During the Holbrook City Council meeting on Wednesday, March 27, the council approved entering into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Bread of Life Mission to help with code abatement, specifically helping clean up properties and alleys, since the City is lacking in enough personnel for the project.
In Exhibit C of the MOU contract, it states the City will pay the Bread of Life Mission a $12 per hour, per participant “training stipend.” It does not specify if the entire $12 will be paid to the participant or if the Mission will retain a portion of that payment. The Mission will submit its attendance sheet to the City, listing each participant and the number of hours the prospective participant worked. The document states that the City reserves the right to audit any of the payments or attendance sheets but is not a requirement to do so. Payment shall be received by the mission within one week upon submitting a signed attendance sheet. The contract states that the City is not responsible for insurance, which will be provided by the Mission.
Barbara Blythe, who contracts with the City for residential code enforcement but also is employed by the Mission, stated contracting with the Mission will not affect any City grant funds. “What we’re basically doing with the Bread of Life Mission, I’m developing a job training program. To get people back in the employment field, rebuild their resume and work skills,” Blythe stated, “We (the city) don’t have the manpower. It’ll cost us a quarter of the price. They’ll be able to go in, abate properties, start cleaning up all the alleyways. I will be out there, kind of watching on them, helping the transportation, whatever. But it’s a win-win situation.”
Blythe explained this would be for those properties needing abatement but property owners are unable to improve their property after notification to do so from the city. “They still have to pay the fine, the original violation fee. But then instead of incurring anymore, taking them to court, whatever. Some of them have agreed that they will have our people clean up the properties and they’ll reimburse the city. Some we might have to lien for those that are abandoned. But it is also a good way to help secure some of those abandoned properties, for safety for the children, for the community.”
Councilmember Robert Black stated that he would like to table the motion pending correspondence with the Navajo County Probation Department, which the city had worked with in the past for city cleaning projects.
Interim City Manager Randy Sullivan stated that property owners can fill out paperwork allowing city workers to work on their property but he wasn’t sure if probation had that same ability. “I suggest that we utilize both probation and the Bread of Life Mission.”
Blythe stated that the goal of the Mission is to create a skills training program, “not just to go out there and do community service.” She noted that the skills learned would include punctuality, attitude and teamwork.
Councilmember Tim Dixon asked for clarification, stating “Correct me if I’m wrong, that the homeowners still pay the city the fees, and then the city will pay the Bread of Life, right? Then The Bread of Life will distribute that to the workers. So it’s not like it’s a free service.” Blythe responded that she has seven property owners that have agreed to do so but it is not written in the contract that property owners must pay for the services. It was not stated what City fund the payments would come from if the City is not being reimbursed by the property owner.
Councilmember Arcenia Pacheco questioned if someone will be overseeing the workers, to which it was stated that it would be Blythe or someone else. In the contract it states that the City is responsible to provide transportation and equipment. Mayor Kathleen Smith asked for clarification, inquiring “So you’re going to drive them down as a city staff member to get paid. But once you’re supervising, then you’ve put your Bread of Life Mission hat on, and you’re not being charged by the city?”
Blythe did not give a clear response, stating that they will figure it out and maybe at some point the mission might do their own transportation. As for supervision, Blythe stated “’I’m also looking at having one person on the group be kind of like the foreman. So that they will oversee them, make sure they’re doing what they need to do and if there’s anything, they’ll call.”
Councilmember Black made motion to table the item until they could receive more information and a response from the probation department. “I’m not saying I’m opposed to this. I like the idea of using of the resources. But there’s still a little bit of confusion here.” Councilmembers Black, Teri Tafoya and Pacheco voted in favor of tabling the motion, while Mayor Smith, Vice Mayor Michael Nilsson, councilmembers Karina Pack and Dixon voted against. The motion did not pass. Dixon then made a motion to approve the service agreement, which Smith, Nilsson and Pack voted in favor and Black, Pacheco and Tafoya voted against.
