A major focus of the meeting was the discussion of engineering contracts, which are integral to maintaining the city’s infrastructure projects. The committee reviewed the current framework for these contracts, which allows city departments to engage with two on-call engineering firms. The contracts are designed to be flexible, operating without a retainer and requiring payment only for services rendered. The Mayor explained that the current contract with Tyen Bond Engineering and Fuss and O’Neal is set to expire, necessitating a new agreement for up to five years. This extension aims to ensure continuity and potentially secure better financial terms for the city by having a long-term agreement. Concerns were raised about the challenges of switching contractors mid-project and whether previous work would be honored if a new firm was selected. The committee emphasized the need for operational continuity to prevent project backlogs due to contractor workload. An open bid process, governed by statutory requirements, will be employed to select contractors, with technical proposals given priority over cost considerations. The mayor mentioned that additional time had been allocated in the Request for Proposal (RFP) process to facilitate inquiries from interested firms. The committee ultimately recommended the authorization of these measures to the full council.

Health insurance payments and their implications for employee compensation were another significant topic. The committee was informed about the current health insurance trust fund balance of approximately $1.4 million, a decrease from $1.7 million due to recent claims. Notably, health insurance rates are set to increase by 12% for medical insurance and 3% for dental insurance, effective July 1. This rise in costs is an important factor in contract negotiations and employee compensation discussions. The committee acknowledged the value of the health benefits currently provided by the city, where employees cover only 25% of their premiums, a favorable arrangement compared to other municipalities. However, the rising insurance costs necessitate a balanced approach to employee compensation, especially in the context of the city’s financial capabilities. The committee decided to keep this item on the calendar and proposed an update to the full council on health insurance trends, recognizing the importance of keeping the council informed about these rising costs.

The meeting also included a review of the city’s financial audit, which was conducted by an external firm and confirmed that the city’s financial practices align with required standards, resulting in a clean audit with no findings. Despite the clean audit, the Mayor acknowledged issues with other grants, such as CDBG and Mackie Park, and questioned their relation to the audit process. The committee expressed a desire for a more detailed walkthrough of the audit findings, emphasizing the importance of understanding these results for fostering trust within the community regarding the city’s financial dealings.

In other business, the committee discussed the proposal to create a special committee for the Waterford Community Center project. There had been communication issues related to updates on capital improvement projects, particularly concerning the community center. The committee recognized the need for improved coordination to keep the council informed, especially regarding lease agreements and project progress. The Mayor provided updates on the community center’s construction timeline, expressing cautious optimism about its completion despite ongoing challenges related to construction delays.

Additionally, the committee reviewed the city’s sexual harassment policy, which had recently received clearance from the legal department. The discussion included the possibility of presenting this policy update at the next meeting, along with other policy revisions. The goal is to update the city handbook incrementally to ensure thoroughness and clarity.

The committee also addressed the current state of facilities management for municipal buildings, noting the importance of understanding the organizational structure of facilities staff and progress on facilities projects, particularly in light of funding for elementary school projects. This item was left on the calendar for further examination.