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108 <br /> <br /> The possibility of hiring additional Community Services <br />Officers (CSOs) prior to July 1st was discussed. <br /> <br /> Moving the fire dispatchers to the 911 Center was <br />discussed and Mr. Hendrix stated that a study of the 911 <br />Center is being conducted. <br /> <br /> Ms. Waters requested that Council be provided with <br />information on the number of police and fire fighter which <br />have been added in the past few years. <br /> <br /> Providing additional days off for fire fighters was <br />discussed and Council requested that the City Manager meet <br />with the fire fighters to negotiate giving the fire fighters <br />an additional three days off with pay. <br /> <br /> Mr. Hendrix stated that he would meet with the fire <br />fighters to discuss additional days off, but noted that other <br />issues such as master fire and police and retirement also <br />exist. Mr. Hendrix also raised the issues of whether it was <br />fair to give additional days off to fire fighters and not to <br />general city employees. <br /> <br /> Ms. Waters requested that tax relief for the elderly be <br />changed if there is no significant increase in cost since <br />currently relief is reduced when a handicapped person becomes <br />elderly. <br /> <br /> Mr. Hendrix explained that the state is not funding <br />social service mandates and the City must either eliminate <br />programs or pick up the cost. <br /> <br /> Mr. Robert Cox, Director of Social Services, explained <br />that the proposed budget reflects cuts in operating costs for <br />mandated programs but no cuts in direct money payments. <br /> <br /> Ms. Linda Peacock, Budget Administrator, stated that <br />$35,000 could be taken from home care services and general <br />relief could be reduced to the current "reduced" level. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox explained that the home care program provides <br />help with housekeeping, shopping and cooking and while the <br />state funding is mandated the local matching funds are not. <br /> <br /> Ms. Waters recommended that social services funds be <br />aggregated and made available where the greatest need exists <br />as determined by the Social Services Advisory Board and <br />staff. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox stated that ~170,000 is budgeted for <br />discretionary funds in general relief, home care, district <br />home~ and optional day care program. <br /> <br /> Mr. Hendrix explained the salary proposal; fund health <br />insurance increases, provide 3% across the board for <br />employees below the department head level; provide a 2% <br />increase to department heads based on performance which would <br />not be added to the base pay. The total salary proposal <br />would cost $920,000. Mr. Hendrix explained that staff are in <br />the process of designing a new pay plan and he viewed the <br />proposal as a one time recommendation. <br /> <br /> Mr. Vandever requested additional information about what <br />impact the proposal would have on salaries, particularly for <br />division heads. <br /> <br /> Ms. Peacock explained that the solid waste fee is' <br />currently at 90 cents per bag and recommended that the fee be <br />reduced to 80 cents which will cover the increased landfill <br />costs and will provide a slight reserve for unanticipated <br />costs or for future increases. <br /> <br />Ms. Waters stated that she felt yard waste continued to <br /> <br /> <br />