Minutes: Finance: October 2010

City of Evansville
Finance & Labor Relations Committee

Regular Meeting
Thursday, October 7, 2010, 5:00 pm
City Hall, 31 S. Madison St., Evansville, Wisconsin

MINUTES

I. Call to Order. The meeting was called to order at 5:00 pm by Chair Mason Braunschweig. Present: Alderpersons Mason Braunschweig, Jim Brooks, and Diane Roberts. Also present: Mayor Sandy Decker, Finance Director Lisa Novinska, and City Administrator Dan Wietecha.

II. Approve Agenda. Brooks made a motion, seconded by Roberts, to approve the agenda. Motion approved 3-0.

III. Minutes of September 9, 2010. Brooks made a motion, seconded by Roberts, to waive the reading of and to approve the minutes as presented. Motion approved 3-0.

IV. Citizen Appearances. None.

V. Water & Light Bills. Brooks made a motion, seconded by Roberts, to accept the Water & Light bills in the amount of $1,077,252.42. Motion approved 3-0 on a roll call vote.

VI. City Bills. Roberts made a motion, seconded by Brooks, to accept the City bills in the amount of $791,705.58. Motion approved 3-0 on a roll call vote.

VII. Unfinished Business:
a. 2011 Budget. The Committee discussed the budget requests at length and made adjustments throughout. The final proposed budget held the property tax rate the same as the current year. Brooks made a motion, seconded by Roberts, to recommend to Common Council first reading of Ordinance 2010-08, Adopting 2011 Operating and Capital Budgets and Setting Tax Levies. Motion approved 3-0 on a roll call vote.

b. Youth Center 2010 Contract. Brooks made a motion, seconded by Roberts, to recommend to Common Council approval of Addendum to Agreement Between City of Evansville and YMCA of Northern Rock County for Operation of Youth Program. Wietecha explained that the fourth quarter payment is not due until December 20; the addendum would help the YMCA with cash flow by making monthly payments in October, November, and December. Motion approved 3-0.

c. Youth Center 2011 Contract. Wietecha explained that the Youth Center Advisory Board had recommended that the City not renew its contract with the YMCA for 2011 due to budget cuts.

VIII. New Business:
a. Flexible Spending Account. Roberts made a motion, seconded by Brooks, to recommend to Common Council adoption of a $1500 limit for unreimbursed medical flexible spending account. Wietecha explained that the unreimbursed medical portion of the flexible spending account poses a risk for the City in that an employee could utilize the service early in the year and then separate employment prior to having the moneys fully deducted from his payroll. Since the City could not recoup the money, the City should adopt some limit. Motion approved 3-0.

b. Construction Loan Program. Roberts made a motion, seconded by Brooks, to recommend to Common Council adoption of Resolution 2010-11, Resignation from Intergovernmental Cooperative Agreement Relating to the Wisconsin Rural Water Construction Loan Program. Wietecha explained that the City joined the program for interim financing of the wastewater treatment plant construction. With permanent financing in place, continued membership was no longer necessary. The City could rejoin the program if interim financing were needed for some future project. Motion approved 3-0.

c. League of Municipalities Conference. The Committee noted the policy to not reimburse lodging expenses within an hour of Evansville. This year’s League of Wisconsin Municipalities Annual Conference is in Middleton; lodging will not be reimbursed.

d. City Attorney. Brooks made a motion, seconded by Roberts, to recommend to Common Council to renew engagement of Consigny, Andrews, Hemming, and Grant SC as City Attorney for two years through December 31, 2012, at an hourly rate of $120. Braunschweig noted that this held the rate the same as 2009 and 2010 and was consistent with the across the board “no raises” approach in the proposed budget.

IX. Adjournment. Roberts made a motion, seconded by Brooks, to adjourn the meeting. Motion approved 3-0 at 8:40 pm.