2008.08.26_TC_Minutes_WorkshopC
TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH
MINUTES OF TOWN COMMISSION MEETING
BUDGET WORKSHOP
Tuesday, August 26, 2008 3.50 P M
Mayor Jim Newill, CPA called the Budget Workshop to order in Commission Chambers at
3:50 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER:
Roll Call: Members present: Mayor Jim Newill, CPA; Vice Mayor Miriam S. Zwick;
Commissioner Doris M. Trinley; Commissioner John J. Sorrelli; and Commissioner John J.
Pagliaro. Also present: Town Attorney Tom Sliney; Town Manager Dale S. Sugerman;
Town Clerk Beverly M. Brown; and members of the public.
• Pledge of Allegiance: The Pledge of Allegiance was given, followed by a minute of
silence in honor of members of the military, both living and deceased.
Civility Pledge: Town Clerk Brown recited the Civility Pledge for the Commission and
public.
1. ADDITIONS, DELETIONS OR ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA
None
2. PUBLIC CONIlVIENTS AND REQUESTS
Joe Yucht -Boca Highlands
The revised budget indicates 3 areas that I would like to comment on. 1) Law
Enforcement -total expenditures added and divided by 17 indicates that we are
spending a total of $108,600 per employee. 2) Delray Beach Fire Rescue -number of
employees 10, total expenditure is $2,852,517 indicating that we spend $285,251 per
employee. Why does it cost more than $178,000 per fireman than it does per
policeman? We could do better by having our own fire department. 3) Legal Council -
Look at the expenditures. If we have a law suit, we turn it over to our insurance carrier
who hires an attorney. Then we pay our attorney to look over their shoulder. We need
• to resurrect the financial advisory board. Vice Mayor Zwick -The fire department also
Town Commission Special Meeting Minutes
August 26, 2008 Pale 2 of 3
provides training. There are 10 men per shift.
3. DISCUSSION OF 2008-2009 BUDGET:
Town Manager Su ems: Using the tax rate at 3.85 mils, I have made the following
adjustments:
Town Commission -Line Item 540.00 Travel and Per Diem increased by $6,000.00
Town Manager -Reduced salaries and benefits by 2%; new line item 544.000
Leases and 552.400 Gasoline
Town Clerk -Reduced salaries and benefits due to a retiring employee
Finance Department -Reduced salaries and benefits due to retiring employee and
reclassification in department. Increased Line Item 534.00 Other Contractual
Services to allow for a contract for financial services
Public Works -Increased Line Item 531.000 Professional fees due to NPDES
Permitting
General Government -Non-Departmental -Line Item 564.00 Machinery and
Equipment has been eliminated
Police Department -Line Item 562.00 Buildings has been reduced to $0.00
moving those funds to Reserve for Contingency; Line Item 564.000 Machinery
and Equipment has been reduced to $0.00 moving those funds to Reserve for
Contingency
Protective Inspection (Building Department) -Line Item 512.00 Salaries has been
• reduced by eliminating the position of Building Official and Multi-Line
Inspector; and reclassification of the Administrative Assistant with benefits
being adjusted down; Line Item 531.00 has been decreased by $5,000.00; Line
item, 534.000 Other Contracts has been increased by $200,000.00 to allow for
contract building official and inspection services; Line Item 534.000 Travel has
been reduced by $3,500.00; Item 546.100 repairs and maintenance has been
reduced to $0.00; Item 552.400 Gasoline has been reduced to $0.00 and Item
566.100 Software has been reduced to $0.00.
Library - Line Item 512.000 Salaries and benefits have increased due to addition of
new full-time Library Assistance position; Item 566.003 has been adjusted
upwards by $15,000 to a total of $75,000.00
Reserve for Contin ency -Based upon all of the modifications, the Reserve for
Contingency Line Item is sitting at $595,084.00.
There are still some issues that the Commission will need to deal with:
1) Recommend that all General Employees be treated equitably to Police; given
one more personal day off - no additional cost to the Town.
2) Recommend education incentive for all eligible General Employees at a cost of
$16,000.00.
3) Have not included any dollars for the on-going negotiations with the new FOP
contract; asking for 25% increase in their budget.
4) Do not know final cost of contract with Delray Beach Fire Rescue as they are
also involved in union negotiations.
•
Town Commission Special Meeting Minutes
August 26, 2008 Page 3 of 3
5) Question on how to treat deficit in solid waste fund. The Gap is between
$75;000176,000.00. Presently it is being covered the General Fund dollars.
Recommend increases of: Curbside -Single family from $12.00 to $14.00;
Curbside-Multi Family - $12.00 to $14.00; and Condominium from $6.50
to $8.00.
6) Have not put any dollars into improvements for the walking path. Town does
have an Open Space Fund that has a balance of $183,000.00. Most likely the
improvements will cost over $350,000.00 and we will have to go out to
referendum.
7) Does the Town want to give any consideration to modify how we charge our
employees for their insurance? Last time we changed the contribution, it was in
2001. Do we want to look at the dollar amounts that we charge our employees/
4. COMMISSION QUESTIONS & DISCUSSIONS:
Mayor Newill - Want to thank the Town Manager and the Department heads for
holding the line on their budgets. Still disagree with some items. Comm. Trinley -
What part of the budget do you disagree with? Mayor Newill -The Town Commission
and the Library. The Library increased their staff by one last year, and will increase
the staff one again this year by one.
5. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND REQUESTS RELATED TO ITEMS DISCUSSED
• AT MEETING:
None
6. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Commission at this time, a
MOTION was made by Commissioner Sorrelli and seconded by Commissioner
Pagliaro to adjourn at 4:15 P.M.
APPROVE:
Jim N will, ,Mayor
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Miriam S. Zwi~c~, Vi~ Mayor
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ohn J. So i,-.Commissioner
Attest:
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Doris M. Trinley, Co issio r
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John J. liaro, C `ssio
Beverly M. rown, Town Clerk Date