The Stuart City Council convened in regular session Monday.

The meeting began with discussion on Brenda Dudley’s salary as Depot Manager. Dudley’s contract ends February 28th, and Depot Committee Member Doris Bench proposed her salary be increased from $10,200 to $12,000. She also proposed that the City pay $10,000 and the Committee pay the remaining $2,000. The Council took no action. Next, the Council approved funding requests from Mike Johnson for three rehabilitation projects through the Blight Housing Program, pending review from the City’s bond attorney. The Council then approved following the Stuart Enterprise for Economic Development’s (SEED) recommendation to pursue an engineering agreement for the proposed All Saints Addition. City Engineer Forrest Aldrich said that SEED, who purchased the land from All Saints Church, would like to start construction this summer.

The Council also tabled action on whether to rescind the $100,000 Community Catalyst grant they received last year for Hotel Stuart, as the initial developer for the renovation backed out, and the City has not found another interested party in the project. In other action items, the Council approved reducing no parking to just the eastside of North Fremont Street per Public Works Director Jim Henderson’s recommendation. They also approved three residential tax abatement applications, a contribution to the Tri-Center Association congregate meals program.