Minutes 05/12/2020 - Laserfiche WebLink

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May 12, 2020 Although I am pleased that you have scheduled a virtual public work session on the FY 2021 budget for next Monday, I disagree with your plan to segue twenty- four hours later into a session involving votes on the budget itself. Doing so belies any previously expressed commitments to transparency in governance that you may have made when you ran for the seats you now occupy. On that timetable the vast majority of your constituents will not have a chance to view the proceedings on Monday or to absorb the significance of same prior to council action. Furthermore, the deadline for formal comment on virtual meeting agenda items is two hours prior to the Monday work session, effectively denying us the opportunity for informed and meaningful participation in budget development for FY 2021. Proceeding in this manner, then, makes a mockery of the notion of representative government. I renew my call, therefore, for a delay in the adoption of the FY 2021 budget. Keeping faith with your constituents requires that you provide us a revised spending plan that accounts for likely revenue and expenditure changes necessitated by evolving economic conditions. Once that proposal has been published, you can schedule an appropriate public hearing and, after due deliberation on the input received, set the date for final approval. Please let me know if you need additional information. Mark Geduldig-Yatrofsky PO Box 50141 Portsmouth, VA 23703-0141 4) Voicemail (Added 5/12/20) "Average day Clara live at 30 harbored Road,a retired firefighter for the City of Portsmouth.And my phone number (757) 465-9791, and I'm just calling to ask ya'll not occurred near the benefits related to retired city employees,for this year's budget,only agenda item,21, 22, I guess that's the right word. It has to do with the budget.Really appreciate, like, yo, you take care that they will baba." 5) In light of the report from City Manager Patton on her strategy for adapting to constraints on revenues and expenditures imposed by the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as modifications to the employee classification and pay plan, parking fees, and water and sewer rates agreed to by members of council at yesterday's virtual work session, I repeat my previous call for deferral of adoption of the FY 2021 budget and the scheduling of new public hearings on its components. The manager's announced plans and your most recent decisions significantly alter what was proposed in the March budget presentation, and citizens have a right to express themselves on those alterations before they are codified in ordinances. As of this writing, none of your rate change proposals has been posted for public review, let alone comment. With no pressing deadline looming, I urge you to advance "with all deliberate speed" in the interests of getting this work done right. Please let me know if you need additional information Yours truly, Mark Geduldig-Yatrofsky, PO Box 50141