03/24/2004 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Special Council Minutes of 3/24/2004 revenue page reflects a carryover amount of $1.7 million from 2003, approximately $1 million of which is attributed to unexpended operating funds and $700,000 is attributed to excess in revenue over and above the estimated revenues projected for the year. This raised several questions and some philosophical differences regarding the size of the carryover and the makeup of that figure. Some members of Council were satisfied with that carryover while others questioned the size: first, as it reflects underestimated revenue; second, as it reflects overestimated operating costs. Council considered this figure in analyzing this year's appropriations for areas where operating requests are possibly higher than necessary, and that would be reflected in the changes that were made. With regard to the capital improvements, they are as presented by the administration including asphalt resurfacing projects, to include Butternut Ridge, Louis Drive, Grace Road, Theresa and Charles; concrete slab repairs that include Sandy Ridge, North Park Estates and various other locations such as Southern Avenue, Country Club and Industrial Parkway. City projects in general are Bradley Road concrete sidewalks and the ADA ramps at various locations. The city and county projects underway are rehabilitation of Claque Road north of Lorain and Claque Road north of Lorain widening at the Delmere area. In equipment purchases, a 2'/z ton dump truck. The grand total is $1,250,000. There was much discussion on the capital improvements, some disagreement by some Council members with regard to Sandy Ridge and North Park Estates approach to slab repair and as to whether or not both of those should be addressed over a period of several years or whether one should be completed first and another one addressed as far as it could go. It will proceed as recommended. • February 25. The Safety Department budget was discussed. • February 26 was a meeting of note with regard to changes that were made. Present were committee members Kasler, Gareau and Limpert; President O'Grady; the Mayor, directors of Finance, Service and Law; guests. Council and the office of the Mayor were discussed. The majority of the discussion revolved around wages. It was noted for the record that elected officials to include the Mayor in this case and the President of Council and others were addressed as they appeared in the budget have wage line items which reflected not only the 27a' pay but also a pay raise as prescribed by ordinance. Council-at-large has no pay raises, which was addressed in legislation passed at the appropriate time before the election. The group of three Council-at-large members did that with the intention of running for the position, so they were considering that they would not get a pay raise and that was acceptable to them. Although the Ward Council members, the Mayor, President of Council and other elected officials are awarded raises by legislation, it has been discussed and determined that it can be voluntarily returned. During difficult times, an argument was made in this meeting that in fact it should be. Councilman Limpert asked that it be a choice made privately by each individual, and President O'Grady continued to make the comment that it's legislated and elected officials have to take the money. The information systems department was discussed, and there was a significant reduction in the line items in that area. Anew system is being irnroduc~ with new people involved. Council reduced by about $20,000 the proposed appropriations in those line items basically because it was an unsure area. There were figures put in that were definitely estimated figures; and, in the agreement with the Finance Duector, 2