CITY OF
PICKERINGTON
FINANCE COMMITTEE OF
COUNCIL
CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD
TUESDAY,
FEBRUARY 24, 2004
REGULAR
MEETING
7:30
P.M.
1. ROLL CALL. Mrs. Riggs called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M., with roll call as follows: Mrs. Riggs, Mr. Hackworth, and Mr. Wisniewski were present. No members were absent. Others present were: Mike Sabatino, Frank Wiseman, Lynda Yartin, Linda Fersch, Susan Crotty, Cameron Park, Nathan Kingery, Jim Ritter, Dennis Schwallie, and others.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF January 27, 2004, Regular Meeting. Mr. Hackworth moved to approve; Mr. Wisniewski seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Hackworth, Mrs. Riggs, and Mr. Wisniewski voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.
3. A. Presentation by Dennis Schwallie, City Bond Counsel from Peck, Shaffer & Williams, on “Basic Considerations in Borrowing for Capital.” Mr. Schwallie stated he has been the city’s bond counsel for approximately 20 years. Mr. Schwallie explained to the Committee the function of a bond counsel and various requirements that must be met by municipalities prior to initiating a borrowing. Mr. Schwallie stated he wanted the Committee to know he was available to come and address them any time they had questions or would like more information on any part of the borrowing process.
B. Presentation by Nat Kingery and Cameron Park of Ross, Sinclaire and Associates on “Alternative Strategies in Municipal Finance.” Mrs. Riggs stated Mr. Jim Ritter was also present this evening. Mr. Ritter stated they appreciated being allowed to give a presentation this evening on what their firm does. He stated they are a financial advisor organization with a predominant service area in Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana. Mr. Ritter gave a slide presentation and stated they would be interested in working with the City and developing a plan on how to address the city’s capital needs and reworking some of the city’s debt schedule. The Committee thanked the gentlemen for their presentation.
3. FINANCE DIRECTOR:
A. Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance amending appropriation ordinance 2003-97. Mrs. Fersch stated the Committee had received a draft appropriation ordinance this evening. Mrs. Fersch stated the draft ordinance includes an appropriation of $4,000 for the Health Department/Social Services, and that same appropriation is already included in the appropriation ordinance that is on the Table at Council. Mrs. Fersch stated since it was the other appropriation request on that ordinance that is in question, she felt it would be easier to just remove the Health Department appropriation from that and include it in this ordinance. Mrs. Fersch stated the ordinance that is already at council can be amended. Mrs. Yartin stated if this Committee wished, she would prepare an ordinance deleting that one appropriation, and the ordinance at council can be amended by substitution. Mrs. Riggs stated she felt that would be the best way to handle this. Mrs. Fersch summarized the appropriations she was requesting and stated the ordinance contained an explanation for each item. She stated she had one additional item to include on the ordinance and that was an increase for the Insurance Fund to cover insurance for new council members. She stated further she was requesting the City Manger be authorized to pay utility bills generated by city facilities up to such amounts as are appropriated. Mr. Wisniewski ascertained the monthly electric bills can exceed the Manager’s contract authority of $25,000, but this includes all of the city’s buildings, the water and sewer plants, and street lights. Mrs. Riggs stated she would like further information on the $20,000 increase for retaining counsel for economic development agreements. Mr. Wiseman stated this is for the counsel that will help us with the potential JEDD or CEDA that we are discussing with the Township. Mrs. Riggs inquired if we had determined a specific firm and Mr. Wiseman stated he and the Mayor had interviewed two firms that had the ability to provide the services we need, and they both agreed one firm would be able to provide excellent services. Mrs. Riggs clarified that a contract has not been signed as yet. Mr. Hackworth stated he agreed with Mrs. Riggs and he was concerned when he saw this appropriation because it was the first he knew of it. He stated he felt on issues of this nature that all of council should be kept in the loop for information. Mr. Sabatino stated he felt counsel should be retained when you have something you want them to look at, not in advance of that. Mr. Wiseman stated the Township has notified us they are in the process of providing their proposal so we can look at it. Mr. Wisniewski stated he agreed that all of council should be notified when these types of discussions are going on. Mrs. Fersch stated if there was no problem she would request three readings on the appropriation ordinance at Council. Mr. Hackworth moved to approve the appropriations as outlined by the Finance Director and forward to Council; Mr. Wisniewski seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Wisniewski, Mrs. Riggs, and Mr. Hackworth 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 and she would be happy to answer any questions.
(2) CORMA. Mrs. Fersch stated she had no report this evening.
Mrs. Fersch stated she had scheduled the presentation by Mr. James Penning of the Performance Audit Division of the State Auditor’s Office for March 16th, at 6:30 P.M. She stated that would be prior to the Council meeting.
4. PERSONNEL:
A. Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance amending Section 5 (Employee Pay Plan and Authorized Strength) of Ordinance 2003-97 adopting the budget for 2004. Mr. Wiseman stated this ordinance approves one additional police officer and a Utilities Billing Clerk. Mr. Wiseman stated we have over 3,000 accounts now and we are looking at ways to automate procedures, but the workload is there for two individuals. Mr. Wisniewski moved to approve and forward to Council; Mr. Hackworth seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Hackworth, Mr. Wisniewski, and Mrs. Riggs voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.
5. DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT: Ms Crotty stated she had provided a written report on all of her topics and she would answer any questions. She stated she had attended the Economic Development Committee meeting of the Chamber of Commerce. She stated Tim Swanson was elected Chairman of that Committee, and they have asked for input from the City on how they can help. She stated Mr. Swanson had inquired if Council would be interested in having a presentation from that Committee at any time. Mrs. Riggs stated as Ms. Crotty attends those Committee meetings and provides updates to Finance, she felt unless there was something unusual Ms. Crotty could continue briefing this Committee. Mr. Hackworth stated he felt if a presentation were made, it would be more appropriate at Finance Committee, and that might provide an opportunity to open a dialogue on specific issues.
A. Development Director’s Report:
(1) Chamber of Commerce Report.
(2) Rt. 33 S.E. Regional Growth Alliance Report.
(3) Fairfield County Visitor’s and Convention Bureau Report.
(4) Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission Report.
B. Project Updates
(1) Business Retention and Expansion Study. Mr. Hackworth asked if Ms. Crotty could provide a copy of the Business Retention and Expansion Study to the members of Finance. Mr. Wiseman stated since we have new council members he would ask that a copy be provided to all of Council.
6. LEGAL DEPARTMENT:
A. Monthly review of law director services. Mrs. Riggs ascertained the Committee had received a copy of Mr. Mapes’ monthly report and there were no questions.
7. CHAIRMAN: Mrs. Riggs stated she had nothing to bring forward.
8. OTHER BUSINESS:
A. Review and request for motion to approve ordinance to authorize the City Manager to execute a real estate purchase contract with Barnard and Deborah Kemter for the purchase of 290 Hereford Drive, Pickerington, Ohio. Mrs. Riggs stated this was on Council agenda and has had one reading, however, since Council met before Finance it still needs Committee action. Mrs. Riggs moved to approve; Mr. Wisniewski seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Hackworth, Mrs. Riggs, and Mr. Wisniewski voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.
Mrs. Fersch stated the contract with McDaniel’s Construction for the Diley Road/S.R. 256 intersection improvements, Phase II, was approved by Council. She stated the contract is for $2,000,000 and she needs to have authorization for a note issue so she can have the funding in place and the contracts can be signed. Mr. Hackworth moved to authorize the Finance Director to go out for bids for the $2,000,000 notes; Mr. Wisniewski seconded the motion. Mr. Sabatino inquired if this also included the Phase III project and Mr. Wiseman stated it did not. He stated the Phase III project will be included in the funding we have requested in the Infrastructure Bank Loan. Roll call was taken with Mrs. Riggs, Mr. Wisniewski, and Mr. Hackworth voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.
9. MOTIONS:
A. Motion 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. Mrs. Riggs stated there was no need for the Executive Session this evening.
10. ADJOURNMENT. There being nothing further, Mr. Hackworth moved to adjourn; Mr. Wisniewski seconded the motion. Mr. Hackworth, Mr. Wisniewski, and Mrs. Riggs voted "Aye." Motion carried, 3-0. The Finance Committee adjourned at 9:35 P.M., February 24, 2004.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
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