MINUTES FOR THE BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING 
ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL
June 21, 2011
Council Chambers
1175 E. Main Street
 

 
Budget Committee Chair Dee Anne Everson called the meeting to order at 6:45 p.m.
 
Roll Call:  Members Baldwin, Chapman, Gentry, Keil, Lemhouse, Morris, Runkel, Silbiger, Stebbins, Stromberg, Thompson and Voisin were present.  Member Slattery was absent.
 
Minutes of March 16, 2011 and March 17, 2011 of the Social Service Grant Committee were approved.
 
Discussion of Grant Allocations & Approval:
 
Members Thompson/Keil  m/s to approve Social Services grants as presented by sub-committees. Voice Vote: all AYES. Motion passed.
 
Members Thompson/Chapman m/s to approve Economic Development, Cultural, Tourism and Sustainability grants as presented by sub-committees. Voice Vote: all AYES. Motions passed. Member Runkel abstained from vote due to conflict of interest.
 
Discussion by members regarding process included suggestion to move away from percentages and to request additional information prior to making decision, to bring the grant process more in-line with Economic Development Plan, concern that the Budget Committee is making policy decisions that should be made by the City Council and scoring system for applications
 
Clarification on allocation of funds was made along with the historic process.  Discussion regards by members included reviewing tier levels and It was agreed that it may be worthy of council discussion on further clarification associated with allocation of funds.
 
Continued discussion noted not all members were concerned with the input being provided to the City Council on providing grants and that structure currently works well.  It was noted that in other communities the recipients of the grants have been more involved in the process.
 
Members Runkel/Voisin m/s that the Grant Award letters should request that the grant recipients of these funds be notified of the need to identify the source of the contribution to their program. DISCUSSION: Member Keil stated that is a policy decision and should be forwarded to the City Council for consideration.
 
Members Thompson/Runkel m/s to amend motion stating that any public grant funding be required to be disclosed.  Voice Vote: all AYES. Motion passed.
 
Voice vote on amended main motion: Members Baldwin, Chapman, Everson, Lemhouse, Morris, Runkel, Stebbins, Stromberg, Thompson and Voisin, YES; Members Gentry, Keil and Silbiger, NO. Motion passed 9-3.
 
Meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
 
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara  Christensen, City Recorder