City library, parks underspent budgets
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POLSON — Mayor Pat DeVries started off the Sept. 20 Polson City Commissioners meeting with two things to note on the commission meeting of Sept. 8.
“The first one is a correction concerning a statement that was attached to the budget amendment at that meeting,” DeVries said. “... It stated that the library and parks overspent their personal services budget by $22,389.”
DeVries continued, “I went back and looked at these numbers because I didn’t feel real comfortable with that, and what happened was the library’s personal service budget for 2009-10 was $127,684. The actual amount they spent was $115,318, which meant it was underspent by $12,366.”
“The parks personal services budget was $80,058,” for the year 2009-10,” DeVries said, “And the actual amount spent was $70,035, which was under spent by $10,023. The total of those adds to the same $22,389, but it was an underspent not an overspent.”
DeVries’ next correction was on comments made by Police Chief Chase. DeVries said, “… What Chief Chase meant to say was he returned $24,000 to the general fund from the previous year’s budget and that his fiscal year 2010-11 budget for non-payroll lines were cut by five percent across the board.”
During public comment on matters of significant interest to the public not on the agenda, Polson Chamber of Commerce President Jeremy Morgret read a letter from the chamber’s board of directors.
The letter thanked the commissioners and the mayor for their time and commitment and then said “However, we come before you today to voice our serious concerns in regards to the lack of communication and transparency that has been exhibited in recent city council meetings. … There is no disputing the importance of communication, especially in a governing body. … These challenges in effective communication have been exhibited between the city commissioners and the city staff surrounding recent discussions on the city budget.”
At the end of the letter, the chamber’s board of directors asked “that you open up the discussion once again on the city budget until all parties involved feel they have received sufficient and accurate information to make an informed decision.”
Ric Smith, local realtor, also spoke up. Smith said he was concerned about the way the city had been moving forward. Smith said he witnessed the treatment of Tony Porrazzo when he walked out of a city commission meeting.
“Anybody in the audience just, I’m sure, had the sense there was a lots of discussion before the meeting amongst commission members.”
Smith also commented on the Sept. 8 budget meeting. He said Commissioner Lies put forward a motion to pass the budget with five or six amendments.
“It was very obvious that the council members who voted for those amendments were aware of them and knew and had discussed them before the meeting. It was also very obvious the commissioners who voted against them were probably not aware of those amendments that were very serious. … It was really what I would call an ambush, and are we going to have government by ambush? Are we going to have government in the city of Polson by back room deals? I certainly hope not ...” Smith concluded.
In city manager comments, City Manager Todd Crossett included the following:
• Crossett and DeVries attend an economic summit in Butte last week put on by Senator Max Baucus.
• The Streetscape project is on schedule and on budget. As soon as the weather cooperates, the contractors will start paving again.
• The Polson Development Code may be finished with its re-do about the middle of October.
• Congratulations to the Eagle Scouts and Boy Scouts on their good work at the Travis Dolphin Dog Park.
The commissioners passed the first reading of Ordinance #622, which would replace the street bond requirement of a three-year CD with a permit fee. They also unanimously approved the June and July cash reports.
The next city commission meeting is scheduled for Oct. 4 at 7 p.m.
