A special meeting of the Board of Aldermen was held Thursday, January 2, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. in the
Aldermanic Chamber.
President Lori Wilshire presided; City Clerk Susan K. Lovering recorded.
Prayer was offered by Steven Bolton, City Counsel; Alderman David C. Tencza led in the Pledge to the
Flag.
President Wilshire
Before | ask the Clerk to take the roll, Alderwoman Shoshanna Kelly and Alderman Richard A. Dowd
is participating by telephone and under the terms of the State law that allows them to do that, they
need to explain why they can’t attend, if they can hear us, and who they are with, if anyone.
Alderwoman Kelly stated the reason she could not attend, confirmed that she could hear the proceedings,
and stated who was present with her.
Alderwoman Kelly
| am at out of town, | can hear you and | am not with anybody.
President Wilshire
Thank you Alderwoman Kelly.
Alderman Dowd stated the reason he could not attend, confirmed that he could hear the proceedings, and
stated who was present with him.
Alderman Dowd
Yes | am also out of town and | am by myself and | can hear you fine.
The roll call was taken with 14 members of the Board of Aldermen present: Alderman Lopez arrived after
roll call. Alderwoman Kelly and Alderman Dowd were not in attendance but participated in the meeting via
telecommunication.
Mayor James W. Donchess and Corporation Counsel Steven A. Bolton were also in attendance.
President Wilshire
| just got a text from Alderman Lopez, he is on his way. Before | do Communications, | told the Mayor |
would let him address the Board and then Alderman Clemons may have a motion.
Mayor Donchess
Thank you Madam President. Well, | know | am outnumbered, | see 15 Aldermen, 6 or 7 people from the
Police Department. But! am asking the 20 people that are here, to consider compromising and working
with me on this. Now we had two contracts come before us and | expressed reservations about those
contracts for reasons that | have explained, but | will briefly go into.
We had two contracts before us and we, at the same time, are facing a serious problem with healthcare.
We now project $6 million dollars over two years; that alone is 3% on the tax rate, a 20% increase ina
single line item. This puts serious pressure on the budget. Last year you saw the taxes go up, the rest of
the budget, except for this one line item was up only 1 point and %. This line item pushed the entire budget
up to 3% so it has a serious impact on the budget.
