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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/11/1986 COW MinutesMINUTES COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MARCH 25, 1986 I. ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. Present at the meeting were: Mayor Carolyn H. Krause; Trustees Ralph Arthur, Gerald Farley, Leo Floros, Norma Murauskis, George Van Geem and Theodore Wattenberg. Also present at the meeting were. Village Manager Terrance Burghard, Assistant to the Village Manager Michael Janonis, Research Assistant Michael Steklac, Director of Finance David Jepson, Fire Chief Lawrence P'airitz and Deputy Fire Chief Edward Cavello. Also present was one person from the -print media and eight persons in the audience. II. MINUTES IV. The Minutes of the Committee of the Whole meeting of March 11, 1986 were accepted and filed. OPENING REMARKS Mayor Carolyn Krause addressed fellow Board members, those citizens present at the meeting and those watching the Budget Hearing on cable television as to the philosophy of the Board with regard to televising the Budget Hearings. Mayor Krause also indicated that those citizens at home watching the broadcast could phone in any questions they had regarding any aspect of Village operations and that they would, receive a prompt response. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD There being no citizens present desiring to be heard, the Committee moved on to the next item of business. V. 1986-1987 BUDGET HEARING Village Manager Terrance Burghard gave a brief budget overview indicating that the total 1986-1987 budget was increasing some 4.17% and amended the total to $26,841,945. During the past year, the Village had successfully completed a number of projects that should be used as a measure of success in the Village carrying out the objectives of the Mayor and the Board. Included in these projects were computerized Police and Fire dispatching, the acquisition of Lake water, the establishment of a Tax Increment Financing District, the completion of sewer improvements, an increased paving program, the establishment of an Arts Council and the maintenance of a stable tax rate. Fire De artment. Fire Chief Lawrence Pairitz along with Deputy Fire Chief Ed Cavello presented their budget request to the Mayor and Board of Trustees. The proposal represents a 3.02% increase over last year and amounts to $3,268,960. Chief Pairitz reviewed the major new requests in the Fire Department budget which included the addition of three firefighter/paramedics and the replacement of a 1951 pumper truck. The Chief indicated that the additional manning request was due in total to the increased overtime requirements experienced by the Fire Department as the result of the Fair Labor Standards Act. It was noted that the Village had not added additional firefighting staff since 1974. Chief Pairitz noted that during the initial training period of these new firefighter/paramedics that the Village would not experience any, benefit in reducing hirebacks to cover minimum manning requirements. It was shown that there would be a net cost of approxi- mately 4,000 to the Village during the first year of implementation but that the Village would experience a net savings of $15,000 in reduced hireback pay due to the addition of three new men. These savings were expected to continue in the following years. Chief Pairitz also indicated that as part of the planned Capital Equipment Replacement Program in the Fire Department, the 1951 pumper was scheduled for replacement duri�gsbe e 1986-1987 fiscal year. Chief Pairitz pointed out that this reserve pumper ha built twice by Fire Department personnel and that while still operationalcomingexcessively expensive to maintain because of the scarcity of parts. It was the Chief's hope that the new pumper could be bid on a joint basis by several communities thereby resulting :in a per unit savings to the individual municipalities. Deputy Chief Edward Cavello reviewed with Committee members the various operations of the Fire Department. In the area of fire suppression, the Fire Department responded to 1,059 alarms and estimated that fire loss in the Village in 1985 was approximately $878,000. It was happily reported that there was no loss of life during 1985 due to fire emergencies. Deputy Chief Cavello reported that the Department received 2,449 calls for emergency medical services of which 567 were classified as advanced life support. Additionally, the Fire Department's hazardous material- response team continued its training and preparation of disaster response plans in anticipation of future occurrences. It was also reported that the Code Enforcement Division continues its activities of plan review, landlord/tenant inspections, on-site construction inspections and fire safety inspections. This latter task is carried out with the help of on -duty fire personnel. Discussion among Committee members was complimentary of Chief Pairitz's overall operation of the Fire Department and his ability to retain Mount P'rospect's Class III fire rating. Mayor Krause asked that Chief Pairitz and his staff prepare an assessment of the impact that the potential development of the did Orchard Golf Course would have on the Village's fire service abilities. Mayor Krause ,also wished to explore the possibility of taking over the duties of the Elk Grove Rural Fire Protection District as it serves areas to the south of Mount Prospect. - 2 - The Mayor and the Board of Trustees discussed in detail the staffing request for three additional firefighters and the justification for that request. Chief Pairitz pointed out that the request was made in an effort to reduce some of the increased overtime experienced as a result of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The Chief pointed out that these three personnel would not do away with the need to hireback officers to maintain minimum manning levels but that it would result in a real net reduction in hireback expense and maintain the required flexibility for scheduling. Trustee Floros indicated his reservation about the increase in the number of people admitting that he had not heard from the residents that there was any great need for additional fire service. Mayor Krause and the remaining Trustees indicated their general approval of the additional staff request. Other Agencies Requests. The Mayor and Board of Trustees next took up the question of funding requests by community and civic organizations. Trustee Farley reviewed with the Mayor and his fellow Trustees his recommendations for the funding of the various groups seeking funds. The consensus of the Mayor and Board of Trustees for funding was as follows: Arts Council of Mount Prospect Mount Prospect Historical Society (Trustees requested that future funding for the Historical Society be placed on an upcoming Committee of the Whole meeting for detailed discussion.) Downtown Development Prospective Northwest Community Services Omni House (Trustees Arthur and Murauskis voted for no funding) Shelter, Inc. Miscellaneous Community Service Organizations (It was the consensus of the Mayor and the Board that this money be added to the Human Services budget in the area of additional home nursing care for Mount Prospect residents) $4,000 5,500 0 12,000 (Housing) 13,566 (Transportation - Roll -over from previous year for ridership purposes only) 4,000 7,500 6,500 Funding for annual Festival activities including the Memorial Day Parade, Fourth of July Celebration, Hometown Days and Christmas decorations were approved as proposed by staff. Trustee Farley asked that at a future Committee of the Whole, the Board might consider possible long-term funding sources for outside civic and community organizations such as the addition of one or two cents to the Tax Levy to raise funds specifically for these sources. - 3 - MISCELLANEOUS BUDGET DISCUSSION Upon finishing their initial review of the proposed 1986-1987 Budget, the Mayor and Board of Trustees turned to a general discussion of the Budget as a whole. Trustee Ralph Arthur suggested that Board members consider reducing the alloca- tion for gasoline by approximately $21,000 to more accurately reflect the price trends in the marketplace. The consensus of the Mayor and Board of Trustees was to reduce the per gallon allocation from $1.05 to 90 cents per gallon. Trustee Arthur also suggested that since the Police Pension Fund was currently funded at approximately 112% that any Tac Levy for the Fund for 1986-1987 was unnecessary. He, therefore, suggested that the Levy of approximately $128,000 be removed from the Budget. After general discussion, there was a consensus that the Tax Levy for the Police Pension Fund contribution for 1986-1987 be deleted from the Budget. VI. MANAGER'S REPORT Village Manager Terrance Burghard reported that LAKE MICHIGAN WATER continues to flow at 100% throughout Mount Prospect and that the system was encountering no serious problems. Mr. Burghard did report that he had received a number of complaints for rusty water and a strong taste of chlorination but that selective flushing by Public Works personnel had appeared to relieve those condi- tions. Additionally, Mr. Burghard reported that Property acquisition continued in the TAX INCREMENT FINANCING DISTRICT and that staff was completing preparation of a list of issues which needed to be discussed by the Mayor and Board of Trustees with regard to the future direction of the project. Mr. Burghard indicated that this discussion should be properly held in Executive Session and indicated that he would schedule such a session at the next available meeting. VII. ANY OTHER BUSINESS Trustee Leo Floros raised the following issues: 1. He asked that the Mayor and Board of Trustees reconsider their decision on the Busse School Parking Lot. He stated that the Board's recent decision voting down a proposed parking lot at the site did not do anything to solve the parking problem at the site. Trustee Floros asked that this item be placed on the next available Committee of the Whole Agenda and that School Board officials be invited to discuss this item in detail. 2. Trustee Floros also asked that the Public Works Facility Report be distributed to the Plan Commission, Finance Commission and the Business District Development and Redevelopment Commission so that the Board might get some feedback from citizens. -4- `Trustee Ted Wattenberg asked that the Mayor and Board of Trustees consider and push for a settlement in the Vistas of Old Orchard case. VIII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come. before the Committee of the Whole, the meeting was adjourned at 10:16 p.m. Respectfully submitted, MICHAEL E. JANONIS Assistant to the Village Manager MEJ/rcw miz