Committee waits to recommend 10-percent cut to GF
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
The finance committee of the Hillsboro City Council did not present a recommendation to cut 10 percent from the city's general fund to a full council Monday night because, according to committee members, work is still needed on the legislation.
During an Aug. 4 committee meeting, it was voted 3-0 by committee members Peter Pence, Dave Shoemaker and Bill Alexander to recommend council make the 10-percent cut across the board in the general fund, from September to December, after discussing the city's financial situation, in particular a recent decision by Hillsboro Mayor Dick Zink to cancel the layoffs of two city employees. The layoffs had been initiated as a costs-savings measure, as the city is facing a pending deficit by the end of 2011.
Regarding the layoffs, Zink had told The Highland County Press July 26 that, "We're going to wait and see where we are at the end of the year. There are some things happening to improve our cash flow. We're going to go month to month and see what happens."
Members of the finance committee have said Zink would not tell them what the new revenue source is, and Hillsboro Auditor Gary Lewis said he was not aware of any new sources of revenue.
Finance committee chairperson Peter Pence said during that committee meeting that there should have been more transparency on the decision-making process from the administration.
During council's regular session Monday, Zink told council that he did not like the statement made by Pence regarding transparency. Additionally, Zink said that another finance committee member had been in to see him. "This member stated at the meeting he took advice from the law director and the auditor. Just for the record, I wasn't giving advice, just information. My point is, the opportunity was given to explain my thoughts on this matter. Apparently they were not well-enough explained or agreed with. My thoughts are the same today as they were last week."
Pence reported to council the decision that the committee had made regarding the general fund, but that, since then, he has had discussions with council president Lee Koogler and Hillsboro Law Director Fred Beery and, "I would ask council not to move. I don't think there is any legislation prepared because there are things that need to be looked at if that's the route we choose to go. I also did have a meeting with the mayor on Friday morning and he has some new information."
Pence did not say what that new information was, and council did not ask him any questions. Pence said that the finance committee will be holding a meeting "some time this week, and we will review the information that was presented to me, at that meeting, and then we will move forward with whatever the committee decides."
Clarification is needed, Pence said, in order to make a reduction to the general fund budget in that it "needs to be more specific."
Following the council meeting, when asked by The Highland County Press if Zink had said what the additional revenue source was going to be, Pence said, "I think a lot of it is probably going to be based on insurance, but I've not seen any figures or heard any estimates from our insurance provider to show that savings is going to be there."
During the council meeting, Koogler had asked the finance committee to meet with the city's insurance agent Doug Wagoner to investigate insurance rates.
"We may get to the end of the year and find out what our actual insurance costs are going to be and there may be a savings there. I'm sure there'll be some savings. How substantial it is going to be, I don't know that. You can't go off of assumptions."
Following the meeting, Zink declined again to tell The Highland County Press where the additional revenue was going to come from.
In other business, council:
• Voted 7-0 to pass a resolution to increase appropriations in the general fund by $10,200 fir street lighting. Council had previously considered turning off certain street lights through the city because the estimated bill was higher than what was appropriated. Koogler addressed that when introducing the legislation, saying the funds had to be appropriated because there was not enough to pay the bill.
• Prior to the council meeting, the property maintenance and restoration committee met for approximately three minutes to discuss a request for a variance for a sign off Danville Pike for a flower shop owned by Hillsboro resident Jean Head. The property is located in an area zoned Residential A, which prohibits that particular size and location of the requested sign. The matter had been tabled because the committee thought there would be a split vote on the matter when committee chairperson Bonnie Parr and committee member Bill Alexander disagreed on the issue during a July 27 committee meeting. Both said they wanted input from committee member Peter Pence, who was not at the meeting. During Monday's meeting, Koogler temporarily appointed council member, and former committee member, Dave Shoemaker to the committee. Koogler told The Highland County Press that president of council is able to make such appointments when there was a conflict of interest to other committee members. Koogler said Pence had indicated Head and his family were friends, and he felt there was a conflict.
Alexander made a motion to recommend to council they deny the variance, which was seconded by Parr. The committee voted 3-0 to deny the variance. Council later voted to accept the recommendation.
• Council honored Hillsboro resident Neil Swearingen as the August Citizen of the Month. Shoemaker presented Swearingen with the award, saying that his positive attitude at work at Lowe's, as well as the example he sets as a counselor at KAMP Dovetail is an inspiration for all Hillsboro residents. Shoemaker thanked Swearingen for his outlook and his attitude. There was loud applause, as well as some whistles and yells as he accepted the honor.
• Koogler put into the utilities committee a request by sewer department superintendent Randy Barr regarding dye testing to detect infiltration of substances into the city sewer systems from various properties.
• Utilities committee chairperson Shoemaker asked city administrative assistant Kirby Ellison if she had spoken with representatives from RCAP (Rural Community Assistance Partnership) regarding information for "figures from our water." Ellison said she would do that this week.
• During his report to council Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Ralph Holt updated council on the construction at the city's wastewater treatment plant, saying the concrete work was "about 60 percent done."
The finance committee of the Hillsboro City Council did not present a recommendation to cut 10 percent from the city's general fund to a full council Monday night because, according to committee members, work is still needed on the legislation.
During an Aug. 4 committee meeting, it was voted 3-0 by committee members Peter Pence, Dave Shoemaker and Bill Alexander to recommend council make the 10-percent cut across the board in the general fund, from September to December, after discussing the city's financial situation, in particular a recent decision by Hillsboro Mayor Dick Zink to cancel the layoffs of two city employees. The layoffs had been initiated as a costs-savings measure, as the city is facing a pending deficit by the end of 2011.
Regarding the layoffs, Zink had told The Highland County Press July 26 that, "We're going to wait and see where we are at the end of the year. There are some things happening to improve our cash flow. We're going to go month to month and see what happens."
Members of the finance committee have said Zink would not tell them what the new revenue source is, and Hillsboro Auditor Gary Lewis said he was not aware of any new sources of revenue.
Finance committee chairperson Peter Pence said during that committee meeting that there should have been more transparency on the decision-making process from the administration.
During council's regular session Monday, Zink told council that he did not like the statement made by Pence regarding transparency. Additionally, Zink said that another finance committee member had been in to see him. "This member stated at the meeting he took advice from the law director and the auditor. Just for the record, I wasn't giving advice, just information. My point is, the opportunity was given to explain my thoughts on this matter. Apparently they were not well-enough explained or agreed with. My thoughts are the same today as they were last week."
Pence reported to council the decision that the committee had made regarding the general fund, but that, since then, he has had discussions with council president Lee Koogler and Hillsboro Law Director Fred Beery and, "I would ask council not to move. I don't think there is any legislation prepared because there are things that need to be looked at if that's the route we choose to go. I also did have a meeting with the mayor on Friday morning and he has some new information."
Pence did not say what that new information was, and council did not ask him any questions. Pence said that the finance committee will be holding a meeting "some time this week, and we will review the information that was presented to me, at that meeting, and then we will move forward with whatever the committee decides."
Clarification is needed, Pence said, in order to make a reduction to the general fund budget in that it "needs to be more specific."
Following the council meeting, when asked by The Highland County Press if Zink had said what the additional revenue source was going to be, Pence said, "I think a lot of it is probably going to be based on insurance, but I've not seen any figures or heard any estimates from our insurance provider to show that savings is going to be there."
During the council meeting, Koogler had asked the finance committee to meet with the city's insurance agent Doug Wagoner to investigate insurance rates.
"We may get to the end of the year and find out what our actual insurance costs are going to be and there may be a savings there. I'm sure there'll be some savings. How substantial it is going to be, I don't know that. You can't go off of assumptions."
Following the meeting, Zink declined again to tell The Highland County Press where the additional revenue was going to come from.
In other business, council:
• Voted 7-0 to pass a resolution to increase appropriations in the general fund by $10,200 for street lighting. Council had previously considered turning off certain street lights through the city because the estimated bill was higher than what was appropriated. Koogler addressed that when introducing the legislation, saying the funds had to be appropriated because there was not enough to pay the bill.
• Prior to the council meeting, the property maintenance and restoration committee met for approximately three minutes to discuss a request for a variance for a sign off Danville Pike for a flower shop owned by Hillsboro resident Jean Head. The property is located in an area zoned Residential A, which prohibits that particular size and location of the requested sign. The matter had been tabled because the committee thought there would be a split vote on the matter when committee chairperson Bonnie Parr and committee member Bill Alexander disagreed on the issue during a July 27 committee meeting. Both said they wanted input from committee member Peter Pence, who was not at the meeting. During Monday's meeting, Koogler temporarily appointed council member, and former committee member, Dave Shoemaker to the committee. Koogler told The Highland County Press that president of council is able to make such appointments when there was a conflict of interest to other committee members. Koogler said Pence had indicated Head and his family were friends, and he felt there was a conflict.
Alexander made a motion to recommend to council they deny the variance, which was seconded by Parr. The committee voted 3-0 to deny the variance. Council later voted to accept the recommendation.
• Council honored Hillsboro resident Neil Swearingen as the August Citizen of the Month. Shoemaker presented Swearingen with the award, saying that his positive attitude at work at Lowe's, as well as the example he sets as a counselor at KAMP Dovetail is an inspiration for all Hillsboro residents. Shoemaker thanked Swearingen for his outlook and his attitude. There was loud applause, as well as some whistles and yells as he accepted the honor.
• Koogler put into the utilities committee a request by sewer department superintendent Randy Barr regarding dye testing to detect infiltration of substances into the city sewer systems from various properties.
• Utilities committee chairperson Shoemaker asked city administrative assistant Kirby Ellison if she had spoken with representatives from RCAP (Rural Community Assistance Partnership) regarding information for "figures from our water." Ellison said she would do that this week.
• During his report to council Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Ralph Holt updated council on the construction at the city's wastewater treatment plant, saying the concrete work was "about 60 percent done."
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