Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance September 4 1990FINANCE AND PERSONNEL COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 41 1990 The meeting was called to order at 3 p.m. by Committee Chairman Dan Warner. Present Absent Mary Vanderpol Marge Laidlaw 1. BID AWARD RECOMMENDATION TO COVER AND DRAIN THE Y -ROAD LANDFILL TO MEET CLOSURE REQUIREMENTS TO THE LOW BID- DER, SUMAS TRANSPORT INC., FOR $145,260.50 INCLUDING 7.8 PERCENT SALES TAX (AB90 -295) Warner explained this issue. Van Zanten said this is one of the three landfills that need to be covered and drained. Jurica said when it is covered, it will drain into the Y Road ditch and eventually into Lake Whatcom. This is an upgrade of the original cover. Laidlaw asked if Jurica had confidence the low bidder would do a proper job; he said he is sure. VANDERPOL MOVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO ACCEPT THE BID. Motion carried unanimously. 2. REPORT ON WASHINGTON COUNTIES' RISK POOL (AB90 -296) Van Zanten said the Board of Directors just set the liabil- ity and authorized the deductible of $100,000 per occurrence. Van Zanten explained the determination of premiums. Whatcom County's premium will be 282,293.02 for the next year which is a one percent increase. There was discussion between Vanderpol and Van Zanten about potential claims. 3. REJECTION OF ALL BIDS FOR INSTALLING LANDFILL CLOSURE IMPROVEMENTS AT THE POINT ROBERTS LANDFILL (AB90 -298) VANDERPOL MOVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL TO REJECT ALL BIDS. The motion was carried unanimously. 4. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SALE OF SURPLUS EQUIPMENT (AB90- 277) Laidlaw asked if departments get an opportunity to remove items before the sale. Dickinson said a list is given to departments and many things have been picked up. Laidlaw said she thinks many things could be salvaged such as chairs, fridges, and typing tables. Dickinson said many things are just beyond repair and unusable but he does try to encourage the best use of equipment. LAIDLAW MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO THE COUNCIL. Motion carried unanimously. 5. ORDINANCE REVISING THE 1990 PUBLIC HEALTH FUND APPROPRIATION (AB90 -282) (PAPERWORK TO BE DISTRIBUTED LATER) LAIDLAW MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO COUNCIL. Motion carried unanimously. 6. ORDINANCE TO REVISE THE 1990 COUNTY BUDGET FOR UNAN- TICIPATED EXPENDITURES (AB90 -283) Van Zanten explained the breakdown of this request. She said if we do not get the River situation back to where it needs to be and there is another flood, the Corps of Engineer will not be helping to the degree they did last time. Laidlaw expressed concern about using herbicides on alleyways and wondered if this is necessary. The carpeting and air conditioning was previously funded so is not in the amount. There was some discussion about Cooperative Extension getting carpeting and air conditioning. Van Zanten said they will get new carpeting but not air conditioning. There was some discussion about the election department move. Laidlaw said she has some concerns about N.F. Jackson's memorandum describing the new furniture being ordered. She wonders if Jackson has checked with surplus to see if some of this could be eliminated. Van Zanten said the judges were trying to establish a certain decor. Van Zanten said Jackson could be invited to the next meeting and he could be asked to discuss his new furnishings. Laidlaw said she will not oppose this but wants it on the record she is against getting rid of things at garage sale prices and buying new things at large prices. Warner wants Jackson to go to the surplus sale and at least say it is inappropriate. Barbara Cory, County Treasurer said there is mostly junk at the auction and is unusable; she said she wished the Council members would attend the auction. Vanderpol said the refrigerator and 75 stack chairs are the only items that may be extravagant. Warner asked if the County is able to make good deals on furniture purchases. Van Zanten said some of the purchases are on state contract. She said that some of the time constraints cause extra expense by having people work at nights and weekends. The Juvenile facility has only one shower for all the inmates so that expenditure is very necessary. VANDERPOL MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO COUNCIL. There was some discussion about the river fund. Laidlaw thanked all the different staffs, Mary Chisholm, Finance Minutes, 9/4/90, Page Council staff and election staff who pitched in to get these moves done. Motion carried unanimously. 8. RESOLUTION SETTING HEARING AND NOTICE OF HEARING ON SALE OF COUNTY TAX TITLE PROPERTY, REQUESTS NO. 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54 (AB90 -297) Cory said these are mostly in the Peaceful Valley area with one in Birch Bay and two properties in the Emerald Lake area. LAIDLAW MOVED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO COUNCIL. Motion carried unanimously. 9. RESOLUTION FIXING A TIME AND DATE FOR A HEARING ON THE CREATION OF A SOLID WASTE COLLECTION DISTRICT WITHIN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF WHATCOM COUNTY (AB90 -3) Van Zanten said there had been two letters from UTC on this issue; they will make their decision on September 19. This was sent to them in January so the 120 days have passed and the ordinance needs to be reintroduced. It will need a new hearing because it has been so long and there have been some changes. The County should have heard from UTC by September 25 and final action can be taken then. Laidlaw noticed the Westside Record Journal is listed on page 116 instead of the Bellingham Herald. LAIDLAW MOVED BELLINGHAM HERALD BE ADDED AFTER WESTSIDE RECORD JOURNAL AND LYNDEN TRIBUNE, AND ADD "MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC" AFTER "OTHER MEDIA." Motion carried unanimously. 10. DISCUSSION ON REQUESTS FOR ADDED POSITIONS (AB90 -299) (ON FILE, DISTRIBUTED TO COUNCIL MEMBERS ONLY) Van Zanten said she is not recommending the addition of new positions in 1990 as this would cut into the year end balance that usually goes for one time only expenditures. Forslof said her department is limping along with part time people trying to keep up with a 25 percent increase. She said her staff is working to capacity and can not be asked to do more; as the activity increases in the County the workload is increased. When Buildings & Codes promotes more work with additional staff, there are more documents that need to be recorded. Forslof said they are restricted in the amount charged for recording to $7 for the first page and $1 for each additional page. Vanderpol and Laidlaw are concerned about the cost that will Finance Minutes, 9/4/90, Page be added to next year's budget. Warner said he is sympathetic to the departments who are overworked. Van Zanten said she is very reluctant to add new people until after the budget process and hates to authorize positions now that may need to be cut later on. Warner asked why these four are being refused after authorizing 65 others. Van Zanten said that is a fair question; many of these were in last year's budget and some came in with outside funding. Warner said revenue is coming in better than expected and staff can't be expected to do 25 percent more than before when they were already busy. Van Zanten said that criteria could be used for every single department. Van Zanten said she has held on to these for some time because of prior- ities, vacations, and no August meetings. WARNER MOVED THERE BE FUNDING FOR AUDITOR'S CLERK POSITION FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR. Laidlaw said she would vote against it because of the uncertainty of finances. Cory said her department is suffering from the increased activity as well and has had to use a great deal of extra help than ever before. The supplementals the Council approved in Assessors and Building and Codes is swamping her office with the additional work these new people are turning out. Staff does not have the time to double check every item and mistakes may be made in tax statements. Cory said it is specialized help that is needed; she needs people now to be trained to be of any use at the first of the year. Cory said she would alert new employees that this may not be permanent if the economy goes down. Warner is sympathetic. Laidlaw said she feels it is too late to add someone this year. WARNER RE- PHRASED THE MOTION TO APPROVE A SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET TO FUND THE POSITIONS FOR THE AUDITOR AND TREASURER. Motion failed with Vanderpol and Laidlaw against. 7. UPDATE ON COUNCIL'S BUDGET ANALYST POSITION (AB90 -293) Warner gave a status report on the progress of this issue. Laidlaw said she is against this being done for the 1990 budget and believes the Council did not follow the appropriate procedure. Vanderpol said the Council has to be ready to do without if they expect it of others. Sutberry said anything affecting the budget should come through his office for review; he assumed the agenda bill system would ensure that the Executive or Budget Director would review any budget enhancements. WARNER MOVED WE FUND THE POSITION STARTING JANUARY 1ST, 1991 ASK STAFF TO WRITE APPLICANTS AND TELL THEM THE FUNDING WILL BE Finance Minutes, 9/4/90, Page FOR JANUARY 1ST AND ASK IF THEY ARE INTERESTED IN BEING CONSIDERED AT THAT TIME, THEN RE- ADVERTISE IN DECEMBER. Laidlaw said this needs to be brought before the whole council to agree on the job description. Warner asked that the job description be put on the next finance committee and Council agenda and draft a motion approving the hiring of the person for 1991 at that salary range. There was no vote on the above motion. 11. OTHER BUSINESS Forslof said she is quite certain there are enough signa- tures to put the initiative on solid waste excise tax on the ballot. Forslof said she will be asking for a signature digitizer for next year. She will also need extra help for vote -at -home ballots. Meeting adjourned at 4:56 p.m. ATTEST: Barfbara Maher, Council Clerk WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON Daniel M. Warner, Member Finance Minutes, 9/4/90, Page