WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2008

REGULAR MEETING

7:00 P.M.

1. ROLL CALL. Mrs. Hammond called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M., with roll call as follows: Mr. Sabatino, Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Smith, Mr. Fix, Mr. Sauer, and Mrs. Sanders were present. Mr. Wisniewski was absent due to vacation. Others present were Tim Hansley, Lynda Yartin, Linda Fersch, and others.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF February 20, 2008, Regular Meeting. Mr. Smith moved to approve; Mr. Fix seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Fix, Mr. Sabatino, Mr. Smith, Mr. Sauer, and Mrs. Sanders voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 6-0.

3. FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

A. Finance Director’s Report. Mrs. Fersch stated she had provided a written report to the Committee and she would be happy to answer any questions. Mr. Fix stated he saw our annual cost is $89,000 and Mrs. Fersch stated it will continue to go up as it will increase at least three percent next year. Mr. Fix stated he would like to know the value of the return we get for that $89,000 and what alternatives do we have. Mr. Fix stated he was not looking for an answer this evening, but would like to have Mrs. Fersch start looking at this so as the expense subcommittee starts looking at this area they would have more information. Mrs. Fersch stated we are required to file a Tax Budget and she will begin working on that soon as it must be adopted by July 15^th and filed with the County Auditor by July 19^th. Mr. Hansley stated the Tax Budget is considered a meaningless process by most cities; it is a requirement of the statute that we file it, and with counties that have a formula it makes very little difference. He stated, however, this year Council could chose to use it as the first step in the process of letting people know that we are looking at tight revenues and increasing expenses.

B. Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance amending the 2008 appropriation, Ordinance 2007-85. Mrs. Fersch stated she submitted a draft appropriation ordinance to the Committee for review. She stated she was requesting an increase of $25,000 in the General Fund, Engineering Department, Contractual Services. Mrs. Hammond clarified we pay the engineer to do the work, however, we then charge the developer that same amount. Mrs. Fersch stated she was requesting an increase of $2,310 in Planning & Zoning Personal Services. In the Sewer Debt Retirement Fund she was requesting an increase of $1,855.64. Mrs. Fersch stated she was requesting an increase of $42,000 each in the Street Fund, Water Fund, Sewer Fund, Stormwater Fund, and Municipal Facilities Impact Fee Fund as their share of the cold storage building project. Mrs. Fersch further stated she was requesting an increase of $77,834 in the Sewer Repair and Replacement Fund for the Hill Road South sanitary sewer project. Mr. Fix moved to approve the appropriations as presented on the draft ordinance and forward to Council; Mr. Sabatino seconded the motion. Mrs. Fersch stated she may need an appropriation for repair of the culvert on Meadows Blvd., and Mr. Hansley stated the culvert must be replaced this year and he would recommend $200,000 be appropriated for this project. Mr. Fix clarified part of the money would come from the Stormwater Fund and part from General Fund. Mrs. Hammond stated the culvert may have to be repaired on an emergency basis. Mr. Sabatino stated however without knowing if it were an emergency or not, he did have an issue with approving something at the last minute and that may not be a true emergency. Mr. Hansley stated this has been discussed at Service Committee. Mr. Sabatino stated once there is more information he would consider this issue. Roll call was taken with Mr. Sauer, Mr. Fix, Mrs. Sanders, Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Sabatino voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 6-0.

4. PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT:

A. Personnel Director’s Report. Mrs. Fersch stated she had provided a written report, and she would answer any questions.

B. Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance amending the Employee Pay Plan and Authorized Strength for 2008. Mrs. Fersch stated the pay plan needs to be updated to include the positions for pool managers and the 35 positions for cashiers, lifeguards, etc., at the pool. She stated she is putting these under the Seasonal Recreational Assistants 2 and 1 where she has the playground people. She stated she had provided a new page 1 of the pay plan to the Committee this evening as the pool managers might need a little more money. She stated she was requesting the hiring range for the Assistant 2 be increased from $9.00-$13.00 to $9.00 to $15.00. Mr. Hansley stated we had also learned from the previous owners that they had provided a free family pass to the pool managers and we have decided not to follow that policy because that opened the door for other employees to request either a discounted or free pass. Mr. Sauer ascertained this was still in line with the budget that had been presented to this Committee. Mr. Fix further clarified these were seasonal positions. Mr. Fix moved to approve and forward to Council; Mrs. Sanders seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mrs. Sanders, Mr. Sauer, Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Sabatino, Mr. Fix, and Mr. Smith voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 6-0.

5. CHAIRMAN: Mrs. Hammond stated she had nothing to bring forward this evening.

6. OTHER BUSINESS:

A. Township Trustees Meeting – Update. Mr. Sauer stated he had missed the Trustees meeting as he had attended the Rules Committee meeting that night.

B. Pickerington Local School District Board Meeting – Update. Mrs. Sanders stated the School Board was currently in the process of hiring principals for the new schools that have been named Sycamore Creek Elementary, Tollgate Elementary, and Tollgate Middle School.

C. Request for motion to adjourn into two subcommittees to review City of Pickerington Income and Expenses. Mrs. Hammond moved to adjourn into subcommittees; Mr. Fix seconded the motion. Mr. Sabatino inquired if the Finance Committee will always reconvene after the subcommittees meeting. Mrs. Hammond stated in the future the Finance Committee will adjourn prior to the subcommittee meetings, but this evening as the subcommittees will have their organizational meeting, when Finance reconvenes that information will go on the record. Roll call was taken with Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Fix, Mr. Smith, Mr. Sabatino, Mrs. Sanders, and Mr. Sauer voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 6-0.

Finance Committee adjourned into the Expense and Income Subcommittee meetings at 7:38 P.M. and reconvened in open session at 8:20 P.M.

Mrs. Hammond stated the Income Subcommittee has selected Mrs. Sanders as Chairman and will meet following each Finance Committee meeting until further notice.

Mr. Fix stated the Expense Subcommittee has selected Mr. Fix as Chairman and will meet twice each month, both immediately following the Rules Committee meeting and the Finance Committee meeting until further notice. Mr. Fix also stated they would like the April Rules Committee to start at 7:00 P.M.

7. MOTIONS:

A. Motion for Executive Session under Section 121.22(G)(1)b, Matters involving an employee’s or public official’s employment, Section 121.22(G)(2), Purchase or sale of public property, Section 121.22(G)(3), Conference with law director regarding pending or imminent court action, and Section 121.22(G)(4), Matters involving bargaining sessions with public employees. Mrs. Hammond stated the Executive Session was not necessary this evening.

8. ADJOURNMENT. There being nothing further, Mr. Smith moved to adjourn; Mr. Fix seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Smith, Mr. Fix, Mr. Sabatino, Mr. Sauer, and Mrs. Sanders voting "Aye." Motion carried, 6-0. The Finance Committee adjourned at 8:25 P.M., March 19, 2008.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

________________________________

Lynda D. Yartin, Municipal Clerk