08-27-73 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING AUGUST 27 197 1i 11 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (CONTINUED) Controller, indicated that the amount of $5,000 was for the purchase of the printing press only. Miss Guthrie asked about the amount of printing the city does. Mr. Lantz indicated that the city print shop prints 300 different types of forms for all departments and two and a half million sheet were printed last year. He explained that the present press is much slower than the one the depart ment was hoping to purchase. He also stated that the actual printing is much less costly when done by the city rather than sending the material to an outside printer and that the cost was nearly three times as great. Miss Guthrie asked if the number of employees in the print shop were include in that. Mr. Lantz indicated that the same person would run both presses. Miss Guthrie asked for an explanation on PERF. Mr. Lantz indicated that next year's rates have been lowered by the state because of the city's experience rate. He indicated that the city's rate was very good and that the city would be paying less than in the past. Miss Guthrie indicated that she felt the ControllE needed a city- furnished car to do his job. Mr. BonDurant asked about the increase in Account 520. Mr. Lantz indicated that this was the computer program the city had with the school corporation. He stated that a presentation had been made to the Council regarding this. Mr. BonDurant asked if the program was being expanded, and Mr. Lantz indicated that most of the city programs have been put on the computer at this time. Mrs. Janet Allen, 125 West Marion Street, asked about the amount of money in the printing budget, and Council President Nemeth indicated that $6,000 was budgeted for printing and $12,000 was budgeted for printing and supplies. Mrs. Allen felt that budget should be cut. She asked about the total for the Controller's Office, and stated that the newspapE had indicated quite a large decrease. Council President Nemeth indicated that the budget for that office had been $765,000 and the Council had proposed $738,024. Mr. Lantz explained to Mrs. Allen that the current obligations are advertised as a separate line item in the newspaper. OFFICE OF CITY CLERK Council President Nemeth indicated that the Council proposed that certain accounts be cut as follows: Account 120 .................... $500 Account 213 .................... 100 Account 370 .................... 800 Account 520 .................... 200 Account 725 .................... 621 BARRETT LAW DEPARTMENT Council President Nemeth indicated that the Council proposed that Account 252 be cut $140. COMMON COUNCIL Council President Nemeth indicated that the Council proposed that certain accounts be cut as follows: Account 110 $17,700 Account 215 ................. 450 He indicated that the Council realized the budgets had to be cut, and they were agreeable to cuttir the positions of Legislative Assistant and Secretary II. He stated that the county renews the County -City Building every three to four years, and it was thought that the offices would be repainted soon, after which time new furniture could be purchased for the councilmen. Miss GuthriE felt travel should be reduced to the current amount. She wondered why the present furniture for the councilmen could not be retained. Council President Nemeth indicated that the furniture was quite old and had been purchased long before the move into the new building. Mrs. Allen indicated that the previous Council had set the salaries for the councilmen at an increase of $200 each year, She suggested that, in the interests of economy, the councilmen decline the raise for 1974. Counci President Nemeth felt the increase of $200 was justifiable. He pointed out that other city employE also received a $200 increase. Mr. Maurice Cohen stated that he disagreed with Mrs. Allen and felt the Council should be entitled to more. He also felt they should be entitled to the furniturE OFFICE OF CITY ATTORNEY Council President Nemeth indicated that the Council proposed that certain accounts be cut as follows: Account 110 ................ $5,114 Account 213 ................ 1,000 Account 721 ................ 200 Councilman Miller asked about the encumbered amount on the office equipment, and Mr. James Roemer, City Attorney, indicated that he was not sure what was bought for the interns but he thought it was approximately $200. Councilman Miller asked about the $200 for 1974, and Mr. Roemer indicated that office furniture was needed. Miss Guthrie asked if money had been spent without an appropria- tion, and Mr. Roemer indicated that that appeared to be the case. BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS Council President Nemeth indicated that the Council proposed that certain accounts be cut as follows: Account 214 ................ $5,000 Account 363 ................ 100 Account 520 ................ 8,163 Account 720 ................ 1,000 Account 725 ................ 1,200 Miss Guthrie asked about the rent increase and the reason for it, and Mr. Lantz indicated that, under the terms of the contract for the building, the city's obligation in lease was 26.515% interest on the bond issue. He stated that this was not paid in the past because the city had not been billed for it. He indicated that the city paid 26.515% on the bond issue and on the interest, and he also stated that this was a State Tax Board ruling. Mr. BonDurant questioned the 25% s