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Home My WebLink About1992-08-19 - City Commission Workshop Meeting MinutesCITY OF TAMAR.AC CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1992 Tape 1 CALL TO ORDER Mayor Bender called the City Council Workshop Meeting to or er at 9:00 a.m. in Conference Room #1, City Hall. PRESENT : Mayor H. L. Bender Vice Mayor Henry Schumann Councilman Norman Abramowitz Councilman Irving Katz ABSENT AND EXCUSED : Councilman Joseph Schreiber ALSO PRESENT : John' P. Kelly, City Manager Dina McDermott, Assistant City Manager Mitchell S. Kraft, City Attorney Mary Blasi, Finance Director Karen Jackson, Secretary John Kelly, City Manager, said Council reduced the increase over rolled back rate from 6.25% to 3.3% and the increase over the current millage rate was 8.5%. V/M Schumann asked for the rolled back rate for FY 1991/1992. Ms. Blasi said 4.6851% and the current millage rate would go from 4.4603% to 4.8372%. Mr. Kelly said residents would be paying from $1.26 for property assessed at $30,000 to $19.00 for property assessed at $100,000. He said City taxes averaged out to approximately $.50 per month more. There was discussion pertaining to the City of Hollywood's policy on buy-back and Tamarac's policy of paid sick leave to Union employees when services were terminated. Ms. Blasi disagreed and referred to sick leave buy-back at the end of the year and not when at termination date. Page 28, Planning Page 91, Department Personnel Total Personnel Services Mr. Kelly said a five percent increase was included if Mike Vonder Meulen passed his six-month probation as a City Planner. C/M Katz disagreed with reorganizing the Department and believed Mr. Vonder Meulen was not qualified to take Kelly Carpenter's place. C/M Abramowitz expressed his opinion and agreed with the six-month probationary period and giving Mr. Vonder Meulen a chance. Mayor Bender said to -date, the reorganization had not been approved. Mr. Kelly agreed. V/M Schumann asked how much would the Department's budget be reduced if the reorganization was not approved. Ms. Blasi said approximately $5,500. C/M Abramowitz disagreed and the budget would increase if a position was eliminated. Mr. Kelly explained that if Council approved the reorganization, the Development Review Planner position would be eliminated and Mr. Vonder Meulen and Ms. Carpenter would each get a five -percent increase if they successfully passed their probationary periods. He said Joanne City Council Workshop Meeting 8/19/92/PP Page 2 Zambuto was a Union employee and would get her five -percent increase in October. Ms. Blasi said the total increases would amount to approximately $6,700. C/M Abramowitz said someone should be in charge of Cod Enforcement Officers and School Crossing Guards if Council did no approve the reorganization. City Attorney Kraft said the Cod Enforcement Board was the administrator of case presentations.` C/M Katz said in the past, Chief Building Officials sat on th Code Enforcement Board along with Consulting City Attorne Christine Carsky as Prosecutor, and heard Code cases, and, in hi opinion, any City employee could make the presentation. I There was discussion regarding the qualifications of City Planner, Mr. Vonder Meulen. C/M Abramowitz asked if there would be a problem with Ms.! Carpenter going back to her original position if Mr. Vonder Mouler� did not pass his probationary period. Mr. Kelly said, no,� and reiterated Ms. Zambuto would get a five -percent increase) i"' October but Ms. Carpenter and Mr. Vonder Meulen could get theirsi after successfully passing their probationary periods. I There was discussion regarding to whom Code Enforcement personnel, and School Crossing Guards would report. C/M Katz suggelste responsibilities should be shared by the Chief Building Officia and the City Planner and he would draw up a Chain-Of-Co�riman indicating responsibilities. Mr. Kelly said although it,, wa impractical, Code Enforcement personnel and School Crossing Guard could report to Dina McDermott, Assistant City Manager, or someond else. Mayor Bender expressed his opinion and said he was not comfortable) with the person Mr. Kelly wished to place as City Planner. Pa a 53, Building Pace 100, Department Personnel .AtNII �I.1114.111111111I MIIIINNryltlll�l I V/M Schumann said during the past two years, someone was brought in as Director over Dan Wood, Chief Building Official. H expressed his opinion about the position created for Ms. Carpenter, the Director of Developmental Services and Mr. Wood.; There was discussion regarding the Building Inspectors and responsibility and role of Mr. Wood who would now evaluate the' Inspectors. V/M Schumann said in his opinion, the Building Department was not headed by the Chief Building Official. Mr. Kelly said Mr. Wood supervised all Building Inspectors and he disagreed a position wa� created for Ms. Carpenter and Code Enforcement personnel' and School Crossing Guards should report to Ms. Carpenter. There was discussion regarding Ms. Carpenter's working; relationship with people and her administrative abilities. Tape 2 Mayor Bender requested a Consensus of Opinion: Mayor Bender said Ms. Carpenter should return to Director of Community Development. C/M Abramowitz indicated his APPROVAL to reorganize with no incrleases in salary until Ms. Carpenter and Mr. Vonder Meulen passed .their probationary periods. Mr. Kelly said he would return to Council n or before April 1, 1993 for their decision. C/M Katz disagreed with reorganizing the Department and regiuestpd an alternate scenario. Mr. Kelly said Code Enforcement pers�onne;l and School Crossing Guards would now report to Ms. McDermott. 1 City Council Workshop Meeting 8/19/92/PP Page 3 V/M Schumann said in his opinion, it was not advantageous to the City to reorganize the Department and implement new Titles. Mr. Kelly asked who should supervise the Department. There was discussion regarding Title changes with no increases in salary and which person was doing what task. Mr. Kelly said Ms. Carpenter's title would remain the same but responsibilities would be expanded. Ms. McDermott agreed and Ms. Carpenter would be moved from Community Development to Code Enforcement. C/M Abramowitz asked Mr. Kelly if he had the authority to change responsibilities of personnel and Mr. Kelly said it is proper and practical but not in this City. C/M Katz said positions are created and then hard to fill should a person leave. He said job responsibilities need to be layered and distributed. Mayor Bender said the City Manager is hired for the sole purpose of administering the City. He said Council recommends to the Manager and the Manager has to work around it. He said the direction from Council has been given. Mayor Bender suggested letting Ms. McDermott handle Code Enforcement for several months. Mr. Kelly said it will take up time that Ms. McDermott does not have and the grants will suffer. Mayor Bender said he is not happy with Mr. Kelly saying he will have to do the best he can with what he has. He said incompetent people do not need to be utilized in these particular areas. He said this is not permanent but it is a temporary solution. Mayor Bender called a recess at 10:05 a.m. and reconvened the meeting at 10:15 a.m. with the same people present. C/M Katz said the City should be able to curtail expenses by better distribution of responsibilities rather than adding postions, such as Director of Developmental Services. He said that he stated this three years ago in a letter (Attachment 1) and he feels the same today. Mayor Bender said he gave the consensus to Mr. Kelly on the view of Council and asked Mr. Kelly if he had questions. Mayor Bender said he did not feel it was necessary to have Ms. McDermott in charge but if Mr. Kelly needs a name, Ms. McDermott is a name. Mr. Kelly said Ms. Carpenter has been in charge temporarily. C/M Abramowitz asked who was going to run Code Enforcement and the Crossing Guards. He said he did not feel Mr. Wood was qualified or has the ability or time. He suggested hiring someone to handle Code Enforcement. He said 75% of the problems with Code Enforcement were not in the administrative end but were with the Code Enforcement Board. He said the Board would not adhere to or carry out the Code. C/M Katz said the procedure has been upgraded and an alternative has been adopted which makes it easier. V/M Schumann asked who ran Code Enforcement before Mr. Oxenhandler and Mr. Kelly said the Building Official. C/M Abramowitz said the Crossing Guards were previously handled by the Police Department. He said there have been changes. Ms. McDermott said the Crossing Guards have scheduling, time sheets, vacation and training. City Council Workshop Meeting 8/19/92/PP Page 4 i Mr. Kelly said Code Enforcement is not in the City to generate revenue but to get compliance with the Code. He said the Code Enforcement function has to be supervised. C/M Katz said Mr. Wood would be his suggestion. He said the Building Official would present the charges. V/M Schumann said that is the way it used to be. C/M Abramowitz asked if the Building Official would go there at night and not get paid for it and Ms. McDermott said he is a salaried employee. V/M Schumann said it should be part of his duties. Mr. Kelly said Council would like Code Enforcement and Building h ndled by the Building Official. He said Council has to direct that an then he will do it. I Mayor Bender said at this meeting, Council gives opinions. C/M Katz asked if any of these alternatives have been disc sse4 with Mr. Wood or Ms. Carpenter and Mr. Kelly said, no. Mayor Bender asked if Mr. Kelly wants to accept what was done herei as a matter of opinion and proceed or at a regular Council meeting take a vote. C/M Abramowitz said he is against this suggestion. Mr. Kelly said Ms. Zambuto will go back with Ms. Carpenter. C/M Abramowitz said Mr. Kelly has been given direction. Mr. Kelly said Council will have to discuss that further because Ithere will be serious personnel ramifications, not with Mr. Wood or Ms. Carpenter, but with staff. Code Enforcement , Page 56 & 101 Ms. McDermott said Council discussed several changes last weep. She said Mary Falor is currently ID Technician and it was recommended, that she be in this budget as an Administrative Secretary. She said Ccluncil discussed creating a Code Officer and training Ms. Falor td that position. C/M Abramowitz said he would not be in favor. Mayor Bender said Ms. Falor was a $30,650.00 employee and Mr. !Kelly spoke to her about accepting a lower salary position. Ii Mr. Kelly said he discussed the Code Officer position with s. kalor. He said the budget shows Mr. Weinreb in that position and i wound be shifted to Ms. Falor. He said Mr. Weinreb would retain hi current position. Mr. Kelly said Ms. Yacobellis's salary would be dropped and the parit would be provided for Ms. Hammel and Mr. Phaneuf with Ms. Falor b ing a $1,000.00 less. He said he spoke to Lloyd Connelly from the Union. He said the Union was concerned that Ms. Falor be protected and given a position and to save as much of her salary as possible. He said this position seems to be the only option available. He'said Ms. Falor does have some background in police and is familiar with some of, the processes. He suggested that her longevity be kept at the present !level so that she is not penalized any further. He said Ms. Falor would be making $21,000.00. Mr. Kelly said Ms. Yacobellis is going to be reduced by $3,000. 0 to $23,471.00 and the others would be bumped up $1,000.00. He said Ms. Falor would be $21,000.00. Mr. Kelly said Ms. Yacobellis is being reduced because the respbnsi- City Council Workshop Meeting 8/19/92/PP Page 5 bility of Occupational License Supervisor are nonexistent. He said she will not be supervising. C/M Abramowitz said he is very uncomfortable with what is going on. He said last year $30,000.00 was brought into the City with the inspection of every business place in the City of Tamarac. He said Ms. Yacobellis as a person did a wonderful job but one person could only do so much. C/M Abramowitz asked who is going to be in charge of making sure all the businesses are licensed and Mr. Kelly said Mr. Wood. C/M Katz said another set of eyes will be out there to help with Ms. Falor being a fifth Code Officer. C/M Abramowitz asked why Ms. Yacobellis was not in charge of allocating the.sections and making sure that every business gets visited. Mr. Kelly said Mr. Wood will make that determination if he is in charge. Mayor Bender said services will be increased with these changes. Tape 3 C/M Katz said suggested that all Code Enforcement Inspectors be cross trained with Ms. Yacobellis. He said the question that remains is if it will work with Mr. Wood . He said he would like to hear more about lower level employee concerns. Mr. Kelly said that Council will. Fleet Services , Page 240 Mr. Kelly said the key part of fleet is on page 245, Account 473, Auto Repairs. He said there is $65,000.00 that can be taken out of that area. He said the County plans for every five years and Tamarac goes seven to ten years for replacement. He said this combines both Utilities and the General Fund. He said $107,000.00 will suffice. V/M Schumann asked if the Body and Fender account is strictly auto body work and Ms. Blasi said it is anything that the City Fleet Service cannot do and has to be serviced out. Ms. McDermott said it is also for rusted out parts on the vehicles. C/M Katz said the $65,000.00 represents a reduction only on those trucks that Council has already approved. Mr. Kelly replied that was correct. He said the $65,000.00 can be taken out of the budget or placed in a fund for hurricane preparedness or contingency. C/M Abramowitz asked if the City was buying the equipment needed for capital improvements and Mr. Kelly answered yes. C/M Abramowitz said the waterways need another boat and equipment. V/M Schumann asked if this is put in a hurricane fund, can it only come out for hurricanes or could it be used like a contingency fund account and Mr. Kelly said Council can direct funds out. Mayor Bender said he would like it in a contingency fund. Mr. Kelly said additional personnel are being provided for Public Services but not on canal maintenance. Mr. Kelly said if the money is put into contingency, canals could be addressed at another date. C/M Abramowitz said he likes to address the problems that exist. He said there are many complaints about the waterways and nothing is being City Council Workshop Meeting 8/19/92/PP Page 6 done about it. Mr. Kelly said the public has been brutal on this +ssue. C/M Katz asked if two vehicles were approved for the Fire Hepa tment and Ms. Blasi said only a car was approved. Mr. Budzinski said the City Manager eliminated the truck during the review. He said the vehicle remains in the budget for inspection He said Public Works vehicles are being used to transport equipmont,l when necessary. C/M Katz asked why not get a pick-up truck instead of a car.! Ms. McDermott said the car is for an inspector. Ms. Blasi said 66% goes to General Funds and the rest goes to Wat4- and Sewer. She said $43,000.00 would be going to the General Fund. ', Fire , Page 48 and 98 Ms. McDermott said the Fire Department was discussed yestdrda� and Council wanted to revisit the staffing and the fire budget today.; C/M Abramowitz said he felt a consensus was given. Ms. McDermott said yesterday, the City Manager requested a �evi�w of alternate solutions and then come back to Council. i C/M Katz said there were three votes for the inspector a�d C/M Abramowitz agreed. Mr. Kelly said two positions were discussed and the sh fti g of manpower. He said he recommends that the inspector position e funded. He said he and Mr. Budzinski have to discuss with Council the,imp ct of putting different people on shifts. He said in assessing this shi t, he does not see the increase that he was hoping for but it needs to be addressed. C/M Abramowitz asked if the inspector position can also res ondjto a fire and Mr. Budzinski said, yes. Mayor Bender said the consensus was that Council agreed o� the inspector position. C/M Katz asked what happens if the postion of inspector is eliminated, will there be a problem with the Union or administration in abolishing the person. Mr. Budzinski said if there is no job and no funding for ii the position is eliminated. Mr. Kraft said there is always a potential Union problem. Mayor Bender said Council decision is predicated on a rul ng doming from the County. He said if an adverse situation occurs, the ity'!wants to be able to utilize this person elsewhere, before he is fired. C/M Katz said there is a difference in pay between an inspectorland a probationary firefighter. He asked if an inspector can be down raded in pay. He said he is in favor of hiring an inspector but he is a so in favor of hiring a probationary fire fighter. He said if an inspec or is not needed the position can be eliminated and the extra perso can respond to a fire. I Mayor Bender said there are three vacancies and the consensus was to go with one position. C/M Abramowitz said to hire an inspector and later hire another Ferson if necessary. i C/M Katz said before hiring this person, go to the Union andjneg tiate rather than wait until after the fact. He said the City shoulc know what they are getting into before the fact. 1 City Council Workshop Meeting 8/19/92/PP Page 7 Mayor Bender said to hire the inspector. C/M Abramowitz said to leave the vacant position vacant and funded. Mr. Kelly said it would not be filled unless directed by Council. V/M Schumann said this is not going to alleviate any manpower problems that the Chief has because an inspector works 8:00 a.m. to 4:0 p.m. He said the inspector cannot respond to fires at night or after 4:00 p.m. Mr. Budzinski said that is correct, except for recall. V/M Schumann asked if the Union contract recites how Fire Department employees work their 48 hours per week and Mr. Budzinski said, yes, with the 24 hours on and 48 hours off. C/M Katz said he would again like to discuss a pick-up rather than a car and C/M Abramowitz agreed that it was reasonable. Mr. Budzinski said it would be beneficial to have the pick-up. C/M Katz asked Mr. Budzinski if he would be better off with a utility pick-up and Mr. Budzinski said, yes. C/M Katz made the recommendation that the one approved vehicle be a utility pick-up truck, spending $16,000.00 for the 3/4 ton with the utility and the towing contact. Ms. Blasi said it is a $5,500.00 increase. C/M Abramowitz agreed. V/M Schumann asked what the three commanders cannot do working shifts that they can do coming in 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Mr. Budzinski said their basic job is administrative but they do respond to fires. He said they have pagers at home and have the ability to respond. He said they have contact with the vendors and other fire departments in the area of training, purchasing and organization. Mr. Budzinski said the commanders are on rotating shifts, there are not three of them on each day. He said they also cover weekends. With no further business, Mayor Bender ADJOURNED this Council Workshop Meeting at 11:12 a.m. CAROL A. EVANS CITY CLERK 11 CITY TAK€6 Ultb 591RAL. Ia C, LTly I r4gE6 e",19*z 3E c0,0-b6D BY ►.parr SPe I.3bto6 M'aRk T%414�4 Oar -rAW-E It4- 1 IAAQE 1ykbE 3uGr 5r,ot•.is T4= %vie caw "i: tiMAGC L T-ti,.a 46e,LY Aozb Fe,JAOcG beR I c.`ro?, V` F LY ►a- LASt wAERE oviL r-Qb kfJF0Ac.G MctJr bC PnR l r-lgi r.3T tt,3 T"Nr-- GIT"y C.h•-� 3C SELF 603I M1rJt..�G;. T"Is bcrARrMu,.jT ?QE-scFJTLY HF?S A 3jaGcr of oJg2 6(00#oao Aob I t-I C,om i; OP A L H-.:) S T N c:)-rt4 , wa G. ?"r1 E �a 3 o v „,b a *.W4.e rp+-i r W T f +tr R' c- wi bte,drGTr0P- IS SQPWltvt.u00S A,,.3*b CAhz $6 CLIM,►�1Ai"a:D. 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