Workshop Minutes
City of
The Workshop for the City
of
Those in attendance were: Mayor Clara Lou Gould
Council Members: Deanna
Leake,
Excused: Eleanor
Thompson
Absent: Lee
Kyriacou
Also Present: City
Administrator, Joseph Braun
City
Attorney, Gerard Pisanelli
The first item on
the Workshop Agenda is Artist Live Work Spaces - See memo from David Stolman dated
City Administrator, Joseph
Braun contacted Tallix about the need to have a change and see that the change
happens. I told them I would get it on
the agenda as soon as I could.
The changes have been
made. A lot of stuff has been cut out of
the original document. Council was
pleased about that.
This will be on the agenda
for
Fire Department
Physical Facility Evaluation – See Memo dated
Tim Dexter’s
recommendation.
Last year, when we were
preparing the budget, there was a lot of discussion about the need t o do
something long term about the Fire Stations to determine whether to put out
money to renovate them or to scrap the idea and move on to a new building. Discussions have been going on for the last
four or five years. City Administrator
suggested that we put some money in and hire a professional to come in to
develop a program so it can be done right.
The professional can develop a program to determine what the fire dept
will need for the next 30 years. He can
come up with some recommendations with some costs associated with it
Mr. Braun asked me for a
dollar amount. –After calling around to architects, depending on how much work
you want them to do, it will be between 6 and 26 thousand dollars. We got six responses. We checked references talked to people –Mr.
Braun also requested proposals from the three top firms and they range from
$50,000.00 to $19,000. . Of the three,
the $19,000.00 is the one that we want to recommend. - He designed fifty-plus
fire stations and has experience with renovating fire stations. One of his areas of expertise is taking
existing fire stations, altering and modifying them. He also has won awards for his work.
City Administrator, Joseph
Braun: I was involved in the
process. I feel that this is an
excellent choice. I spoke to architects
in the area and they did not have near the experience this guy has.
I really believe that the
city needs to look into this as soon as possible. This is long term and if done right it should
last the city 30 or forty years.
Everybody is fine with
that.
This will be a budget
amendment and will be on the next transfer list.
Volunteer
Firefighter Service Award Program - Need of Supplemental Appropriation. See Memo dated
This is a function of financing they look at
and do an actuarial review then call us and ask us to put a little more money
($9,000.00) into the fund. This is not
for the upcoming year – it is for this year.
Mayor Clara Lou Gould asked if we could estimate what the amount would
be for the coming year. Mr. Braun
answered that it is difficult to predict.
This is based on how much money they make. How well their investments are doing. How the market goes. The current amount is up around $80,000.00. Council
City Attorney, Gerard
Pisanelli: Resolution for Fire
Department Service Award Program and transfer of investment managers.
The City Council resolves
to change investment managers for the Fire Department Service Award Program
from UBS Financial Services, Inc. to RBC Dain Ranscher.
This will also be a budget
amendment.
Hiddenbrooke Budget
Transfer: 10,000 – See Memo from E.
Grogan to J. Braun dated
Mayor Clara Lou
Gould: This amount is needed to pay
David Stolman because there are insufficient funds to cover his fee for the
remainder of 2005. This will be a budget
transfer.
Police Contract
City Administrator, Joseph
Braun: We are negotiating with the PBA
for a two-year contract for the same amount as the CSEA of 2-1/2%. There is a shift differential in there. They
did agree to change the scheduling regiment when the officers sign up at the
beginning of the year for vacation days; they currently have to sign three
places. With the new schedule there is one place to sign on the schedule, which
according to the chief, should save $50,000.0.
I don’t believe this can happen but I will wait and see. The two year contract does not start until
2006 for their vacation and will be able to monitor the effect of the language
change – At the end of 2006 when we get into negotiations again, for 2007, we
will know whether that language made a difference. Mr. Braun will give the council a copy of the
MOU (memorandum of understanding).
If this is on a swing
shift, those two officers can ride the bike patrol. We will see what happens. Next year, we should look at a lot of things to
see how this regiment works out.
Council
The following comments are from
As you know the City of
I was approached by the Director of Kid's
Place with the total support of the Recreation Commission to build a
The gymnasiums will be able to accommodate
the current programs offered by the Beacon Recreation Commission will
eliminating the need to rent space form the
There will also be several multi purpose
rooms. These rooms will be utilized for meetings, be it the Recreation
Commission, teams, registration for activities as well as for the
community. These rooms will also be available for the summer camps, which are currently
limited by the weather conditions.
Finally there will be ample space for
storage. Currently the Recreation Department does not have an adequate
space to store all of their equipment.
The benefits of the building would be that
the Recreation Department will have a stable home in which to offer all
of their activities under one roof.
The following letter from
Kid’s Place A Place For Kids To Be II. Inc., addressed to
Dear
It is with great pleasure that I submit for your review the highlights
from our conversations regarding a recreation center for the City of
The creation of the
·
The City of
·
Kid's Place A Place For Kids To Be II, Inc. will not be purchasing the
property.
·
Kid's Place will assume the financial burden of the construction. In turn the Kid's Place will establish
dedicated space within the facility for their programs to operate in
conjunction with the City of Beacon Recreation Department.
·
This project will not be funded by the City of
·
Kid's Place A Place For Kids To Be DL Inc. will seek sponsorships,
grants, donations, and volunteers. The program has retained experienced
successful recreational grant writers.
·
Kid's Place will be responsible for the maintenance and organizational
usages for the building.
·
The construction of the facility will incorporate the needs for Kid's
Place A Place For Kids To Be II, Inc. and the City of Beacon Recreation
Department. This includes programs for children, teens, families, and seniors.
The facility would be opened to be used by the City of Beacon Recreation Department to continue to provide their
current services as
well as future activities. The creation of this building will
provide the City of Beacon
Recreation Department a permanent home
in which all of their programs may operate from one location.
If you should have any
questions or need additional information please be in touch.
I thank you for your time
and dedication to the citizens of Beacon.
Sincerely, Pamela A. Seegler Executive
Director
The following letter from the Recreation
Commission dated
Dear Mark:
After our meeting yesterday, I am excited
about the prospect of building a
Right now we are renting a gym from the
school district for karate three days a week, a gym for jazzercise three days a
week, a gym for basketball twice a week, a gym for volleyball once a week and a
classroom once a month for our Recreation Meetings. In addition to that we request additional
classrooms for meetings. We also run
clinics and need the use of a gym on the weekends, which becomes very
expensive.
If we do get a
I understand that you will be applying for a
grant and this building will be at no cost to the taxpayers.
I will help you any way I can to make this
possible.
Council Member Antalek: We
may have to go to the assembly in
There is enough property
to do this in the event we have to give back some property.
Council Member Leake: I think it is a great idea. But are we sure that this will not be a cost
to the city?
Council
Pam: Seegler,
Director: The program has grant
sources. There are also fundraisers.
There will be enough grants and fund raisers to sustain this. The attorneys will work out the
insurance. These grants and fundraisers
will generate enough funds to operate without costs to the city. Maintenance, utilities, etc. will be covered.
City Administrator, Joseph
Braun: The first step is to confirm that
there is no alienation of park land. I
would like a business plan describing how this will be paid for. We want to be sure the city is protected.
OTHER BUSINESS/ UPDATES
:
Council Agenda -
Community Development
Disaster Preparedness by
Mike Davis
Set public hearing on the
amendment of the law for artists studio
Resolution to terminate
Investment Service with UBS Financial Services, Inc.
Three budget amendments
Fire Department Evaluation
The Service Program
Budget transfer for
Hiddenbrooke
Authorization to sign
Police Contract
Mayor Clara Lou Gould
received a letter from Economic Development Cooperation. Does anybody have any thoughts regarding a
business to be nominated for the business excellence award? Please let me know.
Appointments:
None
Meeting Adjourned at
Submitted
by Lucy M Cullinan –