Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-B&A-1992-11-18 - Budget Meeting t BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE BUDGET MEETING 7 : 30 P.M. NOVEMBER 18, 1992 MINUTES PRESENT: COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Booth, Johnson, Romanowski, Berg, Daley OTHER ALDERPERSONS PRESENT: Golder, Schroeder, Hoffman, Efroymson, Blanchard OTHERS PRESENT: Mayor - Nichols City Controller - Cafferillo Deputy Controller - Thayer Fire Chief - Olmstead Deputy Fire Chief - Wilbur Police Chief - McEwen Deputy Police Chief - Barnes Representatives from Board of Fire Commissioners Superintendent of Public Works - Gray City Attorney - Guttman Assistant City Attorney - Kennedy Members of the Media 1 . Opening Comments Chairperson Booth asked members of the public to speak on any topic; the following individual spoke: Fay Gougalas - stated that she was concerned about the Fire Department' s continued budget cuts . She felt that the City cannot keep cutting the Fire Department Budget. She stated that Cornell should contribute their fair share to the City for fire services . Alderperson Berg responded by stating that 20% of the Fire calls are to Cornell University. He explained Cornell should be paying $750, 000 to the City for fire service instead of the current $130, 000 that they pay now. He stated he was hopeful that the current negotiating team dealing with this issue will be able to correct the problem. Alderperson Berg also stated that he would like the Police Chief to discuss traffic officers with the Committee when the Police Department Budget is discussed. 2 . Fire Department The Mayor recommended a 1993 Fire Department Budget in the amount of $2, 992, 088 . Fire Chief Olmstead explained that his operating lines have been the same for four years in a row and that it continues to become more difficult to stay within those boundaries . BUDGET & ADMINISTRATION BUDGET MEETING - 11/18/92 Olmstead stated the Board of Fire Commissioners has asked Common Council to fill the unfunded Municipal Training Officer and the two unfunded fire fighter positions in the 1993 Fire Department Budget. He stated that this was submitted to the Mayor. He explained that the 1993 Mayor' s Budget does not include the funding of these positions . A discussion on salary amounts followed. Lyman Baker - Chairperson of the Board of Fire Commissioners stated that the Board of Fire Commissioners passed a resolution that stated the Board, consistent with the City/Town Fire agreement, will agree to look at the staffing needs of the Ithaca Fire Department for the purpose of developing a long range staffing plan for the Fire Department. Baker also stated that the Common Council liaison needs to be appointed by the Mayor and meet regularly with the Board of Fire Commissioners . Chairperson Booth stated that he was the liaison to the Board unless the Mayor decides otherwise. A discussion on the Fire Department ' s overtime and disability problems followed. It was noted that to date $91, 700 has been spent in overtime. Chief Olmstead stated that the original budget for overtime was $70, 000, but was changed at the last Common Council meeting to $106, 683 . Olmstead felt that the department may be around $100,000 for 1993 . Olmstead explained that the Budget currently has two funded open positions in the 1992 Budget. He stated that one position will be filled next week. Other Fire Department accounts were discussed. Olmstead stated that an $18, 000 Fire Vehicle will be purchased out of the Capital Reserve for Fire Vehicles in 1993. The following motion was made: RESOLVED, that the 1993 Fire Department Budget be approved as recommended in the amount of $2,992,088. The motion passed 10-0 . 3 . Police Department The Mayor recommended a Police Department Budget in the amount of $3,460, 588 . 2 BUDGET & ADMINISTRATION BUDGET MEETING - 11/18/92 Police Chief McEwen stated that this is the second year that strict budget limits have been put on the Police Department. He explained that if this continues for next year, services will have to be cut. McEwen stated he was pleased to see a $ . 25 an hour increase for the School Crossing Guards. McEwen also noted that the Mayor reduced his requested overtime by $27, 000 to a total of $170, 736 . The Chief stated that he is not protesting this amount, but wanted the Committee to be aware of the reduction. McEwen noted that he has received notification from the Federal Government that the Drug Surveillance Equipment grant will be reduced by $3, 764 . He stated that because the grant was placed in the 1993 Budget at the original amount, the 225 account needs to be reduced by $3,764 with a corresponding decrease to the revenue account A4389 . The Committee agreed to the reduction. It was noted that this will be the last year that police cars will be amortized. McEwen discussed Traffic Enforcement with the Committee. He stated that the department will be unable to continue to do more with the same staff. He stated that Traffic Enforcement is a constant problem in the City. He explained that with the approval of the 1992 Budget a Traffic Enforcement Officer was not approved for funding, but because of personnel deployment the City did not take the burden of one less Traffic Enforcement Officer until May, when Chuck House retired. McEwen stated that he is continuing to attempt to reassign officers to have the most traffic enforcement possible. He stated that he may be purchasing equipment in 1993 to assist in the traffic enforcement problem. A discussion on personnel followed. Most of the Committee members were not aware of the 1992 Budget approval that reduced a traffic enforcement officer. McEwen discussed community and neighborhood policing with the Committee. He stated that he is working on neighborhood policing in the southside area. He explained that the Police Community Relations Task Force has recommended that neighborhood policing should be expanded. He stated that to expand this program the department would need more policemen. 3 BUDGET & ADMINISTRATION BUDGET MEETING - 11/18/92 McEwen discussed the education in the school programs (i.e. , D.A.R.E. ) . He stated that these programs have been asked to be expanded by the School District. He stated that the need for increased court service also has been recommended. McEwen explained that with all the demand for increased service, eventually more officers will be needed. Other Police Department accounts were discussed by the Committee. No changes were made. A discussion followed on the Police Department personnel. It was noted that the Police Department currently has four officers on disability. The department has a total of 70 staff members . After a discussion on traffic enforcement, the following motion was made: RESOLVED, that account A3120-110 Staff be increased by $28,895 for the purposes of adding one Traffic Enforcement Officer, and be it further RESOLVED, that corresponding fringes be added to the appropriate employee benefit accounts in the amount of $11,105 for a total budget increase of $41,000. Alderperson Daley stated the City needs additional staff to increase traffic enforcement in the City. It was noted that this position would not have to go through the Vacancy Review Committee. McEwen stated that it would take two months to hire this position. The Committee voted 10-0, to move into executive session to discuss the current status of Police Department labor negotiations . After the Committee voted, 10-0, to move back into regular session, a further discussion on the addition of a Traffic Enforcement Officer took place. Most of the Committee felt that Traffic Enforcement was a high priority for the City. Chairperson Booth stated that this addition would be sending the wrong message to other departments and he will not support the position. The voting results on the motion to add a Traffic Enforcement Officer were as follows : Ayes (8) Efroymson, Daley, Schroeder, Blanchard, Johnson, Hoffman, Berg, Romanowski Nays ( 1) Booth 4 BUDGET & ADMINISTRATION BUDGET MEETING - 11/18/92 Alderperson Golder was out of the room at the time of the vote. The motion passed 8-1 . Council made it clear that this position should be only used for a Traffic Enforcement Officer. McEwen agreed to the statement. The following motion was made: RESOLVED, that the 1993 Police Department Budget be approved in the amount of $3,485,719. Voting results on the motion were as follows : Ayes (8) Efroymson, Daley, Schroeder, Blanchard, Johnson, Hoffman, Berg, Romanowski Nays ( 1) Booth Alderperson Golder was out of the room at the time of the vote. The motion passed 8-1 . 4 . Attorney Budget The Mayor recommended a 1993 City Attorney Budget in the amount of $130, 923. City Attorney Guttman explained that his budget reflects a request of an additional one half-time secretary position in the amount of $7,500 . He stated that the half time position is needed because the workload has doubled in the following areas: A. Drafting Ordinances B. Personnel Process C. Staffing for Common Council Committees D. Building/Fire Ordinance Enforcement E. General consultation with other Departments Guttman explained that his current secretary will be going to school and would like to work parttime instead of fulltime. He stated that the fulltime secretary position would be open and filled in 1993 . Guttman explained that he did not think the secretary position could be combined with the Building Department because the duties of each are different. 5 BUDGET & ADMINISTRATION BUDGET MEETING - 11/18/92 Guttman noted that the telephone account has been increased $500 to reflect increased calls because of the increased workload. Mayor Nichols stated that the State Auditors have recommended that the City Attorney position become an employee of the City. The Committee agreed to make that change. Guttman also stated that the contract line has been decreased by $6, 000 . He stated that this account is used for outside attorney services and CIVITAS students. Guttman explained that he did request an additional $3, 300 for Westlaw services, which the Mayor did not approve. He stated that the Attorney' s office currently uses the Cornell Law Library and other local law libraries for the research of personnel cases. He felt that the Westlaw service would save time and money. It was determined that this can be made as a separate request at a later date. After a brief discussion the following motion was made: RESOLVED, that the 1993 Attorney' s Budget be approved as recommended in the amount of $130,923. 5 . City Prosecutor The Mayor recommended a 1993 City Prosecutor Budget in the amount of $34,507 . City Controller Cafferillo explained that the major change to the City Prosecutor' s Budget were as follows: A. An extension of ten hours per week to a total of 30 hours a week for the Senior Typist - due to the increased number of criminal cases . B. A copier has been requested for the Prosecutor' s office in the amount of $1, 300 . Cafferillo explained that the prosecutor had asked for 5 chairs and a two line telephone to be added to his budget. The Mayor took these out and they will be purchased as part of the Court Facility Capital Project. After a brief discussion, the following motion was made: RESOLVED, that the 1993 City Prosecutor Budget be approved as recommended in the amount of $34,507 . 6 BUDGET & ADMINISTRATION BUDGET MEETING - 11/18/92 The motion passed 9-0 . Alderperson Berg was excused for the remainder of the meeting. 6 . Executive Session The Committee voted, 9-0, to move into executive session to discuss employees not covered by Unions 1993 salary amounts. 7 . Report From Executive Session The Committee discussed the 1993 salaries for employees not covered by Unions in executive session. The Committee voted, 5-4, to approve a listing of salaries for these employees which are different than the Mayor' s recommended amounts . A formal vote of the salaries will be made at a later budget meeting. The meeting adjourned at 10:50 P.M. 7 REVENUES Mayor's Recommendation: $23,586,499 Net Decrease in Revenues through 11/17/92 ( $ 60,000) Balance Mayor's Recommendation Prior to Budget Meeting 11/18/92 $23,526,499 Action Taken During :Meeting. of 11/18/92: Reduce A4389 Federal Aid Public Safety to Reflect Decrease in Police Dept. Grant ($ 3,764) Mayor's Adjusted Revenues as of Conclusion of 11/18/92 B8A/COW Meeting $23,522,735 Net Decrease in Revenues from 11/18/92 Meeting ($ 3,764) Combined Net Decrease in Revenues after the 11/5, 11/11, 11/17 and 11/18/92 Meetings ($ 63,764) Combined Net Increase in Mayor's Budget after the 11/5, 11/11, 11/17 and 11/18/92 meetings (Revenues and Appropriations) $ 124,067 8. APPROPRIATIONS Mayor's Recommendation: $23,733,364 Net Increase in Mayor's Budget Appropriations through 11/17/92 $ 23,067 Balance Mayor's Recommendation Prior to Budget Meeting 11/18/92 $23,756,431 Action Taken During Meeting of 11/18/92: Police Department Reduce A3120-225 Other Equipment to Reflect Reduction in Federal Grant for Equipment ( $ 3,764) Increase A3120-110 Staff to reflect approval of Traffic Enforcement Officer position $ 28,895 Employee Benefits Increase A9015 Police 8 Fire Retirement 4,365 Increase A9030 Social Security 2,287 Increase A9040 Workers Compensation L516 Increase A9060 Health Insurance 3,937 Mayor's Adjusted Recommendation as of Conclusion of 11/18/92 B&A/COW Meeting $23,793,667 Net Overall Increase in Mayor's Appropriation from 11/18/92 Meeting $ 37,236 Combined Net Increase in Mayor's Appropriations after the 1115, 11/11, 11/17 and 11118 meetings $ 60,303 9