FINANCE COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
CITY
HALL,
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. Blair, Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Fix, Mr. Sauer, Mrs. Sanders, and Mr. Wisniewski were present. Mr. Barletta was on vacation. Others present were Mayor O’Brien, Bill Vance, Lynda Yartin, Linda Fersch, Susan Crotty, Brett Sciotto, Brice Cieviello, and others.
2. A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF June 2, 2010, Regular Meeting. Mr. Fix moved to approve; Mr. Wisniewski seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Fix, Mr. Blair, Mr. Sauer, Mr. Wisniewski, and Mrs. Sanders voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 6-0.
B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF June 15, 2010, Special Meeting. Mr. Fix moved to approve; Mrs. Hammond seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Sauer, Mr. Fix, Mrs. Sanders, Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Wisniewski, and Mr. Blair voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 6-0.
3. Update by Brett Sciotto, Governing Dynamics, on Communications projects. Mrs. Sanders stated Mr. Sciotto was running a little late so she would go ahead with the Finance Department and come back to this item when he arrived.
4. FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
A. Finance Director’s Report. Mrs. Fersch stated Mr. Schornack was on vacation this week, but he had provided a report to the Committee. Mrs. Fersch stated she would answer any questions anyone might have. Mrs. Sanders stated the Committee had received information from Ms Crotty regarding her request for an Economic Development Marketing appropriation and asked Ms Crotty to give a brief summary of this Plan. Ms Crotty stated one of the tasks she has been charged with is to work on an Economic Development Marketing Plan for the City and she is drafting the Plan now. Ms Crotty stated she intends to take a plan to Service Committee this month, however, she has identified some things we would want to do. Ms Crotty stated this includes some printed materials and to enhance the web site presence. Ms Crotty stated she would like to enter into an agreement with a company called Xceligent because that would give us access to a property data base that would allow us to promote the available properties in the city on that web site. She stated that would cost approximately $3,600 and she would like to have some funds appropriated so she could move forward more quickly once the Plan is approved. Mr. Vance stated he concurred with the soundness of this investment as it mirrors what staff is trying to do in getting the word out that Pickerington is open for business and would allow us to get the word out in the economic development community.
B. Review
and request for motion to approve draft ordinance amending the 2010
appropriation, Ordinance 2009-91. Mrs.
Fersch reviewed the appropriation request and stated she would answer any
questions anyone might have. Mr. Fix moved to approve and forward to
Mrs. Sanders stated Mr. Sciotto had arrived and would provide a brief summary of activities for the Committee.
Mr. Sciotto
stated the development of a communications plan was an initiative of this
Mr. Fix stated Mr. Sciotto helped put together the strategic plan last year and questioned when Mr. Sciotto felt it would be appropriate to follow up with another retreat or get together of some sort. Mr. Sciotto stated he had discussed that with Mr. Vance and the Mayor today and they were looking at early fall to go through the plan to see where you are, updating ideas, and perhaps some new prioritization. He stated then perhaps in 2012 do a full comprehensive plan. Mr. Vance stated they had discussed scheduling a retreat in September just prior to the budget process getting into full swing. He stated it would not be such a comprehensive effort as the strategic plan, but just look at the plan, see where we are at, where we are going, what is realistic, what is not, and seeing what is needed for the budget process. Mrs. Sanders stated in looking through the strategic plan she felt they had accomplished more than they thought. Mr. Vance stated Mr. Sciotto was going to provide a proposal on a six-hour facilitation and some additional assistance items.
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 we have received 56 applications for the police testing that is scheduled for Saturday, July 17th, and she has also received 31 applications for the recreation administrator position. Mrs. Fersch further stated interviews were scheduled for the Utility Operator I position. Mrs. Sanders clarified this was the position to cover weekends and holidays.
(1) Review and request for motion to approve
draft resolution approving the admission of Groveport, Granville, and
6. CHAIRMAN:
A. Strategic Plan Goals – Update. Mrs. Sanders stated she had no further update however if anyone had specific dates in September that would not work for the retreat, if they would provide that information to her or Mr. Vance then they would work on getting this scheduled.
B. Technology Assessment Subcommittee – Update. Mr. Wisniewski stated there was no update this evening.
7. OTHER BUSINESS:
A. Review and request for motion to approve
draft resolution to participate in the NLC Prescription Discount Card
Program. Mrs. Fersch stated the
Committee had received a summary of this program from Chief Taylor. She stated this is a good offer for the
community and all residents can obtain the discount card. She further stated nine out of ten pharmacies
nationwide participate in this program, there is no limit on how many times the
card can be used, and it is good for all family members. Mrs. Fersch stated there will be printed
materials made available at no cost to the City and a report will be generated
monthly showing the savings. Mrs. Fersch
stated
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 stated an Executive Session was not necessary this evening.
Mrs. Sanders stated she would request a motion to authorize the Finance Director to appropriate funds for the reimbursement of the City Manager for his travel expenditures during the pre-hire time period. Mrs. Fersch stated Mr. Vance had provided her with the final figures and the City’s one-half of these expenses total $1,017. Mrs. Fersch stated there are funds in the Travel and Transportation for appropriation, however, depending on other expenses during the rest of the year that fund may have to be reimbursed through another appropriation. Mrs. Fersch stated she understood Mr. Schornack planned on addressing any appropriations needed in the City Manager’s funds for the remainder of the year after he has completely analyzed this category. Mrs. Fersch stated she just needed the authorization to pay this as it was an agreement that was made but not directly included in the contract. Mr. Fix moved to authorize the reimbursement; Mr. Wisniewski seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Fix, Mr. Blair, Mr. Wisniewski, Mr. Sauer, and Mrs. Sanders voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 6-0.
Mr. Wisniewski clarified there is no update on the Ebright/Homestead project this evening. Mr. Vance stated a meeting has been scheduled for this week with the developer and staff to discuss the issues further.
Mr. Sauer stated in the last
month of so Service Committee has been discussing the Eichhorn property and he
and Mrs. Sanders have met with Township Trustee Mr. Weltlich. Mr. Sauer stated he understood there was an
annexation agreement that was forwarded to Ms Crotty from the Township and he
would like to discuss that to see if it would be acceptable or, if not, what
exactly would be acceptable. He stated
in the discussions the only item that even came up from the Township was
nothing to do with revenue, was nothing to do with income tax sharing, but the
one item they proposed was to have some sort of an overall commission of some
sort set up. He stated this commission
would essentially be two members from the township and two members from the
city that would, basically for any type of development going in there, they
would at least have somewhat of a say in.
He stated the township’s concern is that they fear the possibility of
something along the line of a storage facility going in there. Mr. Sauer stated he assumed they would prefer
to see office development or upper end retail which is what he assumed would be
going in there anyway. Mr. Sauer stated
he did not see any major issue even if that board was set up. Mr. Sauer stated he had talked to Mr.
Hartmann earlier last week and he had hoped to have a draft ordinance to
discuss, however, he did not have that for tonight. Mr. Sauer stated he just wanted to get input
from other council members to see if there is any support for that. Mr. Wisniewski stated he was not sure what
the purpose of the board would be, and Mrs. Sanders stated she thought it was
just to get feedback from both parties and it would keep things going in a
positive direction and show we are willing to work together. She stated it would allow some input from the
township. Mr. Wisniewski inquired why we
would need a formal committee for that instead of informal meetings. Mrs. Sanders stated this was proposed to us
by the township. Mr. Wisniewski stated
he questioned why there couldn’t be informal discussion between the City
Manager, the Development Director, their Economic Development Director and Administrator. Mr. Sauer stated he felt the township just
wanted to make sure there is some sort of a protocol set up where they would at
least have an idea of what was coming down the road and if there was any type
of situation that was going to change to be something that would be a complete
180 from what that corridor would look to develop considering there is a
hospital just south of it. That they
would at least have the ability to voice some sort of objection or make their
position known. Mrs. Hammond stated she
felt they had that right anyway and Mr. Wisniewski stated they have voiced
their objections before without the requirement of a committee set up to have
them voice their opinion. Mr. Wisniewski
stated as long as we have the professional staff in place that it should be
handled at that level. Mayor O’Brien
clarified this would be a four member group to look at development of this
specific property or annexations. Mr.
Sauer for this specific property only, no other area. He stated in that commitment they committed
they would not contest this annexation, there would be no disagreement
whatsoever over it, no request for funds, no request for income tax sharing,
and that would be it. Mr. Vance stated
he had a very positive meeting with Mr. Yaple today and they had discussed
regionalism and the ability for the Township and the City to work together in
the future and he seemed very receptive these possibilities. Mr. Vance stated he felt it would be helpful
if we began to document the issues so that there are specifics that could be
discussed. He stated it might be a good
idea if
9. ADJOURNMENT. There being nothing further, Mr. Fix moved to adjourn; Mr. Wisniewski seconded the motion. Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Fix, Mr. Blair, Mr. Sauer, Mr. Wisniewski, and Mrs. Sanders voted "Aye." Motion carried, 6-0. The Finance Committee adjourned at 7:40 P.M., July 7, 2010.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
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