The Board of Selectmen held a budget deliberation meeting on Monday, January 26, 2004 in the meeting room 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, representatives of various agencies, one member of press
VOTER PARTICIPATION: None noted
2004/2005 Budget Deliberations
Computer Requests
At the budget meeting held on January 20, questions were raised regarding requests from various town departments for new and replacement computers. Ms. Carmella Amodeo and Mr. Kevin Koschel of the Board of Education Technology Department were invited tonight to answer those questions. First Selectman Rosenthal explained that for the past several years, the Technology Department has been serving the town departments in addition to the school system.
The comment had been made that Dell advertises computers for $600. Ms. Amodeo explained that those ads are for the Dell Dimension. The Technology Department recommends purchasing the Dell Optiplex because they are more consistent so we know that every machine has the exact same components. On-line right now, Dell is advertising the Optiplex for $699, which is a base unit. We get quotes for enough memory and a big enough hard drive, plus a graphics card with dedicated memory, in order to be able to utilize the GIS System once it is up and running. This brings the price up to $1,100. In addition, licenses must be purchased for each machine in order to run Office 2000 Professional software, which adds another $280. The Technology
Department employees are certified to service both Dell and Gateway. We price both computers to get the best deal each time we order.
Mr. Koschel prepared a list of the computers, monitors and printers being requested in the Selectmen’s Non-recurring account and possible reductions of eight computers for this year. He is proposing moving some of the older machines around to departments who can get by for now with a slower machine. This will be discussed before the budget is finalized.
Account 320 Fire Departments
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 320 Fire Departments in the amount of $1,350,820. Motion seconded.
Board of Fire Commissioners Chairman Kevin Cragin was present. The largest items being requested are a new vehicle for the Fire Marshal at $47,000 and a replacement pumper truck for Botsford at $395,000. He explained that Botsford Fire Co. spec’d the truck and this is the price they got. First Selectman Rosenthal suggested that the Town set a standard for trucks we are willing to purchase and the fire companies can then decide if they want to pay for anything above that standard.
Selectman Brimmer moved to AMEND by decreasing line item 01320-5080 Capital by $122,000, eliminating the Fire Marshal vehicle for $47,000 and decreasing the pumper truck request FROM $395,000 TO $320,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Selectman Bojnowski moved to AMEND by decreasing line item 01320-2012 Fire Co. Grants from $125,000 to $110,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED ($1,213,820) UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.
Account 330 Emergency Management/Dive Team
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 330 Emergency Management/Dive Team in the amount of $30,153. Motion seconded.
Emergency Management Director Bill Halstead is away on vacation. Mr. Michael McCarthy was present on behalf of the Dive Team.
Selectman Brimmer moved to AMEND by decreasing line item 01330-5080 Capital from $7,785 to $4,585, eliminating the four dry suits. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED ($26,953) UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED
Account 360 Lake Authorities
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 360 Lake Authorities in the amount of $37,182. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Mr. Michael McCarthy was present on behalf of the Lake Lillinonah Authority and Mr. Tony D’Angelo was present on behalf of the Lake Zoar Authority.
Account 370 Health District
Director of Health Donna McCarthy was present, along with Board of Health Chairman James Smith. There is no increase in the budget request for the next fiscal year.
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 370 Health District in the amount of $225,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Account 380 VNA
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 380 VNA in the amount of $500. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Account 410 Children’s Adventure Center
No representative of the CAC was present. This account will be addressed at the next meeting.
Account 425 NW Regional Mental Board
Selectman Bojnowski moved Account 425 in the amount of $2,845. Motion seconded.
Representative James Smith was present. He advised that this request is based on per capita and is an $845 increase over the current budget allocation.
Selectman Brimmer moved to AMEND by decreasing Account 425 to $2,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED ($2,000) UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.
Account 427 Youth Services
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 427 Youth Services in the amount of $160,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Newly appointed Youth Services Director Anthony Tozzi was present along with Anita Arnold, Roseanne Loring and Nina Allred.
Account 438 Shelter of the Cross
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 438 Shelter of the Cross in the amount of $5,000. Motion seconded.
Director Karen Messina was present. Shelter of the Cross is a shelter for the elderly homeless. A second home was opened this year. They recently took in a 62 year old woman who had been living in her car for a year. They have had three residents from Newtown – two have moved into independent houses and one has been moved to a nursing home after a stroke. It was noted that the budget form requested $5,000 but the letter from Ms. Messina stated a request of $3,000, a $500 increase over the current year.
Selectman Brimmer moved to AMEND by decreasing Account 438 Shelter of the Cross to $3,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED ($3,000) UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.
Account 439 WeCAHR
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 439 WeCAHR in the amount of $3,000. Motion seconded.
A representative of WeCAHR gave a brief overview. This request is a $2,500 increase over the current year.
Selectman Brimmer moved to AMEND by decreasing Account 439 WeCAHR to $1,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED ($1,000) UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.
Account 433 Family Counseling Center
Mr. Joseph Humeston was present, along with Director Terry Blackmer and other members of the Board of Directors.
Selectman Bojnowski moved Account 433 Family Counseling Center in the amount of $54,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Account 445 Tercentennial
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 445 Tercentennial in the amount of $125,000. Motion seconded.
Mr. John Martocci and Mr. John Trentacosta were present. It was decided that the entire amount would not be necessary during the next fiscal year but could be split between two budget years.
Selectman Brimmer moved to AMEND by decreasing Account 445 Tercentennial to $75,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED ($75,000) UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.
Account 425 NW Regional Mental Board
Selectman Brimmer moved to re-consider Account 425 NW Regional Mental Board. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Selectman Brimmer moved to amend Account 425 NW Regional Mental Board to the amount of $2,500. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Account 350 Insurance
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 350 Insurance in the amount of $769,331. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Account 419 Regional Hospice
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 419 Regional Hospice in the amount of $5,500. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Account 420 Veterans Guidance
Selectman Bojnowski moved Account 420 Veterans Guidance win the amount of $250. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Account 426 NW Safety Communications
Selectman Bojnowski moved Account 426 NW Safety Communications in the amount of $11,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Account 428 Commission on Children
Selectman Bojnowski moved Account 428 Commission on Children in the amount of $2,500. Motion seconded.
Selectman Brimmer moved to AMEND by decreasing Account 428 Commission on Children to $2,200. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED ($2,200) UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED
Account 429 Womens Center
Selectman Bojnowski moved Account 429 Womens Center in the amount of $7,000. Motion seconded.
Selectman Brimmer moved to AMEND by decreasing Account 429 Womens Center to $6,250. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED ($6,250) UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED
Account 431 Ability Beyond Disability (DATAHR)
Selectman Bojnowski moved Account 431 Ability Beyond Disability in the amount of $5,000. Motion seconded.
Selectman Bojnowski moved to AMEND by decreasing Account 431 Ability Beyond Disability to $4,500. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED ($4,500) UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.
Account 432 Paramedic
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 432 Paramedic in the amount of $150,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
First Selectman Rosenthal advised that the current contract expires on 6/30/04 and will have to be renegotiated. This request is an estimate.
Account 435 Amos House
Selectman Bojnowski moved Account 435 Amos House in the amount of $3,300. Motion seconded.
It was noted that no representative has been coming to speak to this budget and that no financial report was received with the budget request.
Selectman Brimmer moved to TABLE this motion until the next meeting. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
MOTION TABLED
Account 436 Literacy Volunteers
Selectman Bojnowski moved Account 436 Literacy Volunteers in the amount of $2,000. Motion seconded.
Selectman Bojnowski moved to AMEND Account 436 by decreasing to $1,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED ($1,000) UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED
Account 437 EMS Council
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 437 EMS Council in the amount of $250. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Account 441 Volunteer Center
Selectman Bojnowski moved Account 441 Volunteer Center in the amount of $500. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Account 442 Parade Committee
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 442 Parade Committee (insurance) in the amount of $1,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
It was decided to postpone the budget meeting scheduled for tomorrow evening (1/27) due to severe weather predictions. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday (1/28) at 7:30 pm in the library meeting room.
Having no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:00 p.m.
Jan Andras, Clerk
| 
