City Council continues budget discussions

Sidney City Councilors met Thursday evening for the second of two budget workshops held this week.

In preparation of finalizing the upcoming fiscal year’s budget, councilors met with department heads to discuss potential expenditures and revenue sources. The final city budget will be approved at upcoming regular council meetings.

Library

Andrew Sherman, who was hired earlier this year as the library director, said he kept the proposed budget as flat as possible. Some line item expenses – such as library automation – were reduced from the current fiscal year, while others were increased.

Sherman said next year, two national library conferences will be held in Cheyenne, Wyo., and Denver. He asked for increased travel and training funds to allow additional library staff to attend the conferences since they’ll be held nearby.

Additionally, the director said he is working to create a stronger relationship between the library and area school districts.

Police

Sidney Police Assistant Chief Joe Aikens said the department would like to replace a pair of patrol vehicles that have been incurring high repair bills. Councilor Joe Arteburn asked Aikens to create a list of the department’s vehicles, along with their mileage.

Other possible expenditures not included in the proposed budget included replacing the departments aging Tasers and switching from an analog radio system to digital.

Aikens said in tests, existing police radios were not able to call out from parts of the new hospital currently under construction, but a digital radio was successful.

It’d cost $30,000 to upgrade both portable and in-car radios, he explained.

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Following 2 1/2 hours of budget discussions, the City Council entered a two-hour closed executive session for the purpose of talking about a contract and personnel issues.

Once the executive session concluded, a motion was passed granting the mayor authority to seek an attorney to assist the council in an ongoing personnel matter.

Mayor Mark Nienhueser said J. Leef, the Sidney city attorney, had informed councilors she believes there may be a conflict of interest in her advising the City Council on a specific issue.

“We need outside legal counsel since J. has removed herself,” he said.

The mayor said the council is looking to resolve the personnel matter as soon as possible, but still has some unanswered questions.

“It’s a serious matter,” he said. “A lot of things are at stake, and we want to make sure we do it right.”

Discussions during closed sessions are confidential and protected by state statute. The City Council did not explain further the nature of the personnel matter discussed.