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<br />... <br /> <br />TUESDAY <br /> <br />JUNE 13, 1978 <br /> <br />Mrs. Linda G. Lewis and other members of the Board for the Blue Ridge Regional Library, and <br /> <br />Mrs. Betty M. Ragsdale, Director, informed Council that the City's share of the Regional <br /> <br />Library's 1978-79 budget requests represents some five percent increase over 1977-78. Meanwhile, <br /> <br />Council deferred consideration of the Library Board's request for financial assistance toward the <br /> <br />cost (estimated at $14,000.00) of improving and paving the former "Smith property" lot to <br /> <br />accommodate patron parking, with the cost of landscaping said property to be underwritten by the <br /> <br />Martinsvi1le Garden Club. <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />Supplementing his recent analysis of the City Manager's proposed 1978-79 City Budget, Councilman <br /> <br />Greene (under date of June 13, 1978) presented prepared comments and suggestions concerning said <br /> <br />proposed budget which, incorporating his prior recommendations but excluding any property tax <br /> <br />rate increase, would offer the citizens a balanced budget for 1978-79 without reducing governmental <br /> <br />services. In connection therewith, and upon motion (duly seconded and unanimously carried), <br /> <br />Council denied the request (included in the City Manager's proposed 1978-79 budget) for one <br /> <br />additional traffic signal technician, indicating that such a position might be filled only if a <br /> <br />qualified person might be found among the City's present personnel. Another aspect of Councilman <br /> <br />Greene's June 13th memorandum dealt with the City's merit pay plan and Council's understanding of <br /> <br />its objectives, resulting in Council's decision (on motion by Councilman Greene, seconded by <br /> <br />Councilman West, and the vote being: in the affirmative, Councilmen Greene and West and Mayor <br /> <br />Hobson; in the negative, Councilman Oakes, and abstaining, Vice-Mayor Cole) to "freeze" said <br /> <br />merit pay plan (i.e., not to implement) until such time as the City Administration presents such <br /> <br />a plan as will meet Council's understanding and objectives. Councilman Oakes offered a motion <br /> <br />(seconded by Councilman West) that Council grant an across-the-board 7~% wage increase to City <br /> <br />employees for 1978-79 but eliminate any "step" increases proposed by the City Manager. No action <br /> <br />was taken on this motion, being supplanted by Councilman West's substitute motion (seconded by <br /> <br />-- <br />