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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09111987L. Gene Harris Mayor City of Sebastian POST OFFICE BOX 780127 ~ SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA 32978-0127 TELEPHONE (305) 589-5330 Kathryn M. O'Halloran City Clerk MINUTES SEBASTIAN CITY COUNCIL PUDL!~ HEARING FRIDAY, $~PTEMBER 11, 1987 m 7:00 P.M. 'CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1225 MAIN STREET, SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA 1. Mayor Harris called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. 2. Pledge of Allegiance. 3. ROLL CALL Present: Vice Mayor Kenneth Roth Councilman Robert McCarthy Councilman George Metcalf Mayor L. Gene Harris Attorney Thomas Palmer Absent: Councilman Peter Vallone (excused) 4. ANNOUNC~M~T~ Mayor Harris said a sealed letter from Councilman Vallone would be read into the record by the Deputy City Clerk after the Public Hearing. Mayor Harris requested that the Airport Budget be removed and sent back to the Airport Advisory Board for review and recommendation to Council, separate from the rest of the budget. MOTION by McCarthy/Roth I move we remove the Airport Budget from consideration of the proposed 1987/88 fiscal year budget and send it back to the Airport Advisory Board for their review and recommendation to Council. 1 ROLL CALL: Vice Mayor Roth - Aye Councilman McCarthy - Aye Councilman Metcalf - Nay Mayor Harris - Aye MOTION CARRIED 5. ~UBLIC HEARING ON THE 1~87/88 ~I~C~L YEAR BUDgeT Mayor Harris opened the Public Hearing at 7:05 P.M. Lloyd Rondeau said he would like to speak on the airport. Mayor Harris said it was not appropriate to speak on the airport at this time. Dr. Beller said that in his opinion the Police Department and City Attorney budgets are too high and recommended a committee to review the Police Department. Vice Mayor Roth said that Dr. Beller should not criticize an entire department simply because of dislike for one person. Councilman McCarthy advised Dr. Beller that Attorney Palmer did not receive a raise. George Reed congratulated the City Council on the 1987/88 fiscal year budget although he expressed concern for funds for the upkeep of City parks. Mayor Harris closed the Public Hearing at 7:20 P.M. Attorney Palmer read Resolution No. R-87-63, by title only, as follows: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA, PROVIDING FOR THE LEVY OF AD VALOREM TAXES FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 1987. MOTION by Roth/Metcalf I move we adopt Resolution No. R-87-63 as read by the City Attorney, by title only. Councilman Metcalf said that ad valorem taxes can be reduced to zero by putting the $100,000 encumbered for the Police station toward balancing the City budget. Vice Mayor Roth said it was prudent to try to save the money for emergencies. He said he would hate to be in a political situation with no emergency funds. Mayor Harris said it was his goal to have $500,000 in reserves at some time in the future. He said many emergencies were taken care of this year with reserve funds. Councilman McCarthy said he was instrumental in encumbering the funds for the police station and reminded Councilman Metcalf that the funds are a part of the 1986/87 budget. Councilman McCarthy requested that Councilman Vallone's letter be read into the record. The Deputy Clerk read the letter from Councilman Vallone into the record. (Please see attached) Councilman McCarthy said concerns as stated in the letter should have been addressed during budget workshops. Councilman McCarthy said too many new employees were being requested in the 1987/88 fiscal year budget. He cited the four new Police Department employees. He said he had been made to understand that there were only two new employees being hired. Councilman McCarthy said all new salaries together would cost the City $141,000 which would cover the 1/2 mill increase. Councilman Metcalf said there were too many supervisors at the Police Department. Discussion took place on placing a cap on salaries. Discussion took place on surplus funds. ROLL CALL: Vice Mayor Roth - Aye Councilman McCarthy - Aye Councilman Metcalf - Nay Mayor Harris - Aye MOTION CARRIED Attorney Palmer read Resolution No. R-87-64 by title only. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA, ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET OF THE CITY OF SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 1987, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1988; APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE OPERATION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CITY OF SEBASTIAN AND ALL OF ITS DEPARTMENTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1988; SUCH APPROPRIATIONS BEING FROM ANTICIPATED REVENUE: PROVIDING A MEANS TO AMEND THE SAID ANNUAL BUDGET SO AS TO CARRY FORWARD THE FUNDING OF PURCHASE ORDERS, WORK ORDERS, AND GRANTS OUTSTANDING AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1987; PROVIDING A MEANS TO AMEND THE SAID BUDGET TO REFLECT GRANTS RECEIVED AFTER SEPTEMBER 30, 1987; AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS HEREIN APPROPRIATED SO LONG AS THE TOTAL COMBINED APPROPRIATIONS SHALL NOT BE INCREASED THEREBY: PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 3 MOTION by Roth/McCarthy I move we adopt Resolution No. R-87-64 as read by the City Attorney by title only. ROLL CALL: Vice Mayor Roth - Aye Councilman McCarthy - Aye Councilman Metcalf - Nay Mayor Harris - Aye MOTION CARRIED 6. Mayor Harris adjourned the meeting at 7:56 P.M. Minutes were approved at the September 23rd, 1987 meeting. ATTEST: ity ~erk From :.,....-C~unc i lman September 9,1987 Peter Vallone Mayor L. Gene Harris City Council Members I feel that the scheduling for the Budget Public Hearings is not in the best interest of the general public. Saturday September 5th at 10AM was the beginning of a three day holiday. Friday September llth at 7 PM is the end of a work week and no one wants to attend any meeting! In view of the fact that I have spent many, many hours reviewing the budgets of all departments and stating my opinions at those times, it should come as no surprise that I cannot approve the City Budget for 1987-88. In general, some of the areas of my concerns are as follows: 1. Full time city engineer. I do not feel that we need a full time city engineer at this time, with the cost of a support system. In reviewing the proposal of Councilman Metcalf presented at last council meeting, I find merit in pursuing the possibility of having an engineering firm on retainer. 2. Allocation for city attorney. I feel that $25,000.00 is a reasonable amount since the attorney is not restricted on his/her private practice. Perhaps the engineering proposal could be adapted for the city attorney. 3. Overtime for the two police lieutenants of $20,000.00. I feel that this is an excessive budget item for two officers. Since I will be unable to attend the Budget Public Hearing of September 11,1987 at 7 PM to cast my 'No' vote, please enter this letter into the public record.