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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMn-B&A-1991-11-21 - Budget Meeting f BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE BUDGET MEETING 7 :30 P.M. NOVEMBER 21, 1991 MINUTES PRESENT: COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Booth, Peterson, Romanowski, Cummings, Golder OTHER ALDERPERSONS PRESENT: Johnson, Blanchard, Schroeder, Daley, Hoffman OTHERS PRESENT: Mayor - Nichols City Controller - Cafferillo Deputy Controller - Thayer Commons Coordinator - Deming City Attorney - Guttman Police Chief - McEwen Fire Chief - Olmstead Deputy Police Chief - Ecklund Acting Superintendent of Public Works - Gray Representatives of the Board of Fire Commissioners BPW Commissioner - Berg Council Member Elect - Efroymson Volunteer Coordinator - Lynch Deputy Fire Chief - Dorman Deputy Fire Chief - Wilbur 1 . Opening Comments Chairperson Booth stated the agenda for this meeting is as follows : A. Council concerns B. Police Department Budget C. Fire Department Budget D. City Attorney Budget E. City Prosecutor Budget F. Elections Budget G. Executive Session for personnel matters Chairperson Booth stated that the November 25, 1991 Budget meeting will include DPW items and any carry-over items . He stated that the November 26, 1991 Budget meeting will include a Public Hearing on the 1992 Budget and the regular B&A meeting for November. Chairperson Booth asked members of the public if they wanted to speak on any topic; the following members of the public spoke: Pat Frantz - Board member of the Ithaca Festival. She spoke on the issue of Police funds for the Ithaca Festival. She stated that the Festival relies on the Police to provide security and traffic control during the Festival. She r BUDGET MEETING - 11/21/91 stated that it was doubtful that the Ithaca Festival could operate without the Ithaca Police Department. She urged Council members to put money back into the 1992 Budget for Police Ithaca Festival overtime activity. Christopher Woitach - Board member of the Ithaca Festival. He urged Council members to put the needed Police overtime funds for the Ithaca Festival back into the 1992 Budget. Ted Crane - Board member of the Ithaca Festival. He also urged Council members to put the Police overtime funds back into the 1992 Budget. No other members of the public spoke. 2 . Alderperson' s General Concerns Alderperson Cummings stated that she wanted to have an executive session regarding a Fire Department Personnel item. No other Alderpersons raised concerns for tonight ' s agenda. 3 . Police Department Budget Police Chief McEwen and Deputy Chief Ecklund were on hand to present and answer questions regarding their 1992 Budget. The Mayor recommended the 1992 Police Department Budget at $3, 266,576 . Chief McEwen stated that he submitted a zero growth Budget for 1992 with some recommended revenue increases . He stated that the actual increase of the 1992 Budget over the 1991 Budget was less than one percent. McEwen stated that if the Police Department went to a minus three percent or a minus six percent 1992 Budget there would have to be some layoffs of police staff. It was noted that during the budget discussions prior to this meeting, the Mayor asked for further cuts in the Police Department ' s Budget and that the Mayor allowed the Chief to make the determination of what lines would be cut further. McEwen stated that the 1992 Police Department budget is a bare bone and very tight Budget. He stated that there is no flexibility in the accounts . McEwen stated that he is very concerned over Police overtime. In 1991 the City had two very serious crimes that pushed the 1991 overtime account over the budgeted amount. McEwen stated that he had two adjustments that needed to be made to his budget. The adjustments have no impact on the bottom line amount of the 1992 Budget. The adjustments are as follows: 2 BUDGET MEETING - 11/21/91 A. Delete $14, 730 out of the A3120-210 Office Equipment line and increase account A3120-225 Other Equipment by $14, 730 to reflect a reclassification of equipment. B. Delete $26,570 from A3120-225 Other Equipment and delete $26, 570 from Revenue Account A4389 Public Safety to reflect the reduction in a Federal Grant passed through the State. The total local match for this grant $12, 612 should remain in the budget to purchase some radios for the Police Department. C. The result of these adjustments do not change the total budget final amount. The bottom line of the Police Department Budget is now $3, 240, 006. McEwen stated that these are the only changes to the Police Department Budget that he is proposing. The Police overtime account was discussed. McEwen stated that he requested $196, 098 in Police Department overtime which includes the following: 1 . Emergency/Investigative OT $63, 374 2 . Court OT 19,740 3 . Holiday OT 76, 635 4 . Stewart Park Patrols 5, 776 5 . Special Olympics 5, 391 6 . Collegetown OT 4, 297 7 . Ithaca Festival 5, 885 8 . Ithaca School District OT 4, 000 9 . Stop DWI Patrols 10, 000 10 . Parades/Misc. Events 1, 000 $196, 098 McEwen explained that the Mayor deleted the following overtime money to reach the recommended 1992 overtime account of $148,046 : 1 . Stewart Park Patrols $ 5, 776 2 . Special Olympics 5, 391 3 . Ithaca Festival 5, 885 4 . Parades/Misc. Events 1, 000 5 . Emergency/Investigative OT reduction of $30, 000 $48, 052 McEwen stated that none of the items 1-4 above will happen in 1992 if funds are not found to support these overtime activities . He stated that he recommends that revenues need to be increased to offset the overtime expenses . 3 BUDGET MEETING - 11/21/91 McEwen explained that without the overtime money the Stewart Park patrols will not be performed. He explained that he has also talked with the Special Olympics and told them that the police overtime dollars for that event will not be spent in 1992 . McEwen stated that the lack of Festival overtime money means there will be no Ithaca Festival because the Police Department approves the permit for the function. It was determined that the Mayor, Police Chief and the Ithaca Festival Board will meet and try to work out an agreement to obtain the funds needed. McEwen and the Committee discussed the overtime money for the emergency and investigative activities . McEwen stated that with only $33, 374 to use for investigative purposes that the proper job cannot be done. He explained that if the City has any kind of serious crime in 1992, the overtime budget will be in jeopardy. It was noted that the 1992 police overtime budget is already $21, 000 over budget because of two crimes in 1991 . He recommended that if the overtime money, especially the emergency/investigative overtime, can be put back into the budget, it should be done. McEwen stated that in the past the Police Department Budgets have allowed for innovative police programs such as : A. Bicycle Patrol B. Neighborhood Police Patrols for certain sections of the City He noted that because of the cuts the 1992 Budget will not allow for these innovative services . Mayor Nichols stated that the PBA negotiations are currently ongoing and the funds are not reflected in the Police Department Budget. The Mayor stated that the Police Department is taking a less of a cut than any other City budget. After a brief discussion the Committee voted 10-0 to move into executive session to discuss the current PBA negotiation status . Report From Executive Session Chairperson Booth reported that the Committee discussed a variety of personnel and contract negotiation items dealing with the Police Department. He stated that no action was taken. After a brief discussion, the following motion was made: 4 BUDGET MEETING - 11/21/91 RESOLVED, that $14,730 be deleted from account A3120-210 Office Equipment and $14,730 be increased to account A3120-225 Other Equipment to reflect a reclassification of equipment, and, be it further RESOLVED, that $26,570 be deleted from account A3120-225 Other Equipment and $26,570 be reduced from revenue account A4389 Federal Aid Public Safety, to reflect a reduction in a Police Department Federal Grant, and, be it further RESOLVED, that the 1992 Police Department Budget be approved as amended in the amount of $3,240,006. The motion passed 10-0 . 4 . Fire Department Budget Fire Chief Olmstead presented his 1992 Budget. The Mayor recommended a 1992 Fire Department Budget in the amount of $2, 972 , 710 . Olmstead presented the Committee with a memo (attached to minutes) stating some minor 1992 Budget amendments . A Board of Fire Commissioners member stated that the Board could live within the Mayor' s 1992 Budget with the following proposed amendments to reallocate the $60, 000 in lost funds : A. That $30, 000 encumbered for the 1990 LOSAP payment be liquidated, and these monies be reencumbered in account A3410-415 Clothing. No affect on 1992 Budget. B. An additional $10, 000 be transferred within the 1991 Budget from account A3410-435 Contractual Services, for the 1991 LOSAP payment to account A3410-415 for a total of $40, 000 . No affect on 1992 Budget. C. The remaining $20, 000 allocated in the 1991 Budget for LOSAP Program be added to the 1991 appropriated fund balance, which amount would be used to assist the funding of the 1992 Budget. The $20, 000 in funds would be distributed as follows : 1 . Account A3410-125 OT $14, 000 2 . Account A3410-225 Equip. 6, 000 This would affect the 1992 Budget, but would not change the bottom line. 5 BUDGET MEETING - 11/21/91 He stated that the amendments would allow the Fire Department to operate in 1992 and allow for limited recruitment of Volunteers for 1992 . Mayor Nichols stated that these amendments seemed to be a constructive solution to the recruitment activity problems for the 1992 Fire Department Budget and that he supports the amendments . Fire Chief Olmstead stated that the $6, 000 in equipment will be used to purchase 15 pagers and 2 self contained breathing units . He stated that the $14, 000 in overtime will only be used for emergencies . The funds encumbered in the clothing account will be used to purchase and provide protective equipment for new and existing fire fighters . Olmstead stated that the 1992 Budget does allow for the filling of three positions and continues to maintain the 400 accounts at the 1990 funding levels . He explained that no other amendments to the 1992 Fire Budget are being proposed. The Committee voted 10-0, to move into executive session to discuss personnel items related to the Fire Department. Report From Executive Session Chairperson Booth reported that the Committee discussed Fire Department personnel items and took no action. After a brief discussion, the following motion was made: RESOLVED, that $30,000 encumbered for the 1990 LOSAP payment be liquidated and be encumbered in account A3410-415 Clothing, and, be it further RESOLVED, that $10,000 be transferred within the 1991 Budget from account A3410-435 Contractual Services, for the LOSAP payment, to account A3410-415 Clothing, for a total of $40,000, and, be it further RESOLVED, that $20,000 allocated in the 1991 Budget for the LOSAP Program be added to the 1991 appropriated fund balance for the purposes of using the funds to assist the funding of the 1992 Budget, and be it further RESOLVED, that the $20,000 in allocated 1991 funds would be distributed to the following accounts: Account A3410-125 Overtime $14,000 Account A3410-225 Other Equipment 6,000 $20,000 and be it further 6 r , BUDGET MEETING - 11/21/91 RESOLVED, that the 1992 Fire Department Budget be approved as amended in the amount of $2,992,710. The motion passed 10-0. 5 . City Attorney Budget City Attorney Guttman presented his 1992 Attorney Budget to the Committee. The Mayor recommended a 1992 City Attorney Budget in the amount of $109, 185 . It was noted that the 1992 Attorney Budget is up slightly from 1991 ' s budget of $107, 383 . The increase is related to salary increases for the Assistant City Attorney. Accounts A1420-430 and A1420-425 were discussed. Guttman stated that the 430 account represents his contractual salary amount with the City ( $33, 600) . Guttman stated that the 425 line has been increased $2 , 200 over the 1991 Budget. Guttman explained that the office supply line has increased due to the number of attorneys in the Department. He stated that in previous years the department only had one attorney and possibly a part-time attorney. The Attorney' s office contribution to City Revenue was discussed. It was stated by Guttman that most of the revenue that the Attorney' s Department generates is from Building Department claims, litigation claims, and the savings of tax payments . Alderperson Cummings stated she was uncomfortable on the over reliance on the City' s Legal Department. She stated the City Attorneys are forced to attend many meetings and be involved with too much policy making. She stated that the Staff Attorney salary should be reduced so that less time is spent in the above two areas . The following motion was made: RESOLVED, that $25,000 be deleted from Account A1420-105 Law Salaries. The motion died for a lack of a second. The following motion was made: RESOLVED, that the 1992 City Attorney' s Budget be approved as recommended by the Mayor in the amount of $109,185. Voting results on the motion were as follows : Ayes (9 ) Booth, Peterson, Blanchard, Hoffman, Schroeder, Daley, Johnson, Romanowski, Golder Nays ( 1) Cummings 7 BUDGET MEETING - 11/21/91 The motion passed 9-1 . 6 . City Prosecutor Budget The Mayor recommended a 1992 City Prosecutor Budget in the amount of $26, 505 . Chairperson Booth asked the Mayor if the question of not funding this position was examined. It was noted that in 1991 this question was examined, but no changes were recommended. Mayor Nichols stated that he has met with Judge Sherman and Chief McEwen and both agree the City Prosecutor position should remain funded. Alderperson Daley stated that he thought the position needed more assistance or extended hours . He stated the revenue has increased because of the amount of fines that are being issued. The following motion was made: RESOLVED, that $1,150 be added to account A1110-110 Salaries Staff for the purposes of increasing the hours for the City Prosecutor' s staff, but not increasing the hourly rate. Voting results on the motion were as follows: Ayes (4) Golder, Daley, Cummings, Schroeder Nays ( 6) Booth, Peterson, Romanowski, Blanchard, Hoffman, Johnson The motion failed 6-4 . The following motion was made: RESOLVED, that the City Prosecutor' s 1992 Budget be approved as recommended by the Mayor in the amount of $26,505. The motion passed 10-0 . 7 . Elections Budget The Mayor recommended a 1992 Election Budget in the amount of $14, 307 . After a brief discussion, the following motion was made: RESOLVED, that the Elections 1992 Budget be approved as recommended by the Mayor in the amount of $14,307 . The motion passed 10-0 . 8 . Next Meeting Agenda Chairperson Booth stated that the November 25, 1991 Budget meeting agenda will be as follows : 8 BUDGET MEETING - 11/21/91 A. Finish DPW Budget B. Water and Sewer Budget C. Joint Activity Budget D. Building Department Budget E. Undistributed Items F. Other Items 9 . The Committee Moved Into Executive Session The Committee voted 10-0, to move into executive session to discuss personnel items . 10 . Report From Executive Session Chairperson Booth reported that the Committee and the Mayor discussed items on personnel matters and no action was taken. The meeting adjourned at 10 : 55 P.M. 9 BUDGET MEETING - 11/21/91 REVENUES Mayor ' s Recommendation $22,820,436 Net Increase in Revenues through 11/19/91: $ 71,012 Mayor' s Adjusted Revenues prior to Budget Meeting of 11/21/91 $22, 891,448 Action Taken During Meeting of 11/21/91 : Reduction in A4389 Federal Aid Public Safety for Reduction in Federal Grant for Police Department ( 26,570) Mayor' s Adjusted Revenues as of conclusion of 11/21/91 B&A/COW meeting $22, 864, 878 Net reduction in Revenues from 11/21/91 meeting: ( 26,570) Summary Combined Net Increase in Revenues after 11/7, 11/12, 11/13, 11/19 and 11/21/91 meetings: $ 44,442 Appropriated Fund Balance adjustments through 11/21/91 meeting: $ 20, 000 Combined Net Increase in Mayor' s Budget through 11/21/91 : $ 3, 301 10 BUDGET MEETING - 11/21/91 APPROPRIATIONS Mayor' s Recommendation: $22,820,436 Net Increase in Mayor' s Budget through 11/19/91 : $ 74, 313 Balance Mayor' s Budget Recommendation Prior to Budget Meeting of 11/21/91 : $22, 894,749 Action Taken During Meeting of 11/21/91 : Police Department Reduction in A3120-210 Office Equipment to reclassify equipment ( 14, 730) Increase in A3120-225 Other Equipment to reclassify equipment 14,730 Reduction in A3120-225 Other Equipment to reflect reduction in Federal Grant ( 26,570) Fire Department Increase in A3410-125 Overtime - to reflect 1991 F/B Allocation of LOSAP Program: 14, 000 Increase in A3410-225 Other Equipment - to reflect 1991 F/B allocation of LOSAP Program/Purchase 15 pagers/ 2 SCBA Tanks 6, 000 Mayor ' s Adjusted Recommendation as of conclusion of 11/21/91 B&A/COW meeting: $22,888, 179 Net decrease in Mayor' s Appropriations from 11/21/91 meeting: ( 61570) Combined net increase in Mayor' s Appropriations after 11/7, 11/12, 11/13, 11/19, and 11/21/91 meetings : $ 67,743 11