City Council

December 31, 2012 CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS City Council Meeting City Council Room 10:00 AM PRESENT: Scott Johnson, Mayor Michele Madigan, Commissioner of Finance John Franck, Commissioner of Accounts Anthony Scirocco, Commissioner of DPW Christian Mathiesen, Commissioner of DPS STAFF PRESENT: Shauna Sutton, Deputy Mayor Lynn Bachner, Deputy Commissioner, Finance Eileen Finneran, Deputy Commissioner, DPS Joe Scala, City Attorney ABSENT: Tim Cogan, Deputy Commissioner, DPW Sharon Kellner-Chille, Deputy Commissioner, Accounts Matthew Veitch, Supervisor Joanne Yepsen, Supervisor CALL TO ORDER Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD/ 15 MINUTES Mayor Johnson opened the public comment period at 10:02 a.m. John Tighe, Rowland Street, Milton New York thanked Commissioner Mathiesen for making the fireworks happen this year. He is glad to see the Commissioner working with the downtown business leaders and he hopes there is more cooperation between the business leaders and Public Safety downtown; he thinks it sets a good tone for the rest of the year. He questioned why Saratoga Arts is being charge $1500 to rent the music hall this evening. He believes that [$1500] is the most expensive rental of the entire year, the second most expensive being the Dance Flurry which pays $2,000 for three days. He said that tonight the Saratoga Music Hall is hosting the Saratoga City Ballet which is our only resident ballet company made up of mainly local children and is one of the most important venues this evening and will be one of the most popular. The City should be doing more to promote events like this and not be trying to make a profit off this non-profit which brings so much to the community. John Tighe said he was saddened about the death of Justin Moran and he wishes that the City had a comprehensive drug program in place so that instead of termination, he might have City Council Agenda Meeting December 31, 2012 received treatment because with termination, he lost his health care which was the only way for him to seek treatment. He said that the City should have a comprehensive drug testing program along with a comprehensive drug rehabilitation program so these kinds of problems can be found sooner rather than later when they are at such an acute phase. Commissioner Scirocco said he met with Joel Reed last Friday. He said the rates were set by the previous administration in 2002 and because it was already agreed upon, Mr. Reed agreed to pay the rate this year because it is a long day and people have to be put on overtime, however, they have agreed to re-negotiate the fee next year. Commissioner Mathiesen said that regarding a comprehensive drug treatment program, the City has a program and they are trying to incorporate a drug testing program. They have an Employee Assistance program that has been part of the [employee] contracts for a number of years and these are programs that are there to help individuals in both the Fire and the Police Departments with situations like this. He said it is very unfortunate and very sad about Mr. Moran and he offered condolences to the family. Seeing that no one else wished to speak, Mayor Johnson closed the Public Comment period at 10:05 a.m. EXECUTIVE SESSION None CONSENT AGENDA 1. Approve Budget Amendments (Increases) 2. Approve Budget Transfers - Regular Mayor Scott Johnson moved and Commissioner Michele Madigan seconded to accept the Consent Agenda as distributed. Ayes all MAYOR’S DEPARTMENT Nothing at this time ACCOUNTS DEPARTMENT Nothing at this time FINANCE DEPARTMENT Discussion and Vote: Budget Transfers – Benefits (12-431) Commissioner Madigan stated that the budget transfers to/from the benefits lines total $86,731.20 and are summarized as follows: By fund: Page 2 of 4 City Council Agenda Meeting December 31, 2012 General $ 83,206.86 Water $ 2,750.00 Sewer $ 300.00 Capital $ 474.34 By Department: Mayor $ 14.44 Finance $ 0.01 Public Works $ 4,261.34 Public Safety $ 82,455.41 Commissioner Madigan stated that the untapped HRA reimbursement funds in the Public Safety budget are being used to cover retroactive pay owed Firefighters per the recently negotiated firefighter’s Union contract approved by the City Council at the December 18, 2012 meeting. Commissioner Madigan said that the remainder of these transfers are to cover social security, payroll, and retirement line items through year-end. Many of these transfers cover nominal negative amounts apparent after final payroll and warrant postings. Commissioner Michele Madigan moved and Commissioner Christian Mathiesen seconded to request City Council approval of the 2012 Budget Transfers-Benefits which were distributed with the agenda. This set of transfers is listed separately per the budget transfer policy, and have met the transfer guidelines. Ayes all Discussion and Vote: Budget Transfers - Contingency (12-432) Commissioner Michele Madigan moved and Commissioner John Franck seconded to request City Council approval of the 2012 Budget Transfer-Contingency that has been made available with the Agenda materials. This transfer is listed separately, per the budget transfer policy, and has met the transfer guidelines: Lines 1-2: The Finance Department is asking to transfer $127,628.11 to the General Fund expense line for firefighter ’s payroll, from the General Fund contingency line. This is to cover retroactive pay owed to the Firefighters per the recently negotiated Firefighters Union contract approved by the City Council at the December 18, 2012 meeting. The current amount in the contingency expense line is $127,628.11. There will be 0 dollars ($0.00) remaining after this transfer. Ayes all Discussion and Vote: Budget transfers – Payroll (12-433) Commissioner Madigan stated that the Budget Transfers-Payroll total $20,692.82 and are summarized as follows: By Fund: General $ 6,262.92 Page 3 of 4 City Council Agenda Meeting December 31, 2012 City Center $ 2,021.47 Water $ 0.01 Sewer $ 6,000.00 Capital $ 6,408.42 By Department: Mayor $ 4.49 Finance $ 0.15 Public Works $14,217.69 Public Safety $ 4,448.65 Accounts $ 0.37 Recreation $ 0.00 City Center $ 2,021.47 Commissioner Madigan stated that these transfers are to cover payroll and one service contract through year-end. Many of these transfers cover nominal negative amounts apparent after final payroll and warrant postings. Commissioner Michele Madigan moved and Mayor Scott Johnson seconded to request City Council approval of the 2012 Budget Transfers-Payroll which were distributed with the agenda. This set of transfers is listed separately, per the budget transfer policy, and has met the transfer guidelines. Ayes all PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Nothing at this time PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT Nothing at this time SUPERVISORS Nothing at this time ADJOURN Mayor Scott Johnson moved and Commissioner John Franck seconded to adjourn the meeting . Ayes all Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at 10:10 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Nancy Wagner Clerk Approved: 2/5/13 Vote: 5 - 0 Page 4 of 4