FINANCE, ADMINISTRATION, SERVICE,
ENGINEERING and GORMAN FARM
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
November 4, 2014
The Finance, Administration, Service, Engineering and Gorman Farm Committee met at 3:00 pm on November 4, 2014. Present were Councilmembers Hartman, Finan and Schaefer. Also in attendance during portions of the meeting were Mayor Apking, David Elmers, Cynthia Caracci, James Jeffers, Jim Bothe, Chris Patterson, Al Schutte, Carolyn Smiley-Robertson and Carolyn Duffy.
The Finance, Engineering, and Gorman Farm reports were submitted in writing and are attached. The primary purpose of the meeting was to review the budget for 2015 which was submitted by the Mayor.
But, before beginning that discussion, Carolyn Duffy inquired about the status of the electrical work in front of her home on Plateau Place. James Jeffers indicated that he personally dug the hole for the concrete pad for the ground level transformer and that the plans have been approved by Duke Energy. The only thing remaining is for Duke or its contractor to perform the work. Carolyn asked James to make sure she is notified before Duke cuts off the power because it will set off her burglar alarm. James stated that Duke is aware of Carolyn’s request.
The committee went through the line items of the Mayor’s 2015 budget. It was generally consistent with the 2014 budget. The budget as presented is balanced. The items of note are as follows:
1. The $750,000 for a new Fire Truck was not included in the 2015 budget as requested by the Fire Chief. The Mayor suggested that the fire service fund should be allowed to grow further to offset the cost of the new Fire Truck.
2. The $75,000 for a new equipment storage building at the Gorman Farm is to some extent a place holder in that certain equipment purchases may be necessary. The Farm Manager, who has been on sick leave, has not been able to submit her recommendations to the Farm Board. Councilmember Schaefer suggested that before any new building is constructed, the Farm should make certain that it does not adversely impact the historical buildings in the curtilage of the farm by getting an opinion from someone with experience with the regulations appertaining to historical structures.
3. The Issue #2 decisions on the Reading Road improvement project will not be known until November 21, 2014. No recommendation on road projects will be made until the Issue #2 decisions are know.
4. The budget reduces funds for the Historical Commission. Originally, the intent was that the 2014 funds would be used to move the historical commission’s collection to the TLC building so it can be sorted and catalogued while the Historical Commission room at the Cultural Arts Building is remodeled. Since TLC delayed vacating the building that was acquired last year by the village, the move did not yet take place. Therefore the unspent funds from the 2014 Historical Commission line item may have to be moved to the 2015 budget.
The meeting adjourned at 5:00 pm.
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Christian J. Schaefer
Committee Chairman
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