HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/09/1995 FC MinutesFINANCE CONEMSSION
Minutes of the Meeting
March 9, 1995
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. Those present included Chairman Richard Bachhuber,
Commission Members John Engel, Joe Etchingham, Vince Grochocinski, Newt Hallman, Jim
Morrison and Ann Smilanic. Also present were Finance Director David Jepson, Assistant Finance
Director Carol Widmer, and one member of the press. Commission member Tom Pekras arrived
at 7:25 p.m.
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The minutes of February 23 were accepted as presented.
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Fire Chief Ed Cavello began the presentation of the Fire Department's 1995 proposed budget of
$4,148,520. Chief Cavello discussed personnel changes and the restructuring that has taken place
in the Fire Department due to some recent retirements. The first restructuring was the assignment
of a staff officer to spend the majority of his work day involved in training. It has been a goal of
the Department for many years to have a training officer. Also, the Department was able to
decrease the number of sworn personnel to 67 by hiring another civilian fire inspector and
reassigning a fireman/inspector to full-time shift work.
Deputy Chief Del Ulreich discussed Fire Department operations and the capital expenditure portion
of the budget. Deputy Chief Ulreich explained that the proposed budget is a maintenance budget
which will continue to present levels of service.
A major purchase for the Department will be a new Fire squad truck. The Department is writing
specifications now and hopes to receive bids early in May with plans to take possession in the fall
of 1995.
Deputy Chief Ulmich reviewed overtime expenditures in the Department. The overtime for the
1994/95 fiscal year is higher than usual because of laws governing new hire procedures and duty
and non -duty injuries. Overtime is the result of sick time, duty time, injuries and school or training.
The current year has been the worst year for duty injuries since 1989. There were 21 shift days
used because of duty injuries in 1993 and 174 shift days used in 1994, and since school and training
are within the Department's control, school time was limited in 1994 to try to compensate for the
time lost due to duty injuries. The Department is constantly monitoring the use of overtime and will
try to continue to try to contain costs to the best of the Department's ability.
The Training Academy has been reinstated in the 1995 proposed budget with the goal to continue
the instruction in firefighting and hazardous materials courses. Another goal of the department for
the coming year is to continue to seek to identify land for a training burn site which would
eventually contain a drill tower and training center. The Department is currently investigating the
use of property in Melas Park for that purpose.
The Fire Prevention Bureau budget of $209,635 which represents about 5% of the total Fire
Department Budget, was presented by Deputy Chief Steve Dumovich. The Fire Prevention Bureau
which is made up of six members is responsible for fire inspections, fire investigations, public
education programs and reviewing construction plans. Goals of the Bureau for 1995 include making
contact with every citizen in Mount Prospect through local access cable and the print media. For
1995 the Bureau is working on a monthly cable television safety message and an expanded "open
house" to build on the very successful first open house last September.
Chief Cavello updated the members of the Finance Commission on the National Fire Service
Accreditation Program. The Program has completed its first major phase of application and testing
and while the final implementation phase of the project is still one year away the department plans
to use the coming year to develop a plan to determine the cost of the process and the value of the
benefits of accreditation. The Department plans to utilize the services of the summer intern in the
Fire Prevention Bureau to prepare the required cost benefit analysis.
The members of the Finance Commission asked several questions regarding the nature of the
Department's duty injuries as well as hiring procedures and departmental policy regarding light duty
assignments and the type of eligibility test given to applicants. In response to a question regarding
mutual aid agreements, Chief Cavello reported that the Village probably has the most mutual aid
agreements in the area and the Department is currently exploring some additional agreements.
Also, Finance Commission members wanted to know if current staff had to pass proficiency tests
yearly to be certain they are able to perform their duties. Chief Cavello said they did.
Additionally, the Finance Commission asked about the significant increase in fire calls in 1994. The
number increased from 1,154 in 1993 to 1,713 in 1994. Chief Cavello responded that they have
not been able to analyze the reasons for the increase.
The proposed 1995 Police Department Budget of $5,013,420 was presented by Police Chief Ron
Pavlock. Chief Pavlock explained that the 1995 budget reflects a "business as usual" approach to
providing police services to the community. The funds requested in the budget are those that are
needed to sustain current programs and strategies.
In 1994 the Department implemented a heightened enforcement strategy as one of the main
programs. A full-time tactical unit to enforce gang, alcohol and youth related offenses was
implemented. Also, there was increased emphasis in the patrol section on officer initiated
enforcement activities. This dual enforcement strategy resulted in 61% more moving violation
citations, 38% more DUI arrests and 34% more overall arrests. In 1995 these strategies will be
continued. Also in conjunction with these enforcement strategies the Department will continue to
participate in several interdepartmental and regional campaigns against gang and youth related
problems. Other Department initiatives include participation in NEMEG, which is a regional
enforcement group that combats gang and drug activity and also an area auto theft task force.
The proposed budget will also support several other projects planned for 1995. These include a
Police Sergeants promotional test, a five-year accreditation review and an updating of the
Department's training program. There are some new training requirements in the area of domestic
violence intervention, cultural diversity awareness, hate crimes investigation, use of force, and
pursuit driving that need to be incorporated into the program. Also, the Department plans to use
more in-house training to utilize certified instructors on staff which will result in a savings in
training costs.
The Police Department plans to make more use of computers in the areas of report writing,
inventory control, training and written directive distribution.
Proposed capital equipment replacements in 1995 include the replacement of the Police Department
squad cars for $240,000 and the beginning of a five-year plan to replace aging mobile data
terminals. The first five data terminal replacements at a cost of $26,500 are scheduled for 1995.
In the discussion that followed, Dick Bachhuber asked for an explanation of the increase in persons
arrested. A total of 2,306 were arrested in 1993 and 3,145 in 1994. Chief Pavlock explained that
the increase is in the area of felony crimes due to the zero tolerance of gang activity in Mount
Prospect.
In response to a question from Jim Morrison regarding the Crime Bill, Chief Pavlock responded that
Mount Prospect would receive approximately $25,000 per year for three years for each of two
officers Mount Prospect would be eligible to hire. The monies are to be used for community
policing activities.
Community Development Director Bill Cooney presented the proposed 1995 budget of $756,435.
Mr. Cooney explained that as of January 1, the Planning Department and the Inspection Services
Department were merged with the goal of improving services to the community. The plan is to
shorten and improve the plan review process and improve internal communications. The 1995
proposed budget includes the cost of a deputy director position that replaces the former position of
Director of Inspection Services. The Department is made up of three divisions: Planning Division,
Building Code Division and Environmental Health Division. The Planning Division administers
zoning and development codes to ensure orderly development within the Village. This division also
administers the Community Development Block Grant funds which provide social services programs
and single-family rehabilitation monies to the community. The economic development functions also
fall within this division and the 1995 proposed budget includes $17,500 for the development of a
comprehensive economic development strategy.
The Building Code Division performs plan reviews, inspections for new construction and remodeling
and responds to service requests.
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The Environmental Health Division inspects multi -family properties, restaurants and pools. This
division enforces the property maintenance codes of the Village that protect the health and well
being of residents.
The 1995 goals of the Department are to expand the economic development program by promoting
the Village within the commercial and industrial sectors. A portable display for trade shows has
already been purchased as part of that strategy. The Department will continue to implement the
permit tracking system which has recently been installed to streamline the permit process and
improve services to the community.
Commission Chairman Dick Bachhuber asked for information regarding available property left in
Mount Prospect for development. Mr. Cooney responded by stating there is a parcel called
Whispering Creek which is currently being developed with 15 homes but much of the remaining
property in the Village are fill-in parcels.
The number of reinspection required to bring properties up to code was discussed. Bob Roels, the
Environmental Health Coordinator, noted that the Village is reviewing the fee structure and ways
to cut down on the number of reinspections. One of the options being considered is currently used
in Oregon where a $50 per month administrative fee is imposed until compliance is reached.
Jim Morrison asked for information on the Insurance Services Organization (ISO) rating for
inspection services the Village will receive in 1997. Brad Paulsen, Building Inspection Coordinator,
explained that the Village has begun preparations for the review and expressed confidence that the
Village would receive a very good rating. Initially the rating will only affect insurance rates of new
construction.
The newt meeting is scheduled for March 23 at 7:00 p.m. at the Police and Fire Training Room.
The 1995 Budget for the Public Works Department will be presented. The meeting was adjourned
at 10:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted
Carol L. Widmer, Assistant Finance Director
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