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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 1 5 , 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. 2 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 . 3 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 4 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. 5 a. 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 6 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. 7