Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 03/19/1980CITY COUNCIL MARCH 19, 1980 The South Burlington City Council held a special meeting on Wednesday, March 19, 1980 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall, Conference Room, 1175 Williston Road Members Present Paul Farrar, Chairman; Martin Paulsen, William Burgess, Michael Flaherty (late) Member Absent Kenneth Jarvis Others Present William Szymanski, City Manager; Bruce O'Neill, Recreation Director; James Goddette, Fire Chief; D.R. McKenzie and Fred Bessette, fire department; Richard Ward, Zoning Administrator; Margaret Picard, City Clerk; Albert Audette, street dept.; Gloria Yandow, Betty Bailey, Don Duell, Donald Whitten, Ethel and William Schuele, Erwin Valgoi, Carl Lisman Agenda addition The following item was added: Declare the week of April 6 Bicycle Safety Week. Meet with Fire Department Employees The Council had copies of the department's proposal. The men want to have parity regarding salary and job classification with the police department. Mr. Farrar asked how the salary and job classifications of the South Burlington Fire Department compared to those of surrounding communities. Mr. McKenzie was not sure, but thought that the grades were higher than South Burlington's and that starting salaries in Burlington were higher than in South Burlington's. The Council was told that a captain in Burlington with 10 years service made more than a captain in South Burlington and Chief Goddette said captains here did the same work as in Burlington, plus the duties of a deputy chief. He said that when the department was formed, the men had been told their positions would be equal to those of the police department as to titles, but now they find they are one grade lower, and their positions carry more responsibility than they do in the police department. Mr. Bessette said that they were responsible for 40 men and that they took over for the Chief when he was gone. Mr. Farrar felt that the comparison should be to other paid departments in the state, not to the police department in the city. Mr. Farrar noted that the Council had little money to spend this year and he felt it would be hard, if not impossible, to respond to the request positively. He said they would try to make comparisons to see where the men should be for next year, but he did not see how the Council could make this large a change in the department this year. Mr. Paulsen asked how the overtime and holiday provisions worked now. He was told that the men receive 12 hours pay for the holiday. If one works during the holiday he is paid for that time also, so they receive the 12 hours pay whether they work the holiday or not. He felt the wording of the provision should be changed from "12 hours holiday pay for all other employees" to "overtime" pay. Mr. Farrar felt this item should be handled the way it was in the police department. It was also felt that the number of hours worked in a year should be the same as other departments. Mr. Bessette felt the two new firefighters which had been requested were needed. Now the men come in to work sick because there is no one to take their places if they don't. Mr. Farrar noted that most communities the size of South Burlington did not even have paid firemen and he did not think the city could afford any more money for the department. Mr. Burgess added that unless they went to the voters, they could not add 4 people in two years. Mr. Farrar said the extra cost might be worth it if they could show that by adding the people, fire insurance rates for homeowners in the city would go down. If the homeowner can save $200 per year on insurance by spending $150 per year in taxes, then it is cost effective to add men. Mr. Farrar asked for more information on this. ISO will be rating the city this spring. The fire department now has 1 chief, 3 captains, 3 first class firefighters, and 1 fireman. Mr. Flaherty came in now. Mr. Farrar noted that the difference between the figures for the requests and the Chief's budget was $12,000, which does not include social security or retirement costs. Mr. Farrar asked that for the next budget the Council be given figures on the cost benefits of adding men or equipment. Mr. Paulsen asked that when the city was rated by ISO, the Chief find out where the city was within the level (how many points would be needed to raise it to the next level). Mr. Farrar wanted to correct the inequity in overtime pay for the firemen and said the Council could look into paying a man for doing work above his classification. Meet with City Hall Employees Mr. Ward said the association had discussed the Council's salary offer and that they would accept it. That is in Article 10, sections 1 and 3. In section 2, Mr. Ward felt they were not looking for drastic changes, but they wanted some investigation. He said that if there was a problem with the dates in the contract, they would be flexible on them, but by next January he hoped the Council would have an idea of the problems. Mr. Farrar felt section 2 was OK. In section 4, Mr. Ward said that some people felt the merit system had serious problems and would like to discuss it. The same committee as in section 2 could investigate, he said. The dates were also flexible. Mr. Farrar saw no problem. In Article 11, Mr. Ward said that in Burlington in 1979 they had 14 holidays, as did Colchester. Essex had 13. Burlington actually has 12 1/2, but the mayor may also give additional days off. In article 12, Mr. Ward agreed to accept the same schedule as the police - 1-4 years service - 2 weeks, 5-11 years - 3 weeks, and 12 years and up - 4 weeks. Mr. Farrar questioned section 2 in that article. If seniority is the only criteria for vacation times, some employees will not be able to vacation during the best times, because the more senior employees will be on vacation. It is up to the association to decide, but they may want to require a certain notice period and only allow a certain amount of vacation to be given based on seniority. Mr. Ward said the employees could discuss it. Article 13 is the practice now. Mr. Farrar asked the policy on pregnancy leave in Article 14. Mr. Burgess felt it should be treated as normal sick leave. Mr. Farrar said the Council could not agree to Article 15. The employees are asking it to give up its right to review the personnel rules and regulations. The word "Council" was added after "City" and the words "an amended set of the" were substituted for "the" before "Personnel Rules and Regulations". Mr. Farrar wanted to rewrite Article 16 in the form it was for the police department. Mr. Ward did not object. The Council did not think Article 17 was negotiable, but it noted that many of the items mentioned would be covered in the new building. Mr. Ward felt there should be a replacement schedule and Ms. Picard asked that when furniture and equipment was purchased for the new building, a City Hall representative help with the selection. Section 3 of that article is no longer necessary. The time limits in article 18 were changed from 60 days to 120 days. This contract will be rewritten and sent to the City Attorney for review. Attorney Carl Lisman presented a request to the Council in writing to consider small motels to be allowed in the C1 zone. Mr. Farrar said the Council would look into it. Declare the week of April 6 Bicycle Safety Week Mr. O'Neill said that there was going to be an educational program in the schools this year by his department and the police and that they wanted the Council's support. Mr. Burgess moved that the City Council declare the week of April 6 as Bicycle Safety Week and that a proclamation be issued and made public to that effect. The motion was seconded by Mr. Paulsen and passed without dissent. Continue review of 1980-81 budget Mr. Szymanski said he had talked to the Assessor again and that he felt that the Grand List would be $1,855,500, so 1¢ in taxes will raise $18,555. The tax rate is .868. With other income and surplus money, the bottom line total budget without going to the voters, and raising taxes to the Charter limits is $2,385,519. Mr. Farrar felt the city had to budget more for paying off notes on equipment, since every year they fall farther behind. The bonded debt tax rate will be 16¢. Revenue sharing funds left over, which the city can spend, are $224,845. Mr. Farrar said the city could take $180,000 of revenue sharing money and put it up for a vote outside the Charter limitations, as a one-time expenditure. To arrive at this figure, the Council took the Charter limit increase of $1,966,874 plus $236,710 for sewers, plus $1300 and subtracted that from the total budget figure. They were thus over budgeted by $180,635. With a total budget of $2,385,519 maximum, the budget submitted by the City Manager was $2,319,755, for a difference of $66,464. Mr. Farrar felt the city needed to add another person to the City Hall staff. A tentative figure of $25,000 was set for this. The data processing needs of the city were then discussed. There is no money at all for that in this year's budget. To have all City Hall data in the school's system would cost about $55,610 for the new equipment. Mr. Szymanski said that would increase the present capacity about 4 times. Mr. Farrar wanted to put $10,000 towards paying off notes for the highway department. He asked if the sidewalk on Hinesburg Road was really necessary, saying that if the CCTA busses went to the Senior Citizen housing, perhaps that would eliminate much of the need for that sidewalk (cost $55,000). Mr. Audette felt there were more pressing needs in the city than that sidewalk and it was decided to remove it from the budget and instead have the CCTA representatives come to the Council so they could discuss changing the route. Traffic signals were then discussed. Two were approved by the state. They cost $15,000 each and they include pedestrian signals. Mr. Audette said that he personally felt that if the city wanted to put $10,000 toward notes, he felt the money should come out of the fund for work on Airport Drive, and that work would stop in the area of the airport for now, instead of extending farther down the road. It was agreed to take $10,000 from this construction account and put it towards notes. At this point the Council looked at the figures used by the department heads for gas coats. It was decided to use an estimate of $1.65 per gallon for all departments. This lead to a figure of $7,760 for item 3006 (fire), $49,520 for item 7002 (police) and $35,250 in item 8016 (highway), for a change of $1,065. Data processing costs were again discussed. To separate from the school would cost $69,000 for equipment costs only, Mr. Szymanski said. This is $44,000 for equipment plus $25,000 for the POISE system. There is a possible credit of $15,000 for the old equipment. Mr. Szymanski noted that when he talked about $55,000 cost of staying with the school, that was the city's share, or 1/2 of the total price of the system. Mr. Flaherty noted that with a cost of $55,000 and a credit of $15,000, the cost to the city would be about $40,000 for hardware alone, or $47,500 if the credit were shared with the school. A maintenance contract would be required in either case (going alone or with the school). It was determined that the most that the city needed to budget for data processing was $40,000, since it would cost about that much either way, so that figure was put in. The POISE system would not be purchased. The decision on whether to join the school or go alone can be made later. Mr. Farrar now noted that Mr. Szymanski had a request for $11,743 in promotional increases and one salary adjustment. This does not include social security or other costs. At this point Mr. O'Neill said he would like to speak about promotions. He last year requested a change in grade for his assistant and this year requests it again due to background required and odd hours worked. He feels it should be a grade 9, not a grade 6. Mr. Farrar felt the Council should fund some promotions and leave the decisions up to the City Manager, He was given $5000 for promotions and $500 for social security costs associated with the promotions. At this point the Council was short $4000, so the new person for City Hall was cut to $23,000. Ms. Picard suggested charging people to dump at the landfill. Raising other fees was also suggested. $2500 might be raised by a $1 or $2 fee at the landfill/year. It was decided to have the voters approve spending revenue sharing funds of $95,000 on the following items: $50,000 for CCTA, $12,250 for traffic signals, $2,750 for library books, $24,000 for a landfill machine, and $6,000 for police patrolcars. Mr. Flaherty moved to make the changes to the budget as detailed in the above minutes and put the above items for revenue sharing funds out for a vote. Mr. Burgess seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. Mr. Burgess then moved to continue this meeting until tomorrow night, immediately following the Steering Committee meeting, in order to discuss the C1/C2 zoning amendments or the budget. The motion was seconded by Mr. Flaherty and carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 p.m. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.