Perry Mayor and Council passed a resolution at Tuesday’s regular meeting relative to the wearing of masks. City Manager Lee Gilmour described the resolution as having two purposes. The first purpose would confirm requirements that the city is obligated to follow regarding the Perry Arts Center and the Public Safety building in compliance with a judicial order. The second, Gilmour said would require citizens coming into City Hall to abide by the city’s mask policy, which City Attorney Brooke Newby clarified during Tuesday’s pre-council meeting would require members of the general public to wear a face covering when entering City Hall, as well as requiring city employees to wear a face covering when in public areas of city buildings.
Newby informed that she believed that it has been a request of some employees for it to be considered that it be required of the general public to wear masks, due to interactions with the public at City Hall.
“The reason for City Hall would be based on some of the city staff asking for that consideration by administration and council because of their interaction with the public, especially down in customer service, the tax and licensing specialists, because they are interfacing directly with the public.
The other two requirements with the Perry Arts Center and the Public Safety Building, those are requirements that we have to implement to be in compliance with the judicial order, because they are being [used as] court facilities…” explained Newby.
This resolution was adopted unanimously.
Also on the agenda, was a resolution establishing a policy for the requesting and implementation of traffic calming devices on city streets, which was adopted by council unanimously. City Manager Gilmour expressed that the policy, which stemmed from a discussion at the previous evening’s work session, would provide a general outline for citizens who are interested in having such a device installed.
At Monday’s work session, Gilmour presented council with suggested points of criteria, including that at least 70% of affected current residents (those that live within 200 feet of the proposed location of the device) be required to sign the petition requesting the device, the devices be constructed to account for the use of public safety vehicles, and that the request be approved by council after a public hearing is held. Gilmour clarified, Tuesday, that all affected property owners should be notified—among other points.
In other business, council adopted a resolution amending the city’s fee schedule. According to supporting documentation, the resolution would adjust the fireworks location permit fee—which Gilmour said would be a reduction—to comply with state law, establish a sewerage connection charge for the East Perry service area of $800 per equivalent residential unit and lastly, adjust fees for repeated false alarm fire alarms, or alarms in the test or disable position—which Gilmour vocalized is prohibited.
According to documents, in a 12-month period, the first two false alarm calls would result in no charge, with the third resulting in a $75 charge, the fourth $205, and the fifth and beyond $500. Alarms placed on tests or disable would result in a $75 fee for the first violation, $150 for the second, with the third resulting in a $205 fee, and the fifth and beyond being $500.
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