Minutes of The Special Price City Council Meeting

City Hall, Room 202: Price, Utah


April 7, 1997, 4:00 p.m.


Present:

Mayor Lou Colosimo

Councilmembers: Roy A. Nikas, Betty P. Wheeler, Joe L. Piccolo, Stephen L. Denison

Vernon W. Jones (Adminis. Ass't.), Joanne Lessar (City Recorder), Pat Larsen (Finance Director), Aleck Shilaos (Chief of Police)

Absent and Excused: Steve Bringhurst


1. MAYOR PROTEMPORE - Councilmember Roy A. Nikas

MOTION. As Mayor Colosimo was absent the first part of the meeting, Councilmember Wheeler moved that Councilmember Nikas be appointed Mayor Protempore. Motion seconded by Councilmember Piccolo and carried.

2. BUDGET SESSION - FY1997/98

Mayor Protem Nikas turned the time over to Pat Larsen to begin review of the budget for FY1997/98. Pat reported that the total estimated earnings is $2,794,586, and benefits are $1,256,369. As the budget now stands, it is $1.7 million over. She presented the following changes that increases personnel costs $316,200.

Retirement - $15,200

Insurance - 22,800

COLA - 77,200

Wage adj. - 41,400

New positions - 119,400

Overtime Incr.- 23,600

Benefit Incr. - 16,600

Due to fluctuating Utah State Retirement rates, and the differences between Contributory and Non-contributory and Public Safety and other employees, Pat indicated that retirement benefits are inconsistent and range from 17.9% to 20.74%. Several years ago, retirement benefits were set at 17.9%. If the Council were to set the rate at 17.9% effective with the 97/98 budget for each employee, it would save $25,000. The Council discussed several alternatives, but no decision was reached.

Overtime costs and merit increases were discussed. Councilmember Wheeler recommended changing the word "merit" to salary adjustments. Pat Larsen stated that the committee assigned to review merit increases is recommending that all employees receive an increase unless they have a bad evaluation or reprimand letters in their personnel files. The recommended increase is anywhere from 1% to 4%, or each department would be given a certain amount and the supervisor would determine how it is to be divided.

The Council discussed reclassifications and salary adjustments and what the reasons were behind their requests. They questioned if positions changed from one year to another? Performance increases were reviewed. The Council felt that reclassifications should be approved, but that salary adjustments be placed on hold until the merit committee has made a recommendation.

The Council again discussed retirement benefits and the recommendation to cap them at 17.9%. They discussed the 5% increase ($22,800) in medical benefits and directed Pat to provide a study on both employees and their dependents.

Meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m.