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COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - MINUTES - 9/27/2001 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - CITY OF MUSKEGO Amended/Approved 10/18/01 MINUTES OF MEETING HELD SEPEMBER 27, 2001 Mayor De Angelis called the meeting to order at 7:10 PM. Also present were Aldermen Slocomb, Patterson, Le Doux, Petfalski, Salentine, Sanders, Wichgers and Finance Director Gunderson. Ald. Wichgers was absent. (Amended to reflect Ald. Wichgers was present.) The Mayor noted the meeting was posted in accordance with the Open Meeting Law. REVIEW MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING CONTINUING REVIEW OF 2002 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS Tess Corners Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief Carl Wojnowski, Treasurer Mr. Dave Van Zeeland, Phil Dibb, and Jeff Verburgt appeared before the committee to discuss the proposed operating and capital budget for the department. The proposed 2002 Operating Budget is reduced from 2001 because of not having th to budget $5,000 for the 75 Anniversary, but also noted the increase in utilities due to high prices of gas. Auto Allowance was due to increase of $5.00 per call to $7.50 per call. Workmen’s Compensation for 2002 did increase due to several mishaps but the general fire insurance went down significantly. Office supplies increased as they are using more letterhead for promotional projects and using more toner cartridges for their copier and laser jet printers. th Contingency for 2001 is depleted as they used an additional $4,000 for the 75 anniversary celebration. Vehicle maintenance has also been depleted due to one ambulance vehicle proposed to be traded incurring huge expenses. When questioned, they stated they do buy air from an outside source but also do use the air compressor at Muskego Volunteer Fire Company Station 1 for emergency situations. Dawn Gunderson supplied those present with the five-year capital plan showing items for the Tess Corners Volunteer Fire Department’s request for 2002, along with Capital Budget Committee’s recommendation, and those items budgeted for 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. The Capital Budget Committee recommended approval of the Pumper ($310,000), radios ($30,550), SCBA ($4,560), breathing tanks ($12,000), and Heavy Rescue Equipment ($43,800). An explanation was given that the Department’s request for 800 mHz radios is that the City either approve the $150,000 for 2003, or approve $75,000 in 2003 and $75,000 in 2004. In 2006, the Department would like to put up a training facility that could be used by both departments for smoke training purposes. They feel that having this facility for smoke training would be invaluable. They have spoke with the City of New Berlin and did not receive any positive response on their proposed training facility planned for the future. The City was complimented in their meetings with the Department on budget preparation. Muskego Volunteer Fire Company Fire Chief John Ludwig, Domonic D’Acquisto, Jim Gaffney, Carl Mack, Eddie Schaefer and Al Rickert appeared before the committee to discuss their Operating and Capital budget requests for 2002. It was clarified that Fire responses include mutual aid responses. Training expenses are down as a lot of training is being done in-house. Paid-on-call went up for 2001. Grounds Maintenance went up for Snow plowing as well as landscaping as there is more to maintain with the new building; this is now being budgeted as one item and includes grass cutting. Building Maintenance includes sealing driveways for both stations and asphalting station #1. Landscaping amount will be for this year only. Specifications have been made for snow plowing Committee of the Whole Meeting Page 2 September 27, 2001 and will be finalized within the month. Mayor questioned if they have always paid for snow removal, as he knows that the City has done excess snow removal in the past. Ald. Le Doux would like to know if some of the volunteers might agree to do the snow plowing. Mayor suggested that the Company do consider the City removing excess snow removal that would be cost effective. This year they have added a line item for Contingency Fund. Ald. Le Doux felt strongly that the fire department members should also volunteer their time to do maintenance. Jim Gaffney stated that there is no additional time because of all of the extra training needed. Ald. Le Doux expressed his concern with the difference in maintenance costs between the two departments. Mayor questioned the $8,000 increase in radio equipment. Domonic D’Acquisto advised that in making the move to the repeater, they had deferred bringing new radios in and will be recrystaling existing radios along with truck units needing to be retired, as they are not programmable. The combination of pager replacement, recrystaling, and repeater items account for a majority in the increase in the radio account. They are not adding units, just replacing existing, as needed. Eddie Schaefer and Domonic D’Acquisto explained to the committee the heavy equipment program. They feel that there is a need for handling an event like a tornado. They found they would not be able to assist homes that would collapse. They are planning ahead and feel if power plants come in, there would be need for additional equipment. Currently if one of the large flat roof buildings did collapse, they did not have any unit to help remove people. This would encompass a wide variety of events. Presently the department is not equipped or trained to do this type of rescue and it is an exposure. Ald. Le Doux questioned why this was not discussed at the County’s chief meeting. It was stated that they met with the executive board of the fire chiefs and did not want to get everyone excited until they knew whether or not this was feasible and if there would be funding available. Eddie Schaefer stated that they appeared before the executive board of the fire chiefs and they were excited with the program but felt it was too late in the budget process to address. They recommended that the department meet with their specialty committee to establish a protocol and hopefully in the future monies could be recouped from other communities’ use of the equipment. Ald. Slocomb asked that the department look at this whole program and see what they would be able to take out this year and still keep the enthusiasm up in the department, realizing that we might want to fund only a portion. Mr. D’Acquisto advised that the original request for the program was to be for $94,000 and what is now being presented is the bare minimum needed and there is nothing to cut to have the program run effectively. They intend to apply to FEMA and other agencies to secure grants for this program. Ald. Salentine moved to leave the heavy equipment program in the budget for now. Seconded by Ald. Petfalski. Discussion followed and it was asked if the City has done any borrowing for 2002. Dawn replied that the borrowing would be done in December and January. It was determined that this would be an eligible capital borrowing item. Ald. Le Doux stated that some of the equipment requested was equipment that the other department already has and he did not feel that items should be duplicated and that it should be a joint effort between both departments. Domonic D’Acquisto noted that some of the equipment was equipped to vehicles and would not be readily available for their training purposes. Ald. Petfalski called for the question. Mayor asked if there were any objections and upon receiving none, asked for a voice vote. The motion carried 6-1 with Ald. Le Doux casting the dissenting vote. The department distributed a revised 5-year plan and felt that it needed more review before asking for further direction for future borrowing. In order to qualify for grant monies, they will need to convert over to standardized reporting software which will run somewhere between $11,000 - $15,000. Committee of the Whole Meeting Page 3 September 27, 2001 The committee took a break at 10:07 P.M. and reconvened at 10:25 P.M. Building-Engineering Engineering/Building Inspection Director Sean McMullen appeared before the committee to discuss the building department’s operating and capital budget requests for 2002. Dawn indicated that the personnel salary and benefits has been reduced to reflect the building inspector position to be a part-time position; this is a reduction in $21,815.02. Sean gave an explanation as to the increase in inspections and the need for the requested part-time position, which will be fulltime, May thru September. The other two requested positions are for the Engineering Department; a Civil Technician (part- time) and a fulltime Engineer I position. Ald. Patterson questioned if this could be a position that could be held off until May of 2002. Mayor De Angelis stated that with the projects on the table for next year and the five-year capital projects, it is hoped to advertise for this position with a January starting date. Sean advised that the department is currently working on a schedule so that engineering staff might be able to charge back a portion of their salary for work done for private development. There were no issues brought up for the Building-Engineering requested Capital Budget requests for 2002. Mayor’s Department Mayor presented the job description for the Human Resource/Assistant Administrator position. The position will be responsible for all of the human resource functions, including bargaining and benefit analysis. This proposed position would also be doing research projects, as well as handling and supervising projects coming through his office. Approximately 60% of the position time will be spent on Human Resources and 40% on handling and supervising projects for the Mayor. Ald. Slocomb asked if there were be any savings in other areas. The Mayor advised that presently, the Mayor’s Executive Assistant is performing human resource coordinating functions. This position will be re-evaluated for possible point adjustments. This position taking over other items currently be handled by our Labor attorney would allow for a $10,000 savings in Attorney costs. The Mayor said that we are now meeting minimum requirements with the Human Resource Coordinator position and Department heads, but there is need for growth in all of the human resource areas. Ald. Slocomb suggested adding more to the computer account for larger hard drives for the Aldermen’s lap tops to enable them to use some of the new GIS applications after business hours. Adjournment Ald. Patterson moved to adjourn at 11:40 PM. Seconded by Ald. Wichgers, motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Dawn R. Gunderson Finance Director