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BOARD
OF ESTIMATE & TAXATION MEETING ACTIONS
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FEBRUARY 7, 2005
PRESENT: Mayor Alex Knopp Ron Coley
Tanya Court Gregory Burnett
Tim Buzzee James Clark
ABSENT: Randall Avery
Also present were Pam Stark, City Clerk; Thomas Hamilton, Finance Director; Ann Twomey, Director of Management of Budgets.
Mayor Knopp called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
JANUARY 10, 2005 SPECIAL MEETING
The following corrections were made: On page 1, under “Present”, Mr. Coley should be added. On page 5, 24th line, “at the rate of” was corrected to “in excess of”.
** MS. COURT MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS CORRECTED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS AGENDA
RESOLVED, THAT A SUM NOT TO EXCEED $13,500 BE AND THE SAME IS HEREBY TRANSFERRED FROM CONTINGENCY TO THE REGISTRAR OF VOTERS DEPARTMENT TO PAY FOR A SHORTFALL IN THE TEMPORARY AND PART-TIME WAGE ACCOUNTS, AND OTHER MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT ACCOUNT DUE TO THE 2004 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. (ACCOUNT NO. VARIOUS).
** MR. BURNETT MOVED APPROVAL.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
TRANSFER AGENDA
DPW
$75,000 FROM 01-4021-5241 (ELECTRIC) TO 01-4054-5332 (MOTOR VEHICLE PARTS)
** MR. CLARK MOVED TO APPROVE THE ABOVE-LISTED TRANSFER.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
$16,000 FROM 01-4021-5110 (REGULAR WAGE) TO 01-4030-5110 (REGULAR WAGE)
** MR. BUZZEE MOVED TO APPROVE THE ABOVE-LISTED TRANSFER.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
OTHER BUSINESS
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE REDUCTION OF $25,000 OF CAPITAL BUDGET APPROPRIATION FOR FEASIBILITY STUDY (PROJECT ACCOUNT NO. 09036210-5777-CO273)
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE REDUCTION OF $13,799 OF CAPITAL BUDGET APPROPRIATION FOR LIBRARY ROOFING PROJECT (PROJECT ACCOUNT NO. 09036210-5777-C0221)
RESOLUTION APPROPRIATING $64,436 FOR THE LIBRARY CIRCULATION DESK PROJECT (PROJECT ACCOUNT NO. 09016210-5777-C0201 AND ACCOUNT NO. 09026210-5777-C0221)
Mayor Knopp said all three resolutions concern the Capital project for the circulation desk at the library.
Les Kozerowitz, Library Director, said this project started some years ago. They had $49,300 in two capital budget years. They had to hire an architect for a little over $8,000 for plans, drawings and specifications. The first RFP received no response; the second received two incomplete bids. On the third RFP, the lowest qualified bidder bid $105,436. The library had only $41,000 available. He is asking that the feasibility study be abandoned because it is no longer needed and what is left in the Capital roofing project, which is now complete, be transferred to the library circulation desk project.
There are monies already encumbered. In addition, the Library Board authorized $27,436 in private funds to make up the shortfall. When the libraries were built, they were built without ADA requirements and computers. The reception desks are not ADA compatible or computer compatible.
Mayor Knopp said he told Mr. Kozerowitz that there are limited Capital funds, and this money will come at the expense of other Capital projects for the library. He asked Mr. Kozerowitz if the contribution from the Friends was included in the total amount to be authorized. Mr. Kozerowitz said that the City would be reimbursed the money raised by the Friends.
Mr. Clark asked if the desks are for the employees. Mr. Kozerowitz said they are for the employees to handle public transactions. The ADA requirements are for the customers.
** MR. CLARK MOVED TO APPROVE THE ABOVE-LISTED RESOLUTIONS.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
FINANCIAL REPORT: POLICE OVERTIME
Chief Rilling said the police takes overtime expenditures and the responsibility to live within their budget very seriously. They hope that staffing the Public Safety Communications Center with civilians will free up police officers, and promoting Sergeants to add more sergeants to the desk will help free up staff and cut back on overtime.
Mayor Knopp said that the Finance Director had decided not to hire more than 173 officers. The City would fund 179 positions and build in a flexible amount by which the six salaries could be used to fund other needs in the department. When he came here, he defunded those six positions without affecting police presence on the street. Chief Rilling agreed that this was the case and said they have not reduced the number of officers on the street.
Mayor Knopp said it was identified that there had been abuse re the use of time owed, which was limited by contract to 40 hours. Some officers had as much as 100 hours time owed. This increased overtime expenses. Chief Rilling said that the 40-hour limitation was never adhered to. He did not look at it as abuse, but as a cost of doing business. Now they have 60 hours maximum and that level is maintained.
Mayor Knopp said when they negotiated the contract, they believed there was a low number of officers who would participate in the DROP Plan, but twice as many actually enrolled. There are 18 to 20 people in the DROP Plan. This reduces the amount of retirement owed, because they get their retirement at their current rank and amount.
Mayor Knopp said they will spend whatever overtime is needed to keep the City safe. Overtime spent for full law enforcement purposes has his support. Chief Rilling said they will not reduce the number of officers on the street providing public safety. A lot of this money comes from asset forfeiture funds. They are budgeted at 173 officers; they now have 172. They are trying to get officers who are fully certified but they find they have to provide academy training.
Mr. Burnett asked if there are any officers who currently have over 60 hours of time owed; Chief Rilling said that was not the case.
It was explained that time owed is comp time and is allowed by contract. The Fair Labor Standards Act says that a person cannot be refused the right to take time owed. It can only be rejected if not requested 72 hours in advance. Mayor Knopp said it is a matter of collective bargaining. The police department has discretion as to the number of people per shift but the Fire Department does not have that discretion. Ms. Court said this is a policy that digs a hole and never goes away.
UPDATE ON SNOW REMOVAL FUNDS
Discussion took place on FEMA reimbursement for snow removal expenses. Mr. Hamilton said based on their projections, the department will need additional money in this account unless there is no snow in February and March. They will receive money from the State.
The Mayor said that declaring a snow emergency for the first time made it easier to plow. Mr. Alvord said drivers said there were fewer vehicles on snow emergency routes.
Mr. Burnett said on January 11th there was a small amount of snow but a large amount of overtime. Mr. Alvord said in that storm, there was a little bit of snow (1-1/2”) that was compressed by cars into ice requiring more passes in order to spread sand and salt.
** MS. COURT MOVED TO ADJOURN.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
ATTEST: __________________________
Pam Stark, City Clerk
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