2006-04-06 Cost of Government Commission Minutes

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Vote: The Chair asked if there were any further discussion on the Police Department being No. 4 on the list. He called for a vote of all in favor, and all members voted aye, making the Police Department No. 4. The Chair asked whether they wanted to wait for responses before continuing with the list, or suggest another department to prioritize. Ms. Nicholson said she felt they should prioritize five or six departments. The Chair asked if there were suggestions for another department, and Ms. Stremski suggested Data Systems, as they did not appear to have been audited before. She said she was interested in seeing how Data is doing since the change in computer systems. Ms. Garson confirmed that Data Systems was not done before. Ms. Nicholson said Data would be a nice change of pace after the Police Department. The Chair asked if there were any motion. Motion: Ms. Stremski moved to place Data Systems as No. 5 on the list. Ms. Nicholson seconded the motion. Vote: There being no further discussion, the Chair called for a vote. All voted in favor of placing Data Systems as No. 5 on the list. Mr. Joseph suggested they stop at five. Ms. Cushme asked if any commission was associated with Data Systems, and Ms. Garson answered no. Mr. Joseph said he was not finished with the DEM, as they only heard a general overview. He said he wanted to know more about abandoned vehicles, and Ms. Stremski agreed. Ms. Nicholson said it would take forever to talk to the individual department heads, as this was the third meeting and they had only interviewed one. Mr. Joseph said the COGC's intention was, as Mayor Kim said, to spend a lot of time on two or three departments and do a thorough job, and not do an overwhelming partial job. Ms. Stremski wanted to know if people pay fines for abandoning their vehicle, and Mr. Joseph said he wanted to know that, too. Ms. Cushnie said they were assured by the DEM representatives that the program pays for itself. Mr. Joseph said that in the sense that everyone pays a $12 fee in their registration specifically for abandoned vehicles, it doesn't really pay for itself. Registered drivers are subsidizing them. In