City council to meet in special session

By BRAD KELLAR
Herald-Banner Staff

GREENVILLE July 25, 2008 12:47 am

— Greenville City Council members will be getting to work early today.
The panel is scheduled to travel to Commerce for what is expected to be a day-long special session covering a wide variety of topics, from addressing future infrastructure projects, to local gang activity, to parades and the City of Greenville’s Animal Control Ordinance.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7:45 a.m. inside the Leadership Lounge of the Texas A&M University-Commerce Memorial Student Center.
The first item on the lengthy agenda is a presentation by Interim Parks and Recreation Director Colby VanGundy of proposed recreation activities at the Reecy Davis Recreation Center, followed by information from Public Works Director Massoud Ebrahim on current and needed additional water, sewer and road infrastructure projects.
Director of Human Resources Barry Robinson is then scheduled to present information on how Greenville’s employee benefits compare to other cities, along with changes to the Texas Municipal Retirement System.
All of the above is expected to be handled before lunch, but that doesn’t mean the Council can take the lunch hour off, as Greenville Police Officer James Hamilton is scheduled to give a status report on gang activity in the city.
Director of Administrative Services Stephen Compton intends to offer information on a Strategic Technology Plan developed for the City of Greenville, followed by Director of Community Development John Adel presenting proposed changes to the animal ordinance and then a status report on the 2004 Comprehensive Plan.
City Manager Steven Alexander is scheduled to make a presentation concerning the city’s parade ordinance, then lead a discussion on the possibility of televising Council meetings.
The special session is expected to conclude following a discussion on the Council travel and training policies.