08/26/2002 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Special Council Minutes of 8/26/2002 transferring a fourth person to the Wastewater Treatment Plam at this time. The motion was seconded by Councilman Gareau. Finance Director Copfer clarified that, of the $56,000 Adelphia monies, $25,616 is a portion of it and $12,500 is a portion of it. Discussion on the amendment began with Councilman Limpert commeirting that he has had conversations with various people in the Wastewater Treatmem Plant as to what their needs are to accomplish the task that is before them when it comes to ditch cleaning and the like. They are very desirous of having this fourth person transferred down there so that they can do a much more effective job of what needs to be done. Although everyone wants to do everything possible to keep sewer rates down, he also does not want to have flooded basemerrts. It doesn't seem reasonable to have a crew that should be staffed with at least four people to have only three. He made reference to a letter received from the AFL/CIO, which recommended the transfer one more Service Department employee to the storm water crew. Councilman Dailey asked for clarification by Mrs. Kasler that her proposal was to keep this person in the Service Department position for the remainder of this year. Mrs. Kasler said that was correct, the $12,500 would retain the person in the Service Department for the remainder of the year. Council will further discuss the transfer of that fourth person to the Wastewater Treatment for 2003 as more information is needed since three employees were transferred earlier. in the year and Council was told that the three were going to be sufficient. Under the present budget constrains, it would be more appropriate to maintain that position in the Service Department. Also, it should be kept in mind that because someone goes to one department to provide better service doesn't mean that they're not providing service right where they are. The city certainly needs people in the Service Department to attend to all the other service issues that the city has before them. Mr. Gareau agreed that it would be beneficial to discuss this transfer so that some questions that remain unanswered can be addressed. Councilman Miller said that he too had heard that the Wastewater Treatment Plant would like a fourth person. He's also heard comments that the people who are to be cleaning the ditches are still spending a sigtificant amount of time with Springvale. In the report recently received from Costin & Company, it was indicated that a better tracking method be used as to how the city uses personnel paid from the Sewer Revenue Fund on other projects, not just Springvale. He anticipates that Mrs. Copfer or the administration will be preparing some sort of log that will meet those requirements because he does not want the Sewer Revenue Fund to have a raid on it. Regarding the letter referred to by Mr. Limpert, it is signed by one individual who is a residerrt of the city. However, he does not know that was necessarily the consensus of all the union members and he does not know that the author of the letter has been here throughout the discussions on this whole situation. But seeing how some Council members weren't informed as to some of the numbers that are being addressed this evening, he does not know if that person is completely informed. President O'Grady commerned that the he would like to focus on the issues. Mr. Miller said he was focusing on the issues and asked whether he had the floor. Presidem O'Grady said no. Mr. Miller challenged the decision of the chair, and the challenge was seconded by Mr. Gareau. Mrs. Kasler called for the question. Mr. O'Grady corrtinued to explain his position. At this pourt, there was a lively discussion as to how to proceed and whether or not the vote should be taken without comments from the chair. Several Council members believed that the challenge to the chair stops all