City Of Albion

Special City Council Meeting

December 8, 2014

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Joseph Domingo opened the regular session at 7:00 p.m.

MOMENT OF SILENCE WAS OBSERVED

III.	PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

IV. ROLL CALL

Maurice Barnes (1), Lenn Reid (2), Garrett Brown (3), William Wheaton (4), Cheryl Krause (5), Andrew French (6) and Mayor Joseph Domingo.

Administration: Sheryl L. Mitchell, City Manager; Jill Domingo, City Clerk, Scott Kipp, Chief of Public Safety, Tom Mead, Finance Director, Jim Lenardson, Interim Director of Public Services, Taurean Wilson, Recreation Director and Cullen Harkness, City Attorney.

V.	MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS' COMMENTS

Comments were received from Council Members Barnes, Wheaton and French.

VI.	PUBLIC HEARING

A. FY 2015 Budget

Mayor Domingo opened the Public Hearing at 7:05 p.m.

No public comments were received.

Mayor Domingo closed the Public Hearing at 7:06 p.m.

City Manager Mitchell gave an overview of the budget process and was pleased to	present the Mayor and City Council with the 2015 balanced budget. She stated the	Mayor	and City Council identified the strategic objectives and desired outcomes for	the City	of Albion to achieve economic health, a sustainable infrastructure, high quality

neighborhoods/housing, a vibrant community atmosphere, high government

performance and maintain a safe community.

City Manager Mitchell went over the budget policy and procedures and thanked staff

for all the hard work in completing the budget.

The millage amounts will remain the same and the following are the revenues and

appropriations for all funds:

Revenue	Appropriations

General Fund	$ 3,617,430	$ 3,581,110

Special Revenue Funds	$ 3,069,996	$ 3,069,334

Debt Service Funds	$ 481,771	$ 478,451

Enterprise Funds	$ 2,046,450	$ 2,498,787

Internal Service Fund	$ 272,130	$ 289,630

Other Funds	$ 614,326	$ 388,711

Trust Funds	$ 692,430	$ 135,200

Total All Funds	$ 10,794,533	$ 10,441,223

A few of the items that affected the 2014 budget are as follows:

$65,000 Decline in Property Tax

$15,000 Decline in Income Tax

$99,000 Guardian Tax Tribunal

$46,000 Fire Truck-Unfunded Grant Match

The City will be taking $195,000 from the fund balance to cover these shortages. The

budget amendments will be on the next council agenda.

City Manager Mitchell also stated that the leaf pick-up and tree dump process will need

to be reviewed. The following are the proposed changes to personnel:

One (1) percent wage increase for all employees.

The Administrative & Human Resource position would become a Manager and the newly created Administrative Support Services position in the Finance Department will be an indirect report to the Administrative and Human Resource Manager.

Created a new title-from Administrative Clerk-DPS to an Administrative Support Services position that would expand the administrative services provided to include supporting Public Safety, Code Enforcement, Recreation, Human Resources and the City Manager

Make the Interim Department of Public Services Director the Director.

Create a Deputy Director of Public Services and eliminate two (2) positions-the Superintendent of Utilities and Superintendent of Public Works positions.

Combine the Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement into a single Planning & Building Department, moving the hourly code enforcement position into a salaried Director position.

The letter of agreement allowing the Clerk to assume the payroll responsibilities ends on December 31, 2014. In order to transfer back this responsibility, it is recommended to create a new accountant position in the Finance Department. The positons in Finance are proposed to be reclassified as Accountant Levels I, II, and III, depending on their levels of cross-training. The cost will be a 75/25 split between the Finance Department and the Clerk’s budget for the newly created position.

These positions would receive a realignment of the salaries to reflect the

increase in duties and responsibilities. The Director of Public

Public Services position is proposed to be effective January 1, 2015. For the other

positions impacted by the proposed reorganization, changes would not go

into effect until April of 2015. City Manager Mitchell stated she will first be updating

all job descriptions beginning in January and starting with the management staff.

She will also be setting performance evaluations and benchmarks for all employees.

Council Member Wheaton asked about the fee schedule. City Manager Mitchell

stated the fees haven’t been covering the actual cost. She also noted we have

included a new fee for public notices. We also have a new section in the budget book

that has census and information on the City.

VII.	CITIZEN'S COMMENTS (Persons addressing the City Council shall limit their comments to no more than five (5) minutes. Proper decorum is required.)

No comments were received.

VIII.	ADJOURNMENT

Krause moved, French supported, CARRIED, to Adjourn the Special Council Session. (7-0, vv)

Mayor Domingo adjourned Regular Session at 7:24 p.m.

____________	_________________________

Date	Jill Domingo

City Clerk