In its second budget work session, City Council Wednesday examined costs related to the city Recreation Department and others throughout the government, trying to find ways to cut down Mayor Derek Slaughter’s proposed 2.5-mill tax increase budget.

Kayla Drummond, city recreation department coordinator, said the department budget is $309,000, a third of which is related to the swimming pool, which continues to require yearly maintenance because of an ongoing water leak.

“That’s a lot of expense to the city — waterwise,” Councilwoman Bonnie Katz said.

The city also must certify individuals to work at the pool and have a certified safety inspector for the playgrounds.

Mayor Derek Slaughter said he thought a certified playgrounds inspector might help with any liability insurance cost.

Joseph Pawlak, city interim finance director, said the city should be involving a third-party to reduce potential insurance claims.

“A lot of the recreation programs were heavily affected by the virus,” Councilman David Banks said.

“Are we budgeting for things we don’t expect to happen?” he asked.

“It’s a question mark. … Some of the news of vaccine is promising,” Slaughter said. “May or June may be normalcy and some summer programs may be able to take place. … I’m cautiously optimistic we can do, hopefully, some programming.”

The mayor has programmed concerts at Brandon Park.

Much of the online advertising has replaced pamphlets and mailers, Drummond said.

“Personally, I love to see live music. If that is a possibility early next year, that would be a huge win,” Councilwoman Liz Miele said of the music in the park series.

Slaughter wanted to see at least two concerts a month with social distancing requirements.

“We have $20,000 we put into special events in the city,” Miele said, looking at that source of revenue.

“We have $30,000 budgeted as income from special events we look for and hope for in a normal year,” Miele said.

Drummond said her goal is to bring more in than is spent.

That, she said, can be done with fundraisers, sponsorships and donations.

Most revenues are derived from Homemade Days, Williamsport Welcomes the World and a street food festival, she said. The recreation proposed budget showed possible renovations to Shaw Place Park pool house.

Drummond said the park is another way to generate revenue.

Miele asked if the pool house is going to be open as a bathroom or closed with exception to events?

Drummond said the plan is to keep it open during the day.

“Yeah, parks are curfewed after dark,” Miele said.

Miele asked when Drummond anticipated bringing in support staff to the office.

Drummond said she hoped that would be February at the latest. That individual’s salary would be $10,000 with no benefits.

Katz asked Pawlak if any money was left in donations given to the city for the pool.

“Yes,” he said, adding, “there is an annual transfer of $2,000 to build up a maintenance fund for the pool, he said.

Codes and other departments

Council also looked at the city Codes Department

The proposed codes department budget is $907,640.

The line item breakdown is as follows: Salaries, $395,339; overtime, $2,000; pensions, $205,976 and health insurance, $154,000; purchase of services, $73,800; supplies and materials, $29,600; equipment repairs, $3,500; grants, gifts and subsidies, $10,400.

Joseph Gerardi, codes administrator, said he won’t add a clerk position that was vacated. His budget included funding for a health officer when the need arises; maintains $30,000 in funding in the Clean and Seal line item for abandoned property upkeep and maintenance.

“Properties requiring this service are issued a lien on their property for the value of the services provided,” he said.

The department put in a line item for emergency demolition of blighted properties that need demolished more quickly than can be accomplished through the federally-funded Community Development Block Grant blight elimination program.

Gerardi said it is a department run thin. He added budgeted items for equipment needs to make codes officers more independent and accessible while out on inspections.

Council’s proposed budget is $306,350, Council President Randall J. Allison said. Council planned to use funds in 2020 funds for technology equipment that was not purchased due to the pandemic.

Council created an equipment account for the city clerk to replace office equipment.

Council’s salaries are $21,750; pensions, $35,400 and health insurance, $107,000; office rental, $19,400; supplies, $14,750; and a legislative contingency fund of $100,000.

The city clerk proposed budget is $100,039. The salaries are $38,057; pension, $25,747; health insurance, $9,600 and automobile allowance, $700; purchase of services, $20,600; supplies, $2,000.

Legal services, for solicitors, is budgeted at $134,500.

The controller office proposed budget is consistent with this year budget at $181,405. The salaries are $58,673; pension, $25,747 and health care, $28,000; purchase of services, $63,100 and supplies and materials, $1,200.

The tax collector/treasurer office budget is projected to be $203,137. The salaries are $82,248; pensions, $51,494 and health insurance, $56,000; purchase of services, $48,200; and supplies and materials, $34,500.

The information technology department’s projected budget is $208,808. The salaries are $53,600 along with pension and health care costs is $111,667.

The finance office budget is projected at $665,443. The salaries are $64,064 and the largest expense of commercial insurance coverage — $420,000.

The human resource director salary is $59,916. The department budget is $126,373.

Office of the public safety director (non-paid) include proposed salaries of $44,564; pensions, $25,747 and health insurance, $28,000.

Chief Damon R. Hagan assumed the role of public safety director for no wage. The expenses are for the office of the police secretary and include purchase of services of $132,800.

Council has its first reading of the proposed budget Thursday.

If it doesn’t change, the tax rate is 18.22 mills, or $1,822 per household assessed at $100,000, the finance officer said.