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Animal Control Officer Mark Taylor reported twelve 12 calls, four 4 impounds, and three 3 returns. A motion was made by Councilman Clark with a second by Councilman Goodwin to approve payment of claims. Motion carried 4-0. There being no further business to come before the council at this time a motion was made by Councilman Cook with a second by Councilman Clark to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 4- 0. A M Ha , Town Council President ATTEST: Sandra R. Perry, Clerk-Treasurer December 16, 2008 The Mooresville Town Council met in regular session on Tuesday, December 16, 2008, at 6:30 P. M. at the Mooresville Government Center. Town Council members present were: President Mark Harris, Jeff Cook, John L. Clark, Ryan Goodwin, and Tony Langley. No members were absent. Town attorney Tim Currens was present. Ryan Goodwin gave the invocation. A motion was made by Councilman Clark with a second by Councilman Goodwin to approve the minutes of December 2, 2008. Motion carried 5-0. Doug Allen,Assistant Fire Chief, spoke to the council explaining the 77 Police and Fire buyback. Previously when the two departments went in to the plan they.could only be bought back to age 35 and twenty years. Now legislation has changed and they can be bought back to hire date. This would include the following fireman: Robert Allen, Tim Bennett, Les Farmer, Tim Medsker, Kevin Schultheis, Darrell Brown, and Jon Fletcher. The total cost for the Fire is $536,834.00. A motion was made to approve Resolution 15, 2008 to buyback the above mentioned firemen. Motion carried 3-2. Councilman Goodwin and Councilman Langley opposed. Council President Mark Harris commented that for legal reasons he could not vote on the Police buyback. Vice President Jeff Cook took over the meeting. He reported the cost for the police buyback would be $341,088.00. Councilman Goodwin commented the costs do not include interest costs which is another$125,000. He doesn't mean the police did not deserve this,but it comes at a bad time in these unprecedented economic times. He said the entire board had discussed the LOIT had been adopted to safeguard municipalities to put police and fire on the street because the general budgets will have to be lowered. This is good for homeowners and bad for local government. Speaking from the audience for the buyback was Terry Allen stating 85%of the people voted for the fire and police to have their retirement. Steve Hoffman reminded the council that 83%had voted for police and fire to have a pension. Ted Cook said civilians were bought back to hire date and now the police and fire should be bought back to hire date because now the law had changed. William Snyder said he is on this buyback list and he knew that in 1996 the employees had to give up raises so all employee's pensions could be paid for. John Root commented this buyback should not be an option but an opportunity to make this right so they could continue on with their life. Charles Berwick, Police Commissioner, said he supports the buyback. Doug Allen,Assistant Fire Chief, said the money is there. Just how much interest to pay depends on how the council decides to make the payments. Tim.Viles, Police Chief and citizen, commented he had been here in 1996 and helped with the research of the 77 plan. The law did not permit buying back to hire date at that time,now it does and as a citizen he urges'the council to approve the buyback. Danny Allen, Assistant Police Chief, said that early on he was asked what is in this buyback for the Town. He said everyone is the Town and it affects all of them equally. He thinks this needs to be taken care of. Ross Holloway spoke in favor of the buyback and thought this needed to be done to make everything