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284 <br /> <br />COUNCIL CHAMBER- April 7, 1997 <br /> <br /> Council met in regular session on this date with the following members present: Ms. <br />Daugherty, Ms. Richards, Ms. Slaughter, Mr. Toscano. Absent: Mr. Cox. <br /> <br />RECOGNITION: CHARLOTTESVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS - VIRGINIA FESTIVAL <br />OF THE BOOK POSTER CONTEST WINNERS <br /> <br /> Students from Johnson Elementary and Charlottesville High School were recognized <br />for being Virginia Festival of the Book Poster Contest winners. <br /> <br />PUBLIC <br /> <br /> Mr. Alexis Ziegler, representing the Charlottesville-Albemarle Bicycle Association, <br />expressed appreciation to Council for bike lane improvements, and asked that bike lanes <br />throughout the city be linked into a network. Mr. Ziegler also supported neighborhood <br />associations' support of traffic calming, including bike lanes. <br /> <br /> Mr. Kenneth Jackson, 208 5th Street, S.W,, said he continues to have concerns about <br />property assessments in minority neighborhoods. Referring to the internal strife in the Police <br />Department, Mr. Jackson said that he has talked with~ people who feel that the Police and <br />Chief are doing an excellent job. Mr. Jackson said th~tt while neighborhoods need traffic <br />calming projects, he said that bike lanes should not bOsupported with tax money since bikers <br />do not pay fees. <br /> <br /> Mr. Barry McLane, 3085 EarlysvilleRoad, founder, and president of "You've Got a <br />Friend Day," said that problems have existed in the POlice Department since 1996 and <br />nothing has been done to correct the situation. Mr. McLane asked for Council's support to <br />address problems in the Police Department. <br /> <br /> Mr. Robert Frazier, a police officer, said that _a~ least two-thirds of the employees in the <br />Police Department support ChiefWolford, and expressed concern that many employees have <br />a personal agenda in opposing the Chief. Mr. Frazie~ noted that change always brings <br />discontent, and that many of those who now oppose the Chief were the ones who opposed <br />the lack of change under the former Chief. Mr. Fraziler said that a consultant should be used <br />to address pay and benefit issues and asked that the Police Department be allowed to do its <br />job without inappropriate interference. <br /> <br /> Mr. Bruce DeBuke said that instead of paying for a pay study, the City can use the <br />manual supplied by the Labor Department listing job Idescriptions. Mr. DeBuke said that <br />management problems exist not only in the Police Department, but throughout the City, and <br />recommended that Council read 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Mr. DeBuke said that <br />while he agrees with reversion, he thinks the opposition to it by Albemarle County residents <br />should be taken into consideration. Mr~ DeBuke said he feels that the City's trash sticker <br />system is a fiasco. <br /> <br /> Mr. Michael Webb, t 852 Westview Road, said he would like to see a healing process <br />begin in the Police Department, and criticized Mr. O'Connell and Council for their handling <br />of the situation. <br /> <br /> Mr. O'Connell said that he has heard a lot of good things about the Police Department <br />from residents, but will be hiring a consultant to participate in an internal review of the <br />Department. <br /> <br />PUBLIC HEARING: PROPOSED BY 97-98 BUDGET <br /> <br /> Ms. Slaughter said that the Council has thought about the budget in the context of <br />assuring a sustainable future for the City by proposing a budget that maintains services and <br />prepares for an uncertain future; reserves funds that are set aside to benefit the City or <br />leverage funds to invest; adds two police officers, tw~ firefighters, a housing inspector, a <br /> <br /> <br />