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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-B&A-1992-02-19 BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING 7 : 30 P.M. FEBRUARY 19, 1992 MINUTES PRESENT: COMMITTEE MEMBERS : Booth, Berg, Daley,Romanowski, Johnson OTHERS PRESENT: Mayor - Nichols City Controller - Cafferillo Deputy Controller - Thayer Superintendent of Public Works - Gray Police Chief - McEwen Acting Building Commissioner - Eckstrom Fire Chief - Olmstead Deputy Planning Director - Sieverding Personnel Administrator - Saul City Attorney - Guttman Members of the Media 1 . Opening Comments : Chairperson Booth stated that prior to the meeting the Committee discussed and voted on the grievance that was continued from the Committee' s January meeting. The Personnel Administrator will notify the affected parties of the Committee ' s decision. Chairperson Booth stated the following changes to the Agenda: A. Addition of a discussion on the Science Center agreement. B. Deletion of the discussion of Attorney' s fees in Pending litigation. C. Deletion of the Transit Grant discussion. D. Addition of an update on the Human Services Agency contract. Members of the public were asked to speak on any topic; no member of the public spoke. 2 . Police Department A. Request Authorization to Pay Costs Relating to Rabid Raccoon Disposal Police Chief McEwen presented a request to appropriate funds to pay for costs relating to rabid raccoon disposal in cases to which the Police Dispatcher responds . : BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION MEETING MINUTES - 2/19/92 McEwen explained that the City is on the verge of a significant rabid raccoon problem. He stated that on 1/15/92 he issued a special order to the Police Department regarding the handling of rabid raccoons . That order reflected a procedure McEwen had developed with the help of the State Department of Labor to dispose of rabid raccoons . McEwen stated that on 1/22/92, the Department of Labor issued a statement, pursuant to a complaint filed by the PBA, that the rabid raccoon disposal procedure was potentially unsafe for Police Department personnel. Chief McEwen suspended his January 15, 1992 order until a final determination is made by the Department of Labor. The Department of Labor has told Chief McEwen that the following recommendations regarding the handling of rabid raccoons should be fulfilled: A. Implement a training program; B. Provide for immediate decontamination of exposed personnel with a special solution; C. Provide for pre exposure immunization which could cost up to $315. per person; D. Provide for post exposure follow up with seven shots which cost up to $925. per person; E. Provide for on-going evaluation of case studies. McEwen stated that no penalties have been assessed against the City. However, if the above recommendations are not followed by the City, the Department of Labor could charge the City up to $200 a day. McEwen explained that the rabid raccoon problem will get worse with warmer weather, and he told the Committee that the following options exist: A. Provide pre-exposure for all police officers (64 officers at $315 per officer for a total of $20, 160 over a 2 - 5 year period) ; B. Provide pre-exposure for staff officers (15 staff officers at $315 per officer for a total of $4,725 over 2 - 5 years) ; C. Allow SPCA, per contract, to take care of rabid animals when contacted by the Police Department to deal with a dangerous animal. The SPCA has proposed to undertake this work (i.e. , respond to incidents when called by the Police Department) ; each call by the SPCA would cost $21. McEwen stated that the PBA recommends that the SPCA handle the raccoons . He stated that even if the City contracts with SPCA for the raccoon problem, the Police Department PAGE 2 BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION MEETING MINUTES - 2/19/92 will still have to respond. McEwen stated that the SPCA will only respond to an incident when they are called by the Police Department. Discussion followed regarding the proposed SPCA contract and the disposal of animals . Superintendent of Public Works Gray stated the DPW will probably have a problem with their staff in the near future. The Committee recommended that Gray continue to investigate the problem and report back to the B&A Committee in the future. The Committee agreed that the SPCA contract should be done for a six month period at a cost not to exceed $2, 100. Alderperson Daley expressed his concern that the dollar amount was too high. After a discussion, the following motion was made: WHEREAS, the Police Department has recommended that the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) be engaged to pick up and dispose of suspected rabid raccoons and other rabid animals, when called in by Police personnel; now, therefore be it RESOLVED, that subject to the review of the City Attorney, the Chief of Police be authorized to execute an agreement with the SPCA for a six-month period, at a per incident charge of $21.00, up to an amount not to exceed $2,100, and be it further RESOLVED, that $2,100 be transferred from Unrestricted Contingency to Police Department account A312O-435 for Professional Services, SPCA. The motion passed 4-1 . Alderperson Daley voted against the motion. B. Police Services for Ithaca Festival and NYS Special Olympics A discussion was held on the projected 1992 Police overtime costs for the Ithaca Festival and NYS Special Olympics. Chief McEwen stated that Special Olympics will pay for the Police overtime costs needed during that event. McEwen explained that $5,000 has been set aside in the restricted contingency account to be used for Police and Department of Public Works overtime costs related to the Ithaca Festival. McEwen stated that he has met with the Ithaca Festival Committee, and the Festival Committee has agreed to pay directly for the Police Department ' s overtime. McEwen suggested that the $5, 000 in the restricted contingency can now be used to pay for a portion of the DPW Festival overtime cost. Superintendent Gray stated that he PAGE 3 BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION MEETING MINUTES - 2/19/92 has yet to meet with the Festival Committee, but will do so soon. A brief discussion ensued; no formal action was taken. 3 . Planning and Development Committee A. BT Glass Environmental Assessment Deputy Planning Director Sieverding presented a request to fund an Environmental Assessment regarding the BT Glass building site. He stated that, based on prior use, the BT Glass building may have some environmental problems. It has been noted that the previous use of this site was as a service station. Sieverding stated that the State and Federal agencies funding this project will want assurance that the site is environmentally clean. Sieverding also stated that renovations to the BT Glass building may cost up to $450,000. He stated that the City has approximately $76, 000 for building renovations to this structure and that the Day Care Center has $90, 000 . The Day Care Center is seeking additional funding for these renovations. Sieverding explained that the requested environmental assessment would include the following: A. Retain firm to review past uses B. Review regulations C. Document current and past facts of the site D. If fuel tanks are found, set up monitoring wells Sieverding stated that three proposals were received for the environmental assessment, ranging in cost from $5,800 to $15,000. He recommended $6,200 be used for the assessment with funding to be derived from the tank removal capital project. After a discussion, the following motion was made: WHEREAS, the Drop-In Children' s Center Client Committee has recommended that an environmental assessment of the B.T. Glass property be performed, to insure that the site is free from any residual contaminants, given its previous use as a service station site; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Planning Department is hereby authorized to enter into a contract for an environmental assessment of the B.T. Glass property, and be it further RESOLVED, that an amount not to exceed $6,200 be encumbered for said purpose within Capital Project #239 for Tank Removal. The motion passed 5-0. PAGE 4 BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION MEETING MINUTES - 2/19/92 B. Request to Appropriate Green Street Parking Lot Loan Repayment Funds Mayor Nichols and the Coordinator for the Downtown Revitalization Leadership Committee (Susan Blumenthal) presented a request to appropriate funds from the loan repayment funds from the land under the Green Street Ramp. Mayor Nichols stated that approximately $30,000, including past interest, will be repaid in 1992 to the City for the land under the Green Street Ramp. He explained that the Downtown Revitalization Leadership Committee has a number of small projects for downtown that could be undertaken with this money. A discussion followed on what City fund will receive the repayment of funds and who will authorize their expenditure. Controller Cafferillo stated that the funds need to be repaid to the General Fund. The possibility of establishing a capital fund for these projects was also discussed. After a discussion it was determined that the number and amount of the projects recommended to be done with these funds will be specified at a future date. The following motion was made: RESOLVED, that the Common Council will commit the first two years back interest and loan repayments less that portion of funds allocated for the NYSCA match to the implementation of the Downtown Vision Task Force project recommendations for downtown with the exact mechanism for how these funds are to be expended to be determined at a later date by Common Council. Chairperson Booth urged the Committee not to approve this motion because the funds could be used elsewhere in the City' s budget. Voting results on the motion were as follows : Ayes (2) Daley, Berg Nays (3) Booth, Romanowski, Johnson The motion failed 2-3 . However., the Committee agreed to send this motion on to the next Council COW meeting. 4 . Science Center - Land Purchase Discussion Charlie Trautman and a Science Center Board member presented a request that the City renegotiate the land purchase agreement between the Science Center and the City. It was noted that the Science Center has agreed to purchase the City' s old Wastewater Treatment site for a new Science PAGE 5 BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION MEETING MINUTES - 2/19/92 Center. The purchase price for the site was $104, 000. The purchase offer requires that the Center, which has already paid the $25,000 down payment, pay the balance of $79,000 by January 1, 1992 . The Science Center stated that they are currently in the planning stages for the Center and that they have been advised that they should renegotiate their land purchase agreement with the City. Trautman stated that the Center is requesting that the City convert the current purchase agreement to a lease agreement over a period of time with a lump sum payment in the last year. Trautman explained that they cannot pay the $79,000 due to the City this year if they want to complete Phase 1 of the project as it is now designed. The Committee voted, 5-0, to move into executive session to discuss the specific financial details pertinent to the Science Center' s request and to discuss several . City personnel items. 5. Report From Executive Session The Committee voted, 5-0, to move back into regular session. Chairperson Booth reported that the following actions were taken during the executive session: A. Science Center Purchase Agreement No action was taken during the discussion on the Science Center' s request to convert the current purchase agreement to a lease. Discussions will continue. B. Mayor - Personnel Item The Committee voted 3-2 to approve a personnel recommendation from the Mayor respecting the Building Department. Alderpersons Daley and Johnson voted against the motion. The motion will be sent to Council ' s COW meeting. C. Attorney - Request to Hire Above Step I RESOLVED, that Genevieve Smith be hired for the Confidential Secretary position in the Attorney' s Office at an annual salary of $15,437. , that being Step 4 on the 1992 Compensation Plan for confidential employees, effective March 9, 1992. The motion passed 5-0. PAGE 6 BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION MEETING MINUTES - 2/19/92 6. Attorney - Proposal for Marriage Officer City Attorney Guttman presented a request to appoint Alderperson Daley as the City' s Marriage Officer. It was noted that this is a two year appointment. Chairperson Booth stated that both Alderperson Blanchard and Alderperson Hoffman were also interested in being appointed as Marriage Officers. Guttman stated that more than one Marriage Officer is allowed. After a brief discussion the following motion was made: WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 11 of the Domestic Relations Law, the Mayor is authorized to solemnize marriages, and WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 3.6 of the Ithaca City Charter the acting Mayor is authorized to act as Mayor only when the Mayor is unable to perform the duties of his or her office in consequence of sickness or absence from the City or if there shall be a vacancy in the office, and WHEREAS, as a result of the Mayor' s schedule, occasions arise when the Mayor is requested to solemnize a marriage but is unable to do so, and WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 11-c of the Domestic Relations Law, Common Council is authorized to appoint one or more marriage officers who shall have the authority to solemnize a marriage; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that Barbara Blanchard, Joseph Daley and Dan Hoffman are hereby appointed Marriage Officers for the City of Ithaca, effective immediately, for a term to expire on December 31, 1993, to serve in such capacity without compensation. The motion passed 4-1 . Alderperson Berg voted against the motion. He stated that the Acting Mayor should be appointed as the Marriage Officer. 7 . Youth Bureau Resolutions Chairperson Booth informed the Committee that he has received two resolutions from the Youth Bureau Board. The resolutions are as follows : A. WHEREAS, participation in Ithaca Youth Bureau recreation programs has declined due to increased fees for residents from nonparticipating municipalities, and WHEREAS, there has been a fragmentation of programs within the greater Ithaca area, and PAGE 7 BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION MEETING MINUTES - 2/19/92 WHEREAS, it is desirable to offer cost effective, high quality, greater variety and increased participation in recreation programs; now, therefore be it RESOLVED, that the Ithaca Youth Bureau Advisory Board recommends the Youth Bureau staff initiate contact with interested municipalities to study recreation needs for unified, comprehensive, cost effective recreation programs available to all residents within the Ithaca area. Passed unanimously by the Youth Advisory Board on 2/10/92 . B. WHEREAS, the Ithaca Youth Bureau Advisory Board believes increasing fees at Cass Park Swimming Pool and Ice Rink will decrease participation and therefore decrease revenue, and WHEREAS, the Cass Park Swimming Pool and Ice Rink has fixed expenses which will not be met with the decrease in revenue, the City' s expenses for the pool and rink will therefore increase and be passed along to City taxpayers, and WHEREAS, the cost and location for producing picture identification cards for all persons intending to use the pool and rink needs to be studied, and the expectation that many children would need to carry cards but may not always have them at time of need would create problems for cashiers, and WHEREAS, the community response to the proposed fee structure for residents and nonresidents at the pool and rink may create hostility toward Cass Park and the Ithaca Youth Bureau, be it therefore RESOLVED, that the Ithaca Youth Bureau Advisory Board recommends that the fees remain as previously approved for June 1992 and the resident/nonresident fee structure be postponed until that time when discussion with other municipalities may lead to an inter-municipal agreement on the fees charged and expenses covered at the Cass Park Swimming Pool and Ice Rink. Passed unanimously by the Youth Bureau Advisory Board 2/10/92 . Chairperson Booth noted that the 1992 Budget directed the Youth Bureau to increase revenues to support the 1992 estimated revenues . The Committee agreed that the Youth Bureau will have to come to a future B&A meeting to discuss this issue. No action was taken. PAGE 8 BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION MEETING MINUTES - 2/19/92 8 . Finance/Controller A. Request to Amend 1992 Equipment List Controller Cafferillo presented a request to purchase computer equipment for the Clerk' s office. He explained that the Records Management Grant from the State requires the use of a computer and related software to store the City' s records inventory. Cafferillo stated that the grant does not allow for a computer purchase, because the State believes this type of purchase should be an inkind contribution from the participating municipality. He explained that the funds needed for this computer equipment would be derived from the offset of the increased amount in the State grant for the payment of the Deputy Clerk' s benefits, salary and indirect costs related to this grant. The amount requested is $3, 000. After a brief discussion, the following motion was made: WHEREAS, the Clerk' s Office is in need of a larger computer for the implementation and storage of the Records Management Inventory for the City, and WHEREAS, the funds for such a computer purchase are available within the budget established for such Records Management Inventory, and WHEREAS, the total estimated cost for the purchase of the computer and related software will not exceed $3,000. ; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the 1992 Finance Department Authorized Equipment list be amended as follows: A1315-210 Office Equipment 1-486 Computer $3,000 The motion passed 5-0 . B. State Budget Update Controller Cafferillo gave the Committee an update on the status of the State ' s budget for 1992-93. He stated that the Governor' s proposed budget includes a reduction of 15.4% for the City of Ithaca' s per capita Aid. Cafferillo explained that this means the City will see a $130, 000 reduction in its 1992 State Aid if the budget passes as proposed. He stated he would give the Committee further updates as needed. PAGE 9 BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION MEETING MINUTES - 2/19/92 C. Request to Approve 1992 Human Services Contract It was noted that last month Council tabled the 1992 Human Services Coalition contract approval because of a wording problem in paragraph 3 of the contract pertaining to funding from other municipalities and the reduction of City funding. Controller Cafferillo stated that he talked with Linda Beins about the contract. The paragraph in question had been in the agreement since 1983. The Committee agreed that the Human Services Coalition should continue to seek funding from other municipalities, but that the questioned paragraph should be deleted because it is no longer relevant (the paragraph was inserted in the contracts in previous years because of the way Human Services funds were dispersed) . The following motion was made: RESOLVED, that the Mayor be authorized to execute the 1992 Human Services Coalition contract in the amount of $9,900 in accord with the adopted 1992 City Budget, and be it further RESOLVED, that proposed paragraph #3 pertaining to the funding from other municipalities in the County be deleted from the 1992 Human Services Coalition contract. The motion passed 5-0. D. Request Change In Assessment Controller Cafferillo presented a request from the County Assessor to reduce the assessment at 408 Warren Place by $20, 000 because of a veteran' s exemption. It was noted that the City has no discretion over these issues dealing with a change in assessment. The following motion was made: WHEREAS, an investigation of an error in essential fact, pursuant to Section 554 (4A) of the Real Property Tax Law revealed that a Veteran' s exemption of $20,000 for 408 Warren Place in the name of Louise Rordziel was omitted from the 1992 final assessment roll; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the 1992 Tax Roll for the City of Ithaca be amended to reduce the assessment of Tax Map Number 55.-2-2 by $20,000, and be it further RESOLVED, that the City Chamberlain is authorized and directed to make the appropriate changes in the Tax Roll and prepare a new tax bill for said property. The motion passed 5-0 . The next B&A meeting will be Tuesday, March 17, 1992 . PAGE 10 BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION MEETING MINUTES - 2/19/92 The meeting adjourned at 11 : 30 P.M. NOTE: In many cases the actual texts of the resolutions presented in these minutes were prepared following the Committee ' s deliberations and decisions on the matters involved. The resolutions presented here are in complete accord with decisions made by the Committee. PAGE 11