MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 10, 2006

   SPECIAL MEETING OF THE ALLIANCE CITY COUNCIL

The meeting was called to order by President Benincasa at 7:00 p.m. 

ROLL CALL: Alan Andreani, Steve Okey, Warren Price, Roger Rhome, and Sue Ryan present.

Motion and second to excuse Councilman Thompson and Councilperson Phillips due to injury and illness. MOTION PASSED BY ACCLAMATION OF ALL MEMBERS.

Council Clerk Yost read the notice of the Special Meeting and noted its publication in the Alliance Review and posting on City Bulletin Boards.

Discussion of Budget request of Clerk of Courts for additional funding by Councilman Okey, Councilman Andreani, and Councilman Price

Motion and second to enter executive session with Council members, Safety Service Director, Mayor, Council Clerk, Auditor, Law Director, and Clerk of Courts to discuss personnel and eminent litigation involving the Clerk of Court's funding. MOTION PASSED BY ACCLAMATION OF ALL MEMBERS.

Council entered executive session at 7:18 P.M.

Council returned from Executive session at 8:25 P.M.

NEW BUSINESS:

Ordinance 127-06: Introduced by Council as a Whole: An Ordinance authorizing the transfer of $______________ from fund 101 General Fund Unappropriated to the Clerk of Court Budgetary Accounts as set forth on attached Exhibit "A"; and declaring an emergency. Motion and Second to amend the Ordinance to include "$37,000.00" as the inserted amount. Roll Call: 4 to 1 (Price) MOTION PASSED. Motion and Second to Suspend the Rules. Roll Call: 4 to 1 (Price) MOTION FAILED

Motion and Second to authorize the Safety Service Director and City Auditor to transfer necessary funds in an amount to bring the Clerk of Court's payroll current thourgh October 13, 2006. MOTION PASSED BY ACCLAMATION OF ALL MEMBERS.

Councilman Andreani made a statement finding the Original Budget allocation to the Alliance Clerk of Courts to be reasonable and the original Clerk's proposed budget as well and this additional funding request to be unreasonable. Given the Clerk of Court's current case load, staffing levels, pay allocations and pay increases, additional funding would only be agreeable to keep the office open out of regard for the Judge, Police, and general public so as not to deprive service.

Councilman Okey  made a statement finding the Original Budget request by the Clerk of Court to be unreasonable, the budget allocation to the Alliance Clerk of Courts by Alliance City Council to be reasonable,  and the Clerk of Court's additional funding request to be extremely unreasonable. The non-presence of the Clerk of Courts following the executive session  is extremely unreasonable and keeping the office of the Clerk of Court open to serve the public is the only reason to support additional funding.

Councilman Price made a statement finding the Original Budget request by the Clerk of Court to be unreasonable, the budget allocation to the Alliance Clerk of Courts by Alliance City Council to be reasonable,  and the Clerk of Court's additional funding request to be extremely unreasonable. The non-presence of the Clerk of Courts following the executive session  is disturbing and disrespectful.  All other department heads submitted budgets which were not completely funded by City Council in the budget and managed to stay within or below budget and additional funding to the Clerk of Court sends the wrong message to all of the other Department heads.

Councilman Rhome made a statement finding the budget allocation to the Alliance Clerk of Courts by Alliance City Council to be reasonable,  and the Clerk of Court's additional funding request to be extremely unreasonable due to mismanagement within that office. Keeping the office of the Clerk of Court open to serve the public is the only reason to support additional funding.

Councilman Ryan  made a statement finding the Original Budget request by the Clerk of Court to be unreasonable, the budget allocation to the Alliance Clerk of Courts as approved by Alliance City Council to be reasonable,  and the Clerk of Court's additional funding request to be extremely unreasonable. Noted that the other department heads had the ability to stay within the approved budget and resented the Clerk of court hiring additional staff given the case load and financial situation the City is in. Keeping the office of the Clerk of Court open to serve the public is the only reason to support additional funding and while it is the responsible thing to do it is regretable.

SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS:

            President Benincasa reported that himself, Councilman Price, and Director Blaser, met with members of the fire department union to discuss the fire contract situation and concilator's award.  A lot of information exchanged hands and the meeting went well however no new agreement was reached.  Councilman Price attempted to convene a special meeting to authorize an appeal of the concilator's award but could not get a quorum.  It appears that today was the deadline to appeal the concilator's award and as such there is nothing left to do in this matter.

OLD BUSINESS: 

Ordinance 114-06: introduced by Okey: An Ordinance Ratifying a contract with the Alliance Professional Fire Fighters Association IAFF Local #480 (the Union) based on the Conciliation award as modified by the attached August 4, 2006 letter from the Union. Motion and second to adopt: Comments and discussion by Okey, Rhome, Andreani, and Blaser. Roll Call: Unanimous: ADOPTED

ADJOURNMENT: Noting no further business to come before this Council, President Benincasa adjourned the meeting at 9:01 P.M.

SUMMARY OF ACTIONS TAKEN:

Ordinance 114-06         ADOPTED

            Ordinance 127-06         AMENDED AND FIRST READING

___________________________________                       _______________________________

JOHN BENINCASA, PRESIDENT                                   GERARD T. YOST, COUNCIL CLERK