Welcome from Dr. Reece
West Kentucky Community & Technical College President Dr. Anton Reece welcomed the attendees of the City Commission meeting since this meeting was held at WKCTC’s Crounse Hall. To encourage participation and community engagement, the City Commission periodically holds meetings off-site away from City Hall and out in the community.
FY2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report Presentation
Finance Director Jonathan Perkins and David Hampton of Kemper CPA Group, LLP provided an overview of the City’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report which includes the City audit. The audit is required by State law; however, the Report is a voluntary document that the City prepares to provide additional information and transparency to the public. The report is for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2022. The audit states that there are no findings of deficiencies related to the financial statements. Paducah is one of the few cities in Kentucky that prepares a Report. For 31 consecutive years, Paducah has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA).
Amend Code of Ordinances Related to Public Comments
The Board introduced an ordinance to amend Section 2-145 related to public comments at City Commission Meetings. Specifically, the proposed ordinance no longer would limit public comments at regular City Commission meetings only to items listed on the agenda. This ordinance also would authorize the Presiding Officer to moderate, allow, disallow, extend or limit public comments in accordance with the following specific provisions:
- Members of the public wishing to make comments shall complete a public comment card which shall be available online and at the Commission meeting. Public comment cards shall be submitted to the City Clerk prior to the start of the meeting at which the person wishes to speak.
- If several attendees wish to make comments on the same topic, the Presiding Officer may require that a representative be selected to make comments on behalf of the larger group.
- Comments may be in regards to any topic which is within the scope and responsibility of the Board at any Regular Commission Meeting. Public comments at Special Called Commission Meetings shall be limited to the items listed on the agenda.
- If a speaker has spoken on the same subject at multiple meetings, it is the right of the Presiding Officer to no longer allow comments on the subject from said speaker.
- Speakers must maintain decorum and respectfulness when addressing the Board. It is the right of the Presiding Officer to cause public comments to be halted if a speaker is disrespectful, threatening or out of order.
- The Presiding Officer may set a time limit for speakers considering the number of persons wishing to speak and the length of time the Board has been meeting. As a general rule, no person shall be permitted to speak longer than three minutes at any meeting.
- Generally, public comments will be allowed at the end of the meeting. However, the Presiding Officer may choose to allow for public comments at other times during the meeting when the comments relate to an item being considered or discussed by the Board.
- Before beginning their comments, speakers must state their name and whether they are a City resident, and, if speaking for an organization or other group, identify the organization represented.
Additional Meeting Information
- Mayor George Bray recognized Matthew King with a Junior Duke of Paducah award for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. Matthew is a sophomore at McCracken County High School.
- Municipal orders approved for the declaration and sale of surplus property parcels located at 416 and 418 North 13th Street and 1645 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
- Municipal order approved authorizing a contract with Vaughn Petitt Legal Group for legal services related to the recent misconduct charge pursuant to KRS 83A.040(9) against City Commissioner David Guess.
- Motion approved to appoint Commissioner Sandra Wilson as Mayor Pro Tem. Commissioner Wilson received the highest number of votes in last November’s City Commission election.
- Ordinance approved amending the current budget to increase revenues and expenditures for the $1,000,000 Community Development Block Grant that the City has received on behalf of the Paducah-McCracken County Senior Center. An agreement also was approved between the City and the Senior Center with project cost overruns to be the responsibility of the Senior Center. The Center is designing a new 7000 square foot facility to be built at 1600 Kentucky Avenue.
- Ordinance approved for a non-exclusive, ten-year telecommunications franchise agreement with Quad State Internet, LLC, a local internet service provider.
- Ordinance introduced to amend Section 2-315 in the Paducah Code of Ordinances related to firefighting training. The amendment would extend the initial training period from 20 weeks to no more than 32 weeks.
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