10-21-13 Personnel & Finance - Laserfiche WebLink

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PERSONNEL & FINANCE OCTOBER 21, 2013 4:00 P.M. Committee Members Present: Dave Varner, Valerie Schey (4:05), Karen White, Henry Davis (Parc Board) Other Council Members: Tim Scott, Dr. Fred Ferlic, Oliver Davis (Transpo), Gavin Ferlic, Derek Dieter Citizen Members Present: Mark Brammer (AB), Jack Smith Others Present: Chuck Bulot, Shubhada Kambli, Erin Blasko, Kathy Cekanski - Farrand, John Murphy, Keith Crain, Mark Lyons, Cecil Eastman, Mark Neal, Christine Vallaire, Becky Neese, Brian Haygood, John Voorde Agenda: Continued Review of 2014 Budget Proposal This meeting of the Personnel & Finance Committee was called specifically to allow the city administration an opportunity to present their plan to consolidate the Code Enforcement, the Building Department and Animal Care into one the Building Services Department. This proposal was first presented on September 11, 2014, but the Council felt a follow -up session was necessary. City Controller Mark Neal made the presentation with the affected department heads present for questions. The handout provided to help explain the proposal is attached. Before the presentation the Council determined a special meeting to vote on the budget would be needed. Following brief discussion Karen White motioned and Valarie Schey seconded a call for a special meeting on Wednesday October 30, 2013 at 7:00 P.M. All approved, giving the City Clerk the charge to call the meeting. Mark Neal proceeded with the presentation. Councilmembers asked questions during the course of the presentation. Tim Scott was first. He asked for an accounting of costs associated with cross - training and certifying inspectors. Valerie Schey asked for further explanation of where the eight positions being eliminated by the proposed consideration would come from. Dr. Ferlic said a serious problem was the issuance of code citations without collections. He advocated new procedures. Mark Neal spoke to a need to reorder the accounting methods for the three entities. Tim Scott said the time was way too long from sending notice to resolution of violations. He said the legal department needed to be at these meetings. Karen White said, accounting and procedures is one thing, but the bottom line is so these proposals add to the quality of life for the citizens. Her priorities remain 1. Public safety, 2. Clean neighborhoods and 3. Curbs and sidewalks. Derek Dieter complimented the NCE clean -up crews suggesting no changes in who they report to be made.