The Board of Selectmen held a budget deliberation meeting on Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at the Multi-Purpose Building, Riverside Road, Sandy Hook, CT. First Selectman Borst called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
PRESENT: First Selectman Joseph Borst, Selectman Paul Mangiafico, Selectman Herbert Rosenthal
ALSO PRESENT: Finance Director Ben Spragg, Legislative Council members Chris Lyddy, Jeff Capeci and Dan Amaral, several town department heads and members of organizations, two members of press
2008/2009 BUDGET
Account 340 Canine Control
Animal Control Officer Carolee Mason was present, along with Canine Advocates Director Virginia Jess. Ms. Mason advised that she is requesting an increase in supplies due to the need for more food for the animals and is also requesting a part-time weekend person.
Selectman Rosenthal moved Account 340 Canine Control in the amount of $154,555. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Account 320 Fire
Fire Commission Chairman Kevin Cragin was present, along with Deputy Fire Marshal Richard Frampton and Fire Commissioner Michael Burton.
Selectman Rosenthal moved Account 320 Fire in the amount of $1,215,640. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Account 330 Emergency Management/Dive Team
Dive Team Director Michael McCarthy was present, along with several members of the team. Assistant Director of Emergency Management Donna Culbert was present in the absence of Director Bill Halstead.
Selectman Rosenthal moved Account 330 Emergency Management/Dive Team in the amount of $51,060. Motion seconded.
Selectman Mangiafico moved to AMEND by reducing line 330-5080 Capital by $2,400 – removing the depth finder. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Selectman Borst moved to AMEND by reducing line 330-5080 Capital by $2,550 removing the two ice suits. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED ($46,110) UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED
Account 350 Insurance
Selectman Borst moved Account 350 Insurance in the amount of $954,330. Motion seconded and unanimously carried. Mr. Spragg advised that we do not yet have the final numbers from CIRMA and this could change by the time the budget is forwarded to the Legislative Council.
Account 360 Lake Authorities
Two representatives of the Lake Zoar Authority were present. They explained that the Authority has some high cost maintenance items coming up this year. The costs for police officers to patrol the lake is going up to $60 per hour and the Authority is being forced to buy new radios to talk to all four towns.
Selectman Rosenthal moved Account 360 Lake Authorities in the amount of $74,495. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Account 370 Health District
Director of Health Donna Culbert was present.
Selectman Rosenthal moved Account 370 Health District in the amount of $262,696. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Account 380 VNA
Ms. Mae Schmidle was present.
Selectman Borst moved Account 380 VNA in the amount of $500. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Account 400 Kevin’s Community Center
Two representatives of Kevins Community Center were present.
Selectman Borst moved Account 400 Kevin’s Community Center in the amount of $50,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Account 410 Childrens Adventure Center
Mae Schmidle was present. First Selectman Borst advised that he will recuse himself since his wife serves on the Board of the CAC.
Selectman Rosenthal moved Account 410 CAC in the amount of $35,000. Motion seconded. There was some discussion about what the $5,000 increase in the request is for, since there was no substantiation included in the budget request.
Selectman Mangiafico moved to AMEND by reducing Account 410 CAC to $30,000. Motion seconded and carried: 2 YES (Mangiafico, Rosenthal) – 1 Abs. (Borst)
MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED ($30,000) CARRIED: 2 YES (Mangiafico, Rosenthal) – 1 Abs. (Borst)
Account 419 Hospice
Selectman Rosenthal moved Account 419 Hospice in the amount of $5,500. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Account 420 Veterans Guidance
Selectman Rosenthal moved Account 420 Veterans Guidance in the amount of $250. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Account 425 Northwest Regional Mental Health Board
Executive Director Janine Sullivan-Wiley was present, along with Newtown representative James Smith.
Selectman Rosenthal moved Account 425 NW Reg. Mental Health in the amount of $2,974. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Account 426 NW Safety Communication
Selectman Rosenthal moved Account 426 NW Safety Comm. in the amount of $10,500. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Account 427 Youth Services
Now included in Account 433 Newtown Youth and Family Services
Account 433 Newtown Youth and Family Services
Chairman Chris Gardner was present along with several other representatives who had prepared a slide show presentation that was viewed by all present. Last year, there were two separate entities, Youth Services and the Family Counseling Center. These have now been combined into Newtown Youth and Family Services.
Selectman Rosenthal moved Account 433 Youth and Family Services in the amount of $275,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Account 428 Danbury Regional Child Advocacy Center
Selectman Rosenthal moved Account 428 Dan. Reg. Child Advocacy. Ctr. in the amount of $2,750. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Account 429 Womens Center
Selectman Borst moved Account 429 Womens Center in the amount of $10,000. Motion seconded.
Selectman Rosenthal moved to AMEND by reducing Account 429 Womens Center to $8,500. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED ($8,500) UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED
Account 431 Ability Beyond Disability
Selectman Rosenthal moved Account 431 Ability Beyond Disability in the amount of $4,500. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Account 432 Paramedic
Ambulance Association President Trisha Johnson was present.
Selectman Rosenthal moved Account 432 Paramedic in the amount of $220,500. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Account 435 Amos House
Executive Director Gladys McFarland was present.
Selectman Mangiafico moved Account 435 Amos House in the amount of $3,300. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Account 436 Literacy Volunteers
Selectman Mangiafico moved Account 436 Literacy Volunteers in the amount of $2,000. Motion seconded. It was noted that no one was present and no back-up information was given to substantiate the requested increase.
Selectman Rosenthal moved to AMEND by decreasing Account 436 Literacy Volunteers to $1,500. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED ($1,500) UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED
Account 437 EMS Council
Selectman Rosenthal moved Account 437 EMS Council in the amount of $250. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Account 438 Shelter of the Cross
Selectman Rosenthal moved Account 438 Shelter of the Cross in the amount of $2,500. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Account 439 WeCAHR
A representative of WeCAHR was present.
Selectman Rosenthal moved Account 439 WeCAHR in the amount of $1,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Account 441 Volunteer Center
Executive Director Patty Cohen Peck was present.
Selectman Rosenthal moved Account 441 Volunteer Center in the amount of $1,500. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Account 442 Parade Committee
Selectman Rosenthal moved Account 442 Parade Committee (insurance) in the amount of $1,500. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Account 443 Parent Connection
Ms. Dorrie Carolan and Ms. Donna DeLuca were present.
Selectman Rosenthal moved Account 443 Parent Connection in the amount of $25,000. Motion seconded. There was a lengthy discussion of this large requested increase.
Selectman Mangiafico moved to AMEND by decreasing Account 443 Parent Connection to $15,000. Motion seconded for discussion.
Selectman Rosenthal advised that he would vote for the amendment if the Board of Selectmen would be willing to entertain a possible transfer of funds in the future should the Parent Connection find out that they need funds in order to find some building space.
AMENDMENT UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED.
MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED ($15,000) UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED
Account 444 Conservation District
Selectman Rosenthal moved Account 444 Conservation District in the amount of $500. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Meeting was adjourned at 11:30 p.m.
Jan Andras, Clerk
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