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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/08/2005 COW minutes MINUTES COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE NOVEMBER 8, 2005 I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:11 p.m., in the Village Board Room of Village Hall, 50 South Emerson Street, by Mayor Irvana Wilks. Present at the meeting were: Trustees Timothy Corcoran, Paul Hoefert, John Korn, Richard Lohrstorfer, Michaele Skowron and Michael Zadel. Staff members present included: Village Manager Michael Janonis, Assistant Village Manager David Strahl, Fire Chief Michael Figolah, Deputy Fire Chief John Malcolm, Fire Marshal Paul Valentine, Battalion Chief Chris Truty, Human Services Director Nancy Morgan, Finance Director David Erb, Deputy Finance Director Carol Widmer, Police Chief Richard Eddington, Deputy Police Chief Michael Semkiu, Public Works Director Glen Andler, Deputy Public Works Director Sean Dorsey and IT Director Joan Middleton. II. MINUTES Approval of Minutes of October 25, 2005. Motion made by Trustee Korn and Seconded by Trustee Zadel. Minutes were approved. III. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD Wes Pinchot, 747 Whitegate, spoke. He stated that he feels the new sewer rate charge should be only applied to residents who are serviced by the combined sewer areas. He also felt that the water rate increase was a substantial burden for fixed income residents. He also stated that he felt that the garbage payment system as it exists today should remain the same. Village Manager Janonis stated it was difficult to apply individual costs to residents for services provided to the entire Village. It was also noted that the flood control costs were borne by all users of the system so this is a consistent application for all users to assist in payment of the combined sewer upgrades. Kathy Montalbano, 1185 Linneman, spoke. She was concerned that the individual billing of garbage will be an additional cost borne by the residents. Roger Kruse, 515 South Louis, spoke. He stated that the proposed increase in garbage costs are not going to be offset by the vehicle sticker elimination and is concerned by utility tax increase on higher bills this coming winter. 1 IV. 2006 BUDGET DISCUSSION Mayor Wilks provided some general opening remarks regarding the general process for discussion and the different options to pay for services. Village Manager Janonis provided an overview of the Budget. He stated that the operating budget includes a 5.2% increase with a proposed General Fund deficit of $1.1 million as presented. The additional staffing included in this budget proposal include five (5) Police Officers, three (3) Firefighters, one (1) position in Community Development and one (1) position in the IT Division. This includes no General Fund transfer to Capital Improvement Fund and currently there is approximately $2.95 million worth of capital projects that have been deferred. He stated the Refuse Levy does not cover the actual cost of the service which equates to approximately $709,000. The proposed revenue options raise approximately $1.8 million and address the deficits for the General Fund and Refuse. Police Department Overview Chief Eddington provided an overview of the Department including the review of the 2005 accomplishments and 2006 goals. He stated the budget includes a 10% increase which is primarily the cost of five new positions for the Traffic Unit. He stated 80% of this budget is wages and benefits. He stated the capital items that have been recommended included a mobile video recorder upgrade, a prisoner transport van and new office chairs. He also stated there is likely a Live Scan replacement on the horizon if grants become available. He stated in the future, he would like to discuss a neighborhood outreach presence with the Board and is in the process of working with the Fire Department on a Space Needs Study for the Public Safety Building. There was general discussion regarding the proposal of the additional Officers and the equipment related to the Traffic Unit start up. Chief Eddington stated the Traffic Unit assignments will be based on targeted enforcement needs. He also stated the prisoner transport vehicle would be a specialized vehicle with components unique to that operation. An inquiry was also made regarding the use of Officer Burrell's time relating to IT issues. The Chief stated that approximately 30% of Officer Burrell's time was related to IT issues within the Department. Fire Department Overview Chief Figolah provided an overview of the Department accomplishments and goals for 2006. He also highlighted the space needs issues of the Department. He stated that his budget includes an increase of 5.2% and that is primarily a result of the three additional Firefighters as proposed. He stated the additional Firefighters would allow the Department to run an additional engine. The engine would be staged out of the main downtown station. He stated that this should address the concern of automatic aid and response times which will be balanced with the addition. He also stated there will be an emergency training exercise in 2006. 2 '-"'--""""-'-'="---C--~---~~'-~~''''''~~""":~~'''''''"",,,,==~=.T;",==.~.':R''''_,,'.",_.,.."'.,',.e"_,_~--,'.=~,'=n'-=""=,,,=-=,,",,,-~_._",~___~__.~._..______~ Finance Department Overview Finance Director Erb provided a summary of the accomplishments and objectives for the Department. He stated his Department budget includes a 4.2% increase with the majority of the increase related to wages and benefits. He provided a summary of non- Department items and stated there are no significant changes in that budget. Summary of Debt Service Finance Director stated two General Obligation Bonds were paid off in 2005 and the debt as a percentage of the EAV stands at 3.1%. Pension BudQets Finance Director Dave Erb stated the pension budgets include a 4.25% increase in pension costs. Insurance BudQet Finance Director Dave Erb stated the insurance budget includes a 12% increase relating to liability insurance premiums and increases in Workers' Compensation claim costs. He is also proposing an inventory of fixed assets for the coming year. He stated the Mount Prospect Library budget was proposed with a 5% decrease in total budget with a General Fund budget increase of 7.8% with their portion of the Property Tax Levy amounting to 4.9% increase. VillaQe ManaQer's Office BudQet Overview Village Manager Janonis provided an overview and highlights of functions of the Village Manager's Office. The Village Manager's Office budget includes Public Representation, Village Manager's Office, Human Resources, Public Information, Television Services, Village Clerk and Information Technology. He said the overall increase in budget is related primarily to wages and benefits costs. There is also a position proposed for the IT Division. There was extensive discussion regarding the additional proposed position for the IT Division and how the various duties would be rearranged to improve operations of the IT Division. George Clowes, 604 South Elm, spoke. He felt the Village should pursue technological benefits without increasing staff and felt like the increase in productivity would be an outgrowth of technological benefits. He likes that the Village Board packets are on line, but staff have some issues and the 2006 budget was not on line. Finance Commission Recommendations Chuck Bennett, Chairman of the Finance Commission, spoke. He stated the Commission recommends postponing the Community Development and IT positions for 2006 and recommends an increase in the resident ambulance fee, an increase in the Motor Fuel Tax and do not want to change the garbage collection system nor eliminate the vehicle sticker. 3 ~"""""'"~'''''-'''~'=~:'-'-'--=~'__''~"~''''''''''=''.~'''.''-.".",o;:"""-"""""'''-'''''''''"'''''''''''''''''~'''':.r".~",="'.'='~-=''''''.",:,=-,.=""".,,._~,,,,,,,=,,",,,,,,,____~_~_.__.____.____ Ann Smilanic, of the Finance Commission, spoke. She stated she was concerned about the change in Village Board philosophy. The change in the garbage should be based on actual volume. Carol Tortorello, 223 South Elmhurst Avenue, spoke. She stated she feels the garbage collection should not be switched to a direct bill. Norma Morsca, 102 North Wille, spoke. She stated she has concerns about where the revenue from the General Fund is once it is generated through refuse collection. She also stated she has concerns about the toter use impact on senior citizens. George Clowes, 604 South Elm, spoke again. He stated the Village Board should look at head count and see where some reductions can be made. He stated the head count has increased by 20 people over the last 10 years and has concerns about adding the Community Development position. He also stated that he is concerned about the Village utilizing revenue from the TIF extension before the money is actually generated. John Kellerhals, Finance Commission, spoke. He stated that he wanted to thank the staff for their presentations in working with the Finance Commission during this past budget cycle. He also stated he feels the IT position should remain out of the 2006 budget for now. Village Manager Janonis stated there are several issues that are remaining including the need to address the General Fund deficit, the garbage collection system which will need to be discussed at the next available meeting. VIII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned into Closed Session at 11 :26 p.m. The meeting reconvened into Open Session at 11 :49 p.m. and immediately adjourned since there was no further business. d---~ s.-ttP DAVID STRAHL Assistant Village Manager DS/rcc 4 -""'~'~""'="'''''':':''''''='''''''''''~'''=~~.~=""===,.,.,,~=,,,=...,.,<,..~.~~.~~__~.~~""'~".~w~_~~______~