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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/12/1991 COW minutes MINUTES COMMITI~EE OF THE WHOLE FEBRUARY 12, 1991 ~ I . ROLL CALL ,- The meeting was called to order at 7.35 p.m. Present at the meeting were. Mayor Gerald L. Farley; Trustees Ralph Arthur, Ma~k Busse, Timothy Corcoran, ~ ~ George Van Geem and Don Weibel Absent from the meeting was Trustee Leo Floros. Also present at the meeting were: Village Manager~ John Fulton Dixon, Assistant Village Manager John Burg, Public Works Director Herb Weeks, Finance Director Dave Jepson, Planning and Zoning Director Dave Clements,} Inspection Services Director .Chuck Bencic, Assistant Finance Director Carol} W~dmer, Water and Sewer Superintendent Jerry McIntosh; Janet Hansen,t- Executxve D~rector of the Chamber of Commerce; two members of the_ press and seven persons in the audience. II. MINUTES The Minutes of the Committee of the Whole meeting of January 22, 1991 were accepted and filed. .~ HEARD III. CITIZENS TO BE There were no citizens who wished to be heard. IV. STREET LIGHTING Mayor Farley introduced the discussion on street lighting Trustee Corcoran said that he had requested the discussion of this item because he felt the Village should consider using more energy-efficient hghts when replacement is necessary. He suggested using box lights which would mm the electricity in the desired areas by the streets rather than diffusing the light throughout the neighborhood. Assistant Village Manager John Burg provided information on street lighting After d~scuss~on, ~t was the consensus of the Committee that whenever possible, the Village should change the street hghting to high-pressure sodium to save on energy costs Box hghts should be used whenever possible and where appropriate The Committee also felt that the requirement for mercury vapor hght~ng m residential areas should be changed to allow high-pressure sodium lights to save on energy. Assistant Manager Burg indicated that the Commonwealth Edxson owned lights would actually cost more for high-pressure sodium The only potential savings would be on the Vdlage-owned lights. V. HOME OCCUPATION ORDINANCE Planning and Zoning Director Dave Cl~ments summarized the recommendations of the Zoning Board with regard to the proposed Home Occupation Ordinance. He noted that the Ordinance relied on certain Performance Standards to regulate home occupations. Janet Hansen indicated that she would take exception to not allowing ~triy outstde employees. She said the Chamber felt that one outside employee should be allowed. She aiso~ felt that the Performance Standard related to the use of a residence by a professional person should be deleted from the proposed Ordinance.~ She felt this item would be covered by the Performance Standard related to the ~eneration of traffic. ~ ~ Trustee Arthur said the Vdlage is trying ~o improve the downtown He did not} ~' feel that businesses should be' allowed m the residential areas which would. ' compete with the current businesses: He~ was completely oppose~d to this type ofr Ordinance. ~ "~ Janet Hansen said that many of the businesses which have started in this community did start in the home. ~ Trustee Corcoran asked how ma~3~complamts there ~ire about businesses in the homes. Mr. Clements said he receives two or three a month usually concerning commercial vehicles. Trustee Corcoran felt he could not support this Ordinance because he feels it is vague and unworkable. He feels that the language of the~ Ordinance must be more specific. Trustee Busse asked how the Village would identify businesses that were operating in homes. He asked if the Village would send notice to all the compames who~ have a Tax ID number, Mr. Clements said notices could be sent as suggested Mr, Clements said the~ staff would like to see this Ordinance adopted because staff ~ has been,placed in an uncomfortable position when individuals call and ask how ~' they can start a business in their home." Staff must tell them a home occupatmn is not allowed, but many times these residents say that they know of others engaged in such a business. Trustee Van Geem said he generally supports this type of Ordinance However, 'he is concerned about the proposed fee ' He would like to see the 'Ordinance "adopted without any fee attached. -- . The Mayor then op~ned the floor to comments by residents: A resident at 104 Stratford smd she was vehemehtly opposed to the Ordinance. She gave examples of various businesses that have operated in homes in her area over the years. Another resident at 211 South H~-Lus~ smd he is a salesmen's representative and has worked out of his home for 15 years., He keeps samples at his home and then he goes out on sales calls. He said his neighbors do not even know that he operates out of his home. He requested a ~copy of the current Ordinance regulating home occupations and the proposed Ordinance. He was opposed to regulation of home occupations. ~ Trustee We~bel asked how many existing businesses there are. Mr. Clements smd the Village could look at the Tax ID numbers and develop th~s ~nformat~on Trustee Corcoran would like to work with the staff and the Chamber of Commerce to tighten up the language of the Ordinance. ~ It was the consensus of the Committee that ~taff should work with Trustee! Corcoran and the Chamber of Commerce on the wording of th~s Or&nance. Th~s matter should be brought back at the Committee of the Whole meeting on March 12: Mayor Farley invited the interested parties to attend this meeting and he requested that staff obtain the information on the number of businesses operating in homes in the community. - VI. 19~}1.1992 BUDGET HEARING Mayor Farley gave opening remarks regarding the 1991-1992 Budget. Manager Dixon then gave a Budget overview inclu&ng Revenues and Expenditures F~nance Director Dave Jepson then gave a presentation on the anticipated Revenues for the year. He also discussed the information contained in the ~, Introductory Section of the Budget Mr. Jepson in&cated that the Village tries to maintain a 15% balance :n the various Funds. He also pointed out that the Village receives 10.3% of the total Tax bill. Trustee Van Geem asked what assumption was used for the salary increases Mr. Jepson said that 5% was included in the salary figures. Mr. Jepson explained the rationale behind the recommendation to ~nsmute an Ambulance Fee for residents. Last year, there were 2200 ambulance transports of which 80% were residents. We are currently collecting 79% of the ambulance charges for non-residents. Mr. Jepson smd that ~nsurance covers such a charge in many cases. -3- If Medicare is to pay for the ambulance charge for non-residents, Medicare would also require that a fee apply to residents as well Mr. Jepson 'said that the :~average ambulance transport costs the Village $350 and so the $125 fee is very reasonable He noted that the Village does not pursue reimbursement other than accepUng the payments that individuals can afford or the payment made by insurance and Medicare. Trustee Corcoran said he is against the$125 Ambulance Fee. He feels this is part of a service that should be provided by the Village: He also suggested looking at a seasonally-adjusted water increase or an increase an the water fee once the usage goes beyond a certain hmit Trustee Arthur also opposes the $125 Ambulance Fee He objected to transferring the responsibility for the Newsletter to the Cable Administrator because he feels she already has enough work to do. : ~ , ,~ Administration Budget ~ ' Village Manager John D~xon outlined the programs contained in the.~ Administration Budget and explained the proposed expenditures for the 199~-1992~ fiscal year. ' ~ ~ . ~-, ? ~ Trustee Arthur recommended deleting the proposed $84,090 for 'the Personnel Management and Training port~on of the Budget. ~Vfllage Manager Dtxon explained why this program lS necessary..~ ~ Trustee Busse requested a road map for the 'Personnel Coordinator pos~t~on Village Manager Dixon outlined some of the projects that have been undertaken in recent months as well as work anticipated for the future. Trustee Van Geem said he has always supported the need for a Personnel off~ce in an organization as large as the Village. He said this ~posit~on relieves the Finance D~rector of various duties, thereby allowing him to focus on fiscal matters Trustee Van Geem said he also supports the trmmng of Supenasors which is being performed.. ~ : '~ ~ ~ . ~· Trustee Corcoran asked how much turnover there is in the Village. ' Manager Dtxon said there is very low turnover at this point. However, there can be more turnover, especially in the Public Works Department,' when the economy is good Trustee Corcoran said he would hke to have a one-month action plan outhmng where the Personnel Coordinator will spend her time as well as long-range goals '~Trustee .Van Geem felt this kind of oversight is interfermg with the Village Manager's'prerogative of managing the .employees , ,~ ,' Trustee Weibel agreed with the need for a Personnel Department. He also felt that oversight of this position by the Board is an infringement on the Manager's rights. Trustee Corcoran focused attention on the salary adjustments line item in the Administration Budget. He suggested cutting this item to reflect the amount that is expected to be expended It was the consensus of the Committee to reduce this item to $5,000. The Committee continued the discussion on whether to transfer the Newsletter to the Communications Division. The consensus of the Committee was to leave the Newsletter under the responsibility of the Village Clerk vnth the use of an outside writer. However, the Committee would like to see the Newsletter reduced to four issues per year. Trustees Van Geem and Weibel suggested reviewing the function of a Newsletter at a future Committee of the Whole meeting to see if there may be a more effective way of commumcating with the residents. } Trustee Busse requested an evaluation of the Legal Counsel expenses. He als~ requested an evaluation of the cost of two part-time personnel as opposed to one full-time secretary in the Communications Division. Mayor Farley asked why there is such a large reduction in the orgamzati0n memberships in the Cable Budget. Cheryl Pasallc indicated she does not feel the Village should continue to be a member of the Northwest Cable Council. Mayor Farley said he has felt for years that the Northwest Cable Council should handle cable complaints on behalf of the Village. He also indicated that there wall be negotiations in the near future regarding the Franchise and he felt that the collective efforts that the Cable Council could offer would provide leverage in the negotiations. The Committee discussed whether the Village should remain a member of the Northwest Cable Council. It was the consensus of the Committee that the Village should not renew membership in this orgamzation. Finance Deoartment Budget Finance Director Dave Jepson outlined the Finance Department Budget including Risk Management. Trustee Weibel noted that he hopes the EAP wall help to cut medical expenses for the Village. He requested that the Village track this trend. -5- II ANY OTHER BUSINESS Village Manager DLxon indicated that the Citizens' Committee which supports the ' , new F~re and Police Station needs to know how much residents can expect fo pay ~ ~ for the new facihty: The Committee discussed the financing of this project It was the consensus of the Comrmttee to go with conventional financing and to stress an increase of less than $10 per year. The Committee decided to be consistent with the information previously distributed rather than developing an alternative financing method :: Village Manager Dixon prmsed Fred Tennyson for the excellent work he did on the new Budget format. ' VIII. ADJOURNMENT 'At 12:00 a.m., Trustee ,Corcoran moved, seconded by Trustee Busse to go into Executive Session to discuss ht~gation, personnel and collective bargaining Motion carried unanimously. , } ~ , ~ Respectfully submitted JOHN P. BURG Assistant Village Manager JPB/rcw '