CITY OF
PICKERINGTON
FINANCE COMMITTEE OF
COUNCIL
CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER
29, 2003
REGULAR
MEETING
7:30
P.M.
1. ROLL CALL. Mr. Wright called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M., with roll call as follows: Mr. Wright, Mr. Parker, and Mr. Fox were present. No members were absent. Others present were: Mike Sabatino, Joyce Bushman, Lynda Yartin, Linda Fersch, Susan Crotty, Susan Sheikh, Karen Bigelow, and others.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF September 25, 2003, Regular Meeting. Mr. Fox moved to approve; Mr. Parker seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Parker abstaining, and Mr. Wright and Mr. Fox voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 2-0.
3. FINANCE DIRECTOR:
A. Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance amending appropriation ordinance 2002-142. Mrs. Fersch stated the Committee had received a draft appropriation ordinance this evening. She stated she was requesting an increase of $65,000 in the Street Fund, an increase of $400,000 in the Diley Road Improvement Fund, a decrease of $137,208.81 in Debt Service, and in the General Fund, Street Lights, an increase of $12,500 and in Handicap Transportation a decrease of $16,000. Mr. Wright moved to approve and forward to Council; Mr. Parker seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Fox, Mr. Parker, and Mr. Wright voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.
B. Finance Director’s Report:
(1) Health Department. Mrs. Fersch stated she had provided a written report to the Committee.
(2) CORMA. Mrs. Fersch stated the next meeting would be on November 5th.
C. Presentation by US Bank on e-payment. Mrs. Fersch stated Ms. Bigelow, Assistant Vice President of U.S. Bank is present to address the Committee on this issue. Mr. Parker stated he would prefer to continue with the agenda and come back to this if possible so members of the audience did not have to sit through a presentation if they did not wish to. Mr. Wright stated that would be agreeable and they would come back to this item.
D. Review and discussion regarding draft ordinance to approve $200,000 sanitary sewer improvement bond anticipation notes, Ninth (2004) renewal. Mrs. Fersch stated the $300,000 sewer notes are due. She stated these notes were originally close to $1,000,000 and we will be paying $100,000 next year, leaving these at $200,000. Mrs. Fersch stated she will need this legislation effective by the first part of January so she was bringing it to Committee this evening. She stated this would be an item in next year’s budget. Mr. Wright moved to approve and forward to Council at the next meeting; Mr. Fox seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Fox, Mr. Wright, and Mr. Parker voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.
4. PERSONNEL:
A. Review and request for motion to approve excessive vacation carryover for Chief Taylor. Mrs. Bushman stated the Committee had received a memorandum from the Personnel Director. She stated Chief Taylor has excess vacation time he would like to carryover since he was unable to take the time off this year due to the transition after being appointed Chief and the completion of the new facility. Mr. Fox stated he would like to ensure there is a plan that the Chief will be able to take vacation time in the future. Mrs. Bushman stated the Chief does have a vacation planned after the first of the year. Mr. Fox moved to approve; Mr. Parker seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Parker, Mr. Fox, and Mr. Wright voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.
5. DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT:
A. Development Director’s Report:
(1) Chamber of Commerce Report. Ms Crotty she had provided a written report for the Committee and at the last Chamber Board meeting, the Board members did express their support of the Hickory Lakes and Wastewater Treatment Plant projects. She stated they had sent a letter to one of the local papers in support of these projects.
(2) Rt. 33 S.E. Regional Growth Alliance Report. Ms Crotty stated District 5 has agreed to leave Allen Road as an option for the U.S. 33 upgrade. She stated the project was presented to TRAC for project funding and when the project list comes out in December we will know where it is ranked.
(3) Fairfield County Visitor’s and Convention Bureau Report. Ms Crotty stated they are still working on the glass museum.
(4) Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission Report. Ms. Crotty stated the Commission approved a resolution supporting the recommendations of the U.S. 33 Major Investment Study. She stated they also voted to establish the 2004 membership fee. Ms. Crotty stated the rate is being kept at the same level as 2003, however, the city’s population projections have increased.
B. Project Updates
(1) Business Retention and Expansion Study. Ms Crotty stated she proposed to the Chamber of Commerce that we organize an education session on small business financing as that is an issue that was raised on several surveys. She stated the Chamber was very responsive and she hopes to have that session scheduled after the first of the year. Mr. Wright stated he had also suggested the Chamber include this type of session in the LEADS program. Ms. Crotty stated she had also met with the Olde Downtown Pickerington Village Business Association and addressed several concerns they have in the old downtown area.
6. LEGAL DEPARTMENT:
A. Monthly review of law director services. Mr. Wright stated the Committee had received a copy of Mr. Mapes’ monthly report.
Mr. Wright stated the Committee had received a copy of a memo from Councilwoman Riggs regarding the research she had done on the law director’s contract. Mr. Parker stated in discussing the law director’s contract, he felt it should be done in Executive Session. Mr. Wright stated this would be discussed in the Executive Session that is on tonight’s agenda.
7. CHAIRMAN:
A. Review and request for motion to set the 2004 Manager’s Budget Work Session for November 19, 2003, at 6:00 P.M. Mr. Fox moved to set the 2004 Budget Work Session for 6:00 P.M. on November 19, 2003; Mr. Wright seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Parker, Mr. Wright, and Mr. Fox voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.
B. Review and request for motion to reschedule November’s Regular Finance Committee meeting to November 19, 2003, at 7:30 P.M. due to the Thanksgiving holiday, and to reschedule the December Regular Finance Committee meeting to December 10, 2003, at 7:30 P.M., in order for the Committee to meet prior to the final Council meeting of the year. Mr. Wright stated the regular November meeting would fall on Thanksgiving Day, and the final Finance meeting of the year needs to be held prior to the last Council meeting of the year in case Mrs. Fersch has any items that need to be taken care of at the final Council meeting. Mr. Fox moved to schedule the November Finance Committee meeting for November 19, 2003, at 7:30 P.M., and the December Finance Committee meeting for December 10, 2003, at 7:30 P.M.; Mr. Wright seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Wright, Mr. Fox, and Mr. Parker voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.
8. OTHER BUSINESS:
A. Review and request for motion to approve draft Resolution opposing Residency Bill. Mr. Wright stated the Committee had received a draft copy of this Resolution this evening. Mrs. Bushman stated the Central Ohio Municipal Alliance is asking various communities for a resolution opposing this bill. She stated the State House is trying to pass a unilateral bill that would eliminate municipalities from having residency requirements for their employees. She stated several municipalities have Charters that have been voted on by their residents and specifies what positions must be a resident of that community. Mr. Wright clarified this would state our opposition to that Bill in that it would allow non-resident employees and our Charter has residency requirements. Mr. Parker moved to approve the Resolution and forward to Council; Mr. Fox seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Fox abstaining, and Mr. Parker and Mr. Wright voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 2-0.
Mr. Wright stated the Committee would return to the agenda item for the presentation on e-payment from U.S. Bank. Ms. Bigelow provided a presentation to the Committee and stated she would be happy to answer any questions she could or to get the answers for the Committee. Ms. Bigelow stated the program can be tailored to what the City really needs. Mr. Sabatino stated he would like to ensure that security levels are included in the program. Mr. Wright stated he would like to have Mrs. Fersch work with the Service Director, Parks Director, and other departments that would be using this program and determine what options would work best for the City and then come back to the Committee with that information. Mr. Wright further stated he would like to thank Ms. Bigelow for her presentation, and she had brought up several issues that need to be considered. He further stated this is something that the City wants to implement as soon as possible and the State will require we be able to do it by 2007.
9. 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. Mr. Wright moved for an 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; Mr. Fox seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Fox, Mr. Parker, and Mr. Wright voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.
Finance committee adjourned into Executive Session at 9:10 P.M., and reconvened in open session at 10:15 P.M.
Mr. Wright moved to authorize the City Manager to place into the budget changes in the employee health plan to include a three percent contribution of the cost of the monthly premium from non-union employees for the health insurance and to initiate a reimbursement plan for employees who elect not to take the health insurance coverage; Mr. Fox seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Parker, Mr. Wright, and Mr. Fox voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.
Mr. Mapes stated the second item to address would be to amend our current ordinance relative to the right-of-way miles in Section 1038.07, reflective of the fact that there are appeals pending regarding what we did in Ordinance 2003-36. He stated as a temporary accommodation while the appeals are pending, we would redo the rate structure with the understanding that it can be changed again once the Supreme Court comes down with a decision in the Dayton and Toledo cases. Mr. Fox moved to approve an ordinance to amend Ordinance 2003-36 relative to the use of the City’s Rights-of-Ways; Mr. Wright seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Fox, Mr. Parker, and Mr. Wright voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.
10. ADJOURNMENT. There being nothing further, Mr. Fox moved to adjourn; Mr. Wright seconded the motion. Mr. Fox, Mr. Parker, and Mr. Wright voted "Aye." Motion carried, 3-0. The Finance Committee adjourned at 10:20 P.M., October 29, 2003.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
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