THAT MUDDLE MEETING

Still not scintillating but at best is this observers report on action taken at the Special Meeting to vote on amendments to the proposed 2013 budget. 

Despite Consultant Kochel’s explanation that there was no change in the bottom line of the budget accepted in April; and despite his explanation of the rationale behind each line change; some members and at times the entire Council seemed to be discombobulated, For various reasons the onlookers at times were also extremely befuddled especially by some negative votes and remarks from Councilors.

Be that as it may some of the confusion was caused by two typo omissions on the Resolution. 

The first was on the Recreation line which listed only Salaries and Wages with an adjustment from a proposed $199,257.00 to $139,257.00 due to the fact that there was a major vacancy in the division for the past 6 months. After some discussion when it was realized that the Seasonal Worker line was absent the final amount was readjusted to $70,257.00.

On the corrected printout for the seasonal workers Salaries and Wages was increased from proposed $333,627.00 to$378,627.00 which included the monies deducted from S&W line.

Brown and Reid had voted against the changes before it was explained that there was an increase on the all important Seasonal Employees line and that the overall 82K decrease was due to eliminating the unpaid salaries for the vacant (to date)positions in 2013.

An increase in Council “Other Expenses” Funding from a proposed $12,500.00 to $85,000.00 which needed a 2/3rd vote since it was an increase received at split 3:3 vote. The 72k increase was for a needed study on the Administration organization (I.e. - the Departments) and staffing for better efficiency.

I am not sure but I had the impression that this was a recommendation from Kochel who had been acting City Administrator after the Williamson/Robinson-Briggs fiasco.

Reid supported by Brown objected to spending money on a consultant. After Councilor Storch suggested reducing the funding to 75K the resolution was “revisited” and was amended and adopted.

Bewildered? Sorry but that was the tone of the evening. What the proposed Consultation is aimed at is one of the questions the Charter Committee has on its docket; the practicality and effectiveness of the present 3 Department Structure. I have the impression that Kochel believes that there will be a great cost savings over a few years which would more than offset the cost.

The advantage of such a study in the next few months is that a new administration could implement any recommended changes promptly whereas if proposed by Charter change it would have to wait for a referendum on the general election ballot to approve any Charter Changes.

After being informed that the 500K cut in the proposed Fire Department Salary and Wages line was actually a 500K over that spent in 2012 that was approved. 

An increase from the proposed 50K to 400K for Capital Improvements was accepted with Reid objecting.

Space does not permit of all other changes but the bottom line is that the total general appropriations of $73,577,214.67 are less than that on last year’s budget by about 1.5 million.