11/19/2002 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Council Minutes of 11/19/2002 3) The Park-N-Ride grand opening is scheduled for 11 a.m. on December 9. The ` completed capacity will be approximately 310 spaces. Currently, 160 to 180 spaces are being used. Councilwoman Kasler noted that she had asked at several meetings and had written a memo to the Mayor addressing the question of Council being fully prepazed with regard to the background of the appropriations when they are presented in December. Included as part of this would be information regazding administrative decisions concerning layoffs. Her questions were as follows: 1) If in fact there will be layoffs, how many will there be? 2) What positions will be affected? 3) What will be the affective dates of the layoffs? 4) What other avenues were pursued prior to considering layoffs? 5) What "new revenue sources" was the Mayor referring to other than a tax credit reduction and how much revenue will each of these new sources produce? 6) Specific information with regard to the $2.8 million deficit over the last year and into next yeaz. Mayor Musial said that seven layoff notices were issued for the following positions: Public Works Secretary I, Engineering Inspector, three Service Department employees, Corrections Officer, Police Department Secretary II. He cannot confirm if there will be further layoffs, but Council should have all the information for consideration the first part of December. The administration is undergoing a continuous attempt to reduce expenses throughout the budgetary process. The problem is the deficit is approximately two million dollars and the total percentage of wages in the General Fund is about 85%. There just isn't that much fat to trim from the General Fund, which means that new revenue sources must be found. Some avenues being explored include canceling existing coirtracts and doing projects in-house, increasing EMS fees, and reducing the tax credit. All the actions to reduce the deficit to this point, including the seven layoffs, have saved roughly $450,000. Mrs. Kasler reiterated how important it was far Council to be apprised of these issues. She asked who had authored the document titled "For Immediate Release, North Olmsted Projects $2 million Short-fall for 2043." Mayor Musial said he had authored it, but questions regarding the figures contained in it should be addressed to the Finance Director. Councilman Miller noted that he had made a public records request from the Mayor for the applications submitted for the positions of Safety Director and Service Director. He initially received only the applications for Service Director. After a second request, he was advised by the Mayor that there were no separate applications for the Safety Director position. In light of this, he asked the Mayor if no one had applied for the position of Safety Director. Mayor Musial answered that he didn't request anybody to send any applications for Safety Director because he was impressed with the resume that Mr. Jesse had submitted for the Service Director position. Mr. Miller asked the Mayor if his mind had been made up to the Safety Director's position or any other director's position prior to applications being submitted. The Mayor said his mind is always open to all applications that have been submitted. He has the responsibility, in is mind and his opinion, to choose the best qualified person for that particular position. Mr. Miller questioned how the Mayor could have an open mind for a position when there wasn't an open application process. ,n.d 2