HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance Committee June 18 1985WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
FINANCE COMMITTEE
MINUTES -- June 18, 1985
The Whatcom County Council Finance Committee was called to
order at 2:10 p.m. by Chairperson Becker With all members
present. Also in attendance was Councilmember Hawley; Shirley
Van Zanten, County Executive; Randall J. Watts, Civil Deputy
Prosecuting Attorney; Tom Sutberry, Budget Director, and others
as noted on the attached list.
Executive Van Zanten explained the background on the
ordinance to revise the 1985 Current Expense Fund Assigned
Counsel Budget therein. Tom Sutberry, Budget Director, explained
further.
Following discussion on the
RECOMMEND "DO PASS" TO THE FULL
REVISE THE 1985 CURRENT EXPENSE
THEREIN.
The motion carried.
ordinance, HANSEY MOVED,TO
COUNCIL OF THE ORDINANCE TO
FUND ASSIGNED COUNSEL BUDGET
ORDINANCE - REVISED 1985 BUDGET FOR THE JAIL CONSTRUCTION FUNp
Sara Johnston, Public Works Accounting, explained the
background on the ordinance adopting a revised 1985 budget for
the Jail Construction Fund.
Following discussion on the ordinance, HANSEY MOVED TO
RECOMMEND "DO PASS" TO THE FULL COUNCIL OF THE ORDINANCE ADOPTING
A REVISED 1985 BUDGET FOR THE JAIL CONSTRUCTION FUND.
The motion carried.
ORDINANCE - REVISED 1985 BUDGET FOR NOR -DELL NURSING HOME FUN
Executive Van Zanten explained the background on the
ordinance adopting a revised 1985 budget for the Nor -Bell Nursing
Home Fund for the purpose of receiving and disbursing a State
Department of Community Development grant for costs of sewer
facilities for the Nor -Bell Nursing Home.
COLE MOVED TO RECOMMEND "DO PASS" TO THE FULL COUNCIL OF THE
ORDINANCE ADOPTING A REVISED 1985 BUDGET FOR THE NOR -BELL NURSING
HOME FUND FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING AND DISBURSING A STATE
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANT FOR COSTS OF SEWER
FACILITIES FOR THE NOR -BELL NURSING HOME.
Finance Committee Minutes
June 18, 1985
Page 2
The motion to recommend that the Council adopt a revised
1985 budget for the Nor -Bell Nursing Home Fund carried.
EXECUTIVE ITEMS
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Executive Van Zanten explained the background on the
resolution to sell property acquired by County on tax foreclo-
sure. Cole spoke in support of contacting the Parks Department
and the Transit Authority in order to find out if either of them
would be interested in having the County retain any of the 36
parcels covered in this resolution.
Following discussion on the resolution, COLE MOVED TO
RECOMMEND "DO PASS" TO THE FULL COUNCIL OF THE RESOLUTION TO SELL
PROPERTY ACQUIRED BY COUNTY ON TAX FORECLOSURE, SUBJECT TO A
REPORT FROM THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND THE TRANSIT AUTHORITY
REGARDING THEIR INTEREST IN THESE PARCELS.
The motion carried.
EMERGENCY ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING REVISED BUDGET FOR
1985 MENTAL HEALTH FUND
Executive Van Zanten explained the background on the
emergency ordinance authorizing a revised budget for the 1985
Mental Health Fund.
Following discussion on the emergency ordinance, HANSEY
MOVED TO RECOMMEND "DO PASS" TO THE FULL COUNCIL OF THE EMERGENCY
ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A REVISED BUDGET FOR THE 1985 MENTAL HEALTH
FUND.
The motion carried.
OTHER BUSINESS
T TRANSFER - _.PERSONNEL DEP &RTMENT
Executive Van Zanten explained the background on the request
for an overlimit transfer in the Personnel Department in the
amount of $10,500.00.
Following discussion on the training sessions held thus far
by the Personnel Department, the meeting was recessed at 3:00
p.m. The meeting reconvened at 3 :15 p.m.
Finance Committee Minutes
June 18, 1985
Page 3
There was further discussion on the creation of new line
items, which this overlimit transfer would do. Cole spoke in
support of changing Whatcom County Code 3.04 which would provide
for a more expeditious process for creating new line items.
Becker stated that this item would be held over until an
ordinance was passed that would amend Chapter 3.04 of the
Whatcom County Code regarding the creation of new line items.
PERSONAL SERVICES CONTRACT - TRRAFFIC SAFETY _PROGRAM
Executive Van Zanten explained the background on the request
for a six -month extension of the Whatcom County Alcohol /Traffic
Safety Program project related to the problem of drinking
drivers. She spoke in support of accepting a grant extension for
six months (July 1 - December 31) and approving the personal
services contract for that time period.
HANSEY MOVED TO RECOMMEND TO FULL COUNCIL THAT THE GRANT
EXTENSION BE ACCEPTED FOR SIX MONTHS, AND THAT THE EXECUTIVE BE
AUTHORIZED TO SIGN THE PERSONAL SERVICES CONTRACT.
The motion carried.
CORRESPONDENCE DATED JUNE 13TH RO AL ARCHER & TERRY
BRAINARD,_WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL ON ALCOHOLISM
Mr. Archer explained the background on the intent of his
letter.
Randall J. Watts, Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney stated
that the letter was a notice of appeal as provided by WAC
275 -25 -040.
Executive Van Zanten explained the background on the
awarding of the contract for alcohol services for the 1985 -1987
biennium.
Following lengthy discussion, COLE MOVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE
FULL COUNCIL THAT THE COUNCIL REQUEST THE EXECUTIVE TO EXTEND THE
PRESENT CONTRACT FOR SIXTY (60) DAYS AND THAT THIS MATTER BE
SCHEDULED FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE COUNCIL.
Executive Van Zanten spoke on the motion and the open RFP
process.
Cole spoke on the purpose of the motion.
Hawley spoke against the motion.
Finance Committee Minutes
June 18, 1985
Page 4
Executive Van Zanten stated that there is a 90 -day bridge
agreement with the State that would go into effect July 1st if no
contract was in place at that time.
There was further discussion on the motion.
Becker spoke in support of extending the time for fifteen
(15) days instead of sixty (60).
Cole changed his motion from sixty (60) days to fifteen (15)
days and restated his motion as follows:
COLE MOVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE FULL COUNCIL THAT THE COUNCIL
REQUEST THE EXECUTIVE TO EXTEND THE PRESENT CONTRACT FOR FIFTEEN
(15) DAYS AND THAT IN THE INTERIM THE COUNCIL REVIEW THIS MATTER
WITH THE TWO PARTIES.
Becker stated that this item would then be considered by the
Council at the July 11th meeting, and that the above motion would
be presented to the Council at its June 20th meeting.
The motion carried.
INITIAL REVIEW OF ORDINANCES RELATED TO PERSONAL SERVICES
CONTRACTS
Chairperson Becker explained the discussion that would be
held today and the review of ordinances related to personal
services contracts.
Hansey spoke in support of having Randy Watts compile the
ordinances and statutes that are related to this subject and
prepare a digest for the Committee members.
Cole stated that he felt there were four areas that the
Committee should be concerned with: the budget structure; the
language of the budget ordinance; the ordinance on budget
transfers, and the law regarding bidding and contracting (both
state and county law).
There was discussion regarding asking the Prosecuting
Attorney or Randy Watts for a legal opinion on this subject.
Cole spoke in support of asking Randy Watts for a legal
opinion.
Hansey spoke in support of having all the ordinances
compiled first and then reviewing them as a Committee.
Finance Committee Minutes
June 18, 1985
Page 5
There was further discussion on the matter.
COLE MOVED THAT THE CHAIR OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE BE
REQUESTED TO SEEK LEGAL ADVICE ON SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE
FACING THE COMMITTEE REGARDING THESE MATTERS.
Cole spoke to the motion.
There was further discussion on the motion.
Copies of the ordinances which had already been compiled
were distributed to Committee members.
Becker restated the intent of the motion above and stated
that she would ask Randy to compile, digest and synthesize the
ordinances, along with state laws and anything else that is
relevant to the matter. She will also ask Randy for legal advice
on the issues facing the Committee.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:20 p.m.
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Mary Be er _ y
Chairperson
ATTEST:
Carol Ebergson
Clerk of the Council