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Washington City Council approves appropriations, GAAP waiver and fire department pay increase
Summary
At its Jan. 6, 2025 meeting the Washington City Council approved Appropriations Ordinance 2025-01, adopted a resolution to waive GAAP and operate on a cash basis, amended the fee schedule, and adopted Ordinance No. 824 increasing fire department compensation; the council also accepted two resignations and scheduled a special meeting.
The Washington City Council met Jan. 6, 2025, at City Hall and approved a series of routine but binding measures including an appropriations ordinance, an accounting-method resolution, and an ordinance adjusting fire department pay.
Council Member Carolyn Pinnick moved and Council Member Mary Ann Crome seconded approval of Appropriations Ordinance 2025-01; the motion passed with Council Members Amy Anderson, Mary Ann Crome, Terry Morse and Carolyn Pinnick voting aye. Pinnick also moved adoption of Resolution 2025-01 authorizing the City of Washington to waive generally accepted accounting principles and operate on a cash-basis system; Amy Anderson seconded and the motion passed on the same recorded ayes.
The council adopted Resolution 2025-02, amending the city fee schedule as allowed by city code; the motion to adopt was made by Carolyn Pinnick and seconded by Terry Morse and passed with the four members present voting aye. Council also adopted Ordinance No. 824, which amends Chapter 6, Fire Protection, Article 1, Section 6-116 of the City Code to adjust compensation for members of the fire department; the ordinance was adopted on a motion by Pinnick, seconded by Morse, and recorded as passed by the four members present.
Council accepted the resignation of firefighter Nick L’Ecuyer effective Dec. 31, 2024, on a motion by Pinnick seconded by Crome; the council likewise accepted the resignation of EMT Sheila Shannon effective Jan. 1, 2025, on a subsequent motion by Pinnick seconded by Morse. The meeting record shows both motions carried with the same recorded ayes.
Council considered but took no action on Resolution 2024-03 related to GRDA agreements and requested additional information before deciding. The meeting included a motion by Council Member Terry Morse, seconded by Carolyn Pinnick, to enter executive session to discuss non-elected personnel reviews; a second executive-session motion was recorded minutes later. The council voted to adjourn and set a special meeting for 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025; the meeting adjourned at 8:49 p.m.
Why it matters: The appropriations ordinance and the GAAP-waiver resolution affect how the city budgets and records financial activity; changes to the fee schedule and the fire-department compensation ordinance have immediate operational and personnel implications for city services and employees. The council’s request for more information on GRDA agreements signals staff follow-up before committing to contractual obligations.
What’s next: Staff were asked to provide additional materials on the GRDA agreements; the city will also proceed with the special meeting scheduled for Jan. 16, 2025. No vote tallies beyond the recorded ayes for each motion are noted in the minutes.
