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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/14/1980 FC Minutesr3 Village of Mount Prospect 100 S. Emerson Mount Prospect, Illinois 60056 TO: Mayor and Board of Trustees FROM: Ed Miller, Chairman Finance Committee DATE: October 17, 1980 Re Minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting October 14, 1980 Chairman Miller called the meeting to order at 8:00 P.M. Present were Chairman Ed Miller, Trustees E. F. Richardson and T. J. Wattenberg, Village Manager Terrance L. Burghard, Director of Management Services Martha H. Peppler, members of the Public and Press. Assistant Village Manager Edward A. Geick arrived at 9:15. Le a� l Fee and Case Update Mrs. Peppler presented a report which stated that the attorneys will provide the Board with bi-monthly case status reports beginning in October. To update the status report which had been provided to the auditors in August, it was reported that a number of cases either had been settled or are in the process of settling in the past three months. These include; Harris Trust & Savings (Fanslow); Metropolitan Sanitary District; Wheeling Trust and Savings (Brickman); Di Mucci water bill suit. Trustee Wattenberg commented that he wouldm.like_to see further study of the way in which legal counsel is utilized; he wants to pay for results, not just activities. At his suggestion, Mr. Richardson agreed to discuss in the Legislative and Judiciary Committee the possibility of filing counter claims to recover administrative and legal expenses from those who sue the Village frivolously. It was noted that the expenditures for legal services are very close to budget; the Ccmmittee suggested that some thought should be given at budget time to returning to in-house counsel. Li or License Fee Discussion The Committee considered the recommendation by the Finance Commission and the follow-up report by the Village Manager to increase liquor license fees. It was noted that no representative of the liquor license holders was present at the beginning of the meeting. The Chamber of Commerce had forwarded a letter stating that the increase seemed high. - 2 - Chairman Miller expressed his desire to give all of`those affected a fair chance to be heard by the Committee. He asked to continue this matter until the November 11, 1980 Finance Committee Meeting to allow for further input. The staff is to notify the Chamber of Commerce and each license holder of this opportunity to discuss the proposed increase with the Committee. At 8:35 the Committee noted that Rick Martin of the Cha ler of Commerce had arrived. Mr. Miller re -opened discussion on the liquor license fee increase. Mr. Martin complimented the Committee on the thorough report; he recognized that the liquor fees are lower than in some communities. He indicated that while he understood the need for some increase, he suggested that perhaps the increase could be made gradually., The Committee invited Mr. Martin to attend the November 11, 1980 meeting for further discussion. Elected Officials Salaries This item is continued from the February, 1980 Finance Committee Meeting for further discussion and action at this time. The time frame for any changes to these salaries is not before November 4, 1980 and not after December 4, 1980; no change has been made to Trustee's salaries for nine years; no change in the Mayor/Liquor Commissioner's salary since 1972. Trustee Wattenberg commented that he felt that these salaries should be increased to attract candidates. Trustee Richardson supports some increase because he feels that salaries should cover all incidental expenses that a trustee may incur during the course of his duties for the Village. Chairman Miller did not feel that an increase was necessary because being a Village Trustee is the kind of job that the remuneration is unimportant; the kind of job you would do for nothing. Trustees Wattenberg and Richardson suggested that the salaries of the Mayor, Liquor Commissioner, and Trustees all be increased by $25.00 per month/$300.00 per year. The new salaries would be $2,300/year of Mayor; $2,300/year for Liquor Commissioner; and $1,500/year for Trustees. The Committee will report out on this 2 to 1 recommendation at the next Board Meeting. Bud et Procedure Discussion Chairman Miller asked that the employee benefits be discussed in executive session. - 3 - The Committee and staff freely discussed the budget process and the alternative approachs for presentation and consideration for the FY 1981-82 Budget. It was agreed by the Committee that they did not want a detail dis- cussion, page by page, of the budget this year; they also did not think that it was necessary for each department to do a presentation before the Board.: Rather the Committee wants to see the whole finan- cial picture for next year in a succinct format with the opportunity to discuss service levels'impacts of any changes to the status quo. It was suggested that the Manager prepare a Budget -in -Brief for dis- cussion with the Board in January. Based on the direction that the staff receives from these discussions, the final budget document will be prepared for final passage by the Board. The Committee felt 'strongly that the individual line -item decisions are best left to the Manager and his staff, while the Board should be concerned with the impact of their decisions on service levels and long range planning. Chairman Miller asked Village Manager Burghard to outline this pro- posed budget process for the Board and to include that outline as part of the minutes of this meeting. The Committee will report out on this recommendation and outline at the next Board Meeting. Chairman Miller noted that he hoped the Library would provide their audit to the Village as soon as it was available. This request had been communicated to the Library Board and Staff. The Committee adjourned to executive session to discuss benefits. The Committee adjourned this meeting at 10:15.