HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-21-09 Budget Hearings - Continued discussion.1 .
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20102010 Budget Hearings -Continued DiscussionHearings -Continued Discussion
PERSONNEL AND FINANCE COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 21, 2009
The September 21, 2009 Personnel and Finance Committee Meeting was called to order
by its Chairperson Tom LaFountain at 5:35 p.m.
Committee Member's in Attendance: Karen L. White; David Varner; Oliver Davis
Other Council Member's: Derek Dieter; Ann Puzzello; Henry Davis;
Other's Present: Mayor Luecke, Gregg Zientara, Catherine Toppel, Jeff Gibney, Gary
Gilot, Howard Buchanon, Chuck Leone, Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, Dennis Andres,
Phil St. Clair, Gary Horvath, Chief Darryl Boykins, Scott Ruszkowski, FOP President
(Approximately 75 Police Officers)
Agenda: Continued Discussion of 2010 Budgets
• Police
• Fire
• Code Enforcement
• Legal Department
• Parks & Recreation
Chairperson LaFountain called for a recess, due to a large number of people attending.
Chairperson LaFountain asked that the meeting be reconvened in five (5) minutes and
move into the Council Chambers to accommodate the large number of people in
attendance for the meeting. Having reconvened Chairperson LaFountain called upon
Chief Boykins to address departmental concerns in terms of manpower, overtime costs,
and dollars possibly available for allocation at the FOP contract negotiation table.
Several Councilmembers asked the Chief about beat coverage, staffing, and recruiting
efforts. Scott Ruszkowski, FOP President, spoke briefly claiming the administration had
not been straight forward during contract negotiations in particular, about dollars
available. Ruszkowski likened the city's tactics to a shell game. Some 70-80 police
officers active and retired attended to show solidarity. The Mayor defended the city's
position regarding finances pointing out that one-time federal grants could not e used to
satisfy future annual expenses.
Fire Chief Buchanon addressed the Council outlining the financial challenges facing the
Fire Department. A commitment to minimum manning, recruitment, and future capital
investment in equipment and two possible new stations were discussed.
Catherine Toppel, Director of Code Enforcement, was able to report that her staff had
reinstituted a 40 hour work week having earlier in the budget process volunteered for a
32 hour week. Toppel said this was done primarily to assuage Council concerns about
the level of services delivered by Code. The fact that LOIT had passed providing added
income made the 40 hour week sustainable.
Phil St. Clair, head of the Park Department, addressed the Council focusing his remarks
on efforts made to assure services in the face of increasing needs and declining funds
available. The Council expressed concerns about the curtailment of programs at
recreation centers and the precarious position of the Conservatory. In particular was the
problem of finding dollars for heating the Conservatory. That concern expressed by Mr.
St. Clair was but one of a litany of concerns regarding a lack of funds to address capital
needs.
After brief discussion following Phil St. Clair's presentation Chairperson LaFountain
adjourned the meeting at 7:03 p.m.
Respectively Submitte ,
Tom LaFountain, Chairperson
Personnel and Finance Committee