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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/24/1992 COW minutes Minutes COMMITrEE OF THE WHOLE March 24, 1992 Roll Call The meeting was called to order at 7.33 pm. by Mayor Gerald L Farley Trustees present included Mark Busse, George Clowes, Tim Corcoran, Leo Floros, Paul Hoefert, and Irvana Wllks Also present were Village Manager John Fulton Dixon, Public Works Director Herb Weeks, Planmng Director David Clements, Fire Chief Ed Cavello, Police Chief Ron Pavlock, Inspection Sennces Director Chuck Benclc, Human Sermces Admlmstrator Nancy Morgan, Assistant Human Semces Administrator Jan Abernethy, Village Attorney Everette Hill, Finance Director David Jepson, Assistant Finance Director Carol Widmer, about 20 Village residents and 3 members of the news media. II Minutes of March 10. 1992 The minutes of the Committee of the Whole meeting were accepted with the following change' Trustee Paul Hoefert should have been reported as present. III Citizens To Be Heard Edward Nastek Ed Nastek, 1009 Ash Drive, a retired Commander of the Mount Prospect Police Department, requested that the Village Board consider funding a portion of Retirees medical insurance prermums. Mr. Nastek stated that the cost of medical insurance has been rising much faster than increases in retirees' pensions and that paying the current premiums are a real hardship for many retirees. Mr. Nastek pointed out that many major corporations fund all or a portion of retirees' medical insurance. Specifically, Mr. Nastek requested that the Village use i~ of the tax levy to fund retirees medical insurance premiums. He smd that because both the Police and Fire Pension Funds are more than 100% funded, some of the taxes that would normally go to the pension funds could be used for this purpose. ~ Major Farley stated that he is sympathetic to all employees and retirees and that this is a dilemma for our entire society He said he did not have a solution at this time but that the Village would continue to study this issue. Village Manager Dixon stated that this is a tough question and has been discussed by staff on numerous occasions. He pointed out that the Village has a generous medical plan and that there are only so many dollars available He said that any insurance plan should cover catastrophic losses and that the Village's Medical Plan should be restructured to include higher deductibles and a co-payment feature Mr. Dixon added that the Village is worl~ng on the details of a VEBA type plan to help future retirees but that this will not address current rettrees Trustee Busse said he would hke to see something worked out that took into consideratton the years of sermce each retiree had served the Village. He requested that a commmee be formed to look for solutions Trustee Wilks stated that it was a desperate situation especially for disabled retirees. Trustee I-Ioefert said he thought the issue needed more rewew and that he would hke to see a comparison of what other mumc~paht~es and businesses In the $40 nulhon revenue range do in this area Trustee Corcoran said this Is a national crisis and that the Village should look at changing the benefits, shifting the cost, and possibly adding a rate structure just for retirees Trustee Clowes stated that he would hke to see different levels of benefits and co-payments with some incentives to reduce costs He added that the Village should look at what the private sector is doing Mr. Nastek volunteered to serve on the committee estabhshed to look into th~s issue Trudge Berndt Trudge Berndt, Three West Euchd, told the Committee that a permit had been issued to install a parking lot for a church that was located on residential property at One West Euclid She smd she was under the impression that when the church occupied that property they would not be able to build a parking lot She said she was concerned because it would reduce the value of her property. Mayor Farley stated that churches are a permitted use in resldentml property and can build a parking lot ~f they meet guidelines established by the Village. Vdlage Manager Dtxon added that because no variance was needed, it was not necessary to hold a public heanng He smd the Village does recommend that a church or a school notify neighbors when they undertake an ~mprovement of this nature. Trustee Floros said he would be troubled if he lived next door and that he thought converting a single farmly dwelhng to a church is abrogating the intent of the Zoning Ordinance Planmng Director Clements stated that the church met the lot coverage and set back reqmrements and that is whey the permit was issued Trustee Coreoran said he thought this s~tuation was a misuse of R-1 Zomng and shouldn't be allowed. He asked Village staff to try to get both sides together to try to nut,gate the problem. Trustee Fioros smd he would hke to see the plans for the proposed parking lot. Mayor Farley said he thought the Board needed more input from staff Trustee Clowes said he thought the Board should be involved when parl~ng is required George Van Geem George Van Geern, 808 South School Street, told the Board that as a former Vdlage Trustee he had had a hand in developing prior budgets and that he was concerned over negative trends m the proposed 1992-1993 budget. He pointed out that General Fund revenues are expected to increase 3-1/2% next year but that expenditures are expected to increased 5-1/2% He requested that the Village Board consider a series of meetings to address problem areas with a goal of developing a three-year plan. He added that if the trend continued it would be necessary to either adopt new revenues and/or cut services. However, before those types of action are taken, he would like to see a three-year plan developed. IV 1992-1993 Budget Hearina Mayor Farley stated that the time the Vdlage Board spetlds discussing the budget is an important time for the Board and the commumty because this is the time that the level of services for the coming year are deterrmned. He said that the Board has had three lengthy meetings with Village staff regarding the 1992-1993 budget The budget as presented met the two objectives established by the Village Board: the total budget increased only 3 4% over last year and the increase in the proposed 1992 tax levy has been kept at the 5% level He said the proposed budget does not include any new personnel and that it maintains ex~stlng levels of sermce. The budget includes a provision for the completion of the new Ftre and Police Building, continued progress m the Flood Control Program, and action to develop the Triangle Redevelopment Area Additionally, the budget includes provisions for a new computer system, a new telephone system, an addition to the Senior Center for Human Services offices, and the addition of a proposed auditorium to Lincoln Jr. High School Mayor Farley concluded by saying that the budget process is like fitting the pieces of a puzzle together and that when it is approved it is really just the start of an ongoing process. Mount Prospect Library_ William Blaine, President of the Mount Prospect Library Board, presented the L~brary's budget request for 1992-1993. He stated that the Library is requesting a total appropriation of $2,870,423, an increase of 1.7% over the current year. Mr. Blaine stated that the tax levy request is up about 3/10 of 1i and that th~ expected tax rate is estimated to be $ 2425 for operating purposes. Mr. Blaine remarked that the demand for services at the Library has increased 11% over the last year and that more adults are using the Library because of the state of the economy Mr. Blaine pubhcly commended Pat Kelly, Executive Director of the Library for the past 11 years, for her dedicated service. He stated that Ms Kelly will be retiring in May 1992. Trustee Clowes said he did not think the Library tax rate should exceed $ 23 for operating purposes without a referendum, and he recommended the budget be reduced to the $ 23 level Mr Blaine responded that the Library would lose a $50,000 state grant if they lewed less taxes in 1992 than in 1991. 3 Trustee Wilks said she thought the budget was frugal and that the I_abrary Trustees are accountable to the voters for their acuons Trustee Corcoran said he thought the levy request was reasonable and would not want to reduce Library services Trustee Floros said he supported the Library budget request A poll of the Board indicated that s~x members supported the request and one opposed Village Budget Trustee Wilks requested that the position of Assistant Village Manager be ehmanated and that it be replaced with the position of Village Attorney. She said the salary should be set at $60,000 with an additional $5,000 included for benefits This move would be made in conjunctton with reducing contractual legal services from $160,000 to $130,000. Mayor Farley said he could not support this proposal He said the current system works fine and that there would be other costs for a law library and clerical support that would be needed. He added that there should be input from the Village Manager on the position of Assistant Village Manager Trustee Hoefert said he supported the current system but that he would like to ehnunate the Assistant Village Manager position Trustee Busse said he favored loolong into adding a municipal attorney Trustee Floros said he could not support the proposal without a recommendation from the Mayor and the Village Manager Trustee Clowes said he thought the proposal made sense and that he supported hiring an attorney for day-to-day matters Trustee Corcoran said he could not support the proposal at this time and that he would want input from ~.~) the Village Manager. Trustee Wilks said she would like to revisit this issue at a later date. Trustee Clowes said he would like to add a new lineqtem for $50,000 called "New Technology Projects" The momes would be used to fund new technology that would improve services and that would pay for itself within four years. Each department would be encouraged to compete for the available funds Trustee Clowes said the system had been used very effectively by the City of Dayton Ohio Mayor Farley said he thought the proposal was well-intentioned but that he was not convinced it would achieve the desired results Trustee Hoefert said he liked the idea Trustee Corcoran said he supported the idea but that he did not want to put the hne-item in the budget. However, he said he would consider any worthwhile project wheti it was presented Trustee Wilks said she thought it was an innovative and supported the proposal Trustee Floros said he thought the process is available now. Trustee Busse said he favored the proposal The proposal was accepted by a 4 - 3 vote. The Village Board concurred with the following recommendations that had been previously discussed. 1 Not to add $10,000 for a promotional booklet. 4 2. To increase the amount allocated for Economic Development Services per the Broadacre Agreement from $15,000 to $50,000 3. To increase F~re Department overtime by $3,000 for public information in multl-farmly buildings and $2,000 for the Fire Prevention Bureau 4 Not to change the contribution level of the Tree Replacement Cost-Share Program 5. Not to increase the Beautification Program above the amount proposed 6 Not to add cardboard to the Recycling Program 7. To increase personal services by $3,000 and supplies by $3,000 to continue the Holiday White Light Program. 8 To support the request for a Sewer TV Truck. 9. To add $60,000 for the estimated cost of oversized water mains in the Kensington Business Center. 10 To reduce the $60,000 allocation for the acquisition of the Citizens Utflnies Water and Sewer System 11. To increase the allocation for the D~strict 57 Auditorium Project by $70,000. 12 To add $37,200 to the Vehicle Replacement Fund for the replacement of two Pohce vehicles 13 To decrease the total allocation for Flood Projects from $3,900,000 to $3,650,000. Other budget items that were brought up included the following' Trustee Hoefert said he would like to see stepped-up preventive maintenance to get more life out of %llage vehicles. Trustee Floros asked why we needed to replace the phone system Communications Admimstrator Cheryl Pasalie said the present system is becormng obsolete Trustees Floros, Wllks and Hoefert said they did not want to see an automated system. Trustee Floros said he would like to see the Cable TV budget reduced from $195,000 to $170,000 The proposal was not supported by the other Comnuttee members. Trustee Clowes said he did not want to continue support to the Mount Prospect Historical Society. Trustee Busse said he would also hke to revisit this issue in the future. Finance D~rector Jepson recommended that revenue projections be revised based upon more current information Sales tax receipts were reduced from $6,100,000 to $6,000,000 and the State Income Tax, Surcharge, Motor Fuel Tax, State Sales Tax, State Use Tax and Personal Property 5 Tax would be adjusted based upon recent Illinois Municipal League projections The net effect of all revenue changes was a reduction of $173,000 Mr Jepson stated that the overall effect of all changes discussed by the Board for Village accounts was a reduction in revenues of $173,000 and a reduction in expenditures of $46,800 Mayor Farley thanked the Trustees and staff for a diligent and thorough analysis Trustee Basse also commended the Finance Comsmssion for their efforts in reviewing the budget V Other Business Trustee Hoefert complimented the Pubhc Works Department for the good Job of snow removal March 21 and 22. Trustee Floros sa~d he would like to see the Stgn Review Board expanded from 5 to 7 members Mayor Farley said he agreed and would bring ~nformat~on back to the Board. VI Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 11.25 p m. Respectfully Subrmtted, David C. Jepson, Finance Director DC J/sm 6