PICKERINGTON CITY COUNCIL

CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2009

7:15 P.M.

PUBLIC HEARING

OPEN DISCUSSION REGARDING PROPOSED 2010 FISCAL YEAR BUDGET

1. Call to Order. Mayor O’Brien opened Public Hearing at 7:15 P.M.

2. Roll Call: Roll call was taken with Mrs. Sanders, Mr. Fix, Mr. Sauer, Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Sabatino, Mr. Wisniewski, and Mayor O’Brien present. Mr. Smith was absent. Others present were: Chief Mike Taylor, Lynda Yartin, Greg Bachman, Phil Hartmann, Ed Drobina, Nate Ellis, Carol Carter, Tony Barletta, Niki Smith, Rachel Schofeld, Gavin Blair, and others.

3. Purpose of the Public Hearing: To allow citizens a chance to voice any concerns and/or questions regarding the proposed 2010 Fiscal Year Budget.

4. Presentation to Council:

A. Mrs. Fersch stated key items in the budget are $350,000 for street paving, adding an additional police office, funding the economic development director position, $20,000 for a contractual public information officer, wages are budgeted with no increases, a 13 percent increase in health insurance premiums, and $695,000 paid in principal on General Fund note obligations. Mrs. Fersch stated General Fund revenues remain relatively flat and we are eliminating the Building Regulations Administrator and Urban Forestry positions, and we are transitioning to the Franklin County Health Department at a savings of $7,500, and we will be borrowing $2.2 for a water tower construction.

5. Resident Comments/Questions:

A. Mike McKinley stated he would like to know the purpose for paying $10,000 on a strategic retreat next year for Council, and was that part of the contract for the phone survey done last year. Mr. Fix stated last year Council spent some time and money doing a citizen survey and then they had a retreat that resulted in the formation of our strategic plan. He stated the purpose of having a second retreat this year, and it is hopeful that it will be an annual event, is to bring Council together to review the strategic plan, to put more detail to it, more measurable results to it, so that staff is really clear on what success looks like and what we are trying to achieve as a community. Mr. Fix further stated it is also to allow Council to spend time together outside of these four walls so that there is a growing relationship there. Mr. McKinley clarified an outside contractor has not been hired as yet. He further stated because money is tight this year that money could be spent better on sidewalks or something that we need. Mr. McKinley stated Council could meet at the Pickerington Library for free or somewhere else within the community that has a meeting room. Mr. Fix stated he understood the perception, however, it was his belief that having a facilitator there was a tremendous benefit and he was hopeful that facilitator or someone like him to take Council to the next step. He further stated the last Council retreat was held at the Police Department, which was free. He stated Council did not go on some boondoggle, and it was not a waste of taxpayer’s money.

6. Council Questions/Comments: Mr. Sauer stated he would like to comment that when a Council retreat was first discussed this past year he was very hesitant to that. He stated, however, having gone through it; it was extremely beneficial and he felt it was 20 of the most productive hours Council has spent as a body since his term began.

7. Adjournment. There being nothing further, Mayor O’Brien closed the public hearing at 7:25 P.M., December 1, 2009.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

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Lynda D. Yartin, Municipal Clerk

ATTEST:

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Mitch O’Brien, Mayor