AUBURN -- Public safety took the majority of City Council's time and effort Thursday as councilors and city officials discussed the proposed budget for 2008-2009.
During a work session meeting, the City Council directed questions to City Manager Mark Palesh, Comptroller Lisa Green and other city department heads about the budget. The session focused on the city's general fund, which includes city departments, commissions and boards.
Councilors directed the majority of their questions toward the police and fire departments.
Councilor Matthew Smith asked why the city should spend the proposed $35,000 on part-time police officers for security at city hall. Maybe that money can go toward putting new officers on the street, Smith said.
Police Chief Gary Giannotta said he has been suggesting security at city hall for years to Palesh and former city managers.
"You have to be here during the day when people come in here to pay these large tickets," Giannotta said.
Green agreed with Giannotta that there is a need for some security, as did Mayor Michael Quill.
"I did ask (Palesh) to look into this," Quill said. "We have to step up security."
Councilor Gilda Brower said after the meeting that she was opposed at first to spending the money for security. But after hearing that members of city staff support the move, she could change her mind, she said.
"I'm not here every day, so maybe there is a need," Brower said.
Smith said after the meeting that he has long been a proponent of putting more officers on the streets.
"Any area where we're going to spend money, I always am going to ask why," Smith said.
The proposed budget also includes a proposal to add a part-time truant officer for the local schools. The position would be funded by a state grant, Giannotta said.
On the topic of the fire department, councilors asked Fire Chief Mike Hammon about the city's plan to curtail overtime spending. For one, the department is in the process of hiring four new firefighters, Hammon said.
The Auburn department will also hold an on-site academy in June to train the new recruits quickly and efficiently, he said. Usually, new firefighters undergo 12 weeks of training at a state academy. If an academy is held in Auburn, the firefighters can be ready to work on the line by the beginning of August, Hammon said.
"We will do the full academy at the cost of sending three (firefighters) to the state academy," Hammon said.
This is the first time since the 1970s that the Auburn Fire Department has held its own training academy, he added.
The city will also update a 2003 study examining ways to make the fire department more efficient, Palesh said during the meeting.
Palesh said in April that the results of the same study were the reason for his implementation of a new department policy that included closing one of the three municipal fire stations.
For the full report see Friday's edition of The Citizen.
Councilors directed the majority of their questions toward the police and fire departments.
Councilor Matthew Smith asked why the city should spend the proposed $35,000 on part-time police officers for security at city hall. Maybe that money can go toward putting new officers on the street, Smith said.
Police Chief Gary Giannotta said he has been suggesting security at city hall for years to Palesh and former city managers.
"You have to be here during the day when people come in here to pay these large tickets," Giannotta said.
Green agreed with Giannotta that there is a need for some security, as did Mayor Michael Quill.
"I did ask (Palesh) to look into this," Quill said. "We have to step up security."
Councilor Gilda Brower said after the meeting that she was opposed at first to spending the money for security. But after hearing that members of city staff support the move, she could change her mind, she said.
"I'm not here every day, so maybe there is a need," Brower said.
Smith said after the meeting that he has long been a proponent of putting more officers on the streets.
"Any area where we're going to spend money, I always am going to ask why," Smith said.
The proposed budget also includes a proposal to add a part-time truant officer for the local schools. The position would be funded by a state grant, Giannotta said.
On the topic of the fire department, councilors asked Fire Chief Mike Hammon about the city's plan to curtail overtime spending. For one, the department is in the process of hiring four new firefighters, Hammon said.
The Auburn department will also hold an on-site academy in June to train the new recruits quickly and efficiently, he said. Usually, new firefighters undergo 12 weeks of training at a state academy. If an academy is held in Auburn, the firefighters can be ready to work on the line by the beginning of August, Hammon said.
"We will do the full academy at the cost of sending three (firefighters) to the state academy," Hammon said.
This is the first time since the 1970s that the Auburn Fire Department has held its own training academy, he added.
The city will also update a 2003 study examining ways to make the fire department more efficient, Palesh said during the meeting.
Palesh said in April that the results of the same study were the reason for his implementation of a new department policy that included closing one of the three municipal fire stations.
For the full report see Friday's edition of The Citizen.
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