TOWN OF EAST WINDSOR
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Budget Workshop February 16, 2008
1
I. TIME AND PLACE OF MEETING
Ms. Menard called the meeting to order on Saturday, February 16, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. at the East Windsor Town Hall
II. ATTENDANCE
Denise Menard, First Selectman
Gilbert Hayes, Deputy First Selectman
Mark Simmons, Selectman
Edward Farrell, Selectman
Dale Nelson, Selectman
The Selectmen began the meeting by discussing the rationale and thought process of approaching this budget season. Mr. Farrell began by stating that for every $10,000 it is .001 mill rate. He also suggested that proposed revenues be taken into consideration. He also brought to light that there is much talk of the taxpayers regarding the assessments increasing. Mr. Farrell referenced Jack Mannette’s recent presentation regarding the growth and preservation and to ignore history would be at a peril. Ms. Menard interjected that presentations are often from a specific perspective, and while the information can be considered and research respected, there are several perspectives that can be used. The Board in general discussed the upcoming Revaluation and the attitudes of taxpayers and how
that will impact this year’s budget. It was the consensus to keep the public informed.
The Board went through every line item and the following provides details and rationales where appropriate.
1055: Probate court annual amount requested is decreased.
1070: Printing and Advertising: The newsletter, due to an increase in cost of production, will now be done twice a year instead of the four times a year. It will be in September, 2008 and April, 2009.
1145 Misc Town Government: Backup was provided detailing each agencies services to the Town. It was discussed that maybe the C.O.S.T. membership was not appropriate any longer due to the Towns larger size. There were no changes and no comments to this proposed budget item.
2100 Hearing Officer: No comments
2147: Monies will be needed to maintain the phone at the Tower at the Connecticut Water Company. Also there needs to be money added to the maintenance line. The amount for this budget request is to be determined.
2160: Fire Protection. There is a call into the Connecticut Water Company to get a count of the number of fire hydrants in town. This amount for this budget item is to be determined – as there is a suggested rate increase.
2185: Fire Benefits. The Selectmen discussed at length the rumblings that incentives have been held back and that there appears to be incorrect spending for the fiscal year. Mr. Hayes outlined that the incentives are quarterly and next June ends the quarter, therefore pay out is in the following fiscal year. Discussion took place regarding how to get this back into the appropriate fiscal year, be it by an added appropriate or different accounting methods. Ms. DeSousa of the Board of Finance was at the Incentive meeting and is informed as to the latest information. The budget request includes a $2 increase per call and increase in pay for the officers who do the administrative work. The increase has nothing to do with the budget timing difficulties. The officers stipend was
discussed, as well as the protocols in question. The Board will keep the request at the same level as last year and there should be enough to accommodate the $2 per call increase. The Board indicated they cannot budget for bad accounting practices and if this line item is going to be short, an added appropriation will be the course of action to take. The incentive program request will remain at $180K, there is no increase for this request this year.
3185: Street lights. Budget amount to be determined.
4220 WPCA: No comments, no change
5210 Vital Statistics: The Board reviewed the back up for each agency and also heard specific information from Elizabeth Burns, Human Services Coordinator, where appropriate. No comments/no changes to the budget request.
5222 Water Purification. No comments/no changes to the budget request
5240 Ambulance Association: NO comments/no changes to the budget request
5245 Medical: This line is used for physicals for fire departments and new employees, as well as drug testing – these run on strange cycles. No comments/no changes to this budget request.
6130 Community Events; No comments/no changes to this budget request.
7345 Insurance and Benefits: To be determined after the regular Board of Selectmen meeting.
8425 Info Technology: The benefits of shared services for information technology was discussed. There will be an increase in hours for the IT person, but it will be done through the Board of Education and on the town side the BOE will be reimbursed. This 30 hour position has no benefits. Ideas on how to budget this shared service on the town side and the Board of Education will be obtained from CCM. This amount will be determined in the future.
4205 Landfill costs: Ms. Menard detailed the status of the existing contract which is nearing its expiration. She will be talking with this service holder and discovering what options are, including the possibility of an extended contract and only increasing to accommodate the additional households. This budget amount is to be determined.
1085 Town Property: There are several items in this that are to be determined, including the phone service and cell phones. Amounts also need to be worked out for electricity and water based on proposed increases. Electricity is slated to go up 6% and water 12.6% . The contracted items were discussed as well. Heating increases of 10% were also discussed.
1015 Legal: The past philosophy of the Board of Finance to segregate legal expenses was discussed. Ms. Nelson provided the history of this action and the rationale behind it. The Board felt that all legal should be in one line to give a true representation of what is spent on legal. Pending legal fees and where monies might be spent was discussed. It was discussed that $60,000 can cover the day to day legal, but that major litigations, as well as contracts need to be considered. The Police and Clerical unions will negotiate this year. Then the next negotiation is slated for 2010 for the Supervisors. Potential Reval legal activity needs to be considered as well. The Board of Selectmen want to be realistic with this proposed figure and would suggest there be no segregation of
legal fees by the Board of Finance. The Board of Selectmen want a clear picture of the town’s legal expenses. A realistic budget figure, based on the legal spent this year, including the segregated amount and that of added appropriations, would be $150,000 budget request.
1010 Selectmen: Mr. Hayes began a discussion on the First Selectmen salary providing the Board with data of surrounding town salaries for that position. Mr. Hayes made it clear this was not personally sought after for Ms. Menard specifically, in fact it did not come from her. It was an effort to bring the position into line with surrounding town salaries. Vehicle compensation for the position was also discussed. The Town does provide the First Selectman with gas, but the position has personal car use and personal car insurance. The idea of a gradual increase was discussed and how to get there. Ms. Menard excused herself from this discussion. The idea of phasing an increase and making it realistic to the taxpayers was discussed. The term of the First Selectman is four
years. General discussion was held that the supervisors union had a 3.5% increase negotiated for July 1st. It was the Boards position that it is reasonable that the First Selectman position be 1.5% more than the supervisors – thereby increasing the current salary 5% over the next four years. The idea was to do this over the four year term the 1st year $61,530, 2nd $64,606.50, 3rd $67,836.83 and 4th $71,264. The Selectmen also discussed the fact that the Selectmen compensation, which is a part of the Town Charter, was removed from the budget last year. Discussion took place regarding the stipend and the fact that some selectmen would return it to the budget if received and that the Board of Finance members work hard as well, with long hours, but do not get a stipend. It was agreed to leave the Board of Selectmen stipend in the budget and if it is cut, then the
Board of Selectmen would let it go. It was agreed that the same amount would be budgeted for all Selectmen, including the Deputy. The recording secretarial rate will be increased to $125 a meeting. The Administrative Assistant salary was discussed at length. In the past this salary followed the clerical union, including the benefit package. It was felt this should be more in line with the Supervisor’s union. The position was discussed and it was the rationale that this position should be more in line with the BOE Superintendent Secretary salary and to get away from the hourly rate. This budget amount will be determined at a later date after more information is received. .
MOTION: To adjourn at 12:45 p.m.
Made by Ms. Nelson, seconded by Mr. Hayes
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED
Respectfully submitted,
Cynthia D. Croxford
Recording Secretary
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