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Finance Committee Town Council - March 31, 2008 |
Minutes Finance Committee of McClellanville Town Council March 31, 2008 - 7:00 PM The Finance Committee met on the above-noted date. Notice of the meeting had been published in the Charleston Post and Courier. The Finance Committee is composed of the Mayor and all Council Members, and all were present for the meeting: Rutledge Leland, Gussie Humes, Aaron Baldwin, Bob Gannon, and Jim Scott. Clerk/Treasurer Mary Duke was also present. The Committee reviewed copies of the proposed budget that Mary had provided. Mary said that she and Councilman Bob Gannon had discussed the possibility of increasing the amount of funds transferred at the beginning of the fiscal year from the Boat Landing Fund to the Town's General Fund to offset administrative costs for management of boat launch permit sales and other boat landing-related responsibilities. Mary said that permit sales seemed to be increasing, and that she felt that boat landing tasks were occupying more of the town office staff's time. Council agreed by consensus to increase the amount transferred from the boat landing fund from $5000 to $7500. Bob Gannon noted that Mary had proposed $7500 in expenses for town office repairs and maintenance in the coming fiscal year. Bob suggested that this amount be increased to $10,000. He said that he felt that $10,000 should be reserved for such maintenance expenses each year, to ensure funds were available when repair needs arose. Council agreed with Bob's suggestion by general consent. Mary discussed salary changes that she had proposed for in the budget. She said that the figure proposed for gross wages, $84,280, reflected the total wages minus the $5000 generally transferred from the Boat Landing Fund. She said that payroll tax and retirement expenses had been computed on $89,280. Mary said that the gross wages reflected a 2.5% cost of living raise for herself, the zoning administrator, and the building custodian. Mary said that she suggested an approximate 10% raise for office assistant Gary Bronson. Mary said that Gary had been most helpful in upgrading and maintaining the office computers and other technology and had made great improvements to the town newsletter. She said that she felt he had gone above and beyond the original requirements for his job, and that she thought he should be rewarded for his efforts. Council agreed that they would approve the suggested raise for Gary. Mary also asked Council's opinion on raises for the marshal and deputy marshal. Mary said that there had been some discussion at recent town meetings that the marshals' duties have been expanded and that additional compensation might be appropriate. Council agreed that the marshals' salaries should be increased by $25 per month, or a total increase of $300 for the year. Bob Gannon asked whether the budget could show the transfer of the amount of the projected deficit ($10,106.32 was shown on the proposed budget worksheet) from reserve funds, so that a balanced budget could be presented to the public. Mary said that, for several years, the budget ordinance had included a statement that funds from savings were approved to cover the expected deficit. Council directed Mary to contact the town's auditor to determine the best and most appropriate means of indicating the use of reserve funds to cover the deficit. Aaron Baldwin asked about the Town's budget for donations, and whether Council agreed that the Town needed to establish a policy as to what constitutes a charity and what criteria will be used for decisions on donations. Bob said that he believed that Charleston County had written criteria for their charitable donations, and that he would get a copy of these criteria for Council to review in considering a policy for the Town. Mary provided copies of information on the SC Local Government Assurance Group, a state program which the Town could join as a means to provide health insurance and/or disability insurance for both elected and appointed officials and employees who work at least 30 hours per week. She said that she understood from what she had read about the program that that, if the Town participated in the program, Council could specify that the entire contribution for the insurance benefits would be paid by the insured or could choose whatever level of contribution from the Town they felt would be appropriate. Mary also distributed copies of information from the Municipal Association on new accounting requirements for reporting any Other Post Retirement Benefits such as health benefits. Council agreed to review the information to consider whether offering health care benefits under the Local Government Assurance Group might be feasible for the Town. Council then reviewed the proposed budget for the Boat Landing Fund for the upcoming fiscal year. Mary pointed out that she had raised the expected income from boat launch permits to $40,000, based on last fiscal year's revenue. Bob asked whether the Town might be able to make an additional bond payment each year to reduce the interest the Town would have to pay during the expected term. Mary said that she or Rutledge could speak to someone from Wachovia to see whether this would be permissible. Mary then gave Council copies that Building Official Paul Fields had provided of four estimates for replacement of hardware on several doors at Town Hall. She said that Paul had asked for Council's approval to accept the low bid from Advanced Door Systems. After reviewing the estimates, Council agreed to approve acceptance of the low bid. Jim Scott spoke to Council about his concerns that the contractor for trash collection could be more accommodating to residents regarding requirements for bagging and pick up sites for collection. Mary pointed out that the trash collection contract was up for renewal this fiscal year, and that perhaps Council could address some of these concerns in negotiating the new contract. There being no further business, a motion was then made, seconded, and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 PM. Mary S. Duke Town Clerk/Treasurer |