10-09-2023 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING September 25, 2023 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 7 of 13 It is a department that has needed attention for a long time, but she thought it could have come about in a more smooth way. Walsh moved, Johnson seconded, to adopt Resolution 7407 for the 2024 Preliminary General Fund Budget. VOTE: Ayes 3, Nays 1 (Benson). 19. ADOPT 2024 LONG LAKE FIRE OPERATING BUDGET Finance Director Olson said the City had received a fire budget from Long Lake with a significant increase due to the use of duty crews. They are using a different model for duty crews than is planned in Orono, but it does result in an increase. Orono’s share of the 2024 budget as proposed is $665,097, an increase of $121,097 (22 percent) over the 2023 budget. Veach reported on the Fire Advisory Board meeting she had attended. She said Long Lake is using duty crews on certain days and it is enabling them to get a lot done around the fire hall when they are not on calls. It would cost about $85,000 to staff duty crews 80 percent of the time, according to the Long Lake Chief. There was discussion about the possibility of reducing costs by using the services of Orono Chief Van Eyll for some items like training, duty crew time and administration since he would already be paid by Orono. She said Long Lake is piloting the duty crew concept and the percentage of shifts covered by duty crews. Johnson said the two cities could still continue to explore ways to reduce the costs of the Long Lake Fire operating budget including having Van Eyll perform some tasks. Both said the meeting was positive and informative. Walsh said he would be in favor of tabling the 2024 Long Lake Fire Budget at this time so that more of these questions can be worked out. He noted that the Long Lake Chief has not appeared before the Orono Council. Benson said since the Long Lake Fire Department has been underfunded and will continue to serve Orono residents through the end of the contract she was comfortable with adopting the budget. Veach said there was agreement that more time will need to be put into the financial separation between the two departments, for example, for things like budgeting for the station. She said if the City tables this budget now it needs to be clear on what the open questions are. Johnson said it is important to continue to work through these questions before adopting the budget. Walsh said he thought Veach should recuse herself from voting on the budget since it includes officer pay and her husband is a fire fighter. That would only leave three votes at this meeting on this action item. The possibility of separating personnel costs from the rest of the budget and voting on two motions separately was briefly discussed. Benson said she was comfortable with the budget but can support tabling if others have more questions. Johnson moved, Walsh seconded, to table a decision on the 2024 Long Lake Fire Department budget. VOTE: Ayes 4, Nays 0.