Council To Discuss Tabled Resolutions, Finance Software

The City Council will meet tonight to discuss additional information regarding two resolutions that were debated during April's first voting session, as well as a proposal for a new finance software system.

Last week, the City Council requested additional information from Deputy Fire Chief Matthew Coon and the city administration regarding the proposal to hire eight additional firefighters through the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant program. If approved, the eight additional firefighters would allow the Jamestown Fire Department to operate with full staffing levels for the first time in two decades.

While the SAFER grant would provide three years of funding for eight additional firefighters, the city would have to cover training and equipment expenses for the firefighters. Additionally, the city would be faced with a difficult choice of how to provide funding for the increase staffing at the Jamestown Fire Department after the end of the three-year grant program.

The City Council will also discuss a proposal to hire a new ombudsman position to replace the associate corporation counsel's position. Ben Haskin, former associate corporation counsel, completed his last day in his position on Friday. Elliot Raimondo, corporation counsel, has expressed his desire to have the city hire an ombudsman to cover the day-to-day human resources issues, allowing him to focus more of his time on pressing legal issues for the city.

The City Council's only new business on the agenda for tonight's meeting is a resolution for a new finance and payroll software. The proposed resolution would authorize Mayor Eddie Sundquist to execute an agreement with the Springbrook Holding Company, LLC. The agreement with Springbrook would require the city to allocate $106,286.50 in American Rescue Plan Act Transparency and Tracking Funds to acquire a new finance and payroll software.

All committee meetings have been cancelled tonight due to a lack of City Council agenda items. The City Council's second monthly work session meeting will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the police training room. The public is welcome to attend.