TOWN COMMISSION – BUDGET WORKSHOP
MINUTES
TUESDAY JULY 11,
2006 12:20 PM
1. Call to Order and Roll Call.
Mayor
Sussman called the meeting to order at 12:20 P.M. Commission members present:
Commissioner Lee Bennett, Commissioner Alan J. Polin, Vice Mayor Larry B. Fink,
and Mayor Howard ‘Chuck’ Sussman. Not present was Commissioner Dan Dodge who
was on the telephone during the meeting.
Also present were Town Manager Robert Mearns, Town Clerk David Denman, Water
Superintendent Rodney A. Main, Police Chief Felix Brugnoni, and approximately 5
members of the public. Town Attorney Ellen Mills Gibbs was absent.
2. First
Review of Fiscal Year 2007 Budget
Mayor
Sussman presented an overview of the budget and budget process.
The
millage rate and the rollback rate were discussed.
Commissioner
Polin suggested that the Commission attempt to achieve the rollback rate
through employing a money market manager to invest the Town’s fund balance and
attain a higher return on investment.
Mayor
Sussman discussed the need for a Building Official rather than a Financial
Officer because a Building would be responsible for increasing permit revenue
to the Town which would offset taxpayer subsidization of building operations.
The
opportunity to obtain grants was generally discussed with the Town Manager
being directed to contact Richard Rubin in order that he make a presentation to
the Commission at the September meeting to review grant options.
Town
Clerk Denman presented the budget and reviewed it by line item. He informed the Commission that the Consumer
Price Index indicated a 4.2% increase in the cost of living which was factored
into all contracts as well as employee COLA increases.
Commissioner
Polin brought up the matter of increased interest on fund balance and that the
interest line item should be increased by $10,000. This adjustment was made with the difference to be reflected in
the millage rate and not a reduction in the appropriation from Fund Balance.
Commissioner
Polin inquired about membership in the National League of Cities. The Town Manager was directed to make
inquiries regarding membership.
The
Administrative budget was approved.
Mayor
Sussman requested that the matter of uninterrupted power supplies for the
Police Department be examined.
Transportation
needs and the Town bus were discussed.
Mayor Sussman explained that the Town turns over police cars every year
because there are no spares and the cars must be in top condition as they run
24/7 and wind up with 50,000 miles on them in one year.
The need for computer
programs in the police department was discussed.
Commissioner Bennett
suggested that new programs were need for finance, water billing and building
permits as well. He recommended that at
least $30,000 be budgeted for said programs and the Commission agreed.
Mayor Sussman recommended
that the budget as reviewed and amended be approved.
The consensus was to
approve the Mayors recommendation.
3. Adjournment
1:45 P.M.
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Persons are advised that,
if they should decide to appeal any decision made at this meeting/hearing, they
will need a record of the proceedings and, for such purpose, may need to ensure
that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the
testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. (§ 286.0105)
If you are a person with a
disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding,
you are entitled to the provision of certain assistance. At least forty-eight
(48) hours prior to this meeting, please contact the Town Hall, 1210 Hillsboro
Mile, Hillsboro Beach, FL 33062, 954-427-4011. (§ 286.26)