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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-B&A-1989-05-23 BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING 7:30 P.M. MAY 25,1989 MINUTES PRESENT: Committee Members : Schlather, Hoffman, Killeen Cummings ABSENT: Committee Member: Romanowski OTHERS PRESENT: City Controller - Cafferillo Deputy Controller - Thayer Supt. of Public Works - Dougherty City Engineer - Gray Police Chief - McEwen Fire Chief - Olmstead, Fire Commissioners Youth Bureau - Cohen, GIAC - Fort Planning Department - Van Cort Building Department - Datz Members of Press and the Public Items : 1 . BUILDING DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL ROSTER Building Commissioner Datz requested to hire William Kaupe as a Building Inspector III at a beginning salary of $22 ,378 , which is Grade 27 , Step 3 , effective June 5 , 1989 . Said request was approved by a vote of 4-0 . 2 . EVALUATION OF CITY OWNED PROPERTY Superintendent Dougherty presented a request for $7 ,200 .00 to con- tract with Charles Barber for Step II of the City Owned Land Use study. After extensive discussion, Alderperson Killeen suggested an amount not to exceed $3,000 be appropriated from Unrestricted Contingency for the purpose of conducting a segment of said evalu- ation. A further resolved was added, requesting that an update be presented at the June B&A meeting. Following discussion, the amended resolution was approved by a 4-0 vote of the Committee . 3. ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT - EMPLOYMENT OF SUMMER STUDENTS City Engineer Gray requested that $4 ,000 be transferred from the full time staff line item A1440-100 to Contractural Services A1440-435 , for the purpose of hiring two Cornell students, under the Cornell Tradition Assistance Program. Engineer Gray disclosed that the J extensive summer work program confronting his Department could not be completed under existing reduced staff levels, and that, the two summer students would assist existing staff in the performance of said program. Motion was approved 4-0 . - ; -2- MAY 25, 1989 4 . ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR PAINTING OF WATER TANKS City Engineer Gray presented a request for $40 ,000 to be transferred from F8341-435 Transmission and Distribution Maintenance to F8344-475 , ® lam Maintenance of Standpipes , in order to award contracts for the paint- ing of water tanks located at Maple Avenue and Cliff Park Circle . Following discussion, resolution was approved 4-0 . 5 . STEWART AVENUE BRIDGE RECONSTRUCTION Information relative to the reconstruction of the Stewart Avenue bridge was presented by City Engineer Gray. Bids received on said project inclusive of painting, totaled $648 ,044 , while the maximum available authorization is currently $500 ,000 . The Engineering De- partment and Board of Public Works recommended elimination of the painting portion of the bid and award on that basis to Rochester Structural Co. , Inc . Controller disclosed that City Attorney Nash recommended that all bids be rejected due to the fact that the elimination of the painting was a substantive change, and the City could be challenged by unsuc- cessful bidders . Additionally, Purchasing Agent Clynes agreed with the City Attorney, and felt that a re-bid could be scheduled expedi- tiously. Following extensive discussion relative to the risk of re-bidding vs the possibility of a legal challenge, the Committee approved the request to award, and an additional $30 ,000 to bring the maximum authorization to $530 ,000 . Approved 4-0 . 6 . GIAC BUDGET AMENDMENT Marcia Fort, Acting Assistant Director of GIAC disclosed that $2 ,500 had been received from the Ithaca School District, and an additional $2 ,500 was expected to be received from Cornell University to fund a summer education program. GIAC staff requested that the 1989 budget be amended to permit the operation of said program as follows: Appropriations : Increase A7311-445 $1 ,500 N Increase A7311-460 $3 ,500 Revenue : Increase A2350 $2 ,500 Increase A2705 $2 ,500 Approved 4-0 . 7 . CASS PARK SECOND RINK Andy Sciarabba presented a revised proposal for the contribution of V/a minimum amount of $500 ,000 by Community Recreation Center, Inc. on behalf of the Ithaca Youth Hockey Association toward the construction of a second Ice Rink at Cass Park. The balance of an estimated -3- MAY 25 , 1989 r 7. CASS PARK SECOND RINK (continued) $1 ,000 ,000 to $1 ,100 ,000 would be financed by the City, and amortized annually through the collection of ice time fees, advertising sold, and additional fund raising by participating groups using the Rink. Following significant discussion, it was recommended that a revised proposed contract be prepared by the City Attorney, and Attorneys y representing Community Recreation Center, Inc. , to be evaluated at the June B&A meeting (first agenda item) . No action taken, report at Common Council meeting. 8 . FIRE DEPARTMENT 20 MONIES Chief Olmstead and Fire Commissioners expressed the feelings of the eight City Fire Companies relative to the release of Foreign Fire Insurance 2% monies. The initial request was to release $24 ,000 by appropriating funds from Unrestricted Contingency pending an ultimate determination on the distribution of said monies. Follow- ing discussion of a recommendation from City Attorney Nash, a recom- mendation was made to release $48 ,000 from the so-called "old" 2% monies currently held by the City. This release would be authorized as follows: To the extent that the same is required by existing law, Common Council authorizes the Board of Fire Commissioners to release $48 ,000 from the so-called "old" 2% monies , to the eight City Fire Companies equally. Approved 4-0 . 9 . CENTER ITHACA EXPANSION Center Ithaca owner Stan Goldberg and George Gesslein of Citizens Savings Bank presented a proposal to expand Center Ithaca. The projected expansion would utilize the area under the Green Street parking structure , currently used for parking. Subsequent to extensive discussion in executive session relative to confidential financial information, the following resolution was approved; Common Council authorizes the proposed expansion of retail space of Center Ithaca, contingent upon all approvals associated with the building permit process . Vote was 4-0 . 10 . SALE OF THE STRAND THEATRE Planning Director Van Cort presented a proposal for the sale of the Strand Theatre property by Public Auction. A resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into a gontract with the parties involved, lead- ing to the stipulated sale and related distribution of the applicable proceeds . Action was approved 4-0 . 11 . VAN NATTA DAM HYDROPOWER RFP Following discussion on the technical review process of responses , any further action was postponed by tabling action until the June B&A meeting . I -4- MAY 25 , 1989 12 . PERMANENT SHELTER FOR HOMELESS A resolution adopted by the Human Services Committee was discussed. Alderperson Schlather suggested that the $3,000 requested be refer- red to Tompkins County for consideration for funding, pending exploration of alternative funding mechanisms. Discussion was tabled until June B&A meeting. 13 . CIVIL SERVICE EXAM FEES Personnel Administrator Walker presented a new program whereby the City would be billed by New York State Civil Service for the cost of preparing and grading Civil Service Examinations . After discussion, the consensus of the Committee was not to charge individuals taking exams at this point in time, but to monitor the cost operating our Civil Service Program for one to three years to determine the impact such charges will have on the Personnel Department budget. No action taken. 14 . UNITED ARTS FUND A letter from the United Arts Fund was presented for discussion. The United Arts Fund Committee request release of $5 ,000 originally ap- propriated to be paid to the �Tompkins County Arts Council. In view of the fact that the Arts Council has discontinued operations at this point in time , and has requested that said funds be reverted directly to the United Arts Fund for distribution to qualified art activities , the Committee resolved that $5 ,000 be paid to the United Arts Fund by a 4-0 vote. 15 . HAZARDOUS MATERIALS Discussion of hazardous materials cleanup at the site of the recent Agway fire was tabled until a subsequent B&A meeting. 16 . FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL REQUESTS Fire Chief Olmstead presented a request to establish salary ranges for two positions. Request was approved by a vote of 4-0 as follows: A. Volunteer Coordinator - placed in the CSEA Admin- istrative Unit at Grade 22 of the 1989 Compensation Plan (40 Hrs) . The position currently approved is a 20 hour position. Salary range was established at $8 ,469 - $10 ,753 , as approved by the Civil Service Commission. B . Municipal Training Officer - established on Mana- gerial Compensation Plan for those not covered by a Bargaining Unit. The salary range was established at $28 ,710 to $42 ,496 , as approved by the Civil Service Commission. -5- MAY 25, 1989 17. HEALTH INSURANCE TO RETIREES AND PERSONS ON LEAVE OF ABSENCE Controller presented a brief summary of proposed rates for 1989-1990 . The net increase is projected to be 19 .6% with a carryover increase not extended to retirees for 1988-89 of 25% . The total of 44 .6% was felt to be an unreasonable increase for one year, so an interim rate increase by 25% was approved for 1989-90 . Vote was 4-0 . Meeting was adjourned at 12 :30 A.M.