Minutes; Finance Committee: January 2011

City of Evansville
Finance & Labor Relations Committee

Regular Meeting
Thursday, January 6, 2011, 5:30 pm
City Hall, 31 S. Madison St., Evansville, Wisconsin

MINUTES

I. Call to Order. The meeting was called to order at 5:30 pm by Chair Mason Braunschweig. Present: Alderpersons Mason Braunschweig, Diane Roberts and Jim Brooks. Also present: Mayor Sandy Decker and City Administrator Dan Wietecha.

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

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

IV. Citizen Appearances. None.

V. Water & Light Bills. Roberts made a motion, seconded by Brooks, to accept the Water & Light bills in the amount of $711,363.80. Motion approved unanimously on a roll call vote.

VI. City Bills. Roberts made a motion, seconded by Brooks, to accept the City bills in the amount of $316,068.68. Motion approved unanimously on a roll call vote.

VII. Unfinished Business:
a. Mailing Meter. Roberts made a motion, seconded by Brooks, to recommend to Common Council approval of a 63 month lease with MAILwaukee Mailing & Shipping for a mailing meter. Wietecha commented the lease was less than the current lease with Pitney Bowes. Motion approved unanimously on a roll call vote.

b. Contingency Budget. Wietecha noted this would continue to be an agenda item over the next few months.

VIII. New Business:
a. Eager Free Public Library. The library’s fundraiser for new materials purchase was very successful. They are carrying over $4517.48 from 2010 to 2011.

b. Assistant Aquatics Director. Wietecha explained that discussion about the Assistant Aquatics Director position should not be seen as criticism of the individuals that have filled the position the last few years, but some concerns were learned this past summer. There was an inherent disconnect in allowing a 16 or 17 year old to hold the position while requiring an 18 year old to be on duty during absence of the Aquatics Director. The position could be made eligible only for an adult, perhaps a teacher wanting part-time work during the summer. Another option for the position included eliminating it with other staff absorbing its work duties; this could improve some staff morale problems. The Committee asked that the Aquatics Director and the Park Board provide input on how these options might impact organization and operation at the pool.

c. City Council Compensation. Wietecha explained there is some confusion in the City Code regarding compensation of City Council and Citizen Committee members. Some committees are specifically identified as being paid, some committees are named as paid as determined by the City Council, and other committees are simply not listed. The Committee agreed that permanent standing committees should be compensated; while, ad hoc committees created for a temporary issue or without fixed number of members and fixed terms should not be compensated. Braunschweig and Roberts offered to sponsor an ordinance to clarify the City Code language.

d. Certificate of Deposit. Brooks made a motion, seconded by Roberts, to approve non-renewal of $250,000 general fund ten-month certificate of deposit (CD) with Union Bank and Trust. Motion approved unanimously on a roll call vote.

e. Money Market. Brooks made a motion, seconded by Roberts, to approve investment of $350,000 general fund balance into a money market account with Union Bank and Trust. The Committee noted the slightly better interest rate and liquidity of the money market. Motion approved unanimously on a roll call vote.

IX. Adjournment. Brooks made a motion, seconded by Roberts, to adjourn the meeting. Motion approved unanimously at 6:20 pm.