CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS
CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORKSHOP
MAY 19, 1997
THE CENTRAL FALLS CITY COUNCIL MET ON THE ABOVE DATE IN THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT 8:06 P.M.
COUNCILMAN NOURY
COUNCILMAN FERRI
COUNCILMAN WEBER
COUNCILMAN AUNCHMAN
COUNCILMAN CANAVAN
WORKSHOP WAS OPENED BY PRESIDENT PRO-TEMP. ROBERT FERRI WHO TURNED THE CHAIR TO THE CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN ASKED THE CLERK TO READ THE MAYOR'S BUDGET MESSAGE.
SO READ.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN TURNED THE MEETING TO COUNCILMAN ROBERT WEBER, CHAIR OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
THE COUNCIL BEGAN ITS REVIEW OF THE BUDGET STARTING WITH PAGE 6 OF THE BUDGET WORKSHEET.
JOHN KUZMISKI, FINANCE DIRECTOR EXPLAINED HOW THE TAX REVENUES ARE DERIVED AND THE PRIOR YEAR COLLECTIONS. HE ALSO COMMENTED ON AUTO TAX REVENUES.
COUNCILMAN NOURY ASKED WHY THERE IS $150,000 LESS IN TAX REVENUES.
JOHN KUZMISKI BASED HIS FIGURES ON CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATES OF REVENUES JUDGING FROM ACTUALS BASED ON 95% OF THIS YEAR'S RECEIPTS. HE STATED THAT IT IS WISE TO BE PRUDENT IN CALCULATING ESTIMATED REVENUES.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN QUESTIONED THE FINANCE DIRECTOR ON THE FIGURES GIVEN TO THE REVIEW COMMISSION OF 84.87% IN COLLECTIONS. HE ALSO COMMENTED ON 3RD QUARTER RECEIPTS.
JOHN KUZMISKI STATED THAT HE EXPECTED 92-100% IN COLLECTIONS. HE ALSO EXPLAINED THE TOTAL FEES AND NON TAX REVENUES.
COUNCILMAN NOURY QUESTIONED THE $25,000 DROP.
JOHN KUZMISKI STATED THAT IT DOES NO GOOD TO OVERESTIMATE OR BE OVERLY OPTIMISTIC IN DERIVING THESE INCOMES..
COUNCILMAN NOURY ASKED TO BE PROVIDED WITH AN ACTUAL EXPENDED BUDGET FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN COMMENTED.
COUNCILMAN WEBER COMMENTED ON THE ROLE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY ADMINISTRATION WITH RELATION TO THE REVENUE ESTIMATES IN THE BUDGET.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN RECESSED THE MEETING AT 8:31 P.M. MEETING RECONVENED AT 8:34 P.M.
COUNCILMAN AUNCHMAN QUESTIONED THE INCREASE IN THE MUNICIPAL COURT REVENUES.
THE FINANCE DIRECTOR RESPONDED.
THE CITY CLERK EXPLAINED THE REVENUE INCREASE IN PROBATE REVENUES.
THE FINANCE DIRECTOR EXPLAINED THE INTEREST ON INVESTMENTS, THE CITY'S SURPLUS, CASH RESERVES AND SPECIAL REVENUE ACCOUNTS.
COUNCILMAN FERRI COMMENTED ON TAKING A CONSERVATIVE LINE WITH REGARDS TO REVENUES.
JOHN KUZMISKI COMMENTED ON THE IDEA OF BUDGETING AND STATED THAT ESTIMATES EITHER TOO HIGH OR TOO LOW ARE NOT GOOD AND THAT IN ESTIMATING THIS FIGURES IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE ACCURATE AS POSSIBLE BUT IT IS BETTER TO KEEP THESE ESTIMATES ON THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE. HE WENT ON TO EXPLAIN STATE AID, GENERAL REVENUE SHARING ETC. HE ALSO SPOKE ON THE SCHOOL HOUSING AID.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN QUESTIONED VIDEO GAMING AND ASKED IF THIS WAS GAMBLING?
JOHN KUZMISKI COMMENTED ON RESCUE RUNS AND PROPERTY PRESERVATION PROGRAM.
COUNCILMAN NOURY QUESTIONED THE $88,000 REVENUE OF RESCUE RUNS.
PUBLIC LAND EXPLAINED.
SPECIAL REVENUES ACCOUNT EXPLAINED.
MAYOR MATTHEWS COMMENTED.
COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR CONTINUED THEIR COMMENTED RELATIVE TO THE CITY'S REVENUE NEEDS.
JOHN KUZMISKI COMMENTED ON THE DETENTION CENTER'S REVENUE AND WHAT HAS BEEN PAID T0 THE CITY AND WHAT IS DUE TO THE CITY.
DISCUSSION CONTINUED RELATIVE TO BUDGET ESTIMATED REVENUE.
SPECIAL ACCOUNT AND FUND BALANCE EXPLAINED.
MISCELLANEOUS OTHER REVENUE EXPLAINED.
MAYOR'S OFFICE ACCOUNTS WERE DISCUSSED.
COUNCIL MEMBERS COMMENTED ON THE MAYOR'S SALARY.
COUNCILMAN AUNCHMAN ASKED IF ANYONE RECEIVED RAISES OVER 3% IN THIS BUDGET.
THE MAYOR RESPONDED THAT THE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER'S SALARY IS OVER 3%.
COUNCIL MEMBERS CONTINUED TO ADDRESS A PROPOSED INCREASE FOR THE SALARY OF THE MAYOR. THE CONSENSUS WAS THAT THE MAYOR SHOULD RECEIVE A SALARY OF 3% OVER THE HIGHEST PAID DEPARTMENT HEAD. NO RESOLUTION TO THIS QUESTION WAS TAKEN.
COUNCIL MEMBERS DISCUSSED THE CAMERA OPERATOR'S POSITION IN DETAIL ALONG WITH PUBLIC ACCESS TV.
COUNCIL MEMBERS ASKED WHY THERE IS NO OVERTIME LISTED IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK.
THE MAYOR STATED THAT PRESENTLY $2,170 WOULD BE TAKEN FROM THE SALARY ACCOUNT TO COVER OVERTIME PAID TO THE CLERK. HE STATED THAT THE OFFICE PRESENTLY OPERATES WELL WITHOUT A FULL TIME CITY CLERK AND HE WILL BUDGET $15,277 FOR THE SALARY OF A PART TIME CITY CLERK IN THE EVENT ONE IS NEEDED NEXT YEAR.
MOTION TO ADJOURN WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN FERRI AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FERRI.
DISCUSSION TOOK PLACE ABOUT THE NEED TO CONTINUE THE REVIEW OF THE BUDGET.
MOTION AND SECOND WITHDRAWN.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN DISCUSSED HIS PROPOSAL WITH REGARD TO THE INCREASE IN THE MAYOR'S SALARY. IT WAS SUGGESTED AND AGREED UPON THAT THE MAYOR SHOULD RECEIVED A SALARY OF 3% HIGHER THAT OF THE HIGHEST PAID DEPARTMENT HEAD. HE STATED THAT THERE SHOULD BE AN INCREASE BUT NOT GIVEN IN THIS MANNER AS THE MAYOR NEGOTIATES A CONTRACT WITH THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND IT WOULD BE RIGHT FOR THE MAYOR TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT KNOWING THAT ANY INCREASE GIVEN TO THE CHIEF OF POLICE WOULD RESULT IN AN INCREASE FOR THE MAYOR OF 3% ABOVE THAT RAISE. HE STATED THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE A GOOD PRACTICE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO INITIATE. HE STATED THAT IN HIS OPINION THE MAYOR SHOULD RECEIVE A SALARY INCREASE. HE SUGGESTED THAT THE COUNCIL DO THIS. HE ALSO REMINDED THE COUNCIL THAT THEY COULD ONLY MAKE SUGGESTIONS FOR THE CHANGES TO THE BUDGET BECAUSE THIS IS THE MAYOR'S BUDGET.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PROCEEDED TO DISCUSS THE PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT. THEY QUESTIONED OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
THE FINANCE DIRECTOR EXPLAINED THAT THE PERSONNEL SPECIALIST IS CONSIDERED A CONSULTANT AND NOT AN EMPLOYEE THEREFORE THIS SUM LISTED IS FOR THE PERSONNEL SPECIALIST IN THE AMOUNT OF $31,521 AND TESTING IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,665.
LEGAL DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL DISCUSSED. IT WAS EXPLAINED THAT LEGAL HAS 3 SALARIES ONE FOR PART-TIME CLERK AND 2 ATTORNEYS.
EXPENSES FOR THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT WERE DESCRIBED AND THE REASON GIVEN FOR THE DECREASE IN THIS ACCOUNT.
TAX ASSESSOR'S OFFICE EXPENSES INCLUDES 3% SALARY INCREASE FOR TAX ASSESSOR AND CLERK EXPENSES IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT WERE DISCUSSED INCLUDING SALARY INCREASES AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR ADP (PAYROLL) ACTUARIAL STUDY AND COMPUTER SUPPORT.
EXPENSES IN THE BOARD OF CANVASSERS WERE DISCUSSED.
THE COUNCIL DISCUSSED THE SALARY OF THE CITY SERGEANT AND DECIDED THAT HE SHOULD RECEIVE $1200 ANNUALLY AT A RATE OF $100.00 PER MONTH.
CITY PROPERTY ACCOUNT WAS DISCUSSED. THE HEATING FUEL AND ELECTRICAL ACCOUNTS SHOWED A DECREASED. THE FINANCE DIRECTOR EXPLAINED THAT THIS AMOUNT WAS AGREED UPON FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER'S HEATING AND ELECTRICITY. SINCE THAT TIME A LEASE WITH THE YMCA ALLOWS FOR $50,000 TO BE PAID IN MONTHLY INSTALLMENTS TO THE YMCA. THIS AMOUNT HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
THE COUNCIL DISCUSSED THE POSSIBILITY OF A STIPEND FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE JUVENILE HEARING BOARD.
THE COUNCIL PROCEEDED TO DISCUSS THE EXPENSES OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
COUNCIL MEMBERS COMMENTED ON THE SALARIES OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHICH INCLUDED ALLOWANCES FOR FEDERAL GRANTS. ETC.
COMMENTED WERE MADE ABOUT DRUG RELATED CRIMINAL OFFENSES AND THE SUBSTANTIAL FUNDS COMING INTO THE CITY AS A RESULT.
FIRE DEPARTMENT EXPENSES WERE DISCUSSED.
THE OVERTIME WAS QUESTIONED AND COMMENTS ON A 3% RAISE AND TRANSFER OF FUNDS WERE DISCUSSED. COMMENTS WERE MADE REGARDING THE MINIMUM MANNING CLAUSE.
COMMENTS WERE MADE IN THE AREA OF RETIREMENTS, FIRE FIGHTER EQUIP AND THE ON GOING NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
MOTION TO ADJOURN TO WEDNESDAY MAY 28, 1997 WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN AUNCHMAN AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FERRI.
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ELIZABETH A. CROWLEY, CMC
ACTING CITY CLERK