Advisory Committee Present: David Lindsay
February 9, 2010 Burt Shnitzler
Randy Dinjian
Bob Czekanski
Connie Benjamin
Terry Abdalian
Linda Day, Town Secretary
The Advisory Committee met at the Town Hall at 7:30 p.m.
POLICE/COMMUNICATIONS
The Committee met with Police Chief Vin Alfano and with the police administrative assistant, Lorraine Kenney. Chief Alfano provided the Committee with a report on Police Department activity in 2009 that included a comparison with the previous year's activity. The Chief noted that violent crimes had increased in 2009, but that crimes against property had declined.
The Committee reviewed each of the 22 line items in the fiscal 2011 Police budget and approved all of them. The total Police budget for fiscal 2011 is $934,515, down -0.2% from the fiscal 2010 level.
The Committee next reviewed each of the 14 line items in the fiscal 2011 Communications (Dispatch) budget. The computer equipment line item was reduced from $1,600 to $1,000. All other line items were approved. The total Communications budget for fiscal 2011 is $281,830, down -0.2% from fiscal 2010.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Committee met with Fire Department Chief John Stephenson. The Chief commented that the rise in call volume that had required an Advisory Reserve transfer a few months earlier had receded to more historically normal levels since that time. The Committee reviewed each of the 20 line items in the fiscal 2011 Fire Department budget. The training line item was reduced from $1,200 to $800. All other line items were approved. The total Fire Department budget for fiscal 2011 is $127,585, up +8.5% from fiscal 2010.
AMBULANCE
The Committee met with Ambulance Director, Margy Diaz, and reviewed each of the 16 line items in the fiscal 2011 Ambulance budget. The Committee made the following changes:
Wages-Full time EMT/Fire-Call/Training raised from $5,000 to $8,000
Purchase of Services reduced from $8,100 to $6,000
ALS Services raised from $14,450 to $18,000
Equipment Repair reduced from $2,000 to $1,500
Postage eliminated
Office Supplies reduced from $3,000 to $2,000
Diesel reduced from $4,000 to $3,500
All other line items were approved. The total Ambulance budget for fiscal 2011 is $163,758, up +2.0% from fiscal 2010.
REQUEST TO OVERSPEND SNOW AND ICE
The Committee received a written communication from Harold Brown, Department of Public Works Director, stating that the snow and ice removal budget was nearly exhausted and requesting authorization to spend up to $100,000 beyond the budgeted amount. On a motion by Mr. Czekanski, seconded by Mrs. Benjamin, the Committee voted unanimously to authorize an incremental $100,000 of snow and ice removal spending above the amount in the fiscal 2010 budget.
MINUTES
The Committee reviewed, modified and approved minutes from its January 19 & 26, 2010 meetings.
STATUS OF FISCAL YEAR 2011 BUDGET
Mr. Lindsay presented a spreadsheet to the Committee showing the present status of the fiscal 2011 budget. It indicated that with an end-of-process Free Cash target of $500,000, there was $170,963 additional unspent Free Cash. Mr. Lindsay noted that some of this might be needed for the Fyfeshire Dam or for some as-yet-unknown expense.
On a motion by Mr. Shnitzler, seconded by Mr. Dinjian, the Committee voted unanimously to adjourn at approximately 10:15 p.m.
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