HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance November 10 1988WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES
November 10, 1988
The meeting was called to order at 2 :00 p.m. by Committee Chairman Dan
Warner, with Don Hansey and Mary Vanderpol present.
Raise for the Prosecuting Attorney Warner did not support a raise for this
position because others would then make a case for parity. All agreed.
Request for change from $1000 to $2000 in Council travel fund We are $300
over budget this year. Warner recommended we add $500 to this allocation and
suggested we take it from the professional services allocation and add it to
the Council travel fund.
McEachran storage This was not granted.
Additional Court Commissioner This was not granted.
(A) This department /fund level appropriation is based upon the backup detail
budget as attached. Personnel positions included in the backup
detail can not be increased during the year except by approval of
the County Council. The monies allocated to Personal Services
within BARS object 10, Personnel Benefits within object 20 and
Capital Outlay within object 60 can be transferred only with the
prior approval of the County Executive.
(B) To the extent they are available, motor pool cars shall be utilized for
County travel purposes by employees stationed in the central
County complex before privately -owned vehicles are used on a
reimbursement basis. The County Executive shall be authorized to
grant exemption from this provision when the cost of a motor pool
vehicle would exceed the cost of the use of a private automobile.
(C) All construction work funded herein for which the estimated cost is over
$25,000 shall be bid out to private contractors, pursuant to the
bid procedures contained in Whatcom County Code Chapter 3.08 and
applicable state laws, except as the Council may specifically
authorize by exception.
(D) Appropriation authority for any budgeted personnel position which
becomes vacant during 1989 shall continue unless the Council by
motion identifies the position as one in need of review. The
Executive shall report to the Council once each month on those
positions wherein an upcoming vacancy is anticipated or has
occurred.
(E) Any monies appropriated for senior services programs within the Parks
and Recreation Fund budget may not be transferred to any other
activity or program.
Finance, 11- 10 -88, Page 2
(F) The ambulance expenditures shall be as budgeted herein; the Executive
shall review the Interlocal governmental agreement between the
City of Bellingham and Whatcom County by which these governments
control the policy and budget of the Ambulance Service, and shall
attempt to renegotiate the agreement to provide for meaningful
policy and budget input from the County. If such renegotiation is
not successful, the Executive shall investigate and make a report
to the Council on the feasibility and advisability of contracting
out such ambulance service to private enterprise.
(G) The Prosecuting Attorney and the Public Defender are directed to report
quarterly to the Council on the use and status of deferred
prosecutions. This mechanism is encouraged as a means to reduce
case load through the criminal justice system.
(H) It shall be the policy of Whatcom County to levy the state surcharge on
all fines (RCW 46.63.110.(3) in addition to all fines set by
District Court rather than deducting the surcharge from the
County °s share of such fines.
(1) Because the ever - increasing cost of medical and health benefits results
in ever - greater department allocations to the medical- benefit
fund, reducing the monies available for personnel, and since
smoking 1s recognized as a significant health hazard, the policy
of Whatcom County shall be as follows:
On the effective date of this ordinance the Whatcom County
Courthouse, and any buildings owned by or rented for the use of
the County shall be non - smoking areas; furthermore, on or as soon
after the effective date of this ordinance as possible, all
cigarette vending machines in County buildings shall be removed;
furthermore, it shall be the vigorous policy of the County, to the
greatest extent possible, to hire only non - smoking employees.
(J) The appropriation to the Sheriff's budget for five additional deputies
is granted provided they add one deputy to each shift and includes
not less than two road patrol deputies.
(K) The allocations to the Public Works Solid Waste Fund are as budgeted
herein: the Cedarville Road landfill facility shall remain open
and operational until a substitute facility is licensed and
operational.
(L) The amounts appropriated to the Council of Governments are contingent on
the continued existence of the organization. It is the intent of
the County to consider discontinuing participation in the Council
of Governments.
(M) The additional $15,000 allocated for professional services in the
Assessor's budget may only be expended for a professional services
contract for recording new construction on the assessment rolls.
The meeting was adjourned at 4 :00 p.m.
ATTEST:
B rbara Maher
Clerk of the Council
Finance, 11- 10 -88, Page 3
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Daniel M. Warner, Member