Finance & Administration Committee

         

 

Minutes of a regular meeting of the Finance and Administration Committee of the City of O’Fallon, held at the Public Safety Building, 285 N. Seven Hills Road, O’Fallon, Illinois on September 28, 2015.

 

CALL TO ORDER: 5:05 pm

 

ROLL CALL: COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Bennett, Chairman, Albrecht, Drolet-Absent,

McCoskey, Smallheer, Roach, Kueker

NON-COMMITTEE ALDERMEN: Holden, Meile, Hagarty, Cozad, Mouser, Gerrish

STAFF LIAISON: Evans,VanHook,Saunders,Randall, Hutchison,Cavins, Shekell,Taylor, Bowman

GUESTS/RESIDENTS: Malare, Zelms, Pitts, Lysakowski, J. Drolet

    

Approval Minutes: - August 24, 2015 Motion McCoskey, Second Albrecht

 All Ayes. Motion carried.

   

 

Item A: IMRF Benefit Protection Leave of Absence: Director of Finance explained that IMRF offers a Benefit Protection leave to employees that are on a leave of absence which protects the employee’s service credit.  This will be offered to a city employee who will be on leave.  Due to HIPPA regulations, no employee details could be disclosed.    While on leave, the employee will continue to pay their IMRF portion, however; they are not being paid a salary while on leave.  The city has no direct out of pocket expense but the city’s future contribution amount will be adjusted based on the actuarial valuation.

 

Item B: Strategic Plan Review:  Director of Finance explained that the Strategic Plan that was developed in 2013 needed to be reviewed to see if the projects listed were still the priorities of the council.  If so, what funding sources were to be used?  After reviewing the various documents staff provided in the packet, it was requested of staff to provide additional information such as the payoff dates of the bonds and current revenue sources and anticipated budget amounts.   After some discussion, it was decided to move the unfunded I-64 overpass project listed on the Strategic Plan to the “Dreams” category. It is a nice idea, but not a priority at this time.  It was also discussed that the projects at Reider road were important but council wanted to wait until NGA makes a decision.   Questions were asked regarding Park projects as well as WWTP projects which the department heads were able to clarify. The committee agreed that more revenue was needed for stormwater and street projects.  Alderman Mouser asked how much additional revenue would be generated by an increase in sales tax.  Director of Finance said that the current home rule half cent sales tax brings in approximately $1.8M year.   Alderman Bennett commented that revenue that is earmarked for certain purposes, such as the Utility Tax where it first is used to satisfy the debt service of the Public safety bond and then the balance going to parks, that revenue may need to be redirected or perhaps a new revenue source may need to be found.   Staff will provide various additional revenue options and the amount that could be generated.

 

Other:  There were a few comments from the residents in attendance.  T. Lysakowski asked about the ROW and the sanitary sewer project. Staff, J.Taylor, addressed his questions.  J. Drolet asked about Audit/Internal control procedures.  Dir. of Finance said that the City is audited annually and that the internal controls are reviewed annually including the segregation of duties.  J. Drolet also commented about the Single source bid for the HVAC at City Hall and the need for 2/3 majority vote.  Director of Finance explained that it was the same process we used for the phone system, and that the project was going to be a bid process for any vendor who qualifies in handling TRANE products.  She also mentioned that the City Attorney reviewed the process.  Staff, D. Bowman, reiterated that the project was going to be a bid process.

 

Motion to Adjourn: Albrecht, Second McCoskey  All Ayes. Motion carried.                                                  

Tentative Next Meeting:   October 26, 2015