Minutes 05/02/1989 - Laserfiche WebLink

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445 May. 2, 1989 Such reorganization, in addition to the freeze, demonstrates that I am indeed asking existing employees~to-take on greater responsibilities and/or workloads. Even though ~I .propose that the freeze and the freeze Committee be terminated ion J~uly 1, I pledge to.City~Cou~ncil that a philosophy of combining duties, consolidating positions and redefining wo~k.responsibilities will continue~ . ' ..... .~ I would like to commend my department heads for their cooperation during this trying time. Their cooperation enabled me to preserve the fund balance at its present level. Municipal Services I~have discussed revenue~ enhancements, nowever, as stated It was net only-neCessary to propose tax, increases but to also reduce ex~enditures~ ~11 departments~were tno.roughly reviewed and departmental ~equests reduced-by $8.6 mlllion~ ~lowever, there are several service areas that Will be adversell;~affected. The amount of lane miles programmed to be pa~ed will be dramatically .reduced from"recent years. Street paving services will continue, ~owever, we will not pave~as many streets as in prior years. Across the board reductions will impact upon recreational programming~ grQunds maintenance, tennis court reconstruction~ park renovation|and park maintenance. This means that support staff will be a~sked to assume additional responsibilities. schedules will be extended~ reconstruction s~hedules delayed, and- park maintenance deferred to.accomplish departmental goals. Replacsme,n,t vehic.les have been substantially reduced and new equipment virtually elimina~ted. The Property Maintenance Divisio~ will have' less personnel and materials to maintain City facilities. Materials, suppties~ and new equipment have been reduced in virtually every department. ~o~ example~, iR the Library's budget, book money for ~ity Libraries ha~ been reduced from last year's budget. In b~t~ departments of .Museums and S~c~i~t~Se~v~ces, key positions such as Curator Ass~istants and~Social Workers, have bee~ eliminated ~and will 'impact u~o~ their ability to serve the public. The el.lm~natio~n 0f CeE positions as well a~s' summe~ interns will incr~a.s~ ~ork ~oads on exist~i~g ~departments-.~I ~h~v~ a~ways been supportive of t~ese~wor~thwhi.te pro, rams; how~ver,~ their elimination thi~ year represents a considerable savings. · here a~e noti~eabl~ two areas of major i~creases in this budget: 1) Public Safety and 2) Public Transportation. Publi~ Safety The proposed budget continues our aggressive commitment to drug enforcemen~ as recommended by the Mayor's Dr~g Task Force chaired by Councilman J~ Harher~t Simpson.~ Increases are recommended in ~he ~Police Depar?cment, Emergency Services and Communications Department, tke ?ourts, Sheriff's Department and the Commonwea~t~ Attorney's Off~ce. i~o~ti~uatiQln ~f the three .police officer positions and sergeant positidn funded i~ the current year through the special appropriation o~ the Drug Task Force reflects the major enhancement in ~nis department. ~;Additionally, the funding for a civilian technical aide position is included.