Ms. Menard called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. in the East Windsor Town Hall, 11 Rye Street, Broad Brook.
Attendance:
Denise Menard, First Selectman
Gilbert Hayes, Selectman
Edward Farrell, Selectman
Mark Simmons, Selectman
Unable to attend: Dale Nelson, Selectman (unscheduled)
6305 Warehouse Point Library After review of the proposed budget, the Board discussed the revenues projected at zero in the submitted budget, which is a change from previous years. The Board put a call to the Director of the Warehouse Point Library Association to inquire on this item in order to appropriately make a recommendation to this proposed budget. After a telephone call to a Board member, the revenues numbers provided, which are projections, have many variables. Due to that, the Board felt it was fair to have the Town budget and the endowment share the same increase for the budget. The endowment increase was 3%, therefore the recommendation was to increase the Town’s contribution to the library association by the same 3% over the previous year. The 07/08
budget amount was $227,963 – adding 3% brings it to $234,800 (reducing the original budget request for 08/09 by $8,108).
6310 – Community Activities. No change recommended to this line.
6315 – Parks and Recreation
The request for a new full time groundskeeper was discussed. Ms. Menard discussed the current responsibilities of town grounds keeping, including what the different roles of the public works department and the parks and recreation department. It was discussed that if you fund that full time position there should be fewer monies to the part time salary as some of the part time duties would be taken over by the full time groundskeeper. The Board wondered what the full time individual would have for responsibilities in the winter. It was felt that rather than fund a full time groundskeeper, which would include benefits, that the Board would recommend funding another part time person at $15,000. By removing the full time person from the proposal, the Board removed the monies budgeted 08/09
for a full time grounds keeper (-$39,510) and instead added $15,000 for a part time person, thereby making the total request for 08/09 $309,427. Next, Ms. Menard outlined that she is currently working on the phone issues and expects a change in communication costs in the future. As such the communications line was reduced by $500, back to the previous $3500. In conclusion, the Board reduced this budget as detailed above – thereby making the total request $308,927.
6395 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS - This was reduced by $21,475, which was the proposed benefits for a full time groundskeeper, which was not funded, as detailed above. The part time position funded does not require benefits. This request is now at $71,754. The Board understands that other benefits in 7345 & 7350 were woven into the proposal for a full time position and these items will be reduced as well since the full time position, as requested, was not funded.
MISCELLANEOUS
8410 – The Board understands that the Contingency Two is no longer budgeted, it was recommended to keep the contingency fund at $250,000 for unanticipated expenses. Later in the meeting it was decided to add $20,000 to the contingency budget in anticipation of possible retirements. The Selectmen recommendation for contingency is $270,000.
8415 – The Association’s make up was discussed and its position as a vendor to the town versus the town responsibility to fund this item. It was questioned what the services this Association provides the town – there is no contract with the entity and currently it takes the funds given and spends as the Association sees fit. Due to the recent events and disagreement with the Association and other town entities, it was felt that the monies budgeted and given to this Association should be for specific services to the town – if those services are not provided – then they do not get paid. It was the recommendation that the Cemetery Association and the Board of Selectmen meet and reach an agreement as to the scope of services provided for the budgeted amount of $30,000 – which is to be paid quarterly at $7500 per quarter.
8425 – It was felt that the information technology technician that assists the Town side could be funded at 25 hours a week. This position is $15.45 / hr. It was recommended by the Selectmen to reduce that 08/09 salary by $4,017, thereby making that 08/09 budget request amount $20,085 (a reduction of $4,017). The Selectmen asked for detail on the line items in this budget and Ms. Menard will get that to them in the future. The Selectmen recommend an 08/09 budget request for this line of $135,983.
8440 – Funding the obligated contract of $1800 for the Historical Commission was discussed. The Society and the Commission responsibilities were discussed. Protecting the history is important, but there needs to be a plan and a procedure in place. It was the Board’s recommendation to budget the Commission at $2300, so the Society can cover the contract obligation of $1800 and also have a $500 operating budget. It was the Board’s recommendation to budget the American Heritage River at $250. It was the Board’s recommendation to fund the Historical Society at $1500. It was the Board’s recommendation to fund the Melrose School at $500. The Boards recommendation for this line is $4550 (a reduction of $3450 from the proposed
budget).
TOWN GOVERNMENT
1010 – No changes recommended to this line item.
1015 - It was the Board’s recommendation to create a clear picture of this legal line – segregating the budget items as follows: $50,000 to litigation; $20,000 for the Assessor (taking into consideration the revaluation); $20,000 for contracts; thereby leaving the remaining amount, $60,000, for general legal fees. This allows for a better picture of what was spent on legal fees for the budget amount.
1020 – No change to this line item.
1025 – No change to this line item (no presentation on this item made).
1030 – The Board recommended increases in full time salaries, staggered, similar to those of increases in other departments. It was recommended the full time salary line item increased by 5% - to be allocated as 5% increase to both full time salaries. The Board of Selectman recommended a full time salary budget of $95,212, which reflects a reduction of $7,214 to the proposed budget. The communications were also reduced to $800, a $400 reduction, for the same reasons the Parks and Recreation communication line was reduced (as outlined above). The part time position was given a 5% increase, for a part time budget amount of $14,376 (a reduction $444). The Selectmen recommend a total 08/09 budget for this line item of $129,503.
The Board will meet Monday, March 31, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. to continue their budget review.
MOTION: To adjourn at 12:15 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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