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COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - MINUTES - 10/25/2007 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE – CITY OF MUSKEGO Approved MINUTES OF MEETING HELD THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2007 Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order at 6:33 p.m. and led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Johnson, Aldermen Snead, Pavelko, Borgman, Werner, Melcher, Schaefer, and Fiedler. Department Heads/Other Staff present: City Administrator Sheiffer, Finance Supervisor Mueller, and Deputy Clerk Blenski. Also present were those listed on the attached sign-in sheet. STATEMENT OF PUBLIC NOTICE Deputy Clerk Blenski stated that the meeting had been noticed in accordance with the Open meeting Law. APPROVAL OF AGENDA APPROVAL OF MINUTES Ald. Melcher moved for approval of the minutes of the meeting held October 18, 2007. Seconded by Ald. Fiedler, motion carried. UNFINISHED BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS Continue review and discussion on proposed 2008 budgets including general fund operation, special revenues and capital Mayor Johnson thanked Sharon for the information presented as to the expenditures and funding sources that were acted on at the October 18, 2007 meeting, as follows: Expenditures added to the Budget: Mayor Secretary Position $ 43,595 Police Detective Promotion 5,566 Sergeant Promotions 12,615 Vehicle 26,079 Information Systems Programming & Consulting 1,500 Library Reverse Sunday Hour Expenditures (11,070) Aldermen Laptop Computers 14,000 Contingency Health Insurance Premiums 17% to 19% 20,000 Total Additions per 10/18/2007 $112,285 Finance Supervisor Mueller alerted the Committee to the increase in Transportation Aids. She has now entered the same figure as received for 2007. Committee of the Whole Page 2 October 25, 2007 Mayor advised that under Funding Sources, he has left the building inspection position in for the nd 2 half of 2008. Funding Sources: General Fund Additional Tax Levy allowed under current State Levy Limit $(89,291) Residual TIF/capital Improvement Fund Laptops (#5) (14,000) Funded by Landfill Funds Pd Vehicle (#2c) (26,079) (originally to be funded out of Capital Expenditure Fund but changed, by consensus, to take out of Operating Fund) Building Inspection Position (76,816) Total Funding per 10/18/2007 $(206,186) Net Funding over additions $ (93,901) Mayor advised that he is proposing to fund the Building Inspection position for January thru June and address that position sometime in May/June 2008. This would change the Total Funding/Net Funding as follows: Total Funding per 10/18/2007 $(167,778) Net Funding over additions $( 55,493) Ald. Fiedler, Pavelko, Schaefer, Werner, Borgman, Melcher and Snead agreed with Mayor’s proposal to fund the Building Inspection position as proposed. A consensus was taken and it was agreed to fund the police vehicle through general operating funds, not through landfill funds. Outstanding Items: Full-time Mayor (without pension & life ins.) $ 33,352 (This item will have a second reading at CC Meeting of 11/13/2007 A consensus was taken and it was agreed to leave this item in until after council action. Volunteer Fire Departments: Tess Corners $181,212 (15% increase over prior years) Muskego $332,489 (15% increase over prior years) A consensus was to put the 15% into a separate account and reduce the proposed 2008 Budget to reflect the same figures as 2007. th Library: Ald. Melcher discussed various issues discussed at the October 18 meeting. Mayor Committee of the Whole Page 3 October 25, 2007 advised that the Library’s budget, as presented, has not been changed. Ald. Fiedler felt that depending on final figures, he would be receptive to looking at filling the requested part-time position. Ald. Melcher would like the book budget increased as well as the part-time library position. Ald. Borgman, Werner, Melcher, Fiedler and Snead voted to approve the part-time library position ($15,930). Ald. Pavelko and Ald. Schaefer were opposed. Mayor Johnson advised that the City has the ability to go back to last year and take unused monies that were under the cap. This year we used fund balance of over $400,000.00 raising the taxes less than 1%. The problem is that we can’t keep taking from fund balance. Ald. Pavelko would like to see the rate as low as possible and use the savings. Ald. Melcher would rather not have to borrow and pay interest. Ald. Fiedler thinks it more prudent to raise now rather than wait. Ald. Borgman would like to raise to 2% to $4.70 per $l,000.00. Ald. Pavelko and Ald. Schaefer stated they would like it to stay at 1%. Ald. Melcher suggested 3% that was agreed to by Ald. Borgman, Ald. Snead, Ald. Fiedler, and Ald. Werner. Finance Supervisor Mueller requested direction as to where to put the excess money; General Fund or Cable Fund or both. The Committee requested that the excess be put back into General Fund balance. A discussion was held on energy bills. Administrator Sheiffer advised that she would be working with maintenance personnel to research areas in which savings can be realized. The School District has just received a We Energies audit and a copy would be secured to see recommendations. Ald. Pavelko would like to see $10,000 cut out of the budget. It was the consensus of the committee to leave in and review mid-year. Ald. Pavelko voiced his concern on the following:  Requests his auto allowance be removed and put into the general fund. Administrator Sheiffer advised that in order to do that, the city would have to show as an expenditure and then put back as revenue.  Questioned Professional Services under Assessor. Administrator Sheiffer advised of the payment to members of the Board of Review.  Police Department Training – Finance Supervisor Mueller explained a credit that had been applied as a result of an officer not being able to attend a training session.  Library – Increase in newspaper fees. He felt with all being on the website, an increase is not needed. It was agreed that certain newspapers are not on line.  Planning Dept. - Questioned increase in printed materials. Capital Budget Committee of the Whole Page 4 October 25, 2007 Mayor advised that direction is needed for capital borrowing. His recommendation to balance the budget is to remove the following fire department vehicle requests:  Aerial Pumper TCVFD $621,160  Pumper Replacement MVFC 362,000 Put back one line item “Combined Fire Department Vehicle Fund” at $715,310. Ald. Melcher questioned the amount designated for the road program. He feels it is too low. It was a consensus to reduce cable studio cameras to one camera reducing from $10,000 to $5,000. It was a consensus to remove Uninterrupted Power Source for the Police Department and put it in the 2009. Ald. Fiedler voiced concern with District 7 not having a park and money being spent on existing park areas. Special Revenue Funds – Ald. Snead explained that there was money spent on the Old Town Hall out of the Parks Dedication Fund with the understanding that it would be paid back. Administrator Sheiffer added that the thought was that they did not want to use levy dollars but in reality tax levy dollars are being used. It is not working the way they had planned. They anticipated that the new revenue from the programs would pay back the Parks Dedication Fund. She is suggesting that the Council revisit this whole concept. Finance Supervisor Mueller clarified for Ald. Snead that we are currently budgeting $4,879 to reimburse Parks Dedication Funds and it would be possible to pay the lump sum back to Parks Dedication Funds from Landfill Fund or Cable Fund noting that additional funds coming from Cable Club should be discussed with the Parks & Recreation Director. It was the consensus to invite Craig Anderson to a future meeting to discuss further. Ald. Pavelko was requested by a constituent to voice concern with dog fancier permit fees. It was explained that the cost was for staff work. ADJOURNMENT Ald. Snead moved to adjourn at 8:43 p.m. Seconded by Ald. Fiedler; motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Cathie M. Anderson Transcribing Secretary /ca