Council moves to advance bond reallocations for City Hall and hears Salisbury Zoo's $167,500 staffing request

Sandy Green, the city's director of finance, explained to the council that leftover proceeds from the 2019 and 2021 general-obligation bonds can be reallocated to acquire and improve 112 West Church Street, the City Hall project. Green and online staff walked the council through the legal sequence (parameters ordinance, then a detailed resolution) required to amend project lists and maximum allocations; the council voiced no questions and indicated consensus to move the amendments forward for formal consideration.

Later in the agenda, Salisbury Zoo Director Chuck Eultz asked the council to amend the FY2026 budget for additional part-time staffing. Eultz, joined by new assistant director Jamie Nichols, said the zoo relies heavily on part-time employees for animal care, guest services and education and faces a shortfall in part-time salary accounts. He provided the appropriation breakdowns staff prepared and said the total requested additional appropriation is $167,500, to be funded from surplus.

Council members asked whether the request reflected new hires or existing staff lines; Eultz said the dollars primarily cover existing part-time staff and seasonal hires for the April-through-September season. Members expressed support and indicated consensus to move the item forward to formal ordinance consideration.

The council also heard a short presentation from the assistant director of field operations on an abandoned vessel at the marina; staff said they had title and family contact and recommended surplus and auction or transfer, and the council indicated consensus to proceed.

No final ordinances or votes were recorded at the work session; the council gave direction to staff to prepare the required ordinance/resolution language and to return the items for formal action.