Regular Short Meeting
Henderson City Council held a scheduled short meeting and a regular work session. The short meeting included two major topics. First was a presentation of the 2011 Life Safety Achievement Award to the men and women of the Henderson Fire Department. This is an award for the Fire Department’s dedication and service to those individuals in potentially dangerous circumstances and for the citizens to recognize the duties, responsibilities, hazards, and sacrifices of the Henderson Fire Department in safeguarding life and property in and around Henderson. A nice award and recognition for their work.
The second major topic of the short meeting was for the Council to consider and approve of “… Resolution 12-81, Authorizing the Execution of A Contract With The H. G. Reynolds Company for a Water Main Relocation and Tie-In in Conjunction With Red Bud Creek Bridge Replacement Project (Project # BD-5105C, WBS Elements: 45351.3.3). The goal for the approval of resolution 12-81 is to “Provide Reliable, Dependable and Environmentally Compliant Infrastructure Systems.” (KSO 5) In short it looks like the city is saving some $60,000 connecting the water line at the bridge over Red Bud Creek because “… the water main tie-in would be outside the pavement area.”
What is KSO 5? Glad you asked. KSO 5 is an acronym for Key Strategic Objective number 5. Key Strategic Objectives are a business means of accessing the city governments’ accomplishments. Resolutions presented by Mr. Griffin to the Council now include a Key Strategic Objective. The Mayor, the Council members, and the one or two citizens interested can understand the objective of each resolution. Mr. Griffin presented to the Mayor, Council and City Department Directors the 2012 Strategic Plan Status Report in August and it is now posted on HiH for all to review. Corporate American has used strategic planning and the periodic status reporting.
Work Session
The Council moved swiftly though the seven resolution in the work session. The resolution to consider a meal tax on prepared meals, and a resolution to amend the city’s pay plan for terminated employees were the two most significant resolutions.
The State legislature now allows cities to implement a new tax on prepared meals. The ‘no tax increase crowd’s’ logic here is this: only those buying a prepared meal will pay the meal tax. What is a prepared meal? That burger and fries you just bought is a prepared meal. An additional 1% or 2% tax on a prepared meal is a 1% or 2% increase on the cost of the meal that all consumers buying a burger will pay. The real cost of a meal tax, just as a sales tax does, bears heaver on the low income wage earners than it does on the high income earners.
The hot bottom item at last night’s meeting was the city’s pay plan for terminated employees. The last sentence in the second paragraph of the executive summary did not clearly state the intent of the change in the pay plan. The resolution was withdrawn for further review and writing. As I listened to the discussion, sometimes a little heated, I heard and understood both sides reasoning and disagree with a major premise of the discussion. The crux of this issue is the forced two week retention of an employee who has given voluntary notice of termination and is entitled to receive their eligible accrued annual leave.
The meal tax would also bring revenue from those pulling off the interstate to catch a bite to eat. Additional revenue for the city ain’t a bad idea, although I give it one shot in a million getting passed for a rural area with no long term legislators in place. NC legislature doesn’t hand out sales or meal tax options to just anybody.