Laserfiche WebLink
t`: <br />Councfl Mfnutes of 8/5/2008 <br />Councilman Barker made a friendly amendment to the Mayor's report noting that <br />Council Member Dailey Jones was in attendance at the RTA meeting last night. Mayor <br />O'Grady apologized as he had not seen her. <br />Councilman Ryan reported that a Ward I resident had spent an extensive amount of time, <br />pursuant to a request from the Service Director, looking at Porter Road traffic, <br />specifically illegal truck traffic. He will provide the information to the Service Director <br />but wanted to publicly recognize the work and effort of the resident. Mayor O'Grady <br />thanked him for that information and said it would be an enforcement issue and the <br />information would be shared with the Safety Director. He noted it is sometimes difficult <br />to tell whether trucks have a legitimate purpose to be on the street by making a delivery <br />or pick-up. This will be looked into. <br />Councilman Gareau said he had not been aware of the six employee retirements and <br />asked the Mayor to identify the divisions or groups. Mayor O'Grady answered it was <br />WWTP personnel, Service personnel, and clerical staff. <br />Councilman Gareau inquired as to how many of the employees would be replaced. <br />Mayor O'Grady said he is looking across the city at all positions. Everything is on the <br />table; everything is being reviewed. <br />Councilman Gareau noted with the consideration of the alternative tax budget legislation, <br />2008-97, and transfer ordinance, 2008-98, he wanted to know if the Mayor could <br />schedule time in the near future to brief Council on where the status of this review is <br />because we are in August. With Mrs. Copfer's suggestion, we have possibly a million to <br />a million and a half dollars to make up for next year's budget. And the temporary <br />appropriations will need to be completed before the beginning of the year. How soon <br />before Council will get brought into the loop on that? Mayor O'Grady answered he <br />anticipates between 1.2 and 1.5 million dollars in expense that we must reduce for next <br />year. The administration is not simply looking at individual positions but is looking <br />across the entire horizon at everything we do. They are looking at potential for increased <br />revenue. Where is it that revenue opportunities exist and we are not taking advantage of <br />it? Where is it that we should be changing some of our costs/fees to make sure they aze <br />current? City government is a service industry. By far, the largest cost far a service <br />industry is people and the programs-medical benefits etc. They know the change must <br />happen. With regard to the specific personnel issues, absolutely he would be happy at <br />some point to sit down with Council and talk about that. <br />Councilman Gareau said he hoped it would be sooner rather than later because the <br />transfer ordinance deals with some issues of pay increases for individuals. Speaking for <br />himself, he would want to know where the city stands in terms of our overall financial <br />health going into the next year before he would consider-no matter how well deserving <br />they may be-a suggestion of a pay increase mid-year for staff when he doesn't know <br />whether the city is going to be looking at a situation of possible layoffs or possible tax <br />increases or service charges for residents. He doesn't have any clue what direction we <br />might be going. He would like to have that one bit of information before Council is able <br />4 <br />~., , .> .. L.:~,,~~,x <br />