The Board of Selectmen held a budget deliberation meeting on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 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; Fire Commission Chairman Kevin Cragin; Sandy Hook Fire Chief Bill Halstead; H&L Chief Ray Corbo; approximately eight members of fire and other emergency services; Dan Amaral and David Brown (Legislative Council), one member of press
2006/2007 Proposed Budget
ACCOUNT 438 SHELTER OF THE CROSS
Director Karen Messina was present to explain their services.
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 438 Shelter of the Cross in the amount of $2,500. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 439 WECAHR
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 439 in the amount of $1,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 320 FIRE
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 320 Fire Departments in the amount of $1,586,419. Motion seconded.
Board of Fire Commissioners Kevin Cragin gave a general overview of the budget requests and questions were answered by Sandy Hook Chief Bill Halstead and H&L Chief Ray Corbo. They are requesting replacement of the 30 year old H&L Engine 1. It was decided that this $458,000 capital item should be removed from the budget and bonded.
Selectman Brimmer moved to reduce line item 320-5080 Capital to $190,660. Motion seconded and unanimously carried. The line item for debt service will be increased to reflect bonding for the purchase of a replacement fire engine.
There was a lengthy discussion about the request to hire two full-time paid apparatus drivers. It was decided that less would be needed for two drivers.
Selectman Bojnowski moved to reduce line item 320-1001 Marshall Fees to $200,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
AMENDED MAIN MOTION ($1,096,419) UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.
Mr. Cragin will provide a breakdown of the utility costs between electric and fuel and get back to the Board of Selectmen who may re-open this account before finalizing the budget.
ACCOUNT 330 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT/DIVE TEAM
Emergency Management Director Bill Halstead and Dive Team Director Michael McCarthy were present to answer questions.
Selectman Bojnowski moved Account 330 Emergency Management in the amount of $36,551. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Selectman Bojnowski moved to reduce line item 330-2016 Education to $2,500 and to reduce line item for Physicals to $1,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Selectman Brimmer moved to reduce line item 330-5080 Capital to $8,483, removing the request for the boat, motor and trailer. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED ($24,601) UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.
ACCOUNT 370 HEALTH DISTRICT
Health Director Donna Culbert and Board Chairman Dr. Grossman were present to answer questions.
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 370 Health District in the amount of $220,742. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 427 YOUTH SERVICES
President Chris Gardner was present to answer questions. They are not asking for any increases this year although they have suffered funding cuts. They are looking at other fund-raising.
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 427 Youth Services in the amount of $160,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 360 LAKE AUTHORITIES
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 360 Lake Authorities in the amount of $41,864. 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 CHILDRENS ADVENTURE CENTER
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 410 CAC in the amount of $25,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 419 HOSPICE
Selectman Bojnowski moved Account 419 Hospice in the amount of $5,500. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 420 VETERANS GUIDANCE
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 420 Veterans Guidance in the amount of $250. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 425 NW REGIONAL MENTAL BOARD
Selectman Bojnowski moved Account 426 NW Regional Mental Board in the amount of $2,944. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 426 NW SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS
Selectman Bojnowski moved Account 426 NW Safety Communications in the amount of $10,500. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 428 REGIONAL CHILD ADVOCACY
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 428 Child Advocacy in the amount of $2,200. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 429 WOMENS CENTER
Selectman Bojnowski moved Account 429 Womens Center in the amount of $7,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 431 ABILITY BEYOND DISABILITY
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 431 Ability Beyond Disability in the amount of $4,500. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 432 PARAMEDIC
Selectman Bojnowski moved Account 432 Paramedic in the amount of $200,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 433 FAMILY COUNSELING CENTER
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 433 Family Counseling Center in the amount of $54,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 435 AMOS HOUSE
Selectman Bojnowski moved Account 435 Amos House in the amount of $3,300. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 436 LITERACY VOLUNTEERS
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 436 Literacy Volunteers in the amount of $1,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 437 NW CONNECTICUT EMS COUNCIL
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 250 NW EMS in the amount of $250. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 441 VOLUNTEER CENTER
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 441 Volunteer Center in the amount of $1,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 442 PARADE COMMITTEE
Selectman Bojnowski moved Account 442 Parade Committee in the amount of $1,500. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 443 PARENT CONNECTION
Board of Selectmen members had questions about this budget request and did not take action at this time. First Selectman Rosenthal will get more information.
ACCOUNT 444 NW CONSERVATION DISTRICT
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 444 NW Conservation District in the amount of $500. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m.
Jan Andras, Clerk
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