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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-08-2000 Clerical CLERICAL COMMITTEE City Council Chambers February 8, 2000 6:30 p.m. Members Present: Larry Sazff, Kevin Meade, Robert Molleck Others Present: Mayor Edwards, Jim Elson, Jim Hartford, Jo Ann Shores, Chet Phillips, Jim May, Clif O'Brien, Greg Pollitt, Gary Orwig, Chief Elam, Chief Stanko, George Spahn, Jim Snider, Clark Wilson, John Froehling Finance Committee Larry Sarff, Chairman Bills were discussed. Motion by Alderman Molleck, second by Alderman Meade to send the bills to council for approval. Voice vote, motion carried. Jim Snider submitted the final pay request from Phillips and Associates for Leander Land on the Depot project in the amount of $5000. Motion made by Alderman Meade, second by Alderman Molleck. Voice vote motion carried. Jim Snider submitted for approval the annual application for membership with the Fulton County Tourism Council in the amount of $200. Motion made by Alderman Molleck, second by Alderman Meade to approve the membership renewal. Voice vote, motion carried. Chief Stanko submitted a request for Jay Smith to attend a fire investigator training course in Champaign. 50% of the $1,857.45 cost is reimbursable by the office of the State Fire Mazshall. The eligible reimbursement includes the above expenses as well as Firefighter Smith's salary during the training time and mileage expenses. Motion made by Alderman Molleck, second by Alderman Meade to approve the request. Voice vote, motion carried. Clif O'Brien briefed the committee on a report from Jim Davis of Maurer-Stutz regazding the City's MFT projects for this year. In addition to the City's regular yearly project, Clif recommends we participate iri IT~OT's LAPP program. The City would pay 20% of the $600,000 project. The City's contribution would be paid out of the MFT budget. This would leave approximately $150,000 for the regulaz MFT project. The five LAPP fund projects are: Linn Street from Fifth Avenue to Main Street; Main from Linn to Pine; Walnut from Main to Avenue I; Avenue I from Walnut to Locust; and Fourth Avenue from Birch to Alder. Jim Snider added that the City's share of MFT funds should increase this yeaz by 15%. Motion made by Alderman Meade to approve the LAPP Fund Project. Second by Alderman Nidiffer, voice vote -motion carried. 1 Greg Pollitt submitted a report on the motor repair on the 125HP pump at the water plant, The cost for these repairs will be approximately $1500 plus the cost of $500 to have the motor realigned with the pump. Mayor Edwards had authorized the work. Actual amounts will be on next month's bills. Pat Wright submitted a financial report on the City's Health Fund showing the current balance at ($122,284.38). Pat explained that there hasn't been any "let-up" in claims as previously hoped following the additional contribution made by the City last fall. Pat recommended $150,000 be transferred from the Working Cash Fund to the Health Insurance Fund to cover the shortfall in the insurance account. Pat reported only $70,000 was levied for the insurance fund, so $80,000 still would need to be paid back to the Working Cash Fund. The Committee discussed possible changes to the existing Health Plan to deal with the growing deficit. The portion City employees contribute could possibly be raised, along with an increase in the City's monthly contribution. Another possibility is to raise the drug co-pay amounts. Currently an employee pays $4 generic, $8 regular prescription. Drug cost for December alone totaled $22,000. Jim Snider said this is probably the greatest area of percentage cost increase over the past couple of years. Alderman Sarff said the city couldn't continue to have years in which $1 million is paid while participation by employees is only $38,000. Motion made by Alderman Meade, second by Alderman Molleck to transfer $150,000 from the Working Cash Fund into the Health Fund. Voice vote, motion carried. Jim Snider submitted an official request by CIPS for approval of $40.96 per month increase to the City's monthly billing for street and traffic lighting for the Sycamore Terrace -Main Street traffic signal. Motion made by Alderman Meade, second by Alderman Molleck. Voice vote, motion carried. No other business was discussed and the committee adjourned. Negotiations, Grievance & Personnel Committee Kevin Meade, Chairman The committee received proposals from Don Heller of the YMCA, Ruben Gayon of Canton Health and Fitness and a written proposal from Graham Hospital's Wellness Department outlining their respective fitness programs. The committee will take them under review. Clif O'Brien submitted a request for an additional full time employee garbage man. He outlined his request in memo form. Motion made by Alderman Sarff, Second by Alderman Molleck to approve the manpower request. Voice vote, motion carried. No other business was discussed and the committee adjourned. 2 Community & Industrial Development Committee Robert Molleck, Chairman No business was discussed and the committee adjourned. Legal & Ordinance Committee David Nidiffer, Chairman Beverly Lowe addressed the committee requesting permission to place directional signs to the South Pazk United Methodist Church. Committee recommended that she get together with Clark Wilson on this request. Robert Coletta, attorney for Kurt Huber addressed the council regarding the possible purchase of the former Opera House Building on the East Side of Square. Mr. Coletta outlined Mr. Huber's intention to obtain the building from Eric Mathews and Leonard Lasco. Mr. Mathews and Mr. Lasco will pay Mr. Huber $25,000 each. This would spaze the owners from demolition and clean-up costs. Mr. Huber intends to renovate the building for retail and office space. He intends on investing $300,000 cash and to finance the rest through the Mid-America National Bank. A letter of recommendation from Jim Fassino was submitted to the committee for review. Jim Elson informed the committee that demolition proceedings are forthcoming at a February 14, 2000 court hearing. Bob Coletta asked the Committee to forbear demolition and allow Huber to acquire the property in a reasonable time, make the structure safe from collapse and then improve the property further. Coletta asked to give Huber until Mazch 15 to close the deal with the owners and until April 14 to make the building structurally safe. If neither deadline can be met, the city could proceed to demolish the building; if the owners have not already arranged to do so. Huber plans to hire David Maurer of Maurer-Stutz to work with him to make the building structurally sound after Huber acquires the property. Mayor Edwards said the primary concern of the city was the safety of its citizens. Another concern was reopening the street on the east side of the squaze to traffic. Some merchants in that area aze losing up to 40% of their business. Huber said some steel work followed by masonry work would be needed to make repairs. "We can probably secure the front fairly quickly," he said. Structurally, it will not be hazd to fix, he added. Huber said problems exist throughout the building that will require masonry work and take longer to fix. Such work must be done when weather is warmer. " We would like to have the building ocupiable by August," he said. Alderman Meade said if Huber can save this building, that would be better than teazing it down and creating a hole on the square. He also noted the city has a history of "bending over backwards to accommodate developers" to the point of holding offthe wrecking ball to come the very next day. Meade said he agreed about the need to reopen the east side of the squaze. Any concerns with the parties involved should be able to be satisfied by written agreement. Motion made by Alderman Meade to approve the concept of forbearing demolition action subject to an agreement worked out by next Tuesday, second by Alderman Molleck. Voice vote, motion carried. No further business was discussed and the committee adjourned. Motion made by Alderman Sarff, second by Alderman Meade do go in to executive session for purposes of pending litigation. Roll call: Ayes -Molleck, Hartford, Sarff, Phillips, Meade, Shores, and May. Nays -none. Committee reconvened in open session. Alderman Meade reported on the executive session's discussion to proceed with full judgment on the Mason property demolition. Motion made by Alderman Molleck, second by Alderman Sarff to instruct James Elson to proceed for full judgment against Vic Mason and Baz-V enterprises in the amount of $50,570 plus any miscellanies fees. Roll call: Ayes -Molleck, Hartford, Saz~ Phillips, Meade, Shores, and May. Nays - none. Motion to adjourn made by Alderman Molleck, second by Alderman Meade. Voice vote, motion carried. Recorded by Jim Snider 4