Finance Committee — 12/01/2021 Page 33
motions attached to the packet. | thought usually you gave the motions like you would in any board packet. So it made it
pretty challenging to follow and have to go through the data.
I'm wondering, | noticed that | went back and looked at the budget for the CERF equipment for DPW and | noticed we
purchased maybe five or six other pieces of equipment that were not in the budget for DPW under CERF. And I'm
wondering if they weren't listed does that exceed the 10% rule and you have to bring that to the Board as well? Maybe
I'm not reading it correctly but the first thing | did when | saw all of this equipment was to see what we budgeted? It
seems to me we budgeted a lot more trucks and equipment and | I'd also like to know why if they weren't budgeted, why
we didn't know we needed the equipment and why we need it now.
Also, yeah, some of the accounts it didn't seem like the letters attached matched the motions on where the funding was
coming from. But! couldn't verify that because | didn't have the actual motions being read.
| was happy to hear Alderwoman Kelly, you know, ask about cost of the DPW facility with the increases in all of the
material costs going on as a result of these shipping issues and COVID in general. But, you know, one of the things we
think that would be good for the Board to do is to look at change orders and cost changes that have happened with the
school and with the PAC. I've been asking for information about the Performing Arts Center. It's been several years, |
think people since the Board has had an update on that. And | really feel before you approve this bond, we should be
looking at the other two and how cost containment is going particularly on the purchase of items that are going to go into
the building. | think that matters.
And just one other thing relative to the brining. | Know we all love the brining but | think one thing you forget about is that
is its super corrosive on the equipment. So you get you get all this benefit of less salt, but you get an increase in wear
and tear on your equipment and in corrosion. I'm wondering how we treat that. | Know some businesses actually oil their
trucks after they come back from brining to increase the life of the vehicle. And, you know, clean them very thoroughly. |
think that's something we should look at because while we may save money on Salt, the cost of these vehicles as you've
just gone through quite an extensive list is obviously very expensive as well. So that's my input tonight. Thank you.
Mayor Donchess
All right. Any other members of the public wish to address the Committee? All right, we'll go to remarks by Aldermen.
REMARKS BY THE ALDERMEN
Alderman Klee
Thank you, Mr. Mayor and my apologies for jumping the gun on this. | just wanted to address the emails and so on that
I've been getting and I'm sure other Aldermen have gotten them as well relative to the letters of assessing, and coming
into people's homes, and so on.
First, let me clarify that the city is not demanding that you allow them in. That seems to be something that's been out
there that the city is demanding that the city is never demanding. | believe it was in 2019 that we were required to do this
level of assessment and then it had to be completed by 2022. | could be wrong on the year, but | believe that that was
correct. The city is just trying to comply with the State's requirement. They are the best valuation we can get at the city is
to actually do a go in and do a full measure and list in each home. However, it is your constitutional right to say no.
Personally, | will be allowing them to come in.
The other question that seems to be out there is that we are sending unvaccinated people in and that masks aren't
required and so on and that is not true. | did speak to Director Kleiner to get clarification on that. They will be wearing
masks. They will be vaccinated. If at the time you make your appointment you want proof of vaccination, you can ask
that and | believe that they will bring some type of proof with them. The city is not demanding this and we need to make
sure that that is quite understandable. | think it would be good if you did let them into your home. But everybody has their
own reason and you don't need to give the reason why you do not want them there. So | just want to make that clear.
Thank you very much, Mr. Mayor.
Mayor Donchess
All right. Any other comments by Aldermen? Remarks by Aldermen? All right. | don't see any.
