City of Dearborn Heights, MI Dearborn Heights Study Sessions, 23 Apr 2021

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From YouTube: Dearborn Heights Budget Study Session: 4/23/21

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The Dearborn Heights Budget Study Session taking place Friday, April 23rd 2021 via Zoom.

A

Good morning, everyone today is april 23rd. This is our budget hearing and we will begin by opening remarks by our mayor. Bazzy go ahead. Please.

B

Thank you, council, chair and thank you council members.

B

Thank you for all the residents are calling in elected officials are calling in um again we're we're going to go through our budget budget hearing for the next uh several weeks. um I know they've been advertised about uh by the clerk's office, uh they're gonna be on fridays. uh The agendas also will be posted, uh so we're going through a 21 22 budget.

B

uh First, I want to thank uh the staff that actually worked very diligently, trying to get this budget up and running, so we had about three weeks uh to come up with a budget that when we submitted it on april 1st, you know I want to thank mr badri and also elizabeth. They actually, I know uh elizabeth. She spent uh countless hours. There was one night.

B

She was working, 11, 30 12 o'clock at night, several nights so again, there's just to get it on track, so we can meet the charter and, as of as of then, um since you know we're in a covet status right now, a lot of adjustments have come our way. So by the day you know uh things are coming in, so we made so much every day.

B

We're working on a budget trying to make adjustments and uh mr badri and elizabeth uh the last several days did the same thing, trying to uh get everything up to what was submitted last night. You know it was just the adjustment, not the budget, but the adjustment that we made.

B

So the team is going to go through um each department and with the changes you know we'll outline what changes or adjustments we made and if you guys have any questions you know please feel free to ask uh any question you might have, and- um and thank you I want to thank everyone on the call uh thanks the council members for taking your time on a friday to do this. So with that I'll go to the mr badri.

A

Okay, let me announce um before we go to mr badgery um I'd like to ask any council members if they have any questions to wait until his presentation is complete at this time, mr badgery, our comptroller, would you like to begin.

A

No I'm on muting him.

B

uh Madam chair quick question: uh did you uh did you want us to share what we go through on on the screen with you or do you you want to go through the document that was mr badger sent to you.

C

um That's what I'm going through, so it's if you guys want to do that. If not I don't know if mariana is able to share it.

B

A

Go through the document, we can just go through the document. Okay, because we've all got that that you sent us- and thank you for that. That was very nice of you.

C

No, not a problem. um Okay, we can do that if everybody can open up. I just sent that just kind of to give you an idea of some of the little things we did adjustments that you might have a question about, but uh uh you know the first page. I if you go to the second tab, there's a tab that says day one so that's kind of all the different departments that we're talking about today, I kind of summarized them on there.

C

Just one note: the revenue part of it on the top there, the taxes uh they don't show in the activity section where it says through 6 30 of 21, which actually means up to today, but really it's the same numbers as uh in the amended. I was the the the column right next to it that says: 2021 amended budget.

C

Those are the numbers actually up to date for those those five six revenues that uh that you just move over and then, if you add that up in the column, it shows the activity to today at 40 million 532 at the bottom. So you know uh the the budget that we're proposing is at 53 a little over 53 million, so uh those numbers are are here. I was going to email them to you.

C

Then I figured let me just instead of sending you 15 emails, uh just tell you that those numbers are the same numbers for this column as well. uh So, and I can send you an up-to-date one on any of the things we talk about. We can send you an up-to-date, uh you know excel spreadsheet or anything you need okay, so uh the first section we talk about all the different revenues, there's a lot of discussions going on with our budget committee and then I'm sure a lot of you are going to be involved in.

C

You know how we segregate the different accounts that need to be segregated and all that, and we just got off the phone with plant moran, just trying to confirm a couple of things uh that you know the way we're currently segregating a lot of these accounts is acceptable.

C

That's uh you know, that's how most of people do it to avoid a lot of the red tape and bank reconciliations and all that kind of thing extra uh you know, so it cuts down on the work having it all in the general ledger, but segregating it that way.

C

uh So that's but we, but I have examples on this spreadsheet that I said to you guys where we actually segregated, like the three four five to three four five accounts: uh where were discussions and staggering segregating the sanitation revenue and sanitation expense account, so anything that needs to be segregated?

C

You know we're discussing how to create separate line items for them so they're easier for you guys to track so the whole idea is to be a little more transparent and the way things were created before a little bit confusing, so we're trying to see where we can make that a little more efficient uh but uh anyways. If you look through the revenues here, nothing's changed that much that you know from what we've been sending to you guys. um Let's let me go down to the let's see so in in general government.

C

You see the examples for the at three four fives. uh You know where I highlighted them in this orange and, along with the salaries and fridge benefits for um for the salaries and and the retirement pay and retirement uh salaries for the at 3, 4 5 for the police department and fire department.

C

So anything in orange those will will be segregated into a separate uh uh department that we're gonna create so that you can track the three three four five stuff you know and it's uh you know on its own um other than that, let's see so for human resources, we're you know we're adding a little bit more to the salary, uh so that's bumped up there. I left a little note on the side for you to look at and anywhere where you bump up a little bit of the salary.

C

The fringe benefit goes up a little bit, so you know I put that in a separate column, because we didn't officially get you know. When we get this finalized, we can move it into the bsn and the uh you go down to like in our department, the comptroller department. We don't really have any any changes from what we submitted to you guys, so I mean I'd, uh you know other than other than that, honestly on the other departments.

C

Also, if you have any other questions, I mean I'd like to open it up to questions, so we can kind of dig into what you guys want to ask and what you need answers to. If that's that's all right, so how do we? How do we want to do this, I mean are: is somebody else going to run who's who's, asking the questions, because, yes,.

A

C

A

Whoever councilman muscat.

D

Yeah, are we going to ask questions as far as like I, I have some issues with capital outlay. uh Do we ask the directors of that or should or or now, should I just wait to ask the directors uh if.

C

It's the if it's uh regarding that department, I would wait till the directors are on there.

D

That that's that that's good! Thank you. Thank you.

E

Well, I just want to check: are we going to be going over the specific budget so like in this particular case the comptroller's office proposed budget? Are we going to do that next? I pursue, I presume.

A

E

Is where the comptroller.

A

Should be presenting his budget.

C

Yeah, oh okay, I mean, I thought part of the we're supposed to present the revenue. The general uh you know I mean nothing, has changed dramatically in our department budget, uh so I mean yeah, but you can ask any questions you want about either. One of the departments that I cover.

E

Okay, so I I had a question in regards- and this was probably more for the mayor, uh probably more than you um uh comptroller. um We have on there a raise from 69 525 to 80 000 in a new proposed budget, um and I just want to understand the thought process behind that. um I'm sure the comptroller, from what I can see is doing a good job.

E

I've heard good things about him and and I've seen his qualifications and I have to admit it's pretty impressive qualifications, um but I'm just wondering the thought process behind it, because there's a raise there of roughly around 16 17 percent in that ballpark, and I'm just wondering the thought process behind that. If you don't mind the mayor.

B

um Thank you, council uh pro tem dalla, uh so with uh with the raises, uh as we requested, you know in the last uh two um two iterations that we had the last council two council meetings, you know uh with uh with the comptroller and actually with other departments, that uh you know we put the budget for so this applies to all the department, uh all the department heads so with uh in regards to the pay raises.

B

um You know, especially with like during a covet that, where the situation there and I've actually seen um all the building- uh not just I'm sorry, not building director, I mean the ordinance and uh the comptroller um the hr director, so everyone's working, you know. I know there was a lot of assumptions in the past. You know that they, you know that they only work uh the four days a week, uh but uh all of them actually come in on weekends and they're.

B

They are working on friday, as you can see, and uh some days they come in on saturdays I've seen some they come in on sundays as well.

B

So with that, even with covet the situation that we're in you know they're going way and above uh the call of duty, I would say you know, with all the stuff that they're doing, and especially with the comptroller, you know, since you asked about the comptroller, uh you know the situation that we were in in the past and uh you know: you're not gonna, be able to get a controller uh for the for the salary that was requested on there and if it wasn't for the comptroller that we bought obviously most of you, uh whoever requested his resume saw.

B

His resume saw his qualification. I mean we, we have a a great comptroller and uh with the salary I think his law, even 80, is low for for his qualifications.

E

Okay, but what was the I don't know if we have it here? Actually I have the old bunch. I could probably look it up, but what was the previous uh salary for the last controller that we had? um Did anybody know off the top.

D

Of your head, 69 525,.

E

Right, that's that's what I have on here. So that's what the last controller that just left is that correct, uh yeah yeah, because I'm gonna tell you honestly for for me. I have a little bit of a hard time uh and I'm sure mr javad will do a great job and I have no problem maybe doing that later, but with somebody just starting out to give him an instant raise at that level. I I just personally, I don't think it's a good idea. I have no problem giving him a little bit of a raise.

E

I know his qualifications are are great qualifications, but it's just. This is no reflection on him to me once somebody proves themselves, then we start giving them raises. That's just my personal opinion, so I guess we'll address that with whatever other council members have uh the other thing I had for the controller uh in clerical. You went from um current budgeted one, and then you went to half. Are you splitting time with one of the okay? It looks like the hr director is saying. Yes is that is that a case.

C

The clerical in our department, where what are you looking at okay,.

E

So I'm looking at uh clerical uh number three clerical three and it's going from budgeted one requesting half going from a current salary, 41 269 to 20 634. So I'm just wondering, are you just? Are you less than the number of employees? Are you going to be sharing somebody with another department.

C

Yeah, that's a that's, a question that elizabeth would know specifically, but yeah uh I mean. I know we share with the water department.

C

Employees uh and you know, I know that there's some overlap there, but uh when we were figuring out what we had in the budget, I mean I think elizabeth was involved in figuring out the balance there for what we need and what we.

E

Do is that the case elizabeth in this case.

F

It is it's a person that split between comptroller's office and water department. I actually think that um and shantae could back me up on this because she's the deputy comptroller who's also been here. I think even the current budget. That may even be a mistake because the person is working, hard, water and park comptroller.

E

I see okay, thank you very much appreciate it.

A

G

Have something she covered it, I'm sorry. I had to raise my hand. I was muted. Oh that's.

H

G

Yes, matthew is the previous budget. I think there was an error. Matthew is actually a split employee between the water department and the controller's department.

E

So it's not a sochante, so it's not necessarily a change. It's just the previous.

D

E

It's correction. Okay. Thank you very.

F

I

Okay looks like we are missing the big picture on this budget: the revenue and expenses, the expenditures.

I

I would like to ask our controller how you calculate the property tax, the first current property taxes, if the assessor or the controller, can explain how he came up with this number of 10 million.

I

C

uh We we conferred that through the uh assessor's office, and I mean they came up with the exact numbers, and so I didn't compute them myself. We came through there. We confirmed it a couple of times through the assessor's office.

I

I would like to hear it from the assessor, if possible, how much is the total value assessed value of the city and what is the percentage of the mills uh levitt on the property tax and what is the exact number? Is it this one or it's more than that.

A

I have shantae williams, has her hand up. um I think she may want to answer that question. Go ahead. Please.

G

So these numbers are um estimates right now right because we don't have actual um numbers on this right now, but john riley, myself and kim from the assessors department. We did sit down and calculate these numbers. um I can send you how that was calculated if you would like, but just to give you kind of a run through. We took the final taxable values. We subtracted the losses we um calculated in the cpi of 1.4 percent.

G

We then added the additions and removed the tip of captures from it. That gave us a number that we divided by 1000 and then multiply by the military.

I

What was the village rate.

G

For the uh taxes, I believe it was the 8.11.

H

G

Okay, but I can send you those rates if you like.

I

I would like so because this is the time really. The city council has to do their diligent job, to make sure that this budget is correct. There is no mistakes or no frictions in it and the the activities by true 6 30 21.

I

I see that you don't have any numbers.

G

So the reason that's missing not to cut you off. um There is a journal entry that has to be done in order to post those activities. Mister, mr was not aware of those journal entries that needed to be done until about april, so they are done. It is post, um it's just not on here. That's why he said he could give you another report. If you need it, but the activity is now in the general ledger. It is there.

I

So can you provide those for us before we vote on this please and why? Why was the delay.

G

Again, there's new controller in the office um and we had to figure out the process. Once we figured out how to do it, then we did it.

C

uh But just so so you know the numbers activity like I mentioned you at the beginning of the presentation. If you look at the column right next to it that says 2020 2021, amended budget, uh it should match them so.

I

C

We can get you, we can get you on up to date.

I

Oh, I I'm going to ask for every little detail so.

C

I

With me, because I I take this very seriously, you know I had I had two cpas before yep in the city controller. I mean mayor and treasurer and we had millions of dollars over levied and I don't know what the hell happened. Okay, so bear with me. I take my job seriously and I hope you know everybody on of my colleagues. Do the same thing, because this is this is the main job we have.

I

C

Councilman, just uh just to tell you you can come by the office anytime, you want with any specific questions and we can go over it individually too.

I

I will mr joette thank you, but I'm looking to at the on the second page.

I

We have bear with me: please we have nine one three police reimbursement of three hundred thousand proposed.

I

We expect it as of 2020 21 at 20, 20, 21, 6, 30 21. We only collected 102, 000 and 29. and we were expecting 309 000. We are short, almost 200 000. how we expect to collect 200 000 in less than two months.

C

um I'll under honestly, I'd have to look at. uh I didn't look at that specific number. Okay, I know that we're in the process.

I

Of getting there are several items, I would like you to write them down. If you don't mind sure district court revenues, we are short, almost 2 million.

I

From what we collected, unless somebody is not writing down or not posting to the general ledger, what we received and what we spent.

I

Okay and you have on the recreation we proposed 145, we are collecting 545 000 and we collected 512 dollars, so we are short hundred and forty thousand forty five thousand on.

I

Young center revenue proposed 77 000. We only collected 254 and several items like that. You have reimbursement from, I think, a smart bus. You had a proposing 000. You only collected almost 9 000, then I'm looking at the bottom from 2021 amended budget.

I

We had fifty million four hundred eighty one thousand six hundred and fifty one dollars and activity of expected activity of six thirty. Twenty one 000 12 million 603.

C

Yeah and that's because the tax revenues and those things.

I

Are am I missing something I know when I was a treasurer. We collected lots of money from reimbursement from state from different places, I'm looking at 38 million dollars difference between the two numbers. If.

C

You add it. Excuse me, I'm sorry not to cut you off, but just so I remember this part of it. uh If you add the first top five line items with the activity that should be there for the taxes you end up at uh 40, 532 and 229, so you're now short 13, nine, okay. So it's getting closer to the amount.

I

All right, I just want to make sure that really we have actual numbers, we don't have numbers we just put to satisfy.

C

No okay: I will get I'll get that to you as well, and what.

I

I would like uh there is 1 million 244 000 from plant moran report of june 30th 2020.

I

There is 1 million 244 and 838 left from senate sanitation levy. Did we take those into account when we did the budget that we have money left from last year?.

C

In projections we do, but I mean usually they have a little bit of a rainy day kind of a fun. um So they have I mean we still are adjusting stuff. I mean basically we're waiting to have the final discussions with you guys, but I mean we take everything into account. Okay,.

I

I just want my colleague to understand one thing: please: there will be lots of adjustment to this budget, so this is, I, I believe it's not final budget and I expect lots of corrections to it and lots of amendment.

I

So I I I thank you, mr jawad, for what you did you and you and the team, and thanks to our mayor- and I want to thank our friends on the city council, the my colleagues all of you- that this is something we should look very carefully and very closely at it, because we don't want to end up at the end of the year in the negative and the state comes with a hammer on our head, and I want to suggest one thing please to my colleagues to let's leave the questions about the salaries in the details when we discuss each department separately.

I

So we look at the bigger picture than just going after specific items in each department, and I have lots of other things. I would like to share with you, mr joanne. I will come to your office and talk about them and for me enough for me at this time. Thank you. I've.

A

Got a few hands here: oh I'm sorry go ahead.

I

A

I got a few hands here, mayor bassey. Did you have any comments.

B

Yes, council chair, thank you, so I want to address uh councilman abdulhat when he mentioned the revenues. um I know uh this is something we talked about last year. I don't know if some of you that when I discussed it when on council that we knew that we're in a covet situation, we know we're not gonna, get all the revenues and that's I'm one of the ones that voted no for the budget from last year. But with that you know one good thing that happened. This uh I mean.

B

Obviously you know we're in a bad situation with the covet, but uh the government is uh putting on the american rescue plan was actually passed, so I've been in continuous, uh almost like almost every week, if not uh like twice a week, I'm meeting with some people from the congressional delegates to talk about the american rescue plan, so our city is getting over 25 million close to 26 million dollars and from the american rescue uh plan, which um that part of the money we can actually use for lost revenue.

B

So one of the things that I, um on the things to that you can use that money, for we haven't gotten all the details on where the money to be used when we haven't announced it yet because uh we're still waiting, it's still fluid uh the government haven't really passed exactly what you can use the funding on, but one of them.

B

The first first item is lost revenues so with lost revenues that when you talk uh you talked about that councilman is just to give you an example, our building department, the the revenues on that one was coming in very low, but uh since uh uh director uh watland uh rick wallen's been uh been ticketed, he took charge of that department.

B

The revenues are going. I mean they're, they're they're, going way up right now, so I think we're gonna exceed the revenues. It looks that way so far and when he gets to his department he can talk about the revenues that we have seen. You know just in the short amount of time. So as as you mentioned, councilman is that stuff we're getting adjustments out of the day, as you know, I talked I mentioned that earlier today. um A lot of things are happening, there's a lot of moving parts.

B

You know we have a great team in place right now, we're trying to make sure that everything is uh up up to speed and, as you mentioned also, you know this is you know as been mentioned the last several years. It's fluid. You know it keeps changing. You know, I'm hoping it's going to be positive and uh and at the end of the day you know when we do when you guys do approve the budget when we present it, you know it's gonna have the latest and greatest numbers. So it's it's gonna, be changing.

B

We're gonna, look at these numbers, but we'll keep you guys in the loop of any changes, positive or negative, but it looks like it's coming in the positive direction. Right now,.

I

Yes, uh mayor buzzy, thank you. I know you guys working very long hours. I just want my colleagues and myself to expect that there will be changes, and this is not the final version of the budget.

A

Yes, councilman abdul hawk, we do have a budget wrap up on the last day where we go department by department, so that was when that is when we will make the changes. Okay. um Next we have hr. Are you still wanting to talk.

F

Harry I do just a moment of clarity for everyone in the 2020 2021 activity- it's, although it says through june 30th of 2021. These are really numbers that are reflective at the end of february. Those are the solid numbers. This document was prepared in advance of april first, so even the march numbers weren't finalized.

F

So that's why you'll see some timing? I I don't know this for a fact, but I have a feeling that 911., it's probably done on a quarterly or semi-annual basis, and it could be a timing issue. So some of what you're seeing is timing- and that's all I wanted to even though it's labeled- that's that's kind of a issue within the bsna software and how these reports print, but that's not really truly reflective of the date that that these numbers were available.

C

And we'll get the up-to-date numbers to mr abdul-haq councilman abdul-haq. We can.

I

C

I

I, uh madam chair, I would have appreciated if that would have been by march 6. I mean march 30th instead of june 30th. That would have been far better for all of us.

I

The activities yeah, if it would have been by you know, written as february 3rd, 28th or march 30th. That would have been more clear to me than if it is june. 30Th.

A

Okay: next, we have shantae williams.

G

Actually, I was going to say what elizabeth and mayor bozzi already said, but I will say this in regards to your comment. Councilman. um um When it comes to the titles, I can give a call to bsna because those are generated in bsna. We have no way to change. It literally gives you the fiscal year and you have to select the fiscal year. So we are well aware um director jamal definitely said this will come up and that the date will be a question. It is through the.

G

um As elizabeth said, it is through the end of february. We did try to change it. We have to call the sna to see if they're able to do so- and I was also going to do as the mayor advising just um suggest you all think about the previous year, 2021 2020 through 2021, um as we were not like fully operating, I talked to uh what's her who's over at.

G

I can't believe I'm having a mind block. Yes, michelle atkins, I talked to michelle atkins and um even over in district court. You know they as far as ticket writings, those type of things changed, which changed revenue a little bit. So I think when it goes to the 2021-2022 budget, we're at we're requesting these things based upon the fact of entering into a form of normalcy.

G

More so now we'll we'll operate a little more, whereas with covet I mean things were different, and so as you're looking at the revenues, I just asked that you keep that in mind.

A

Next, we have councilman beijing.

J

uh Thank you so much. Thank you to the entire committee went ahead and put this budget together. Thank you to the mayor, thank you to our new comptroller, mr jawad hr, director, uh elizabeth and mrs williams. Thank you guys so much so just a couple of questions that I have for the mayor. I know he mentioned that the new revenue was shown to the department for the building department.

J

Can you give us a breakdown of that to the council, so my colleagues as well can be able to see uh you know the differences of what happened there. Then I know that we're you know we're speaking of hypothetical. Maybe it does happen, and maybe it doesn't about the way we're able to spend the money um to the way you know the funds to do the covet and the state. um I think, before we have an actual 100 understanding of where we can or can't spend it.

J

We shouldn't go based off of a hypothetical saying uh we could. Potentially, you know put it here and I know you've been speaking with someone from the state once or twice a week, um but just as long as you know for the protection of the city and the residents and and for you and for all the council, if we can get something, also in writing for them saying that hey, yes, you will be able to use it. I don't see why not we couldn't so uh that. That's all that I had for this part.

C

Let me interject one little thing about that uh and what you're saying is absolutely correct, but we've talked to plant moran and what they say is some of this funding. That's coming in. It looks like they're going to be a little more more liberal with the cities because of covet than what we anticipated them restricting the fun stuff. So uh so it looks like we're going to have a little more flexibility.

C

They weren't willing to say exactly what yeah, but they said. That's what it's looking like.

H

We'll let you.

C

Obviously, yeah we'll let you know exactly when we.

H

C

J

Because I don't think my colleagues or myself want to go ahead and approve of the budget, but based on a hypothetical, not to say that it won't happen, but you know just maybe you know that small chance that it doesn't happen. We can't take on that risk. Speaking on you know all the taxpayers, monies sure sure.

C

And the government funding we didn't really add into the budget, uh but this is just something that should soften the blow a little bit. uh So the mayor is basically just giving you a positive outlook from what we can anticipate.

J

And- and I think the mayor- and I I know you guys- are working diligently. Thank you guys. I know this is tiring and this isn't something that you woke up one day and said: here's the budget. I know you guys are working extremely hard between you, the mayor that come you know and hr, and mrs williams and the treasurer's office, and thank you to everybody, but I also just don't want to go based off a hypothetical. That's all I'm saying: okay,.

A

Mayor did you want to respond.

B

Yeah, thank you, council, chair. Thank you councilman. By doing so, uh as you mentioned, and mr badri said the same thing you know we're talking to the government we're talking to play moran. We actually did not put the numbers that we wanted. The num that 25 point something million dollar was not excuse me put in a budget for that reason, because we're not going to say anything until the money's in our account.

B

So that's not that money is not in our budget. We did not put it in there. We did not account for it till like. I said, though it's in our account, and we uh I'm just saying, as mr badger said, you know for the positive and we will have more uh concrete data when this before this budget is actually approved.

B

You know we still got about a month before you guys actually approve the budget perfect, so we're getting changes, we're getting information, we're getting data here every day we're getting data, so I'm uh we're uh as the two congressional uh congresswoman rashida cleb and also congresswoman dingo. Both thought that we should have something concrete, probably with the next three weeks. So before the budget vote but again the 25 point, something million dollar was not put on his budget.

B

So for that reason, because it's still not concrete- and it's still like, I said- you're not going to go- spend money if it's not in your account. Thank you.

A

um We have treasurer hicks clayton. Did you want to respond? Yes,.

K

Good morning, everyone, um the mayor kind of surmised, what I was going to add to this, and I wanted to, of course remind everyone that the budget is very always even the current year. Fiscal year is fluid because it is a living document that changes. So no, you don't write in um what you see as prospective future grants or whatnot.

K

You never count that in your budget, but know that your budget will always change and there have been some challenges of revenue, whether it's court or building, um but that's the responsibility of all of us to always monitor. That's why we get a monthly report to show your revenue and expenditures.

K

So that way, as amendments need to be made, whether it's in uh september october, next year february, you do so so that way, you end, you know with a balanced budget, and that really is your goal and, as the mayor had indicated, you know we're working with state and federal leaders on a regular basis to get accurate information to get accurate numbers, but that is ever fluid. So we take that into consideration. I just wanted to add that, and thank you, madam chair. Thank you.

A

At this time, is there anything further for the comptroller's department before we move on to human resources.

I

A

I

uh I just want to make sure that we're going to separate all those restricted uh funds from everything else is the controller working on it.

C

Yes, sir, and you know, if you look at the uh if you scroll down through this notes sheet, that I sent you for day, one you'll see a couple of the departments that we were going to create me and mr jamal we're talking about it.

C

We talk about it constantly, so we're trying to figure out more efficient ways to do things, we're talking to plant and moran, and they say what we're doing technically is okay, but uh I mean we want to make sure it's easy for anybody who's looking at it, including you guys to be able to say. Oh, this is happening. This is happening and make your decisions based on it. So we're trying to make it look. You know as readable as possible.

C

You guys are familiar with how it looks now, and you know, over years it was created to be a little bit. You know, jumbled in, but we're we're working on making it like that, for you.

B

Thank you, and also I just want to add something. Sorry, madam chair, uh there's a an item uh which is: uh if you look at the excel sheet, it's online number 91. uh It has a sale of city property.

B

So if you look at the excel sheet 92 on day one, it's under budget item number, uh let's see: 101 0 0 679 zero, zero one! You guys, I mean point: zero zero one. Do you see it line? Item 91.

H

B

So if you look at no actually no I'm sorry, I item number okay hold on. Let me see I just lost yes,.

D

B

Is uh city property? It's ninety, nine, nine, nine one! I'm sorry! So if you look at that item, you know like this previous years, you know had twenty five thousand, we didn't have anything on there, so we have uh the cap program. You know we're actually going full swing with that program here shortly we have a lot of property owned by the city, uh just lost revenue just sitting there nobody's doing anything about it. So I had a I had a meeting with uh mr miyaki and also uh our emergency manager.

B

Mr gavin, we're gonna have a meeting here in the next few days. Maybe a week we gotta talk about this property, so this number is gonna go way above that number from the previous years, because we have, I mean I can't even count how much property we have just sitting there and collecting dust, basically not doing anything, we're spending money on maintaining the property as well. So that's one of the things I like I said earlier. We have a great team in place right now, we're assessing every everything on this budget.

B

There's a lot of wasted money just sitting there. You know not, you know, nobody's utilizing we're cutting a lot of costs on. You know wasted money that we're you know like. In the past. We go to consultants before we actually go through the expertise that we have in the city I mean. There's I mean uh councilman musket brought that up in the past. There's a I don't want to mention companies names, but we're paying companies hundreds of thousands of dollars in consulting fees that we can actually pay.

B

Somebody within a city that actually can give us the same advice so all the stuff. We hope it so this budget, as you know, as mentioned by the time you guys get a chance to approve it, it's going to be a lot better than what it is right now because of some of the cost, cutting that we're doing unnecessary cost, cutting.

C

Can I point out one more thing: I'm sorry, just one last forehead, I said to myself, I was going to mention this in my little introduction, but you know mr uh jamal, uh you know has been you know. We have basically it's kind of a new position here and he's working on grants and he's working on compliance issues. So together we're trying to get stuff like we said back in line, so I mean I'd like to acknowledge a lot of the work that he's doing.

C

uh You know I didn't mention it, so I just want to give him some credit. You know some some thanks and appreciation and before I sign off, I guess so next.

A

For our budget hearing, we have human.

D

Resources direct council, jerry, I think you forgot me. I had my right hand raised a few times.

A

You bet you took it down, I didn't no. I well.

D

I didn't die, I get it and leave.

A

It up next time: okay,.

K

Let me, let me put it down.

A

I'm sorry, I thought you had changed your mind. Go ahead. Please.

D

And that's that that's understandable! uh I just want to let everyone know that you know uh some. You know the questions that were asked by councilman uh abdel hawk haq.

D

He and I have worked on budgets and things for enough few years now, along with uh mr jamal. So some of the questions that I have have already been answered asked an answer, so I don't want it to be redundant, so I just want to let everybody know that I have been working with them and uh they're doing a great job. So there's no really a reason for me to take up more time than and asking the same questions over and over again. So that's just.

A

Mr jamal hassan jamal.

D

And abdul further out.

A

Okay, thank you, um mr jamal. Go ahead. Please.

L

uh Good morning, everybody.

H

L

You mayor, thank you, uh mr jawad. Thank you. uh The new chief of staff uh sometime, you know in the east of this.

M

Meeting we forget her role, she.

L

Played a great great role in in developing this budget, her name is mariana hernandez and I thank the mayor for hiring somebody.

M

At that particular, you know level of knowledge, understanding of very complex financial accounting, regulatory and compliance.

M

Let's move on, uh let's, let's the council understand uh specifically, you know the the new council that they report to the council, which mandated by the charter from the treasury and from the controller one on behalf of the mayor and one on behalf of the treasurers. There are two different reports.

M

The mayor reports on the general ledger account didn't they cancel what we spend and what we received and the percentage between between both the treasurer report on fund. So when the treasury receive money, it goes to fund, it does go to gl, the the treasurer doesn't have access to the gl.

M

It goes to the front and over the years that particular report never been provided, never ever so far being provided to you. It tells you how much money you have in every front of the city, including water, including even the tree fund, even the what we call you know a ski club from you will look at it and you will know how much the treasure received revenue, taxes or whatever revenue you receive fees and it attached to you the cash register that her part of approving all the expenditures.

M

So when you receive both, you will compare them. So you know whether it's reported correctly by the controller compared to what's being done by the treasurer. It's the check and balance cutting. That short, you did not have that check and balance provided to you that resulted in 6.2 8 million dollars cso.

M

You know over charge over taxation. I don't know I'm looking at the sanitation like like mr badly, the new controller, he picked it up. He said hassan, what's going on here, we have money left over and we are so. Let's look at all this so right now I assure you, I am sure the council like like mayor, bezier, told me you know please hassan, we are a team. The mayor does it. Thank you. He formed a budgetary team.

M

He he is the chief miliana badri, myself, shantae and the human resource. You know the human resource really control. All the french benefit, the changing of the study, the calculation, so that team is really working very hard on your behalf to make sure that the final budget document you will have it is as accurate as it can be, with probably 10 to 15 what we call them contingency because we're doing forecasts for next year.

M

We are working together on the grant. We, we are sure it's going to be 25, 600 million dollars for us putting in the bank through the state, some of them to the county. We will, we will have to provide project and we will get. We will get our portion from that.

M

We will be working hard on your behalf and the mail is trying to do whatever possible to be as accurate as we can, because he was on the console before, and he struggled with a previous project like you are doing right now have a great day. Thank.

A

You okay! Next we have human resources director sabota perry. I can.

A

F

Thank you sure, so I cover three areas. um It would be starting on the original document. It would be civil service commission department, 220, which is page 17 department, 221, which is act 78. So these are easy in that there's no changes in either so the general government department 220 that civil service commission oversees the hiring the promotion processes for non-police and fire. So that would include all the clerical department of public works library, personnel, ordinance, um any sort of deputies within the general government system and act.

F

78 is according to state law that that oversees the hiring and promotional processes for both police and fire.

F

As you know, there are openings right, um so we have openings in department of public works. We foresee an opening in the library we will have openings in the 9-1-1 dispatch and that's what these departments department 220 has been funded, so that we can continue the testing process, advertise test and interview those candidates, of course, in police and fire.

F

Over the past couple of years it's been we've had promotionals and we've brought on a lot of new people as you've been a part of the swearing-ins, and we will continue to do that with every retirement means an opening and that usually means a promotional process. So that's what we will continue to do just as much activity this year as or in the next year, as we've been doing in the last few years, so there's no changes there.

F

Then, if you want to oh, if there's any questions I can answer. If you before I move on to my budget.

A

Any questions regards to what she just discussed.

I

Okay, the civil service commission, those are mayor's appointments right.

F

No, not in all cases, yes, he has one appointment in each commission. It's a commission of three people. This is true for both okay and then the this is how both of them actually were. So one appointment is the mayor's appointment and then there's appointment of all of the people, the people that they represent. So for the general government civil service.

F

It would be all the civil service employees, so ballots actually go out through the clerk's office and they they nominate, and then they vote on the representative that they have and then the third and that's true for also x and eight that would be for police and fire. They all get balanced and they represe and they pick their representative.

F

Then the two commissioners then have their choice of the third commissioner, that's true for both x and a as well as the general government. Please keep in mind that the general government civil service commission, those appointments are three years maximum three years and then the act 78 according to the state law is a six year term.

I

Could you repeat who's the six years.

F

That's for x78, sir okay.

M

F

We have a full. We have a fully staffed um civil service commission in both areas.

I

Act 78 was it established by the city council or by uh the people, voted on it.

F

No, that was established by the state of michigan in I want to say 1935 and it's by charter that are our police and fire classifications, um follow act, 78.

I

I

I'll ask the question privately. Thank you.

F

You're welcome.

A

Further questions before she moves on to the rest of her budget.

A

F

Okay, so then the rest of it is um if you're following along, uh we skip a few pages, and my department is two two six department. Two two six can.

J

You give me I'm so sorry to interrupt. Can you give me what page.

F

Page 21, page 21 and 24.

J

21, thank you. You're.

F

Welcome now this coordinates with one of the things that audrey had included in his sheet with a uh to the compensation. Again, it sounds like you want to have a discussion um in another point, um but there's no other changes beyond that.

F

So there's no change in part-time personnel, there's no change in supplies, no change in dues and memberships and no no change in training.

A

F

Have councilman abdullah anyone can I just say one thing: if you don't mind, yes, go ahead, so just just as a basic reminder, so as the hr department. I just feel that it is important for me to advocate some sort of strategy, and I I am excited because it seems that the council is very interested in developing a strategy for total compensation.

F

It's not only that we want to retain people. It's also that we want to attract people, they have credentials, they have a commitment to the city of different heights, this administration, of which I'm a part we're committed to investing not only in the managers but into all of our people, all of our city employees. This is a time. This is going to be a contract here for many employees, and that's why you might question: why aren't there raises for certain classifications of employees?

F

And it's because this is a negotiation year. We really as a city, need to prioritize, of course, the investment of our people, because that's what makes our city so great and to continue to pro, we need to work to provide them a living and something that they can aspire to as they grow throughout their career. Here now, keep in mind, I'm not only the hr director, I'm also the res uh resident and I've been here for 14 years, so I know the struggles that the city has had.

F

I know the struggles that our residents and my neighbors have have had and I'm sensitive to it. We could do our. We could do an independent study if you deem this a priority and we could go out to bid and search a proposal for an independent compensation study. Now I warn you whatever the study shows it's usually in the best interest of the city with regards to the personnel than to have some commitment behind it. I feel that you will see. Most of our employees are are underpaid.

F

um Many of the entry-level salaries are coming in at 14 an hour and that isn't a lot of money and that isn't necessarily enough for a living. You provide a living wage, and so that would be something for you to direct me, the mayor to start on, and I'd be more than happy to do it. If I can answer any questions related to you know, personnel issues, my door is always open and the coffee's always on. As many of you know,.

A

Thank you. Next, we have councilman abdellah.

E

So this question is for our hr director: um it's it's it's multiple faceted! So, first of all, in regards to your salary increase, you mentioned something natural. I know as a counselor from the council church. You want to discuss these all at the end or do I discuss some department by department department.

A

By department probably be easier because I don't know if they'll stay until the end.

E

Okay, um I I do know in this particular case. I I think it's uh well deserved uh for our hr director. Not only do we have one of the best in the state but also know that she took a voluntary pay cut at one of the council meetings that I recall one of the things I don't even think was budget time and she voluntarily uh decided to come down on her salary, which was very honorable. So in this particular case I think it's well deserved.

E

But what I'd like to discuss? We talked about what what people are paid and I've always been a believer in paying people better money. So you can get better uh qualified uh type of employees. You mentioned as far as how much the pay is, there's a thing that we used to get. I don't know, maybe we should send them to all the council members from wayne county that shows all the different cities and how much the different pay scales are for similar department heads.

E

So that's something that we may be willing to compare, but I think where we have to decide is that council as a whole is, are we going to give raises, and this is where the debate always in my head, do you give raises all across the board to all the directors to make it quote-unquote fair, or do you make it the other angle of being fair based on justifications?

E

You know: does this person deserve it, uh or does this person this particular director, maybe better wait another year before we give him a raise, just like I talked about earlier uh with the comptroller which again I'll repeat, very well qualified, but do we start with raises right off the bat, or do we wait until they've uh earned the additional raises? So this is the direction we gotta decide which direction we're gonna go so that we're fair across the board.

E

You know, as we give raises, uh I also had uh no. That was the only question. That's it! Thank you.

A

Because I was gonna say that would be what we would do during budget wrap-up. Our last meeting is what we decide. Everybody would get.

E

But I'm just saying that's something we got to decide. Is it across the board or is it on.

F

So conference of western wayne county does publish a salary survey. I have them. I would be happy to share with anyone. The problem is in 2020 because of the stress of the directors they did not publish one in 2020, so the last one we have is 2019. be happy. People are shaking their heads. I will get it scanned and sent it to you. When I said about the study you have next, we have a next-door neighbor, they did a compensation study.

F

So it's interesting. What happens right you? You get a study and you find out that you're underpaid well. If the entire city finds out they're underpaid, and then we don't necessarily have the money to commit to bring everyone up to the a level or strategy to bring people up to level.

F

Guess how guess how morale changes right, then you have a bunch of people right. So it's very you know. People come here for different reasons. Right people stay here for different reasons. I am. I came here for a different reason. I am committed for a different reason beyond compensation, but there is.

F

There is something about attracting new talent and providing certain wages, and you will see this if, when you ask me how many of people apply for labor, how many people, if this, if it's a lower wage, they might not be committed to the testing process. Why would I put myself through this? It's only fifteen dollars an hour. I I'm in a a one month, testing interviewing. I don't need that trust. It's only 15 an hour. So there is a fine balance and it's it's it's a balance.

A

Okay, thank you. Next, we have councilman constan.

N

Thank you, madam chair, and I first want to say about what a good job, elizabeth and marianne do and have done throughout the pandemic. uh A great job, two questions number one about the drop program and, basically, how it is administered.

N

So if a police officer or firefighter uh wants to go into the drop, is that a decision made by the chief? uh Is it a decision made by the mayor um or is it a decision made uh also by your office.

F

Okay, so, um and thanks for the knobs, because you're you're right, I I am so lucky to have the staff I do between marianne and megan who's, my part-timer. They are first-class employees, they're a great human being and they're both residents, and I am so blessed to have them on my staff. um So thank.

N

F

For saying that and giving me an opportunity to say that regards to the drop, it's very simple if they meet the qualifications, as defined by their collective bargaining agreement, um that's what these are in collective bargaining agreements and that's it. I have no stay, no say in the in the process, nor does the chief and we can't make we can't handcuff people to their chairs and make them stay forever. That'd be illegal.

N

So if, if uh a police officer wants to go into the drop, that's between uh him, his bargaining unit and the administration.

F

Does he meet the qualifications on on their first day of employment? They might want to be in the drop they don't qualify, though you have to you meet, you have to meet the qualifications and that's time served on the department plus if they elect to buy pension time.

N

All right, thank you, I'm as uh councilman zuhair abdul-hawk is worried about the overuse of that program um and then the part-time. The 20 000 is that for the what I'll call the second assistant megan in your budget on page 21.

F

It is, and I've used that in the past also for additional interns- college interns- if I have the opportunity so yeah, that's exactly what it is.

N

Thank you thank.

A

You thank you councilman abdul hart.

I

uh Madam chair, uh just of the subject, are we going to have study session on the act of 345 and the drop on the 6th of may.

A

We already confirmed that through email.

I

Okay, thank you.

A

With john riley, this is not the place for this next I have councilman bae doom.

I

I I didn't finish my my comment. Okay,.

I

I agree with elizabeth very much about the underpay of the employees, especially the entry level of the police department and the fire department, and we need to attract the best talent possible to our city and we need to pay him the right amount of money.

I

Now I will ask every director and the mayor please to do an annual evaluation for every one you appoint, so we know when you come up with a number to give them why they get in that amount of money, and we shouldn't give everybody across the board the same thing, because some people perform different than other people. Thank you. Thank.

A

You councilman.

J

They do- and you know I I thank you so much, madam chair, and so I'm just. I have a couple of things here. I know when I did the ride, along with an employee with dpw who do a phenomenal job. One of their concerns was to me mo we get paid 14 an hour. I make the same amount of money that somebody at taco bell makes, and here I am trimming up a tree here. I am fixing a water line here. I am doing all this work, but it's like man.

J

This person is going to pay 14 an hour. um So to me hearing this from a union employee.

J

I said you know what what we need to do is we need to make sure that we're putting our best foot forward here uh and making sure that these jobs, the juice, was worth the squeeze, because I'm going to tell you right now, 14 an hour, I'm not going to be giving my full commitment, I'm not going to get into work, excited and happy and feeling this joy of working for the city of dearborn heights as much as I want to give back to my city of dearborn heights and thank you to the to the employees that do uh but 14 an hour just just doesn't cut it I'll, go work and talk about roll up up some burritos and call it a day.

J

um So we, I think it's imperative that we have some type of meeting in support of these employees and you know- and I looked at and with all due respect to each and every single department head. I know uh councilman abdullah said our director of hr elizabeth perry took a voluntary pay cut. I mean that just you know not all heroes were capes in my eyes, and and that's just that that was something that she did.

J

It was so great and I think uh she's definitely earned her raise back, but you know I look at also. You know the clerk. You know that who works in there tirelessly every single day getting paid 39 000 a year. I mean, if that's a full-time job, making 39 thousand dollars a year. I I live by this moment. You want good employees, you pay good employees, you don't want good employees, you pay low band, you know you don't pay them as well.

J

uh So I think there needs to be uh definitely some adjustments and I know that we want to give all of our department heads I'm all about giving everybody raises if we have it, but we also have to look at all the employees, not just the department heads, because we know that the you know the the employees that are also working for these apartments are putting in their day in and day out as much as our directors are.

J

um So I feel that everybody, if somebody's gonna, get a raise and and somebody's been with this company, for example, I know the who works in the clerk's office or in the hr's office has been with us for a very long time. um I think you know seeing from the past she hasn't gotten raised: 39 000, that's that's 16! That's 1! 625!

J

Every two weeks. Yes, um my family wouldn't be able to survive off of that. Thank you. So I just want that for something that to be able to resonate with you guys, and so when my colleagues make that decision, we really sit back and think about that.

A

Thank you. Next, we have mayor bazi go ahead. Please.

B

Thank you, council, chair, just to answer uh one of the comments. Councilman constant brought up uh with uh uh fact 345.

B

uh So there is a study session and uh we'll myself, I will have a presentation for the council and whoever's on online to talk about the 3 45 and also we'll have the actuary so we're prepared for the presentation for that day and also to answer uh councilman beidoun's uh concerns about the pay raises for the individuals.

B

uh If anybody falls under the union, you know that that's something totally different. You know we. We have to wait for the contract negotiation, which is uh what for the tpom uh most of us, uh the ones that were on council from the last contract. That was, I think that was in 2018.

B

uh We discussed that you know there was a lot of gaps and there was a lot of issues uh signing that contract with a tpum and some of the employees that you have in question, or concerns fall in that contract. So this year we will be in june. We will, by junior, we will have to uh have a new contract with those employees, so we are looking at it and uh director elizabeth will and I and also their union.

B

We already had our initial meeting to discuss opening up for new negotiations for this year and to address that the concerns that you just had the councilman beijing.

J

Thank you. Thank you. I appreciate that mayor and I and I'm so sorry, madam chair, uh whenever these next meetings are, I don't know if they're public or if they're not, uh but if, if you can send out a request, maybe to the council as well to be able to shine in on that. That would be great.

A

No, that's it's one of our study sessions. We have scheduled in may already. Okay, perfect! Thank you we're getting off subject here. At this time we will move on to our police department. We have chief meyers go ahead. Please.

O

uh Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Thank you, council members. Mr mayor everybody, that's here uh you see the proposed budget in front of you. um As for staffing, um there's some recognizable changes in there. uh I would address any of them as they come up uh any of the changes you see from the pro the current year to the requested year. I have justifications for so I would really like to just open it up to the council and uh for any questions they might have on this budget.

A

Councilman abdullah, you're, muted,.

E

Okay, chief myers, can you hear me yes, sir great um a couple, questions first question is: I noticed on the deputy chief that went from one the current budgeted to half now I know our deputy chief uh um is going to be retiring. uh What is your current status on that one? Why is that going to happen? Is that something that's asked the mayor about, and I also had a couple of other questions, but let's start with that, one, if you don't mind.

O

You're gonna have to ask the mayor what what his reasoning is. I don't agree with the cut.

E

Okay, so mayor basie.

E

We're going to be we're going to be cancelling out, um it appears to be that we're cancelling out a deputy chief position and, and I'm surrounding the thought process behind that.

B

Yeah, thank you. Councilman abdullah, and uh this is some of the concerns that some kind uh some of the council members are brought up in the past. You know when I was on console that we had for three years. We had three or actually now four uh different chiefs in less than four years uh time frame, so we we wanted to. Actually you know one is uh we're not we're for right. Now we gotta take it out.

B

We can do a budget amendment later by just trying to make sure that everything comes to our office with. uh We just want to make sure that when we do bring a chief, you know it's uh one thing. Is uh it's going to be long term and you know a lot of concerns from residents and also some of the council members?

B

I don't know, I don't know if you were one of them that addressed that in the past, but I know I've heard it from several council members in the last you know month or so since I've been here that we have to make sure that uh that position I mean. Obviously it's not going to be deleted. You know we can discuss that later. It's going to be, you know up to all of us. You know just to make sure that we have.

B

You know transparency, we're not just going through the rank and just make sure that we have. uh uh You know the the the the particular position when you go up to the chief. You know you spend six months eight months and retire then just puts a burden on our budget.

N

Text me about it and I'll text, you back what kind of keys.

O

Madam chair, if I can respond chief myers, um I'm going to respectfully disagree, I believe the spot of the deputy chief police is extremely important. um We have finally got into a spot in our dynamics here at the police department, where we have one chief, one, deputy chief. The burden, as you can see, is about forty five thousand dollars. This is a contractually obligated spot to be tested from captain.

O

It's a negative impact on morale by taking the opportunity to promote through the ranks here, it's a civil service position. um It's currently in a letter of understanding that this is the makeup, that's 25 of the administration.

O

So, right now the deputy chief is responsible for the uh maintenance and and care of the 77 000 square foot facility. They also write for the grants that we get on a regular basis here. They also are responsible for the fleet for the overall administration of many of the items that go on the non-operational side of the police department.

O

When you take away that 25 percent, that puts down all those responsibilities to the officers and the supervisors that are supposed to be maintaining the operations of the day-to-day of the police department, that means your lieutenants that are supposed to be monitoring. Dispatch will now be writing grants that will be and uh providing service to the citizens.

O

I believe that this spot is absolutely valuable um matter of fact, we've become the 10th safest city, because we've been able to streamline the police department to be more effective. When I started here in 1997, we had 101 police officers. We now do it on an 83 person budget for police officers, so we have cut the fat at the top over the course of the last two decades.

O

I believe this spot is invaluable and I believe that um taking this away from the officers that have dedicated their career to here, not just to start but to make it up through the ranks through the civil service process, to make it to a level where they can administer the police for the citizens of dearborn heights is uh is not is wrong, and I, my request would be that the council had that deputy chief back in is full-time.

O

um I I I strongly disagree um and I would be happy to answer any questions about the position. um I I don't agree with this move. Thank.

E

You, um council, chair, so just to continue my question um I'll, be honest with you mayor, I I can't I I see your point. I definitely see your concern because I had the same concerns when we had turnover as far as the police chiefs are concerned and you're right, we had three four of them within, I think a roughly about a year period, so I totally agree that that was definitely problematic based on the way the the lines were set up to to end up like that.

E

But I don't agree, though, at the same time that if we got rid of a deputy chief that that would solve that problem, I I don't see how personally, how that would solve that problem. um So that's something we got to address another two things that I want to address with the chief. If you don't mind, is um well.

E

First of all, I want to give you guys kudos, uh because one of the first things that I worked with previous chiefs on or talked to about is diversity in our police department, and I give you guys kudos for continuing to have a diverse police department, not necessarily with exact percentages based on a diversity in the city, but at least just diverse, in hiring, whether it's uh women, uh african-americans arab americans, etc, etc.

E

I love the diversity in the direction you've been going so good job on that two things that I want to ask you about is number one. If you could address the body camera situation, because I didn't notice that in there and what the status is on that- and I think this is something that's very- very important that we have as a part of our police department and then number two with dispatch, at least it appears.

E

I know this is not a vote, but at least it appears that we are going a direction where we're not going to have possibly a combined dispatch, and with that being the case, I'd like to see what is your preparedness for continuing our dispatch and improving it. At this particular point.

O

So I'll start with the the body cameras, um your council had approved us to go out for a request for bids for our body camera system. Those have returned we're currently in the testing phase. um I I'm gonna have to once again defer to the mayor. um I do not know where the funding went and I'm going to have to ask how we intend to pay for that system.

A

Go ahead, please.

B

Go ahead, oh thank you. Yeah again, you know we talked about the the budget v fluid we still have uh about a month or so uh to uh to finalize it. uh We uh we are looking for uh hassan jamal, is actually looking for uh funding uh for uh grants and uh he's got one or maybe two leads uh that he's actually checking into right now, hopefully, by the time this budget's approved, you know we we will have that uh uh that grant.

B

If not, then we would have to revisit to see where you know we can put something on on the budget, but uh from mr jamal hassan jamal's uh uh meetings that we had. You know a couple times in the last couple weeks that he's looking for. uh He has ideas about funding and he's been in meetings about funding for the for the body. Cams.

E

Is it possible we could use it from the 25 million.

B

That's also that that is a possibility, anything that you know, covert, related and uh and and again you know we there's a lot of stuff, as everything is fluid we're getting a lot of in feedback from the congressional delegates about where we can use the money, but we did we. I did ask that question and right now it looks like we can. But again you know, I'm not gonna count on anything until I see something in writing and concrete something from the government, so it does look like a possibility.

E

O

Chief regarding.

E

Dispatch please yeah.

O

Well to one last topic: on the body cameras: there is always as we get these bids back. This is something that's a can be financed over the course of five years, so we're to give you a ballpark on the rfps um you're. Looking at a million dollars for the system, roughly 200 000 a year for the next five years, there are grants that we can obtain through mmrma. We will do those, but you have to purchase the equipment before you can get those grants um or actually know that they're approved.

O

So um I believe that the unions, both the patrol the supervisor officer, are 100 percent supportive of this idea. um I hope we can make these body cams happen in this this budget. um I know the mayor believes in them, so I'm not disagreeing that the mayor's not trying um he's trying to do his budget. I believe he believes in it. I believe the council believes in it. um I'm not. I'm not aware of these talks between mr jamal I've not been privy to them.

O

So uh I can't answer what's been going on on those, but I know the mayor's committed to the body. Cameras he's just trying to find a way. So I don't want you to think that the mayor's not committed to them. um As for dispatch, uh I was given the opportunity or asked by the mayor bazi to present what it would take and what it would cost to go to another agency and what it would take, both in cost and manpower to operate.

O

A professional public safety access point, they're, no longer just dispatch, centers they're public safety answering points I provided that I provided the management that would be needed in the supervision and the number of dispatchers that would be needed.

O

Those were in the presentation. Those numbers were in my requested budget. uh Those numbers are not there now, so I I'm not able to answer uh why the modeling is different and what was presented.

E

Well, the reason I asked chief, because if you look on there under department proposed salary, you had 61 000 for psap manager. You had 39 000 for dispatch supervisor, but then, when you go to the proposed budget um 2122, it was not in there.

E

P

E

Were the next last line to the right? It was not in there at all, there was zero. I can only.

O

Defer to the the people who built the budget that was proposed, um I had requested it. It's not in there.

I

Mayor, can you answer them.

B

Yes, so for those those okay, so we're already operating here right now with a short staff we have for the for the dispatch they have been operating without those two positions, and now we in our budget, we increase the staff with this patch so and also, if you look at other uh brainstorm or benchmark other department that they don't have. You know the city of our size have uh those positions.

A

So I'd like to say, as far as the body cams being put in the budget, I have to agree on that. I'm more proactive, I would put them in the budget and if we do get some kind of grant then take it back out, because the budget is fluid, but at least we've got something definite in place to get us our body cams.

A

um Next we have councilman bayden.

J

I believe vince had his hand up before me. Talk to you.

A

I'm sorry councilman, but this is for council people only. Oh okay,.

B

A

Mr dropkowski, there will be public helmet at the end. I can leave your hand up if you like, so you could be first.

J

Okay, so so I just I kind of also want to speak about the the cutoff of the deputy chief. You know I come from a family of law enforcement and you know understanding the rankings of in law enforcement. I'm not saying that uh you know! Well, I don't know where we would stand if there would still be a deputy chief if we were to eliminate the pay rate, I'm assuming not because there's no money there, um but I would also like to just let no hr chief mayor.

J

um I I wouldn't like to see that we cut out that position. I mean until we you know, can potentially get a understanding as to why, but I also have to say to the mayor. uh I also I I see where he's coming from we're, seeing that there have been changes in chief of police's, so you know gradually where a lot of the residents or or maybe even uh the mayors haven't even really gotten to on all these new chiefs. But I can see right now. I know chief mark mario's is young. It's athletic!

J

Last time I spoke with him. I think he was out doing an athletic event, so I'm sure he's gonna be with us for a pretty long time, young man um so but but I don't also see that that pretty cheap position is uh a position that we should be letting go and not be funding for. um So I I would ask that the mayor, try to you, know, work with his chief of staff and maybe the controller, and to seeing how we can uh amend this to make sure that we don't lose the pay.

J

I know that he's retiring in december um and you know there's going to be up in the rankings a lot of these officers who have been with the you know the force first. You know, however, many years that they have are now finding out that deputy chief position. Isn't there no more, I can't see myself grow within the ranks um and- and you know sometimes uh that's it's upsetting uh so so stop.

A

You there we do have budget wrap up and that's where we would add it back in it would.

H

A

Up to us at this point just I know this is your first budget, so I just wanted to let you know.

J

Well with that, uh the next thing I have is the dispatch. I think that's also something that we need to budget in, for I know that and nothing against any of the dispatchers, but I think there always needs to be some type of leadership where somebody is there overseeing all the dispatchers um and that can be one of the dispatchers who's been there for eight years. We can get, maybe give her.

J

You know not the role of uh of the manager, but we can sure I'm sure we can give them a little bit of a raise, because I know that's what dearborn does right now. They give. I think all the employees can make like 20 one makes 24 or 25 the one that makes 25 is the manager at the time.

J

So maybe we can work something out there with the dispatch, but I do believe that there needs to be some type of management there as well, um and then just the last thing that I have is you know what that's all I had that's all I had written on there.

A

Thank you. Next, I have councilman constant.

N

Thank you, madam chair, and briefly chief and mayor, so under dispatchers I see the current budget and proposes both 13 dispatchers.

N

So that's a total of about in salary, 500 000 and if I'm reading that correct, if we, if we joined the dearborn area dispatch, we wouldn't have that expense. But then we'd have our uh pay. Our our share to pay into the city of dearborn for using their dispatch, correct.

O

Yes, I mean from the presentation: you've got the ballpark numbers, um what it would cost us, what it would cost to go to a combined dispatch and what it would cost to maintain ours, um I'm open to both I just want. I want us to have a professional, a top-notch, a state-of-the-art um life-saving uh system here at dearborn heights, for our citizens and if we keep it here, I think we need to have it done correctly.

O

N

You thank you and then the uh body cameras. I know that we will get a discount on our uh liability insurance um for our officers. If we have the body cameras and then the the foyer coordinator, uh uh who's who's gonna, do the um floyd requests that we get like, for example, from the different law firms for police reports and so forth.

O

Our at right now we have our records department that fulfills the foias, as we currently do. That boya coordinator was added as um because we know the demand that the body cameras would do um if the mayor believes that we're able to continue with the current level of staffing, I'm not going to dispute that, because I don't have any statistics, because we don't have the body cameras that would support or contradict that, um so that to have that position not in there right now.

O

I can understand, because we don't have the data to support that um we would need the increased personnel to cover those. It's a wish list item, um but it might something we have to reevaluate.

O

If we get the body cameras and we realize that just the pure amount of data that needs to be reviewed would uh need another person. So I believe that that the way it's set right now isn't acceptable is acceptable in its form.

N

All right, thank you. You, you did a lot of the I.t stuff uh before you came, became chief. Isn't that correct.

Q

That's correct.

N

H

N

Myers, yes,.

O

N

A

Next, we have hassan jamal go ahead. Please.

H

M

Good morning, uh responding to the chief just to clarify chief myers, there is about uh so much confirmed about two million dollars by lieutenant martin and we supposed to have meeting to clarify, what's really being expended but not received. Yet there's about approximately 2.5 million dollars coming back as a reimbursement for a lot of the public safety.

M

We will discuss that, so there will be money for the body camera and I will assure you you know from discussion with the mayor that the 200 000, whatever you know for this coming for scalia will be there. We just want to finalize uh how we can deal with this millions of dollars coming as a reimbursement, whether you need it back in your budget or we can.

M

It can be like. In addition, you know, because you already spent that money on salary and other things, so there would be money there now for the grant.

M

uh There is indication that this 25 million dollars there will be a lot of money for that for law enforcement and the state also have some programs that we missed in the past. uh So now, from now on, you know, captain or the deputy chief rioli will be involved with us me. uh She, deputy chief and lieutenant martin and rihanna.

M

We will be working very hard on your behalf. We will find every penny we can. We can, you know, find for uh for the public safety. Personally personally, I am. I am a very advocate for public safety beyond my job. It's my personal belief that that whatever public safety need, this is the backbone of the community, any community.

M

So I'll assure you- and I shared with the lieutenant- I mean with the chi, with the deputy chief, a couple of grand in terms of the new technology he was talking about. You know, instead of you know, using lethal, uh we may be able you know to help or you gotta get involved yourself. If you like, there's a new.

M

I think you you're advocating for that too, so be assured that whatever the public safety needs, whether it is law enforcement or fire, I am working unlimitedly to find any possible grant, but again 2.5 million dollars coming to the city later in july. You will have your share back and you can. We can discuss whatever you need in that department.

O

Thank you miss. Thank you, mr uh jamal, and I I just I appreciate his words, because that just goes to uh further emphasize why the deputy chief spot is so important, so he can work with uh mr jamal on obtaining these grants. So public safety succeeds. So it's just another. Another reason why the deputy chief spot is so important to him.

M

uh Chief, I can't comment on that. It's your expertise. The mayor also came from a marine a police force, so you guys can can whatever I can help both of you to do whatever good I will, but we are a team. Your deputy is with us uh myself, mariana lieutenant martin.

M

The mayor actually commissioned us to be a grand team and we are working wherever we can.

O

A

Next, I have councilman abdullah.

E

uh So, chief, I had two more questions. If you don't mind, uh one of them is senior office. Pay uh officer pay uh 90 000. Can you please describe to us what exactly that is.

O

So when I was according to the collective bargaining agreements, when an officer reaches so many years, it's an incentive during that time frame, I believe it's two percent that they get of their base salary. So I believe I want to say it's. After seven years of employment, um they get two percent of their salary in a senior patrol play.

E

Pay so so in this particular case, it's not for one particular officer. It's across.

O

The board it's for every member that has over that many that that contractually bargained an amount which I believe is seven years.

E

Okay and the other question I had is in your proposed budget, the emergency manager coordinator uh appears that the salary is going from fifty five thousand six hundred and twenty to seventy five thousand. Is that correct uh that.

O

Yeah, that's correct! uh That was at the right.

E

Time of the mayor, so, mr mayor, can you do describe to us what the thought process is in that particular case and the second question I had and I'm sure I'm not sure if you would be able to answer that or maybe our hr director if the emergency coordinator position is that something that's mandated by our charter must be there or is that just an elective position that we we decide to have please.

B

Okay, so I'm not sure if I thought that council chair wants to address the salary pay raises at the end of the the end. Is that is that one of them or uh well.

A

I guess he he's questioning it and whether we adjust it or not would be at the end, he's just questioning.

B

Your thought process, I just want to make sure, because you you you you, you set the rules and I'm just following them.

A

Yeah, no, if we're going to change the number we do it at the end, but if they got questions on the different numbers, this is the time for them to ask, so they can think about it more before the end.

B

Okay, thank you. So that's again, you know we're trying to go with uh all all the positions that directors across the board. As uh uh director elizabeth mentioned, you know for the positions you want to try to uh maintain the talent in in those positions, uh and not just you know somebody bouncing from uh from our city to another city. You know once they get the experience, so that's the worst thing to do is I mean just like any any any entity you go into. uh Even corporate america, you go in for a position.

B

You gain the experience with a company at a lesser pay and since you know with uh there's no like contract negotiations with the directors, you know they're, just uh you know, appointed by the mayor. um They can just come in great gain experience, a lesser pay and just bounce. You know like we've had in the past. You know and there's there's stuff that I can't obviously talk about about personal issues, but you know, especially in public. You know I mean usually um for personal issues.

B

We discuss them in close sessions, but I'll be more than happy. If any council member wants to come to the office here, I'll sit down with you individually, obviously, no more than three, and I will discuss you know the reasoning behind. You know some of the things without you know violating you know people's right. You know about about pay and and that kind of stuff, but uh with uh we we do want to maintain uh our employees.

B

uh As I mentioned earlier, we have a great team and uh those guys, uh you know- and also I mean elizabeth. You know as a director- and you know, like all my directors, they're they're they're doing I mean now we have a great team, they're they've been doing an amazing job and again I want to maintain a team in place and I wanted to just get the experience and just move move somewhere else, because that will happen and I've seen it many many times even in cope.

B

Like I said when I was in corporate, you know, people come in, they get the lesser pay, get the experience one two years and boom move on somewhere else, and we can't afford that in a city and as a director elizabeth mentioned, you know when you, uh when you do that kind of stuff. You know it just brings down morale and that's something you know it's since, since we've been here, you know we have like, like I said we have a great team and the morale has changed in the city hall.

B

Even residents have been saying, you know how positive it is coming to the city hall to conduct their business here. As far as for the emergency manager. That was something that was. uh The position was already in place when I got here, and obviously we do need that position, especially with the pandemic that we're in and with uh with covid. uh Mr, uh the director gavin uh he's been doing an amazing job, uh getting uh the residents and also our team, um aware of what's going on with this pandemic.

B

I know in the history since I've been alive. You know I've never heard or seen anything to that extent that we're in right now the the situation in the united states. Obviously I've seen it overseas, but not here in the us, but with uh with him being in place. You know we're working on trying to get our residents vaccinated and he's he's spending a lot of hours, as I mentioned as other directors, but the emergency manager position is is required, especially in the situation that we're in right now is very critical for us.

E

So then, just to summarize, I just want to make sure I'm clear on this. Mr mayor.

A

I think hr wants to weigh in on.

F

That also, I just wanted to give you some context about that salary so and it pays 13 approximately 13 000 less today than it did 13 years ago, right, 13 and 13..

F

So in 2008 this was paying around 68 69 000 and today it's at you know the 59 55 6., so that's where it was 13 years ago was 13 000 higher. um So that's what I wanted to mention. It is not in the charter and, as you know, um with regards to it's, you know: it's been flooded. You know, you've you've relied on your emergency managers in the past for flooding, events and other major storms, etc, where it's impacted the city in many different areas,.

E

Okay, so, lastly, for the mayor, so then is the plan, mr mayor, to give raises to the directors across the board, at this particular point and the reason I'm asking this so that we could, as a council, make a better determination, like I mentioned earlier, do we give them across the board? Do we give them on an individual basis, but I just want to see from your proposal is to give the directors based on your proposal, directors arrays across the board. Pretty much is that correct.

B

uh Yes, yeah, correct councilman protoman is all the directors across the board. Okay. Thank you. Thank you.

A

um I'm gonna call on two more council people, and I'm gonna remind you. We've gone over time. We've got the next person to present waiting. So if we could shorten it, I would appreciate it go ahead. Councilman abdel hawk.

I

I will pass my time just go to the next person, I'm sure yes, okay,.

A

Then we have councilman, you took your hand down. Did you want.

D

To talk yes, I did I'm same with the councilman abdellah guy I'll pass. My time.

A

Okay, next, on the schedule, we have information technology with director feldcamp.

A

Let me on get him unmuted.

R

A

Good, how are you doing today.

R

A

R

Yes, I have dark uh on as well, so if you can unmute him, that would be great.

A

I saw him come in. Here is okay.

R

Go ahead, please, um the purpose for our our group is uh to basically implement the budget and the items that you wish to move forward on and support all of the it functions. We certainly give advice, but we do not necessarily uh tell you what what you need.

R

We look for your wants and wishes and how fast you want to move the other day uh shared with us, a budget allocation and and amounts that we actually hadn't seen before it was uh the document that uh her predecessor would work off of and had not actually shared with us. So we've tried to support every activity uh that that you've had and move you forward.

R

We've moved to leap years ahead of where you were five years ago. We did that rather rapidly, and I think our support has been good, but the actual breakdown of the budget and the priorities have been a little bit of a mystery. In terms of the communication of when and and what priorities certain items have. We've got: we've given numerous quotes on equipment and that sort of thing we don't sell equipment. We don't we simply support whatever you purchase.

R

We do advise on the types of things so we've we've tried to do the best job uh possible, but I'd like uh tarek to kind of explain uh where we are in terms of uh the actual equipment, software etc. uh To sort of give you an overview of of how we work with your staff and and city.

S

Good morning, everyone good morning good morning, so we we've been engaged. You know to work with uh administration before and come up with a five-year plan and put some budget estimates and we've been working on that. uh Unfortunately, we have no for no way to enforce anything like who gets it and uh how it gets deployed. So before the administration we would order, they would order uh equipment and then we'll come back and get the notification and then deploy with the new administration.

S

We've been trying to encourage them that if we put the entire city on a five-year cycle, where we know exactly what's going to be replaced and when they're going to be replaced, then we can start on resources available to deploy.

S

So we are looking at right now at what get budgeted and what is the year 2020 uh numbers that we can spend and then we're going to start, putting uh a little priority to get purchased for 2020 and then plan for 2021 replacement of old equipment or anything that needs to be replaced, uh including hardware, software and uh other projects. uh I know the mirror is requesting a lot of the services to go on the web and online and try to accommodate what's priority and what gets done first.

S

There was some equipment that got purchased before that. We are right now, working with the deploy and a dedicated staff member at that dearborn heights city hall and working exclusively on the deployment of that hardware.

H

R

Much thank you turk,.

A

Councilman abdullah.

E

So, thank you guys for all you do, um but I do have I'll be honest with your disappointment in in um in something um a lot of the residents and uh some council members- and I know the previous mayor had talked about putting city inspections. I don't know if this is something I speak with the building director, but putting city inspections, online certificate of occupancies permits, etc, etc, and I know our current mayor has been one of the people that has been pushing for that also, uh the primary reasons.

E

um One of the things I talked to the mayor about is when people come into our city right off the bat they're dealing with the building department and when people are leaving our city they're dealing with the building department. I think it's a department to where top-notch services got to be given and it is but something that would help that department a lot by having a lot less people standing in lines by having a lot of those things online. We've talked about this now.

E

This is the third fourth, maybe even fifth year in a row, I'm not sure the exact years, but definitely no less than two or three years. It's still not online. Is there any reasoning behind that.

R

Well, um the again we take uh looks like the mayor wants to answer that question, but uh we we take our direction. uh We took our direction from uh the former uh mayor and uh chief of staff and although we met with bsna, we we talked about that a number of times. I didn't see them pushing that forward.

R

We have had conversations uh with both mariana and the the new mayor and both have expressed an urgency to that which we've already responded to in terms of getting uh quotes for them and uh talking about a plan for how much of that can be done with the 20 20.

R

So I'll, let I'll let the mayor and ariana speak to that a piece of it and their intentions.

B

Okay, thank you, mr uh paul kemp and mr ismail, for for the presentation.

B

uh So I know uh uh chief of staffer nance wants to say something as well, but for me I I want to thank your team uh for actually working with us. I know that you guys have been engaged with us on pretty much daily basis, trying to get everything online as uh councilman pro tom abdullah brought up, and this is something we're we're working diligently, trying to make sure that we have. uh You know state-of-the-art uh system at the building director.

B

As you mentioned, you know I've seen since I've been here, I mean at the city hall, I'm seeing a lot of activity going on at the building director I mean at the building department and our building director. Mr watlin he's actually been engaged with day-to-day operation discussion on how to improve the process and you're going to see what he presents his budget.

B

We have some couple items that we added this year to the budget for the building department to optimize and uh just as you mentioned, councilman, protem, abdullah, and a lot of real estate agents that come through here. You know they do stop here and they talk to me about efficiency or lack of efficiency in the department in the past, and so we we, we do have a already a quote.

B

You know from uh from it uh what it would take to upgrade the system uh with bsna and they there is a proposal, but it came into the agenda and again I don't want to get in trouble with the council chair. I didn't want to. We had it like a day after we proposed, we sent the agenda, so I didn't want to add it to that agenda.

B

So I'm adding it to the next council meeting, not this tuesday, the following council meeting for the council to approve that budget to upgrade our you know, bsna, and just so we can go online permits and that kind of stuff. So you will see it on your butt on a budget request, not budget. I'm sorry, you will see it on the agenda, not this tuesday, the following meeting for you guys to approve that so.

E

B

E

Great. Thank you.

T

Hi I've been unmuted, so I don't know if I'm allowed to speak at this point.

A

Yeah, you still want to I'm sorry, chief of staff. Did you have anything additional to add to that.

T

Yes, I just wanted to point out that we do have a hundred and two thousand seven and 776 left in our capital outlay for the current budget, the 2020 budget. So we are going to be using those funds uh to purchase this items for the building department and not just the building department, but we are looking to improve the online payment systems across the city, uh including the treasurer's department, water department, ordinance and so on.

T

um As doug mentioned, I am trying to improve the communication that we have with them that way, they are fully aware of the funds that are available to them and when these projects need to be implemented, another project that is absolutely one of my priorities, is the integration of microsoft 365, which had been approved by council back in 2019.

T

So that is another part of the projects that are in line to go out. uh As doug mentioned, they are currently deploying the 50 computers that have been purchased previously in 2019 2020 period december to january, so they they definitely have their hands full.

T

They are an amazing team uh who is providing all the assistance that they can and communicating with me and my questions as to why these things hadn't taken place, and I want to make sure that moving forward when we do purchase an item that they're involved in that conversation to make sure that it is possible to integrate it with our current systems. And we don't have problems that we've had in the past.

A

Thank you next, I.

H

A

Councilman, muscat.

G

D

I just want to ask about the capital outlay: do you have a plan of what the capital outlay is gonna be spent on.

A

Okay, who is that for councilman.

D

What would be for for either uh doug or tariq there? uh We have a you know, requesting a hundred and eight thousand dollars, and I see we've requested a high amount of dollars in previous years, but uh the activity was very low, only five thousand dollars. So what what are we doing?.

R

If I can answer uh that generally, uh we we have provided uh pretty much from day one a a five-year equipment replacement plan uh to to cover the capital uh piece of that that had had been in the hands of the administration in prior years. uh But what never got shared back with us is uh what the timeline and goals for those uh the spending of those dollars. We never understood or got feedback on whether the recommendations were going to be followed or they were going to be altered.

R

So, as a result, uh we would uh each year have hurry up. Let's, let's purchase this this, and this and that'll be good for the years. The big change here has been mariana.

R

Arraign has been arranging meetings with us to keep us informed as to what the goals of the city are, what what the priorities of those goals are, and she has looked at that five-year plan and she shared the spreadsheet of how the budget is allocated, that's under under her control and so that we have a better idea of of what what money is.

R

Actually, there uh we've we've given numerous quotes in the past uh for projects where we've been asked for the quotes, they've sat for several months and then we're asked to get the quote again and again without knowing what the timeline was. What the real intention uh in terms of moving forward was, so I don't. I don't want to.

R

Downplay the the importance of having information as to what what budget is available and what the priorities are, and I believe, uh between the meetings that mariana tariq and myself have had that's, become much more clear and the mayor has spoken to uh both of us uh on multiple occasions explaining his priorities as well. So that's that's been a welcome change. It allows us to uh plan our activities.

R

Obviously we share our time between dearborn heights and and dearborn, and we we put in extra hours if we know we're working on something that is, is desired. We've allocated a body there for the majority of the week uh to do the rollouts so that we have consistency and get that done expeditiously.

R

So we want you to succeed, but we need. You know your administration to help us succeed by sharing those uh plans with us. Council chair, you've done a great job.

D

Of that busquet yeah, uh when we allocate uh money for capital outlay, like say in this case, 108 000 and the money isn't spent. What happens is that liquid money? Is it just money on on on a piece of paper or uh what happens to the money when you don't spend it it's a little fun.

D

Where does it go and can anybody answer that.

I

Let them cheer.

D

Can't hear you manager.

A

I'm sorry who are you directing that towards well.

D

To anybody that could answer it, uh I I don't know if it was a comptroller or marianna or mr uh jamal hassan uh somebody that that's knowledgeable about this. Where does the money go.

A

Excuse me: we've got chief of staff go ahead. Please excuse.

T

Me, thank you, um mr muscat. Thank you for your question and just to answer briefly. uh The five-year plan has a lot of items that are repetitive for the five years from the it department which include computers and servers that need to be upgraded throughout the city, and we are fully aware that the ones that are a priority right now are the ones from the clerk's office, because those machines are about 10 years old.

T

So again, we are prioritizing what they are, but just to give you an idea of what the capital outlet may be for it's typically going to be for machines, computers and software, and that's going to be consistent. Moving forward for the next five years. Okay,.

H

D

L

T

The capital outlay and what happens with those funds uh we are discussing with plant moran, uh mr jawad, actually just raised his hand, so we we have been discussing with them. Some funds would go to um the general fund if they're unrestricted and if they are restricted they would go to the restricted accounts, but we are also working on a clearer plan for that, so that we're all aware of how much funds are left over and I'm going to transfer it to mr jawad now.

A

I'm looking for a zoom hand, and I don't see him.

D

Doing do we eat, concentrate when we get this money and and it doesn't get spent again, does it go to the general fund, or does it come back to council to be redistributed, because I don't remember uh money being redistributed from capital outweighs all you know. uh I don't ever remember voting on anything like that. All I know is we we allocate the money and then okay and then we come back and somebody wants to buy something and I always told it was approved and so and so in your budget and uh that's it.

D

But when money is left over, I don't know where it goes.

C

Okay, so the money that you see you see you're, seeing that we budgeted for that amount in that department um now where the money comes from, is, is a different story right. So if we decided to spend on what we approved in the budget, uh what you approved in the budget, then we draw the money from the account that it's tied to, uh if you don't use it, it's just not used. uh So it's not like the money's sitting, necessarily in all cases in that specific budgeted account.

C

It's that you approved to be for, for, let's say, general funds in some cases to be used for this specific uh account. Now, if, if it's restricted in a restricted revenue account, then that is sitting there basically waiting to be used for these restricted uses all right. So there's no like actual money just floating there. You can see in our audits the fund balance. So that's like our overall balance.

C

That's left over after our revenues come in for the year and we expend it so if there's anything left over, it goes into balance and we have cash sitting there that we can use for next year. If we need it and a lot of cities, municipalities organizations tend to keep a certain amount in there to to have some leeway and flexibility, because emergencies happen like this covenant right. So you know what we're experiencing now.

C

So so it's kind of a it's an accounting thing, so you know and that's why they draw a bunch of different accounts from like specific bank accounts and things like that. Any of that stuff. You need that information. You can tell me, and we.

D

Can get it to you just a reminder to the council people just because we approve something in capital. Outlay doesn't mean the money has to has to be spent. We still have to approve the spending of that money, because in previous years uh that didn't happen, it didn't come before us and it was just spent okay, and I just want to make you all aware that we still have to approve all of that spending. Yeah.

C

You're you're improving the budget, but.

D

Right now we also improve. We also approve the money from the budget to be spent yes from capital outlay. Somebody wants to buy a new truck. It still hasn't come to us, regardless. If we approved a hundred eight thousand dollars anyway. Correct just uh make that clear.

A

Okay: next, we have councilman abdulha.

I

Thank you, madam chair. I have two questions. We have purchased some, I think some machines and they are sitting in front of the door of the human resource for the last couple months. I would like to know when those going to be installed and why they have been sitting this long.

R

Looks like the mayor wants to answer that.

A

Oh, I thought it was directed at you, I'm sorry huh yeah.

B

Anyone yeah thank you for the question councilman, so uh so we do have a schedule for uh to actually put these machines in use, so we had, we had to change a couple of the schedules. Just to give you an example, the clerk's office was scheduled to have one of the copy machines that you saw in the hallway, but the messinia from the clerk's office uh didn't want that one particular machine because of the excessive amount of usage that they have with the machine.

B

So we had to get another machine allocated uh for for the for her department, so we had to change so the it team is actually uh on on on schedule right now to get those machines uh implemented and again, you know, since um myself and miss hernandez has been been here in in the office. We we are working diligently with our it. It team uh to uh get those systems, not just the copy machines.

B

We have computers as well that they're uh they're trying to get them into the particular departments like say, for example, dpw had some stuff that were supposed to be deployed to them and we had the comptroller's office. We had several offices that were supposed to be getting computers, so it's not just the copy machines.

B

There's other uh items that you, you did not see there in one of the rooms, so they are it team is working diligently trying to get those systems deployed to the particular departments they were supposed to be allocated for so they are working on them daily.

I

Okay, my second thank you mayor. The second question is who has complete access to our email on the system, the city council, members or anybody else? Is there any particular person in the city who can access all those emails, or there is security enough that we have privacy.

A

Go ahead, would you answer that, please.

R

Yeah, the uh the current email system is hosted externally, uh the only uh that have administrative rights or myself and my team as as necessary. We do not release anything from those emails uh to anyone uh without a specific direction and we we would have to get that from uh the administration.

R

The mayor's level, as as people have changed positions.

R

A typical request is if, if we have a person replacing someone else, we make sure that the leaving person's email is redirected for a period of time, so that uh things don't fall through the cracks bills, don't get missed and uh important notifications, but we've always asked that they once they're stabilized and it's clear that that new person is taken over. We discontinue that that process.

I

Okay, if, if let's say the mayor request to look at somebody's email, do you notify that person that the mayor asked about their emails and he wrote their emails.

R

Ultimate, you know, the email system is the property of the city of dearborn heights and with the mayor leading it, so we we would take our direction directly from the mayor's office. We we do not take requests from other departments. Saying hey I'd like to look at someone else's email or I'd like to look at this or that again it it really comes down to what is the you know, purpose of uh the request, uh the police department?

R

Ultimately, you know if they had a foia request or something uh they they would have access to, uh addressing the foia on that sort of thing. But we we take. You know the privacy of that email very seriously, but the city emails, the property and city, so the employees should understand- and I believe it's been stated to everyone that that that is not personal email. It is, it is theirs to uh to use, but it it's ultimately the city's property and it is all subject to foia.

R

H

R

Had you know, without mentioning names, a past employee that you know said hey, can I get something that was in my email? I simply directed that person to the mayor's office and if I get approval through the mayor's office, that information was to be released then that I you know I would comply it. It's not it's not my property. It's the city of dearborn heights, property.

H

A

Next, we have councilman bayden.

J

Hey, thank you so much and I just want to bring up a couple of things here. I know that uh I thank marianna and and bill bazi for really council mayor bilbasi for focusing uh a lot of its um resources and looking to expand our modern day technology.

J

uh One thing to me that I think maybe we can look into also is uh you know you know. As councilman abdullah said, people walk in they've seen the building director they're, seeing um you know they're, seeing the clerk's office they're one of the mayor's office. Maybe we can uh budget or maybe we can work something out with rit, uh tautic and uh doug to see if we can put up like a kiosk like dearborn has or other some of these communities have where they have kiosks. They set them up.

J

You want to get a renew of a business license. You want to renew something like this, maybe not always having to go online, because things can be a little bit more uh confusing but being able to have a kia set up at city hall, because I know I can go into dearborn right now. Go to my chaos, pay my water bill and I have to see the treasure and you know, and I'm not saying that to take away any jobs from any of the employees, but I think it just kind of helps speeds up.

J

The process of you know people, city hall, uh and what they're able to do? uh That's my first question. The second thing is: uh maybe for councilman abdulheck. What you can ask request is put a study session or ask to be put a resolution so that anybody's willing to see somebody's emails, for example the administration or the mayor. uh I have to go before council. Have the council vote on it if it passes go forward? If a former employee would like to see something, have it go?

J

I mean it's a check and balance regardless put it in front of the council council approves of it a former employee.

J

um Let's just say I had something on my email and I don't get reelected and I want to get something on there. I don't think the ultimate decision should sit at the you know the administrator or one person. Let the city council decide on that, and that's what you know we're here for and that's what the purpose of a check and balance is uh and then just my final statements are um doug. Can we or todd can one of us get an update?

J

I know the mayor and mariana are working on to making things more efficient online. Do we have a timeline on that and when we would potentially start seeing that, I know I've spoken with the treasurer in the past and she said she's working and then she's working diligently to make sure you can get online pay for things online, and so thank you to our treasurer. uh But you know when, when I have my neighbors call me and say: hey mo, I can't pay my water bill online. This is ridiculous, we're still stuck in the 60s.

J

I say you know what we want to see your beautiful face in city hall. Just come on down that you know that excuse is eventually fading away and no longer being able to find any new excuses for that. So can we doug or todd? Can one of you guys tell me what is the timeline on potentially being able to see ourselves be reconciling with you know, modern day technology today.

A

This is a budget hearing and we're getting way over on getting off the subject. We should be sticking what is.

J

Actually, and- and I get that, but one of the questions that I asked was having the chaos- maybe we can budget for that. What does something like that cost? uh So I I'd love to hear from them. Please.

A

Okay, um go ahead mayor.

B

Thank you, council, chair, so for the kiosk councilman. By doing I mean thanks for the the question we we're actually in discussion. We haven't budgeted for it, but we have talked about it. I know uh uh the chief of staff mariana hernandez myself and I know, talked to tara and doug about this. You know a couple of times and also discussing this with our directors we we are.

B

We are thinking about doing that, but right now we're just trying to uh what we budgeted for trying to get up to speed on where I know most cities are at right now with online uh system with permits and everything else, but with the kiosk we do we do our we are get we are discussing it. uh However, I mean, like you know like we keep saying you know this budget is fluid, you know we we can change it later.

B

I mean we can request a change to the council even after approved you know, once we get, uh we have to right now, we're stuck in this. You know, like you mentioned, that's a good uh analogy with in the 70s on some things, but with the help of doug and tariq, you know they're helping us get up to speed. You know, especially with the systems or the computers that we they're deploying.

B

We have to assess that first to see where we're at you know. After everything has been deployed, then we get uh our building department uh with the automation that they need, and I know, there's there's so much stuff that to discuss. I mean we can't discuss it right now, it's going to take probably hours but anytime. You guys want clarification.

B

Please come here and I'll explain it more. So I don't waste you in every council member's time in the residence, but we are working on trying to make everything efficient in a city. So residents can use like you mentioned kiosk and everything else, but we need a little bit of time just to kind of stabilize what we have right now.

J

Again my main question: thank you for that mayor. My main question is: what does something like that cost? Can we afford that, and maybe it was a question mainly towards doug or tardik.

A

Got tarik here: maybe he can answer it. He's got his hand up.

S

For the kiosk, basically, we worked with our treasury and with the vendor to to deploy. There is a cost for the hardware and we can just basically get a quote. Things are changing on a daily basis, so I'm not going to sit, and you know here or even trying to uh give you a prediction of what the amount I think we have so many projects and what we're trying to do right now is just basically look at the allocated budget and try to spend as much as we can to upgrade.

S

Basically the servers of the pcs. So when you bring projects like uh the automation, the online, we will be ready to deploy right away. uh We can put you know the timeline, but the first thing we asked administration when we started it's, you know my priority can be different than uh somebody else's priority. Every department think they are priority one. So we look at all equipment. We look at all the scheduling and the resources we have available and we ask administration is okay.

S

You tell me what's really important to you when we talked to the mayor he said well, I wanted to have the building the building department to be online. The first thing we did. We went to bsna and requested right away. What would it take to go online for permitting paying uh be able to have residents to look at their permits to a contractor to look at that and we submitted that quote to administration, so they can take it to you so that becomes priority one.

S

uh If you say kiosk is priority two, then we will make an adjustments and that will interrupt other things that we are in the middle of working on, and you know we we have all this equipment to deploy, uh so we wanted to make sure you're comfortable. We do not dictate who comes in first. We just say this is all what we have. You tell me what's important and then we reassign priorities accordingly to your requests. Basically, so things might shift today might be number one uh tomorrow.

S

You know what I mean number three might come up to number one depending on what you tell us.

B

Thank you and- and I'm sorry council chair, if I may also uh uh you know, this is something when we uh councilman baidu and I don't know if you remember at the last council meeting, we mentioned uh the our like five year plan, also that I wanted all the council members to tell us what their vision is, and this is something that again, I'm trying to engage all the all the council members. So we can write the five-year master plan for the city to tell us what your vision is for the next five years.

B

So we at an administration can actually start implementing those changes, so we can put it in a five-year master plan. So this is a good item that you just mentioned, for the kiosk is to put that. You know put that as your vision that what you want, then we can, when um I know that their uh weight trim is actually we had a meeting several days ago uh with few people here with mr xiaomi and mr d.

B

You know our engineer to come up with a five-year master plan, and so they do have uh something drafted. So with that before we release it. I like to get from the council members what their vision will be for the next five years, so we can incorporate that in in the master plan, so this is a good one. So again, you know, please send me your uh what your vision is for the city for the next five years, so we can implement that you got it. Thank you.

J

So much thank you.

A

We have um librarian mccaffrey. Did you still have something to say, or did you want to pass at this time? Because I actually were in your time where we should, you should be presenting your budget.

A

Okay, we are way over. um I'm gonna ask that the following questions are exactly to the budget and nothing more because we need to move on we're not on schedule right now, we're way off.

A

Assange amal.

L

Again, I apologize, I did not include the deputy.

M

Rules in our committee is part of our the grand committee that they may have formed. Secondly, regarding I.t, unfortunately, this city is playing catch up. Two weeks ago, we had an opportunity to apply for a grant through the original. You know a grant application with wayne county. We failed.

L

Because we did not have plan, you know in place.

M

Regarding regarding uh uh council uh mascot question regarding the where the balance goes, uh ours, our our city, works on only three different balances. Now, which is the pool for the general fund, the pool for the library, the pool for the water fund and other different fund outside the corporate fund, which is under the non-governmental funds, but when, when the balance of the capital outplays stays there, it goes back to the general fund balance now this is this: is the catch up?

M

Also, if, if you, if you don't use the capital outlay money, you will show that your your your year is surplus. So I mean it is the council members who should push? Where is this? What projects are you approved this outlays, and you should be following up on those outlets and have a great day.

A

And last we have treasure hicks clayton and then, after that we will move on.

K

Oh hi, can you hear me? Oh yes, I'm sorry, I mean I'm muted um good afternoon. I just wanted to um share real quick. The answer councilman uh beijing's question about the online payment platform um since becoming treasurer. That has been a major priority for our office to get updated where it's one click pay, including multi-sources in the kiosk. So I wanted to say as far as the car and I've talked to um doug feldcamp about this, the mayor's office as well, but you know we wanted to bring in where you can.

K

You know, purchase like your trash cans online not have to physically go in the city all and do it and go from the mayor's office to the treasures office back to the mayor's office, so really simplify it, where it's one click payment, where you would also get reminders on your bills. When they're do your water bill, you get a receipt. Email all be. You know electronically done very efficient um and it's good for everyone.

K

um But what I wanted to say is as far as the cost goes, the company- and I we've interviewed several companies just to prepare for the council.

K

We have a one, what looks appear to be a single source uh company who offers the kiosk, but not only that but they're, making the equipment available to us at no charge and we're working through fee schedules right now before we present. So that really is in the final stretch, so to speak, but I know that the administration wants to get through the budget hearings first, but I just want to give you an update that I do have all that information of councils interested. Thank you.

A

At this time we are going to move on to library, director mccaffrey. I need to find him.

D

A

Is oh there you are.

Q

Oh hello, everyone, um so I'm gonna do what I usually do with a quick overview. uh So far, this fiscal year, the libraries are still staying on budget libraries looking stable and our projected fund balance will be projected to go higher as we continue to use prudent budgeting and save for major renovations and or emergencies down the road. So that's how I do a budget. I always have just a little bit extra each year, so we can save for an emergency or when the bond gets out in 2033 and the building is 30 years old.

Q

We can just use that fund balance to update the buildings instead of having to go out for a bond or having to levy something else. So that's the way I budget, so I just wanted to start off with that.

Q

The libraries were impacted drastically by the covet epidemic this year, but continue to be a destination, as we had over 186 thousand 212 visits last fiscal year between both libraries.

Q

These visitors checked out over 132 265 items both in physical electronic units patrons had close to thirty three thousand seven hundred forty one computer sessions, and uh we still had meeting and program use of over seven seven thousand three hundred eighty four visits. Of course, much of that was before covet. This doesn't include uh wi-fi usage.

Q

uh These numbers are a drop of course, uh based on the epidemic uh during covid during the actual period that we've been going through, we had over 4 48 000 items picked up via curbside over 39 000 crafts made for activity boxes that were delivered to homes and put on over 317 virtual programs and 574 youtube videos.

Q

um So this upcoming year, uh I'm looking to you know open the buildings back up. You know our residents have a high priority on coming in and browsing a lot of people just love to do it uh and study room use, so we're going to be doing that as soon as the case count locally just gets lower. It's the only thing I'm waiting for after that we're ready to go. So with that in mind this upcoming year, we are going to continue in a positive responsible track on salary wages each year tracking.

Q

All the way out to 2033 make sure we are meeting fringe benefit costs equitably with staff, continue to add to the fund balance and save for the future. Stability of the library account for the structural maintenance repair of both buildings.

Q

Maintenance issues continues to continue to arise as many items get older and need replacement. Due to wear this fiscal year, we intend to replace the carpet in the middle of the ck library and possibly parts of the jfk library carpet there.

Q

This was a holdover from last year as we opted to purchase a vehicle, so we could do deliveries for covet instead in terms of service improvements, we'll be looking into continuing delivery service to patrons in dearborn heights. This has been on our radar for some time and this year we're moving forward with some services in this area if circumstances allow, in accordance with state law, we've also set a new line that sets aside 45 000 for future health care liabilities that may exist with library employees.

Q

This number is subject to adjustment when better data is provided and will be built into our long-term projections.

Q

We are also taking into account the possible minimum wage increase and we'll consider that as a possible factor in upcoming costs. So thanks for your time and consideration and what questions anyone have in particular line, or would you like me to go line by line in the budget.

L

A

You did a good presentation, let's call on kelsey muscat. I've got and I'm going to ask to keep it specifically to the budget, not get off track. I know: uh go ahead. Councilman.

D

You just read my mind: that's exactly what I wanted to tell you. We we're getting off track on a lot of this, so um that's.

A

D

A

Thank you so much um councilman, abdullah.

I

Yes, uh I want to thank uh the director of the library mccaffrey for all what he's doing- and I just have one question: are those employees union getting those raises by union contract or you suggested that.

Q

As a non-union- and it's suggested, uh these rates are more in accordance with keeping up with local rates for librarians, uh with master's degrees in the area. um Just like elizabeth has stated, there is a competitive market for that and that those rates keep keep us in the middle ground in terms of keeping us competitive.

A

Thank you. Next, we have councilman abdellah.

E

Director two quick, two quick things: the first one I assume the room, rental total drop almost to next to nothing from 36 000 due to covert. Is that correct.

H

Q

The the rule you.

E

Went from 36 thousand to 100.

E

Yeah you've got under revenues, room rental- you went from thirty six thousand almost to one hundred dollars. Is that primarily because.

Q

Okay, let me check that line here. Let me make sure that I'm I'm correct on this.

Q

All right I'll just say this. I believe that there might have been. I don't know if this was transcribed, weird or something, but we didn't have thirty thousand dollars in room rental. Last year uh we generally only have a few hundred dollars in terms of room rental each year, so.

E

It has to be corrected. Obviously, then so.

Q

What page are you on here.

E

Q

47 uh page 47, okay, miscellaneous income, interest, room rental; uh okay, I see what you're talking about uh that should be the tiffa line. I believe uh no wait. Those.

N

Two are reversed.

R

Q

Amended budget library, fines.

E

It's the one just below.

H

E

It's top hands library, millage, okay, page 47, yeah,.

Q

First, I am looking at it um all right that revenue is on a different line. I'll just say that it's on a different line activity through 1231 there's no way it's 35 000., it's probably like a couple hundred dollars, so you gotta.

E

Correct that basically.

Q

Right so it probably is in, I actually think it's an eight or penal fines now that I'm looking at the line, because there's a couple lines that look a little low from what I understand um but yeah when this was put in um you know we just we've had a lot of transition in terms of these three offices, I think the lines are just inverted somewhere: okay, I'll.

E

Make sure that's correct yeah. Can you correct that and send us a adjusted one then last week.

Q

E

I had is under outreach marketing uh you're asking for a new budget amount of 38 000.. What exactly is that for okay, so.

Q

uh What we did in our personnel is we're having a retiree one of our supervising librarians is retiring at jfk uh and in order to get a position I think more needs uh more suits our community and more meets our needs. I wanted to make sure that we had a librarian who went out to the community. Did a lot more outreach, did a lot more marketing and pushed our services a lot harder.

Q

um You know, I think that uh you know we. We have a heck of a lot of people that love library and use the library, but you always want the people that you don't have yet so um a lot of libraries have this specific position and we felt we could uh better suit our public rather than having two supervising librarians just have one supervising librarian and an outreach librarian.

E

I see so it'd be the same amount of funds, just changing positions.

Q

That is correct. You'll notice that the line above it supervising libraries knocked down from two to one, also a couple other things just so we're clear in terms of titles. uh This is also going to change a little bit, um but in terms of the amounts, the amounts are accurate there. Okay, thank you. Okay, yep.

A

Questions before we move on.

A

Next, we have building and.

A

A

Hey who's councilman and bill huck.

I

I'm just preparing myself: okay,.

A

um Who is here for building an engineering.

S

I unmuted the director.

U

Good afternoon everybody.

H

Good afternoon.

U

So so you know for the last 20 years the building department's going backwards so now we're trying to go forward. So that's why all the cost is coming so.

U

That's all I can kind of say now, so you have any questions, throw them at me.

I

Oh boy, that was fast.

I

First, congratulations on your new appointment.

U

Thank you, sir.

I

And uh I'm sure you're going to do a very good job.

I

The how confident about the revenues you are for the next year.

U

uh Very very competent they're.

I

They they're used it's booming. Do you see that our city is booming and new construction, new projects and new businesses coming up? So you can? You can be very confident that we're going to meet your projection.

U

At this time, I think we're going to go way over it.

I

Okay- and I hope that you go in to improve uh all the computers, all the digital work, you know in your in your department to make it easy for everybody to basically apply to get the inspection faster and anything you need from the council. You got my support and thank you very much.

U

A

Next, we have councilman.

E

Abdullah, okay, so I'll ask the easy one. First, um on the capital outlay, you went from 577 dollars spent so far uh for this particular fiscal year to asking for forty thousand dollars on capital outlay uh under five thousand dollars. Is there any particular reason uh director why we're having such a high jump.

U

Yes, most of you guys have been in the building department and see how crowded it is correct, so we're trying to move into the assessor's office, which, which is three times the size of the building department.

U

So we will have to redo all the electric in there. The computers and you know the counters and all that stuff.

E

So you're switching you're, switching with the assessor's office. Yes, okay, that's a good idea! That's a good idea! Okay and then uh I noticed training went up quite a bit two and a half times what you originally had, but that's it I'm always for training. So we'll leave that one alone, but now this is where the main questions are you're, getting rid of one of the inspector positions which really concerns me uh because I know we do have a need for inspectors, but then you're, adding on an office manager position.

E

Can you give me your thought process uh behind that.

U

We we are not getting rid of any inspectors, you know the cost difference now is because there was only one inspector myself and then there was just part-timers now we're all full-time and we're just adding an office manager.

E

So I'm referencing, where you go on inspector, not new, hire directly above it that'd be the third line coming down. He went from currently budgeted one to requesting zero. That's what I'm referencing so that so I'm making sure that we're not losing an inspector.

U

No, no, those were already filled. We have two full-timers.

H

U

You're good, then.

E

Okay, all right and then the office office manager position. What's what's uh what's the direction behind that.

U

Well, the the reasoning that that's needed is there's. You know. 20 years ago there was five people, five inspectors, a plan examiner. So now what it is is there's only three of us and we're doing all of that. So we need that person to be able to do all of our emails. Our calling for our plan examiners and all that other stuff.

H

E

H

That's gonna, be somebody.

E

That's gonna, be somebody hired from outside, or is that gonna be somebody hired from within it could be either one okay, so no decisions have been made on that right. Okay, thank you very much appreciate it.

A

Thank you, councilman constant you're. Next.

N

Thank you and quickly, congratulations on your appointment, uh scheduling, inspections online and uh see getting certificates of occupancy or in final readings on water bills remotely. Is that something you see in the uh foreseeable future and if so, any idea what the cost would be.

U

uh You guys will be getting something at this council meeting, but next council meeting that we just signed and that's gonna, start the everything online and then we have to do the training and all that stuff, but it it's coming. It's just for the software. For yesterday, it's like seven thousand dollars.

N

Yeah, but it's probably well worth it uh all right. Thank you. Thank you.

H

N

A

Okay, any further questions at this time. Let's open it up to public comment, I ask that you limit it to two minutes in mr dropkowski.

P

Good afternoon everybody, uh madam chairman, everybody working.

R

P

Budget doing a hard job out there excuse me: I lose my voice, I don't know damn sorry, lawyers, the police budget, uh deputy chief lazar, used to be in charge of emergency management.

P

Now, if you want to keep a deputy chief or if the police department does, why aren't they going to take on a little more responsibility, all right? So since that was in there before, I don't see why it can't be done again.

P

Also, we've got quite a few lieutenants and sergeants. Now back when I was working there, a lot of the lieutenants were in charge of training programs and also in charge of supervising the dispatch.

P

Why can't that be done again?

P

Okay, and um what else I want to talk about is the coordinator for the foia information.

P

Why isn't that a service that our corporations was offering, I think a paramedic who should be looking at that information and not leaving the city liable for anything that should not get out?

P

Those are the things I want to talk about, uh directing.

A

Those questions to anybody who can answer them.

H

The chief good answer.

A

Okay, I don't think chief myers is on here anymore mayor: did you want to respond to that yeah.

P

And the chief is uh retiring in december. Is that when he starts his drop program, or is he already in the truck and just retiring at the end of december.

A

Okay, I've got mayor. Do you want to answer the question the person? I can't hear you you want I'm having the mayor answered the first part of your question.

B

I'm sorry vince, which, which uh the question about the deputy chief. What was that I? I know you made a comment, but what was that question? I'm sorry. I didn't understand a question.

P

Well, former deputy chiefs used to be the emergency manager in the past.

P

Now, if you take away the deputy chief as a part-time person, but yet you want to bring in an emergency manager, I don't see where we're gaining anything.

P

I know I'm having a hard time talking right now, but yeah.

O

That's the best thing to.

P

O

I I I can probably help you with that. uh The explanation um many you know mr krakowski worked at the police department, probably about a decade ago.

O

He might be able to correct me when he left, but uh when we had an emergency manager when the deputy chief had those responsibilities, we also had three captains um like I said that we moved so that captain doesn't exist anymore. So many of those duties that that captain was doing is now in the hands of that deputy chief.

O

So once again over the course of the last two decades, we've cut 20 percent of our manpower here at the police department, majority of it being upper command and now we're running at what is probably the most efficient we've run. So uh that was my argument for the deputy chief spot um and I will stick by that decision. But um yeah, that's uh that's. To address his comment about the emergency management. There was a different position, so he was dedicated purely to that. We don't have that position anymore.

O

What's the next one, I know you had a couple.

A

P

The foia coordinator, if I feel that the uh coordinator should be uh serviced by our legal team, the legal counsel I mean, if it's a illegal document that could put the city in jeopardy in some way, possibly.

O

Shouldn't that be a pyramid I can probably handle that question for you, chief of staff, hernandez, is doing a great job as the foia coordinator, we here at the police department, handle our core our foias. They are trained by the state of michigan on what can and can't be released.

O

That division has a lieutenant that oversees it. That is our primary foia coordinator and then anything that's um would bring some type of question of liability or questions. We then defer to the legal counsel, the corporation counsel, for guidance on um topics that we find as being questionable, and I see chief of staff hernandez is shaking her head. So it's it's a very well fine-tuned process with chief hernandez uh lieutenant gonzalez at the records department in coronation with corporation council miyaki.

O

To make sure those type things don't happen and then I'll, let uh chief of staff hernandez, add anything that she thinks is right.

T

No, that is absolutely correct. Thank you so much chip myers, but yes, ultimately, all of the different departments that have foia coordinators, including the police and the fire department, all report to the mayor's office and from their legal services if it is necessary.

T

But again, I am making sure that everybody has uh the support that they need and everyone is trained in the topic as to what can be released and what cannot be released.

P

Okay, my one last thing is, uh while ago.

A

What's up please, okay, I'll! Let you ask one more question.

P

Thank you chief. I uh mentioned a while ago that a city council meeting- I don't know if you gave it any concern or not about asking former officers retired officers that have dispatched experience if they'd be willing to come in part-time dispatchers.

P

I know you're you're doing your best to work with what you got and you know darn. Well, I'm in favor of our keeping our dispatchers. But yet we got to look somewhere to get those people staffed properly. You know I'm off working, giving you guys whatever you need, but did you consider that.

O

So the answer is yeah they've considered. All of that, because we we're we're. We have that application process, so they're going to be doing another one here soon with the approval, because we're still trying to find those dispatchers um just because they worked here as a police officer, there's the training and the certification that they need all. They could really be as a call taker and that's what we're at right now. um That's where we're using our police officers to actually be a certified dispatcher, there's certain training in terms of schools they would go to.

O

So when we look for part-time dispatchers, we're looking for people already certified or you're investing money into that part-time employee. um So all those are out there and those jobs have been out there. I yet to see a part-time retired police officer apply for any of those positions.

P

O

P

O

We've we've posted it. No I'm not asking I haven't called retirees and said: hey, can you come back and work? That's not really. What was my plan.

P

Well, it's a thought. Okay, thank you. Yeah.

A

Next, we have rachel lapointe.

A

You have two minutes go ahead. Please.

V

Hi, um I just uh had a question um about raises in general across the board um I know. Usually my husband just gets a regular cost of living increased like uh one or two percent, um and I don't know if that's something that the city uh could consider for everyone, because it does seem like something that would be appropriate to make sure that everyone has an appropriate wage that can cover their expenses.

V

So not as much a question, maybe as a comment, but uh if there is a plan for that, um I'd love to hear about it. So that's it. Thank you.

A

V

A

Is there any further comment at this time? This concludes our budget study session. um Everybody have a good day.

D

Thank you. Thank you. Goodbye have a good weekend.