minfin 11-27-23 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE November 27, 2023 Auditorium Present: Councilmembers Shachner, Kepple, Bullock so: Mayor George, Law Director Vargo, Finance Director Rancatore, Assistant Finance Al Directors Eddy & Schuster, Councilmembers Marx, Baker & Rader, Council Staff, Planning Director Leininger, Development Officer Dan Wyman, CAC Chair Maureen Dostal, Fire Chief Dunphy, Police Chief Fischer, President Litten (6:23 p.m. -7:00 p.m.) Call to Order: 5:55 p.m. th Consideration of the minutes of the November 20Finance Committee meeting Motion was made by Chair Shachner and seconded by Councilmember Kepple. Councilmembers Shachner and Kepple voted in favor. Councilmember Bullock absent. Minutes approved. Bullock absent *** Law Dept Budget Presentation Director Vargo shared reflections on his first year on the job as Law Director and thanked everyone for their support and patience. In relation to the budgeted salaries, Director Vargo highlighted the work of the prosecutor’s office and explained their roles and responsibilities. He touted the important roles and achievements of both new and senior staff. Director Vargo shared that the department has successfully contained costs of outside legal fees and attributed much of this to the addition of one staff person who has skills and experience with contract writing in the planning and development field. In response to questions, Director Vargo clarified that the new staff member is part time and accounts for much of the increase in the salary line item. In response to a question, the committee and Director Vargo discussed the professional services line item. Director Vargo explained that some outside counsel expenses, such as those related to employment matters and the Marine Towers garage collapse, come out of this line item. However, he noted that outside counsel related to development agreements will usually come out of the professional services line item in the Planning Department budget. Councilmember Bullock requested a tally of all spending on outside legal counsel city-wide. In response to a question, Director Vargo discussed the implementation of new software intended to help the department keep up with the legal notification requirements of Marcy’s law. The software will cost between $12,000 and $14,000 to roll out and will come out of the IT budget. 1