City Services > Committees and Boards > Finance > Minutes > Finance Minutes 04/21/2011

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Minutes for 4/11/2011


APPROVED MINUTES OF THE
EXPANDED FINANCE COMMITTEE
April 21, 2011
Conference Room #119
5:00 P.M.
Present: Commissioners: Chairperson Sharon R. Brinks, Michael W. Brown, Richard Clanton, Robert Coughlin, Frank Cummings, Ray VerWys and Mayor Richard L. Root. Also present: Finance Director Tom Chase, Deputy Administrator Rich Houtteman, City Clerk Dan Kasunic, Assistant Finance Director Phil Tietz and the Grand Rapids Press.
 
REVIEW OF THE 2011-2012 PROPOSED GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
 
Mayor Root made a brief opening remark regarding how the budget was assembled, direction of staffing changes and the 5X5 will be presented the Commission at the May 4th Meeting.
 
The Committee reviewed the following departmental budgets with their representatives.
 
Library-Cheryl Cammenga.
  • The budget is estimated because it is a new building with no past history.
 
Treasurer- Jan Hollinrake.
  • Same high levels of collections.
  • Shared position of Clerk between Treasurer and Planning Departments.
  • Checks go to the 5/3 Bank in Chicago.
 
Park & Recreation Department-Director Charlie Ziesemer.
  • Increase of ½ person as a Special Events Coordinator.
  • ARCH Program paid for by a grant.
  • Dept. in charge of booking the Library Community Room.
 
City Assessor-Deb Ring
  • Increase of a person to help during review time at no more than 120 hours.
 
Human Resources-Lisa Sonego.
  • Saving due to wellness program.
 
Court-Judge William Kelly and Court Administrator Deb Clanton.
  • Will begin to use Court Collections Agent.
  • Increase of 32 hours for a Bailiff.
  • Increase a Deputy Court Clerk’s pay grade.
  • Change from two part time clerks to one full time clerk.
  • New video system will save dollars.
 
City Clerk-Dan Kasunic.
  • Reviewed possible elections dates and consolidation and how it will affect the budget. 
 
DPW-Engineering- Public Works Director Ron Woods, City Engineer/Engineering & Inspection Director Steve Kepley.
  • Reduction of 1.5 Inspectors.
  • Noted that Engineering Department and DPW are funded by funding sources rather than the General Fund.
 
Police Department-Chief Richard Mattice.
  • Increase of 2.25% from last year with the approval of the millage increase.
  • Code Enforcement will be handled entirely by the Police Department with the increase of an additional Cadet.
 
Mayor Root presented Chief Carr with his twenty year award and thanked him for his services. Chief Carr announced his retirement at the last City Commission Meeting.
 
Fire-Chief James Carr.
  • Testing five applicants for Paid-On-Call openings in the department.
  • Requested an in-vehicle video camera for the command vehicle to record events.
  • Reviewed department repairs and needs for the three stations.
 
Planning-Community Development Director Terry Schweitzer.
  • Increase of staff, trending increase in activity.
  • Code Enforcement responsibility changing to the Police Department.
 
Executive-Mayor Richard Root.
  • Stated it is what it is.
 
Finance-Information Technology-Finance Director Tom Chase.
  • Increase in the IT Department back to the prior year’s staffing due to maintaining all of the components of the IT Department.
 
Finance-Tom Chase.
  • Change of the buyer’s position to reflect additional responsibilities.
 
City General Expenses/Revenue-Finance Director Tom Chase.
  • City Property Tax decrease will not be as bad as thought.
  • State revenue sharing was projected at zero and will actually be approximately  $240,000.
  •  $800,000 with funds from both ARCH and Brownfield Grants.
  • Reviewed debt service for the Justice Center, City Hall & DPW facilities.                                    
The meeting was adjourned at 7:35 P.M.
 
 
Dan Kasunic    Sharon R. Brinks
City Clerk         Chairperson
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