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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/27/1975 MINUTES October 27, 1975 A special City Council Meeting was called to order at 7 10 by Mayor Homer Roesener at 4355 Field Street. The Regular had been previously cancelled by Council due to a holiday. p.m. Meeting Councilmen aM~rR~ing were Hulsey, Larry and Louise shortly after the meeting Mary Jo Cavarra, Joseph Donaldson, Calin Turner. Councilman Robert Howard arrived convened. Also in attendance were City Administrator John Jerman, City Clerk Elise Bnwgham and staff and interested citizens. City Attorney Maurice Fox arrived l~ter. Motion by Councilman Merkl "I move that Agenda Item #3 be changed to Item #1, and have Items #1 and #2 follow." Motion was secor,ded by Councilman Donaldson and passed 5-0. Councilman Howard was absent. Mr. Jerman explained there was an alternate capital improvements budget if the sales tax failed for a total expenditure of $244,973. He srated the original capital improvement budget would be used if the sales tax passed. He stated in the operating budget there would be $150,000 unallocated reserve, the 5% raise for the employees is included and the there is funding for the lri-district animal shelter. He stated it is a credit to the city that it can hold the line on its operating budget. He stated there wem no new positions other than the 2 in the police budget that will be carried from this year. Councilman Hulsev questioned the alternate capital budget being based on 2.7 mill levy increase. It was stated this was discussed at a previous budget meeting that he had not attended. In answer to a question, Mr. Jerman stated the final draft of the budget dated 10/27/75 was $12,000 less than the preliminary budget, and the unallocated reserve has been increased. Motion by Councilman Cavarra "I move that the funds allocated for \outh Services fee personnel be deleted at this time, and placed in the Unallocated Surplus, and that the staff prepare a grant application requesting funds to implement this program and that appropriate job qualifications and descriptions be prepared." Motion was seconded by Councilman Turner. Discussion followed. Judqe Zarlengo stated this was a compensation token and that the 2 volunteer probationers had worked 6 years at their own expense. He stated they serve in the capacity of coordinators. He stated it has been explained that the state and county agencies are in the process of decentralizing. He stated the program is worthwhile and was under the impression it had been approved. Nancv_Snow of 11155 W. 40 Avenue stated she was not against juvenile services but that she thought it was unethical to have no job specifications, no hours and that every position in the city should be open to the public. She stated this is a duplication of county services. She stated if any kind of counseling is done on a fee basis, the state law provides that it is a private practice and that person must be a licensed psychologist with a PhD. She stated it is very important that the counselor knows how far to go legally and that there needs to be supervision. Rav Pepe of 3390 Teller stated that Judge Zarlengo was a department; head and he didn't think he would "steer the Council wrongN with recommending this new department. Councilman Turner stated this is not a criticism of individuals or the program, but that other departments have been asked to limit new di visi ons and tha t this "i s not the ye ar" to be creati ng one here. Judqe Zarlenqo stated his ladies do not do.counseling, that th~have '_. had training in Golden as volunteer probatloners. He stated they cDordln-te the activites of the state agelicies, and that he will prepare job specs. MINUTES - 10/27/75 - Continued -2- Councilman Cavarra stated her motion is not to scrap the program, but she had contacted other cities who had received funding assistance for similar programs, and that proper specifications are needed for any kind of a job. City Attornev Fox recommended that Councilman Howard to the fact that his wife is oneOthe people who will this program, if approved. abstain due be paid in Question was called on Councilman Cavarra's Motion and was DEFEATED 3-2. Councilmen Donaldson, Hulsey and Merkl voted "nay." Councilmen Turner and Cavarra voted "aye." Councilman Howard abstained. Motion by Councilman Merkl "I move that on Page 55. in the Budget, that 3 Public Works Maintenancemen at pay grade 19 be deleted at the request of the Public Works Director, and that the savings from these 3 jobs be inserted on Page 57., accou~t .56 fee personnel which would be increased by $27,287." Motion was seconded by Councilman Hulsey. Councilman Merkl sta ed the Labor Pool can be contacted for these jobs, and this would involve the layoff of 3 employees. Councilman T_urner stated this was not in the ini tial preliminary budget and the persom181 cuts were Oily in the request to departments to cut 10%. Question was called on the Motion and passed 4-2. Councilmen Tur~er and Cavarra voted "nay." Motion by Councilman Turner "I move that $35,000 be removed from Account 441.32 professional and consulting fees in Public Works Engineering and be transferred to Account 450.43 major repair and maintenance contracts for street improvements, and that $14,724 of this money be transferred into Account 441. Civil Engineer II." Motion was seconded by Councilman Cavarra. Councilman Turner stated this was requested in the preliminary budget. Mr. Jerman stated there had been a change, and the Director of Public Works wanted a Chief Engineer instead of a Civil Engineer II. Question was called and Motion WAS DEFEATED 4-2. Councilmen Hulsey, Merkl, Donaldson and Howard voted "nay." Councilman Cavarra stated she felt it was cheaper to do some engineering in-house and requested a cost analysis of the ~eration of the city for this year (1975). Mr~Jer~ stated he felt it was cheaper to go to a consultant, and that just because the money is budgeted it doesn't mean it will all be spent. Motion by Councilman Howard "I move that due to the removal of 3 Public Works Maintenancemen, that the savings from the cost of living adjustment in the amount of $1,364 and on page 56. Account 450.11 Personnel overhead savings in the amount of $6,500 be added into Account 450.56 fee personnel." Motion was seconded by Councilman Merkl and passed 4-2. Councilme~ Turner and Cavarra voted "nay." Motion by Councilman Turner "I move that the .16 accounts conference and meeting expense in the following divisions be changed as follows Mayor - $700, Council $418 (each), Clerk - $418, Treasurer - $418, and that no department head's allocation exceed $750, and that these accounts be adjusted to reflect the chang~ and the money be placed in Account 450.43 paving contracts." THERE WAS NO SECOND AND MOTION DIED. Motion by Councilman Howard eliminated in the budget in SECOND AND MOTION DIED. "I move that the Burglary Unit be the sum of $173,007." THERl WAS NO Motion by Councilman Merkl "I move that the City Council will consider adoption of the 1976 Budget for the City of Wheat Ridge on November 5, 1975 at 7 3D p.m and establish the mill levy." Motion was seconded by Councilman Donaldson and passed 6-0. City Attornev ~ox stated 6 people may vote on the adoption of the budget whlch are the members of the City Council. MINUTES - 10/27/75 - Continued -3- Agenda Item 2. Decision concerning effective date of 5% employee pay increase was scheduled next for discussion. Motion by Councilman Merkl 'II move that we make the effective date of the employee increasei/1/76." Motion was seconded by Councilman Hulsey and TIED 3-3. Councilmen Turner, Cavarra and Howard voted "nay." City Attornev Fox recommended that the Mayor n~ vote if this pay increase would be in the form of an ordinance at a future time. MOTIO~: DIED. Motion by Councilman Merkl increase effective 4/1/76." "I move that we make the 5% employee pay Motion was seconded by Councilman Hulsey. Councilman Cavarra asked increase" to his Motion. not Mr. Merkl to include the words "or parity Councilman Merkl agreed but the Second did Motion by Councilman Merkl "I move that we make the 5% employee pay increase or pari ty increase effective 4/1/76." Motion was seconded by Councilman Cavarra. Discussion followed. Mr. Jerman stated the last cost of living increase was in July 1974 and that the employees received a parity increase in July 1975. He stated the Police Protective Assoc. and Employee Council have agreed to abide with the 5/0 increase. Councilman Cavarra commented that the last parity increase gave the employees a minimum raise of 5% and it is possible a true parity compared with other jobs could decrease a salary also In answer to a question, Mr. Jerman stated the employees have received a floating holiday, 2 additional vacation days which is compar3ble with the police department vacations. He stated the salary survey will be presented at the Monday meeting. Question was called on Councilman Merkl's Motion and passed 4-2. Councilmen How8rd and Turner voted "nay." i"lotion by Councilman Cavarra "I move that the City Administrator and department heads be exempt from this Motion (pertaining to giving 5% raise in 4/1/76) and that these positions will mreviewed at a later time." Motion was seconded by Councilman Turner and passed 4-2. Councilmen Donladson and Hulsey voted "nay." A decisioncam:erning the proposal for the increased mill levy to be earmarked for capital improvements was next on the Agenda. Motion by Councilman Merkl "I move in the event that the sales tax questbn is defeated that the Council look at a 2.7 mill levy increase to be earmarked for capital improvements." Motion was seconded by Councilman Cavarra. Councilman Howard stated this should not be voted on now until the results of the election are known. COUNCILMAN MERKL WITHDREW HIS MOTION ON THE MILL LEVY. Rav Pepe stated he felt it was wrong to delay the decision on !~he mill levy until after the election and urged all 6 members of Council to promote the sales tax. It was noted by founcilman Merkl that the upcoming Monday night meeting on November 3, 1975 was a combination Study Session and regular meeting. Judqe Zarlenqo spoke on his budget regarding the overtime and part time help that had been added. He stated he had no intention of a~ding an additional person in the Clerk's Office and requested a Motlon. that the part time help be stricken and the funds transferred to overtlme pay. He mentioned the witness fees and jury duty was also cut and he may need additional funding in the future depending on.h?w many people are summoned etc. He mentioned tha~ the court actlvlty had seemed to level off but that it was impossible to let his Court Clerk's have rime off during the day because they are always busy. _._--..~._--,._, --' .- ,- I'll.', ,J\~S _ 1,0/'2-7/75 - Continued Motion by Councilman Turner Account 412 - par~ime help overtime and premium pay." and passed 4-2. Councilmen -4- "I moo that $2500 be taken from and that money be placed into Account 412.12 i"lotion was seconded by Councilman Merkl Cavarra and HulSEY voted "nay." Meeting was adjourned at 9 15 p.m. \. I , L ; \ c. . '- \ ~ ~ _ ~ /.. [{ole. ( . C(L Elise Brougham, City d1erk ) APPROVED cj/~)j /0 'j/7S-