HomeMy WebLinkAboutBudget/Finance Committee Minutes 05.21.2019Minutes of City of Laurel
Budget/Finance Committee
Tuesday, May 21, 2019
Members Present: Emelie Eaton
Bruce McGee
Richard Klose
Others Present: Mayor Nelson
Public Input: Citizens may address the committee regarding any item of business that is not on the
agenda. The duration for an individual speaking under Public Input is limited to three minutes. While
all comments are welcome, the committee will not take action on any item not on the agenda.
General Items
• Review and approve the minutes of the May 7, 2019 meeting. Bruce McGee made a motion
to approve the minutes of the May 7, 2019 Budget and Finance Committee meeting. Richard
Klose seconded the motion, all in favor, motion passed.
• Review and approve purchase requisitions — Police Department Charger. Bruce McGee
asked whether this purchase requisition would have to go in front of the Council as it was
clearly over $5,000. The answer was "no" because the Chief was using his Federal Equitable
Sharing Fund to make the purchase. The Chief of Police has complete authority over those
funds, and this was simply a formality to inform the Committee that funds were going out of
the FESF and being used to purchase a vehicle. Bruce McGee made a motion to approve the
Purchase Requisition by the Police Department for purchase of the Charger. Richard Klose
seconded the motion, all in favor, motion passed.
• Review and approve the April 2019 Journal Vouchers. The Mayor obtained the Journal
Vouchers stating he had reviewed the documents but failed to read the note on the front
instructing him to bring the documents to the Budget and Finance meeting. Bruce McGee
reviewed the documents. Bruce McGee made a motion to approve the April Journal
Vouchers. Richard Klose seconded the motion, all in favor, motion passed.
• Review and approve the April 2019 Utility Billing Adjustments. The Utility Billing
documents were provided, signed and dated. Bruce McGee made a motion to approve the
April Utility Billing Adjustments. Richard Klose seconded the motion, all in favor, motion
passed.
• Review and approve the April 2019 Financial Statements. There was discussion on whether
on page 1, the column titled "Estimated Revenue" was all the monies that particular line item
was going to receive for the year. The Mayor agreed then stated that if committee members
turned to page three and went to the fifth column entitled "Available Appropriation" this
amount showed how much was available every year for that line item. It was questioned
whether some line items were not reflecting monies held in reserve. The Mayor repeated that
this was the money available every year. Bruce McGee made a motion to approve the
Financial Statements. Richard Klose seconded the motion, all in favor, motion passed.
• Review and recommend approval to Council Claims entered through 5/17/19. Richard Klose
had previously reviewed the Claims Detail report and the check register for accuracy. Bruce
McGee made a motion to recommend approval of the claims entered through 5/17/19.
Richard Klose seconded the motion, all in favor, motion passed.
Review Comp/Overtime hours for pay period ending 5/5/19. Bruce McGee commented that
the Police Department had been experiencing a lot of overtime and he stated he hoped things
were back to normal for that department.
Review and approve Payroll Register for pay period ending 5/5/19 totaling $193,199.31. It
was pointed out that from now on the "big blue book" would not be shared with Committee
members as it was recently learned that it contained too much detail that committee members
did not need to know. From now on the Clerk Treasurer would provide a two-page summary
of the information. This would be signed and dated by two committee members and kept as
the official record. The two-page summary was reviewed, signed and dated. Bruce McGee
made a motion to approve the Payroll Register for the pay period ending 5/5/19 totaling
$193,199.31. Richard Klose seconded the motion, all in favor, motion passed.
New Business — none
Old Business — none
Other Items — Mayor Nelson was asked to speak about any issues of interest. The Mayor spoke about
LURA and consternation by some of the members of that Board over using funds for a bondable project.
He also spoke about work the Emergency Services Committee had done to combine the Fire and
Ambulance Departments. He stated the issue is now to the point that it needs to come before the
Council and be formalized as a Resolution. He also stated the combined Department will need a full
time Fire/EMS Director and the Mayor wants the entire Council to understand the financial issues and
options associated with these plans. He further discussed the topic of Class I communities and the
additional burdens that would have to be met.
There was also discussion of the Charter form of government and the historic lack of success in
obtaining a CAO for the position in this community.
Richard Klose inquired about the former site of the silos next to Hardees. Emelie Eaton provided a
quick summary of information that had been shared at the Public Works meeting the previous day.
Announcements — Emelie Eaton stated July 23 is a Tuesday and the Public Works Director would like
to have a tour of the new Water Treatment Plant on that "free" Tuesday night.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:24. The next Budget and Finance Committee meeting will be held June
4, 2019 at 5:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Emelie Eaton
Budget and Finance Chair
NOTE: This meeting is open to the public. This meeting is for information and discussion of the Council for the
listed workshop agenda items.