Sunday, April 27, 2008
Bill Reddish Show WICO 1320 AM
Terry Cohen will be Bill's guest Monday April 28th at 7:40 a.m. The topic will be the proposed FY '09 budget.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
“Different” Budget Process Clouds Transparency
At the council’s first budget work session on April 22, we learned from the police personnel committee that the chief of police had requested additional officers for the department. According to Page 402 (see it here) of the Mayor’s Proposed Budget book, no such request had been made. The fire department personnel committee advised us of the chief’s request for additional firefighters to meet minimum response standards again, per Page 424 (see it here) of the Mayor’s Proposed Budget, no such request was reflected.
In his opening remarks, City Administrator John Pick stated that the administration decided to do things differently this year. He said that department heads were told to submit a budget at no more than 3% increase than the current year and anything additional would be kept separately as “supplemental budget” for consideration if the budget offered room for additions. Thus, unlike last year, the mayor’s proposed budget book and line-item detail do not consistently show requests as “unable to fund.” This has left the council with a false impression about what was requested by some departments, including police and fire, especially since this “supplemental budget” information was not provided in any form to the council.
Upon learning this situation at the meeting, held seven days after the proposed budget was delivered by the mayor on April 15, we immediately requested to have the full budget requests as soon as possible so we could better consider the context of the figures in the mayor’s budget and analyze budgetary priorities for optimum delivery of essential services to Salisbury taxpayers.
Further, this new methodology does not allow the public to see easily what departmentally requested items were cut from the mayor’s proposed budget. The public would only see cuts and additions to the budget made by the council, and the council would be hard-pressed to recommend additions or substitutions responsibly without knowing the departmental requests that had been cut by the mayor.
We feel this approach gives the public a skewed impression of priorities and diminishes transparency and accountability. For example, some people (including us) were under the mistaken impression that the chief of police had not requested more officers because that is what the mayor’s budget book stated. We now know this is untrue.
As of mid-day Friday, we have received a packet of “supplemental budget” information, the police and fire requests having been delivered Wednesday. We will be reviewing this packet so that the budget can be better prioritized and will share some of our budget observations on this website.
We encourage citizens to look at the budget and form their own conclusions. As the Salisbury Charter requires, the budget, budget message and all supporting schedules are public records. By charter, this information is supposed to be kept in the Department of Internal Services, open to public inspection. Also per charter SC7-15, “The Mayor shall cause sufficient copies of the budget and budget message to be prepared for distribution to interested persons.” The county library downtown has traditionally kept a copy as well.
For your convenience, at right under our pictures, you’ll find links to downloadable PDFs of the “Next Year/Current Year Budget Analysis.” This provides detailed information about the proposed budget accounts. We hope you will review your areas of interest (the document is broken into several files for downloading ease and focus area review) and contact council members with your questions, concerns and suggestions.
In his opening remarks, City Administrator John Pick stated that the administration decided to do things differently this year. He said that department heads were told to submit a budget at no more than 3% increase than the current year and anything additional would be kept separately as “supplemental budget” for consideration if the budget offered room for additions. Thus, unlike last year, the mayor’s proposed budget book and line-item detail do not consistently show requests as “unable to fund.” This has left the council with a false impression about what was requested by some departments, including police and fire, especially since this “supplemental budget” information was not provided in any form to the council.
Upon learning this situation at the meeting, held seven days after the proposed budget was delivered by the mayor on April 15, we immediately requested to have the full budget requests as soon as possible so we could better consider the context of the figures in the mayor’s budget and analyze budgetary priorities for optimum delivery of essential services to Salisbury taxpayers.
Further, this new methodology does not allow the public to see easily what departmentally requested items were cut from the mayor’s proposed budget. The public would only see cuts and additions to the budget made by the council, and the council would be hard-pressed to recommend additions or substitutions responsibly without knowing the departmental requests that had been cut by the mayor.
We feel this approach gives the public a skewed impression of priorities and diminishes transparency and accountability. For example, some people (including us) were under the mistaken impression that the chief of police had not requested more officers because that is what the mayor’s budget book stated. We now know this is untrue.
As of mid-day Friday, we have received a packet of “supplemental budget” information, the police and fire requests having been delivered Wednesday. We will be reviewing this packet so that the budget can be better prioritized and will share some of our budget observations on this website.
We encourage citizens to look at the budget and form their own conclusions. As the Salisbury Charter requires, the budget, budget message and all supporting schedules are public records. By charter, this information is supposed to be kept in the Department of Internal Services, open to public inspection. Also per charter SC7-15, “The Mayor shall cause sufficient copies of the budget and budget message to be prepared for distribution to interested persons.” The county library downtown has traditionally kept a copy as well.
For your convenience, at right under our pictures, you’ll find links to downloadable PDFs of the “Next Year/Current Year Budget Analysis.” This provides detailed information about the proposed budget accounts. We hope you will review your areas of interest (the document is broken into several files for downloading ease and focus area review) and contact council members with your questions, concerns and suggestions.
Friday, April 25, 2008
More Budget Information to Come Soon
Later tonight or tomorrow morning, there will be more information posted here about the proposed FY09 budget. In the meantime and throughout the weekend, we hope you will take time to enjoy the Salisbury Festival, the Fire Department's Medals Ceremony and other great events taking place in our city. Enjoy!
Friday, April 18, 2008
Line-item Budget Comparison Detail Available Here
The mayor's proposed FY09 budget was released on April 15. We are pleased to provide the line-item comparison detail on this site in Adobe PDF format. This large document is broken into smaller ones, primarily by cost center to make it easier for citizens to see their area of interest, such as police or public works.
Click on the links at right to download and read using Adobe reader. Please share with us your comments and questions by using the email links, also in the column at right.
Click on the links at right to download and read using Adobe reader. Please share with us your comments and questions by using the email links, also in the column at right.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Mayor's Proposed Budget to Be Presented Today
The Mayor's Proposed FY09 Budget will be presented today at 4 p.m. in conference room 305 of the Government Office Building downtown. Below is a schedule of the council budget work sessions, legislative sessions and public hearing. More information about the FY09 budget will be posted here as it becomes available.
Budget Calendar for FY09
All meetings take place at the Government Office Building (GOB) on N. Division St. Downtown.
April 15 – Deadline for Mayor’s submission of proposed FY09 Budget
April 22 – Council budget work session, 4:00-6:30 p.m., Council Chambers
April 24 – Council budget work session, 9 a.m.-3:00 pm, Room 305
April 28 – Council Meeting, 1st reading of proposed budget and establishing a date for a public hearing, 6:00 p.m., Council Chambers
April 29 – Council budget work session,4:00-6:30 p.m., Room 305
May 7 – Council budget work session,9 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Room 305
May 8 – Council budget work session,4:00-6:30 p.m., Room 305
May 12 – Council Meeting, Public Hearing on FY09 Budget and Public Hearing on Constant Yield Tax Rate, 6:00 p.m.
May 13 – Council budget work session,9:00 a.m. – 12 noon, Room 305
May 20 - Council budget work session,(if needed)4:00-6:30 p.m., Room 305
May 21 – Council budget work session,(if needed) 4:00-6:30 p.m.
May 27 or Jun 9 – Council Meeting, 2nd reading and adoption of budget, 6:00 p.m., Council Chambers
April 15 – Deadline for Mayor’s submission of proposed FY09 Budget
April 22 – Council budget work session, 4:00-6:30 p.m., Council Chambers
April 24 – Council budget work session, 9 a.m.-3:00 pm, Room 305
April 28 – Council Meeting, 1st reading of proposed budget and establishing a date for a public hearing, 6:00 p.m., Council Chambers
April 29 – Council budget work session,4:00-6:30 p.m., Room 305
May 7 – Council budget work session,9 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Room 305
May 8 – Council budget work session,4:00-6:30 p.m., Room 305
May 12 – Council Meeting, Public Hearing on FY09 Budget and Public Hearing on Constant Yield Tax Rate, 6:00 p.m.
May 13 – Council budget work session,9:00 a.m. – 12 noon, Room 305
May 20 - Council budget work session,(if needed)4:00-6:30 p.m., Room 305
May 21 – Council budget work session,(if needed) 4:00-6:30 p.m.
May 27 or Jun 9 – Council Meeting, 2nd reading and adoption of budget, 6:00 p.m., Council Chambers
Monday, April 14, 2008
Driving Positive Change for Management of Taxpayer Dollars
On tonight’s council agenda, Ordinance 2051 returns for first reading to allocate additional funds to certain items in the budget, this time from unspent funds in the FY08 budget as well as from the surplus. Councilwoman Campbell and I are pleased to have been the impetus for this better management of taxpayer money.
The Hydrilla treatment of Schumaker Pond is no longer in this budget amendment because, per a proposal from Councilwoman Cohen, the funds are to be transferred from unspent zoo salaries (due to vacancies). Being an intradepartmental transfer, this is not required to come before council and only requires the mayor’s approval of the transfer request from the department head. The city’s portion of the treatment is also less than the previously ordinance-requested amount of $8,000, as we have learned that the actual cost of the City’s portion of the chemicals is $5,828.
The administration is also taking funds from these same unspent zoo salaries to cover the additional money required for the FY07 audit. This overage was due to work by the auditors being done after December 15 at their “busy tax season” rate. This amount of $14,692 is part of the budget amendment ordinance.
One area that we negotiated a lesser figure for is the legal services increase, originally requested at $88,750. We have requested a joint meeting of the council with the mayor and the city attorney to discuss cost control options for these services, since this is the third year in a row that additional budget requests for the city attorney have been necessary. Right now, that discussion is scheduled to take place at the council’s additional work session April 21.
We recognize that the city must continue to have legal representation. We also recognize that the administration must be accountable to the taxpayers by projecting and operating within a realistic budget. (Budget amendments require four votes to pass.) Therefore, at the council’s April 7th work session we offered an increase to the soon-to-be depleted account to provide essential legal services to protect the citizens of the city.
With the FY09 Proposed Budget anticipated from the mayor tomorrow, we will continue to keep taxpayers updated on the city’s financial matters. We hope to continue to stimulate good fiscal policy and management of taxpayer money for achieving optimum delivery of services, especially in these uncertain economic times.
The Hydrilla treatment of Schumaker Pond is no longer in this budget amendment because, per a proposal from Councilwoman Cohen, the funds are to be transferred from unspent zoo salaries (due to vacancies). Being an intradepartmental transfer, this is not required to come before council and only requires the mayor’s approval of the transfer request from the department head. The city’s portion of the treatment is also less than the previously ordinance-requested amount of $8,000, as we have learned that the actual cost of the City’s portion of the chemicals is $5,828.
The administration is also taking funds from these same unspent zoo salaries to cover the additional money required for the FY07 audit. This overage was due to work by the auditors being done after December 15 at their “busy tax season” rate. This amount of $14,692 is part of the budget amendment ordinance.
One area that we negotiated a lesser figure for is the legal services increase, originally requested at $88,750. We have requested a joint meeting of the council with the mayor and the city attorney to discuss cost control options for these services, since this is the third year in a row that additional budget requests for the city attorney have been necessary. Right now, that discussion is scheduled to take place at the council’s additional work session April 21.
We recognize that the city must continue to have legal representation. We also recognize that the administration must be accountable to the taxpayers by projecting and operating within a realistic budget. (Budget amendments require four votes to pass.) Therefore, at the council’s April 7th work session we offered an increase to the soon-to-be depleted account to provide essential legal services to protect the citizens of the city.
With the FY09 Proposed Budget anticipated from the mayor tomorrow, we will continue to keep taxpayers updated on the city’s financial matters. We hope to continue to stimulate good fiscal policy and management of taxpayer money for achieving optimum delivery of services, especially in these uncertain economic times.
City Council Agenda April 14, 2008
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
- 1 -
AGENDA
Meeting #7 APRIL 14, 2008 6:00 p.m. City/County Government Office Building Room 301
6:00 p.m. CONVENE – LORD’S PRAYER – PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
6:04 p.m. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
6:06 p.m. CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION/PRESENTATION/PROCLAMATION – Mayor Barrie P. Tilghman
• Comcast Academic Challenge of Maryland winners – James M. Bennett High School
• Proclaiming April as “Fair Housing Month”
6:20 p.m. PRESENTATION ON NEW FIRE STATION – Fire Chief David See/Mr. Finith Jernigan
6:25 p.m. PRESENTATION – Planning, Zoning and Community Development Director Jack Lenox/KCI Technologies
• Comprehensive Plan – Water Resources Element 1
6:45 p.m. APPROVAL OF MARCH 24, 2008 MINUTES 2
6:47 p.m. AWARD OF BIDS – Director of Internal Services Pam Oland 3
6:55 p.m. MANUFACTURING EXEMPTION REQUEST – Director of Internal Services Pam Oland
• Spartech Polycom 4
7:00 p.m. PUBLIC HEARING – City Attorney Paul Wilber (public comments only – no vote taken)
• Ordinance No. 2048 – amending the Zoning Code, Title 17, to establish regulation and operational standards for adult entertainment businesses 5a
• Ordinance No. 2049 – amending Chapter 5.08 of the Salisbury Municipal Code to enact additional regulation of adult entertainment businesses and to make the terminology and definitions consistent with those employed in Title 17 of the Code 5b
7:10 p.m. ORDINANCES - City Attorney Paul Wilber
• Ordinance No. 2047 - 2nd reading – adoption of 2006 State Fire Prevention Code 6a
• Ordinance No. 2051 - 1st reading – FY08 budget amendment appropriating funds for the General Fund, Water Fund, Sewer Fund, Marina Fund and Parking Authority Fund budgets 6b
7:25 p.m. RESOLUTIONS – City Administrator John Pick
• Resolution No. 1647 - appointments to the Friends of Poplar Hill Mansion Board of Directors 7a
• Resolution No. 1648 - appointment to the Marina Committee 7b
• Resolution No. 1649 - accepting donation of lumber and materials for the Salisbury Zoo from the Zoo Commission to replace Waterfowl and Bison public access boardwalks
7c
• Resolution No. 1650 - accepting grant funds in cooperation with the Maryland Office of Highway Safety to provide for overtime reimbursement to police officers participating in DUI enforcement 7d
• Resolution No. 1651 - authorizing the mayor to sign a water supply agreement with the City of Fruitland for the construction of an emergency water supply connection between the municipalities 7e
• Resolution No. 1652 - declaring that Manhattan Square, LLC is eligible to receive Enterprise Zone benefits for property located at 213 E. Main Street 7f
7:55 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENTS
8:00 p.m. ADJOURN
Copies of the agenda items are available for review
in the City Clerk’s Office Room 305 - City/County Government Office Building
410-548-3140
or
on the City’s web site
www.ci.salisbury.md.us
The City Council reserves the right to go into closed session as permitted
under the Annotated Code of Maryland 10-508(a)
Agenda Items for Special Meeting – April 22, 2008
• Ordinance No. 2048 - 2nd reading - amending the Zoning Code to establish regulation and operational standards for adult entertainment businesses
• Ordinance No. 2049 - 2nd reading - amending Chapter 5.08 of the Salisbury Municipal Code to enact additional regulation of adult entertainment businesses and to make the terminology and definitions consistent with those employed in Title 17 of the Code
Proposed agenda items for April 28, 2008 (subject to change)
• Ordinance - 1st reading - introduction of FY09 budget and establishing date of public hearing
• Ordinance - 1st reading - bond ordinance amendments
• Ordinance No. 2051 - 2nd reading – FY08 budget amendment appropriating funds for the General Fund, Water Fund, Sewer Fund, Marina Fund and Parking Authority budgets
• Resolution – changing Cecil Street from two-way to one-way southbound between Carrolton Avenue and E. College Avenue and changing Spring Avenue by eliminating left-in and left-out turns at E. College Avenue/Spring Avenue intersection
- 1 -
AGENDA
Meeting #7 APRIL 14, 2008 6:00 p.m. City/County Government Office Building Room 301
6:00 p.m. CONVENE – LORD’S PRAYER – PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
6:04 p.m. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
6:06 p.m. CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION/PRESENTATION/PROCLAMATION – Mayor Barrie P. Tilghman
• Comcast Academic Challenge of Maryland winners – James M. Bennett High School
• Proclaiming April as “Fair Housing Month”
6:20 p.m. PRESENTATION ON NEW FIRE STATION – Fire Chief David See/Mr. Finith Jernigan
6:25 p.m. PRESENTATION – Planning, Zoning and Community Development Director Jack Lenox/KCI Technologies
• Comprehensive Plan – Water Resources Element 1
6:45 p.m. APPROVAL OF MARCH 24, 2008 MINUTES 2
6:47 p.m. AWARD OF BIDS – Director of Internal Services Pam Oland 3
6:55 p.m. MANUFACTURING EXEMPTION REQUEST – Director of Internal Services Pam Oland
• Spartech Polycom 4
7:00 p.m. PUBLIC HEARING – City Attorney Paul Wilber (public comments only – no vote taken)
• Ordinance No. 2048 – amending the Zoning Code, Title 17, to establish regulation and operational standards for adult entertainment businesses 5a
• Ordinance No. 2049 – amending Chapter 5.08 of the Salisbury Municipal Code to enact additional regulation of adult entertainment businesses and to make the terminology and definitions consistent with those employed in Title 17 of the Code 5b
7:10 p.m. ORDINANCES - City Attorney Paul Wilber
• Ordinance No. 2047 - 2nd reading – adoption of 2006 State Fire Prevention Code 6a
• Ordinance No. 2051 - 1st reading – FY08 budget amendment appropriating funds for the General Fund, Water Fund, Sewer Fund, Marina Fund and Parking Authority Fund budgets 6b
7:25 p.m. RESOLUTIONS – City Administrator John Pick
• Resolution No. 1647 - appointments to the Friends of Poplar Hill Mansion Board of Directors 7a
• Resolution No. 1648 - appointment to the Marina Committee 7b
• Resolution No. 1649 - accepting donation of lumber and materials for the Salisbury Zoo from the Zoo Commission to replace Waterfowl and Bison public access boardwalks
7c
• Resolution No. 1650 - accepting grant funds in cooperation with the Maryland Office of Highway Safety to provide for overtime reimbursement to police officers participating in DUI enforcement 7d
• Resolution No. 1651 - authorizing the mayor to sign a water supply agreement with the City of Fruitland for the construction of an emergency water supply connection between the municipalities 7e
• Resolution No. 1652 - declaring that Manhattan Square, LLC is eligible to receive Enterprise Zone benefits for property located at 213 E. Main Street 7f
7:55 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENTS
8:00 p.m. ADJOURN
Copies of the agenda items are available for review
in the City Clerk’s Office Room 305 - City/County Government Office Building
410-548-3140
or
on the City’s web site
www.ci.salisbury.md.us
The City Council reserves the right to go into closed session as permitted
under the Annotated Code of Maryland 10-508(a)
Agenda Items for Special Meeting – April 22, 2008
• Ordinance No. 2048 - 2nd reading - amending the Zoning Code to establish regulation and operational standards for adult entertainment businesses
• Ordinance No. 2049 - 2nd reading - amending Chapter 5.08 of the Salisbury Municipal Code to enact additional regulation of adult entertainment businesses and to make the terminology and definitions consistent with those employed in Title 17 of the Code
Proposed agenda items for April 28, 2008 (subject to change)
• Ordinance - 1st reading - introduction of FY09 budget and establishing date of public hearing
• Ordinance - 1st reading - bond ordinance amendments
• Ordinance No. 2051 - 2nd reading – FY08 budget amendment appropriating funds for the General Fund, Water Fund, Sewer Fund, Marina Fund and Parking Authority budgets
• Resolution – changing Cecil Street from two-way to one-way southbound between Carrolton Avenue and E. College Avenue and changing Spring Avenue by eliminating left-in and left-out turns at E. College Avenue/Spring Avenue intersection
Friday, April 4, 2008
Salisbury City Council Agenda for April 7, 2008
SALISBURY CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA
- - - - - - - - - - -
APRIL 7, 2008
CONFERENCE ROOM 305
GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDING
4:30 p.m. Presentation for Dalian, China to become a Sister City to Salisbury, Maryland – Sister Cities Association of Salisbury/Wicomico County (George Whitehead/Derek Wu)
5:00 p.m. Affordable Housing and Revitalization Fund proposal – Councilwoman Deborah Campbell
5:45 p.m. Review of RFP for old Fire Station #16 – Karen Reddersen
6:10 p.m. Review of RFP for efficiency study on Internal Services Department – Pam Oland
6:35 p.m. Appropriations
• Update from Administration on supplemental appropriations and
discussion of Council-Administration joint plans
• Ensuring compliance with State law on supplemental appropriations
7:05 p.m. Establishing a policy for City involvement in litigation (introduction)
7:15 p.m. Discussion – posting work session minutes on web site
7:25 p.m. General discussion/upcoming agendas
7:30 p.m. Adjourn
The Council reserves the right to convene in Closed Session
as permitted under the Annotated Code of Maryland 10-508(a)
AGENDA
- - - - - - - - - - -
APRIL 7, 2008
CONFERENCE ROOM 305
GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDING
4:30 p.m. Presentation for Dalian, China to become a Sister City to Salisbury, Maryland – Sister Cities Association of Salisbury/Wicomico County (George Whitehead/Derek Wu)
5:00 p.m. Affordable Housing and Revitalization Fund proposal – Councilwoman Deborah Campbell
5:45 p.m. Review of RFP for old Fire Station #16 – Karen Reddersen
6:10 p.m. Review of RFP for efficiency study on Internal Services Department – Pam Oland
6:35 p.m. Appropriations
• Update from Administration on supplemental appropriations and
discussion of Council-Administration joint plans
• Ensuring compliance with State law on supplemental appropriations
7:05 p.m. Establishing a policy for City involvement in litigation (introduction)
7:15 p.m. Discussion – posting work session minutes on web site
7:25 p.m. General discussion/upcoming agendas
7:30 p.m. Adjourn
The Council reserves the right to convene in Closed Session
as permitted under the Annotated Code of Maryland 10-508(a)
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Funding Schumaker Pond Hydrilla Treatment Is Possible
By Councilwoman Terry Cohen
At the Monday, March 24, council legislative meeting, funding for the triennial treatment of Hydrilla, a troublesome non-native aquatic plant, in the city-owned Schumaker Pond was not made due to the project’s inclusion in an omnibus supplemental appropriation ordinance of $294,890 that Councilwoman Campbell and I could not support as one entire package to be withdrawn from our surplus, despite our support for expenditures such as the Hydrilla treatment.
With new information in hand, I sent a request the morning of April 2 to fellow council members to support a recommendation to the mayor to approve a transfer of unspent zoo salaries due to vacancies to fund the Hydrilla treatment and the Recreation and Culture Division’s share of the Pollution Liability Insurance paid out. The justification is outlined below:
At the March 24 meeting, the Schumaker Homeowners Association representative said the bill for the chemicals used to treat Hydrilla was about $8,700. This homeowners association has partnered with the city and county since about 2001, paying for one-third of the cost of the treatment. The city pays two-thirds, and the county donates skilled labor to properly apply the treatment.
Checking with the county yesterday, I learned the cost is $8,740.80, thus making the city’s portion just $5,827.20, instead of $8,000 as requested in the supplemental appropriation ordinance. On March 26, while discussing whether to cull the geese population in the city park and zoo, Department of Public Works Director shared that if council desired to do that, he could take the necessary $3,000 from unspent zoo salaries due to vacancies this year.
The anticipated amount of savings on zoo salaries for this fiscal year ranges from $55,000 to $66,000, depending on when the remaining vacancies (non-grant/zoo commission funded) are filled. The Hydrilla treatment ($5,827.20) and the Pollution Liability Insurance ($4,600) would be a total transfer of $10,427.20, leaving a substantial $44,500 to $55,500 in unspent zoo salaries intact.
Such a transfer by the mayor does not require the council’s recommendation or approval, but it enables the time-sensitive project to move forward and meet its mid-May timeline and enables the council to put forward a unified effort with the administration to continue a valuable partnership with the citizens and the county for good stewardship of a city-owned environmental asset. It uses unspent funds from another environmentally-conscious entity, the Salisbury Zoo, rather than taking funds from the city’s surplus.
Considering that the Schumaker Pond Hydrilla treatment was requested by the Department of Public Works, but was unable to be funded in the mayor’s proposed budget last year. Despite discussions by council to add it back in, it was not funded in the final FY08 budget. Therefore, it seems fitting that we work together to utilize unspent departmental resources to get this important job done. My request for putting a spirit of cooperation in action is especially timely given the mayor’s remarks about the city’s environmental commitment in her State of the City address on Monday, March 31.
In addition to Schumaker Pond, Councilwoman Campbell and I continue to look for ways to better manage the city’s resources to achieve better environmental policy and good stewardship of our waterways. Special thanks go to those citizens who have already answered Councilwoman Campbell’s call for volunteers to work on filtration retrofits for our storm water release points to the Wicomico River and its tributaries. Others are welcome to contact her to work on this project.
At the Monday, March 24, council legislative meeting, funding for the triennial treatment of Hydrilla, a troublesome non-native aquatic plant, in the city-owned Schumaker Pond was not made due to the project’s inclusion in an omnibus supplemental appropriation ordinance of $294,890 that Councilwoman Campbell and I could not support as one entire package to be withdrawn from our surplus, despite our support for expenditures such as the Hydrilla treatment.
With new information in hand, I sent a request the morning of April 2 to fellow council members to support a recommendation to the mayor to approve a transfer of unspent zoo salaries due to vacancies to fund the Hydrilla treatment and the Recreation and Culture Division’s share of the Pollution Liability Insurance paid out. The justification is outlined below:
At the March 24 meeting, the Schumaker Homeowners Association representative said the bill for the chemicals used to treat Hydrilla was about $8,700. This homeowners association has partnered with the city and county since about 2001, paying for one-third of the cost of the treatment. The city pays two-thirds, and the county donates skilled labor to properly apply the treatment.
Checking with the county yesterday, I learned the cost is $8,740.80, thus making the city’s portion just $5,827.20, instead of $8,000 as requested in the supplemental appropriation ordinance. On March 26, while discussing whether to cull the geese population in the city park and zoo, Department of Public Works Director shared that if council desired to do that, he could take the necessary $3,000 from unspent zoo salaries due to vacancies this year.
The anticipated amount of savings on zoo salaries for this fiscal year ranges from $55,000 to $66,000, depending on when the remaining vacancies (non-grant/zoo commission funded) are filled. The Hydrilla treatment ($5,827.20) and the Pollution Liability Insurance ($4,600) would be a total transfer of $10,427.20, leaving a substantial $44,500 to $55,500 in unspent zoo salaries intact.
Such a transfer by the mayor does not require the council’s recommendation or approval, but it enables the time-sensitive project to move forward and meet its mid-May timeline and enables the council to put forward a unified effort with the administration to continue a valuable partnership with the citizens and the county for good stewardship of a city-owned environmental asset. It uses unspent funds from another environmentally-conscious entity, the Salisbury Zoo, rather than taking funds from the city’s surplus.
Considering that the Schumaker Pond Hydrilla treatment was requested by the Department of Public Works, but was unable to be funded in the mayor’s proposed budget last year. Despite discussions by council to add it back in, it was not funded in the final FY08 budget. Therefore, it seems fitting that we work together to utilize unspent departmental resources to get this important job done. My request for putting a spirit of cooperation in action is especially timely given the mayor’s remarks about the city’s environmental commitment in her State of the City address on Monday, March 31.
In addition to Schumaker Pond, Councilwoman Campbell and I continue to look for ways to better manage the city’s resources to achieve better environmental policy and good stewardship of our waterways. Special thanks go to those citizens who have already answered Councilwoman Campbell’s call for volunteers to work on filtration retrofits for our storm water release points to the Wicomico River and its tributaries. Others are welcome to contact her to work on this project.
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