06/17/2003 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Minutes 6/17/2003 extension. A copy of the 2003 State of the Region report from NOACA and some other w~ materials are available in the Council office for anyone who is interested. 2) Also on June 13, on behalf of the Mayor and the citizens of North Olmsted, he presented a proclamation honoring the United States Army's 228 birthday at a ceremony held on Public Square. The proclamation recognized the Army's birthday on June 14 and also dedicated this week as United States Army Week in the City of North Olmsted. 3) On June 10, a meeting of the Committee-of--the-Whole was held. Present were the President of Council; Council Members McKay, Nashar, Limpert, Kasler, Miller, Gareau; Mayor Musial, Finance Director Copfer, Safety Director Jesse, Personnel Director Farver, City Engineer Durbin, Assistant Building Commissioner Rymarczyk, Animal Warden Ward. At issue was the question of the city planning director and a property maintenance inspector. Regarding the planning director, Councilman Gareau noted that the cost to fill this position on an annual basis would be $66,000 in salary plus benefits which include heahh care and PERS, the public employee retirement system. These benefits account for an additional 25% to the cost of the salary. Total cost for a year would be on the order of $82,500. Since at least half of the year will be gone, it was determined that about $40,000 would be needed to finance the planning director for the balance of this year. In consultation with the Finance Director, Councilman Gareau pointed out that we have that amount set aside now in the form of $35,000 from outside services, which is dedicated to be used to pay for the city master plan update. The master plan update would become the responsibility of the planning director. Also, $5,000 which is set aside for the Planning Commission for a similar purpose is available. Extensive discussion followed as to whether we will have the money to continue to employ the planning director in 2004, and the conclusion is that we don't know. There are too many variables in the mix right now to make that determination. Councilman Limpert suggested the combination of the property maintenance inspector with the planning director, a suggestion which was supported by Councilwoman Kasler. But others questioned the idea. Councilman Nashar disagreed stating that the planning director would not have enough time to perform both functions. Assistant Building Commissioner Rymarczyk stated that the position of the Building Dept. was that any new property maintenance inspector double as a building inspector, so that both functions could be fulfilled when the need existed. President of Council O'Grady suggested bringing someone in on a part time basis for the remainder of this year as the planning director then looking again to next year on a part-time basis if the economic picture does not improve. The idea of contracting with a private firm to perform this function was also discussed. Finance Duector Copfer pointed out that we are weak in the area of apartment licensing, which if strengthened, would bring in more revenues to support the joint position of building inspector/property maintenance inspector. She further stated that the Building Commissioner Conway has commented to her that he wants this joint position. An extensive discussion followed regarding where we are now financially and where we expect to be at the end of the year. Right now, our revenues are about $30,000 better than expected while our expenses are about even. The conclusion was reached that, although some areas are stronger than projected, others are weaker and we cannot judge at this point precisely where we are going to be at the end of 2003. The Committee-of- the-Whole made the following two recommendations. First, that the city explore the ~~ possibility of combining the positions of building inspector with property maintenance :~ 6