09-21-09 Budget Hearings - Continued discussion

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.1 . "' 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.