Committee introduces park caretaker ordinance and three fund transfers; motions made to advance items

The finance committee reviewed four pieces of legislation: an ordinance to establish a full-time park caretaker position and three budget transfers from the 2026 general fund to the elderly fund, police pension fund and fire pension fund.

The chair read the ordinance creating a nonclassified, full-time park caretaker position appointed by the mayor, retroactive to 01/01/2026, and noted the ordinance would repeal a previously listed ordinance read in committee as "2 6 dash 0 3 2." Committee members discussed the hire: staff said the new employee, Charles Sawtell, started on Monday and will cover afternoon park supervision alongside other seasonal staff; the expanded duties were tied to the upcoming splash pad and a completed kayak launch.

The chair then read three fund-transfer ordinances aloud: (1) authorize the auditor to transfer $5,000 from the 2026 general fund to the elderly fund (fund codes read in committee), (2) authorize a $90,000 transfer from the general fund to the police pension fund (fund numbers recited), and (3) authorize a $65,000 transfer from the general fund to the fire pension fund (fund numbers recited). For each ordinance the chair asked for a motion; a committee member moved and another seconded to "bring it out." No roll-call votes or final outcomes appear in the transcript; the items were moved out of committee for further action.

A committee member noted state auditors were still on site and staff are clarifying language related to prior aqua-rate legislation; an amendment or corrective line is expected to return to the committee the following week after auditor review.

The committee did not adopt any ordinance on the record during this meeting; motions to advance the items were made and seconded.