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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance Minutes 2009 07 14_approved FINANCE/EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE July 14, 2009 The Finance/Executive Committee of the Grant County Board of Supervisors met on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. in Room 266 of the Administration Building, Lancaster, WI, pursuant to the adjournment of the June 12, 2009 meeting. The meeting was called to order by Chair Mark Stead. Members present were John Patcle, Stephen Adrian, Eugene Bartels, Robert Keeney, Hans Kostrau, and Lynn Moris. Eugene Bartels, seconded by John Patcle, moved that the meeting is in compliance with the open meeting law. Motion carried. Lynn Moris, seconded by Hans Kostrau, moved to approve the amended agenda. Motion carried. Hans Kostrau, seconded by Robert Keeney, moved to approve the corrected minutes of the June 12, 2009 meeting. Motion carried. Louise Ketterer presented the Treasurer’s Report. The Committee noted the ratio of delinquent taxes is slightly higher than last year. John Patcle, seconded by Eugene Bartels, moved to accept the Treasurer’s Report. Motion carried. The Revenue/Expenditure Report was reviewed at this time. Stephen Adrian, seconded by Hans Kostrau, moved to approve the Revenue and Expenditure Report. Motion carried. The Committee discussed the memo from Paul Thares regarding possible additional county match for the DNR grant for the Wyalusing boat landing. The grant will require between a 20% and 50% county match, depending on the state funds available. The county has $46,276 in carryover for the project, but would need an additional $25,271 if a 50% is required. Lynn Moris, seconded by Hans Kostrau, moved to postpone the item to the August meeting when the required match amount should be known. Motion carried. Louise Ketterer and Marilyn Pierce presented a request to reclassify/reallocate the positions of Deputy Treasurer and Deputy Register of Deeds to level 8.5 (AFSCME 918), consistent with the Deputy County Clerk position. They stated that although the salary of the County Clerk was reduced to match that of their positions, there is still a disparity in the deputies’ wages. Joyce Roling joined the meeting at the request of Chair Mark Stead. Robert Keeney said he believed this committee had reduced the Deputy Clerk’s rate to match the other two. Stephen Adrian questioned why the deputies are union positions. Joyce Roling said it is governed by Wisconsin Statutes and she would provide the specific statute. The Deputy Clerk position was reduced to level 8.0, but the change was grieved by the union. The union filed the grievance, not the employee, although the employee signed off on the grievance. Robert Keeney pointed out that when the Employee Relations Committee approved the level 8.5, there was a memorandum of Finance/Executive Committee July 14, 2009 2 agreement which outlined specific requirements. Joyce Roling replied that those requirements had been met by the deadline. There was a delay due to issues with the website itself, but those were resolved. Committee members indicated they believed ERC should have made a recommendation to Finance, rather than changing what Fina nce had approved. Mark Stead inquired as to the process for lowering a position classification. Joyce replied that the committee would need to give her their justification for the change so she could take it to ERC, then contact the AFSCME union representative and indicate that the current arrangement is not working out. The county could pursue a change but that does not guarantee the union will not grieve it. Lynn Moris asked where the additional funds would come from if the Treasurer’s and Register of Deeds’ requests were approved. Mark Stead said he assumed it would be from the general fund. The additional cost for the two positions is approximately $4,200. Corporation Counsel JoAnn Millhouse cautioned the Committee that no action should be taken on the Deputy Clerk’s position at this meeting as it is not on the agenda. The Committee indicated they did not intend to take any action on it today, but to discuss it as it relates to the other two positions. Robert Keeney asked if the subject of the th ree deputy positions—and possibly the Deputy Clerk of Court, as well—should be on the August agenda along with a discussion as to whether ERC is to make a recommendation on the changes to Finance. Stephen Adrian and Hans Kostrau suggested a special meeting with an invitation to ERC to discuss the reallocation/reclassification of the Deputy Register of Deeds, Deputy Treasurer, and Deputy County Clerk. John Patcle, seconded by Stephen Adrian, moved to postpone the subject until July 27 when the Committee will discuss the classification of the three deputies and the responsibilities of the two committees. Motion carried. JoAnn Millhouse was requested to research the process for reducing a position from level 8.5 to level 8.0 and to be present for the July 27 meeting. Nancy Scott presented the Resolution to Amend 2009 Budget for Carryover of Certain Accounts, noting that the special fund general carryovers are not included in the resolution as those are addressed in the county’s Carryover Funds Policy adopted January 20, 2009. Hans Kostrau, seconded by Lynn Moris, moved to recommend approval to the County Board, as presented. Robert Keeney requested additional information on the plans for the hospice carryover. Jeff Kindrai, Health Director, stated that th e health department is in need of new billing software which will be funded from the carryover. He is working with Jeff Anderson to ensure the hardware/software is consistent with the county’s overall computer plans. A roll call vote was taken on the motion to approve the carryover resolution, with all members responding yes. Motion carried. Nancy Scott updated the Committee on the estimated impact of the state’s budget on county departments and the estimated cost of wage and insurance increases for 201 0. The consensus of the Committee was to have no property tax increase due to the current economic conditions. The county could draw some funds from the current sales tax carryover, but should retain some, perhaps half, to safeguard against decreased sales tax revenue. Health insurance premiums have not been received yet for 2010, but indications are they may be around 10%. After discussion, the Committee requested departments submit budgets with no county Finance/Executive Committee July 14, 2009 3 funding increase for 2010 and plan no increase in non-represented wages in their budgets, other than step increases. The Committee requested budgets be available for the September meeting since the process is likely to take longer this year. Information regarding possible strategies to reduce staff costs, prepared by Joyce Roling and Nancy Scott at the request of Chair Mark Stead, was mailed to committee members prior to the meeting. The Committee agreed to pursue the option of voluntary furloughs. Joyce Roling will gather information from other counties and draft guidelines. Nancy Scott gave the Finance Director’s Report at this time. John Patcle, seconded by Stephen Adrian, moved to adjourn to closed session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(1)(g) for the Corporation Counsel to discuss litigation. The motion carried by majority of a roll call vote, with Eugene Bartels temporarily absent. Stephen Adrian, seconded by Lynn Moris, moved to return to open session. Motion carried. At 11:42 a.m., Robert Keeney, seconded by Stephen Adrian, moved to adjourn the Finance/Executive Committee meeting to Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. Motion carried.