Columbus, Georgia

Minutes



BUDGET REVIEW COMMITTEE



Meeting

May 20, 2003



Members Present: Chairperson Evelyn Turner Pugh, Mayor Pro Tem John J. Rodgers,

Councilors R. Gary Allen, Wayne Anthony, Glenn Davis, Nathan Suber and Evelyn

Woodson. Also present were City Manager Cavezza, Mayor Poydasheff (arrived

11:13 a.m.), Deputy City Managers Isaiah Hugley and Richard Bishop, City

Attorney Clifton Fay (arrived 10:21 a.m.) Finance Director Kay Love, and

Assistant Finance Director Angela Cole.



Members Absent: Councilors Berry Henderson, Julius Hunter, Jr. and Charles E.

McDaniel, Jr. were absent.

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Chairperson Turner Pugh called the meeting to order at 10:17 a.m. in the Ground

Floor Conference Room, Government Center.



City Manager Cavezza recognized the presence of a representative from the

Fraternal Order of Police (FOP).



Old Business:



At this time, City Manager Cavezza responded to questions from the previous

meeting and are listed as follows:



? The number of State inmates that are currently at the jail is 204 with 185 of

those awaiting beds in the State system and 19 are waiting to be placed in

the State?s Diversion Center; the City receives $20.00 per day for the inmates.



? The Sheriff?s Department has purchased 53 and has documented for 148 more of

the Glock Weapons. They traded in 202 various weapons for a value of

$43,200.00; therefore, they are paying $26,212.00 for 148 weapons; this would

completely outfit the Sheriff?s Department.



? Regarding how many Smith & Wesson weapons have the Police Department

purchased as replacement weapons: 2001 purchased 8, 2002 purchased 5, 2003

purchased 6.



? The Go-4 Scooters in the Police Department are used for policing the

Riverwalk, special details, activities around the Civic Center and designated

to be used in inclement weather.



In responding to a question of Councilor Allen, Financial Planning

Division Manager Joe Riddle mentioned that weapons have been lost. Councilor

Allen requested to be provided with how many weapons have been lost. City

Manager Cavezza said that he would check and report back to the committee.



? There are six Public Safety vacancies and no General Government vacancies in

the Fire Department; The Marshal?s Department - no Public Safety or General

Government vacancies; The MCP - 10 Public Safety vacancies and no General

Government vacancies; Police & E911 ? 21 Public Safety vacancies and two

General Government vacancies; Sheriff?s Department - 5 Public Safety vacancies

and 6 General Government vacancies



There was some discussion regarding the vacancies in the Police

Department, the Law Enforcement Officers that have been called up for military

duty in Iraq and the eligibility of those employees to return to work upon

completion of their military duties within five years. Councilor Davis asked

to be provided with the number of Public Safety employees that are serving in

Iraq.



Personnel:



City Manager Cavezza reminded the committee that we are flattening out the

organization on the plans and development side of the organization in order to

be more efficient and save some money. He explained that under the Director of

Community Development previously, we had the Community of Economic Development

and the Engineering Department. He then outlined the proposed changes.



? The G-15 position in the Engineering Department was removed.



? The position of Director of Community & Economic Development would downgrade

to a G-14. Deputy City Manager Richard Bishop would remain in that position.



? Rename the Government Center Annex to Planning and Development Resource

Center.



? The Engineering Division Chief would be a G-14, with the employee currently

in that position already a G-14.



? The Planning Division Chief ?s position is a G-14, which is vacant now.



? The Building & Codes Division Chief, which is currently a G-13, would be

upgraded to a G-14.



? The Community and Reinvestment Division Chief, which is currently a G-13,

would be converted to G-14 position.



City Manager Cavezza then provided the cost savings of these proposed

changes, which would be a total general fund savings of $4,274.00. He pointed

out that the Community Reinvestment Division Chief is funded under CDBG and

that would be a cost of approximately $2,228.00. He said even if we rolled in

the CDBG money into the equation, it would still be a net savings of about

$22,000. that does not include the Engineer?s position that was deleted last

year.



There was continued discussion on this matter with City Manager Cavezza

addressing the concerns of Councilors Allen, Davis and Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers

regarding the increase in some positions. Councilor Woodson requested to be

provided with a job description of the Inspections & Code Enforcement Division

Manager. Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers requested to be provided with the current

organizational chart and the corresponding duties and responsibilities.



Chairperson Pugh noticed that there were some individuals present in the

Conference Room that may desire to be heard during these proceedings. She

explained the procedures of conducting the Budget Review meetings, which

normally does not allow for participation in the discussions. She then asked

what was the pleasure of the committee. Councilor Allen moved that anyone

present could be heard. Seconded by Councilor Woodson and carried unanimously

by those seven members present for this meeting. (There was no one that wanted

to be heard at this particular time in the proceedings.)



City Manager Cavezza briefly explained that held positions are positions

that would not be funded until later in the fiscal year. Councilor Woodson

asked about the positions for the jail, at which time, City Manager Cavezza

replied that we met the requirements that were outlined by the Sheriff?s

Association and provided that data to the Justice Department, but received no

comments from the Justice Department. He pointed out that when they came to do

their investigation, the consultant stated that we needed additional staff for

the jail.





? Deleted Positions:



o Engineering- Drainage Survey Crew Worker (G-5) 07/01/03









? Held Positions



o Traffic Engineering Traffic Signal Supervisor (G-8) 01/15/04

o Traffic Engineering Traffic Signal Technician I (G-6) 10/01/03

o Radio Communications Radio Technician I (G-6) 09/15/03

o Public Services Ass. Dir. Public Services (G-14) 10/01/03

o Parks & Recreation Recreation Ser. Div. Mgr (will not be filled 04)

o Sheriff - Jail Criminal Record Tech I (will not be filled 04



? Reclassified Positions for FY-04:



General Fund 0101



o City Attorney Legal Administrative Specialist (G-7) to

Administrative Assistant (G-8)



o Real Estate Land Technician (G-5) to Land Technician (G-6)



o Risk Management Administrative Specialist III (G-4) to Administrative

Service Coordinator (G-6)



o Human Resources Affirmative Action Officer (G-12) to Assistant Human

Resources Director (G-14)



o Community Dev. Community Development Director (G-14) to Planning

Division Manager (G-14)



o Community Dev. Codes & Inspection Div. Manager (G-13) to Building &

Codes Division Manager (G-14)



o Community Dev. Plans Examiner (G-9) to Inspections & Codes Assist.

Division Manager (G-11)



o Public Services Driving Training Administrator (G-9) to Driving

Training Administrator/Safety Officer (G-10)



o Facilities Maintenance Custodial Crew Leader (G-4) to Assistant Custodial

Services Coordinator (G-6)



o Clerk of Superior Ct. Judicial Administrative Technician III (G-4) to

Judicial Administrative Technician III (G-6)



o Sheriff Department Fiscal Technician II (G-4) to Fiscal Technician III (G-5)



o Medical Director Administrative Supervisor (G-6) to Administrative

Assistant (G-8)



Sewer Fund 0202



o Sewer Maintenance Public Services Crew Leader (G-6) to Public Service

Supervisor (G-7)



Paving Fund 0203



o Engineering Assistant Engineering Director (G-14) to Engineering

Division Manager (G-14)



o Public Services Public Services Crew Leader (G-6) to Public Services

Crew Supervisor (G-7)



o Public Services Chemical Application Crew Leader (G-6) to Chemical

Application Supervisor (G-7)



Community Development Block Grant 0210



o Com. Reinvestment Economic Development Division Chief (G-13) to

Community Reinvestment Division Manager (G-14)



Parking Management



o Parking Management Parking Enforcement Officers (G-4) to (3 positions)

Parking Enforcement Officers (G-5)



At this point, City Manager Cavezza responded to various questions

regarding the duties of the Parking Enforcement Officers.



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NOTE: Mayor Poydasheff arrived at the meeting at approximately 11:13 a.m.



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After discussions continued on this matter, City Manager Cavezza said

that he would bring back information to the committee on how the process was

done before in comparison to the way it is done now; therefore, we would be

able to show what has changed. Councilor Allen requested this same information

on all of the reclassifications.

Mayor Poydasheff commented on the paralegal work that is done by the Legal

Administrative Specialist in the City Attorney?s Office. City Attorney Fay

added some additional information to justify the reclassification.



Trade Center 0753



o Trade Center Assistant Director of Trade Center (G-11) to Assistant

Director of Trade Center (G-12)



? New Positions



General Fund 0101



o Facilities Maintenance Facilities Maintenance Supervisor (Part-time)

o Recorder?s Court Deputy Sheriff ? Captain

o Tax Commissioner Administrative Technician I (Part-time) 2 positions

starting 12/01/03

o Sheriff - Jail 24 Jail Positions authorized but not funded

o Sheriff - Medical Dir. 5 positions authorized but not funded



Integrated Waste Fund 0207





o Waste Collection Waste Equipment Operator





? Additional Compensation



o Finance - Purchasing Buyer Career Ladder Implementation

o District Attorney $30,000 for supplements for District Attorney

positions. Ties local DA?s salaries to State Court Solicitor?s pay with

5 years as an attorney.

o Municipal Court Judge Municipal Court Judge?s salary increases to $87,946

o Municipal Court Clerk Municipal Court Clerk?s salary increases to $51,912

o Marshal Marshal?s salary increases to $51,912

o Probate Court Probate Court Judge?s salary increases to $87,946







Coroner?s Office:



City Manager Cavezza stated that the workload has increased consistently

recently in the Coroner?s Office. City Manager Cavezza said the Coroner is

having problems, because he cannot allow the employees to take a vacation. He

advised that we have looked at a program where he can hire someone temporarily;

so, he can allow an employee to go on vacation. He added there is an unfunded

mandate that has been passed on. He explained before, if the City had a body

that required an autopsy, the GBI would pick that body up, take it to Atlanta,

conduct the autopsy and return it. He advised that we have been informed that

they would no longer do that, and it is our responsibility to deliver the body

to Atlanta and bring it back. He said that we are looking at a number of

options and would come back to the committee next week with a proposal.



City Manager Cavezza advised that these positions are transfers that are

administrative with no cost involved.



? Transfer Positions



General Fund 0101



o Revenue All positions from Occupation Tax Division

o Information Tech. Facilities Main. Technician III from Public Services

o GIS Graphic Supervisor from Planning Division

o GIS Graphic Designer from Planning Division

o Park Services Parks Maintenance Sup. from Civic Center

o Park Services Parks Maintenance Work (2 positions) Civic Center

o Youth Activities All positions to Recreation Services

o Supercenters All positions to Recreation Services

o Fire/EMS Operations All positions for Fire/EMS

o Recorder?s Court All positions from Recorder?s Court





Councilor Pugh requested that we put on the add/delete list for

discussion, a recommendation from City Attorney Fay that the Assistant City

Attorney be placed on the same pay grade as the Assistant District Attorney.



There was continued discussion on this matter with various committee

members expressing their views.



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NOTE: The committee took a lunch break at this point with the time being 11:40

a.m. This meeting reconvened at 12:00 p.m.

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? Old Business:



City Manager Cavezza, addressing an issue that was discussed at the

previous meeting, explained that he is recommending that the senior discount

age be 62.



ADD/DELETE LIST:



Assistant Finance Director Cole briefly outlined the Add/Delete List. (A

copy of the proposed adjustments was filed for the record.)



Councilor Suber requested the information for the overall increases to

include the State Court Solicitor and the amount that we are trying to bring

the District Attorney?s Office up to; therefore, we would know what we are

looking at.



Healthcare:



Councilor Suber asked if there was anyway the City could look into

providing long-term care in the benefit?s package as an option for an employee

to purchase it in a group environment versus an individual basis.



Tax Digest:



Mayor Pro Tem Rodgers asked if we knew where we stand on information

regarding the tax digest increase. Finance Director Love replied that we have

estimated 2.75, but we don?t know at this point.



ADD/DELETE LIST:



Finance Director Love responded to questions regarding the increase for

Real Estate Transfer Fees as listed on the add/delete list by stating that

Legislation was passed that gave indication that the amount would increase by

approximately $2,000, and that is what we budgeted in FY-03. She pointed out

that when the amount actually came in, it was over $200,000.00; so, we felt

that since we have knowledge of it, that we should go ahead and increase that

budget line item to better reflect what we actually received in FY03.



There being no other business to discuss, this meeting adjourned at 12:15 p.m.







________________________

Sandra T. Davis

Deputy Clerk of Council

Council of Columbus, Georgia