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COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE -Minutes 20110614 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE – CITY OF MUSKEGO (Approved) MINUTES OF MEETING HELD TUESDAY, June 14, 2011 Mayor Chiaverotti called the meeting to order at 6:12 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor Kathy Chiaverotti, Aldermen Snead, Harenda, Borgman, Werner, Soltysiak, Schaumberg, and Fiedler. Also present Deputy Clerk Jill Blenski. STATEMENT OF PUBLIC NOTICE The meeting was noticed in accordance with the Open Meeting Law. APPROVAL OF AGENDA There were no issues with the agenda item listed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Ald. Snead moved for approval of the May 24, 2011 minutes. Ald. Borgman seconded; motion carried. NEW BUSINESS 1. Continue Discussion on Fire Department Reward/Retention Program. Mayor Chiaverotti stated that this item was discussed at the Public Safety Committee and the committee said “No” to any changes in the contract in turning over the capital items over to the City. Mayor asked the council the following: 1. Is the value of maintaining a volunteer fire department into the future for as long as the service level can be maintained a goal? All agreed that it was. 2. If Yes – is the cost of a retention program to maintain volunteer firefighters help achieve the goal? Historically – no. Ald. Werner stated that he felt that a number of volunteers are staying on waiting for the results of this study. 3. Is there value of a scholarship program for the City for recruitment? Ald. Snead said there was no value to the City. 4. If you could only choose one incentive program, retention or scholarship, which do you find more beneficial? Ald. Harenda felt that the scholarship program is more beneficial to the City. Ald. Fiedler feels that the retention program will help keep members on the department. Mayor stated that the Fire Department requested the following: a) Use the $175,000 scholarship fund for the retention program. b) Up to $ 20,000 annually for retention and scholarship program from the City to maintain it. Mayor stated that the difference if agreed to could be applied to the scholarship fund if that is what the City decides to do. The City request is: a) Capital items titled in City name. b) Naming of company rights. c) Sustainable retention program. Committee of the Whole meeting page 2 June 14, 2011 Attorney Molter reiterated a legal opinion as understood at the time of consolidation of the two departments (which is not in writing) was that the City’s investment of capital items was protected in the agreement. He said that there were two scenarios: 1. If fire department is unable to provide service, itemized capital items become the property of the city. If they can continue to provide the service and the City stops them then they would get the items. 2. If city moves to full time fire department while the department remains able to provide services, itemized capital items can be purchased by the city for the scholarship fund. Mayor said that if the fire department determines that they want to have a paid Fire Chief that would make it a full time department and the items would then become the City’s. Ald. Werner stated that we are not talking about the fire trucks, just the buildings. Ald. Harenda stated that the City does own the two buildings that were originally Muskego’s and the land under them. The Fire Department had a mortgage on the buildings and the City has paid off the mortgage which was brought up at the Public Safety Committee meeting by Jeff Verburgt. Ald. Snead said at the Public Safety meeting the Fire Department said that they wanted to be treated as a contract employee such as Veolia and Jani King (City’s cleaning service). Except the City does not buy their equipment or house their equipment – we just pay for their services. She feels like the City is being held hostage. If the Fire Department wants to be treated like other contractors maybe they should buy their equipment back from the City. Ald. Werner said that we could leave the $180,000 where it is and look at going forward with up to $20,000 per year. Ald. Harenda stated that the Fire Department Board had mentioned that if the City wanted them to buy the items they would charge more for the services. The City would pay either way. His concern is that if this issue ends up in arbitration - who covers the service? Ald. Fiedler felt that legally the contract should be binding. Ald. Snead feels that the Fire Department is doing a bang up job and we need to come up with a working relationship with them. Ald. Borgman stated that when the fire plan was adopted there was no mention of going back 25 years and rewarding them for past service. The City agreed to the $20,000 per year because of the State plan which was rewarding people going forward. Ald. Werner stated that the Fire Department decided to opt out of the State plan without the City’s knowledge. Ald. Fiedler said that they are asking to open the contract by asking for changes and if they are unwilling to discuss changes we should go back to the original plan. There was discussion on committing to maintaining volunteers when and if the Fire Department would go to full time and to memorialize with scholarships. Ald. Soltysiak stated that the Fire Department is trying to protect the membership and the work they have done. Trying to address concerns on both sides the committee agreed that Alderman Snead (Safety Committee Chairman) and Mayor Chiaverotti meet with members of the Fire Department to negotiate on behalf of the City, bringing back the results to the Committee of the Whole. COMMUNICATIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW ADJOURNMENT Ald. Snead moved to adjourn at 6:50 p.m. Seconded by Ald. Fiedler; motion carried. Minutes transcribed by Cindy Schweitzer