The Board of Selectmen held a budget deliberation/regular meeting on Tuesday, January 22, 2002 at the C. H. Booth Library, Main Street, Newtown, CT. First Selectman Rosenthal called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM
PRESENT: First Selectman Herbert Rosenthal, Selectman Joseph Bojnowski,
Selectman William Brimmer
ALSO PRESENT: Finance Director Ben Spragg, various members of boards/commissions, one member of press
VOTER PARTICIPATION – Ms. Barbara O’Connor, 36 Little Brook Lane, read article in newspaper that town is hiring a full-time employee to handle the Geographical Information System (GIS). She can’t imagine this being a full-time position. Mr. Rosenthal advised that the past few years, the town has been funding the $600,000 GIS project. This is the third year of the process ($150,000). This computerized mapping system will be used by virtually every town department plus the Board of Education transportation. He has been told by other towns who have this system in place that it is necessary to either hire a firm, with long-term consulting fees, or hire a full-time employee to update and oversee this program. The steering committee recommends hiring an in-house
employee to work under the direction of the technology department in the school system.
Ms. Ruby Johnson, 16 Chestnut Hill Road, asked if the Parks & Recreation Department has a line item for purchase of land, a gymnasium, and a garage. The First Selectman answered that they do not.
COMMUNICATIONS: First Selectman Rosenthal distributed copies of the Charge to the Ad Hoc Fairfield Hills Master Plan Committee. Action will be taken at next meeting.
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: Upon motion by Selectman Bojnowski, the minutes of the 1/7/02 special meeting, the 1/7/02 regular meeting and the 1/8/02 special meeting were unanimously accepted as presented.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
2002/2003 Budget Deliberations
ACCOUNT 550 PARKS & RECREATION
Director Barbara Kasbarian was present, along with Commission members Larry Haskell, Ed Marks and Carlen Gaines.
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 550 Parks & Recreation in the amount of $1,551,670. Motion seconded.
Selectman Brimmer moved to AMEND by increasing line item 01550-1004 Park Maintainer Salary from $292,396 to $295,672. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
After some discussion, it was decided to decrease request for two additional Park Maintainers to one new employee this year, and one next year.
Selectman Brimmer moved to AMEND by decreasing line item 01550-1004 Park Maintainer Salary from $295,672 to $263,536. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
It was decided that since the Queen Street houses will be sold next spring, it will not be necessary to contract the mowing which would decrease the Contractual Services line by $10,000. It was also decided to decrease this line by another $5,000 for tree removal which can now be handled by the Public Works Department.
Selectman Bojnowski moved to AMEND by decreasing line item 01550-4060 Contractual Services from $158,360 to $143,360. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
It was decided to decrease capital requests removing $37,500 for concrete bleachers at the Treadwell Park softball field, and leaving new bleachers for Tilson field at Treadwell.
Selectman Brimmer moved to AMEND by decreasing line item 01550-5080 Capital from $399,250 to $357,850. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
MAIN MOTION UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED AS AMENDED ($1,466,410)
ACCOUNT 670 LIBRARY
Director Janet Woycik was present along with Trustee members Richard Sturdevant and Joseph Humeston.
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 670 Library in the amount of $760,970. Motion seconded and unanimously carried. (This represents a 3.3% increase)
ACCOUNT 730 HATTERTOWN HISTORIC DISTRICT
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 730 Hattertown Historic District in the amount of $500. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 740 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
Selectman Bojnowski moved Account 740 EDC in the amount of $7,500. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 750 LOCAL HOUSING PARTNERSHIP
Selectman Bojnowski moved Account 750 Local Housing Partnership in the amount of $300. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 600 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
Selectman Bojnowski moved Account 600 Legislative Council in the amount of $33,325. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 570 CONTINGENCY
The First Selectman advised that during the next year, contacts must be negotiated with four different unions – Public Works, Police, Parks & Recreation and Dispatch.
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 570 Contingency in the amount of $396,322. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 580 DEBT SERVICE
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 580 Debt Service in the amount of $8,672,660. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
This represents a 10% increase which includes the wrap up of the 5/6 school borrowing, the first phase of the Fairfield Hills purchase and the new radio communications system for emergency services.
ACCOUNT 870 FAIRFIELD HILLS
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 870 Fairfield Hills in the amount of $500,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 426 NW SAFETY COMMUNICATION
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 426 NW Safety Communication in the amount of $10,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
This number could change when actual numbers are received from NW Safety Communication.
ACCOUNT 435 AMOS HOUSE
Selectman Brimmer moved to re-open Account 435 Amos House. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
The First Selectman had contacted Amos House and was told someone would attend tonight’s meeting to explain their budget and answer questions. No one was present.
Selectman Brimmer moved to AMEND Account 435 Amos House by decreasing from $3,300 to $2,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 350 INSURANCE
First Selectman explained that there is a significant increase in this account which includes a 30-40% increase in premiums for liability, auto and property insurance through CIRMA. There will also be a 15% increase in workers compensation insurance. The average of 27.5 percent is being added to last year’s figure.
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 350 Insurance in the amount of $590,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 270 HEALTH INSURANCE
There is a significant increase expected in this account also due to amount of claims.
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 270 Health Insurance in the amount of $1,690,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 240 SOCIAL SECURITY
Selectman Bojnowski moved Account 240 Social Security in the amount of $626,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 105 SELECTMEN OTHER
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 105 Selectmen Other in the amount of $718,406. Motion seconded.
There was a lengthy discussion of the Non-recurring requests. It was decided to remove $45,000 for the Parks & Recreation Master Plan, leaving $20,000. Some of this can be addressed with the Plan of Conservation and Development. Also removed is $5,000 for carpeting in the Building Department, $15,000 for a design consultant for Lake Lillinonah parking area, $900 for one chair in the Dispatch Center and $2,000 for a computer in the Land Use Agency. Added is $1,700 for headsets in the Dispatch Center and $3,000 for one new voting machine (there will be a corresponding decrease of $1,100 in the leasing account for lease of two voting machines).
Selectman Brimmer moved to AMEND by decreasing line item 01105-2013 Non-recurring from $342,069 to $278,869. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Selectman Bojnowski moved to AMEND by decreasing line item 01105-2014 Leasing from $43,308 to $42,208. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
MAIN MOTION UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED AS AMENDED ($654,106)
TOTAL SELECTMEN BUDGET
Selectman Brimmer moved Total Selectmen’s Budget for 2002/2003 in the amount of $32,063,082. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
This represents a 5.1% overall increase over 2001/2002. Debt Service accounts for 2.38% of the increase, leaving an operating budget increase of 2.7%.
This budget could be re-opened at the next Selectmen’s meeting scheduled for 2/4/02.
NEW BUSINESS
ADD TO AGENDA – Selectman Brimmer moved to add Authorization to Sign Agreement to tonight’s agenda. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Bond Reduction, Charter Ridge Road, “Cider Mill Farm” Subdivision
Selectman Brimmer moved to approve bond reduction for Charter Ridge Road, “Cider Mill Farm” Subdivision from $365,000 to $130,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Bond Reduction, Jacobs Lane, “Winton Farms” Subdivision, Phase II
Selectman Bojnowski moved to approve bond reduction for Jacobs Lane, “Winton Farms” Subdivison, Phase II from $294,000 to $84,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Bond Release, Fire Suppression Tank, “Winton Farms” Subdivision, Phase II
Selectman Brimmer moved to release Fire Suppression Tank bond in the amount of $30,000 for “Winton Farms” Subdivision, Phase II. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Maintenance Bond Release, Road & Drainage Work Agreement, Tunnel Road and Blackman Road, “Middleton Heights” Subdivision
Selectman Bojnowski moved to release maintenance bond for Road & Drainage Work Agreement, Tunnel Road and Blackman Road, “Middleton Heights” Subdivision in the amount of $8,777.00. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Driveway Bond Releases/Extensions
Selectman Brimmer moved to release two (2) driveway bonds as outlined on Attachment A. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Selectman Brimmer moved to release two (2) subdivision bonds as outlined on Attachment A. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Selectman Brimmer moved to approve six-month extensions for two (2) driveway bonds as outlined on Attachment A. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Transfers
TRANSFER STATION: There is a request for a transfer from Contingency to the Overtime Account. It was decided to discuss this transfer in executive session at the end of the meeting.
COMMUNICATIONS: Selectman Bojnowski moved to transfer FROM Account 01570-2000 Contingency $13,000.00 TO Account 01300-1005 Overtime $13,000.00. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Resolution – Children’s Adventure Center
Selectman Brojnowski moved the following: RESOLVED that the First Selectman, Herbert C. Rosenthal, is empowered to enter into and amend contractual instruments in the name and on behalf of this Contractor with the Department of Social Services of the State of Connecticut for a Child Day Care program, and to affix the corporate seal. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Resolution – Official Depositories for Financial Director of Town of Newtown
Selectman Bojnowski moved Resolution outlined on Attachment B. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Special Appropriation – Parks & Recreation
Selectman Brimmer moved to recommend a special appropriation from the Capital Non-recurring Reserve Fund in the amount of $5,000 for the purchase of bleachers and players benches at Liberty baseball fields. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
This amount is being requested from the surcharge funds collected by Parks & Recreation from program participants and kept in the Reserve Fund.
January 2002 Tax Refunds
Selectman Bojnowski moved to approve January 2002 Tax Refunds in the amount of $16,719.77. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Non-Disturbance and Attornment Agreement – Sprint Spectrum lease
Selectman Bojnowski moved to authorize First Selectman Herbert C. Rosenthal to sign the Non-Disturbance and Attornment Agreement for lease between Sprint Spectrum and the Heritage Preservation Trust of Newtown, Inc. for the antennae in the steeple of the Newtown Meeting House. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Executive Session
Selectman Brimmer moved to enter executive session to discuss a labor issue and to invite Finance Director and clerk to attend. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Meeting entered executive session at 10:25 PM and returned to open session at 10:30 PM.
Selectman Brimmer moved to transfer FROM Account 01570-2000 Contingency $8,500.00 TO Account 01515-1003 Landfill Overtime $8,500.00. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Announcements: It was decided to hold a special meeting on 1/31/02 at 4:00 PM to discuss the firms interviewed to prepare the Master Plan for Fairfield Hills. It must also be decided if more people will be appointed to the Ad hoc Fairfield Hills Master Plan Committee.
Having no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:45 PM.
Jan Andras, Clerk
Attachment A: Driveway Bond Releases/Extensions
Attachment B: Resolution
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