Minutes 11/24/1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1998 Appropriation of $ t 54, 756 from the -Electric Fund Unexpended-Fund Balance to the Electric Fund for further installation of the City's Fiber Optic/Sonet Loop Project, appropriating $154,756 from the Electric Fund Unexpended Fund Balance for expenditure in appropriate line items in the Electric Fund. Appropriation of $75,000 from the Refuse Fund Unexpended Fund Balance to the Capital Reserve Fund for the City's underground storage tank-project,. appropriating $75,000 from the Refuse Fund Unexpended Fund Balance to Expenditure 16-950535-7912250-- Garage/Warehouse in the Capital Reserve Fund--Physical Plant Expansion. .191 Discussion was held between Council and Dr. Ira Trollinger, Superintendent of Schools, concerning the insurance claim noted and the Pay Plan item noted. With regard to the insurance claim item, Dr. Trollinger stated that the Auditors have requested that all such claim issues be brought for Council action to document these events. Dr. Trollinger then responded to questions regarding the use of the funds for Pay Plan Adjustments, stating that 128 of 165 regular employees in the consolidated pay plan were being paid below what was considered the fair market rate, and would be adjusted to at least 90% of the mid- point for their ranges. In addition, Dr. Trollinger indicated that some adjustment would be made to teacher's salaries, and that $51,000 of the $194,493 requested would be used for this purpose. He stated that this adjustment would be funded from monies in the previous year's Fund Balance, and that greater funding anticipated from the State in the upcoming and subsequent fiscal years would carry the continuing cost of the adjustments made. Vice-Mayor Teague then observed that this was not a request for additional funds, but a use of existing funds for this purpose. Council Member Roop observed that Council had not been aware of the status of the Pay Plan at the time of the setting of the current year' s budget and that this was playing catch up to the market. He observed that this should not have happened and that steps should be taken to provide better information on pay plan needs in advance in the future. Dr. Trollinger repeated his statement that significant new funds were expected to be received from the State for the School System in the coming fiscal year. Council Member Roop then commented on the matter of the appropriation for the Fiber Optic Loop Project, stating that it was his understanding that savings in telecommunications costs to the City as a result of this project would recover the total project