Laserfiche WebLink
Mr. Kraft said in June of 2008, the budget was prepared and presented to Council by <br />the previous City Manager and the then acting City Manager that projected an <br />operating deficit of 1.1 million dollars and with the Wilson buyout it was actually 2.1 <br />million dollar deficit. There were no suggestions on how to decrease the deficit <br />without cutting services and no one talked of cutting unnecessary expenses. Mr. <br />Kraft said a year later and Council is looking at balanced budgets. He noted the FY <br />2011 projected deficit of 1.1 million dollars was decreased to nearly zero by right <br />sizing the work force. Mr. Kraft said the FY 2012 has started with a projected surplus <br />of $240,000 because the new City Manager Mr. Walker has made changes to <br />improve the efficiency of the work force. He noted that previous changes could be <br />done by the City Manager but this restructuring requires a passage of an ordinance. <br />Mr. Kraft said it was about taking two departments that have significant overlap in <br />skill sets and functions and making them one department. Mr. Kraft said it made no <br />sense to have staff and equipment for mowing the lawn at City Hall and separate <br />staff and equipment for mowing the lawn at Heman Park. He saw this merger as one <br />more step in making City government more efficient, making sure citizens are getting <br />the most for their tax dollars. <br /> <br />Mr. Sharpe asked what happens to the Directors of the two divisions. <br /> <br />Mr. Walker stated that he will be making an appointment with respect to the director <br />of the new department, which is a personnel item. He said the numbers of people <br />will remain the same. <br /> <br />Mr. Sharpe asked if that person is on board now or is that person someplace else. <br /> <br />Mayor Welsch said this was an item of personnel discussion and asked Mr. Walker <br />how he would like to respond to it. <br /> <br />Mr. Walker said it was a personnel item but his thinking was the City will review all <br />internal candidates, make a decision as to whether or not the appropriate person is <br />currently on staff and if not then the City will advertise externally. <br /> <br />Vote on approving Bill 9124 <br />Roll Call Vote: <br />AYES: Ms. Ricci, Mr. Kraft, Mr. Crow, Mr. Glickert, and Mayor Welsch. <br />NAYS: Mr. Sharpe and Mr. Price. <br /> <br />Bill 9124 carried with a majority and became Ordinance 6860. <br /> <br />NEW BUSINESS to be introduced <br />RESOLUTIONS <br />1. <br />Resolution 2011 – 11 A resolution authorizing an Agreement to be signed by the <br />Mayor for the City’s Annual Audit. <br />Mr. Sharpe move to approve Resolution 2011 – 11 and was seconded by Ms. Ricci. <br /> <br />Mr. Kraft said that this is the first time in fourteen years that Council is actually taking <br />on its responsibility for the annual audit. He said the Charter is clear in section 31, <br />“there shall be an independent annual audit of the financial records of all City <br />departments made by a Certified Public Accountant who shall be engaged by the <br /> 15 <br /> <br /> <br />