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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-21-09 Reconvened Council Meeting MinutesThe City of Canton Reconvened City Council meeting from April 21, 2009 was held in Council Chambers at 50 North 4t" Avenue, Canton, Illinois on April 28, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. Purpose of the Reconvened meeting: 1. Adopt the Annual Budget Ordinance for 2009 - 2010. 2. Alderman Berardi request for City to pay his legal fees of criminal trespass charges. 3. Health Insurance Proposal. Those in attendance -Aldermen -Eric Schenck, Larry Sarff, Craig West, Jerald Ellis, Pamela Ihnes, Jason Strandberg. Absent -Aldermen Joe Berardi, Sonya Lewis. Others in attendance -Mayor Kevin R. Meade, City Clerk Nancy Whites, City Treasurer Aaron Anderson, City Attorney Chrissie Peterson, Public Works Director Clif O'Brien, Police Chief Dan Taylor, Fire Chief Bonnie Cremer, Wastewater Treatment Supt. Joe Carruthers, Water Treatment Supt. Greg Pollitt, Video Services by Joe Ginger. In the audience -Phil Fleming, Jim Hartford Alderman Elect for Ward 1, News Media of John Froheling from the Daily Ledger, Mark Bixler from WBYS Radio, Kevin Sampler from Journal Star. Mayor Kevin R. Meade gave everyone a Budget Summary Sheet. And commented, let's see if there are any questions that brings movement of deletions to be made and to bring up again. The budget is 100% balanced. Does it have to be 100% balanced budget? Not in my opinion! We will end up this year with $400,000 surplus. If were off by $100,000 or so, I still feel we're in the ballpark. What you have in front of you is a balanced budget. Additions we had approved were city clerk and city treasurer positions of paying their health insurance as we never passed an ordinance to that affect. Also, added in was training for the city attorney of $150.00 and $100 for Rotary as this is for someone in administration, and the mayor's association of $150 also. Alderman Ihnes said she would like to discuss the deletion of SCUBA equipment from the fire department budget. I'm uncomfortable eliminating that from the 1 budget after more though. The amount of $6,140 should be put back in, and I think it's a valuable service they provide. I'm glad they do this training. Alderman Ihnes made the motion to add the SCUBA amount of $6,140 back in the fire department budget, and was duly seconded by Alderman Strandberg. Discussion. Alderman Sarff said I don't disagree it's a nice extra to have. It is not mandatory we have it, How's the time to phase it out. And I will not be in favor of it. Alderman Elllis stated that one life is not worth this $6,000 to this council. It's a service that has been in town over 20 years. Alderman Sarff said it was all done on volunteer bases, now that has changed. We can count on others. Mayor Kevin Meade said this does not eliminate the program we're just not replacing any material this year. Alderman Schenck mentioned that regardless of the vote on the budget items, we don't want to assume we are getting rid of the diving team. Alderman Schenck said he probably would be voting for the amendment, and one of the reasons this puts the money in the budget, they still have to bring the spending request before the council. Roll call. AYES -Aldermen Schenck, Sarff, West, Ellis, Ihnes, Strandberg. NAYS -None. 6 AYES, 0 NAYS, 2 ABSENT. Motion carried. Fire Chief Bonnie Cremer said she put in fora $100,000 grant from the State of Illinois. I checked on a demo and a used vehicle. The grant allows that. Bonnie said they have a demo pinpointed and is pending for sale. This is a 10 year loan and we need council's approval. The firefighters showed a brief video of the need fora Special Reponses Apparatus. The budget is for $300,000 custom chassis. The Fire Department has received a $100,000 zero interest loan from the State. Lance Luft firefighter said they need $150,000 to $200,000 for the budget. Alderman Sarff asked Bonnie if there were any funding sources available? Bonnie said she was not aware of any. Mayor Kevin R. Meade mentioned this is also requires us to commit to another $100,000 to purchase up front. So you talking of expense of $100,000 this year and $10,000 for the next ten years. The loan expiration date is May 9, 2009. If you want to pursue the opportunity you would have to take equal amount out of Capital Account and out of Depreciation to match that $100,000. Currently this amount is cut from the budget. z Alderman Sarff said it won't get any less than this $200,000. Mayor Kevin Meade said we could put in the Depreciation Account and would not affect the budget. Alderman Sarff made the motion to add $100,000 to the Depreciation Account, and was duly seconded by Alderman Strandberg. Roll call. AYES -Aldermen Strandberg, Ihnes, Ellis, West, Sarff, Schenck. NAYS -None. 6 AYES, 0 NAYS, 2 ABSENT. Motion carried. Alderman Strandberg mentioned that the position of City Administrator has been a hot topic for two years. I do not support this position. Alderman Strandberg made the motion to have the position of City Administrator moved from the budget, and was duly seconded by Alderman Ihnes. Discussion. Alderman Ihnes said she believes we need a position to this affect. Going back it was a Finance Officer/Budget Director position. We had a job description for that position but not the same position as city administrator. I think we need the position I really do. It's not rather the city administrator is in line with what the will of the council was when we voted on this, and this is my impression. Mayor Kevin R. Meade said council can change that title. We need someone to coordinate all the things we have going on. Alderman Schenck asked if the city administrator serves as budget director. We need to move to get this done. We've had many opportunities in the last four years this position would pay for its self. This position can seek grants and administer the grants. To have a community the size of ours and not having one does not seem prudent to me. Roll call. AYES -Alderman Strandberg. NAYS -Alderman Schenck, Sarff, West, Ellis, Ihnes. 1 AYE, 2 NAYS, 2 ABSENT. Motion defeated. Health Insurance Proposal. Mayor Kevin R. Meade said the city will be changing from Health Alliance to Blue Cross Blue Shield goes into effect June 1, 2009. Rick Semonis negotiated for the city and saved the city % million dollars. They added two more tires, making 4 categories. The unions approved of the 4 categories of employee, employee plus spouse, employee plus children, or family. 3 Alderman West made the motion to accept Blue Cross Blue Shield as the City's health provider beginning June 1, 2009, and was duly seconded by Alderman Schenck. The motion was by unanimous voice vote. Mayor Kevin R. Meade said we don't have to make the decision this evening about the position of ESDA. We have the option of turning over to the county. Currently we pay $2,500 a year to our current ESDA director. We're not certified. If we're going to have an ESDA we should be certified. It allows us to apply for grants and other funding. To be certified takes someone who is dedicated. What does the council want to do? Alderman Strandberg said how long of a process on getting certified? Mayor Meade asked Phil Fleming to answer the question. Phil said he would estimate two years. It would take a year to do the necessary planning. We're about 3/5's getting certification. The longest one is the exercise. Alderman Sarff said he would like to know more from the county's aspect. If we joined them would we still be eligible for grants? Can start this year where we're at. We could use contingency's funds later in the year if we have a plan for the next year. Mayor Kevin R. Meade said what do you want to do on the budget? The General Fund and Water Department is a balanced situation. We added 5% Contingency Fund to the Budgets to follow for any unexpected purchasing throughout the year. Alderman Sarff made the motion to approve of adding in the 5% to the Contingency Fund of the Budget, and was duly seconded by Alderman Strandberg. Roll call. AYES -Aldermen Strandberg, Ihnes, Ellis, West, Sarff. NAYS - Alderman Schenck. 5 AYES, 1 NAY, 2 ABSENT. Motion carried. Mayor Kevin R. Meade said we are ready to approve the Ordinance Approving the Annual Budget for 2009-2010. Alderman Sarff made the motion the ordinance be placed on its passage, and was duly seconded by Alderman Ihnes. Roll call. Aldermen Strandberg, Ihnes, Ellis, West, Sarff, Schenck. NAYS -None. Motion carried. 4 Alderman Berardi request for the City to pay for his legal defense of criminal trespass charges. Mayor Kevin R. Meade said that last Tuesday Council passed a motion to ask the states attorney to drop the charges on Alderman Berardi's matter. The Chief of Police wants to say something on this. Dan Taylor said he felt last week the council acted unprofessional and unethical. It's like fixing a ticket. The council sold the police department down the river. Then I thought Council would not do that. What do we do to make the problem go away? Alderman Berardi is a member of the community and he has a right to his opinions. And he has been the most supportive. I disagree with Alderman Berardi, he thinks the police chief made a mistake as he feels the arrest was not professional. I wanted to go on record to clear the air. Alderman Sarff said he understands the police chief's position. I leave it up to the state's attorney, I have no power to put this on to the state's attorney. Most absent here is Diana trying to do her job this does not give her any satisfaction. I trust the states attorney do what he has to be done. Alderman Strandberg stated that he appreciates the police chief speaking up. He saw a situation at the city building and I agree with the police chief being very professional. Alderman Ellis made a motion to not pursue anything and let the states attorney have it go through the court system. Died for lack of second. Alderman Schenck said I'm not asking the chief to fix a ticket. This was an issue of trespassing on city property. And I was not taking away the professionalism and the pride of the police department. Mayor Kevin R. Meade asked what direction you want the city attorney to take? We have not asked our state's attorney to drop the charges yet. Police Chief Dan Taylor said to ask the City Attorney Chrissie Peterson to give her opinion as she is the attorney for me and the department. And Dan asked Chrissie if she sees this as some kind of conflict by doing that? Chrissie asked, you mean approaching the states attorney and I represent you? Yes, Dan said! Chrissie answered yes, and absolutely you would be called to testify. You may ask me to come with you in this case as your individual counsel. In this case that particular defendant would make counter claims against you. So it certainly is tricky. Alderman Ellis made the motion the city to have no contact with the states attorney's office, and was duly seconded by Alderman Ihnes. Discussion. 5 Alderman Sarff said he wants no more conflict as we would have to hire another attorney, and I don't want to spend anymore on this. Alderman Schenck said it is our position support of testifying same way city trespass on our property. Will the attorney be asked to present the city position on the case? Police Chief Dan Taylor commented it's my understanding talking with the states attorney the charges that have been filed are obstructing a police officer. City Attorney Chrissie Peterson said the charges been modified from criminal trespass to obstructing of justice. The motion was by unanimous voice vote. ADJOURN Being no further business - Alderman Ellis made the motion to adjourn, was duly seconded by Alderman Sarff. The motion was by unanimous voice vote. Nancy Whites, City Clerk APPROVED: Kevin R. Meade, Mayor 6