WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL-CHRONICLE EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. May 12, 2009:
There was no decision on “Decision Night.”
The Common Council tonight with the exception of Councilman Glen Hockley, in a 2 hour 45 minute session issued a call for a 6-1/2% Tax increase, raising the Mayor’s tax increase from 4.9%. They called on a series of city departments for $1.4 Million in cuts targeting jobs across city departments, with the exception of the Department of Public Safety which was asked for $500,000 in expense cuts. The council accepted the $2.5 Million in revenues suggested by the city Budget & Management Committee. The Council did not enact the cuts, adjourning to Thursday or Friday of this week to hear from Department heads on whether they could comply with the cuts.
The additional revenue produced by the cuts and revenue items, Councilman Benjamin Boykin totaled $5.575 Million. Boykin declined to provide the press with a written tally of the budget actions.
They in effect told David Birdsall, the Acting Budget Director, he would not have a job effective July 1.
In the process, the Council suggested publicly the Acting Budget Director position, currently occupied by David Birdsall, not be funded beginning with the new fiscal year, effectively firing him to his face.
Mr. Birdsall, was hired by the Mayor a year and a half ago against the council wishes which voted him down. The council did not suggest cutting salaries of all city commissioners and management personnel that were non-union, and did not discuss the impending union binding arbitration. The Council also recommended eliminating the second Deputy Commissioner of Parking. It was also learned according to Paul Wood, that Leonard Lolis, the Manager of Information Systems was leaving the city, (after WPCNR believes about 9 years of employment), but is currently working “on vacation time.”
When WPCNR joined the untelevised meeting in progress at 7:15, the council and Mayor were in heated debate, snapping at each other, pointing fingers and wringing their hands. Tom Roach, made the most sense of all, saying we are cutting because they have to, to prevent fund balance from descending to $1 Million. He said the council could raise taxes 30% (as pointed out by WPCNR weeks ago), to cover the deficit, “but nobody wants to do that,” saying they were picking away instead at lowering the budget in bits and pieces with the 6-1/2% tax increase being the first step.
At this point, the council wanted to go into executive session to discuss the personnel cuts, but did not, thanks to Journal News Reporter Keith Eddings, who as the council was making the motion, interrupted the meeting at the balustrade saying the council should not go into Executive Session because they were discussing general cuts, not the conduct of specific employees.
The Council left the chamber at 7:40 and returned at approximately 8:00. At that time, Mayor Joseph Delfino announced to the considerably thinned crowd, (room was packed at the outset with dozens of union personnel and city managers and workers), that the counsel, presumably Edward Dunphy, had told the council they had the right to discuss personnel cuts in executive session, but that they might consider conducting the session in public, “since it’s going to get out anyway,” the Mayor said. So the department cuts were made public in a very general way.
In the Building Department, Councilman Boykin called for elimination of 2 to 3 persons since building activity was way down in the city. He suggested the additional Code Enforcement Officer added last year be one. It was then suggested by Councilman Power that this be a general request to the Building Department to come up with $200,000 in cuts.
Boykin said the Courts Office should reduce part-time employee expenses by $3,000 to $5,000.
Birdsall on short list.
Councilman Rita Malmud called on the elimination of funding the Acting Budget Director position beginning July 1, effectively firing David Birdsall as of that date. Malmud said dryly, ending the discussion, “There will be zero for that position (in the next budget).”
In the Information Systems Department, the Mayor said one person was retiring. Paul Wood identified this person as Leonard Lolis who was still on the payroll, but using vacation time. Mr. Boykin emphasized they wanted the department cut by one person. Nothing was said about whether Mr. Lolis was going to be replaced. At the end of the meeting, Boykin made a point of saying there was no hiring freeze in effect for next year, yet, anyway
Boykin requested a graphics technician be cut from the Mayor’s Staff.
The Department of Parking, at first was requested by Councilman Dennis Power to eliminate the second Deputy Commissioner of Parking, and a total of $500,000 in cuts (including the salary and benefits of the Second Commissioner of Parking,(salary: $105,835 plus benefits) and three Parking Enforcement Officers of the PEO field force of 37). It was later agreed the Department of Parking should eliminate the 2nd Commissioner of Parking and determine where the rest of the cuts would come to reach the $500,000 level. It was also suggested parking maintenance be combined with DPW maintenance. The Mayor said they do that already.
The Planning Department was asked to cut $75,000, without suggestions.
Personnel was asked to cut $20,000.
It was suggested the Human Rights Commission eliminate $2,545 in part-time workers.
The Traffic Department, it was suggested, should cut $6,900 in part-time salaries.
No more sacrifices were asked of the Department of Public Works, the Department of Recreation and Parks,the Youth Bureau, Senior Services, the Slater Center, the Purchasing Department, the Finance Department.
The budgeting will resume Thursday or Friday depending on when the Mayor and other members of the Council agree on the day and time.
To be continued.
