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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2011-07-19 Workshop MeetingBAL HARBOUR VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES WORKSHOP MEETING - JULY 19, 2011 A Workshop Meeting of the Bal Harbour Village Council was held on Tuesday, July 19, 2011, at the Bal Harbour Village Hall Council Chamber (655 — 96th Street, Bal Harbour, Florida). 1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: The meeting was called to order at 5:45 p.m. by Mayor Rosenfield. The following were present: Mayor Jean Rosenfield Assistant Mayor Joni D. Blachari Councilwoman Patricia Cohen Councilman Martin Packer Alfred J. Treppeda, Village Manager Ellisa Horvath, MMC, Village Clerk Richard J. Weiss, Village Attorney Absent: Councilman Jaime M. Sanz As a quorum was determined to be present, the meeting commenced. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The pledge was led by Village resident Neil Alter. 3. DISCUSSION OF 2011 /2012 BUDGET: Mr. Wallace reviewed a Powerpoint presentation. Neil Alter, 9801 Collins Avenue, questioned .the bond issue, workforce reduction and 20% increase for health insurance. Mr. Wallace explained. Dina Cellini, 211 Bal Cross Drive, questioned if the separate solid waste assessment would earn the Village $630,000.00. Mr. Wallace explained that it would be received as an assessment. Ms. Cellini questioned the necessity to look into outsourcing, if the Solid Waste Department was already paid for by doing a separate assessment. She discussed concern with relieving employees of their jobs. Mr. Treppeda explained that he was directed to find out the cost savings through outsourcing. Ms. Cellini questioned doing that at this time, if the garbage was budget neutral. She thought that outsourcing solid waste would change the makeup of the community and pointed out the special services the residents received from the Public Works Department. Mr. Treppeda explained that the Council was just looking into the possibility of outsourcing and no decision had been made regarding it. Ms. Cellini spoke against spending money on an assessment that may not be necessary this fiscal year. Mayor Rosenfield explained that the Village was looking at future impacts not just the current year. She discussed the costs incurred by solid waste, equipment etc. and explained that the Council would like to know if it would be more cost effective to look into the possibility of outsourcing. Ms. Cellini spoke against taking action in 1 Assistant Mayor Blachar arrived after the Pledge. Bat Harbour Village Council (Budget) Workshop Meeting Mimrtes 07/19/2011 1 the summer. Assistant Mayor Blachar discussed the homeowners paying for the maintenance inside the gated area now and that it was cost prohibitive to pay for the Village employees to do the landscaping. She reported that there was a crossover and some employees would have to be let go, since the assessment inside the gates would be paid by those homeowners. She noted that if Village employees continued to provide those services then the gated area assessment would increase drastically. She added that the Council wanted to explore its options. Ms. Cellini questioned if the Village could insist that an outside company hire an employee. Mr. Weiss clarified that would be a contractual matter between the vendor and the Village. Ms. Cellini questioned if the contract could require it. Mr. Weiss advised that it could if certain criteria were met and it would have to be included in the RFP (Request for Proposals). Ms. Cellini questioned if the solid waste bid would include picking up from the side of the homes three days a week, etc. Mr. Wallace explained that the proposal was evaluating a level that mirrored the existing. He explained that Council approval would be requested before the item was put out to bid. Mr. Wallace explained that the four employee positions that would be eliminated were solely due to the change in maintenance in the Security District and had nothing to do with solid waste. Ms. Cellini questioned where the reduction in salaries for those four positions would be reduced. Mr. Wallace didn't know who the employees were yet, so he estimated on the salaries, etc. He didn't know the ultimate impact on solid waste yet. Ms. Cellini noted the salary reduction in the Solid Waste Department and questioned if employees would also be terminated in that department and, if so, how many. Mr. Wallace explained that the number of employees in Solid Waste would remain until the Village decided whether or not to outsource. Ms. Cellini questioned why the amount was reduced in Solid Waste. Mr. Wallace explained that all of the Public Works employees were charged to different areas and that four positions were cut in their overall budget, due to the Security District maintenance issue and not the garbage. He clarified that additional personnel may be let go, if the garbage was outsourced. Mayor Rosenfield clarified that the Village also paid for other benefits including pension, health insurance, etc. Ms. Cellini will meet with Mr. Wallace regarding additional items. Ms. Cellini discussed the fees associated with The Brickman contract. She suggested reducing The Brickman contract, to allow the four Village employees to continue working. She thought that the Village had more control when Village employees were doing the job. Mayor Rosenfield disagreed and noted that there was a totally different degree of landscaping that was done under the new Brickman contract. She discussed the Council looking at all areas of the budget and making constructive decisions. Ms. Cellini requested that also be done for the Police Department. Bat Harbour Village Council (Budget) Workshop Meeting Minutes 07/19/2011 Assistant Mayor Blachar added that the Council wanted to make educated decisions. Ms. Cellini requested that the Brickman contract be reduced, . to allow for some of the Village employees to stay employed. Ms. Cellini noted that salaries in the Building and Park/Recreation Department increased nine percent. Mr. Wallace discussed step raises that some employees were eligible for. Mr.. Treppeda discussed the five, ten, and fifteen year longevity increase. Ms. Cellini suggested that those increases be suspended for the year if people were being terminated. She also suggested that Village employees accept a salary reduction or not takean increase, to keep their fellow employees employed. • Ms. Cellini questioned if the budget for the Park/Recreation Department wouldremain in the Tourism fund. Mr. Wallace explained that Park/Recreation Department was moved out of the Tourism fund and the Beautification & Maintenance Department was moved back to the Tourism fund. Assistant Mayor Blachar explained that the employees were not just being let go because of the money, but because there wasn't a job for them. Ms. Cellini spoke in favor of creating work for them. Assistant Mayor Blachar urged Ms. Cellini to meet with Mr. O'Leary and view how the landscaping had been maintained. Ms. Cellini urged the Council to save four jobs by moving the $160,000.00 (Park/Recreation Department) back to the Tourism fund, if nothing other than to help with the value adjustment figures in the future. Assistant Mayor Blachar questioned the electric franchise. Mr. Wallace explained the franchise fees that the Village received. Neil Alter, 9801 Collins Avenue, questioned if solid waste consumers would receive a rebate on a monthly basis or at one time. Mr. Wallace didn't know, but noted that it was historically done over a period of time. 4. ADJOURN: There being no further business, a motion was offered by Councilwoman Cohen and seconded by Assistant Mayor Blachar to adjourn. The m n carried (4-0). and the meeting adjourned at 6:46 p.m. Attest: ayor J Ellisa L. Horvath, MMC, ' ge Clerk Bat Harbour Village Council (Budget) Workshop Meeting Minutes 07/19/2011 3