COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - MINUTES - 6/25/1998
CITY OF MUSKEGO (Approved - 8/12/98)
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD JUNE 25, 1998
The meeting was called to order at 7:10 PM by Mayor De Angelis. Also present were
Aldermen Slocomb, Chiaverotti, Patterson, Pionek, Salentine, Sanders and Woodard
and Clerk-Treasurer Marenda.
The Clerk-Treas. reported that the meeting was noticed in accordance with the Open
Meeting Law.
th
Minutes of meeting held May 7 were reviewed and placed on file.
OLD BUSINESS
1) and 2) Discuss fire department contracts (City-owned buildings and
equipment) and Dissolution Agreement. Mayor reported he and Ald. Salentine met
with the department and additional information they requested has been provided. Ald.
Salentine suggested the next quarterly payment not be made unless an agreement is
reached. Ald. Slocomb said we would have to be prepared to have the Muskego
department provide services to the entire City. Ald. Salentine explained that discussion
about a dissolution agreement started about two years ago. Certain strides have been
made. Ald. Patterson noted the Muskego department opted to give up their rights in
exchange for a new fire station. The Tess Corners volunteers have not and he felt they
don’t have a legal obligation to approve the agreement, but he does favor the
agreement. Mayor noted the Council has a fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers and
what’s in the best interest of the community. Is it fair to pay for the equipment and then
if the department is dissolved have to pay again? This has nothing to do with the
quality of service they perform. Ald. Patterson expressed concern that the east side of
the City needs fire protection and we need to assure that protection is available. Ald.
Slocomb felt the issue is to clarify ownership, and if the department would be dissolved,
the ownership would revert to the City. Mayor noted during negotiations the language
agreed to would read that if the City dissolved the department by a vote of the Common
Council for anything other than cause they could keep everything, but if they couldn’t
meet minimum service requirements that would be cause and equipment would revert
to the City. Mayor indicated we need to let them know that if an agreement is not
reached, the renewal agreement will have the language in it. Ald. Slocomb stated he
will draft a letter to the department.
3) Discuss job descriptions (removed)
4) Discuss land/location for Community Center. Mayor reported title not yet
received. Affidavit has been recorded. Atty. Molter has concerns about the documents
indicating property can be used for “public” park purposes. Alternate sites discussed.
Ald. Pionek suggested 20 acre site next to high school for civic center, park area, etc.
Ald. Patterson stated the Parks Board already has a master plan which should be
considered if additional park land considered.
5) Discuss off-site tax collection. Clerk-Treasurer Marenda submitted a draft
Request for Proposal for Off-site Tax Collection. It was approved with a change to No.
1 to add “if available” after “with some hours on Saturday and Sunday”; and to change
Committee of the Whole Page #
June 25, 1998
No. 6. To delete “to the City” after “Bank shall agree to providing this service to the
taxpayers at no cost.”
NEW BUSINESS
1) Discuss goal setting for 1999 budget. Each department’s submittal was reviewed
individually. Ald. Slocomb said it was his goal to get the departments to think about
their goals and what was needed to reach those goals, not only for 1999 but beyond.
Mayor stated department heads would be asked to submit their 5-year goals and
objectives with their 1999 budget. Comments made as follows:
Assessor - Additional information requested as to No. 3 (Staffing) - supply current cost
of outside service to do this 1500 hrs. work; and, list the advantages of in-house versus
out-of-house. As to No. 7, Code Compliance inspections, it was suggested the Point of
Sale application blank have a box included that the Assessor may accompany the
inspector.
Planning - As to No. 8 designing office space for old library, Mayor noted that he would
be sending out an RFP for the city hall remodeling yet this year.
Clerk-Treasurer - With regard to RFP for Banking Services, it was decided that the
RFP should be sent only to banks with offices in Muskego, plus those who have offered
to provide services.
Finance - Ald. Slocomb commented that he hoped the Finance Department is driving
I.S. regarding mechanizing of systems, with more user-based decisions and I.S. making
sure it can work.
Utilities - Ald. Slocomb requested that In-line storage be added to the 5-year goals.
Mayor - Mayor noted his goals were not presented in writing, but that he is exploring
the possibility of going with the Finance Director for a 15-hour/week support staff
person and reorganizing the human resources responsibility to his assistant with some
of her secretarial duties being moved to the support person.
Aldermen - Ald. Patterson suggested the 5-year plan include laptop computers for
Aldermen to replace paper packets for meetings.
8) Approval of Temporary Operator’s License - Julie Bindas. Ald. Sanders moved
to recommend issuance of license by the Clerk. Ald. Slocomb seconded, motion
carried.
4) Discuss Emergency Government. Mayor asked the Aldermen to start thinking
about what they would like to see as a format for city emergency government. We
need to appoint a director. Now responsibilities are handled through the Police Dept.
and the Mayor. Under one proposal, the emergency director takes over along with the
Mayor. Should a staff person serve as director or an outside person? An outside
person would be an unpaid volunteer. Our ordinance states the emergency director
coordinates all services. The county has an emergency government department to
coordinate activities in the county. In addition, the Mayor stated he will place review of
an emergency warning system on the Public Services Committee agenda to formalize a
procedure.
5) Discuss Franchise Fee - New Cable Contract. Ald. Slocomb noted the Cable
Committee is reviewing. Current charge is 3% of gross revenue. The model ordinance
Committee of the Whole Page #
June 25, 1998
has a 5% fee. He said he had a problem with the franchise fee concept. If it were used
directly for government or public programming, he would have no problem. Ald.
Patterson felt the discussion was not whether it was 3% or 5%, but how you want to
designate the funds. The Council in the past has put the money into the general fund
because of the potential costs for lawsuits, etc. Ald. Salentine preferred funds going
into the special revenue fund like the landfill account, and motion can be made to
transfer funds into the general fund. Ald. Slocomb called the franchise fee a hidden
tax, but If charged, leave at 3%.
6) Discuss Council Reso. #115-98 - A Resolution Supporting the Protection of
Local Control of Zoning Related to the Fair Housing Act. Ald. Patterson said that
local authority has been taken away, and he attempted to use something drafted by
another community to request the federal government to give us back some input and
control over local issues. A resolution was recommended leaving out the details
included in the original, except including support of HR3206.
7) Discuss policy of tape recording all City meetings. Clerk-Treasurer Marenda
submitted a request that all city meetings be tape recorded, and provided a draft policy.
In order to make the tape recording reliable and easy to use, the Clerk-Treasurer was
requested to look for a new audio recorder. Policy was amended in No. 1 to change “A
tape recorder” to “An audio recorder“, with implementation of policy to be on hold until
new equipment purchased. It was suggested that all meetings be taped with existing
equipment, but not required. Finance Committee will review purchase of recorder.
COMMUNICATIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
th
Mayor announced the Finance Committee meeting scheduled for July 8 was canceled.
th
Operator license renewals required to be interviewed may appear at the July 14
Finance meeting.
CLOSED SESSION
Ald. Sanders moved to convene into Closed Session pursuant to §19.85(1)(c)
Considering employment, promotion, compensation, or performance evaluation data of
any public employe over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises
responsibility, more specifically employe compensation and classification study. Ald.
Salentine seconded, motion carried 7-0.
OPEN SESSION
Ald. Salentine moved to reconvene into Open Session. Ald. Woodard seconded.
Motion carried 7-0.
Ald. Slocomb moved to adjourn at 10:15 PM. Ald. Sanders seconded, motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Jean K. Marenda, CMC
Clerk-Treasurer
Committee of the Whole Page #
June 25, 1998
jm