Budget & Finance Special Meeting
With City of Cortland Representatives
December 6, 2007 – 1:00p.m. Room 304 – COB
Committee Present: Ron VanDee, Chairman; John Troy, Vice Chairman; Danny Ross, Newell Willcox
Others Present: Scott Schrader, County Administrator; Marilyn Brown, Legislative Chairman; Angie Wyatt, Secretary to County Administrator; Don Spaulding, Legislator; Sandy Price, Legislator; Mayor Tom Gallagher; City Administration and Finance Director, Andy Damiano; Common Councilor, Susan Feizsli, Legislator-Elect, Kathy Arnold; Sheriff Lee Price; Deputy Treasurer, Carolyn Kennedy; James Mulhern from Bovis; Kimberly McRae-Friedman, Cortlandville resident; WXHC News Director, Eric Mulvihill; Cortland Standard Reporter, Evan Geibel
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Ron VanDee at 1:05p.m.
COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS
Mr. VanDee: At the last meeting we talked about the libraries, parks and possible consolidation of services with the City, Towns and Villages.
Mr. Damiano: The City has short term concerns right now because we need assistance, but we should talk about the long term solutions too.
Mr. Newell: Why wasn’t the Town of Cortlandville invited to this meeting? I am appalled that they were not invited.
Mr. VanDee: Right now we are just dealing with the City issue.
Ms. Price: Would like everyone present to introduce themselves.
Mr. Spaulding: We need to look at the short term fix and it should be brought to the entire Legislature.
Mr. VanDee: We should meet with the library officials
Mayor Gallagher: We are looking at other things too
Chairman Brown: I have not received a return call from the library director
Mayor Gallagher: I will go and chat with the library director right after this meeting. We need to meet with the library director first.
Mr. VanDee: Would like to invite all the County libraries.
Mayor Gallagher: It should be only the Cortland Free Library first
Mr. Ross: Agrees with Mayor Gallagher that it should only be the Cortland Library first
Everyone else present also agreed.
Mr. Willcox: Can we have a verbal agreement with them.
Mr. Ross: No
Ms. Price: So we just invite the Cortland Library.
Mr. VanDee: The other libraries should a least get a letter.
Ms. Price: Do we have a Plan B?
Mr. Damiano: Yes…the County can write the City a check for $200,000
Mayor Gallagher: We need to get something permanent.
Mr. VanDee: Recreation should be looked at
Mr. Damiano: John McNerney, our Youth Bureau Director will need to get the figures for us.
Ms. Price: How about consolidation of Information Technology and also the new jail with booking and holding rooms.
Mr. Willcox: What are the 3 biggest departments that consolidation could occur?
Mr. Damiano: Youth Bureau, Public Works/Highway, Police
Mr. Willcox: What about the Fire Department?
Mr. Damiano: Consolidation of a paid fire department and volunteer fire departments is not possible. Fire Districts would not be able to charge fire district taxes.
Mr. Willcox: We need to start the process now or it is going to get harder later.
Mr. Schrader: Wants to just remind everyone swapping one funding source for another is not accomplishing anything to reduce taxes
Mr. VanDee: We need to keep it going and it will get done.
Mr. Willcox: Public Opinion would help.
Chairman Brown: This issue should be brought up at the CCTVS (County/City/Towns/Villages/Schools) Committee meetings.
Ms. Arnold: The Towns would like to know where the plows go and where they end.
Mr. Damiano: By Public Works/Highway Department consolidation we could cut some equipment, share equipment and improve services.
Ms. Feizsli: It would be a great idea if the department heads could meet and come up with ways to consolidate services – they would know the best.
Mr. Schrader: 4 years ago the County cut staff and improved services.
Mr. Damiano: Anything we do here – eventually we have to have labor aboard
Mr. Ross: We should get a representative from the State such as Marty Mack to discuss consolidation of services.
Mr. VanDee: We will not meet tonight after the Legislative Session and we will move the meeting scheduled for December 12, 2007 at 1:00p.m. to December 10, 2007 at 1:00p.m.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:26p.m.
Minutes taken and prepared by Angie Wyatt, Secretary to Mr. Schrader