2025-11-07 City Council Budget Meeting Summary

The council convened to review and approve the 2026 budget proposals for various city departments. The meeting featured presentations from department heads covering the Solicitor, Clerk, Mayor's Office, Communications, Treasurer, Development/Finance, and Code Enforcement. Key discussions included salary adjustments to retain staff, budget corrections regarding Council compensation, and strategic shifts in Code Enforcement revenue generation through penalty fees rather than standard ticketing.

Consent Calendar

• The Solicitor's budget was approved with minimal changes, primarily consisting of a $3,000 increase for the Deputy Solicitor and a one-time increase for a combined Paralegal/Legal Secretary role.
• A clerical correction to the City Council's budget was approved to correct a $2,000 discrepancy in the President's honorarium, adjusting the line items from $14,000/$2,000 to $12,000/$14,000.
• The Mayor's, Communications, and Treasury department budgets were approved, noting the hiring of a necessary Treasurer's assistant and a $5,000 increase in the Treasurer's postage budget (from $55,000 to $60,000).
• The Development and Code Enforcement budgets were approved, with the elimination of the Assistant Code Manager position and a shift toward a consulting arrangement for the former holder of that role.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Public Comment (Unidentified Speaker): Expressed concern regarding the lack of digital access to the Times newspaper for council members, noting the cost of personal subscriptions and the delay in free library access. The speaker suggested the city contract for access rather than departments doing so individually.
• Council Member (Position regarding Stormwater Fee): Expressed support for maintaining the stormwater fee as a method of funding, arguing that it is preferable to a tax levy that would only affect property taxpayers. The speaker noted that while the collection rate dropped from 80% to 78%, the fee structure helps ensure broad contribution compared to a tax that only hits taxpayers.
• Council Member (Position regarding Dog Licenses): Expressed opposition to the city continuing to collect dog licenses, suggesting the function should be transferred to the county as a redundancy. The Council Member stated they have no feelings about this decision if it is passed to the county.
• Council Member (Position regarding Contractor Regulation): Emphasized the need for stricter enforcement and higher fines against unlicensed contractors, specifically those who sell their licenses to apprentices or work on illegal sites without a journeyman or master present. The speaker stated current $100 fines do not deter bad operators.
• Council Member (Position regarding Senior Citizen Protection): Proposed an additional $1,000 fine for contractors who take advantage of senior citizens, though the group noted potential legal difficulties with establishing a specific tier for seniors.

Discussion Items

• Solicitor's Office: Discussed the consolidation of Paralegal and Legal Secretary roles into one competitive position for Ms. Ways, with a one-time pay increase to reflect the dual responsibilities. Concerns were raised regarding the retention of Mr. Visheco (Casual Labor/Part-time Solicitor), who plans to retire, creating a potential vacancy for 2026.
• Clerk's Office: Addressed the need for increased advertising funds ($7,500 to $10,000) due to the uncertainty of requirements from the Home Rule Charter Committee. The office also received a $2,000 increase for overtime and a $2,000 increase for office supplies (from $3,000 to $5,000) to cover shortfalls.
• Treasurer's Office: Discussed the successful manual processing of 37,000 tax bills during a postal service disruption in 2025, thanking Finance and Mayor's Office staff for assistance. The Council noted the problematic salary trajectory for the City Controller and Treasurer, confirming the need for an election in two years to reset the position.
• Code Enforcement: Detailed the shift from a $100 fine to a proposed $1,000 fine for quality-of-life violations involving unlicensed work, aiming to deter illegal contractors rather than generate revenue. The Council discussed the "abatement fee" strategy, where landlords are billed for cleanup via their water bills, noting it effectively reduced junk and debris complaints after a few hundred notices were issued.
• Development/Finance: Confirmed that the Development department remains profitable, generating approximately $750,000 in program income which funds salaries and supports community initiatives like the Flag Erie Fund.

Key Outcomes

• Budget Approval: The 2026 budgets for all departments (Solicitor, Clerk, Mayor, Communications, Treasury, Development, Code Enforcement) were approved.
• Hiring Decisions: The Council confirmed the hiring of a new Treasurer's assistant, described as a "definitely needed" position.
• Position Changes: The Solicitor's office combined the Paralegal and Legal Secretary roles into one position. The Code Enforcement department eliminated the Assistant Manager position, transitioning the former holder to a consultant role.
• Regulatory Directives: The Council directed the Solicitor's office to draft language for a $1,000 fine for unlicensed contracting work, specifically targeting contractors who allow apprentices to work without a master on-site or sell their licenses. A follow-up is expected in January.
• Future Actions: The Treasurer's office is tasked with explaining the stormwater fee to the public to clarify it is not a one-time levy. The Clerk's office is to monitor the Home Rule Charter Committee requirements for advertising.
• Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned after open discussion.