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City Council Minutes <br />November 7, 2011 <br />Page 4 <br />GRE Bererve Fsrnd . <br />Mr. Simon reviewed the GRE Reserve Fund and the use of funds received from GRE for <br />hosting the peaking plant. Council had previously discussed information on the calling in the <br />bonds on the Ice Arena before final maturity on December 1, 2013. Besides the amount of <br />principal and interest in the 2011 budget, the additional amount of principal is $370,000 plus <br />accrued interest from December 1, 2011, until the next regularly scheduled payment on June <br />1, 2012. Paying off the bonds would eliminate the $111,650 transfer from the general fund to <br />the Ice Arena in 2012. Also, $31,920 in future interest expense would be saved. <br />It was the consensus of the Council to use GRE funds to pay off the ice arena bonds. <br />Trunk Utility Fund <br />Mr. Simon reviewed the Trunk Utilities Fund and answered questions from Council. <br />Mr. Femrite stated he would be presenting information on the 1715[ Focus Area Study Phase <br />I at the November 14, 2011, worksession in regard to this fund. <br />Technology/Software Impmvementr <br />Mr. Simon and Mr. Pearson reviewed the requests for technology and software <br />improvements from various departments. <br />Mr. Simon asked the Council if they were still interested in considering moving ahead with <br />purchasing a laptop or an iPad/tablet for use by Councilmembers in place of receiving paper <br />packets. He referenced City Clerk Tina Allard's previous memo outlining the cost savings of <br />going with electronic packets. • <br />Mr. Fortner answered questions regarding the pros and cons of both an Apple iPad and an <br />Android-based tablet. <br />It was the consensus of the Council that it would be a cost savings to provide <br />paperless packets by using an electronic device and directed staff to put together <br />pricing on different options for a netbook, laptop, iPad and tablet. <br />Michael Hecker discussed the request by Parks and Recreation for a software upgrade. He <br />stated it would improve efficiencies with staff time and accuracy by upgrading the currently <br />used software programs. <br />Mr. Hecker noted one such software, Vermont Systems, Inc., that he's used in the past and <br />stated it is a very good product and would increase productivity and efficiency, which in turn <br />would offer a cost savings for staff time. <br />Mr. Simon discussed the timekeeping software, another benefit to all departments to <br />improve efficiencies and save staff time with data entry in the payroll process. <br />Ms. Wipper stated the program could be setup any way they wanted and Council could see a <br />complete analysis before any decisions were made. <br />It was the consensus of the Council to have staff come back at a future meeting to <br />provide a presentation of timekeeping software. <br />• <br />