Minutes 04/30/1991 - Laserfiche WebLink

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April 30, 1991 They have rightly been concerned with such matters as taxes, schools, neighborhoods, services such as trash and garbage collection, crime, public health, housing, roads, and courteous treatment byrCity employees~ /This year, and for all future years;;~he~Council and~administration, through a full commitment to the practices and principles of Quality~ ~ '-~ ~ Management, have reordered our priorities and established a proper focus, placing citizen service and responsiveness first. We have established the attitude Of seeing the world from the customer's viewpoint. ~ Unfortunately, the year has not been~without '~'~- disappointment. We have not realized the anticipated benefits of consolidation of similar and appropriate operating departments and their s~rvices among and-between'~the C~ty; the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority, and the Public School System~.~'~%~fe~that a recommitment ~ ~his desirable end is necessary, for~the real winners will be our citizens. As the budget'process winds ~o its conclusion, I plan to meet with the Superintendent of Public Schools and the Executive Director of the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority, along with some of our many respected business and civic leaders to "push" this matter forward again this year. I am of the firm opinion that the involvement of selected business and civic leaders will allow the proper setting aside of "public agency self-interest" and'thereby allow our community to move forward in this vital area. Our image as a city is changing. It is probably still difficult for some to see the success ~hat ~e have realized. In fact, it still may be difficult for us, as public officials, to see sometimes, but we have become, and we are still becoming, a "New ~odel" of what an older city can be. Our belief in ourselves is unique. We are not, and should not desire to be, a carbon copy of other cities. Our destiny is being shaped by our citizens, and we are realizing our special place as an older seaport city that is founded with a healthy respect for our~history, an appreciation of our evolving present, and a firm and unyielding belief in our future -- we Will be as we choose to be, as long as we believe in each other and our common future and survival. ' We must continue thOse leadership and administrative attitudes and strategies which have worked successfully over the past year. Our budgetary and economic strategies in Portsmouth must be firmly grounded by our belief that conservative management principles and practices are best sUited for us, and that services to citizens must alwaYs lead us to greater citizen satisfaction. We must serve and Satisfy. Accordingly, the Workforce Management Review Group will continue to reduce the size of the emplOyee work force, assigning the savings realized into our Fund Balance, improved Citizen services, and employee benefits, as we have successfully done this year. Our goal must continue to be that of reducing the administrative costs associated with providing services to citizens. School Fundin~ The budget recommends a 3.54% increase in local revenu~ for public education which provides for full funding of the School Board's request. This recommendation is based on the assumption that the Governor will sign the amendments to the State Budget he has proposed for additional support for education. Portsmouth's share of the proposed $15 million is $270,390.