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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-B&A-1989-08-31 BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING 7:30 P.M. AUGUST 31, 1989 MINUTES PRESENT: Committee Members: Schlather, Hoffman, Killeen, Romanowski, Cummings Other Alderperson Present: Lytel Others Present: City Controller - Cafferillo Deputy Controller - Thayer City Attorney - Nash Police Chief - McEwen Fire Chief - Olmstead Personnel Administrator - Walker City Chamberlain - Parsons Director, Planning and Development - Van Cort Director, Youth Bureau - Cohen Youth Development Coordinator - Green Representatives CRC/Ithaca Youth Hockey Representatives EOC, OSS, GIAC and Tompkins County Members of Press and the Public 1 . Bank Check Charges Attorney Nash discussed information relating to current City Bank check charges. A brief discussion with the City Chamberlain Parsons and the Committee on the increase of bad check charges to $15 transpired. Following the discussion, the $15 charge on all checks which are returned for insufficient funds was authorized and approved 4-0. 2. Lawsuit - State of New York v. City of Ithaca Attorney Nash presented a lawsuit from the State of New York involving the contract with the State to construct the Six Mile Creek Bridge. The City withheld 20% of the Federal non-participating share of final actual costs which amounted to $41,793.35. The State has demanded payment of $20,717.88 from the City, which is the $41,793.35 less City payments plus interest paid to the State previously. After discussions on the lawsuit, said item was tabled until September meeting. 3. Tax Sale Procedures A discussion with Attorney Nash and the B E A Committee on current City tax sale procedures and the City Charter concerning this matter. After discussions over tax sale procedures and the current penalty structure, the Committee resolved that the said item be placed on the table for action to be taken at the October 4, 1989 meeting of Common Council. B 8 A MEETING MINUTES -2- AUGUST 31, 1989 4. VanNatta Dam Legal Services Director of Planning Van Cort presented information regarding expert legal services for the preparation of an agreement between the City and a private developer for hydropower at VanNatta Dam. Discussion followed on consultants, private developers and dollar values related to such costs in connection with the VanNatta Dam hydropower project. Follow- ing the discussion it was approved 4-0, that a private developer be hired at an amount not to exceed $2,500 for expert legal services in conjunction with hydropower at VanNatta Dam and that the $2,500 be transferred from restricted contingency for hydropower to the City Attorney's fees for pro- fessional services line. 5. Human Services Committee - Homeless Alderperson Lytel, representatives from EOC and the presented the Human Services committee resolution recommendation that the City contract with the Southside Center for operation of the City of Ithaca emergency shelter at the Southside Center. A lengthy discussion on the homeless, costs associated with homeless shelters in Ithaca and the County's involvement with the homeless followed. Following the discussion, the B 8 A Committee recommended the Human Services committee resolution of $12,750 be allocated to the contract between Southside and the City for operation of a cold weather shelter. However, the B E A Committee recommended that these said funds would only be provided if the Southside Center agrees that the outreach coordinator will interview new clients for eligibility and assist in application processing. /-�,�sG A motion to recommend the Mayor make application to the County for full opera- tional funding and the said Human Services resolution was approved 4-0. 6. Second Hockey Rink at Cass Park Andy Sciarabba and representatives of the Youth Bureau and the Ithaca Youth Hockey Association were present to discuss the final revision to the contract proposal for the construction and operation of a new hockey facility to be located at Cass Park. After lengthy discussion about concerns related to the contract and its contents involving public use, surcharges, number of major events annually, length of time the contract is valid and possible Town of Lansing ice rink contract, the Committee revised the contract. The final revision of the contract between the City and CRC was sent back to Common Council for the Mayor's execution of said contract. The revisions were approved 5-0 and the Mayor's execution of such contract was approved 4-1 . 7. Police Department Personnel Request Chief McEwen presented information requesting that the Police Department be authorized to hire a matron on a hourly basis. Chief McEwen discussed B & A MEETING MINUTES -3- AUGUST 31, 1989 7. Police Department Personnel Request (continued) current shortages in staff as dispatchers that are currently being used as matrons are complaining of performing both duties. After a brief discussion, the Committee authorized the Chief to hire a matron, approved 5-0, as follows: RESOLVED, that the Chief of Police be authorized to hire a matron for the Police Department at a salary of $6.00 per hour and be it further RESOLVED, that the funds for the matron's salary are to come from existing salary lines within Police Department accounts. 8. Police Department Personnel Request Chief McEwen presented information requesting that the Police Department be authorized to hire a Police Dispatcher on a hourly perdiem `basis. Chief McEwen explained the need for such a dispatcher. After brief discussion, the Committee authorized the Chief to hire a Dispatcher or establish a list of Dispatchers, approved 5-0, as follows: RESOLVED, that the Chief of Police be authorized to hire or establish a list of persons to be used when needed as Police Dispatchers, and be it further RESOLVED, that the Dispatchers are to be paid on a perdiem basis. 9. Police Department Computer System Chief McEwen presented information regarding the RFP on the Police Department's new computer system. The Chief needs an approval to proceed with the selection of a computer system. The Chief estimated the cost of the computer system, including software, hardware and a consultant would be $92,000. Discussion took place on the computer system proposals and possible consultant for the system. After the discussion, the Chief was authorized to enter into an agreement with Charles Gabriel for an amount not to exceed $10,000, for consultant services necessary to review and select a proposal for the law enforce- ment software system. It was also resolved, that the contract amount would be paid out of existing funds in capital project #24. Said action was approved 5-0. 10. Youth Bureau NYS Funding Youth Bureau Director Sam Cohen presented information regarding verbal con- firmation of $29,500 in NYS Education funding for the 1989-1990 school year. The funding will be used to implement two new programs in the Ithaca School District, Youth at Risk and Community Partnership Program and the Attendance Improvement and Dropout Prevention Program. Because of the increase in funding the Youth Bureau, contingent upon written confirmation, would like to amend the 1989 budget by increasing appropriations line A7310-110, by $9,481, in order to add one full time youth worker and B & A MEETING MINUTES -4- AUGUST 31 , 1989 10. Youth Bureau NYS Funding (continued) one 15 hour per week youth worker for the remainder of 1989 in connection with the two new programs. The remainder of the funds will appear in the 1990 Youth Bureau Budget request. The said amendment to the Youth Bureau's budget was approved 5-0. 11 . County Funding - Youth Bureau A brief discussion took place regarding possible proposals of county funds for Youth Development and Recreation Mainstream services. No action was taken at this time. 12. GIAC Contract Beverly Livesay presented a proposed contract agreement between the City of Ithaca and GIAC. Also, information on GIAC's by-laws and amendments were distributed. The Contract contents were related to the services provided by the GIAC Board and the City of Ithaca separately and jointly. A lengthy discussion followed between the Committee and the GIAC representa- tives. Many concerns were brought up by the Committee regarding the pro- posed agreement. The concerns included: who is responsible for personnel items, GIAC's use of the building, at what point does the City relinquish control and setting of fees at GIAC functions. Subsequent to discussion, the said item was tabled until the September meeting. 13. Youth Bureau Billings of Services City Controller Cafferillo distributed a Youth Bureau cost distribution schedule. Representatives of Youth Bureau and the Committee discussed the cost distri- bution numbers. Concerns were raised over the youth services cost distribution. The major concern was whether the counties and the participating municipalities paying their fair share of the cost of youth services. Subsequent to the discussion it was agreed that the cost distribution schedule will be changed to reflect a change in the recreation mainstream line of the schedule and increase operation and maintenance costs associated with recrea- tion programing. The new cost distribution schedule will be presented at the next meeting. 14. Fire Department Increase in Personnel Before the Committee moved to executive session, Alderperson Killeen distri- buted the tentative proposal - from the Fire Committee on 1990 and 1991 fire staffing for the Fire Department. The proposal is for Committee information only, no action was taken. s B & A MEETING MINUTES -5- AUGUST 31, 1989 15. Planning Department - Equipment Purchase Approval After executive session, Director of Planning and Develoment Van Cort presented a proposed change for equipment purchases. Van Cort proposed that the $200. current threshold on authorization needed by Common Council for equipment purchased by Departments be increased to $500. After a brief discussion, the $300. increase in the equipment threshold was approved 3-0. 16. Planning Department - Recommendations for contract Director of Planning and Development Van Cort discussed some of his recommen- dations to improve governmental efficiency relating to contracts and contract authorizations. He recommended to decrease the number of required signatures on smaller contracts based on a threshold amount. After a brief discussion, said item was tabled until the September meeting. 17. Ithaca Industrial Park Improvements Director of Planning and Development Van Cort presented a preliminary cost estimate for the proposed Ithaca Industrial Park. The estimate was for the Committee's information only, no action was taken on said item. Discussion will take place during the September meeting. 18. GIAC Improvements Director of Planning and Development Van Cort briefly discussed the GIAC pool and improvements. He conveyed that there are no problems with the GIAC pool and improvements at this time. No action was taken, said item will be added to the September meeting with the GIAC Daycare issue. 19. Ithaca Housing Authority A schedule of positions, comparable positions, and salary amounts were distributed to the Committee by the Ithaca Housing Authority. The Ithaca Housing Authority is mandated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to demonstrate that the Authority's salaries and wages are comparable with the local governing body for all positions of similar responsibility and required competence. Based on examination of the salary schedule, the Ithaca Housing Authority positions and salaries appear comparable to the City of Ithaca's positions and salaries. Because the City of Ithaca authorized a 6% increase for 1989, the Ithaca Housing Authority is asking for a 6% increase for all qualified employees to bring the IHA employees in line with the City of Ithaca employees. After a brief discussion, the said increase of 6% was approved, 4-0, effective immediately. r B 6 A MEETING MINUTES -6- AUGUST 31 , 1989 20. Finance Department Personnel City Controller Cafferillo presented and discussed information for the creation of the position of Data Processing Operator to be made a part of the 1989 CSEA Administrative Unit Compensation Schedule.at Grade 14. The Controller also requested that the position of Data Processing Operator be added to the 1989 Finance Department Roster and that one Principal Account Clerk position be deleted from the Finance Department 1989 Roster. The Controller requested that Connie Nelson, who currently holds the position of Principal Account Clerk, be appointed to the Data Processing Operator position at an annual salary of $18,131 , effective immediately. After a brief discussion, the request was approved by a 4-0 vote of the Committee. 21 . Finance Department - North Quarry Street Project The Controller requested authorizing the issuance- of $204,250.' in Serial Bonds and the appropriation and expenditure of $10,750 current funds of the City of Ithaca, to be financed for a period of ten years, to pay the cost of recon- struction of North Quarry Street in and for said City. After a brief discussion, the said request was authorized, 4-0. 22. Charles Barber Update Alderperson Killeen gave a brief update on Charles Barber's evaluation of City-owned land. He disclosed that 50 properties have been found that had no record at City Hall. Further updates will be made at the September meeting. Meeting was adjourned at 1 :29 A.M.