CITY
OF PICKERINGTON
FINANCE
COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL
CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD
THURSDAY,
DECEMBER 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: Doug Parker, Mike Sabatino, Judy Gilleland, Lynda Yartin, Linda Fersch, Heather Yakes, Daryl Berry, and others.
2. A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF November 16, 2004, Budget Work Session. Mr. Hackworth moved to approve; Mrs. Riggs seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Hackworth, Mr. Wisniewski, and Mrs. Riggs voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.
B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF November 18, 2004, Budget Work Session. 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.
C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF November 18, 2004, Regular Meeting. Mr. Hackworth moved to approve; Mr. Wisniewski seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Wisniewski, Mrs. Riggs, and Mr. Hackworth voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.
3. Presentation by Heather Yakes regarding the Miss Pickerington Scholarship Program. Ms Yakes stated the Miss America program is the world’s largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women, and Miss Pickerington is the first step towards the Miss America title. Ms Yakes stated she is asking the City to support the Miss Pickerington pageant as she felt it would foster the education of young women within our community, it would encourage community involvement centered around a positive and fun event, it would promote economic development, and also promote the City of Pickerington at a state level. Ms Yakes stated she is required to award a minimum of a $1,000 scholarship to the winner of Miss Pickerington and she would love to be able to increase that in the future. Ms Yakes provided the Committee with a highlight of the expenses and fundraising activities used to raise funds for the pageant. Ms Yakes stated she was primarily asking the City for help in providing the scholarship funds and she was requesting the amount of $2,000 from the City of Pickerington and $2,000 from Violet Township. Ms Gilleland clarified the Township Trustees have not provided any funds at this time. Mrs. Riggs stated she did not feel the Committee could agree to obligate any funds this evening, however, she would like to have some time to review this and get back to Ms Yakes with a timely answer.
4. FINANCE DIRECTOR:
A. Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance amending appropriation ordinance 2003-97. Mrs. Fersch stated she had presented the Committee with a draft ordinance that details the end of the year clean up appropriations. She stated various areas in the General Fund are being reduced where the money was not needed. She stated the Building Department needs an increase due to overtime and contract inspectors, the Finance Department needs an increase due to income tax refunds, and the Legal Department needs an increase due to funds needed to cover costs for legal assistance for annexation lawsuits, TIF issues, referendum opinions, etc. Mrs. Fersch further stated she was asking for an increase of $2,500 for the State Highway Fund as electricity costs increased with the addition of traffic lights; an increase of $5,000 in the Parks & Recreation Fund as additional program participation resulted in additional fees to instructors and payment to the Senior Center for the Secret Santa Breakfast registrations; and increase of $10,000 in the TIF 204/256 Construction Fund for income tax sharing with the school as the law requires; and an increase of $238.86 for the Police Facilities Fund to close out the account. Mrs. Fersch stated the draft ordinances reflects a decrease of $1,305,368.20 in the Diley Road Improvement Fund and that should actually be a decrease of $1,831,523.20 as she had learned this afternoon from the Auditors that the advance we originally got from the General Fund does not have to be appropriated. Mrs. Fersch stated the final item on the draft ordinance was a correction for the CDBG Fund. Mrs. Fersch stated she had stated the total amount appropriated in 2004 was $50,900 and it should be $55,900. Mrs. Fersch stated she would request three readings at Council so she could close out the year. Mr. Hackworth moved to approve as detailed by Mrs. Fersch and forward to Council; Mr. Wisniewski seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Hackworth, Mrs. Riggs, and Mr. Wisniewski 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.
C. Review and request for motion to approve contracting with the Auditor of State’s Office for the annual financial audit of the City of Pickerington. Mrs. Fersch stated Council has authorized the State Auditor’s Office to prepare our annual report. She stated now that report must be audited, and the cost of the audit should not exceed $33,000. Mrs. Fersch stated it is more expensive this year as they will be auditing the more extensive financial report. Mr. Wisniewski moved to approve and forward to Council; Mr. Hackworth seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mrs. Riggs, Mr. Wisniewski, and Mr. Hackworth voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.
D. Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance to authorize the City Manager to execute a deed to BGM Development Corporation for the sale of the City-owned real property known as Lot No. 1, Windmiller Square Commercial Subdivision, and to repeal Ordinance 2004-45. Mrs. Fersch stated the Lion’s Head Ventures had submitted the bid accepted by the City and now will not be able to fulfill the bid and purchase the property. Mrs. Fersch stated our law director stated we can go to the second highest bidder, which is BGM Development, and accept their bid. Mrs. Fersch stated the first bid accepted was $75,000 and the second bid is for $70,000. Ms Gilleland stated the City can accept the second bid, we can rebid the property, or we can take it under advisement and think about it for another month. Ms Gilleland stated she did not know if there were any time frames on the length of time the bid was good for. Mr. Hackworth clarified the lot was less than one acre. Mr. Berry stated he owns the three parcels adjacent to this parcel and he has been marketing them hoping to see something commercial, however, he has not had much success. Mr. Berry stated what he would like to do would be to take his lots 2, 3, and 4, and combine them with lot 1, and that would give him approximately six acres, and he would like to put up office buildings on that property. Ms Gilleland clarified that Mr. Berry’s bid price would be good for another month. She stated she would like to have some time to get some additional information on the zoning from the Planning and Zoning Department. Mr. Berry stated the City could take as long as they wished to discuss this issue and determine what they would like to do.
E. Review and request for motion to approve draft resolution to request advance distribution of tax monies of 5.5 mill Police Operating Levy from the Fairfield County Auditor pursuant to Section 321.34, Ohio Revised Code. Mrs. Fersch stated this resolution, along with the next item on the agenda, authorizes her to request advance distribution of our 2005 tax collection period. She stated by starting this early when the money is available in February the legislation will be in effect and she can request the money.
F. Review and request for motion to approve draft resolution to request advance distribution of tax monies of 2.3 mill General Operating Levy from the Fairfield County Auditor pursuant to Section 321.34, Ohio Revised Code. Mrs. Fersch stated again, this was the same as the resolution she just discussed.
Mr. Wisniewski moved to approve the draft resolutions to request advance distribution of tax monies of 5.5 mill Police Operating Levy and 2.3 mill General Operating Levy from the Fairfield County Auditor pursuant to Section 321.34, Ohio Revised Code; Mrs. Riggs seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Hackworth, Mrs. Riggs, and Mr. Wisniewski voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.
Mrs. Fersch stated she is Pickerington’s representative to the Board of Health, and she would like to let the Committee know of a situation that was brought to her attention. Mrs. Fersch stated when the Board of Health was put together Lancaster had a set contribution of $250,000, with the remaining $350,000 coming from the Townships, the City of Pickerington, and the villages. She stated this made up their budget of $600,000 and anything over the $600,000 would be divided among all of the entities based on property valuation. Mrs. Fersch stated the City of Lancaster had a Code Enforcement Officer they were paying under the Board of Health, and evidently there were some problems so they asked the Board of Health if they could take the individual back and have him on the City’s payroll, then subtract his wages from their $250,000 allocation. Mrs. Fersch stated any change to the agreement should have been voted on by all of the entities and this never happened. Mrs. Fersch stated this past year the Board of Health’s budget increased, and there is $96,000 that has to be made up by all of the entities. Mrs. Fersch stated if you are not going to be a part of the Board of Health, you must give them a one year notice, so should we decide we want to leave this organization and contract with Franklin County, we must let them know one year in advance. Mrs. Fersch stated she had done some research and we could contract with Franklin County, and in 2006 the cost would be about $63,700. She stated we would be paying more than $65,000 to the Fairfield County Board of Health in 2006. Mrs. Fersch stated she was providing the information to this Committee to determine if we should notify the Fairfield County Board of Health by the end of this year that we are considering leaving the organization if things do not change. Mr. Wisniewski ascertained that the services we receive from the Board of Health include swimming pool inspections, food service inspections, checking on reports of mold in homes, etc. Mrs. Fersch stated she felt we did get good service from them, the problem was that we would be sharing more and more of the financial burden. Mrs. Riggs stated if the Committee concurred, the City Manager could send a letter to the Fairfield County Board of Health putting them on notice that we are evaluating the possibility of withdrawing from the organization. Mrs. Riggs moved to authorize the City Manager to send a letter to the Board of Health indicating our concerns based upon the present agreement and whether or not we are going to withdraw from the organization; Mr. Wisniewski seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Wisniewski, Mr. Hackworth, and Mrs. Riggs voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.
4. PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT: No report.
5. DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT: Ms Crotty stated she had provided a written report to the Committee and she would be happy to answer any questions. Ms Crotty stated there will a public hearing on Violet Township’s Comprehensive Plan Update on Tuesday, December 21, 2004, at 7:30 P.M. at the Township Hall. Ms Crotty further stated the Growth Management Assessment and Impact Fee analysis are moving along.
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: No other business was brought forward.
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 an executive session was not needed regarding the purchase or sale of public property or pending or imminent court action. Mr. Wisniewski 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. Hackworth seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Mr. Hackworth, Mr. Wisniewski, and Mrs. Riggs voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.
Finance Committee adjourned to Executive Session at 8:40 P.M., and reconvened in open session at 9:00 P.M.
Mr. Wisniewski moved to forward legislation to Council to authorize the City Manager to enter into contracts with the Office of the Law Director for the City of Lancaster to provide prosecutorial services for Mayor’s Court and misdemeanor cases in Lancaster Municipal Court; Mr. Hackworth seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Wisniewski, Mrs. Riggs, 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 9:04 P.M., December 16, 2004.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
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