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Home My WebLink About3/28/2013 - RegularMEMBERS PRESENT: Bradley E. Grose, Mayor William W. Nance, Vice Mayor 1. Douglas Adams, Jr. Matthew S. Hare STAFF PRESENT: Christopher S. Lawrence, Town Manager Susan N. Johnson, Town Clerk Ryan Spitzer, Assistant to the Town Manager Barry Thompson, Finance Director/Treasurer Lijah Robinson, Accounting Manager Anita McMillan, Planning & Zoning Director Chris Linkous, Fire & EMS Captain Chad Helms, Lieutenant, Fire Ben Cook, Police Chief April Alterio, Administrative Services, Police Mary Beth Layman, Special Programs Director Kevin Kipp, War Memorial Facilities Manager The Mayor called the work session to order at 2:30 p.m. ti hear budget presentations by the Town Manager and Tow staff, The Town Manager began with an overview of the recommended FY2014 budget stating the priorities are to maintain core services, develop funding for a five-year capital improvement program, maintain competitive employee benefits and compensation and maintain focus on Economic Development and implementation of Downtown Revitalization Initiative. The total recommended budget is $10,983,016 which is represented by $7,875,961 in the General Fund and $3,107,055 in the Water and Sewer Fund. The total in the Water and Sewer Fund does not include the debt that the Town needs to incur to fund the project with the Water Authority. Under General Fund revenues, there is a proposed cigarette tax increase of $0. 15 per pack for a total tax of $0.35 per pack. This new revenue source, if approved, would be designated for capital investment, not for operating expenses. The Town Manager made brief comments on the breakdown of other general fund revenue sources. Mr. Hare asked about the increase in the Categorical Aid category and the response was that includes $250,000 for the grant. For General Fund budget highlights, the operating fund in the budget has only increased by approximately 0.8%. The other increases shown other than the CDBG Grant funds is $159,000 in anticipated revenue from the proposed cigarette tax increase and $68,738 of new forecasted revenue from meals and sales taxes. The Town Manager commented that we have include* $194,230 to fund some capital items and an increase in th-iri funds for milling and paving to $273,835. An increase �.P, electricity and fuel has been included as well as an increase 4p, contributions to the Volunteer Fire & EMS. Also included is the contribution for the land purchase for the library, the Community/Organization Contributions and Joint Local Government Services and an operating contingency fund. Personnel costs shows a health insurance premium increase of 9.76% which additional cost will be passed onto the employees. The Town Manager would like to have some discussion to evaluate and consider a merit bonus or cost of living adjustment for the upcoming budget year. Funds for employee professional development and tuition reimbursement have been maintained and/or increased. A new VIRS hybrid plan for all new, non -vested employees will be implemented on January 1, 2014 and in 2014 the Town will have a new rate adjustment for the VRS plan. The Town Manager made brief comments on the CIP which will be reviewed in detail at a later work session. The Utility Fund is proposed at $3,107,055 which, again, does not include the Town's portion of the debt for the Water Authority wastewater plant upgrade. It was noted that a ai-raf 6-r-was7-mraIt ti, dman-i�, a*i -r6 ',8 4P-rri**&f ai-41 makes the budget show a 13.71% decrease. This was an accounting transfer and the actual budget is only being increased by $6,540. This does not reflect the needed rate increase to fund the upcoming debt. The proposed budget does provide for an increase in inflow and infiltration funds to $60,000 and an operating contingency of $48,352. The rate for consideration as part of the proposed rate structure will be brought back to Council at the April 2 nd meeting. I awsZKOR Us ETTE, 07 1 NT3 I -arm 74 HP. H I To RM* I R Ito 9 -11 providing the funding in this year's budget. It has created a J1 more professional and safer work environment. a The key department goals relate to continued involvement regarding new changes in Stormwater Management, an update of the Town's Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance and continued work regarding the Community Rating System program requirements, In relation to the Stormwater Management program, our current stormwater ordinance will have to be updated and Council will be briefed in several work sessions on the new changes and how we will fund this new requirement. Regarding the update of the Comprehensive Plan and the Zoning Ordinance, Ms. McMillan has tasked her staff to keep track of any changes to the State Code that will affect our Town Code. Regarding the Community Rating System, in October of this year, all flood insurance holders will have a 25% increase in their insurance premiums because of all the natural disasters. There are approximately 58 flood insurance holders in Vinton. If the Town could qualify at Level 9 instead of Level 10, that would be a 10% reduction in the premium. Budget highlights reflected an increase of $500 to maintain professional certifications for staff; an increase of $500 for BZA and Planning Commission members to attend workshops and training; and the Town's $35,000 match if the VDOT Revenue Sharing funding is approved for the Glade Creek Greenway, VDOT has expressed confidence that we will receive the funding, but we will not know for sure until Jute. In further discussion regarding the Community Rating System, Council had decided several months ago not to proceed with submitting the application, but now that the insurance is going up 25%, there may be an opportunity to help several large businesses in the Town that will be impacted, Mr. Hare asked if we could ask these businesses to help with the funding needed to submit the application and the response was yes. There was further discussion and comments regarding the Stormwater Management program and the Town Manager indicated that Council will be briefed in more detail at an upcoming work session. The next presentation was by Chris Linkous on behalf of the Fire/EMS Department. He began with key department goals of continuing to work toward a 24-hour fire truck and I K 0 ,,ocal businesses. They plan to conduct two basic Citizen Police Academies again. I In regard to the new speed trailer/message board, they have included in their budget matching funds for a DCJS grant to purchase this item. The new trailer will have a message board for traffic control, for festivals or safety messages. It will also display vehicle speeds if we are doing speed surveys, The match is included in the grant line item which is $1,900, a 10% match. The goal of enhancing the school liaison program pertains to the campus safety initiative that the Governor is proposing. There is now a priority on grants to provide school resource officers and anything to enhance school security and safety. At a future date, Chief Cook indicated he would like to come back to Council to request approval to apply for a School Resource Officer to handle the two schools in Town. Some of the significant budget highlights were reviewed such as salaries & wages overtime. Mr, Hare asked about the budget showing as 100% staffed as of July 1st. Chief Cook indicated that all positions are accounted for and the Town Manager commented that they have filled the two vacancies for the officers who are on active duty, plus one additional officer. If everyone comes back, he will have an additional person, but based on past history of turnovers, this should not be a problem. Contractual services were moved to contract police services and maintenance and repair was reduced due to the purchase of the new vehicles and expecting fewer repair costs. Maintenance service contracts were reduced by $16,500 due to the New World (records management) system being paid through the Communications budget. The firearms and ammo costs were moved to a new line item with an increase. They are experiencing a delay in getting ammo, having ordered in March 2012. Other police departments are experiencing the same problem. Gas, oil, grease, miscellaneous and meeting expense line items were increase!, As an overview, the total budget reduction was $31,400. Chief Cook stated that the animal control budget has been increased by $30,000 which is an anticipated contract increase with RCACP. After further comments from the Town Manager, Vice Mayor Nance asked if the Chief was comfortable with his reduced budget and the response was yes. The Mayor commented that during our economic downturn, it has trained everyone to operate in a lean manner, He appreciates how the police A