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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-23-80 Personnel & Finance Committee s 0 Cmunittrt loud PERSONNEL AND FINANCE COMMITTEE coo flit eouunun Qlountil of thr eitH of Ooixtli rnd: The October 23, 1980 meeting of the Personnel and Finance Committee was called to order by its Chairman, Councilman Beverly D. Crone at 4 :30 p.m. in the Council meeting room. Chairman Crone explained that this meeting was the continuation of the meeting begun on October 20, 1980. Persons in attendance included the following: Councilmen Crone, McGann, Szymkowiak, Voorde, Taylor, Beck and Dombrowski; Joe Kernan, City Controller; City Attorney, Richard Hill, Fire Chief Timothy Brassell, City Clerk Irene Gammon, Park Superintendent, James Seitz , John Leszyznski, Police Chief Thompson, Mayor Parent, Michael Vance, Shaun Watt, Gwen Stiver, Jerry Hubner, Marchmont Kovas, and Council Attorney, Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, Chairman Crone stated that pursuant to the Mayor's October 17, 1980 memorandum, that this meeting was continued until today, to discuss specific recommendations in five areas : (1) which G.O. Bond items should be deleted; • (2) which G.O. Bond items should be reduced; (3) which G.O. Bond items should be added; (4) whether the G.O. Bond issue whould cover expenditures for one or two years; and (5) whether the G.O. Bond issue should have a term of 2.3 , 4 , or 5 years, Councilman Crone then stated that in light of the Mayor' s October 23, 1980 memorandum released at 10 : 00 a.m. today to the news media, wherein he recommended cuts in both the General Obligation Bond Issue and the Park Bond Issue, that the Committee should also consider the Mayor's recommendation, Heated discussion then took place regarding the Mayor's release to the news media prior to meeting with the Council. Councilman Szymkowiak objected to the Mayor's press conference. He stated that it was foolish for the Council to hold meetings in light of the Mayor's release. He further stated that the Mayor's action showed a lack of cooperation with the City Council, Councilman Dombrowski echoed much of Councilman Szymkowiak' s remarks. He stated that the Mayor was trying to make the Council look like idiots. Councilman. Dombrowski saw no need for the Mayor' s release to the press; saw no need to touch the Park Bond Issue; and that the Council should meet when the Council wanted. FREE •BESS PUBLISHING CO. Mayor Parent responded by stating that there were many miscon- ceptions present. He had gotten a "clear message" from the Council that the total bond issues were too high. Since the news media have an 11: 00 a.m., deadline, he felt that he had to propose his cuts today. Mayor Parent further stated that the Park Department may be eligible for 1-1. 2 million dollars in reimbursable grants, and therefore made his proposed cuts accordingly. Councilman McGann stated that several weeks ago the Council had agreed by an 8-1 margin with Councilman Crone in the minority, to accept the Park Bond issue as presented. He further stated that the Mayor's earlier press conference was an attempt to make the Council look "spend-crazy. " Councilman Voorde agreed with the remarks presented by the Councilmen. He stated that he had met yesterday with Mike Vance and Councilman Crone to discuss proposed cuts. He then stated that the Council could have gone to the press, but would have been accused of "one-upmanship. " He added that he had voted to support the Park Bond Issue as presented, and believed that that was a commitment. Chairman Crone called the meeting back to order and added that she could understand the position that the Mayor is in. She stated that she believed that both bonds are still too high. Mr. Hubner was then asked what was the Park Board' s position. He stated he preferred the original Park Bond presented to the Council, but had seen the Mayor's proposed cuts, Park Bond Issue Vote Following further discussion, Councilman McGann made a motion to stay with the Park Bond Issue as originally proposed and agreed upon earlier by the Council, Councilman Voorde seconded the motion, The motion carried by a 3-1 margin, with Councilmen Szymkowiak, McGann, and Voorde in the majority, and Councilman Crone in the minority. The. Mayor's proposed Park Bond cuts of $859, 000 were closed to further debate. General Obligation Bond Chairman Crone then explained that she had met yesterday with Mike Vance to discuss proposed cuts, The Committee then reviewed the Mayor's October 23, 1980 memorandum, the list of proposed cuts resulting from the informal meeting with Mr. Vance, and further narratives explaining the line items of the G.O. Bond issue. The Committee then reviewed the proposed bond issue by department. Police Department Councilman Voorde stated that if the Police Chief believed he could cut $50, 000 from the proposal and could still run an efficient department, then it should be cut. -2- Councilman Dombrowski again questioned the City' s policy on police cars going home. He stated there was a need for a motor pool. Chief Thompson said that there are 23 cars going home plus SOS cars. Since Captains do not receive overtime, they have been given cars, plus they are on call 24-hours a day. Councilman Dombrowski, reinterated that now is the time to correct the problem, and furthermore the City does not pay the Mayor for overtime. Councilman Voorde believed it was an administrative matter and should be considered accordingly. Police Department Vote Councilman Voorde made a motion to accept the Mayor's recommended cut of $50, 000 from the Police Department Motor Equipment fund. Councilman McGann seconded the motion. The motion passed. Fire Department Fire Chief Brassell stated that if you take $50, 000 from his motor equipment fund you might as well cut $100,000 or more, since he needed it all The Fire Chief also stated that the video system would eliminate a firefighter giving the same one-hour talk 33 different times. Discussion followed. Fire Department - Vote Councilman Voorde made a motion to cut $50, 000 for the Video system and $20, 000 for the "G" Star Radio System. Councilman McGann seconded the motion. The motion passed. Municipal Services Facility Councilman Crone questioned whether the $15, 000 proposed deletion for floor drains could be financed a different way. She was informed that it could. Mayor Parent stated that there is a possibility of matching E.D.A. funds if the salt storage facility and equipment storage facility would be housed in the Studebaker Corridor Area. Councilmen Voorde, Crone, and McGann voiced that a study was needed to consider the best locations of these facilities. Councilman Voorde stated he was familiar with the M. S.F.. building, and the garage conditions are "critical. " He again reinterated the need for a master plan on space needs instead of doing it in a piecemeal fashion. "3, Councilman Taylor questioned whether the Committee was doing an exercise in futility. Councilmen Crone and McGann believed it was worth the time. Councilman Dombrowski questioned the need for bond counsel. City Attorney Hill said it is mandatory. A Chicago law firm was hired for the Park Bond issue, budgeted at $20,000; and the Ice, Miller law firm in Indianapolis was hired for the G.O. Bond issue. M. S.F. - Vote Councilman McGann made a motion that the $135,000 for the salt storage facility and the $125, 000 for the equipment storage facility remain in the bond issue subject to two conditions : (1) that a study be made on the best locations; and (2) that the proposed location would be sufficient if it qualified the City for a matching E.D.A. grant. His motion also included the deletion of $15,000 for the M. S.F. floor drains. Councilman Szymkowiak seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-1 with Councilmen Crone, McGann, and Szymkowiak in the majority, and Councilman Voorde in the minority. Street Department A considerable amount of discussion took place regarding the street department. Shaun Watt stated that the present equipment could only fit into 20% of the alleys, and that street material would be used from the street department for the alley program. Councilman Szymkowiak stressed the need for an alley program. He believes that the City has spent more money on alleys in the last 10 years, but has nothing to show for it. He suggested that the $2,500 he does not receive from his salary on an annual basis go into a alley slurry seal program for the 2nd district. John Leszezynski stated that the alley program was for residential alleys and not commercial alleys. Councilman Dombrowski stated that if the City starts paving the alleys, next there will be the need to plow the alleys in the winter. He believes we need two graders instead. Councilman Beck stated that perhaps the "at-large" Councilman received less calls than the district Councilmen regarding alleys. Councilmen Voorde and Crone questioned the amount of time it would take to complete such an alley program. It ranged anywhere from 10 to 24 years, -4- Street Department Vote Councilman Voorde made a motion to delete $265, 000 for the equipment for alley paving; seconded by Councilman McGann. The motion passed 3-1, with Councilmen McGann, Crone and Voorde in the majority, and Councilman Szymkowiak in the minority. Councilman Szymkowiak believed the vote represented "poor judgment" . Councilman Voorde made a motion to delete $100,000 from the "paving materials and concrete street maintenance" item. Councilman McGann seconded the motion. The motion passed. Traffic and Lighting - Vote Councilman Voorde made a motion to delete $13 , 500 from the traffic and lighting motor equipment item. Councilman McGann seconded the motion. The motion passed. Park Department — Vote Councilman McGann made a motion to delete $50,000 from the Park Department. It was seconded by Councilman Szymkowiak. The vote failed by a 2-2 margin. Recapitulation of Deletions Police Department $50, 000 Fire Department 70,000 MSF 15, 000 Street Department 365,000 Traffic and Lighting 13,500 $513 ,500 TOTAL There being no further hisiness to come before the committee, Councilman McGann made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Voorde. The meeting was adjourned at 6 :45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Beverly D. Crone Chairman -5-.