COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - MINUTES - 7/10/2007
APPROVED
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE – CITY OF MUSKEGO
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2007
Mayor John Johnson called the meeting to order at 6:32 PM and led those present in the Pledge
of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Johnson, Ald. Snead, Ald. Pavelko, Ald. Borgman,
Ald. Werner, Ald. Melcher, Ald. Schaefer and Ald. Fiedler. Also present were City
Administrator Jennifer Sheiffer, Finance Supervisor Sharon Mueller, Jeff Verburgt (Tess Corners
Volunteer Fire Department) and Greg Mecha, Andy Mack and Mike Kersky (Muskego
Volunteer Fire Company).
STATEMENT OF PUBLIC NOTICE
Deputy Clerk Blenski stated that the meeting was noticed in accordance with the opening
meeting law.
REVIEW MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING - June 26, 2007
Ald. Fiedler moved to approve the minutes of the meeting held June 26, 2007, with a corrected
spelling of his name on page 2, paragraph 5. Seconded by Borgman, motion carried.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None
NEW BUSINESS –
Fund Balance Policy (Finance Supervisor)
Finance Supervisor Sharon Mueller discussed with the committee her recommendations on
General Fund Reserve and Annual General Fund Budgeted Contingency Policy. Sharon
explained that she would like to have the City adopt an updated policy on unreserved fund
balance in order to ensure stable service delivery, smooth changes in tax rates, credit worthiness
for borrowing monies and the ability to plan for emergencies. She supplied the committee with a
draft resolution for their consideration. If this proposed policy were to be approved and adopted
by the Common Council, the actual amount of Unreserved Designated General Fund balance and
amount remaining to fund future capital improvement projects would be the following:
Unreserved Designated General Fund balance –
Base: $2,284,901=Minimum Recommended Unreserved fund balance (60 days wc or 17%)
Add: $1,486,001=Unfunded portion of the 2006 accrued compensated absences liability
Total: $3,770,902=Recommended Unreserved Designated General Fund balance (28.06%)
Remaining balance to fund future capital improvement projects –
Committee Of The Whole Meeting – July 10, 2007 Page 2
Actual: $4,255,795=2006 audited Unreserved General Fund balance
Less: $3,770,902=Recommended Unreserved Designated General Fund balance
Total: $484,893=reserve to fund future capital improvement projects.
Sharon is requesting approval from the Common Council to adopt the proposed General Fund
Reserve and Annual General Fund Budgeted Contingency policy, with an effective date of
January 1, 2007, and also approval and adoption to designate $3,770,902 in the Unreserved
General Fund balance for funding 60 days of working capital plus the unfunded portion of the
accrued compensated absences liability amount and use the remaining balance of $484,893 to
fund future capital improvement projects.
Mayor Johnson explained that this item is for discussion and will be addressed at a future
Common Council meeting.
Fire Departments update on implementation of Fire Study
Jeff Verburgt presented to the committee minutes from the joint meeting held June 27, 2007,
(attached) as well as Joint Standard Operating Guidelines. He advised that the next meeting
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would be held on July 25 at Tess Corners Station #2, at 7:00 PM, to address all
recommendations of the fire study.
Ald. Melcher requested number of board of directors for both departments and it was explained
that there are currently five (5) on the board of Tess Corners and seven (7) on the board of
Muskego. Jeff Verburgt explained that in Recommendation #3, there would be the same
amount of board members from each group on the proposed Advisory Board.
Mayor Johnson felt it would be helpful to add citizens to the proposed Advisory Board. Ald.
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Snead felt this could be discussed at the July 25 meeting.
Ald. Werner commended Jeff Verburgt on all of the effort put forth from both departments. Ald.
Fiedler noted that he is pleased with the progress of both departments and their working
relationship. He is in favor of an advisory board so that the Council would receive budget
requests from that board.
Mayor Johnson wanted to clarify that the report never recommended eliminating either
department but establishing a City Department consisting of the two departments and a career
fire person to oversee both departments and be accountable to the City.
Ald. Schaefer reminded both departments of the two root causes of the fire study. One being a
single point of contact and the other being upmanship.
COMMUNICATIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS AS AUTHORIZED BY
LAW
ADJOURNMENT - Ald. Fiedler moved to adjourn at 7:35 PM. Seconded by Ald. Borgman,
motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Cathie M. Anderson
Transcribing Secretary