HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-B&A-1995-07-19 44-614
BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
REGULAR MEETING 7 :30 P.M. JULY 19, 1995
MINUTES
Present:
Committee Members : Johnson, Shenk, Thorpe
Committee Members Excused: Booth
Others Present:
Mayor Nichols
City Controller Cafferillo
Deputy Controller Thayer
Supt. of Public Works Gray
Police Chief McEwen
PBA President Gray
Police Dispatcher Harmon
Members of the media
1 . Opening Comments:
Vice-Chairperson Johnson stated that the following
changes were made to the agenda:
1. Deletion of the Local Match for Transit Projects
item;
2 . Deletion of the discussion on City Residency
Requirements;
3. Deletion of the discussion on Cass Park fees;
4. Addition of a Human Services Coalition Report; and
5 . Addition of Police Department Dispatcher pay
discussion.
Members of the Public were asked to speak; no members spoke.
2 . DPW - Engineering Office Reorganization
Superintendent of Public Works Gray discussed his
proposal for reorganization of the Engineering Office
with the Committee. He stated that he was still putting
together salary amounts, and all the appropriate salary
reviews have not been completed. Gray explained that at
next month' s B & A meeting he would like to discuss the
reorganization in executive session. After a brief
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BUDGET & ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING JULY 19, 1995
discussion, the Committee agreed to the executive session
item for next month' s B & A meeting. No formal action
was taken.
3 . Police Department - Dispatcher Pay Discussion
Police Chief McEwen discussed the current situation with
the Police Department' s dispatchers with the Committee.
He explained that he has lost two dispatchers recently
and the main reason for the departures is to the current
dispatcher' s pay in relation to the stress of the
position. McEwen provided an example of salaries for
local dispatchers to the Committee as follows:
Tompkins County Fire & EMS Center $27,590 - $29 ,975
Tompkins County Sheriff $24, 620 - $27,082
Ithaca Police Department $16,765 - $19,282
McEwen stated that his dispatchers are the busiest and
most stressed dispatchers in the county. McEwen invited
the Committee to come and spend a night with the
dispatchers. He stated that he wanted to get this
problem on the table, and does not expect immediate
action. He would like to have the pay scale of the
dispatchers increased in the near future.
PBA President Mike Gray spoke to the Committee regarding
the dispatcher problem at the Police Department. Gray
explained that the dispatchers leaving the department
negatively affect the police officers. He stated that
the dispatcher position is very difficult and stressful.
He stated that the Department has to make sure the
dispatchers are very competent and qualified. The
department can not afford to lose its dispatchers . He
recommends that the dispatcher' s pay should be increased
over time. He explained that he is waiting for the Pay
Equity Study to come out to see if these positions will
be increased.
Melissa Harmon, a current Police Department dispatcher,
stated that she enjoys her job, but because of the low
pay she would not say no to a county-offered dispatcher
job.
No action was taken on this issue. Vice-Chairperson
Johnson stated that the problem will be noted and
hopefully future discussions will take place on this
issue.
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BUDGET & ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING JULY 19, 1995
4 . Youth Bureau Project Update
City Controller Cafferillo stated that the Client
Committee is still working on the information regarding
the Youth Bureau Project, and when a recommendation is
made it will be brought back to the Committee.
5 . Human Services Coalition report
Nancy Burstein from the Human Services Coalition reported
that the sales tax agreement with the County seems to be
working well. She explained that the County' s Human
Services Committee placed the Multicultural Resource
Center back into the Human Services Coalition grouping.
A brief discussion regarding some of the Human Services
Coalition activities followed.
It was noted that the B & A Committee will meet on August
23rd to discuss 1996 Community Services funding. No
action was taken.
6 . Finance/Chamberlain - Denial of Tax Penalty Refund
City Controller Cafferillo presented a request to deny a
tax penalty refund of approximately $604. Cafferillo
explained that the property owner at 203 Williams Street
and 308 Eddy Street is requesting a waiver of a tax
3 penalty because of the failure to receive the tax bill.
He explained that the NYS Real Property Tax Law is very
clear that the failure to receive the bill does not
affect the validity of the tax or of the penalty.
Cafferillo stated that the City Chamberlain has
recommended the denial of this request. After a
discussion regarding this issue, the following motion was
made:
WHEREAS, the property owner at 203 Williams Street and 308
Eddy Street has requested an expungement of penalty on school
tax bills, and
WHEREAS, the City Chamberlain and B&A Committee have reviewed
the request and supporting documentation and have determined
based on New York State Real Property Tax Law that the failure
to receive a tax bill does not affect the validity of the tax
or penalty; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the request for tax penalty refund be denied.
The motion passed 3-0 .
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BUDGET & ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING JULY 19, 1995
7 . Finance/Controller
A. Request Funds for Purchase of UPS for Computer
City Controller Cafferillo stated that the City Hall
network servers are currently unprotected from any
electrical surges and power outages . Cafferillo stated
that an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) is needed for 1
the two servers in City Hall. He explained that the
total cost for the two UPS systems is approximately
$1, 650 . It was noted that due to a thunderstorm last
week, the servers went down for a brief period. A
discussion regarding the UPS systems followed.
Cafferillo stated that the funds for this purchase could
be obtained from the contingency account. The following
motion was made:
WHEREAS, the City Hall Network servers are currently
unprotected from electrical surges and temporary power outages
that could result from electrical storms during the summer
season, and
WHEREAS, the Computer Committee is recommending the purchase
of two UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply) protection devices
at an estimated cost of $1, 650. ; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That an amount not to exceed $1, 650 . be transferred
from Account A1990 Unrestricted Contingency to A1315-476
Equipment Maintenance to purchase said UPS equipment.
The motion passed 3-0 .
Cafferillo also stated that the Computer Committee is
working on the following items:
1 . A Software Acquisition Policy city-wide;
2 . Training of the network and related E-mail system;
3. Network with County through the INET.
Cafferillo stated that when these items are completed,
the Computer Committee will report to Council.
B. Request to Approve 95-96 Civil Service Agreement
Deputy Controller Thayer presented a request to approve
the 1995-1996 Civil Service Agreement between the City
and the Ithaca City School District. Thayer stated that
the annual contract costs vary depending on expenses of
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BUDGET & ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING JULY 19, 1995
the Personnel Department. He stated that this year the
contract is for $23,074 . Thayer explained that the
School District pays the City this annual amount for
Civil Service work performed by our Personnel Department.
After a discussion regarding the contract, the following
motion was made:
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized and
directed to execute an agreement between the City of Ithaca
and the Ithaca City School District for performance by the
City for services in connection with Civil Service matters for
the period of July 1, 1995 to June 30, 1996, in the amount of
$23, 074. , payable to the City of Ithaca on or before November
1, 1995 .
The motion passed 3-0.
C. Request to Provide Funds for 1995 City Employee
Recognition Picnic
Deputy Controller Thayer presented a request to fund the
1995 City Employee Recognition Picnic in the amount of
$2,000. Thayer explained that the picnic costs between
$1,500 and $2,000 annually and funds can be derived from
the contingency account. He stated this year' s picnic
will be held Friday, September 15, 1995 . The following
motion was made:
WHEREAS, the 1995 City of Ithaca Employee Recognition Picnic
will be held on Friday, September 15, 1995 starting at 1:00
p.m. ; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That an amount not to exceed $2,000. be transferred
from the Unrestricted Contingency Account A1990 to Account
A1430-440 in order to pay for the 1995 City of Ithaca Employee
Recognition Picnic.
The motion passed 3-0.
8 . Mayor - Finger Lakes Association Funding Request
Mayor Nichols stated that the Finger Lakes Association is
currently requesting $1,000 for 1995 because they thought
they were funded by the City. It was noted that the
Mayor did not fund the $1, 000 for 1995, and Council did
not change the Mayor' s recommendation on this
organization' s funding during the 1995 Budget process.
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BUDGET & ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING JULY 19, 1995
The Committee discussed the $1,000 request and felt that
because the funding was not approved by Council during
the Budget process, they would deny the Association' s
request. The Mayor stated he will write to the
Association and formally deny their request. It was
noted that the Finger Lakes Association will request
funds again for 1996 . No action was taken.
9 . Committee to Proceed into Executive Session
The Committee voted, 3-0, to move into executive session
to discuss a personnel item.
10. Report from Executive Session
After the Committee voted, 3-0, to move back into regular
session, Vice-Chairperson Johnson reported that the
following action was taken in executive session:
A. Finance/Clerk - Transfer of Leave
Vice-Chairperson Johnson stated that the Committee voted
on the following action related to the Clerk' s personnel:
WHEREAS, in April of 1995 Bill Kaupe was transferred from the
Building Department where he was a member of the
Administrative Unit to the position of Deputy City Clerk; and
WHEREAS, prior to his transfer he had accrued a certain amount
of personal leave time; and
WHEREAS, prior to his transfer he requested an opinion from
the City of Ithaca as to whether he would be entitled to
convert the accrued personal time to annual leave or whether
that accrued personal time would be lost; and
WHEREAS, he had been advised prior to April 1995 that should
he transfer to the position of Deputy City Clerk he might lose
accrued personal time; and
WHEREAS, prior to his transfer the Building Commissioner asked
him not to take the accrued personal time because there were
many tasks that were either partially completed or needed to
be handled by Mr. Kaupe due to his unique skills which made it
a significant benefit to the Building Department for him to
continue to work until his transfer rather than use the
accrued leave time; and
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BUDGET & ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING JULY 19, 1995
WHEREAS, Mr. Kaupe at the request of the Building Department
worked on these tasks rather than taking the accrued leave
time; and
WHEREAS, no decision had been submitted to Mr. Kaupe as to
whether or not he would be able to transfer the accrued leave
time prior to his transfer; and
WHEREAS, this Council determines that due to the unique
specific facts of this situation, it would be fair and
equitable to allow Mr. Kaupe to transfer three days of
personal leave time to his position as Deputy City Clerk; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Council authorizes the transfer of 3 days
of personal leave time to Mr. Kaupe' s current position and
further directs appropriate City personnel to take all
necessary actions to effectuate the transfer of this personal
leave time.
The motion passed 3-0 .
The meeting adjourned at 9 : 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.
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