HomeMy Public PortalAbout20060109minutesCITY OF JEFFERSON
Finance Committee Meeting
MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2006
MINUTES
OFFICIALS STAFF
Mayor John Landwehr Nathan Nickolaus, Interim City Administrator
Councilman Kevin Brown Steve Schlueter, Director of Finance
Councilman Edith Vogel Charlie Lansford, Asst. To the Comm. Dev. Dir.
Councilman Dean Martin Bob Rennick, Fire Chief
Councilman Jonathan Schnitzler Pat Sullivan, Dir. of Community Dev.
Councilman Cindy Layton Bill Betts, Info. Systems Director
Councilman Mike Harvey Gail Strope, Director of Human Resources
Councilman Ken Ferguson Bill Lockwood, Director of Parks & Recreation
Councilman Brian Crane
Councilman Michael Berry
The meeting was called to order by Finance Committee Chairman Kevin Brown at 5:33 P.M. The first
order of business was the minutes of the Finance Committee Meeting held on October 24, 2005. A
motion to approve the minutes was made by Councilman Vogel, seconded by Councilman Schnitzler.
The motion to approve was 8 to 0.
The next item on the agenda was a review of the Personnel Reclassification Requests. Gail Strope,
Director of Human Resources, was asked to present an overview of the requests as well as the
recommendations made be Condrey & Associates. A number of questions were asked regarding our
past policy, funding and the overall classification schedule. After additional discussion a motion to
approve the reclassifications was made by Councilman Crane and seconded by Councilman Pope.
Councilman Ferguson offered an amendment to the motion by asking that three of the reclassifications
include a monetary adjustment to their salary. The three included the Paralegal position in the Law
Department, (salary level as shown in the FY ‘05-‘06 Pink Sheet Budget Request), the Administrative
Assistant position in the Finance Department, (salary increase not to exceed $1,500), and also for the
newly created position of Senior Animal Control Officer, (proposed salary level increase not to exceed
$1,500). Both Councilman Crane and Councilman Pope accepted the amended motion and the motion
passed 8 to 0.
The next item discussed was the Sales Tax Holiday. Nathan Nickolaus, the Interim City Administrator,
gave some background information on previous Council decisions concerning the Sales Tax Holiday.
Mr. Nickolaus stated that we have two choices. If we choose to opt out of the Sales Tax Holiday then
we are out until the Council would change it’s mind. If we choose to opt in and participate in the Tax
Holiday then we must stay in forever. After further discussion a motion was made by Councilman
Pope to opt out of the Sales Tax Holiday. Councilman Harvey seconded the motion and the motion
was approved 8 to 0.
The next item discussed was the Firemen’s Pension Fund and the appropriate level of funding. Mr.
Nickolaus gave a brief overview of the Pension Board’s thinking regarding new hires going into
LAGERS and also discussed the current firefighter’s thoughts on the issue. It was decided that the
Pension Board will review the situation and will get back to the Council at a later date.
The next item discussed was a request for a supplemental appropriation to pay for the renovation
impacting the I.T. Department and the Finance Department. Mr. Nickolaus reviewed the background
for this request and the fact of bringing all of the I.T. staff in one location. The cost of this project is
estimated to be approximately $138,000. This would require a supplemental appropriation of $98,000
with the other $40,000 already appropriated in the Finance Department’s FY 2006 budget. In lieu of a
supplemental appropriation it was recommended that the $98,000 come from the Capital Improvements
Tax - City Facilities line item already appropriated as an expense in the current year budget. A motion
was made by Councilman Vogel to fund the project as recommended. The motion was seconded by
Councilman Ferguson. The motion was approved 8 to 0.
The next item on the agenda was New Business. There were three items discussed:
1.Legis l at i o n being intr o d u c e d and t h e impact o n the City.
2.The Waveland Mississippi Projects.
3.A review of the Parks Department staff positions.
There was no Old Business to discuss.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 6:50 P.M.