Finance & Personnel

FINANCE AND PERSONNEL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES REGULAR SESSION OCTOBER 21, 2025 The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Dave Roelli at 6:00 PM. Present at roll call were: Dave Roelli, Steve Pickett, and Kerry Black. Absent: Mayor Mike McDermott. Also present were: Szvon Conway, Joe Boll, Cindy Corley, Jeff McCarthy, John Sonsalla, Janet Trout, and Amy Johnson. Motion by Roelli, seconded by Black, that the meeting notice and agenda were properly posted. Motion carried. Motion by Pickett, seconded by Black, to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. Motion carried. Under new business, motion by Roelli, seconded by Pickett, to go into closed session in accordance with Section 19.85 (1) (c) Wis. Stats., to interview candidates for the Director of Public Works position; and if appropriate, recommend the hiring of this applicant for the position. Roll Call Vote: All Ayes. Motion carried. Conway and Trout then left the meeting. Motion by Pickett, second by Roelli, to reconvene to regular session in accordance with Section 19.85 (2) Wis. Stats., to recommend an applicant for the Director of Public Works position to the City Council for approval. Roll Call Vote: All Ayes. Motion carried. Janet Trout, Szvon Conway, Al Hinderman, Danni Havens, Wade Berget, Jeff McCarthy, and Jesse Westerman arrived at the meeting. No recommendation was made. Under new business, discussion was then held concerning a request from representatives of the Darlington Chamber/Main Street Program. A copy of the letter was included in the agenda packet. Chamber Director Jess Westerman attended the meeting to answer any questions. They are requesting a $15,000.00 contribution in 2026. After review and consideration, motion by Pickett, seconded by Black, to maintain the City’s contribution at $15,000.00 and include the amount in the overall 2026 City budget. Motion carried. Discussion was then held concerning a request from representatives of the Darlington Chamber/Main Street Program for the Canoe Festival. A copy of the letter was included in the agenda packet. They are requesting $5,000.00 and an increase of $1,000.00 from the previous year. After review and consideration, motion by Pickett, seconded by Black, to approve the $5,000.00 contribution to the Darlington Canoe Festival event for 2026 and include the amount in the overall 2026 City budget. Motion carried. City employees attended the meeting to present their proposed 2026 department budgets. Copies of all the proposed budgets were included in the agenda packet. All proposed budgets include a 3.0% wage increase, authorized by Mayor McDermott, unless otherwise stated. The following 2026 department budgets were then presented for review and consideration. • Al Hinderman then presented the Municipal Building budget for 2026. This proposed budget calls for total revenues of $49,796.00 and total expenses of $277,051.06, and an outlay request of $10,000.00. Total expenses are 5.5% higher than in 2025. The increase is due to moving Jim Polkinghorn to the Maintenance Department, paying 50% of his wages and benefits, and increased insurance premiums. After review and consideration, motion by Pickett, seconded by Black, to accept the 2026 Municipal Building budget as presented and include the amounts in the overall 2026 City budget. Motion carried.  • Amy Johnson then presented the Public Works Department budget for 2026. This proposed budget calls for total revenues of $11,650.00 and total expenses of $408,200.00, plus outlay requests of $25,000.00 for Street Construction, $25,000.00 for Street Machinery, and $25,000.00 for Parking Lots. Total expenses are $27,250.00 higher than in 2025. After review and consideration, motion by Pickett, seconded by Black, to accept the 2026 Public Works Department budget as presented and include the amounts in the overall 2026 City budget. Motion carried. • Janet Trout then presented the Library budget for 2026. The amount requested from the City budget started at $173,329.00, which is $13,329.00 higher than the 2025 approved request. Janet stated her budget includes a 3.0% wage increase for most of her employees and the health insurance premium increase. After review and consideration, motion by Pickett, seconded by Black, to accept the 2026 Library budget as presented and include the amount in the overall 2026 City budget. Motion carried. • Danni Havens then presented the Wellness Center budget for 2026. This proposed budget calls for total revenues of $99,100.00 and total expenses of $124,884.00. Total expenses are $11,331.00 higher than 2025 expenses. After review and consideration, motion by Pickett, seconded by Black, to accept the 2026 Wellness Center budget as presented and include the amounts in the overall 2026 City budget. Motion carried. • Wade Berget then presented the Park and Recreation budget for 2026. This proposed budget calls for total revenues of $83,150.00 and total expenses of $323,430.30; and outlay requests of $1,500.00 for Recreation, $15,000.00 for Swimming Pool, and $35,000.00 for Parks. Total expenses are $42,785.30 higher than in 2025. The largest increases were due to the health insurance premium increasing and due to moving Jim Polkinghorn to the Parks Department and Recreation Department, paying 50% of his wages and benefits. Questions were asked by those present. After review and consideration, motion by Pickett, seconded by Black, to accept the 2026 Park and Recreation budget as presented and include the amounts in the overall 2026 City budget. Motion carried. • Szvon Conway then presented the Police Department budget for 2026. Chief Conway handed out an updated budget. This proposed budget calls for total revenues of $26,000.00 and total expenses of $763,462.25, plus an outlay request of $30,000.00. Total expenses are $48,930.25 higher than in 2025. Szvon stated the increase in expenses is due to higher insurance premiums and the approved wage increase. After review and consideration, motion by Black, seconded by Pickett, to accept the 2026 Police Department budget as presented and include the amounts in the overall 2026 City budget. Motion carried. There being no further business for this meeting, motion by Black, seconded by Pickett, to adjourn the meeting at 7:00 PM. Motion carried. CITY OF DARLINGTON Amy L. Johnson, Clerk-Treasurer