Montgomery honored at final meeting as Decatur's mayor

City council members and city employees presented outgoing mayor Bill Montgomery with a plaque for his service at Monday's city council meeting. Montgomery has served as mayor since 1996 and as alderman since 1982. Pictured from the left are city attorney Tom Smith, alderman Trip Lapham, alderman David Sutton, outgoing alderman Reagina Davis, mayor Bill Montgomery, alderman Sandy Duncan, outgoing alderman Linda Martin, alderman James Jessen, city administrative assistant Kim Wilkins and city recorder Leslie Haag.
City council members and city employees presented outgoing mayor Bill Montgomery with a plaque for his service at Monday's city council meeting. Montgomery has served as mayor since 1996 and as alderman since 1982. Pictured from the left are city attorney Tom Smith, alderman Trip Lapham, alderman David Sutton, outgoing alderman Reagina Davis, mayor Bill Montgomery, alderman Sandy Duncan, outgoing alderman Linda Martin, alderman James Jessen, city administrative assistant Kim Wilkins and city recorder Leslie Haag.

— City attorney Tom Smith presented Mayor Bill Montgomery with a plaque at Monday’s city council meeting, thanking him on behalf of council members and city employees for his years of service

Montgomery has served as Decatur’s mayor since 1996 and as an alderman since 1982. In addition to the plaque, Smith also gave Montgomery the minutes from the meetings in which he was installedcouncilman and mayor and recalled some of the experiences they have faced together.

“I want to thank you all. It was an honor to serve this community,” Montgomery said.

Montgomery’s wife, sister and children attended the meeting and were present for the ceremony.

Charles Linam won the November election and will be taking office as Decatur’s new mayor on Jan. 1. Monday wasalso the last meeting for councilwomen Reagina Davis and Linda Martin, who will be replaced by Nan McClain and Gina Holt in January.

In other business, the council voted to pass an ordinance adopting a $759,190 budget for 2011 - a budget which willinclude a 3 percent raise for employees, and a Christmas bonus.

Even so, the budget was kept “pretty tight” compared to last year’s, Montgomery said.

Last year the city had a $699,000 budget, Montgomery said. But so far thecity is set to come in under budget, with the exception of a few line items, he added.

The total budget for the water department will be $3.2 million.

Since it is unknown what the new census numbers will be, the city was advised to figure tax rates at the old census numbers for now, and adjust for any extra income next year, Montgomery said.

The new budget also sets aside funds for the reopening of the pool, a matter incoming mayor Charles Linam’s promised to pursue in his campaign literature. The council willhave to vote to make the final decision to reopen the pool, Montgomery noted. The budget will also allow all full-time employees to receive a $300 Christmas bonus. Part-time employees will receive $150 bonus.

The council passed an ordinance changing personnel policy to formally add two “ floating”holidays to the employee’s schedule of paid holidays.

City administrative assistant Kim Wilkins said the city has always offered two floating holidays, the day after Thanksgiving and Good Friday. Upon closer examination of the personnel policy, Wilkins found there was no mention of the two holidays.

Council members needed to vote to add the policy if they still want employees to get the paid holidays, she said. The council responded by unanimously voting for the ordinance.

“Now we’re going to put some concrete shoes on this holiday and sink it right into place,” Montgomery said.

News, Pages 1 on 12/15/2010