Q: Can you explain how the city’s budget process works?
A: New Mayor Donna Deegan has presented her budget to the City Council, which the Finance Committee will be reviewing to assure accountability and use of funds over the next month. She placed a significant emphasis on infrastructure spending throughout the city, and I expect that Mandarin, too, will be a beneficiary. Although I am not a member of the Finance Committee, I will be taking part in these discussions. There will be a series of public Budget Hearing Meetings, with the first one taking place on Aug. 10.
Q: What are your committee assignments on City Council for the upcoming year?
A: I have been named the chair of the Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public Health and Safety Committee (NCSPHS) which addresses the concerns of our constituents and dovetails nicely with the special Critical Quality of Life Issues Committee, which I spearheaded last year. The NCSPHS is the first committee that takes on new items and oftentimes amendments to ordinances come from this committee. It’s the council’s first opportunity to critically review ordinances. I will also continue my service on the Rules Committee, which will be pivotal as it relates to the mayor’s new appointments.
Additionally Council President Ron Salem has created a special committee and asked me to head it up. This committee is tasked with exploring the location, cost, healthcare, mental healthcare and other issues involved with relocating the jail out of downtown. We will just be laying the foundation for the future as we don’t expect immediate action on this. The public will be able to participate in meetings in the future.
I’d like to express my gratitude to Council President Salem for the confidence he placed in me to serve on these committees.
Q: Do you have any updates since last month on the Livingston Road or County Dock Road rezoning applications?
A: The Livingston Road application continues to be deferred. As for the County Dock property, nothing has changed since last month, but I fully expect it to start up again by late August.
Q: Do you have anything else to share with Mandarin readers?
A: Mayor Donna Deegan and I will be hosting a Town Hall meeting on Thursday, Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. at the Mandarin Senior Center, located at 3848 Hartley Road. Mayor Deegan plans to address the city’s budget, the Jaguars, and anything else attendees would like to discuss during a Q&A segment.
Q: What is the best way for our readers to contact you?
A: Community members can email me at MBoylan@coj.net or call (904) 255-5206.
