Board of Commissioners
11-6-17 Budget Minutes
MINUTES
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS LOWER ALLEN TOWNSHIP
BUDGET MEETING NOVEMBER 6, 2017
The following were in ATTENDANCE:
| BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS | TOWNSHIP STAFF |
| H. Edward Black, President | Thomas G. Vernau Jr., Township Manager |
| Richard F. Schin | Erin Trone, Assistant Township Manager |
| Jack R. Simpson, Jr.Carolyn E. Holtzman | Richard Grove, FinanceLeon Crone, Captain, Police Department |
| Greg Thomas, Lieutenant Police Department | |
| Frank Wirth, Fire Captain | |
| Josh Keller, Chief Lisburn Fire | |
| Rodney Mumma, Chief Lower Allen Fire | |
| David Murdoch, Chief Lower Allen Fire | |
| Christopher Yohn, EMS Captain | |
| Julie Echterling, Recording Secretary | |
President Black called the November 6, 2017 Budget Meeting of the Board of Commissioners to order at 6:03 pm. He announced that Proof of Publication was available for review. He noted that Vice President Young was in the hospital.
AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
There was no response.
BUDGET INTRODUCTION
Mr. Vernau discussed the two versions of the budget that was included in the packets. One has all the budgeted requests included and has an $800,000 deficit, and the second with all the new requests excluded and a $150,000 deficit. He provided copies of the discretionary items with consensus of the Board. The budget would have a $338,000 deficit if the items the Board agreed upon in the survey were added back. He stated that Mr. Grove suggested the maximum deficit for the Fund Balance to take this year should be under $300,000. Commissioner Holtzman arrived during this discussion at 6:14 pm.
BUDGET DISCUSSION
| BoardConsensus | Budget Impact | |
| Administration: 400-318 Other Professional – Branding Consultant:
Commissioner Schin believes Mrs. Trone can do the job and was hired for this purpose of Economic Development. President Black believes it is necessary for redevelopment. Commissioner Simpson believes the Township is a leader with the new businesses coming into the Mall. Discussion ensued.
|
Leave In: 3Postpone:2 | $20,000 |
| Municipal Building: 409-141 Salaries, Part-time. Summer labor | Leave In: 5
|
$6,000 |
| 409-250 Bldg. Maint. Supply. Motion-sense faucetsMr. Vernau is rethinking this item based on comments received. | Leave In: 3Delete: 2 | $1,500 |
| 409-260 Minor Equipment. Exhaust Fan, Storage Bldg | Leave In: 3Delete: 2 | $3,700 |
| 409-231 Gasoline & 409-352 Auto Insurance:Mr. Vernau explained that this is for a pickup truck that would be transferred from Public Safety to Facilities Maintenance. | Leave In: 3Delete: 1
Postpone:1 |
$1,300 |
| 409-700 Land & Improvements. Landscaping | Leave In: 4Delete: 1 | $2,100 |
| POLICE:Police 410-130 Salary, Office Personnel-Compliance Coordinator
Captain Crone spoke about the importance of this position and CALEA. Commissioner Simpson doesn’t believe we should be CALEA, as there are only 10 others in the state. Commissioner Schin believes we should go with PLEAC versus CALEA. President Black spoke about the processes CALEA provides to the officers and agrees with part-time help. Extensive discussion ensued. Mr. Vernau suggested talking with Director Holl before deciding about CALEA. The Board agreed to add the part-time help in the budget but not full-time. |
Delete: 5 | $24,000 |
| 410-133 Salary, CSO. Add 18 hours of CSO coverageCaptain Crone spoke of how they help by doing things that sworn officers should not be doing. President Black asked what is being lost and Captain Crone spoke of being reactive versus proactive. Commissioner Simpson asked about the drug task force and Captain Crone stated that it hasn’t yet been a year for the program.
|
Delete: 4Leave In: 1
|
$11,120 |
| 410-195 OPEB Funding. Post-employment health funding:Mr. Vernau stated that this should be revisited each year as prefunding is the less expensive option. | Delete: 3Postpone: 1
Leave In: 1
|
$309,330 |
| 410-312 Service Bureau. Crimewatch software:This will not be included in the 2018 budget | Postpone: 2Delete: 1
Leave In: 2 |
$4,000 |
| 410-318 Other Professional. Trafficcloud softwareCaptain Crone discussed how important this software is for speed sign data. Commissioner Schin was willing to move his postpone vote to leave in as long as the Northwestern Police Management training was done in 2017 not in the 2018 budget. | Postpone: 2 1Delete: 1
Leave In: 2 3
|
$3,000 |
| 410-421 Training. Northwestern Police ManagementCaptain Crone believes there are monies in the training in 2017 for this to be done versus the 2018 budget. See Commissioner Schin’s note above. | Leave In: 3Delete: 2
|
$4,000 |
| 410-730 Equipment. TRACs e-ticketing & reporting | Leave In: 3Delete: 2 | $3,000 |
| EMS:412-421 Training. JEMS Conference for 2 people
|
Leave In: 3Delete: 2 | $3,000 |
| 412-730 Equipment. RAD-57 CO Oximeters | Leave In: 3Delete: 1
Postpone: 1 |
$1,260 |
| PUBLIC SAFETY 415-132 Salary, Public Safety. 2 additional PSOs
Mr. Vernau discussed how the additional PSOs would be available to drive the fire trucks at night. He stated that approximately 18% of their costs could be covered by the fire tax. Captain Crone stated that the daylight PSOs drive the fire trucks during the day. Captain Wirth and Chief Murdoch discussed how important the PSOs are and how the PSOs and live-in stipends are a package deal to help with firefighting. Discussion ensued. Commissioner Schin and Simpson moved their votes from delete to leave in.
|
Leave In: 1 3Delete: 4 2
|
$53,560 |
| 415-149 Stipends. Live-in firefighter stipend | Leave In: 3Postpone: 2 | $21,160 |
| 415-242 Emergency Management. Smartboard for the EOCDirector Holl is working on another option. | Postpone: 2Delete: 1
Leave In: 2 |
$2,800 |
| 415-730 Equipment. Traffic signal pre-emption device | Leave In: 3Postpone: 2 | $2,100 |
| 415-710 Building & Improvement. Fire bay floors | Leave In: 5 | $6,300 |
| FLEET MAINTENANCE:434-145 Salary, Mechanic. Additional mechanic:
|
Leave In: 5 | $9,865 |
| 440-710 Bldg. Improvements. Building expansion study | Leave In: 4Delete: 1 | $2,800 |
| 440-710 Bldg. Improvements. Gas island manhole | Leave In: 5 | $2,100 |
| 440-710 Bldg. Improvements. Shed replacement | Leave In: 4Delete: 1
|
$1,200 |
| 452-373 Maintenance of Buildings. Water fountain-Pete’s Field | Leave In: 4Delete: 1 | $3,000 |
| 452-700 Land Improvements. Allendale Park fence | Leave In: 5 | $1,575 |
| Lower Allen Community Park:454-710 Bldg. Improvements. HVAC upgrade for the Barn | Leave In: 4Postpone: 1 | $8,300 |
| 454-700 Land & Improvements. Fun Fort replacementMr. Vernau noted this would only occur if the grant was approved based on the Board’s vote and comments. He noted that if the old section isn’t replaced it would need to be closed for safety issues. They will look for corporate sponsors. | Leave In: 3Postpone: 2
|
$12,420 |
Mr. Vernau stated that the items the Board would like back in will be added. Mr. Grove estimates the deficit would be about $417,000 with the add-backs discussed. He noted that the option of a tax increase just to cover the 2018 budget would be .25 mills. Mr. Vernau stated that for inflation and salary increases over the next few years, the Board should consider a .39 mill increase that would carry us for about 5 years. He stated that the proposal could be a .39 mill increase for the general fund and a .19 mill for the fire tax. This would amount to approximately a $96 increase a year for the average household.
Commissioner Schin stated that the Authority pay raise is 2%, however they don’t pay premiums for their health insurance. Mr. Vernau stated that Township employees pay 12% of their healthcare premiums. Commissioner Schin discussed his opposition to a 3.4% increase for employees this year with a potential tax increase. Commissioner Simpson spoke about industries giving less than 2.5%. Commissioner Holtzman discussed her concern about EMS salaries. Discussion ensued.
Mr. Vernau stated that the budget needs some work from tonight’s decisions. It will be ready for action on November 27th.
Mr. Vernau mentioned the grand openings of Sears and the Fine Wine and Spirits store in the Capital City Mall.
Commissioner Holtzman spoke about concerns with the school crossing at Allen Middle School and the close call for a CSO. Captain Crone will follow-up with her tomorrow.
ADJOURNMENT
The Budget Meeting of the Board of Commissioners adjourned at 7:47 pm.