06-10-13 Personnel & Finance - Laserfiche WebLink

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PERSONNEL & FINANCE JUNE 10, 2013 5:16 P.M. Committee Members Present: Dr. David Varner, Karen White, Valerie Schey, Henry Davis Jr. Citizen Members Present: Jack Smith Other Council Present: Tim Scott, Dr. Fred Ferlic, Oliver Davis, Gavin Ferlic, Derek Dieter Others Present: Mark Neal, George King, John Murphy, Mike Schmuhl, Kathy Ceksanski - Farrand Agenda: - Sub. Bill No. 23 -13 (Appropriation Fund 101) New Position - Bill No. 24 -13 Amend Salary 6 /24/13 Two items were listed for consideration before Dr. David Varner's Personnel & Finance Committee. Both bills generated by the Administration deal with the creation and funding of a new position. The position is for a diversity compliance officer to work with the City's director of purchasing. The intent is to put some teeth in the ordinance passed by the Council which created the WBE /MBE Commission. This is an acronym for Women's Business Enterprise and Minority Business Enterprise. This Commission was formed to identify and encourage minority owned businesses to compete for mote City contracts. Whether formed to provide services or products to the City, minority businesses should become state certified and educated in the public bidding process. Developing, competing and awareness among minority businesses to better avail themselves of the opportunities to compete for City business is the goal. The diversity compliance officer would work with these businesses to see these stated purposes become a routine matter of practice. The two bills though discussed at this meeting would not be acted upon until the meeting on June 24, 2013 due to advertising requirements. Dr. Varner allowed City Controller Mark Neal and Director of Purchasing George King to explain the purpose and intent of the new position. Their presentation mainly covered the above description and rationale. They both emphasized that the City was trying to follow through with the good intentions of the bill the Council passed. It was noted during their presentation the Council has passed a similar bill back in 1986; but it had little positive effect because there was no person or mechanism to see that it was implemented. This new position it was hoped would go a long way to see that would not happen again. During Council discussion Valerie Schey wondered how this affected the City's contract with Trinal. This consulting firm was hired to help the City implement the intent of the bill. At this point there seemed to be some confusion as to the terms of Trinal's contract. Was it three years— now in year two or was it year to year? A definitive answer was promised before the next meeting. Henry Davis brought up the idea of set - asides. He said unless a specific percentage what the City spends for goods and services was set aside for minorities they would never get their rightful share. Dr. David Varner asked if the practice of set asides was legal? An answer was to be provided by the 24'n