Clifton council approves $15,000 one-time bonus for interim city manager, sets special meeting for budget

The Clifton City Council voted to award a one-time $15,000 bonus to Carl Stevens, the finance director who has been serving as interim city manager, drawing the funds from the city manager line item because some budgeted funds were not spent in the prior fiscal year.

Council member Mr. Cook presented a finance committee recommendation to grant the bonus and moved the motion; Mr. Kirkindall seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote. No individual roll-call tally was recorded in the meeting record.

The decision came after council members discussed Mr. Stevens’s work filling the interim city manager role while the municipal association assists the city in recruiting a permanent manager. Council members said Stevens led ongoing tasks including completing an audit and helping prepare the city’s proposed 2526 budget.

The council also agreed to hold a special called meeting at 6 p.m. on June 23 to advertise and hold the public hearing required for the second reading of the 2526 budget, after members concluded the prior schedule would not allow sufficient time. Mr. Kirkin Doll moved the call; Mr. Smith seconded, and members approved the meeting by voice vote.

In other business, City Manager Mr. Meadows reported staff will contact Blake Sanders, a design and planning architect (and former mayor of West Pelzer who now serves in the state House), to lead a pro bono visioning session about Musgro Street once CEDC and property owners clarify parcel boundaries and available space.

Meadows also reported that the splash pad installation is nearly complete: drain lines are connected and the surrounding area has been seeded, and staff are awaiting the original equipment provider to come demonstrate operations and train employees. "The splash pad is pretty much ready to go," Meadows said, and city staff hope to open it before the middle of the month, pending that training and final checks.

Work on the new recreation complex is advancing as well, Meadows said: the concession stand and scoreboard building are mostly finished and lighting and underground wiring are installed. Progress on grading the fields and installing eight batting-cage/dugout elements has been hampered by rain; infields and fencing will follow completion of grading.

On the Vance property, the Bailey Foundation has pledged $100,000 toward restroom construction but distributes funds at $25,000 per year; council members were told the project will cost about $100,000 to finish and that the city must identify additional funds to complete the work.

Council members were also reminded to supply date preferences for strategic-planning sessions during the week of July 21 with Naomi Reid of the municipal association, and to return municipal association registration choices by June 17.

The meeting ended with routine reports and an adjournment motion approved by the council.