12/17/17 — Council to revisit new fee

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Council to revisit new fee

By Rochelle Moore
Published in News on December 17, 2017 3:05 AM

The Goldsboro City Council will revisit proposed commercial stormwater fees and whether to change the mayor's voting power during its meeting Monday.

A new stormwater fee structure for all non-residential properties is under consideration, with a declining fee for larger properties under review by the council. The fees, if approved, are expected to go into effect in March.

Residential property owners started paying a monthly fee of $4.50 in July, as part of the city's effort to ramp up reserves to improve stormwater control and reduce flooding and other related problems in the city.

The council will receive an update from its attorney on the council's ability to change the city charter that would allow the mayor to vote only when the council is locked in a tie vote. Currently, the mayor votes on city items, as part of the seven-member council.

The council will discuss the two items and also receive an update on the 2018 summer youth employment program during its 5 p.m. work session, in the City Hall annex, at 200 N. Center St.

During the regular 7 p.m. meeting, the council will consider establishing a capital project fund ordinance for a $6.2 million Clean Water State Revolving loan, from the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, to pay for phase four of the city's sewer collection rehabilitation project.

The project, which would take place during the city's fiscal 2018-19 budget year, includes the rehabilitation and replacement of sewer lines. The area where the system will be repaired is identified as being east of Center Street, north of Elm Street, west of Berkeley Boulevard and south of Royall Avenue, said Marty Anderson, Goldsboro chief city engineer.

The council is also set to review an additional $41,200 cost to its $4.7 million water meter replacement project with Ferguson Waterworks. The additional cost will pay for larger water meter boxes and lids at 200 commercial locations in the city, said Kaye Scott, Goldsboro finance director.

The company started replacing commercial water meters in September, with 255 finished to date, and will start replacing residential meters in January, Scott said.

The citywide project includes replacing 15,000 meters. The replacements were needed after the city's older meters stopped working properly and led to manual reading by city staff.

The new meters will report readings instantly, improve reading accuracy and allow for easier disconnections.

Also during the meeting, the council will consider:

* Changing the city's personnel policy to increase the number of days off for Christmas from two to three, in line with state and county government.

* Increasing the city workforce to 459 employees by adding a full-time public information officer, with an estimated salary pay range of $45,881 to $72,493.

The council will also recognize Planning Director James Rowe for 37 years of employment with the city, prior to his planned retirement on Jan. 1.

The council meeting, at 7 p.m., will be in City Hall, at 214 N. Center St.