MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
FORREST CITY CITY COUNCIL FORREST CITY, ARKANSAS November 17, 2009 The City Council of Forrest City, Arkansas, met in regular session on November 17, 2009. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. Alderman Shepherd opened the meeting in prayer. The following answered roll call: Mayor McCoy, Clerk Cochran, Attorney Cline and City Council Members: Alderman Hollowell, Jeffers, Shepherd, Fields, Capps, Twillie and Oswalt. Alderman Peacock was absent. Alderman Jeffers made a motion to approve the minutes of the previous
meeting. Seconded by Alderman Oswalt. Roll Call: All Ayes. Police Committee
Bid Opening – Financial Institution to Purchase Fire Truck First National Bank of Eastern Arkansas has agreed to loan the
City of Forrest City $124,980 at the fixed interest rate of 3.40%
with payments amortized over five annual installments. The bank
has a loan document fee of $35.00 and will also need to collect
any filing fees to record their lien. Mayor McCoy stated the city
would go with First National Bank, who had the lowest interest rate.
East Arkansas Planning District Resolutions Attorney Cline read a Resolution Whereas, The City of Forrest City, Arkansas is applying to the State of Arkansas for an Arkansas Community and Economic Development grant. Alderman Oswalt made a motion to adopt the resolution. Seconded by Alderman Shepherd. Roll Call: All Ayes. Attorney Cline read a Resolution Residential Anti-Displacement Plan. Alderman Oswalt made a motion to adopt the resolution. Seconded by Alderman Shepherd. Alderman Twillie asked where the resolution would take place: what sites. Attorney Cline stated, it is more of a “what if” situation and if the resolution is passed it would follow Federal regulations. Alderman Capps asked if the city had adopted the Housing Community Development Act of 1974. Alderman Oswalt stated it had been adopted once under Bryant’s administration. Attorney Cline stated they have come up several times over the years for various reasons. Roll Call: All Ayes. Attorney Cline read a Resolution Establishing a Policy Prohibiting the use of Excessive Force by Law Enforcement Agencies within the City of Forrest City’s Jurisdiction Against Individuals Engaged in Non-Violent Civil Rights Demonstrations. Alderman Oswalt made a motion to adopt the resolution. Seconded by Alderman Shepherd. Alderman Twillie asked that resolution be made accessible to the police department. Attorney Cline stated that the police department does have an excessive force policy in place and it is updated regularly. Roll Call: All Ayes. Attorney Cline read a Resolution to Ensure Furtherance of Fair Housing Practices in the City of Forrest City. Alderman Fields made a motion to adopt the resolution. Seconded by Alderman Jeffers. Roll Call: All Ayes. Attorney Cline read a Resolution of the City Council of Forrest City, Arkansas, to Authorize the Mayor and the City Clerk to Execute an Administrative Contract with the East Arkansas Planning and Development District, and will be for the Administration of Community and/or Economic Development Project. Alderman Oswalt made a motion to adopt the resolution. Seconded by Alderman Shepherd. Roll Call: All Ayes. Attorney Cline read the City Council of Forrest City, State of Arkansas a Resolution Authorizing the Mayor of Forrest City to Apply for a Grant on Behalf of the City of Forrest City. Alderman Shepherd made a motion to adopt the resolution. Seconded by Alderman Twillie. Roll Call: All Ayes. Bonus Alderman Oswalt stated what was discussed in the budget meeting was a possible raise and bonus for 2010. He also said he felt what is approved tonight does not have any bearing on the 2010 budget because they are two different fiscal years. Alderman Oswalt made a motion to give $1,000.00 to fulltime employees, $500.00 to part-time employees, and prorated for those who have been employed less than a year. Seconded by Alderman Shepherd. Alderman Twillie, as chairman of the budget committee, repeated the motion made by Alderman Oswalt and asked for an individual roll call. Roll Call: Alderman Jeffers, Hollowell, Shepherd, Twillie, Fields, Capps, and Oswalt. All Ayes. Alderman Twillie asked that the bonuses be given to the employees in time for Black Friday.
Animal Control Ordinance Alderman Jeffers asked what happened to (E) between pages 16 and 17. Alderman Twillie stated once the ordinance is adopted it will be a good ordinance. He also said the city would have to hire at least two additional employees, copies had to be given and charged to everyone who purchased a dog license, then a seminar would have to be given to animal control department and the police department, and there would have to be a lot of investigations done. He also said it would be a good ordinance but the city would not be able to administer the ordinance. Alderman Shepherd said it would only involve the police department if there is a vicious or dangerous dog problem. Alderman Shepherd said they had all the documentation they needed, but there will be some corrections. Alderman Capps stated that as the ordinance was read, he found several things he had questions about and some things he did not agree with and he felt it definitely needed some tweaking before the second reading of the ordinance. Alderman Twillie stated he had so many questions; it seems that the council needed to call a meeting just to deal with the ordinance. Mayor McCoy stated when he visited the City of Conway they said it was very difficult to enforce the ordinance. Alderman Oswalt stated if any council member had any questions, he wished they would have those questions taken care of tonight because if there are any changes to the ordinance Attorney Cline would have to read the whole ordinance over. Alderman Oswalt stated if the council members could get their questions into the mayor’s office by Wednesday the 24th that would give the animal control committee time to get together before the next council meeting.
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