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PAGE 2 <br />aga!nst increased tax revenues, should help greatly in defusing this issue <br />and so enable us to more effectively focus on our other challenges. <br />In aid of such a focus I will touch hereon some concerns and opportun <br />ities within the following areas of municipal operations: administration, <br />finance, public safety, parks, recreation and forestry, and public works and <br />community development. Within the Department of Administration, further <br />possibilities can be sought for diversity in job assignments and interdepart- <br />mental sharing of responsibilities such as have been provided in relation to <br />receptionist duties. Also, a recent proposal calls for more direct involve- <br />ment by the Clerk /Administrator in supervisory functions when useful to back <br />up department heads. <br />In the Finance Department bulk or block buying with other cities should <br />be expanded beyond present use wherever additional cost savings are possible.. <br />Another thought is that it would be beneficial to reduce our public debt at <br />tis time by early retirement of existing general obligation bonds. The <br />years. <br />possibility here is to use future interest earnings from cash reserves connect <br />ed with these bonds (where not restricted) for such debt retirement. In <br />negotiating bonds a change in procedure would be advisable to avoid possible <br />costs to the City, such as have arisen in one particular case due to less than <br />contract terms. The procedural change might take the form of direct <br />involvement by our bonding consultant in the negotiating process. <br />Public safety and cost- effective law enforcement will dr'pend heavily <br />upon continuing high standards for police officer qualifications. In this <br />connection, Police Chief Ernie Grabowski hay announced his intention to retire, <br />and the Police Civil Service Commission will soon begin the process of select-' <br />his replacement. Chief Grabowski has served our community over twenty five <br />years with honor and dedication to the highest standards of public service; <br />will be missed and 1 am sure we all wish him the best for his retirement <br />