Sections
Bluefieldnews.net
Baumgardner Recieves
Unanimous Approval,
By Art Harvath,
HNN City Hall Correspondent
Council
Approves New
"Service" Fee
Huntington city council unanimously passed a resolution confirming Arthur
E. Baumgardner as chief of police. Though the vote was unanimous, two
council members did express concern that the position wasn’t advertised.
“I think an opportunity should be given for persons to at least apply
for the job…..that’s my only objection,” said councilman
Larry Patterson. “I feel that’s a need for any appointment or
any hiring that needs to be done in the city,” he added.
Council member Mary Neely expressed similar concerns. “I think Mr.
Baumgardner will make a fine chief, but my question was should we not
take applications for this and not maybe set ourselves up for a law suit
later on,” said Neely.
Personnel Director Sherry Lewis brought up the example that Charleston
for the past 10 years has never advertised the position. Referring to
Baumgardner’s references and credentials she said, “I am completely
satisfied that confirming the appointment of Chief Baumgardner is the
proper thing to do.”
Council passed an ordinance sponsored by Trey Hanshaw to impose a city
service fee of $1 per week on people who work inside the city limits.
The money will be deducted from their pay checks. The money collected
from the fee will go to police protection and traffic and street maintenance.
Councilmen Tom McCallister, Jim Insco and Charlie Thompson voted against
the ordinance.
Council seems sure that there will be a court challenge. The ordinance
was amended during the first reading two weeks ago to hold any money collected
for 180 days. This would allow time for any court action.
“This is merely a payroll tax,” said Charlie Thompson. “Anytime
you withhold an employee’s money, it’s a payroll tax.
Finance Director Bob Wilhelm was asked how the city will collect the new
fee.
“It will be collected like all the other fees and taxes are collected,”
said Wilhelm. “Employers will be required to send it in and if they
don’t, then we’ll have that job to deal with, with what resources
we have.”
Mayor Felinton spoke in behalf of the fee. “I certainly think this
is the best source of revenue, or rather the least painful source of revenue,”
he said. “However, I do not want to give anyone the impression that
this will save any jobs,” said the mayor.
Felinton then suggested that council raise the new fee to $2 per week,
which caused somewhat of an argument between the mayor and council.
“If anyone has any care about saving these jobs we would seriously
consider an amendment real quick that would raise this from $1 a week
to $2 a week to do it right the first time. That way we don’t come
back 6 months down the road and say ‘oh, we’ll look like idiots
if we try to raise it again,’” said Felinton.
Out of the six people who spoke from the audience, four were in favor
of the fee.
In other council action:
*council adopted an ordinance bringing the local fire codes up to state
standards.
*abandoned an alley in Guyandotte to provide parking lot space for the
Guyandotte Church of Christ.
*read a 1st reading of an ordinance allowing bingo to be held at the Civic
Center.
*read a 1st reading of an ordinance concerning sewer regulations and charges.
*the mayor’s proposal for a Public Safety Fee died for a lack of
a sponsor.
*passed a resolution requiring the mayor to provide council and the public
with a detailed report of the Pullman Square Project.
*tabled an order of council directing the city clerk to maintain a roster
of citizens to provide council with the invocation at council meetings.
*appointed Wendy Thomas to the Huntington Housing Authority.
