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By Carol Arnett

The Florissant City Council is looking at several options to reduce the city’s budget, and some ideas are causing some residents concerns.

At a council work session recently, the council discusses offering early retirement packages to some city workers. Councilman Andrew Podleski supported the idea.

At last week’s council meeting, a letter from a resident criticizing Podleski was read. The letter accused him of wanting to get rid of old people.

Councilman John Grib said he was upset by Podleski’s comments. Saying that since he himself was a senior citizen, he could understand why others were upset.  We don’t want to “kick out the old people,” he said.

Councilman Tim Lee said that he, too, was upset, but not because of Podleski’s comments. He was upset by how Podleski’s comments were mis-interpreted. “I taped the meeting,” Lee said. He said that when he listed to the tape and reviewed the minutes, he could find no instance of Podleski threatening to kick out old people.

Lee said the council had discussed an early retirement option as one of several options for reducing the budget. He said Podleski was not the only council member to discuss this option. In fact, Lee said, Mayor Robert Lowery agreed,

Lee stressed that no decisions were final, and that the council was discussing optional early retirement, not forced early retirement.

In other matters, the council held two public hearing. The first concerned a request by A Child at Heart Evening Childcare Services Inc., to allow a childcare center at 2370 North Highway 67. This is the storefront next to the Kinko’s store.

The center would be open until 1 am, and would cater to parents who work second shift and need childcare in the evening.

Councilwoman Karen McKay said that she thought this was a good location. There is space for a playground, and the building is not adjacent to residential property.

The second public hearing concerned a request by Heavenly Fish to open a restaurant at 41 Flower Valley Center.at the former Blimpies Sandwich shop site.

On the city charter review matter, the council members present agreed to consider Councilwoman McKay’s request to have the entire council be involved in a subcommittee to the review the city charter.

Council president Keith English said they should wait until Councilman Tom Schneider is present to move forward on the council reviewing the charter. Schneider, who was absent at last week’s meeting, has issued a statement calling for all council members to review the city charter individually.

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