CITY OF PICKERINGTON

                                           FINANCE COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL

                                               CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD

                                               THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 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: Mr. Wisniewski, Mr. Hackworth, and Mrs. Riggs were present.  Mr. Wright was absent.  Others present were:  Michael Sabatino, Mitch O’Brien, Judy Gilleland, Lynda Yartin, Linda Fersch, Bob Mapes, Susan Sheikh, Heather Goertemiller, Jayme Hughes, Brittany Moore, Chandni Vakil, and others.

 

2.         APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF August 26, 2004, Regular Meeting.  Mr. Hackworth moved to approve; Mr. Wisniewski seconded the motion.  Roll call was taken with Mr. Wisniewski, Mr. Hackworth, and Mrs. Riggs voting “Yea.”  Motion passed, 3-0. 

 

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. She stated she was requesting an appropriation $322,500 for the TIF Cover Debt Fund as this was a rollover issue and the auditors require us to reflect this in our appropriation although it is a pass through.  Mrs. Fersch stated under the General Fund she was requesting an increase of $2,000 for weed removal, and increase of $75,000 for Law Director, and a decrease of $50,000 in Transfers/Reimbursements.  She continued in the TIF Old Town Debt Fund she was requesting an increase of $3,715; TIF Old Town Construction Fund a transfer of $3,715 to Debt Retirement for note interest payment, and under the Insurance Fund a decrease of $790,635.61.  Mrs. Fersch stated as we are no longer self-funded we need to reduce the insurance fund as it is no longer being activated. Mrs. Fersch stated she would request three readings at Council as we need to contract with someone to take care of weeds.  Mr. Hackworth clarified the decrease in the insurance fund was for health insurance.  Mrs. Fersch stated when we were self-funded we paid part premium and part to the doctors, however, we no longer do that we pay strictly a premium through the consortium.  Mr. Hackworth moved to approve the appropriation ordinance 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:  Mrs. Fersch stated she had provided a written report to the Committee and she would be happy to answer any questions. 

 

            Mrs. Fersch stated further she had just received the report from CORMA for our insurance that includes property and casualty insurance, as well as, automotive and professional liability insurance.  Mrs. Fersch stated the premium for the property insurance went down, however, the professional liability and employment practices increased quite a bit.  Mrs. Fersch stated our premium will not exceed $141,996, which reflects a ten percent increase, and it could be less.  She stated she should have the exact figure prior to the next Council meeting. 

 

4.         PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT:   

 

A.        Review and request for motion to approve 2005 Health Insurance package.  Mrs. Sheikh stated the Committee had received a packet of information regarding the health insurance renewal.  She stated overall our increase was only 3.8 percent as compared with 2004 when our increase was 14.08 percent.  Mrs. Sheikh stated there was no increase for the life insurance portion for 2005, however, we will need legislation for this as we only had a one year contract.  Mrs. Sheikh stated further for the contract with the Delta Dental portion of our renewal we will need legislation also as this is an annual contract.  She stated the increase for dental went from $69.73 per month to $73.56 per month.  Mrs. Sheikh stated the health and prescription drug coverage, which is through the Central Ohio Health Care Consortium and administered by EV Benefits, had only a 2 percent increase for single and 3.91 percent for family.  Mrs. Sheikh stated the total cost for 2005 is quite a bit more than 2004, however, she wanted to point out that this is because we have more employees covered.  Mrs. Sheikh stated further there is no increase for the vision coverage plan.  Mrs. Sheikh stated she would also like to point out that as a result of doing the insurance waiver incentive program last year, the projected savings is $69,000.  Mr. Wisniewski moved to forward legislation to Council to authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract for a period of one year with Union Central Life Insurance and with Delta Dental; Mr. Hackworth seconded the motion.  Roll call was taken with Mr. Wisniewski, Mrs. Riggs, and Mr. Hackworth voting “Yea.”  Motion passed, 3-0. 

 

            Mrs. Sheikh stated she would also like to address the issue of employees contribution to health care coverage.  She stated last year we increased the employee contribution to three percent, and the discussion was to increase it to four percent this year and five percent next year.  She stated if that is still the wish of Finance Committee and Council she felt a motion would be appropriate.  Mrs. Sheikh stated this is only for non-union employees, as the FOP negotiated this into their contract and they are paying three percent in 2004, four percent in 2005, and six percent in 2006, but they do have a maximum contribution dollar amount.  Mrs. Riggs moved to approve the one percent increase in non-union employees health insurance contribution bringing the total contribution to four percent; Mr. Wisniewski seconded the motion.  Roll call was taken with Mr. Hackworth, Mrs. Riggs, and Mr. Wisniewski voting “Yea.”  Motion passed, 3-0. 

 

5.         DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT:  Ms Gilleland stated Ms Crotty is on vacation, however, her report had been distributed.  She stated she would be happy to try and answer any questions

 

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.  Mr. Mapes stated Service Committee passed a motion to allow voluntary assessments on the Pearl Lane/Florence Drive waterline as an alternative to mortgages.  He stated in terms of trying to implement this he would like to point out that the voluntary assessment still requires a document be recorded, but it will be the whole agreement.  Mr. Mapes stated for the mortgage the fee to record it is $56 and by doing the voluntary assessment the fee will be $72 plus the auditor charges four percent of each payment.  He stated he just wanted to make the Committee aware that the cost would be more for the residents who chose the voluntary assessment option. 

 

7.         CHAIRMAN:  Mrs. Riggs stated she had nothing to bring forward. 

 

8.         OTHER BUSINESS:  

 

Ms Gilleland stated she has a proposed budget schedule that she would like to have the Committee review.  She stated if there are any questions or issues she would be glad to answer them.  Ms Gilleland stated she anticipates holding the budget work sessions on four Tuesdays prior to the Council work session.  Ms Gilleland stated if any members would like any changes please let her know.  Ms Gilleland stated she was also going to try and incorporate the CIP into this process. 

 

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.  Mr. Wisniewski moved for an Executive Session under Section 121.22(G)(2), Purchase or sale of public property, and Section 121.22(G)(3), Conference with law director regarding pending or imminent court action; Mr. Hackworth seconded the motion.  Roll call was taken with Mrs. Riggs, Mr. Wisniewski, and Mr. Hackworth voting “Yea.”  Motion passed, 3-0.  

 

Finance Committee adjourned to Executive Session at 8:05 P.M., and reconvened in open session at 9:08 P.M.

 

Mrs. Riggs moved to approve and forward to Council legislation for the payout of Chief Taylor’s vacation up to 150 hours for 2004; Mr. Wisniewski seconded the motion.  Roll call was taken with Mrs. Riggs, Mr. Wisniewski, and Mr. Hackworth voting “Yea.”  Motion passed, 3-0. 

 

10.       ADJOURNMENT.  There being nothing further, Mr. Wisniewski moved to adjourn; Mr. Hackworth seconded the motion.  Mr. Hackworth, Mr. Wisniewski, and Mrs. Riggs voted "Aye."  Motion carried, 3-0.  The Finance Committee adjourned at 9:10 P.M., September 16, 2004.

 

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

 

 

________________________________

Lynda D. Yartin, Municipal Clerk