WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2010

REGULAR MEETING

7:00 P.M.

1. ROLL CALL. Mrs. Sanders called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M., with roll call as follows: Mr. Barletta, Mr. Fix, Mr. Sauer, and Mrs. Sanders were present. Mr. Blair, Mrs. Hammond, and Mr. Wisniewski were absent. Others present were Mayor O’Brien, Chief Taylor, Lynda Yartin, Chris Schornack, Linda Fersch, Ed Drobina, Deblin Jennings, Rachel Scofeld, Nate Ellis, Doug Barr, Alexa Liebert, and others.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF March 3, 2010, Regular Meeting. Mr. Fix moved to approve; Mr. Sauer seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Fix, Mr. Barletta, Mr. Sauer, and Mrs. Sanders voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 4-0.

3. Presentation regarding Cost Recovery Charges implemented by Violet Township Fire Department. Doug Barr, Assistant Fire Chief, Violet Township Fire Department, stated he was present this evening to provide a briefing on the EMS Revenue Recovery Program they have implemented. Mr. Barr stated the Fire Department has implemented the EMS Recovery Program and that is, basically, EMS billing. He stated when the squad transports someone to the hospital there is now a charge that goes through the individual’s insurance company. He stated their first priority is the individual’s safety and care, and they will ask for them to sign the EMS pad. He stated this signature gives their billing company the authority to obtain your insurance information from the hospital, and then the insurance company will be billed for the transport. Mr. Barr stated this charge is strictly for medical transport. He further stated the fee for this transport will then come back to Violet Township Fire Department. Mr. Barr stated years ago the government stated the fire department can go back and get money the insurance companies are charging individuals. He stated every health insurance policy has a rider in it that says you are being charged in your insurance premium for EMS transportation, and so this recovery program will get some of that money back to the fire department instead of leaving it with the insurance companies. Mr. Barr stated Violet Township is one of the last townships in Central Ohio to implement this program. Mr. Barr stated if you are a resident of Violet Township or the City of Pickerington you will not receive a bill, whatever your insurance company pays that is in your rider, that is what they accept. If you are a resident outside of Violet Township or the City of Pickerington and Violet Township transports you to the hospital, you will receive a bill for your co-pay or whatever amount your insurance company did not pay. He stated these bills will be sent at 30, 60, and 90 day intervals, but after 90 days if it is not paid they will write it off. Mr. Barr stated the residents of the Township and City should never see a bill and if they should, then they should contact the fire department and they will take care of it. Mr. Barr stated the fire department averages 2,100 transports a year out of almost 4,000 runs, and this recovery program will average about $300 per transport for the fire department. Mr. Barr stated this income will supplement what they have and will help prolong their need to ask for a fire levy. Mrs. Sanders ascertain this program went into place on March 4, 2010. Mr. Fix clarified the fire department has received no negative feedback on this program to date. Mr. Barr stated he would like to stress that this charge does not apply to anything other than a medical transport to the hospital, the fire trucks, or the squad responding to your home without a transport will not result in a billing. Mr. Barr stated further your insurance rates cannot be increased because of this program, and the fees for transport are calculated by Medicaid. Mr. Barr stated anyone with any questions can contact the fire department.

Mrs. Sanders stated Deblin Jennings of the Olde Pickerington Village Business Association was present to address the Committee this evening as well.

Ms Jennings stated she had provided a letter to the Finance Committee with regard to a request for funding for the 2010 OPVBA Victorian Holiday. She stated every year the OPVBA has made concessions on their events, and they have been keeping the events going month by month. Ms Jennings stated one of the biggest feedbacks they have received is during the Victorian Holiday event and they have always had the carriage ride downtown. Ms Jennings stated they simply do not have the money to do anything past the summer, and they were requesting the funding from the City for the carriage rides this year which is right around $1,100. She stated they would like to see if there was some way the City could pair with them to bring the carriage rides back to the old village for that Friday night event. Mrs. Sanders asked if there were any comments by the Committee. Mr. Schornack stated as far as the way the income tax revenues have been going this year, he would recommend taking a little caution for the time being. Mr. Schornack stated he may be coming back to this Committee with the budget changes to see what we need to cut depending on how it goes this month. Mr. Fix inquired if Ms Jennings could wait a month for the decision on this issue and she stated she could not because she had to beg them to hold the date until after she had a chance to meet with this committee. Mr. Sauer stated he appreciated what Ms Jennings was asking for and the OPVBA does a great job. He stated, however, right now with what the City is looking at with tax revenue it would be very difficult for him to support this for this year. Mr. Barletta stated he did not feel he could support this for this year as well. Mrs. Sanders stated with the economy the way it is, this seemed to be something we could offer the community and in the big picture it didn’t seem $1,200 was that large an amount. Mr. Fix stated he had a great deal of respect for what the OPVBA does, however, he feels that at some point in the near future the City will have to be back in front of the voters asking for money and every conversation or vote on something like this contributes to how the citizens feels about that. He stated he was concerned that the income tax revenues are down from last year because we did not budget that way, and that we are going to have to make some considerable cuts to balance our budget. He stated with this in mind he did not see how he could justify it at this time, even though he would love to be able to be a partner with the OPVBA on this event.

4. FINANCE DEPARTMENT.

A. Finance Director’s Report. Mr. Schornack stated he had provided a written report and he would answer any questions. Mr. Schornack stated the tax department is working on getting all of the taxes opened and deposited. He stated he hoped to have a report for the next meeting when he would have a better idea of where we stand at that point. Mr. Fix questioned if by the May Finance Committee meeting Mr. Schornack would be able to make a recommendation on what steps might be necessary to balance the budget, and Mr. Schornack stated he would be able to do that.

B. Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance amending the 2010 appropriation, Ordinance 2009-91. Mr. Schornack reviewed draft appropriation ordinance and stated the first item was just a movement of funds to allow the Municipal Clerk to attend a training seminar and the second item was an insurance reimbursement for the salt dome that needs to be repaired. Chief Taylor stated for the Law Enforcement Seizure Fund, we received $10,000 from the Major Crimes Unit we are involved in and he would be using those funds to purchase new handguns for the officers as our present handguns are going on fifteen years old. Chief Taylor stated with these funds the total cost from his budget to equip everyone in his department with a new gun, holster, and magazine will be about $1,100. Mr. Schornack stated in the Police Fund we are receiving an insurance reimbursement for the police cruiser we lost in the fire, and for the Water Tower Construction Fund he is increasing for the issuance costs for the note proceeds. Mr. Fix clarified that we received $17,115 for the cruiser and a new cruiser will cost a little over $20,000. Mr. Fix moved to approve the draft ordinance and forward to Council; Mr. Sauer seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mrs. Sanders, Mr. Sauer, Mr. Fix, and Mr. Barletta voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 4-0.

5. PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT.

A. Personnel Director’s Report. Mrs. Fersch stated she had provided a written report to the Committee and she would answer any questions. She stated she would request an executive session later in the meeting this evening.

6. CHAIRMAN:

A. Strategic Plan Goals – Update. Mrs. Sanders stated we are close to getting a City Manager and once that is finalized we will see some plans moving forward. Mayor O’Brien stated he has received a draft on communication strategy he is looking through.

B. Technology Assessment Subcommittee – Update. Mayor O’Brien stated he thought the subcommittee would try to schedule a meeting within the next month to begin discussion on communication strategies.

7. OTHER BUSINESS:

A. Pickerington Local School District Board Meeting – Update. Mrs. Sanders stated she had met with the Superintendent and she is very eager to work with the City on projects that come up.

B. Review and discussion regarding City Manager position. Mayor O’Brien stated the Committee had received a draft ordinance and contract this evening to appoint Mr. William Vance to the position of City Manager. Mayor O’Brien apologized for not getting the draft contract to the Committee members earlier, but negotiations had just been concluded a short time ago and Mr. Vance, by e-mail, has agreed to the contract. Mrs. Sanders clarified this was a two year contract. Mr. Fix stated he had a question regarding the performance evaluation. Mayor O’Brien stated he felt Council and the Mayor could work together as a group to come up with a more streamlined version of what was previously presented. Mayor O’Brien stated it could very likely take six to seven months to do the evaluation and then basically start again soon after that. He stated he felt Rules Committee could come up with a more streamlined process, and Mr. Vance is eager to have an annual performance evaluation. Mr. Fix stated he felt that would be critical and there were several ways that could be addressed and we could work on that. Mr. Fix moved to approve the draft ordinance and contract and forward to Council; Mr. Sauer seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Fix, Mr. Barletta, Mrs. Sanders, and Mr. Sauer voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 4-0.

8. 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. Sanders moved for Executive Session under Section 121.22(G)(1)b, and Section 121.22(G)(4); Mr. Fix seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Sauer, Mr. Barletta, Mr. Fix, and Mrs. Sanders voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 4-0.

Finance Committee adjourned into Executive Session at 7:40 P.M., and reconvened in open session at 8:00 P.M.

9. ADJOURNMENT. There being nothing further, Mr. Fix moved to adjourn; Mr. Sauer seconded the motion. Mr. Barletta, Mr. Fix, Mrs. Sanders, and Mr. Sauer voted "Aye." Motion carried, 4-0. The Finance Committee adjourned at 8:01 P.M., April 14, 2010.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

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Lynda D. Yartin, Municipal Clerk