Finance Committee Meeting Minutes – Wednesday, May 17, 2023

For your consideration, please read the minutes from the Finance Committee Meeting held on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. in the Commission Meeting Room.

Finance Minutes 5-17-23 with Attachments

To read the minutes, please open or download the pdf from the link above, or you may see more below.

Brunswick-Glynn Joint Water & Sewer Commission

1703 Gloucester Street, Brunswick, GA 31520

Commission Meeting Room

Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at 3:00 PM 

FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES

MEMBERS PRESENT:         

Tripp Stephens, Committee Chairman

Charles Cook, Commissioner

Clayton Watson, Commissioner

Andrew Burroughs, Executive Director                                               

ALSO PRESENT:                  

Ben Turnipseed, Commission Chairman                   

LaDonnah Roberts, Executive Deputy Director

David Owens, Director of Finance

Pamela Crosby, Director of Procurement

Janice Meridith, Executive Commission Administrator

Committee Chairman Stephens called the meeting to order at 3:00 PM.  

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

Chairman Stephens opened the Public Comment Period.  There being no citizens that wished to address the Committee, Chairman Stephens closed the Public Comment Period.

APPROVAL

1. Minutes from the April 19, 2023, Finance Committee Meeting

Commissioner Cook made a motion seconded by Commissioner Watson to approve the minutes from the April 19, 2023, Finance Committee Meeting.  Motion carried 3-0-0. 

2. Purchasing Policy Updates – A. Burroughs

Mr. Burroughs provided that the BGJWSC has an approved purchasing policy governing purchases made by JWSC staff. The policy outlines purchases requiring approval by the BGJWSC Commission and those within the authorization of the Executive Director. At the April 19, 2023 Finance Committee meeting, the Finance Committee requested policy changes be made to require the purchases of individual capital items that are approved as part of the annual fiscal year budget be brought before the Commission for consideration. This will require an edit to Section 4.(a) of the Purchasing Policy to add the clause “with a value less than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000)” to clarify the authority granted by the adopted budget (previously was $5,000). Staff also elected to remove “County” from the name of the organization to be in line with current JWSC nomenclature.  Staff recommended updating the JWSC purchasing policy as shown in the redlined policy to reflect the requested revision by the Finance Committee.

Commissioner Cook expressed his opinion that capital purchases should not have to be brought back to the Commission for approval after being approved on the fiscal year budget.  He commented that there should have been a budget workshop to review the details and discuss the list of needed items to determine which are needed this year and those that should not be budgeted for. Commissioner Cook also noted that JWSC senior staff worked very hard on the budget, and all had great input.  He believes Mr. Burroughs knows what items are needed and those that should be left out.  He suggested holding on changing the policy and having a workshop for the next fiscal year. Commissioner Stephens stated that the budget is a guide which the staff did spend a few months reviewing, but things change such as material and labor costs.

Commissioner Cook made a motion seconded by Commissioner Watson to move that the Finance Committee recommend the full Commission approve the amended JWSC Purchasing Policy with a minimum threshold of $25,000.00. Motion carried 2-1-0. (Commissioners Stephens and Watson voted for. Commissioner Cook voted against.) 

3. FY2024 Employee Raise Proposal – A. Burroughs

Mr. Burroughs presented the Commissioners with a proposal for an increase in staffs’ wages by a cost-of-living adjustment of 2.5%.  He noted that at the April 20, 2023, Commission meeting, the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget was approved subject to any comments from the City of Brunswick or Glynn County. In the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, a budgetary amount equal to 2.5% of the employee wage budget was included for consideration of employee raises. The 2.5% COLA will be provided to all salary and hourly staff members.  The total wage increase based on current JWSC wages is $182,452.26 with the average employee increase being $0.65/hour.

Commissioner Watson made a motion seconded by Commissioner Cook that the Finance Committee recommend the full Commission approve a 2.5% cost of living adjustment to employee wages effective July 1, 2023.  Motion carried 3-0-0.

DISCUSSION

1. Financial Statement Month End April 30, 2023 – D. Owens

Mr. Owens presented the financial statement for the month ending April 30, 2023. He reviewed the Balance Sheet noting the Current Assets and Current Liabilities and briefed the Committee on the Combined Revenue Statement.  The various Operating Revenues accounts were noted, and details on the Summary of Revenues and Summary of Expenses were highlighted.  Mr. Owens briefly reviewed line items on the Cash Balances and the Project Report, as well as providing an update on Investments. 

Chairman Stephens asked if there was any further business to discuss.

Commissioner Cook made a motion seconded by Commissioner Watson to adjourn the Finance Committee Meeting.  Motion carried 3-0-0.

There being no further business, Committee Chairman Stephens adjourned the meeting at 3:37 p.m.