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217 <br /> <br /> Ms. Waters recommended that Council discuss establishing <br /> a policy about the use of CDBG funds for new versus ongoing <br /> programs and an increase in the percentage of CDBG funds for <br /> social programs prior to next year's budget cycle. <br /> <br /> Ms. Peggy King, Executive Director of the Northwestern <br /> Virginia Health Systems Agency~ and Mr. Tom Bernier, <br /> President of the Agency's local Advisory Council, requested <br /> funding and explained that the Agency is valuable because it <br /> helps localities develop health systems in a rational way. <br /> <br /> Ms. Nancy O'Brien, Executive Director~of the Thomas <br />Jefferson Planning District Commission, requested funding for <br />increasing the time for the Commission,s legislative liaison. <br /> <br /> Mr. Buck questioned why staff had not.recommended the <br />additional funding for the legislative liaison and Mr. <br />Hendrix replied that while he felt the position was valuable, <br />no new programs had been recommended for funding. <br /> <br /> Ms. Peppy Linden, Director of the Virginia Discovery <br />Museum, requested additional funding for afterschool <br />programming at the Museum. <br /> <br /> Mr,-Buck stressed the importance of the Museum reaching <br /> out to various segments of the community to assure that they <br /> are aware of the Museum and the programs it offers. <br /> <br /> Mr. Ken Ackerman, Executive DirectOr of MACAA, requested <br />funding for MACAA's Housing Counselor, Parents in Education <br />Program, Project Discovery, and Hope House. Mr. Ackerman <br />stated that Parents in Education operates out of Jackson Via <br />Elementary School and currently works with 17 families. <br />Project Discovery has served 80 students~throughout the year. <br />The Housing Counselor has successfully resolved the housing <br />problems of one-half of-the clients~who sought assistance <br />Mr. Ackerman stated that federal funds for Hope House have <br />decreased dramatically and the program is currently operating <br />at a deficit. Mr. Ackerman requested that Council provide <br />funding for Hope House equal to the real estate taxes on the <br />Hope House property. <br /> <br /> Mr. Paul Garrett, Clerk of the Circuit Court, requested <br />funding to increase a half-time deputy clerk to full time to <br />handle the increased criminal and civil case load. <br /> <br /> Council discussed a recent proposal made by Mr. Vandever <br />to lower the real estate tax rate and make significant cuts <br />to the City's budget. <br /> <br /> Mr. Towe stated that he did not-feel it would be fair to <br />City employees to make cuts only to the City's budget and not <br />to the School,s budget. <br /> <br /> Mr. Vandever stated that he did~not believe~that staff' <br />adequately addressed the savings recommended in his line item <br />reductions. Mr. Vandever stated that he felt the City was <br />paying for items that are more convenient than essential, but <br />not necessarily wasteful, Mr. Vandever suggested a 2% <br />reduction in City expenditures. ~i ~ . <br /> <br /> Mr. Buck stated that he felt it was important~to <br />continue funding for maintenance of City,buildings and <br />equipment and added that the cuts recommended by Mr. Vandever <br />could only be accomplished by significant cuts in personnel <br />and prog.rams. Mr. Buck continued that he did~not.think the <br />City was in ~a retrenchment or recession situation and felt <br />that people are generally .satisfied with the ser-vices they <br />receive and the taxes they pay. <br /> <br /> Mr. Towe stated that he felt people have legitimate <br />concerns because of increases in assessments, proposed <br />increases in automobile decals,~ pro-r.ation, and the cigarette <br /> <br /> <br />