HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CA-2006-07-01CITY ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Regular Meeting
July 26, 2006
Members
Present: Alderperson Korherr, Alderperson Coles, Alderperson Zumoff, Alderperson
Townsend, Alderperson Cogan, Mayor Peterson
Council
Members
Present: Alderperson Clairborne
Staff
Present: Steve Thayer (Controller), Scott Andrew (Deputy Controller), Schelley Michell -
Nunn (HR Director), Denise Malone (HR Executive Assistant)
Others
Present: Members of the Public, Members of the Media
Chairperson Coles called the meeting to order at 8:21 p.m.
1. Chairperson Greeting & Opening Statement
Chairperson Coles welcomed everyone to the meeting and explained the evacuation procedures.
2. Announcements. None.
3. Agenda Review and Amendments
Mayor Peterson requested that Item 12.1 - Planning Department /DPW - Capital Project for
Green Street Garage and Dryden Road Garage - Report be removed from the agenda.
4. Statements from the Public. None.
5. Approval of Minutes
Alderperson Cogan made a motion to approve the minutes from the June 28, 2006 meeting.
Seconded by Alderperson Korherr. Motion carried 5 -0.
City Administration Committee
July 26, 2006
Page 2
6. Employee Comments. None.
7. Common Council Response. None.
8. Workforce Diversity (WFD) Committee Update
Alderperson Townsend reported that department heads have attended the WFD Committee
meeting to give a presentation on their diversity competency. Alderperson Townsend stated
that diversity should be a priority for the Mayor, Common Council, and department heads.
Alderperson Townsend asked the City Administration Committee to support the WFD
Committee by making diversity a priority.
9. Safety Committee Update
Chairperson Coles stated that a report would be given at the August meeting.
10. Chamberlain's Office
1. Request for Waiver of Penalty of Taxes
Taxes due on 616 W. Buffalo Street were mailed from Binghamton during a flood
emergency. The tax payment was apparently not postmarked in a timely manner.
The owner has requested a waiver of penalty on taxes, as his intent was to mail the
payment on time. The Chamberlain Office requested approval to waive penalty on
the 2nd installment of the City taxes for 616 W. Buffalo Street. After discussion,
Alderperson Korherr made a motion to approve the Chamberlain's Office request.
Seconded by Alderperson Cogan. Motion carried 5 -0.
11. City Clerk's Office
1. Request to Amend 2006 Budget for New York State Grant
The City Clerk's Office received a Records Management Grant from the New York
State Department of Education, Local Government Records Improvement Fund, in
the amount of $21,036 for the period of July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006. The
purpose of this grant was to perform minor renovations to the City Hall basement,
purchase 28 flat file cabinets, and organize and file 300 cubic feet of Building
City Administration Committee
July 26, 2006
Page 3
Department plans. The Department of Planning & Development has also been
awarded a 2006 -2007 Records Management Grant in the amount of $17,438 to
assist in the conversion of unique paper copies of aerial photographs to digitally -
ortho rectified images that could be accessed on the City's website. The Clerk's
Office requested approval to amend the 2006 budget to reflect the acceptance of
these Records Management Grants. After discussion Alderperson Cogan made a
motion to approve the request. Seconded by Alderperson Korherr. Motion carried
5 -0.
12. Planning and Development & Department of Public Works
1. Capital Project for Green Street Garage and Dryden Road Garage - Report
The Mayor requested that this item be removed from the agenda.
13. Human Resources (HR) Department
1. Amendment to Annual Leave Related to Managerial Benefits
Over the last eight years Common Council has approved enhanced leave time
benefits for some new hires for various reasons. Common Council desires to
eliminate the inequities that result for longer term managerial staff while at the
same time offer benefits that will enable the City of Ithaca to attract and retain
candidates of interest. Upon a recent request to provide enhanced benefits
Common Council has requested that the Human Resources Director provide an
equitable proposal for improving leave time benefits for all managerial positions as
follows:
Length of Service
40 hours /week
1St Year
12 hours - 3.6 wks
2nd to 5th Year
15.5 hours - 4.65 wks
5th to 10th Year
17 hours - 5.1 wks
10th to 20th Year
20 hours - 6 wks
20 + Years
23 hours - 6.9 wks
And, that the Day After Thanksgiving be deemed a holiday for managerial staff,
that managerial positions receive a ten -day annual leave bonus for years 10, 15, 20,
City Administration Committee
July 26, 2006
Page 4
25 and 30. The ten -day annual leave bonus is awarded for that year only and must
be used within twelve months of the individuals' anniversary.
For the purpose of discussion, Alderperson Zumoff made a motion to approve the
request. Seconded by Alderperson Townsend.
The Committee expressed concern about approving this request with the CSEA
Compensation Study still being conducted. After discussion, Alderperson
Townsend made a motion to table this item. Seconded by Alderperson Cogan.
Motion carried 5 -0.
2. Director's Report. HR Director Michell -Nunn reported on the following:
Public Employers' Labor Relations Association (PELRA) Conference: HR Director
Michell -Nunn and Assistant Attorney Dunn attended the PELRA Conference in
Saratoga Springs and networked with experts in the field of labor relations.
Commercial Drivers License (CDL) Training Program: There will be an open house
for the CDL Training Program on August 3, 2006 at the Greater Ithaca Activities
Center. The open house will start at 5:30 p.m. The Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency
(IURA) provided funding for this program. The first class starts in September
and will train low to moderate - income people of color to get their CDL license.
Emergency Management Training: Employees are continuing to take the 100 and
700 series.
Computer Training: A computer assessment will be conducted to see if there is a
need for training.
Employee Forums: Employee Forums are being scheduled for October.
HR Intern: HR Intern Funmi Ojetayo's last day will be Friday.
14. Finance /Controller
1. Controller's Report. Controller Thayer reported on the following:
City Administration Committee
July 26, 2006
Page 5
2007 Budget: Budgets are due August 1St. The Mayor and the Controller will meet
with department heads in August to review their budget.
Sales Tax Revenue: Has weakened over the last two (2) months. Collections have
been about 10.8% over 2005 or about $500,000 over the current budget.
Police Benevolent Association (PBA) Contract: The PBA contract has been signed
and retro payments have been made.
15. Reports
1. Mayor's Report. The Mayor reported on the following:
Capital Projects: The Mayor met with department heads to discuss the capital
projects process. Capital projects were ranked according to mission critical.
2. Sub- Committee Updates. None.
3. Council Members' Announcements. None.
4. Next Month's Meeting: August 30, 2006.
16. Adjournment
With no further business and on a motion by Alderperson Cogan, the meeting was adjourned at
9:30 p.m.