Public safety officials give budgets to city council
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City Council held a second budget work session Wednesday scrutinizing three public safety department administrators who each presented their proposed department budgets.
The proposed police budget is $9.8 million, according to city Police Chief Damon Hagan.
It includes two more police officers, money for replacement of firearms and additional funds for training and related exercises.
"Our complement would go from 47 officers to 49 officers," he said.
Hagan said it is a priority for him to have experienced officers assigned to oversee lesser experienced ones.
"We should not field squads of officers without a supervisor on duty," he said.
Other highlights of the budget proposal include either purchasing or leasing vehicles, maintaining a third records position that was eliminated in this year's budget and providing an additional $10,000 for training needs.
There is a medical line item to cover pre-employment polygraph and psychological exams and line item that offers funding for a maintenance agreement for the records management system software package, with funding for policy management software to help with accreditation and car video camera support.
There also is a line item for bullet proof vest replacements and outfitting four new police officers after two retirements and two additional officers are brought on, he said.
Councilwoman Liz Miele noted that a request to lease vehicles would cost more than purchasing them.
Hagan also noted how the vehicle plan is to transition the fleet to all-black.
That got the attention of Councilman-elect Jon Mackey, a retired Philadelphia police officer, who asked about that color change.
Hagan said it was estimated to save money because it means not having to paint doors either black and white or white.
"We'd like to do that and see how the community responds," Hagan said, adding if the people are upset, it might go back. "We don't dictate."
Hagan said it was necessary in a city with the largest number of narcotics-related incidents to plan to assist county task forces and continue to help the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service by providing them with city officers, either on a part-time or eventually a full-time basis.
Efforts, too, have been made to increase the pool of applicants taking the civil service exams, he said.
In the Bureau of Fire proposed budget, city Fire Department Chief Todd Heckman asked for a budget of $6.7 million.
He noted a number of retirements have taken place when officials noticed the drop from $6.9 million this year.
"Our senior guys will be missed but there is a new vibe," Heckman said.
The budget proposal provides the funding for severance pay for eligible retirees.
He also said the 2020 budget for salaries and benefits assumes a contract extension which freezes the wages and benefits at the levels in place in the collective bargaining agreement.
It includes an increase in the facility maintenance line item for the replacement of the firehouse heating and air conditioning system, garage ventilation and related construction management costs.
For 2020, the support equipment budget includes: a pager replacement program, fire hose replacements, fire headquarters kitchen equipment replacements, fitness equipment upgrades to a commercial grade washer and dryer, and a new roof/vent saw.
The codes department budget of $930,566 has not been altered much but it does ask for some better technology, according to Joseph Gerardi, city codes administrator.
The department support equipment line items $19,000 for computer tablets and better information technology.
The department maintains eight full-time and one part-time employee.