Board of Commissioners
10-15-18 Budget Minutes
MINUTES
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS LOWER ALLEN TOWNSHIP
BUDGET MEETING OCTOBER 15, 2018
The following were in ATTENDANCE:
| BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS | TOWNSHIP STAFF |
| H. Edward Black, President |
Jack R. Simpson Jr., Vice President Thomas G. Vernau Jr., Township Manager
Erin Trone, Assistant Township ManagerRichard F. SchinDavid Holl, Director of Public SafetyDean W. VilloneDaniel Flint, Public Works DirectorCarolyn E. HoltzmanLeon Crone, Captain, Police Department Frank Wirth, Lower Allen Fire Captain David Murdoch, Lower Allen Fire Chief Tina Thomas, Recording Secretary
Vice President Simpson called the October 15, 2018 Budget Meeting of the Board of Commissioners to order at 7:04 pm. He announced that Proof of Publication was available for review. President Black arrived a minute later from an earlier meeting.
AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
There was no response.
MS4: Dan Flint spoke about the new category to the budget called MS4 stormwater. Money budgeted for 2019 will be coming in from the newly created Stormwater Authority, so the percentages shown in the budget table are not relevant. All costs in budget section 414 will be reimbursed by the stormwater fees. The projected revenue for the fee is $919,000, to be accrued during three of the four quarters of 2019. The funds will also be used for stormwater mandated projects in 2020.
414 – MS4 – Mr. Flint:
| Account | $ | Justification/Reasoning | |
| 414.130 | |||
414.000Salaries+$135,910MS4 technician – 100% of salary from MS4
Codes employees – partial salary from MS4
MS4 part-time – possible temp help for billing414.220Office Supplies+$2,000Misc. items needed for getting the program up and running414.313Engineering & Architect+$45,000Consultants are recommended by Arcadis for assistance with startup of the program; available if needed414.421Training+$5,000Extra money is included for training as the program is new to staff414.451Contract service other+$5,000If needed to set up billing and database
PUBLIC SAFETY
Director Holl provided a presentation to the Board of the budget for Public Safety. He stated that the binder that was handed out included the presentation for Fire, Public Safety, EMS, and Police and briefly touched on their missions.
416 – LISBURN FIRE COMPANY – Mr. Holl:
| Account | $ | Justification/Reasoning | |
| 416.220 | General Expenditure | +$750 | |
+$2,000Restock EMS supplies,
New uniforms (polos, pants, t-shirts)416.311Audit / Actuarial+$5,000Every 3rd year, Board typically pays half of audit cost416.321Communications Expense+$1,500Internet phone & Wi-Fi to support Alpine Red NMX software for Kiosk access to database416.378Radio Maintenance3 @ $1,200 = $3,600Upgraded Knox boxes for 3 apparatus; Lisburn has outdated models
411 – LOWER ALLEN FIRE – Mr. Holl:
| Account | $ | Justification/Reasoning | |
| 411.245 | Operating Supplies | +$450 | |
+$9005 – 5 gallon pails of Class A Foam
5 – 5 gallon pails of Class B Foam411.260Minor Equipment+$1,040
+$250
+$3,000
+$2,000
+$13,800Haligan forcible entry bar upgrades 4 @ $260/bar
Smoke/fog machine for simulation exercises
Akron flood lights 2 @ $1500/light
Hydrant assist valve – Engine 1
Replacement hoses – hose tests had multiple failures411.321Communications Expense+$5,506
+$4,320(1) & $3,918(2)
+$1,247
+$750
+$700
+$321
+$1,300Cell reimbursement for admin, engineer, & command staff (Using personal phones for department business)
FIOS for stations 1 & 2 (one year)
Comcast fax, second line, alarm monitoring – Station 2
UPS for Station 2 Core network rack
Wi-Fi replacement, both stations
Terminal server Windows OS upgrade
Microsoft Office 365 – 22 licenses411.420Dues & Subscriptions+$1,650NFPA Codes subscription (required for fire inspections)411.422Public Relations+2,000Fire prevention education activities – materials and hand-outs411.730Machines, Equip & Vehicles+$32,490
+$7,220Alpine Red NMX Fire Reporting & Response Software – 3-year program started in 2018; collaborative project between both fire companies, EMS, & inspectors; police can access also
Blow Hard Fans – upgraded to rapidly ventilate smoke in a fire
Mr. Holl spoke about the importance of Strategic Planning and highlighted keys factors from the previously given presentation regarding Public Safety. He covered weaknesses, opportunities, and threats and why planning is essential. He would like to see an executive summary plan able to be put on the Township website of the Emergency Operation Plan created. Our EOP has not been updated since 2003.
415 – PUBLIC SAFETY – Mr. Holl:
| Account | $ | Justification/Reasoning | |
| 415.131 | Salary | +$15,000 | Part-time public safety planner; update EOP, tabletop and response exercises (TMI, high schools, nursing homes) |
| 415.148 | Overtime – Full Time | +$11,110 | Compensation for overtime on night shifts for PSO’s resulting from Fair Labor Standard Act |
| 415.149 | Stipend | +$31,740 | 75% of full year’s cost for Live-in Scholarship |
| 415.490 | Personnel Services | +$330 | Mandatory physical exams for PSO’s |
| 415.191 | Uniform purchase | Same as 2018 | Changed uniform type & vendor to save money |
| 415.242 | Emergency Management | +$3,500 | Smartboard for exercises and activations – need was identified in TMI drill |
| 415.260 | Minor Equipment | +$2,500 | |
+$3,050
+$4,700
+$900Quick Response Unit (QRS) equipment in PSO vehicles – can respond if ambulances are busy & we will miss less calls
W tool door expanders – for PSO vehicles
Karcher Cordless Scrubber/Dryer for Bay floors after new non-slip surface is applied (November)
Hydrant test kit – tests pressure of hydrant flow415.261Communication Expense+$3,000
+$1,000Sierra Wireless 4G First Net Modems for 2 PSO vehicles $1,500 / vehicle
Rear organizer cabinet materials415.421Training+$6,000Tuition reimbursement for employee requests to attend grad and undergrad classes415.422Public Relations+$2,000
+$1,500PSO Fire Prevention activities during Fire Prevention Week
Volunteer Recruitment and Retention Program – outreach, advertisement, attending career events415.730Mach, Equip, & Vehicles+$10,000 per intersection
+$40,420Ongoing annual program to install emergency response devices on traffic signals
New vehicle and outfitting for PS1
Mr. Holl reviewed the strategic planning presentation points regarding EMS. He spoke about how the Board increased the rate of pay for part-time staff to help with recruitment and retention. He talked about many private EMS services which are being bought and sold recently. He would like the Board to consider ending the ALS contract with Pinnacle Life Team in favor of creating a Lower Allen ALS program of our own. It would give Lower Allen direct control of what is being done and increased cash flow by doing our own billing. A feasibility study was done by Mr. Eric Zaney, EMT-P, which shows that we are under billing. The results of his study are included in the presentation binder. We would be required to purchase our own ALS equipment. A cost comparison shows that with our current ALS contract could possibly cost us $296,071 in 2019 while the proposed Lower Allen ALS program with 3 full-time paramedics is projected cost $218,416.
It would take half a year to get the program going. First year start up and expenditures would be approximately $58,500 and broken down as follows:
- $7,000 – Captain’s salary increase for Paramedic Manager of EMS
- $10,000 – Initial medication cost for start-up
- $2,000 – ALS minor equipment cost
- $7,500 – Medical director cost
- $32,500 – Finance cost for one year of 2 cardiac monitors and 1 CPR compression device
EMS Budget with Full ALS Option vs EMS Budget Status Quo
Revenue: $1,079.380 (+$45,000 difference) $1,034,380
Expenditure: $1,421,636 (+$55,686 difference*) $1,365.950
*mainly due to initial required equipment purchase
Mr. Vernau stated that even though increased revenues would be offset by startup costs, revenues should put us in the black after three years. Currently with Life Team, we are paying more out than we are bringing in and we are in the red.
412 – EMS – Mr. Holl:
| Account | $ | Justification/Reasoning | |
| 412.122 | EMS Captain | +$7,000 | Promote Paramedic/EMS Manager to Captain |
| 412.141 | Salary Labor part time | +$6,133 | Cover funds accrued by rate increase of part time EMT’s approved in September |
| 412.148 | Overtime Full Time | +$11,010 | 8 hours OT/pay period/employee – 12 hour shifts result in 8 hours OT every other week |
| 412.190 | Personnel Services | +$700 | Mandatory Physical Exams |
| 412.191 | Uniform Purchase | +$1,200 | |
+$1,600Part and full-time uniforms (pants/shirts)
4 ballistic helmets412.243Medical Supplies+$2,000ALS supplies if ALS implementation is approved412.246ALS Medications+$10,000Startup costs for ALS drug stock412.260Minor Equipment-$5,390Scoop stretcher, suction units, ALS equipment412.321Communications Expense+$1,300Purchase 2 iPads and mounting kits412.374Maint & Repair Equipment+$4,500FRC Visibility Safety Solutions 360 Camera System for ambulance 3-74 and new ambulance412.375Maint & Repair Vehicle+$1,500Replacing equipment on aging ambulances412.421Training+$6,000Tuition reimbursement for 2 employees412.730Mach, Equip & Vehicles+$250,000
+$75,310
+$18,490Replacement of ambulance 2-74
Life-Pak15 Cardiac Monitor-Defibrillator (2)
Lucas Chest Compression System
Mr. Holl spoke about the weaknesses, opportunities, and threats currently facing the Police department, as covered in the Strategic Planning Presentation. He also referred to Captain Crone’s October 10th presentation on staffing in the Police Department to the Board of Commissioners.
410 – POLICE – Mr. Holl:
| Account | $ | Justification/Reasoning | |
| 410.132 | Salary Patrolmen | Propose hiring 2 patrol officers in 2019- one in January and one in July | |
| 410.133 | Salary CSO | +$8,910 | Increase in hours by 18 per week to cover M, T, & W 1600 – 2200 hours. |
| 410.191 | Uniform Purchase* | ||
(reduced if 2 officers are not approved for hire in 2019)+$10,000
+$3,900
+$1,800
+$3,900
+$1,500
+$2,400Transition to concealed cargo pocket pants & for new hires
Uniform shirt replacements as needed & for new hires
Kevlar helmets – replacing 3
Ballistic vests – replacing 3
Gas masks – replacing 3
Armor plates for ballistic vests (24 plates)
410.242Ammunition & Targets+$4004 new O.C. Foggers410.245Operating Supplies+$6,000
+$5005 new TASERs to replace old units
Thermal paper for TraCS410.260Minor Equipment+$480
+$3,885
+$2,500
+$7,5003 Handheld metal detectors
Rear cargo organizer boxes for SUV’s (3 needed)
TraCS hardware for LA5 & LA11
4g LTE systems (5 to replace personal Hot Spots)410.312Service Bureau+$4,000
+$2,600
+$1,200COBRA – county will not pay for this anymore
TraCS Interface Maintenance
Mobile Fingerprint Reader Maintenance410.321Communication expense+$2,000Netmotion (Island Tech) annual maintenance – allows mobile units to connect to 4g LTE410.375Maint & Repair Vehicle+$750WatchGuard car and interview room video maintenance410.421Training+8,150Tuition reimbursement for 7 officers at $3,000 each410.730Mach, Equip & Vehicles+$15,000
+$85,000
+$68,000Copier for patrol
Vehicle replacement: LA-5 marked CSO car $46,500, LA-13 unmarked car $37,500
Forensic unit replacement (of old ambulance) with Ford Transit: marked, shelves, work station
ADJOURNMENT
The Budget Meeting of the Board of Commissioners adjourned at 9:33 pm to Executive Session.