Village Board

MEETING MINUTES Village of Palmyra SPECIAL VILLAGE BOARD MEETING Monday January 13, 2025 Palmyra Public Safety Building 126 N First Street 6:00 P.M. The meeting was called to order by President Weiss at 6:01 pm. Roll call: Ball, Gorsegner, Kinjerski, Petruska, Smith, Tucker, Weiss-present. New Business 1. Discussion/possible action on a referendum amount for April 2025 election with Ehlers. Weiss explained that our levy limit is tight from the State and the public safety dept. in order to make legal crews they have had to add significant staff. Casey Griffiths from Ehlers is here as well. Public fire protection was mentioned to be moved out of the General Fund and onto the water bills, this frees up $118,774 with no negative adjustment required and the same with the recycling costs only, not garbage. This would be a separate charge on everyone’s tax bills. This is approx. $46,000. This year’s deficit was $175,000 and for 2026 this could be significantly more. Scott Pavlock calculated the amount of money that will go up in 2026. We are $2.50 under an hour for wages for our full-time fire/ems. The Town contract will greatly affect these numbers. We need 4 people to manage an engine crew. If we cut it to 3 then in certain instances, it is not a legal crew. Pavlock says if the referendum fails, the Village could eliminate the police dept. The remaining items that are left are to get a legal crew per the contract with the Town. Scott reviewed the income that they are still working on: fire inspections, ACT 102, billing, etc. They have also increased citation fees, licenses, etc. Weiss made the comment that this is not a situation unique to Palmyra she has heard from State Reps that this is the case all over the state. The system is broken, and this is how we are left to deal with it. Then Sgt. LePak went over the spreadsheet she did for 2026 payroll for the public safety department. There are no raises for the fire chief, the Public Safety Director and Jill. There is a 4% increase for the Police, wages will go up to $20/hr. for fire/ems personnel and the automatic WRS increase. There is also the FICA increase. LePak put in a 15% increase for health insurance, which is just a guess. An additional position of to cover 24/7 365 days. And an additional FT Police officer, but this still won’t allow 24/7 coverage. LePak built in “benefit coverage” for people to cover time off, 457 hours of special event coverage (Fisheree, football games, etc.), every parade is approx. 40 hrs of police time. Trustee Petruska asked how much this will raise taxes. Casey from Ehlers said approx. 40% the 2024 taxes with the $500,000 request. Trustee Gorsegner wants to make sure that we have the necessary coverage. Weiss mentioned the new development would help; Petruska says yes but how long will that take. Gorsegner doesn’t want fee, fee everyone with all of this being put out as “fees” to residents. He also said that the Village will have to put together a plan that helps explain this to residents and makes sense to taxpayers. Petruska/Gorsegner motion to direct Ehlers to present them with 2 resolutions at the Jan. 20th Board meeting, one amount of $325,00 & another one for $350,00. All ayes-motion carried. Ehlers will help the Village with public meetings, handouts, and mailings. Trustee Tucker says she would like to see the meetings get recorded and that we purchase a replacement camera for transparency. 2. Petruska/Smith motion to convene into Closed Session at 6:50 pm with staff, pursuant to §19.85(1)(c) Considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility. Specifically for the resignation of Public Safety Director Scott Pavlock. Roll call vote: Ball, Gorsegner, Kinjerski, Petruska, Smith, Tucker, Weiss-aye. Motion carried. Scott Pavlock asked that members of his staff stay for the first part of the meeting and then if the board would like them to leave later that is fine. President Weiss was fine with that. The Clerk stayed as well until approximately 7:40 pm. 3. Gorsegner/Petruska motion to convene into open session at 8:15 pm. for further discussion related to matters discussed in closed session. Roll call vote: Ball, Gorsegner, Kinjerski, Petruska, Smith, Tucker, Weiss-aye. Motion carried. Gorsegner/Kinjerski motion that the board will not accept Scott Pavlock’s resignation, and they will work to address the respect & communication concerns. 6 ayes, 1 nay. Motion carried. Petruska/Smith motion to adjourn at 8:18 pm. All ayes-motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Laurie Mueller, Village Clerk/Treasurer Minutes approved with corrections on Jan. 20, 2025