HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CA-2004-12-22 CITY AbMINISTRATION COMMITTEE-1 L
SCANNE [ Regular Meeting
r:
December 22, 2004 2005
taiiKS OFFICE
Members
Present: Alderperson Berry, Alderperson Coles, Alderperson Zumo , -��1=Ina
mon Cogan,
Mayor Peterson
Members
Excused: Alderperson Townsend
Staff
Present: Phyllis Radke (Building Commissioner), Larry Fabbroni (Asst Supt), Rick Ferrel
(Asst Supt), Liz Vance (Deputy YB Director), Jackie Merwin (Youth Program
Coordinator), Leslie Moskowitz (Mgr of OD), Steve Thayer (Controller), Scott
Andrew (Deputy Controller), Schelley Michell-Nunn (HR Director), Denise Malone
(Administrative Secretary)
Others
Present: Members of the Media
Chairperson Berry called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
A. Chairperson Greeting & Opening Statement
Chairperson Berry welcomed everyone to the meeting, explained the evacuation procedures, and
thanked the Committee members and staff for their contribution to the City Administration
Committee.
B. Agenda Review and Amendments, Approval of Minutes & Announcements
There were no announcements. Chairperson Berry requested that Item J (Building Department)
be moved to Item G.
The Committee reviewed the minutes from the November 2004 meeting. After discussion,
Alderperson Zumoff made a motion to approve the minutes from the November 18, 2004, City
Administration Committee meeting. Seconded by Alderperson Cogan. Motion carried 4-0.
City Administration Committee
December 22, 2004
Page 2
C. Statements from the Public. None.
D. Employee Comments. None.
E. Common Council Response
Chairperson Berry mentioned that Carol Shipe, Administrative Secretary in the Controller's
Office, would be retiring December 31, 2004. Chairperson Berry read a poem that
acknowledged and expressed appreciation for all Ms. Shipe's hard work and years of dedication.
F. Affirmative Action Advisory Committee (AAAC) Update. None.
6. Building Department
1. An Ordinance to Increase Certain Building Department Inspection Fees
The Building Department requested approval of an ordinance amending Sections
210-43.F(1) and (2), and 146-7.C(2)(a) of the City of Ithaca Municipal Code to
increase certain building department inspection fees, which are listed in the
resolution. After discussion, Alderperson Zumoff made a motion to approve the
request. Seconded by Alderperson Coles. Motion carried 4-0.
H. Department of Public Works (Streets & Facilities and Water & Sewer)
1. Water & Sewer - Request to Extend Personnel Service Contract for On-Site
AutoCad Training Services
The Department of Public Works (Water & Sewer) requested approval to extend
the personnel service contract for On-site AutoCad Training Services for the
period from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2005. The rate to be reimbursed is
$23.22 per hour, for a total contract extension not to exceed $24,155. After
discussion, Alderperson Cogan made a motion to approve the request. Seconded by
Alderperson Coles. Motion carried 4-0.
2. Streets & Facilities - Request to Amend Capital Project for Thurston Avenue
Bridge Construction
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December 22, 2004
Page 3
2. Streets & Facilities - Request to Amend Capital Project for Thurston Avenue
Bridge Construction
The Department of Public Works (Streets & Facilities) requested approval to
amend Capital Project #428 Thurston Avenue Bridge Over Fall Creek
Rehabilitation by an amount not to exceed $6,989,688 for a total project cost of
$8,200,000. This is with the understanding that the final cost to the City of
Ithaca will not exceed five percent (5%) of the final approved project cost,
currently estimated at $410,000 of the $8,200,000 authorized for this project.
After discussion, Alderperson Cogan made a motion to approve the request.
Seconded by Alderperson Zumoff. Motion carried 4-0.
3. Streets & Facilities - Request to Amend 2005 Personnel Roster
The Department of Public Works (Streets & Facilities) requested approval to
amend the 2005 Personnel Roster by
Deleting: One (1) Account Clerk (40 hours)
One (1) Account Clerk Typist (20 hours)
Adding: One (1) Account Clerk (20 hours)
One (1) Account Clerk Typist (40 hours)
After discussion, Alderperson Zumoff made a motion to approve the request.
Seconded by Alderperson Coles. Motion carried 4-0. The Committee agreed that
this item would be put on consent agenda.
I. Human Resources
1. Retiree Health Insurance Co-Pay
The Human Resources Department, in conjunction with the Controller's Office,
requested approval to establish the 2005 monthly health insurance rate for
retirees and those employees on leaves of absence at $187.17/month for individual
coverage and $428.58/month for family coverage. This increase represents a
r
City Administration Committee
December 22, 2004
Page 4
9.37% increase over the current retiree health insurance rate charged. After
discussion, Alderperson Zumoff made a motion to approve the request. Seconded
by Alderperson Cogan. Vote on the motion was as follows:
Yea: (3) Zumoff, Coles, Cogan
Nay: (1) Berry
The motion passed 3-1.
2. Establishment of a Standard Workday for Elected Officials
The New York State (NYS) Retirement System requires that a standard workday
be established for elected officials for the purpose of retirement credit. A study
of Common Council members' participating in the NYS Retirement System's monthly
hours revealed that these members work an average of ninety-nine (99) hours per
month on Council activities. The Human Resources Department requested Common
Council to establish six (6) hour workday, five day work week as a standard work
day for elected officials for the purpose of determining days worked reportable to
the NYS Retirement System. After discussion, Alderperson Cogan made a motion
to approve the request and to authorize the Controller to make the appropriate
applications to the Retirement System to change the current NYS Retirement
Credit from sixty (60) hours per month to ninety-nine (99) hours per month.
Seconded by Alderperson Coles. Motion carried 4-0.
3. Request to Amend the Personnel Rosters of Various Departments
During the 2005 budget process, various departments had requested amendments
to or were requested to amend their personnel rosters (i.e. changes in hours,
addition and/or deletion of positions, etc.) Common Council approved the various
amendments when it adopted the 2005 budget on November 3, 2004. The Human
Resources Department requested that Common Council now needs to formally
adopt the personnel changes for 2005 as listed in the resolution. After discussion,
Alderperson Zumoff made a motion to amend the personnel rosters of various
departments as requested. Seconded by Alderperson Coles. Motion carried 4-0.
The Committee agreed that this item would be put on consent agenda.
•
• City Administration Committee
December 22, 2004
Page 5
4. Request to Transfer Funds
Common Council set aside funds to implement the recommendations from the Work
Environment Task Force (WETF) in 2000. The current balance of the WETF funds
is $18,400. The Human Resources Department requested that an amount not to
exceed $10,000 be transferred from account A1990 Restricted Contingency to
account A1430-5120 Hourly P/T for the purpose of hiring an intern to work on the
implementation of the WETF recommendations. After discussion, Alderperson
Cogan made a motion to approve the request. Seconded by Alderperson Coles.
Motion carried 4-0.
5. Director's Report. The Human Resources Director reported on the following:
TCAT: The City has successfully completed impact bargaining with TCAT. There
would be a few TCAT employees remaining with the City, bumping other employees
or filling vacant positions.
Employee Forum: There were three (3) employee forums held in December that
were very well attended. Numerous feedback was received.
Classification Study: Still underway. The Civil Service Commission will make final
recommendations by February.
Friday Brainteasers: Will start in February 2005. These are training sessions
offered at no charge to the employees of the City of Ithaca, Tompkins County and
the Town of Ithaca.
Diversity Training: The Diversity Training was held in November and went well.
Recruitment/Outreach/Interviewing Training: The training would be held in
January 2005 for Senior Staff. Employees participating in the interview process
would require this training.
Newsletter: Was distributed today and contains a lot of valuable information.
Safety Training: The Employee Health and Safety Coordinator has been
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becember 22, 2004
Page 6
overseeing the safety training since October. There have been 54 training hours
and 284 attendees.
J. Youth Bureau
1. Impact of New Minimum Wage on Youth Bureau Budget
Recently, the State Senate vetoed the bill regarding minimum wage, which now will
cause an impact on the Youth Bureau budget. Effective January 1, 2005, minimum
wage will increase from $5.15 per hour to $6.00 per hour. This increase would
have a tremendous impact on services provided by the Youth Bureau, mostly in the
Youth Employment Services (Y.E.5.) Summer Municipal Jobs Program. The Youth
Bureau submitted two optional budget proposals for consideration. The Youth
Bureau would like to avoid cuts in services but at the same time understands the
realities of current budgetary constraints.
The Committee reviewed both options. After discussion, the consensus of the
Committee was to gather more information regarding the two options. As required
by law, effective January 1, 2005, the Youth Bureau will increase the minimum
wages of those currently working under $6.00/hour and will bring additional
information to the next City Administration Committee meeting regarding the two
budget options.
K. Mayor
1. Health Insurance Contributions by Common Council
The Committee discussed Common Council members and the Mayor contributing to
the health insurance. After discussion, Alderperson Cogan made a motion that
Common Council and the Mayor agree to pay into the health insurance program at
the same sliding scale as managerial employees. Seconded by Alderperson Coles.
Motion carried 4-0.
L. Finance/Controller
1. January Resolutions
City Administration Committee
December 22, 2004
Page 7
The Controller's Office presented the Committee with the standard resolutions as
follows:
Designation of Official Newspaper: Resolved, that, pursuant to Section C-
113 of the City Charter, the Ithaca Journal be and is hereby designated as
the official newspaper of the City of Ithaca for the year 2005.
Finance/Controller - Collateral to Secure Deposits: Resolved, that the
collateral deposited by the Tompkins Trust Company, Fleet Bank and M (ST
Bank as reported, be approved as to form and sufficiency.
Finance/Controller - Public Employee's Blanket Bond: Resolved, that,
pursuant to Section 11 of the Public Officers Law, the following Bond, which
is on file in the Office of the City Clerk, be, and is hereby approved in all
respects for the year 2005
Faithful Performance Blanket $250,000 National Grange
Bond Coverage Mutual Insurance Co.
Finance/Controller - Designation of Common Council Meetings: Resolved,
that the regular meetings of the Common Council, for the year 2005, be held
at 7:00 P.M., on the first Wednesday of each month, in the Common Council
Chambers, at City Hall, 108 East Green Street, Ithaca, New York, unless
otherwise determined by Common Council.
Finance/Controller - Designation of Official Depositories: Resolved, that,
pursuant to Section C-34 of the City Charter, the Tompkins Trust Company,
the Fleet Bank and the M & T Bank be, and they are, hereby designated as
the official depositories of all City Funds for the year 2005 and are
currently deposited as follows (as listed in the resolution).
After discussion, Alderperson Zumoff made a motion to approve each standard
resolution as requested. Seconded by Alderperson Coles. Motion carried 4-0. The
Committee agreed that this item would be put on the consent agenda.
,
City Administration Committee
December 22, 2004
Page 8
2. Controller's Report. The Controller reported on the following:
Sales Tax Revenues: Two payments are still due the City this year. The City is
projecting a shortage of at least $175,000 in revenues from sales tax for 2004.
Controller Thayer updated the Committee on the status of store openings. The
Controller's Office hopes that the City would make the 9% projected increase in
sales tax revenue for 2005.
Retirement Payment: The Controller's Office received two invoices for the
Retirement payments, but was only able to pay one invoice by December 15, 2004.
Paying one invoice saved the City $12,000. The Controller's Office will pay the
second invoice by February 1, 2005.
Selling Notes: The City will sell notes in January 2005. As a requirement of that,
Moody called and will re-rate the City for a third time. The Controller's Office is
making an attempt to get rid of the negative outlook placed on the City. Mr.
Thayer stated that over the past year most of New York State municipalities'
ratings have had a negative outlook.
TCAT: Impact bargaining is completed. There will be some impact to the City.
TCAT employees remaining with the City may bump other employees or fill vacant
positions.
Parking Rates: The Board of Public Works approved parking rates, the first two
hours free for 2005. The City will monitor very carefully these rates and the
revenues derived from these rates. The Controller's Office will keep Common
Council, the Board of Public Works and the City Administration Committee updated
on the City's position. 2006 may have a different rate structure.
M. Reports
1. Mayor's Report. The Mayor reported on the following:
Negotiations: Negotiations are still underway with the Police Benevolent
Association and the CSEA DPW Unit. Both contracts have expired. The Mayor's
goal is to resolve these contracts before they expire.
City Administration Committee
December 22, 2004
Page 9
Board/Committee Members: Ithaca Times printed an article on the need for more
members for Boards and Committees. The Mayor received many responses and
would be making appointments at the January meeting.
2. Sub-Committee Updates. None.
3. Council Members' Announcements. None.
4. Next Month's Meeting:, Wednesday - January 26, 2005.
N. Adjournment
With no further business and on a motion by Alderperson Zumoff, the meeting was adjourned
at 9:04 p.m.