Minutes 03/23/1971 - Laserfiche WebLink

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r \ t "I .. MARCH 23, 1971 TUESDAY Vice-Mayor Francis West, after inquiring as to when the Conso1idation- Merger Feasibility Study Report might be made available to members of Council and of the Henry County Board of Supervisors and after expressing his opinion that said report is long overdue, presented the following statement concerning the West Piedmont Planning District: As one of the council's appointed members to The West Piedmont Planning District I consider it prudent - now - to voice some apprenhension about what seems to me a direction of creeping "organizationalism" within this organization. I voice concern not out of derision for The Planning District (which I originally supported) its employees or members. Rather, my wish is to see this added layer of government slow-down before it allows itselt to become another bureaucratic maize run rampant. The timing of my remarks results from the action of The Board of The WPPD at its 2-25-71 meeting when it voted to double the per capita share contributed by each member sub-division; i.e. from lO~ to 20~. I attended this meeting and by my silence (or grunted "OK") it may be assumed that I gave tacit approval to this increase. This has worried me and I want to say now I disapprove of the increase and expect to oppose it when the petition for increase is brought before Council. I tire of the rationale that local government must increase funds in order to grab the optimum doled out by the state or federal money managers and this is the only reason I can see for the per capita increase. We are told that if The District provides less than 20~ per capita increase the state will reduce its contribution to some amount between 20~ and the specific regional contribution. It is estimated The WPPD will have a fiscal year 1971 surplus of $2l,200. If the member localities pay the same 10~ per capita for fiscal year 1972 $21,787 will be generated. Should the State reduce its contribution to l5~ per capita $32,68l will be realized - or another $21,787 if it only matches the localities. Hence, on the low side $64,774 would be the aggregate; $75,668 if the State goes midway. Either figure would seem sufficient for fiscal 1972 what with the WPPD beginning only its second year. The present staff of the West Piedmont Planning District is composed of the following personnel: Executive Director Regional Planner Senior Planner Secretary/Bookkeeper Typist (Part-time) Draftsman (Part-Time)