HomeMy WebLinkAboutMeeting Minutes 4-22-19
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BUDGET COMMITTEE
Meeting Minutes - April 15, 2019
Committee present: Eric Levine – Chairman, Pat Leary, Pamela Bleiwas
Staff present: Michael Solvig, Judy Drake
Others present: Bill Goodman
Meeting was called to order at: 12:02 p.m.
AGENDA ITEMS:
• Review and approve meeting minutes from March 25, 2019.
Under the discussion on adjusting the Supervisor’s salary, the Committee members requested the
following be added to the last paragraph:
Upon review of the projected salary, the Committee members made the following comments/
observations:
1. The adjusted salary is fair based on the responsibilities of the Supervisor’s position.
2. The adjusted salary is in line with other managerial staff.
3. The adjusted salary is cost effective compared to the cost of hiring a professional manager.
With these changes, Pamela Bleiwas moved approval of the minutes as revised, seconded by Pat
Leary. Motion passed.
• Begin discussion on creating Park District(s).
Mr. Solvig informed the Committee that Tompkins County Assessor Jay Franklin will be unable to
join us today and sends his regrets. Bill Goodman is interested in pursuing the formation of park
and sidewalk districts as a way to collect revenue from not-for-profit and educational entities
towards the construction of sidewalks and parks, including trails.
Further discussion was postponed until next month, when Jay Franklin can hopefully attend the
May meeting. (Subsequent to the meeting, Tompkins County Assessor Jay Franklin did confirm he
will be at the May 20 meeting.)
• Discuss Engineering Overtime/Compensatory Time from 2018.
Judy Drake discussed the issues occurring in 2018 which resulted in the Town’s Civil Engineers
performing inspections of capital projects normally performed by the Town’s Engineering
Technicians. Historically, the Civil Engineers’ overtime hours were related to attending Planning
Board meetings and therefore minimal. As the Civil Engineers began doing more capital project
inspections in 2018, their compensatory time began accumulating in excess of the 40 hour
maximum preferred under Town policy. While steps are being taken to correct the issues which
resulted in this situation, the expected workload of the Town’s Civil Engineers for 2019 capital
projects is such that accumulated compensatory time is not expected to decrease but rather is
expected to continue to increase over the maximum preferred under Town policy. As of 3/17/19,
David O’Shea had 75.51 hours and Justin McNeal had 71.39 hours of accumulated comp-time.
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Ms. Drake explained this was reviewed at the March 25 Personnel & Organization Committee
meeting with the Committee making the following recommendations:
- Pay out 70 hours of accumulated compensatory time for each Civil Engineer to bring down the
outstanding liability and amount of accumulated compensatory time within the maximum
preferred under Town policy. For David O’Shea, the payout would be $2,235.80, and for Justin
McNeal the payout would be $2,183.30. This expenditure was not budgeted for 2019.
- Continue to work with Engineering Technicians to cover inspection overtime as required of
the position.
- Civil Engineers monitor overtime hours to keep in line with policy, if possible.
- At end of 2019 evaluate the level of accumulated compensatory time to determine if there is a
further need to pay out hours if too high.
- In preparing the 2020 Town Budget re-evaluate overtime - compensatory time funding needs.
After discussion, the Budget Committee concurred with the recommendations of the P & O
Committee and will also recommend to the Town Board a Budget Amendment to cover the
amount of the unbudgeted payouts.
• Review of Five-Year Budget projections.
The Five-Year Budget Projections for Fiscal Years 2020 - 2024 have not yet been completed.
• Continue discussion on funding Community Groups.
It was the decision of the Committee not to recommend any changes to the Town’s current
process in budgeting annual contributions for community groups. The consensus of the
Committee is the current process, on the whole, works well and the individual groups should
approach the Town to request changes in funding as part of the annual budget process.
• Discuss Resolution to Establish Investment Account with NYCLASS.
The Committee is in favor of opening an account with NYCLASS for the short-term investment of
idle Town funds.
• Other Items.
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- May Meeting Date: The May meeting was originally scheduled for May 27, which is Memorial
Day. The Committee re-scheduled the May meeting for Monday, May 20 at noon. This
meeting will be followed by the Employee Relations Committee at 1:30 and the Person nel &
Organization Committee at 3:00.
- Status of Investments: The Committee reviewed several spreadsheets prepared by Mr. Solvig
to show the current status of invested Town funds and the interest income estimated to be
earned in 2019.
1) The Town currently has $6,700,000 invested in three 14-month CD’s at Tompkins Trust
that will mature on May 15, 2020. Total Interest to be earned over the 14-month period
of these CD’s is approx. $175,100, of which approx. $138,600 will be earned in 2019.
2) The Town recently opened a new savings account at Tompkins Trust to consolidate idle
cash to earn higher interest rates. On April 15 the Town consolidated $14,500,000 into
this account from 24 other accounts.
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3) In total, the Town could earn almost $300,000 in interest income for 2019.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:08 p.m.
Next Meeting: Monday, May 20, 2019 at 12:00 pm, Town Hall - Aurora Room