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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-11-16 Personnel and FinancePERSONNEL & FINANCE JANUARY 11, 2016 4:10 P.M Committee Members Present: Karen White, Gavin Ferlic, Regina Williams Preston, John Voorde Other Council Present: Tim Scott, Dr. David Varner, Oliver Davis, Jo Broden Others Present: Kathleen Cekanski - Farrand, Adriana Rodriguez, Jen Coffinan Agenda: Bill 78 -15 Amending excavator fees charged by Building Dept. Bill 82 -15 Establishing a police aid program and fund Karen White, Chair of the Personnel & Finance Committee, called the hearing to order with two bills scheduled for consideration. Bill 78 -15, initiated by the Building Department, requests to raise the minimum excavator contractor fees from one hundred dollars ($100) to one hundred and twenty five dollars ($125). Charles Bulot, Building Commissioner with offices at 125 S. Lafayette, was the presenter for Bill 78 -15 to the Committee. Mr. Bulot explained that last year the Council approved an ordinance which raised the various fees of the Building Department. However, due to an error the ordinance did not include the excavator fee. Mr. Bulot explained this ordinance rectifies that mistake and raises the excavator fee from one hundred dollars ($100) to one hundred and twenty five dollars ($125). Mr. Bulot also explained that the Building Department is organized as an Enterprise Fund. This means the Building Department is solely funded by permit fees. Mr. Bulot explained these fees need to be raised because the Building Department is taking precaution that if the building boom going on right now slows down they will still be able to fund their department properly. Councilmember Oliver Davis asked Mr. Bulot to clarify what areas the Building Department covers. Mr. Bulot explained that the Building Department serves South Bend and St. Joseph County but excluding the area in the county under the jurisdiction of the City of Mishawaka and New Carlisle. The Building Department does however serve New Carlisle for their larger projects such as the new power plant being built there. Mr. Bulot also explained the various scales of fees that the Building Department has for different types of construction. No one from the public spoke in support or opposition to the bill. Committee member Gavin Ferlic made a motion that Bill 78 -15 go forward favorably to the full Council. Committee member John Voorde seconded the motion which was supported by the full Committee. Bill 82 -15, initiated by the Police Department, requests the establishment of a police aid program. John Murphy, City Controller, presented the Bill to the Committee alongside Lt. Chris Voros. Mr. Murphy explained this fund has been in existence for a few years with no difficulties but during the last audit by the state board they recommended the fund be officially sanctioned by an ordinance. Mr. Murphy explained this account is audited at the end of every year by the state board as well. Committee member Regina Williams Preston said she understands a lot of the information regarding this fund is confidential but wondered if they could give any information regarding the amount of money used for this fund. Mr. Murphy responded at the end of the year the fund had a total of eighty two thousand dollars ($82,000). Lt. Voros explained for this account there are usually four drawdowns of the account per year. He explained the account is for undercover policeman and the amount in the account reflects the price of street level narcotics. Councilmember Oliver Davis asked if he was correct in thinking what is confidential is where the money is going to but the amount of money and everything else in regards to the fund is not confidential. Lt. Voros confirmed that Councilmember Davis had it correct. He stated this fund is already in the police budget but the officers and what this money is used for is confidential. Mr. Murphy stated it is in the budget it is just not highlighted. Councilmember Jo Broden asked how it is determined how these funds are used. Lt. Voros explained the Police Chief overlooks this fund and determines where the money is going and then computer receipts are generated which are available for the state auditor to look at. Councilmember Scott asked how often this is audited internally and by who. Lt. Voros responded monthly he checks the fund with the receipts and meets with the Police Chief. Councilmember Scott asked if anyone else views this account such as Mr. Murphy, not because he does not trust Chris or the Police Chief just because people do make mistakes and there usually are out of department audits just to be safe. Mr. Murphy said currently they don't have anything like that but they can look into a way of doing that going forward. He also said they do look at all accounts in the end it is just a matter of where accounts are appropriated. Councilmembers also asked questions regarding the quarterly audits. Mr. Murphy explained that money does not roll out of the account if not used it stays there. Councilmember Davis asked if Lt. Voros can speak on any increase in this type of crime in the city. Lt. Voros responded that he would be unable to answer that question accurately and he would refer the Council to the Police Chief because the Chief is briefed by the officers for that information while Lt. Voros only really looks at the financial side of the situation. Councilmember Dr. Varner stated that if you add the four quarterly draw downs together you get around forty thousand dollars ($40,000). He asked if that is essentially the cost of this operation yearly and how much drugs are purchased during these operations. Chris responded yes and that number has remained relatively stable but at the end of the year we look at the street value and that number is staggering. He also added that the value of drugs they take off the street is much larger than the forty thousand investment used. No one from the public spoke in support or opposition to the bill. Committee member Gavin Ferlic made a motion to send the bill to the full Council with a favorable motion. Committee member Jo Broden seconded the motion which was unanimously approved by the Committee. There being no further business before the Committee, Karen White adjourned the meeting at 4:25 P.M. Respectfully Submitted, Karen White, Chairperson