The Board of Selectmen held a budget deliberation meeting on Thursday, January 26, 2006 at the Senior Center, Riverside Road, SH . 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; Legislative Council members Joseph Borst, Daniel Amaral and Jeff Capeci; various department/organization representatives, one member of press
2006/2007 Proposed Budget
ACCOUNT 670 LIBRARY
Board of Trustees Chairman Judge William Lavery and Treasurer Kelly Urso were present, along with Board member Joseph Humeston.
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 670 Library in the amount of $872,556. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Judge Lavery suggested that there be extra funds in the contingency fund for increases in utilities that are expected over the next year, and was not factored in when budgets were prepared.
ACCOUNT 740 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
Community Development Director Elizabeth Stocker was present.
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 740 EDC in the amount of $70,000. Motion seconded.
Ms. Stocker advised that this budget request includes $60,000 for a new position of Economic Development Director. Ms. Stocker spends 75% of her time on planning and working with the Planning & Zoning Commission reviewing applications and meeting with the public to review development plans. First Selectman Rosenthal advised that he had discussions with some members of the Fairfield Hills Authority about possibly splitting the time of an economic development director. After some discussion, it was decided that EDC needs to do more research.
Selectman Brimmer moved to amend by reducing Account 740 EDC to $10,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED ($10,000) UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.
ACCOUNT 550 PARKS & RECREATION
Parks & Recreation Director Barbara Kasbarian, Assistant Parks Director Carl Samuelson, Parks & Recreation Commission members Ed Marks and Carlen Gaines were present. It was noted that the budget request includes $51,745 for trails maintenance and use of these funds is contingent on receiving an 80% grant.
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 550 Parks & Recreation in the amount of $2,007,655. Motion seconded.
Selectman Bojnowski moved to amend by reducing line item 550-2018 Utilities by $22,000, as heat is budgeted in the Public Building account. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Selectman Bojnowski moved to reduce line item 550-1004 Park Maintainer Salary by $35,464, eliminating one additional requested maintainer position. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Selectman Bojnowski moved to reduce line item 550-5080 Capital by $154,300 eliminating (1) one-ton platform truck, (1) Toro Versa-Vac, (1) broom attachment, (1) Toro Groundmaster, (1) Lake Lillinonah Gate, Treadwell locker replacement, Treadwell epoxy flooring, (5) picnic tables and the Dickinson Playground replacement program. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED ($1,795,891) UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.
ACCOUNT 500 HIGHWAY
Public Works Director Fred Hurley was present.
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 500 Highway in the amount of $6,479,768. Motion seconded.
Selectman Bojnowski moved to amend by reducing line item 500-1002 Administration by $28,000 for a clerical position that will be paid by the WSA and by $35,000 for an additional Assistant Town Engineer. Motion seconded and unanimously carried. (The Asst. Town Engineer is still funded for one-half year).
Selectman Brimmer moved to amend by reducing line item 500-4065 Contractual Roadside to $30,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Selectman Bojnowski moved to amend by reducing line item 500-2009 Tree Warden to $12,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Selectman Brimmer moved to amend by reducing line item 500-5080 Capital to $411,900 by eliminating the Compact Track Loader, eliminating one 6-wheel Dump, reducing the Loader Replacement to $202,000 and reducing the Ford Mower Replacement by overhauling for $25,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Selectman Brimmer moved to amend by reducing line item 500-5081 Capital Road Improvement to $1,950,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED ($5,968,768) UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.
ACCOUNT 510 WINTER MAINTENANCE
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 510 Winter Maintenance in the amount of $525,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 515 LANDFILL
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 515 Landfill (Transfer Station) in the amount of $1,309,820. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 650 PUBLIC BUILDING
Selectman Bojnowski moved Account 650 Public Building Maintenance in the amount of $849,186. Motion seconded.
Selectman Brimmer moved to amend by reducing line item 650-5080 Capital by $300,000, eliminating the renovation to the Multi-Purpose Center. Motion seconded and unanimously carried. There was discussion about using LoCIP funds for this project.
MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED ($549,186) UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED
ACCOUNT 710 CAR POOL
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 710 Car Pool in the amount of $84,000. Motion seconded.
Selectman Brimmer moved to amend by reducing Account 710 Car Pool to $30,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 730 HATTERTOWN HISTORIC DISTRICT
Selectman Bojnowski moved Account 730 Hattertown Historic District in the amount of $500. Motion seconded and carried (2 YES – 1 ABS). Selectman Brimmer abstained because his wife is a member of the District. First Selectman Rosenthal disclosed that his wife is also a member but the motion cannot pass without at least two votes.
ACCOUNT 460 BUILDING DEPARTMENT
Selectman Bojnowski moved Account 460 Building Department in the amount of $308,418. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 490 LAND USE
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 490 Land Use in the amount of $520,031. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 600 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
Selectman Brojnowski moved Account 600 Legislative Council in the amount of $53,992. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 750 LOCAL HOUSING PARTNERSHIP
Selectman Bojnowski moved Account 750 LHP in the amount of $100. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 870 FAIRFIELD HILLS
Selectman Bojnowski moved Account 870 Fairfield Hills in the amount of $598,500. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 570 CONTINGENCY
Selectman Bojnowski moved Account 570 Contingency in the amount of $540,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 580 DEBT SERVICE
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 580 Debt Service in the amount of $8,428,354. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 350 INSURANCE
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 350 Insurance in the amount of $875,026. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 443 PARENT CONNECTION
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 443 Parent Connection in the amount of $5,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 230 TOWN HALL MANAGERS
This account was approved at a previous meeting in the amount of $160,000. After a brief discussion, it was decided not to take any further action at this time regarding proposed capital projects.
ACCOUNT 320 FIRE DEPT.
Selectman Brimmer moved line item 320-1001 in the amount of $160,000, eliminating $40,000 for one apparatus driver. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Selectman Brimmer moved to reduce line item 320-5080 Capital by $30,000, eliminating the Command/Chiefs Vehicle. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 320 Fire Department in the amount of $1,026,419. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 p.m.
Jan Andras, Clerk
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