparently represented Plainview. Mr. Jeffers reminded the Council of the October 17, 1995, meeting in Hobbs, N.M. for the Area EcolOgical Summit. He said he hoped 50 to 60 area cities would be represented and that some good ideas regarding regulations from TNRCC could be addressed. Substance Abuse Policy. Dale Simpson, Civil Service Director, reported to the Council he had finished the first draft of a Substance Abuse Policy for the City of Plainview. He said the Department of Transportation has required mandatory testing of drivers with commercial drivers licenses. The City must have a formal policy regarding these tests by January 1, 1996. The proposed policy will affect three departments to begin with: sanitation, parks and garage services. Pre-employment testing will be done for drug use only. Testing for drug and alcohol abuse will be done for promotions. Fifty percent of the personnel will be tested for drugs on a random basis and the tests will be conducted quarterly. He stated that some cities test everyone. He said the City will contract with someone to do the actual testing. He said a contract with a lab in Lubbock, which does testing for many other entities, will do the required testing for a little over $3,500 per year. He said they will also help formulate a substance abuse policy. He said testing will be mandatory if an at fault accident and/or fatality occurs. He said $3,500 is a high estimate, but that a large turnover rate will also drive up the cost. He said all supervisors will need to be trained'to recognize the signs of substance abuse. He said drivers will have to receive training also. The local hospital will collect the samples and send them on to the lab for testing. He reported computer software will be used for the random selections and the same software has the forms to be used for the entire program. The first year program will cost approximately $4,700 and each year after that the cost should be around $3,500, depending on staff turnover. The proposed program is set up to accommodate approximately 300 people. The Council expressed no objection to this course of actionregarding the substance abuse policy. Boards, Committee and Commission. Mr. Jeffers told the Council that on January 1, 1996, approximately one half of the membership of the City's boards, committees and commission will be up for appointment and/or re-appointment. He said his office was going to send letters ahead of time to each person whose term is expiring and request a response from them regarding re-appointment prior to the January 1 deadline. The Council had no objections. 2of3 Mayor Woods adjourned the meeting at 1:10 p.m. PASSED AND APPROVED on October 24, 1995. ATTEST: Lloyd C. Woods, Mayor Karen McBeth, City Secretary 3of3