CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS
CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORKSHOP
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
MAY 28, 1997
A MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD ON THE ABOVE DATE IN THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT 8:02 P.M.
COUNCILMAN NOURY
COUNCILMAN FERRI
COUNCILMAN CANAVAN
COUNCILMAN WEBER
COUNCILMAN AUNCHMAN
QUORUM PRESENT.
CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ROBERT CANAVAN PRESIDED.
THE COUNCIL BEGAN THEIR REVIEW OF THE BUDGET WITH THE PROBATE COURT ACCOUNT.
COUNCILMAN NOURY QUESTIONED THE 3% RAISE FOR THE PROBATE JUDGE.
COUNCILMAN NOURY QUESTIONED THE SALARIES OF COURT PERSONNEL.
THE FINANCE DIRECTOR ANSWERED THAT THESE REFLECT A 3% INCREASE.
MAYOR MATTHEWS STATED THAT THE JUDGE FELT HE DESERVED A $10,000 INCREASE BUT THE MAYOR FEELS NO ONE NEEDS THAT KIND OF INCREASE.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN QUESTIONED THE PART TIME CLERK IN THAT DEPARTMENT.
MAYOR MATTHEWS COMMENTED.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN QUESTIONED THE HOURS OF THE SECRETARY AND HER DUTIES RELATIVE TO MUNICIPAL COURT.
COUNCILMAN AUNCHMAN QUESTIONED THE DECREASE IN BOARDING OF ANIMALS.
JOHN KUZMISKI RESPONDED.
COUNCILMAN NOURY QUESTIONED THE STATUS OF THE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER.
MAYOR MATTHEWS RESPONDED.
COUNCILMAN FERRI STATED THAT THE CITY SHOULD THINK ABOUT THE BUILDING OF A ANIMAL SHELTER.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN RESPONDED THAT THIS WOULD COST MORE THAN THE $7500.00 ALLOTTED FOR THIS PROGRAM.
JOHN KUZMISKI RESPONDED THAT THE $7500.00 INCLUDED OTHER THINGS SUCH AS VETS COST, DISPOSAL ETC.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN QUESTIONED WHY THERE WAS NOT ALLOCATION FOR THE TREE WARDEN.
MAYOR MATTHEWS RESPONDED.
COUNCILMAN AUNCHMAN QUESTIONED THE SALARIES OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICE.
COUNCILMAN NOURY QUESTIONED PROPERTY PROTECTION ACCOUNT.
THE FINANCE DIRECTOR RESPONDED AND EXPLAINED THAT PROPERTY PROTECTION INCLUDED BOARDING PROPERTIES THAT ARE ABANDONED AND HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BY FIRE.
DEMOLITION HE STATED COMES FROM CONTINGENCIES.
THE COUNCIL FOCUSED ITS ATTENTION ON THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT.
QUESTIONS CENTERED AROUND SUMMER HELP, SALARIES, ROAD REPAIRS ETC.
MAYOR MATTHEWS AND JOHN KUZMISKI EXPLAINED IN DETAIL.
COUNCILMAN WEBER COMMENTED ON THE LIBRARY AND RELATED EXPENSES.
MAYOR MATTHEWS COMMENTED AND STATED THAT THE LIBRARY AND ITS DIRECTOR HAVE ACCOMPLISHED A GREAT DEAL OF WORK.
THE COUNCIL THEN BEGAN ITS QUESTIONING OF THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT BUDGET.
COUNCILMAN NOURY QUESTIONED THE SALARY INCREASE AND ASKED IF D.A.R.E WAS FUNDED FROM THE RECREATION BUDGET.
JOHN KUZMISKI ANSWERED THAT THE SALARY INCREASE IS FROM THE 3% SALARY INCREASE AND THAT D.A.R.E IS FUNDED FROM A SPECIAL REVENUE ACCOUNT.
COUNCILMAN WEBER ASKED IF THE CITY SPONSORS THE BASKETBALL LEAGUES.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN COMMENTED.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN QUESTIONED THE $50,000 INCREASE.
JOHN KUZMISKI STATED THAT THIS WAS PREVIOUSLY IN THE CITY PROPERTY ACCOUNT FOR THE YMCA AS PER OUR LEASE AGREEMENT.
MAYOR MATTHEWS COMMENTED ON CDGB FUNDS.
COUNCILMAN AUNCHMAN QUESTIONED THE $1,000 FOR STATE GAMES.
MAYOR MATTHEWS EXPLAINED.
PLANNING DEPARTMENT SALARIES WERE QUESTIONED.
COUNCILMAN NOURY ASKED FOR A COPY OF THEIR BUDGET.
MAYOR MATTHEWS EXPLAINED FEDERAL FUNDS AND CDGB FUNDS AND HOW DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE BVCAP, CHILDREN'S SERVICES; BLACKSTONE VALLEY TOURISM COUNCIL ETC.
COUNCIL MEMBERS ASKED IF THE PLANNING/BOOKKEEPER POSITION WAS FILLED.
COUNCIL MEMBERS QUESTIONED THE MUNICIPAL DEBT.
THE FINANCE DIRECTOR EXPLAINED THE DEBT PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST AND THE GOOD NEWS RELATIVE TO BONDING FOR THE SCHOOL BONDS. HE STATED THAT THE FIRST PAYMENT WOULD BE DUE ON NOVEMBER 15 IN THE AMOUNT OF $750,000 FOR PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST IN THE AMOUNT OF $197,000. ALSO MAY 15 INTEREST IN THE AMOUNT OF $182,815.
CONTINGENCIES WERE COMMENTED ON ESPECIALLY LEGAL CONTINGENCIES.
IT WAS STATED THAT THIS SHOULD BE MOVED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
MAYOR COMMENTED ON OUTSIDE LEGAL FEES.
COUNCILMAN NOURY STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO GO THROUGH THE LEGAL CONTINGENCIES ACCOUNT.
GENERAL CONTINGENCIES WERE EXPLAINED AND EXAMPLES WERE GIVEN RELATIVE TO THIS ACCOUNT. THE MAYOR EXPLAINED THAT THIS IS FOR UNPLANNED SURPRISES.
MAYOR MATTHEWS STATED THAT THIS IS A NEEDED ACCOUNT.
THE FINANCE DIRECTOR STATED THAT IF THE MONEY IS NOT ALLOCATED IN THIS ACCOUNT THERE COULD BE A PROBLEM.
EMPLOYEES BENEFITS WERE COMMENTED ON AND MEMBERS QUESTIONED BLUE CROSS AND UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION EXPENSES.
WORKMAN COMP. WAS DISCUSSED WHICH IS ALLOCATED IN THE CITY PROPERTY ACCOUNT.
DISCUSSION CONTINUED RELATIVE TO INSURANCE COVERAGE.
MAYOR MATTHEWS EXPLAINED THAT THE CITY IS SELF INSURED FOR ON THE JOB INJURIES. HE ALSO COMMENTED ON COMPENSATED ABSENCES, UNUSED VACATION AND SICK TIME.
COUNCILMAN NOURY QUESTIONED THE $125,000 INCREASE IN MEDICAL INSURANCE.
BASICALLY ALL MEDICAL INSURANCE COVERAGE IN THE STATE ARE RECEIVING A 15% INCREASE.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN ASKED IF THE MEDICAL WAS STILL TIED IN WITH THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
THE REPLY WAS NO.
THE CITY ADMINISTRATION EXPLAINED THAT THIS IS WHY THE CITY HAS GONE OUT TO BID ON MEDICAL COVERAGE.
PUBLIC SAFETY PENSION-JOHN HANCOCK PLAN WAS DISCUSSED. IT WAS STATED THAT THIS WOULD COST $1.5 MILLION OVER THE NEXT 25 YEARS. THIS IS 25% OF THE BUDGET. MANY COMMUNITIES ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM.
DISCUSSION CONTINUED IN DETAIL REGARDING PENSION FUNDING ISSUES.
MOTION TO RECESS TO EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER EXEMPTION 5 WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN WEBER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN NOURY. ALL AGREED. SO VOTED.
TIME 9:45 P.M.
MEETING RECONVENED AT 9:58 P.M.
MOTION TO NOT CONVENE TO EXECUTIVE SESSION WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN WEBER AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL NOURY.
THE REASON THE COUNCIL DID NOT CONVENE TO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND NEEDED LEGAL TO CLARIFY. MOTION CARRIED 5-0.
MOTION TO RECESS WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN WEBER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FERRI.
ALL AGREED. SO VOTED. THE MEETING WAS RECESSED TO MAY 29. TIME 10:01 P.M.
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ELIZABETH A. CROWLEY, CMC
ACTING CITY CLERK