The

city of Fayetteville has stepped up its funding

for Fayette Senior Services Inc. to $12,500 this

year.

City

Council Monday voted unanimously to amend its

budget and increase the funding amount for FSS by

$7,500.

"We

need your help," said Joan Neal, past

president of FSS, during council's work session

last week. "We need help right now with

where we are on Lee Street, and we're going to

need you a lot more later, too," Neal said,

referring to plans for a new $2.5 million senior

center.

FSS

director Andy Carden reminded council members

that last year's budget for the organization,

which provides a host of services to Fayette

County's senior population, included funding for

a work program. Since then, the person employed

in the work program has become a regular city

employee, and that part of funding for FSS was

left out of the budget this year.

"They

do an awful lot of service for the citizens of

Fayetteville who are in their senior years,"

said Councilman Larry Dell as the council

considered the matter Monday.

About

60 percent of FSS clients live in Fayetteville's

zip codes, Carden said.

Council

unanimously approved the funding request.

In

other business, the group unanimously appointed

local lawyer Sarah Murphy to a vacant seat on the

Planning Commission. Murphy has been attorney for

the Fayette County Board of Education, and is a

member of the city's Development Authority and

Main Street board of directors.

Bill

Talley's seat on the commission became vacant

with his successful election to City Council in

November.

Council

also:

� Approved increases in fees

charged to builders and developers for city

inspections and plan review. The move will

increase the portion of the cost of maintaining

those services paid by the fees to about 25

percent, from about 20 percent, said Mayor

Kenneth Steele.

� Turned down a developer's

request to allow a traffic light on Pine Trail

Road at the rear exit from Uptown Square, the

Barnes and Noble shopping center under

construction across from Fayette Pavilion. The

light would be too close to another light at Pine

Trail and Ga. Highway 85, council members said,

and would impede residents of the area as they

drive to Hwy. 85. Council agreed to require the

developer to put money in escrow in case they

decide the traffic light is needed later.

� Appointed two of its

members, Larry Dell and Bill Talley, to the

city's Retirement Committee. A new law requires

that two members of council serve on the

committee.

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