Council wraps up financial issues

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

GREENCASTLE -- With the end of 2009 rapidly approaching, the Greencastle Common Council's main order of business was to take care of some financial housekeeping before Jan. 1.

Council members unanimously approved a resolution to transfer funds within three different departments to balance the funds for year's end. In the parks department, a total of $17,500 was transferred from the part time pool salaries into a number of different other funds. The board of works transferred a total of $8,043 from insurance into disability insurance and miscellaneous disbursement. The city attorney transferred $3,800 from retainer into health insurance.

Council members emphasized that all departments were well within their overall budgets. These transfers merely reflect how the money was spent.

"All departments stayed within budget. That's important to stress," council president Adam Cohen said.

Clerk-Treasurer Teresa Glenn reported the tax draw has not yet arrived. When the draws are requested from the state, they have 30 days to comply with sending 95 percent of the draw.

"We still are waiting. Thirty days will be up on the 12th of this month," Glenn said.

Glenn, like Cohen, lauded department heads for their fiscal responsibility this year.

"The department heads have again done of a fabulous job of staying within their budgets," she said.

Council also approved several encumbrances for expenditures in the police and fire departments. Encumbrances are simply pre-approval of claims, so the council doesn't have to meet again before year's end.

A third item of new business was the council's approval of the three-year Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT) plan. Among the 14 items for which edit dollars are used, only three changed from the previous plan. The Albin Pond Pathway has moved into the acquisition/construction phase, while the Safe Route to School Pathway is in the construction phase. Their funding reflects these changes.

Additionally, the city added an economic development project to the EDIT plan, which is to cover various costs associated with attracting new businesses to Greencastle.

The matter of the city's proposed grease interceptor-trap policy was once again on the agenda, but will wait another month. Given input from citizens and business owners since last month's meeting and at a pair of public meetings, the city is still refining the policy's exact wording.

"Our desire is not to be punitive. Our desire is to correct an ongoing problem," Mayor Sue Murray said.

"I did get a chance to visit with a number of restaurants, and was surprised and pleased at how cooperative everyone is willing to be," added Cohen.

The matter will be before the council at its Jan. 12 meeting.

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