Minutes 04/14/1981 - Laserfiche WebLink

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TUESDAY APRIL 14, 1981 - (2) Police. The crossing guard position related to the Joseph Martin School has been eliminated from the budget, reducing the number of guards from 6 to 5. (3) Parks and Recreation. It is proposed to consolidate all parks and rec- reation activities under a new Parks and Recreation Department, under the direction of Herb Hughes, and to reduce the combined staffing of one full- time laborer position. Parks maintenance has in the past been split between the Recreation Department and Public Works. This reorganization will enable a better fixing of responsibility and should prove cost- effective over time. (4) Public Works - Thoroughfare Construction. No proposal is being made to set aside additional funds for thoroughfare projects. We have a total at present of $179,000 in a separate reserve account for this purpose, but no real promise of construction on our priority projects from the State, as to the forseeable future. (5) Public Works - Street Construction. This account is proposed to be reduced by $160,091 for the coming year, or 45.1%. Three full-time positions are to be eliminated and no equipment will be replaced. This proposal would provide for a severely curtailed street construction program, as follows: (a) CBD Streetscape Project - 1,070 l.f. of West Main (postponing other parts of Phase III - West Church Street and Fayette Street). (b) Smith Road - 3,330 l.f. of shared-cost curb/gutter and widening. (c) Figsboro Road - 259 ft. of curb/gutter and widening. (d) Depot Street - Stone and surface treatment. (6) Public Works - Street Maintenance. This account shows an increase of 18.7%, but the bulk of street resurfacing costs in the current year has been charged to Revenue Sharing. The net effect is that we are proposing to reduce our street resurfacing program to about ~ of the current level. (7) Public Works - Building Maintenance. Two accounts are maintained for this function--one for City Hall and one for the Social Services Building. Taken in combination, the total current budget is $208,029. The proposed budget would be reduced to $188,180 or 9.5%. This will require eliminating two full-time custodial positions. The remaining 4~ positions will have to be redeployed to avoid any serious deterioration of the general condition of these important public buildings. Consideration was given to contracting entirely for janitorial services; but because of the usage patterns and a variety of factors, I am satisfied for now that such an alternative would not serve us well, nor effect true economies. (8) Public Works - Planning and Zoning. This budget includes only $10,000 for revision of the comprehensive plan. This may not be sufficient to cover the overall costs of consultant services and plan update, and additional appropriations may be required depending on final proposals for this effort. No amount has been budgeted to fund the City's share of the upcoming City-County Merger Study. This is so because the costs of consultant services are, again, undetermined; and an additional appropriation for this purpose will no doubt be required. (9) Public Works - CBD Development. This account is being reduced substantially, largely reflecting one-time expenses (such as the Farmer's Market Shelter) included in the current budget. (10) Courts and Probation - ANCHOR. The budget proposes to eliminate funding for the organization known as FOCUS. Although the amount of current funding, $2,739, is fairly nominal, it is felt that the City has provided sufficient "seed money" during the past two years and that FOCUS should now depend on private sector support. - -