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MINUTES OF THE OCOEE CITY COMMISSION BUDGET WORK SESSION HELD
AUGUST 17, 2000
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Vandergrift called the work session to order at 7:05 p.m. The roll was called and a quorum
was declared present.
PRESENT: Mayor Vandergrift, Commissioners Anderson, Howell, Johnson, and Parker. Also
present were City Manager Shapiro, Building/Zoning Official Velie, City Clerk Grafton, City
Engineer/Utilities Director Shira, Assistant City Engineer Wheeler, Community Relations/Projects
Director Shira, Finance Director Horton, Finance Supervisor Carter, Budget Analyst Brosonski, Fire
Chief Strosnider, Assistant Fire Chief Firstner, Human Resources Director Psaledakis, Information
Systems Manager Ross, Planning Director Wagner, Police Chief Mark, Police Captain Wilson,
Public Works Director Smith, Recreation Director Nordquist and Utilities Superintendent Holland.
ABSENT: None
City Manager Shapiro reported the following:
1) The West Orange Chamber of Commerce fund is a 6-year agreement and the third year is just
being completed.
2) In the meeting with the employees regarding health insurance coverage, one-third of the
employees were present and their vote was in favor of the change as proposed. Which option
to choose appeared to be a challenge as some options favored the users of HMO and some
PPO and the Employee Committee suggested Option 4 rather than to put it to an employee
vote and possibly divide the employees.
3) The insurance rate increase has been negotiated down from 13 % to 10% increase, which
leaves $30,000 available to be used elsewhere.
4) Other cities are subsidizing prescription insurance for retirees and that had been included in
the proposed budget. If Commission selects one of their options, Blue Cross/Blue Shield has
agreed to make group health coverage including prescriptions available to City of Ocoee
retiring employees. As funding for the drug subsidy in pension benefits would not be needed,
approximately $40,000 may be deleted from the budget.
In response to Commissioner Anderson's question regarding whether Brown and Brown gets a fund
from Blue Cross/Blue Shield in addition to the $20K from the City, Mrs. Psaledakis said she would
get a response in writing from Ken Enlow.
Without objection, Commission agreed to go with Option 4 of the Blue Cross/Blue Shield proposal
for health insurance.
Commissioner Parker advised that Mrs. Elizabeth Maguire was still under the weather and had asked
her to report for her. The issues discussed in Mr. Randy Freeman's letter presented to the Commission
were safety issues and Mrs. Maguire proposed postponing the painting of the Withers-Maguire House
in order to use the $15K for repairs. At the end of the discussion, Commission agreed without
objection to take care of those safety concerns before Founders' Day.
Ocoee City Commission Budget Workshop
August 17, 2000
City Manager Shapiro reviewed the police and fire department salary increase chart that was
requested at the August 14 work session. Human Resources Director Psaledakis proposed that there
should be separate pay grade schedules for sworn officers, executives, and technical employees.
There was discussion regarding dispatchers, their scheduling and stress level, and the need to
separate out that function from either the police or fire departments.
There was also discussion regarding publishing job openings on every available media, to include the
website, Channel 10, Mid Florida Tech, Valencia, UCF, career centers, etc.
At Commissioner Anderson's request, Police Officer Traci Payne reported on the current recruiting
practices in the state, comparing them with the City of Ocoee's procedures. Lieutenant Goclon
contributed to the discussion. Mayor Vandergrift and Commissioner Anderson said they would like
to see a presentation from the police department regarding a training program.
A lengthy discussion ensued regarding the grant positions and the computer systems.
RECESS 8:31 - 8:59 P.M.
Page 3-41: Remove Corporal reclassifications $11,925 - Commissioner Howell suggested and
Commissioners Parker and Anderson agreed.
Page 3-42: Acct. 6400 Radars - Commissioner Howell wished to add 2 radars.
Acct. 6401 Police Vehicles - Mayor Vandergrift asked that the next budget show
whether the vehicles in the budget were new or replacements.
Commissioner Anderson asked Finance Supervisor Carter to check into whether the paging system
was paid for and not received or received and not in operation.
Page 3-46: Mr. Shapiro stressed the need to reclassify lieutenant, engineers and firefighters to
paramedics.
The review continued to page 3-50 with no further changes.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 10:00 p.m.
APPROVED:
City of Ocoee
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S. Scott Vandergrift, Mayor
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