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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 02/28/2002CITY COUNCIL BUDGET REVIEW 28 FEBRUARY 2002 The South Burlington City Council held a budget review meeting on Thursday, 28 February 2002, at 7:30 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset St. Members present: J. Condos, Chair; T. Sheahan, S. Magowan Also present: C. Hafter, City Manager; D. Gravelin, Assistant City Manager; D. Kinville, City Clerk; J. B. Hoover, Director of Planning & Zoning; G. Dow, Water Pollution Control; B. Hoar, Public Works Director; C. Jones, J. Nadeau, J. Fay Members continued their review of the proposed 2002-2003 City Budget as follows: 1. City Clerk: Ms. Kinville said they are already $40,000 over their yearly projection for receipts. They are among the highest volume producing City Clerk's office in the State. Ms. Kinville said that if things get any busier, she may ask for another half-time person. The office has been open on Wednesday evenings but have had only 1 busy night (7 people). They are going to keep this schedule for a few more months to see what happens. After that, they may change to early morning hours (7 a.m. opening). Salaries in the proposed budget are down due to the departure of the former City Clerk. Ms. Kinville was not sure they had budgeted enough for 3 elections next year. The department will be leasing a new copier to keep up with the workload. In capital expenses, there is $4,000 for computers for accessing land records. 2. Planning & Zoning: Ms. Hoover said they are also ahead of revenue projections for the year. They are doing well on permits, fees, and fines and expect to end up $30,000 ahead of projections. In the proposed 2002-3 budget, salaries are going up. Legal fees are still the biggest "wild card." In this year's budget, they will be over the expenditure projection by about $25,000. The Department is thinking of using Seven Days for legal ads instead of the Free Press. This could save about $1,000. The Department is also doing well with State and Federal Grants for projects. 3. Department of Public Works: Mr. Hoar said salaries will be about the same, and there are no large increases anticipated. Budgets are up for curbs, sidewalks, etc., because the special appropriation is going down and money is being spent from the operating budget. $30,000 has been included for traffic calming methods. They are also trying to get an MPO grant for this. Capital items include a new 6-yard dump truck, a zero turn riding mower (for ballfields and parks), and a sidewalk snowplow/mower. Mr. Hoar showed members the projected 5-year paving plan. In April 2002 they will be getting a new person for park maintenance. Mr. Condos said there needs to be a plan to replace trees on Dorset St. Mr. Hoar said they can do something with money from the tree budget. Mr. Condos was also concerned with areas on Williston Road between Dorset St. and Victoria Drive where the sidewalk has lifted. He noted there is now a congregate care home in the area with people in wheelchairs who will be using the sidewalks. He felt the city might get an enhancement grant for that work. Mr. Condos asked about the possibility of getting a sidewalk cleaner. Mr. Hoar said that is a $70,000 cost for one that would really do the job. Members noted they had gotten a lot of good comments on the plowing of the bike path this year. 4. Community Library: The Library has just received money from a Freeman Foundation grant ($70,000 a year for 3 years). This year, they will open a door from the parking lot directly into the Library. The asphalt walk has been put in and they are waiting for security gates. They will also add lighting. The Library is working on a long-range plan and strategic initiatives. They will then have a better idea what to apply for in the second and third years of the Freeman grant. A UVM marketing class has taken on this library as a special project and is surveying the community for ideas, thoughts, etc. The Library is trying to revitalize the "Friends" group. A tea is planned in April with Reeve Lindberg as special guest. Budget highlights include an increase in hours for the community aides. The former Reference Librarian has been replaced with aides. The Library will also be open on Saturdays in the summer. Adult books have gone up about 5% and children's books about 9.3%. Children's AV material has also gone up. Some of these costs may be offset with a grant that has been applied for. Other increases include program supplies, postage and travel/training. Capital expenses include $1,700 for shelving for non-fiction books. They are also replacing some computers and printers. Mr. Jones told members there are still some openings on the Library Board. 5. Water Pollution Control Department: Mr. Dow said personnel costs will be higher for sewer work because they will be doing more in that area. Supplies are up to $35,000 because of aggressive work on the digesting system at Airport Parkway. They are trying to work with Essex Junction to use the same vendor and get a better price. Mr. Dow noted they are thinking of doing their own dewatering in the future. This would save a lot of money. The Hinesburg Rd. forcemain will be done this spring. It was just put out to bid. 6. Water Department: CWD is imposing its first rate increase in 10 years. It was noted that the Water Department expenses are contingent upon weather and growth. There has been a dramatic increase in water use due to the prolonged dry weather this year. This could change if there is a wet summer. They are requesting a 3.1% rate increase to cover the CWD increase, money in the capital expense fund, and money for future projects (including automatic meter readers). The rate would go from 14.50 to 14.95 per 1000 cubic feet, an increase of 6 cents per 1,000 gallons. The Department is approaching capacity on the two water tanks they have. Good sites are at a premium. A potential site study was done and 11 sites in the city were identified. These will be considered when developments come in. The Dorset St. bond has been paid off, and the Shelburne Rd. bond is being paid on now. Mr. Condos said that with a little luck the Shelburne Rd. work may get done this summer. Labor costs are less than anticipated as they have been down one person all year. 7. Debt Service: Mr. Hafter noted the bonded debt is going down. He reviewed the existing bonds. 8. 10-Year Capital Plan: Mr. Hafter noted the proposed Community Center has been added for $10,000,000. The 1-89/Hinesburg Rd. interchange has been moved back. Mr. Hafter noted that the highest debt service for all things planned in a year is 13 cents. 9. Revenue Projections: Mr. Hafter said they make projections conservatively. He noted that payments in lieu of taxes had been budgeted at $15,000, but the city will actually be getting $31,000. For the next year $20,000 has been estimated. They have also estimated $48,000 from the state (from Act 60). Recording fees are estimated at $118,655. This year's receipts are already $140,000. Interest income has been conservatively estimated at $95,000. $154,000 has been estimated from the Vermont District Court. One revenue concern is highway state aid given what is happening in the Legislature. This concluded the presentation of the proposed 2002-3 city budget. As there was no further business to come before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.