The Town of Hollow Rock remains without a budget as their board again passed a continuing resolution during the August 19 board meeting.
“We are working on the budget,” Town Recorder RaSha Higdon told the board.
She explained that while the general fund portion of the budget is complete, the water budget remains unfinished.
“I already sent our June continuing resolution to the Comptroller’s office, and they know we’re passing this tonight and sending this in.” She said. “They know we will not have one by the 31st.”
“How close are we to having a complete budget?” asked Alderwoman Angela Stockdale.
Higdon responded that progress depends on the limited availability of outside assistance.
“Two or three days, if we could get a good five to six hours in the day. But [Bruceton recorder] Annie [Hand] can only assist me with it after work,” Higdon said. ” She has given me a lot of assistance.”
The continuing resolution allows the town to operate under last year’s appropriations until a new budget is finalized. It was adopted unanimously.
Clerk Pay Request
The board revisited a request from town clerk Anna Carrington for a $2 per hour raise, during the time she picked up extra work while Higdon was out for surgery.
Alderwoman Vivian Grooms explained that Carrington had worked 138 hours in July. Thirty-eight of those hours were beyond her regular office time.
Alderwoman Stockdale raised concerns about approving any changes.
“We don’t know where we stand on that, because we still don’t have a budget,” she said. “We don’t know how much is budgeted for salaries.”
The board tabled the topic until a later meeting.
Meeting Time Change
The board approved moving its regular meeting time from 7 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the third Tuesday each month.
After Town Attorney Butch Maddox agreed that it fit his schedule, the board passed it unanimously.
Hollow Rock’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen will now meet on the third Tuesday of every month at 5 p.m.
Other Business
The board approved a measure to remove the former mayor Bobby Brotherton from all town bank accounts.
Members also discussed sanitation contracts, and decided to start soliciting bids from alternative garbage pickup companies.
Additionally, the board voted to seek bids for a town accountant who will assist with financial management.
Hollow Rock’s next regular meeting will be on September 16 at 5 p.m.
