1997-02-03 - Laserfiche WebLink

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247 spent in legal fees, and other expenses include: $15,000 to update financial projections, $7,500 to update the school study, and $42,264 for staff. Mr. Clyde Gouldman, City Attorney, explained that a paralegal is proposed to be hired for three months and certain Social Services legal work will be contracted out for this time period, lVIr. Gouldman said that stafftime throughout the City will be considerable as even service and all service contracts will need to be analyzed now and post-reversion. Responding to a question from Ms. Richards, Mr. Gouldman said that minor involvement would involve document gathering but no analyzing of services post-reversion, and intermediate involvement will begin to shape possible terms and conditions of reversion. Ms. Richards asked if any of the work will be related to the operation of the schools, and Mr. Gouldman said that the law does not call for operation of the schools to be considered by either the Commission on Local Government or the court, including teacher salaries, student/teacher ratios, employees, and sustaining of programs. Ms. Daugherty noted that the studies will include looking at future voting districts. Ms. Daugherty made a motion to approve the appropriation. Mr. Cox seconded the motion. Mr. Toscano said that he does not quibble with the cost estimates if you are going to advocate for terms and conditions of reversion, but is concerned about the road on which the Council is embarking, Mr. Toscano said that even though Council might hope that there will be some negotiation with Albemarle County and the County School Board, the Board of Supervisors has said they will not negotiate unless Council recommends reversion. Mr. Toscano added that the reversion statutes say nothing about school programs and voting districts and therefore in a reversion process it has to be assumed that neither the Conunission on Local Government nor the court will include terms for these other than transferring the responsibility to Albemarle County. Mr. Toscano noted that in the Halifax County/South Boston decision, the Supreme Court ruled that a jurisdiction could not be required to maintain current levels of service in the other jurisdiction. Mr. Cox said the appropriation does not address studies that would look at best case scenarios regarding schools or voting districts, and he feels that it would be valuable to provide that information. Mr. O'Connell said that a future appropriation will be made for the voting study. Mr. Cox said that he feels it is misleading to say that the City would be turning its schools over to the County since the town would be part of the County and the town's residents would carp an enormous amount of clout in CourtW decisions. Ms. Daugherty said that though certain things are not specified in the reversion statute, she feels some things could still be negotiated, and the City has to be in a position to see what is wanted for the future. Ms. Slaughter said she will support the appropriation as she is seeking to address issues facing the City in the long-term. ORI)INANCE: ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS (2nd reading) Mr. Gouldman recommended that Section 34-576 be amended to clarify the definition of rooms in a bed and breakfast establishment. On motion by Mr. Toscano, seconded by Ms. Daugherty, the ordinance was unanimously amended as recommended by Mr. Gouldman.