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3 <br /> Mr. O’Connell said in reality what Dr. Brown said is what is being proposed as <br />the other half of the funding is from revenues. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris agreed with Mr. Taliaferro. He said we cannot implement <br />recommendations of the oversight committee if we do not have any money. <br /> <br /> Ms. Hamilton expressed concern with the response time of CARS, and said all it <br />will take is for one person to die as a result. She said she favors keeping the money in the <br />budget. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch asked if there is any problem with having additional firefighters take <br />the EMT training. <br /> <br /> Mr. Taliaferro said that is one of the things the oversight committee will look at. <br /> Dr. Brown asked if there is agreement that the matter will come back to Council <br />for final approval, and Mr. Taliaferro said absolutely. <br /> <br /> Ms. Hamilton asked what would happen to the money if the recommendation is <br />not to spend it. <br /> <br /> Mr. Taliaferro said there is no doubt that there is an issue about availability of <br />medics, and it could be used for training. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris said there is also a need for fire station relocation. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch asked when the recommendations are expected from the oversight <br />committee, and Mr. Taliaferro said it should be completed in August. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch asked if medic training can be started now rather than waiting until <br />August 1. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said he thinks expenses for furniture for City departments should be <br />moved to the capital improvement program. <br /> <br /> Ms. Beauregard, Budget Manager, said that small capital line items are reflected <br />in departmental budgets and will not show up next year. She said typically these <br />expenditures do not meet the threshold for the CIP as they are not infrastructure. <br /> <br /> Ms. Hamilton said that the School budget could be reduced for the extra cent <br />reduction in the tax rate. She said they are proposed to receive an unprecedented <br />increase. She said there ought to be $500,000 in savings in their budget, but noted that <br />she is aware that Council cannot cherry pick the School’s budget. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said he would be open to that suggestion, noting that they got a 12.5% <br />increase this year. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown said he is not interested in doing that. He said morale is high in the <br />Schools this year and they have a real sense of purpose. He said a lot of their budget is <br />spent on salaries. He said he would like to show support for the Schools by staying away <br />from their budget. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris said he is afraid that if we cut the School’s budget they will cut <br />programs not salaries as we cannot tell them where to cut. He said he does not want to <br />see programs cut. He said he thinks the School’s front office could be cut. <br /> <br /> Mr. Taliaferro said he supports Ms. Hamilton’s suggestion as it seems reasonable. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said Council can clearly state that we would like the School Board to <br />bring the School salaries down to the City’s increase and eliminate front office staff. <br /> <br /> <br />