COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - MINUTES - 10/12/2000
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - CITY OF MUSKEGO Approved
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD OCTOBER 12, 2000
Mayor De Angelis called the meeting to order at 7:18 PM. Also present were Aldermen
Slocomb, Chiaverotti, Patterson, Sanders and Salentine, along with Finance Director
Gunderson. Ald. Le Doux and Wichgers were excused. The Mayor noted the meeting
was noticed in accordance with the Open Meeting law.
CONTINUED REVIEW OF 2001 OPERATING and CAPITAL BUDGETS
AND APPEARANCES BY THE FOLLOWING DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS:
Police Chief Johnson was present to answer questions related to the Police
Department operating and Capital Budgets. The Police budget includes funds to create
3 patrol sergeant positions. The Chief explained that from time to time they function
without supervisors on duty. The department currently uses out of class pay to provide
such coverage, but these individuals may not be formally trained with no other
requirement than seniority. This could mean that someone with less than 3 years
seniority could be on duty and in charge. The Department would still use out of class
pay, but would gain 20% coverage from 70% to 90%. This would also provide the
department with more accountability and better decision making. The cost to the
department would be approximately $12,895 and would reduce the out of class pay by
$3,700.
The committee discussed with the Chief the use of Forfeiture funds to purchase $2,500
simulator training equipment and $3,710 for the purchase of digital booking SODR mug
shot equipment.
Ald. Sanders questioned the history behind the City Wide Siren System in the capital
budget. Chief Johnson said that he has not necessarily been outspoken about the
need for such a system, but explained that we are probably the only community of our
size in the area that doesn’t have one. People moving into this community have an
expectation that one exists since they are coming from communities which have one.
Chief explained that the system is augmented with the radio system and would last 10
to 20 years. No maintenance is needed and only batteries, no motors or parts. Ald.
Sanders stated that it was a sizable amount of money and was not sure that we needed
it.
Chief Johnson also requested that $3,000 be added to the budget for vehicle
replacement. The budget was prepared for the purchase of Chevy Impalas, but the
staff has expressed concern that even though the cars are similar in size, the foot room
and head was close to the Ford Crown Victoria, but taller individuals had difficulty with
vision through the front of the Impalas. Ald. Chiaverotti moved to add $3,000 into the
Police Department vehicle replacement line item, seconded by Ald. Slocomb. Carried
by all.
Information Systems Director Joe Sommers and Building/Engineering Director Sean
McMullen were present to discuss copiers/printers for the City. Director Sommers
reported that the City Hall Optra printer runs approximately 46,000 copies per year.
With toner, this costs approximately .013 cents per copy or approximately $600 per
year for operating and with a drum, approximately $800. He reported that the same
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Minutes of Meeting Held October 12, 2000
amount of images on a digital copier would be .0055 cent per copy or approximately
$300 per year. The digital copier however does not have envelope feed. These
estimates do not reflect the cost of the equipment purchase. Ald. Patterson advised
that another thing many operations do is buy a digital copier and no set it up to the
network. Engineer McMullen proposed that the main copier by a digital and that analog
copiers be considered for the convenience copiers in order the keep the costs down.
Since this will be the first time that the City has gone to centralized copying, the
Committee requested that the Engineer McMullen continue reviewing the benefits of
each type of equipment and present recommendations prior to purchase.
The Committee took a break at 8:35 p.m. and reconvened at 8:45 p.m.
As per the last Committee meeting, Mayor De Angelis presented three types of training
options ranging from $5,500 to $10,000. The Committee discussed adding $7,500 and
determining the program at a later time, once the programs have been reviewed. If the
$7,500 is not enough, the committee will look toward contingency in the future. Ald.
Salentine expressed her favorable opinion to the use of funds for this purpose. Ald.
Patterson advised that he felt the City was flushing money down the toilet. Ald.
Slocomb moved to include $7,500 in the Mayor’s operating budget for staff training in
the areas of customer service and team building. Ald. Chiaverotti seconded and the
motion carried 4-1 with Ald. Patterson casting the no vote.
After further discussion on the operating budget, the committee decided to move the
large network printers out of the operating budget and place them into a special
revenue fund with the other computer purchases.
The Committee continued discussion on the citywide siren system with varying opinions
on need.
Finance Director Gunderson reviewed the individual special revenue funds with the
committee. Ald. Patterson and Ald. Sanders requested that the money in the Park
Dedication budget for the Boardwalk in Veteran’s Memorial Park be sent back to the
Park Board for reconsideration. Ald. Chiaverotti spoke in favor of the concept. Mayor
De Angelis advised that he would support the money being spent in the Veteran’s Park,
but maybe on others things. The Committee requested that the minutes be clear that
the $80,000 be left in the Park Dedication budget for Veteran’s park, but that it be
revisited as to what it should be spent for.
Discussion continued on the issue of lap top computers for the aldermen. Ald.
Chiaverotti suggested that the need be better served in other hands, perhaps the
department heads instead of the aldermen. She also explained that the information is
available to residents on the internet and that if it was necessary for aldermen to have
access to GIS they could do so on the table top available at City Hall. Ald. Slocomb
suggested that the money be left here and the issue be looked at again next year
before a purchase is made. Ald. Patterson explained that there is a learning curve on
these things and the GIS system could be useful. The Committee agreed to leave the
funds budgeted in the Special Revenue fund and asked that it be reviewed prior to
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Minutes of Meeting Held October 12, 2000
purchase. The Committee also agreed to add funds to purchase a lap top for the
Director of Building and Engineering.
Ald. Salentine moved to take the Capital, Special Revenue and Operating budgets to
public hearing as presented with the changes which were made this evening. Ald.
Chiaverotti seconded, motion carried.
DISCUSS MIDWEST POWER PROPOSAL – NEW BERLIN AND MUSKEGO
Mayor DeAngelis advised that the City of New Berlin has been approached by Midwest
Power to build a new type of gas generation facility within their city limits with a second
facility in Muskego, although application has not been made. Midwest Power has
offered to take City representatives to review a similar power plant in Nebraska on
Thursday, October 26. The Mayor also advised that only two or three of its kind have
been built. At minimum it was felt that the City Engineer and the City Planner should
visit the Nebraska site. The Committee also felt that the Mayor, Ald. Chiaverotti and
Ald. Sanders should attend if available.
COMMUNICATIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW
None
Adjournment
Ald. Sanders moved to adjourn at 11:08 PM. Ald. Chiaverotti seconded, motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Dawn R. Gunderson
Finance Director