Ms. Menard called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. at the East Windsor Town Hall, Broad Brook, CT.
Attendance:
Denise Menard, First Selectman
Gilbert Hayes, Selectman
Edward Farrell, Selectman
Mark Simmons, Selectman
Unable to attend: Dale Nelson, Selectman (excused – travel delay)
Ms. Menard started the meeting by discussing the plan of action for these budget workshops.
Capital Improvement
Ms. Menard began with the Town Hall items and indicated she had discussions with former First Selectman, Edward Filipone, who made these presentations to the Capital Improvement Committee.
Town Hall Annex HVAC Upgrade – this is not a significant project - $50,000 over two years. This item includes heat for the Registrars and the VNA. It was suggested that it be kept in the budget as recommended for energy savings. The boiler removed can be brought to the Broad Brook Fire Department for use. It was determined there was an extra $25,000 in the HVAC Upgrade FYE 2010 that was a repeat of the Energy Conservation Measures BBFD/ Senior Center. Therefore, an edit was made removing $25,000. No other changes were made to this request.
Town Hall Storage Facility / Office – Ms. Menard read the CIP booklet write up on this proposal. She indicated that at the last Selectman meeting she reported that she has charged the Building Committee with a review of the Annex. As a temporary measure that initiative will start to resolve this problem, rather than a prefab building, which will have obstacles, including but not limited to, the railroad tracks. Ms. Menard recommended that this be removed due to these obstacles including the poor location. Mr. Farrell recommended to leave this request in, but to put it out a few years, so it shows the Town knows this item needs to be addressed. Ms. Menard felt the CIP needs to be a solid plan, rather than hypothetical ideas in place. It was the
consensus to put the $200,000 Town Hall Facility/Office over to 2012.
Staff Vehicles – Zoning Enforcement, Building Inspector and Parks and Recreation – Fiscal 2009 $60,000. There is discussion with the police department regarding starting a plan of recycling cruisers earlier and giving them in the town government for staff. There is no plan in place yet on how to implement this plan. Currently they are reimbursed for gas and mileage and it was thought to keep that current practice in place and to research the idea of recycled police cruisers. The Police Department and the Board of Finance will visit this idea in the future so therefore it was the consensus to remove the monies from the CIP ($60,000).
Town Hall Windows - Ms. Menard read the narrative for this request from the CIP booklet. It was recommended to keep this energy conservation measure. It was discussed as to the time frame for this. It was the consensus to keep this item as recommended in the Plan.
Town Hall Zoning (HVAC) - It was explained that if the heat in the big room is turned on for a meeting, case in point at the current meeting, the entire building is heated up. This zone idea is for one zone in conference room and the two others on either side of the hallway. It was the consensus to keep this item as recommended in the Plan.
Town Hall Boiler Asbestos Abatement – this goes hand in hand with the previous request therefore this request was moved up to 2009.
Town Hall Boiler Replacement – it was suggested to move this project over one year for each portion due to recent work to the boiler. It was the consensus to move the 79,000 (2010); 75,000 (2011); $75,000 (2012).
Town Clerk Vault Dehumidification – Ms. Menard outlined the current dehumidifier procedures done manually. It is an important to upgrade this process to continue to preserve the contents of the vault. It was the consensus to keep this item as recommended in the Plan.
Town Hall, Annex & Senior Center Repair request was removed as this is budgeted within the regular budget already.
Town Offices Facility Study – The current charge to the Building Committee was discussed and when their report would be. As such, the $50,000 moved to 2010.
Board of Education - It was the consensus to keep this item as recommended in the Plan.
As discussed at the recent budget hearing, the Assessor would like to take the $50,000 and fund a person to an ongoing assessment of properties from 2009, so to avoid a lump sum payment for the service. It would be an independent contractor, not a town employee. This is a proposal – it is for the Board of Finance to determine how these monies will be budgeted. This item was left in CIP with the understanding this is something for the Board of Finance to investigate how to fund.
Human Service – new Senior Center. It was felt to keep this item in place to begin funding of the idea. What action in this regard will be taken in the future, whether it is a new facility or renovations to the existing facility. It was felt to keep this in as an idea to fund a senior center concept in the future, whatever is determined after the facility study the course to take is. It was the consensus to keep this item as recommended in the Plan.
The Board took some time to discuss how the facility studies and the resulting new buildings or renovations to existing buildings will take place. Mr. Farrell felt it was important to set some more firm ideas in place so this did not get lost in the budget shuffle. It was discussed the CIP is the legal way to fund major projects.
Parks and Recreation - It was the consensus to keep this item as recommended in the Plan.
Public Works – the East Road Bridge items were removed from the CIP due to the closure of the East Road Bridge in anticipation of Department of Transportation funding. It was the consensus to keep the remaining item as recommended in the Plan.
Police Department no changes were made to the CIP recommendations. There was discussion regarding the vehicle during regular budget by added appropriation. The recent past skip for cycling the cruisers was discussed – so it was felt to return to the fleet cycle, as proposed in the CIP.
WPCA - It was the consensus to keep this item as recommended in the Plan.
Broad Brook Fire Department – The $50,000 for replacement of Service 239 will remain in the CIP with the understanding this item is before the Board of Finance and if it is resolved the Board of Finance can do as they see fit with the CIP request. The remaining items were kept as recommended in the plan.
Warehouse Point Fire Department – The Board discussed that the Warehouse Point 238 request does not have enough back up for what they need, why they need it and give the Town a reason for the purchase, as well as the quotations to support the numbers. If it something that is in dire need – come to the town Boards with a sellable plan. The idea of bonding this purchase was discussed and the need of getting the necessary information from the Fire Department. The money was taken out of the CIP for this request in 2009 and 2010. It is the Board’s recommendation that theWHPFD be asked to present this idea with the specifics of the apparatus, including costs and specs and need, to the appropriate boards with the thought that short term bonding can be investigated.
The chart of fire apparatus was received from Broad Brook Fire Department and was distributed to the Selectmen for their future review.
Ms. Menard will get the final figures of the CIP, as revised at this workshop, to the Board after she gets the spread sheets from the Webster Bank Representative.
The Board took a five minute break and reconvened at 8:27 p.m. to discuss the General budget – holding off on those items that Selectmen Nelson would prefer to be a part of.
The following is done with comments by the line items discussed.
CONSERVATION OF HEALTH
4205 No change recommended to this line item.
4220 No change recommended to this line item.
5210 No change recommended to this line item.
5222 No change recommended to this line item.
5225 No change recommended to this line item.
5235 No change recommended to this line item.
5236 No changes recommended to this line item.
5240 No changes recommended to this line item.
5245 No changes recommended to this line item.
5295 No changes recommended to this line item.
RECREATION
6305 Based on the presentation made it was agreed to put $12,000 in the Broad Brook Library budget. The Warehouse Point Library budget will be discussed with a full board.
MOTION: To adjourn at 8:57 p.m.
Made by Mr. Simmons, seconded by Mr. Farrell
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED.
Respectfully submitted,
Cynthia D. Croxford
Recording Secretary
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