MINUTES

FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

City Hall, Room 604

5:30 P.M.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman John VanderLeest, Vice Chairman Tom Weber, and Steven Deneys

MEMBERS EXCUSED: Tony Theisen

OTHERS PRESENT: Dawn Foeller, Chief VanSchyndle, Mark Freberg, Linda Dupuis, Recording Secretary Ginny Mamrosh, and others

1. Roll Call.

Chairman VanderLeest called the meeting to order. Roll call was taken, and all were present except for Ald. Theisen, who was excused.

2. Approval of the Agenda.

A motion was made by Ald. Deneys and seconded by Ald. Weber to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried.

3. Approval of the minutes of the Finance Committee meeting of August 22, 2006.

A motion was made by Ald. Weber and seconded by Ald. Deneys to approve the minutes of the Finance Committee meeting of August 22, 2006. Motion carried.

4. Report of the Purchasing Agent:

a. Wood chipper for Parks Dept. from Vermeer – Wisconsin, Inc. for $24,395.

Purchasing Agent Linda Dupuis said the purchase of two wood chippers for the Department of Public Works will be on the Improvement & Service Committee agenda later this evening, and that a wide variety of quotes had come in for that request. DPW conducted a test demonstration of wood chippers because of questions about the specifications. Shortly before the demo was held, there was a wood chipper-related death in Pleasant Prairie, Wis. Co-workers tried unsuccessfully to engage a safety bar that should have reversed the chipper’s teeth. Most chippers have long bars and cables meant to be pulled in case of emergency, but the demonstration showed that this action failed to disengage some of the units. The Vermeer brand being recommended for Parks staff use has a wide safety bar across the front. A person being pulled into a chipper will hit this bar and disengage the unit. The City’s Safety Director had attended the demonstration, and said this unit is the only one acceptable to the City from a safety standpoint. Vermeer’s quote for this purchase was only $414 more than the low quote; in addition, Park staff had evaluated the low quote and found that a 4 inch tubular frame was quoted rather than the 6 inch tubular frame specified. They said the smaller frames require more maintenance.

A motion was made by Ald. Weber, seconded by Ald. Deneys and carried to approve:

a: Wood chipper for Parks Dept. from Vermeer – Wisconsin, Inc. for $24,395.

b. Two Tilt bed trailers for Parks Dept. from Bruggink’s, Inc. for $11,661.

c. Mobile storage racks for Police Dept. from Storage Systems Midwest for $13,429.

A motion was made by Ald. Weber, seconded by Ald. Deneys and carried to approve:

b. Two Tilt bed trailers for Parks Dept. from Bruggink’s, Inc. for $11,661

and

c. Mobile storage racks for Police Dept. from Storage Systems Midwest for $13,429.

d. One used automobile for Police Dept. from Van Boxtel Ford, Inc. for $10,900.

Ms. Dupuis said Council had approved the present procedure for purchasing used vehicles in 2002. She asked to bring it back to ask for approval to change the process. She currently obtains quotes and brings them to Committee for approval. These vehicles are usually not available any longer, and she is authorized to then shop and buy another within 10 percent of the approved amount. She found that the recommended vehicles are already sold in almost every case. She’d like to bring back a proposal so that, if the department has the funds for a used vehicle, she would be authorized to shop and purchase it from the low vendor on the spot. Chairman VanderLeest said the Committee could approve it at this time, since it is on the agenda. She could then write a memo to the Council for their next meeting. Ald. Weber asked that Ms. Dupuis provide the information to Committee after the purchase is made, so they can receive and place it on file.

A motion was made by Ald. Weber and seconded by Ald. Deneys to allow the Purchasing Dept. to purchase used vehicles with budgeted funds at its discretion and report back to the Finance Committee after the purchase. The motion carried.

Chairman VanderLeest said this would be a procedural change.

A motion was then made by Ald. Weber, seconded by Ald. Deneys and carried to approve:

d. One used automobile for Police Dept. from Van Boxtel Ford, Inc. for $10,900, complying with the old policy.

5. Report of Overtime for July and August.

Comptroller Dawn Foeller said in total, the City is doing well, although several individual budgets are presently running slightly ahead of budget. She believes they will come in under budget in total, however.

A motion was made by Ald. Deneys, seconded by Ald. Weber, and carried to receive and place on file the report of overtime for July and August.

A motion to adjourn was made by Ald. Weber, seconded by Ald. Deneys, and carried. The meeting was adjourned.

2006 CONTINGENCY FUND

$180,778.00