Town of Berwyn Heights

Budget Worksession Minutes

March 26, 2007

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. Present were Mayor Calvo, CMs Dennison, Gourley and Lofgren. MPT Jewitt arrived at 7:23 p.m. due to work commitments. Also present was Town Administrator Murphy, Clerk Harper and citizens.

1. Mayor

Announcements: County Councilmember Eric Olsen met with the Director of the Prince George's County Parks and Recreation Department, which promised to provide additional assistance in the maintenance of Sports Park. The County Council passed a bill, sponsored by Councilmember Olsen, that limits pawn shops in Prince George's County to the currently existing number of 31. Mayor Calvo was invited to speak at the MML convention about Latino issues. The General Assembly passed legislation that makes available additional aid for police protection, launches an educational program about the dangers of inhaling chemical substances and authorizes municipalities to purchase street lights.

2. Budget Discussion

TA Murphy highlighted new budget changes. Under revenues, he proposed:

· Applying the recycling fee to group homes; + $432;

· Revise up business license permit revenues: + $1,000

· Fully matching the County building license permit fee: +$2,500

· Requiring permits for electric and mechanical installation: +$1,000

· Raising code violation fines between $25 - $50: no estimate

· Charging a $25 fee for reinspecting rental homes: no estimate

· Raising the rental license fee by $20: +$2,800

· Raising police fines and forfeitures between $5 - $50: +$10,000

· Revising up code fines & forfeitures revenues: +$4,000

Under expenditures, TA Murphy made the following changes:

· Raised the Election appropriation: +$3,000

· Raised Police FICA to absorb PSTD officer FICA: +$2,799

· Raised part time code enforcement officer 2 hours per week: +$1,578

· Raised the Workers Compensation appropriation: +$9,643

· Raised the Deferred Compensation Plan appropriation (PSTD officer): +$1,211

· Raised the 401 Retirement Plan appropriation (PSTD officer): +$2,422

· Decreased Health Insurance appropriation:-$6,074

If all changes are implemented, there would be a surplus of approximately $7,155.

Councilmembers approved the following changes: application of recycling fees to group homes approved 5 to 0; increase of business license fee revenues approved 5 to 0; full match of the County building permit fee approved 4 to 1 with CM Lofgren opposed.

The raising of the rental license fee was debated. MPT Jewitt moved to raise the fee by $10. CM Dennison seconded. CM Gourley moved to amend to increase the fee by $15. CM Gourley’s motion amendment failed for lack of a second. The original motion passed 5 to 0. This fee must be adjusted by resolution.

The pros and cons of imposing a permit requirement for electric and mechanical installations were debated. Pros included additional revenues and protection of homeowners from faulty installations. The main reason cited against the permit requirement was the difficulty in enforcing the requirement as such installations take place out of public view. CM Gourley moved to institute a permit requirement. MPT Jewitt seconded. The motion failed 2 to 3 with Mayor Calvo and CMs Dennison and Lofgren opposed.

The Council declined to raise code fines for violations of the Clean Lot Ordinance proposed by Director Solomon. However, the Council agreed to adjust up revenue projections $2,000 for code fines based on liens due to the Town. MPT Jewitt made the motion. CM Dennison seconded. The motion passed 5 to 0. TA Murphy was asked to research whether the charging of additional re-inspection fees is authorized by the Rental License Ordinance.

At 8:20 p.m., the Council took a 10 minute break.

Budget Discussion (continued)

The Council discussed increases of police fines and forfeitures proposed by Chief Murphy. The Council reduced proposed rate increases for accident and police reports for residents. CM Dennison moved to adopt the changes. MPT Jewitt seconded. The motion passed 5 to 0.

Fines for all parking violations were proposed to be raised between $5 - $50. The Council reduced proposed rate increases for blocking crosswalks, parking in front of a fire hydrant, with left wheel to the curb, more than 12” from curb, on a bridge and for making repairs on the street. It increased proposed rates for parking in a fire lane, on a sidewalk, partially in the roadway and for leaving a vehicle running unattended. MPT Jewitt moved to adopt the changes. CM Lofgren seconded. The motion passed 4 to 1 with CM Dennison opposed.

With respect to revenues, the Council approved a $9,643 increase in the appropriation for workers compensation insurance as moved by CM Gourley and seconded by CM Lofgren. Mayor Calvo proposed to take back a proposed 3.5 cent increase in the Public Safety Taxing District (PSTD) real property tax rate and instead absorb the PSTD officer's benefits cost of $10,622 in the general budget. The costs would largely be paid for by a reduction in health insurance costs due to the departure of 2 employees with family. MPT Jewitt so moved. CM Dennison seconded. The motion passed 4 to 1 with CM Gourley opposed.

The Council authorized an additional 2 hours per week for the part time code enforcement officer at an annual cost of $1,578. This cost would be largely offset by increased code fees and fines. MPT Jewitt moved to approve the increase. CM Dennison seconded. CM Gourley moved to authorize an additional 4 hours. Mayor Calvo said that he believes there is not enough money in the code budget to pay for it and asked to come back to the issue later in the budget process. The 2 hour increase was approved 4 to 1 with CM Gourley opposed. The Police Department FICA appropriation was increased by $689 to satisfy a matching requirement of a traffic enforcement grant as moved by CM Lofgren and seconded by CM Dennison. The election appropriation was increased by $3,000 to pay for next year's municipal elections as moved by MPT Jewitt and seconded by CM Dennison.

Councilmembers were invited to propose other budget changes and potential offsets. CM Lofgren said that he would consider dropping or deferring the proposed purchase of the salt spreader which would save approximately $12,000 in the capital budget and $1,250 in the operating budget. No action was taken

The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m.

Kerstin Harper, Town Clerk