HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CA-2017-10-18CITY ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK
Regular Meeting 5:30 p.m. October 18, 2017
PRESENT:
Alderperson Mohlenhoff – Chair
Alderpersons (4): Fleming, Kerslick, McGonigal, Nguyen
OTHERS PRESENT:
Alderpersons (5) – Brock, Decatur, Gearhart, Murtagh, Smith
Chief Inspector of Plumbing – Albanese
City Clerk – Holcomb
Deputy YB Director – D’Alterio
GIAC Director – McBean-Clairborne
Deputy GIAC Directors – Phillips
Chief of Staff – Cogan
HR Director – Michell-Nunn
Controller - Thayer
Deputy Controller – Andrew
1. Call to Order
1.1 Agenda Review. None.
1.2 Review/Approval of Minutes: Alderperson Kerslick made a motion to approve the minutes from the
September 20, 2017 meeting of the City Administration Committee. Seconded by Alderperson
McGonigal. Motion carried unanimously.
1.3 Statements from the Public
Fay Gougakis, of Ithaca, spoke about Council members having local phone numbers and about police
presence and the construction project on the Commons. She asked that a meeting be scheduled with the
tenants to provide information about the project (e.g. what time in the morning would work begin, what
time in the afternoon would the work end, will they work on the weekends, when the project would be
completed, etc.).
1.4 Statements from Employees
Marc Albanese, Chief Inspector of Plumbing, stated that he will be retiring from the City and wants the
City to consider hiring his replacement before he retires. He has talked to City officials about this and
about not changing the title or moving the title to another department.
1.5 Council Response
Alderperson McGonigal stated thanked Mr. Albanese for attending the meeting and sharing his
comments. Mr. McGonigal stated that he would like to get more information on this topic.
2. Consent Agenda Items. None.
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October 18, 2017
Page 2
3. Finance, Budget and Appropriations. None.
4. City Administration, Human Resources, and Policy
4.1 W&S - Amendment to Personnel Roster – Plumbing Inspector
Moved by Alderperson Kerslick. Seconded by Alderperson Fleming.
WHEREAS, the Water and Sewer Division anticipates that a vacancy in the position of Chief Inspector
of Plumbing will occur in 2018, and
WHEREAS, the Chief Inspector of Plumbing is a specialized position that requires significant training
both in the office and field, and
WHEREAS, the City of Ithaca Department of Public Works Water and Sewer Division has budgeted to
provide for an overlapping position in both the 2017 and proposed 2018 budget, and
WHEREAS, the Water and Sewer Division recommends the position be filled a minimum of nine (9)
months in advance of the actual vacancy to allow for adequate training and a smooth transition, and
WHEREAS, the overlapping position will have the title of Plumbing Inspector to be consistent with
Building Department titles, and will reside in the Building Department, but will essentially have the
same job description as the Chief Inspector of Plumbing, and
WHEREAS, the Chief Inspector of Plumbing’s responsibilities will be transferred to the Plumbing
Inspector in the City Building Department upon the retirement of the Chief Inspector of Plumbing; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Personnel Roster of the City Building Division be amended as follows:
Add: One (1) Plumbing Inspector
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That upon the retirement of the current Chief Inspector of Plumbing, the position vacated
through retirement shall be abolished effective on the employee's retirement date,
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That funding for this position will be allocated 40% from account F8313 and 60% from
account G8113.
After discussion, Alderperson Kerslick made a motion to table this resolution until more information can
be obtained and to allow more feedback from other employees. Seconded by Alderperson McGonigal.
Motioned carried unanimously.
4.2 Public Information and Technology - Amendment to Personnel Roster
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October 18, 2017
Page 3
Moved by Alderperson McGonigal. Seconded by Alderperson Nguyen.
WHEREAS, a recent retirement created a vacancy in the Department of Public Information and
Technology, and
WHEREAS, after an evaluation of the needs of the department and a reorganization of assignments, it
was determined that a position was needed to focus more closely on public information initiatives while
assisting the Clerk’s Office, and
WHEREAS, a new position was created to maintain and grow the City’s public information goals; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Personnel Roster of the Department of Public Information and Technology be
amended as follows:
Add: One (1) Public Information Specialist
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the position of Public Information Specialist shall be assigned to the Confidential
Employees Compensation Plan at salary grade 8, and be it further
RESOLVED, That for the sole purpose of determining days worked reportable to the New York State
and Local Employees’ Retirement System, the standard workday for this position shall be established at
eight (8) hours per day (forty (40) hours per week), and be it further
RESOLVED, That the funding for this position shall be obtained by transferring funding from a vacant,
funded Executive Assistant position, which shall remain on the departmental personnel roster in a
vacant, unfunded capacity.
A vote on the resolution resulted as follows:
Passed unanimously.
5. Discussion
5.1 Follow up to Law Enforcement Shared Services Study (LESS) Presentation
At the September meeting of the City Administration Committee, Mr. Bishop from CGR Promising
Solutions gave a presentation on the Law Enforcement Shared Services Study. At the end of that
presentation, Mr. Bishop shared a list of next steps. At this meeting, the Committee discussed this list of
steps and the direction City of Ithaca should consider next.
6. Meeting Wrap-up
6.1 Announcements. None.
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October 18, 2017
Page 4
6.2 Next Meeting Date: November 15, 2017
6.3 Review, Agenda Items for Next Meeting: The Committee discussed adding the following items to next
month’s agenda:
Recreation Partnership Agreement
Final Version of the Application Process for Boards and Commissions
Rules of Procedures for the Advisory Commissions
Chairperson Mohlenhoff will send out the Rules of Procedures. Any feedback should be directed to Ms.
Mohlenhoff.
6.4 Adjourn: With no further business and on a motion by Alderperson McGonigal, the meeting was
adjourned at 6:15 p.m.