HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-19-98 Budget WS
MINUTES OF THE OCOEE CITY COMMISSION BUDGET WORKSHOP
HELD AUGUST 19, 1998
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Pro Tern Glass called the Budget Workshop to order at 8:37 p.m. in the
Commission Chambers. The roll was called and a quorum declared present.
PRESENT: Mayor Pro Tern Glass, Commissioners Anderson, Howell, and Parker.
Also present were City Manager Shapiro, Finance Director Horton, Community
Relations/Projects Director Shira, Personnel/Employee Relations Director Psaledakis,
Finance Supervisor Carter, Budget Specialist Strickland, Police Chief Mark, Fire Chief
Strosnider, City Engineer/Utilities Director Shira, Recreation Director Nordquist, Acting
Planning Director Horne, and City Clerk Grafton.
ABSENT: Mayor Vandergrift.
REVIEWIDISCUSSION: BUDGET FY 1998-99
Mayor Pro Tem Glass asked Commissioner Anderson to relate the questions raised by
Mayor Vandergrift in their meeting earlier in the day. Commissioner Anderson presented
Mayor Vandergrift's questions concerning areas covered during the Workshop of August
17, beginning with page 3-66, and the department heads responded to the questions.
Mayor Vandergrift had suggested partnershipping with the YMCA for some of the
recreation needs.
The page by page review continued, beginning with Section 4 and continuing through
Section 6 without change, with the Finance Team, City Manager Shapiro, and
Department Directors responding to questions as they were raised.
Commissioner Anderson requested that the ratio of overtime vs salary in all
departments be computed. Finance Director Horton said the answer would be in his
mailbox Thursday.
Personnel Director/Employee Relations Director Psaledakis advised that she had
negotiated a flat rate on most of the insurances, getting a better rate on life insurance, and
will be conducting open enrollment shortly for the new company. She added that there
will be open enrollment in September for those who wish to change from HMO to PPO.
Commissioner Howell noted that there are quite a few city vehicles on the road without
markings and asked whether the signage on the city vehicles was a part of the budget.
Mr. Shapiro advised that was going to be on the agenda for discussion at staff meeting
on Thursday when he would give Department Heads direction to choose a design for their
vehicles and move forward with the signage.
Ocoee City Commission Budget Workshop
August 19, 1998
Commissioner Howell asked that consideration be given to remodeling the existing
concession stand at the senior league field rather than build a new one. Consensus was
reached to pursue this option.
Commissioner Anderson asked for (and received) clarification that the Budget Book
replacement pages distributed just prior to the meeting were the changes discussed at the
August 17 workshop.
Commissioner Parker commended staff for the excellent job done producing the
Budget. She asked if /when it would be possible to allow retiring employees who are
continuing their insurance coverage through the City's health benefit plan to add
dependent coverage for spouses. Ms. Psaledakis responded that, given Commission
direction, she could arrange to provide that option for retirees immediately. Mr.
Shapiro added that it was his responsibility to caution that, although there would be no
cost to the City to permit this option, the rates in the future could rise as more older
people are allowed to continue on the policy, and that the time may come when a new
insurance company would not allow such coverage. At that time it would no longer be
possible to offer the option, but he did not forsee the insurance company dropping anyone
who was already on the policy. Consensus was reached to implement the offering to
retirees the option of health insurance for their spouses immediately and to continue as
long as possible.
Mayor Pro Tem Glass commended Finance Team for the excellent job on the Budget
and thanked the Department Heads for being present.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m.
Attest:
APPROVED:
City of Ocoee
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Scott A. Glass, Mayor Pro Tern
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