HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/17/1994 FC minutesFINANCE COMMISSION
Minutes of the Meeting
March 17, 1994
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. Present were Chairman Richard Bachhuber,
Commissioners John Engel, Vince Grochocinski, Newt Hallman, James Morrison, Ann Smilanic,
and Tom Pekras. Also present were Village Manager Michael Janonis, Finance Director David
Jepson, and Assistant Finance Director Carol Widmer. Commissioner Earl Sutter was absent.
II Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the March 3, 1994 meeting were accepted as presented.
III Presentation of 1994/95 Budget
Fire Department
Fire Chief Ed Cavello, accompanied by Deputy Chiefs Lonnie Jackson and Del Ulreich and
Administrative Captain Steve Dumovich presented the Department's proposed 1994/95 Budget. The
proposed 1994/95 Fire Department budget of $5,625,060 is 4.5% or $242,360 higher than the
1993/94 budget of $5,382,700. Chief Cavello discussed significant items in the proposed budget.
The first item is a request to increase hire back overtime from $82,000 in 1993/94 to $132,000 in
1994/95. These additional monies would be used to increase the staffing level at Station 14 without
adding additional employees. Chief Cavello explained that this station which receives 24%f of the
service calls has staffing of four instead of the preferred five person staff.
The Fire Department is also seeking approval to purchase a vehicle called a "quint" in the 1994/95
budget. The quint would serve as a pumper as well as a ladder truck and would add flexibility to
the department. One of the engines had been scheduled for replacement in 1994/95 and the
Department is requesting the quint instead. A quint is estimated to cost $520,000 as opposed to the
engine which is estimated at $250,000.
Other significant changes proposed in the budget include the elimination of both the Fire Training
Academy and the services of the Volunteer paid -on-call firefighters, for a savings of approximately
$34,000. Chief Cavello stated that the Village of Arlington Heights will provide the hazardous
material training Mount Prospect had previously offered.
Chief Cavello then explained in detail the current inventory of fire vehicles and their function and
current and proposed staffing at the three fire stations. This explanation helped to clarify the
operations of the Department and the reasons for the budget requests described above.
Commissioner Hallman asked several questions regarding fire department vehicles and staffing. He
noted that each station responds to an average of one fire call per week and questioned how often
the ladder truck was used. Chief Cavello responded that a ladder truck was needed only for
structural fires but that he did not have exact figures on structural fires.
Ann Smilanic noted that a large number of calls were for other types of service than fires or
advanced life support and asked if there was any charge to residents for these types of calls. Chief
Cavello responded that there was no charge to residents for any fire department assistance.
Inspection Services Department
The Inspection Services Department was represented by Director Chuck Bencic, Engineering
Coordinator Jeff Wulbecker, Health Coordinator Bob Roels and Office Supervisor Ruth Maychszak.
The Building Coordinator, Dan Jakes, was unable to attend the meeting due to a previous
commitment. The proposed budget for the Inspection Services Department of $1,171,235 is 13.66%
or $140,795 higher than the 1993/94 budget of $1,030,440.
Mr. Bencic reviewed the significant issues in each of the three divisions: Building Code,
Environmental Health, and Engineering. In the Building Code Division there is a request for
additional monies in the training area in order to allow two employees who are serving as President
in their respective organizations to attend National Conferences. Also, this Division has requested
$20,000 for computer software and hardware that will allow permit tracking and plan review. It is
expected this will improve service to residents and increase the efficiency of the Division. One area
of concern, Mr. Bencic noted, is the operation of the pagers and radios. Currently this Division is
operating its pagers and radios on two different systems. The radios are part of the ESDA base
station which is an old unit for which replacement parts are unavailable and the pagers are part of
the Public Works System. The Public Works System does not have the capacity to handle all of the
Division's pagers. Therefore, there is a request in the 1994/95 budget for $10,000 to purchase a new
base station that will have the capacity to handle all car radios and pagers.
Mr. Bencic then presented the Environmental Health Division. This Division is responsible for
inspecting food establishments, multi -family housing units, day care centers and responding to service
requests. The Housing Code Inspector has found that due to the aging of the Village's housing stock,
the number of code violations is increasing. Demands for inspections, reinspections and the amount
of time spent in housing court does not permit him to respond adequately to the increasing demands.
Therefore, there is a request for one additional housing inspector for this Division. Mr. Bencic said
another inspector will allow the Village to more adequately enforce the existing inspection program.
Engineering Services is the third division in Inspection Services. This Division is requesting
reinstatement of the Traffic Engineer. Mr. Bencic explained that this position had been staffed in
the past but in 1992 the position was eliminated and the duties were absorbed by other employees
in the Engineering Division. However, the proposed increase in the street resurfacing and
reconstruction programs will not allow time for the present staff to continue to perform those duties.
The Traffic Engineer will perform traffic studies and review and improve traffic signals and street
lights and represent the Village in areas such as the current discussion concerning the widening of
Route 83.
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Included in the Capital Improvement budget is a request to update TOPO maps which are aerial
photographs of the Village. These maps are used for flood plain drainage studies and road projects.
The current maps were prepared in 1978. Since that time many areas such as Kensington Business
Center, Melas Park and Brentwood Subdivision have been developed and these new maps would
provide the staff with information representing current conditions.
There is also a request for a document scanner. Mr. Bencic explained that the division will be able
to scan plan drawings and graphics produced outside the system into the Village's CAD system. This
would save valuable staff time and keep our Village maps updated.
There was some discussion regarding how the Housing Code Inspector can enforce Village codes and
the need to give landlords some tools to help them work with the Village to solve overcrowding
problems in various apartment complexes.
John Engel questioned whether there were plans to raise building and permit fees. Mr. Janonis
responded that fees have not been increased for at least 6 years and before an increase is proposed,
staff will need to address some of the inconsistencies in the current fee structure.
Human Services Department
Human Services Director Nancy Morgan and Assistant Human Services Director Jan Abernethy
presented the Department's proposed 1994/95 budget. The Department has reorganized their
programs to reflect the services provided to residents in a more descriptive manner. The Department
has five major program areas: Social Services, Nursing/Health Services, Network 50 Program,
Senior Center Programs, and Blood Donor Program. The proposed budget of $464,625 is 16.07%
greater than the 1994/94 budget of $400,285.
Nancy Morgan discussed the significant changes in the Social Services program areas where proposed
expenditures for 1994/94 of $303,905 are $57,665 higher than in 1993/94. In response to special
needs identified in the past year or two, there is a request to increase the part-time bilingual social
worker to full-time status. Additionally, $20,000 has been included under contractual services to
allow funding for yet to be identified programs under Visions, the Village -wide organization formed
in response to the needs of the Southern area of the Village. Also, $16,500 is budgeted under
contractual services for Home Delivered Meals and $1,900 for the drivers who deliver the meals.
These two amounts are offset by the revenue received from the recipients of the meals.
Ms. Morgan also highlighted several of the "conservative yet innovative" programs available to
residents ranging in age from the very young to seniors.
The presentation prompted discussion as to gang presence and influence in the community and how
the Village responds to the gang situation. Ms. Morgan cited the after school programs and the
intergenerational/mentor program as examples of the Department's response to these issues.
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IV Finance Director's Re ort - -
After the budget presentation, Mr. Jepson distributed an article on Community based policing and
also a copy of the Police Department's monthly report for February.
V Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 p.m. The next meeting will be held on March 24 at 7:00 p.m.
At this meeting the members of the Finance Commission will identify and discuss significant issues
in the proposed budget and then make their recommendations to the Village Board.
CLW/sm
Respectfully submitted,
Carol L. Widmer, Assistant Finance Director
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