Editor's note: A previous version of this article stated that the $20,000 allocated to the Main Street Milton program by the CRA was to go toward hiring an executive director. The CRA funds are to go toward downtown redevelopment efforts. The funds needed to hire an executive director are already built into the city's budget under general funds.
MILTON — The Milton Council approved $20,000 of CRA contingency funds to go to the Main Street Milton program for downtown redevelopment at the March 13 Community Redevelopment Agency and City Council meetings.
According to Watkins, everything the city has received from MSM members has been compiled into a draft agreement he sent to the council over the weekend and should answer any questions they may have.
City Attorney Heather Lindsay presented a recommendation to not fund the MSM program.
“My recommendation is that we make sure that they have shown compliance with federal and state law before municipal funds are dedicated to Main Street Milton,” Lindsay said.
“We’ve been waiting 30 days from the Committee of the Whole knowing we’re going in this direction and staff has not even personally… reached out to Main Street?” Snow asked. “To me, that means you reach out to them, ask, try to work it out.”
Lindsay questioned how the city was to know if Cassandra Sharp was the authorized representative for the organization. Snow suggested calling MSM. Lindsay said it wasn’t enough to hear confirmation over the phone. There are certain documents that need to be provided.
“If you… actually contact them back or respond… then you might could get some of the answers and… all of this might have been resolved by now instead of us having to wait another month for this to go through,” Snow said.
Lindsay said she wasn’t asked to give her opinion, but when her firm realized the council made motions to use the Garden Club building and have two employees funded by the city, her father suggested providing some advice to the council.
Councilwoman Sharon Holley expressed concerns about spending tax-payer money on the program and leasing the building to both the Garden Club and MSM simultaneously.
“Main Street Milton is absolutely in a rebuilding stage,” Sharp said. “’The information you provided… we already know this and most of the council should already know it. Staff should know it.”
According to Lindsay, the city can not give municipal funds to a nonprofit unless it meets certain requirements, including adherence to public records requests and Sunshine Law.
Lindsay said she perceived the funding would come solely from taxpayer dollars based on prior motions but Snow said that is incorrect — the only funding would be to get them into compliance with hiring a director.
In that case, the program would not have to adhere to Sunshine Law, and Watkins said the agreement can be amended to remove that section.
According to Watkins, there is enough money in the city's budget to hire one person, not two, without having to reallocate money. The city currently employs an events coordinator; however, once an executive director is hired, the events coordinator position will cease to exist.
The money allocated for the events coordinator's salary in the city's budget will pay the MSM executive director's salary. The director will be chosen by the MSM board and approved by the city manager.
Snow motioned to authorize $20,000 from the CRA for MSM, and Powell seconded. Snow amended his motion to also approve the agreement put forth by Sharp. The motion passed with only Councilwoman Sharon Holley opposed.
During the council meeting, the item to rent the Garden Club building to MSM for $1 per year passed after a motion made by Councilman Casey Powell and seconded by Councilwoman Peggi Smith.
MSM will occupy and manage the rental facility as office space, storage, meeting space, and fundraising and membership events, while the city will be responsible for maintenance, insurance and utilities.
Margie Baldwin of the Garden Club said they will welcome MSM to the facility, but ask for cooperation with their club.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: City approves $20,000 for Main Street Milton program