TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
MINUTES
TOWN COUNCIL WORK SESSION
COUNCIL CHAMBERS APRIL 21, 2003
SOUTH WINDSOR TOWN HALL 7:00 P.M.
1. Call Meeting to Order
Mayor Aman called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Members Present: Mayor William Aman
Deputy Mayor Matthew Streeter
Councillor Barbara Barbour
Councillor Paul Burnham
Councillor Thomas Delnicki
Councillor Deborah Fine
Councillor Edward Havens
Councillor Judith Paquin
Councillor John Pelkey
Also Present: Town Manager Matthew B. Galligan
Town Attorney Barry D. Guliano
3. Public Participation – None
4. Communications – None
Councillor Barbour recognized the Public Works Department for foregoing their union negotiations this year.
Town Manager’s Report – None
6. Items for Discussion
2003/2004 Proposed Budgets
Police Department
This is a continuation of the Police Department presentation which occurred during the previous Work Session.
6. A. (Continued)
Councillor Barbour asked if all the employees are graduates of the Police Academy and, therefore, able to move within different jobs in the various divisions of the Police Department. If so, can the Town utilize any professional people who are not officers to fill some of the Technical Services positions and free up officers for those positions in which the Department is lacking. Chief Tyler explained that individuals are split into two groups within the Department—sworn (those who have gone through the Police Academy) or civilians (those who do not have to go through the Academy and are not trained in the same way.) Civilians are trained for their specific assignments. Community Service Officers are civilians who are trained to assist in medical calls, traffic direction
and any other non-hazardous police functions.
There is currently one full-time and several part-time Community Service Officers. Chief Tyler said that they would like to expand that since it is more efficient, it is less costly, and civilians don’t have to be trained like Police Officers.
With regard to the sworn personnel positions, they are rotated so that an individual is not in one position forever. There are two-year assignments and five-year assignments. The length of the assignment depends upon the training required for that position.
There are currently 45 sworn personnel, 6 communications individuals, one Community Service Officer, 2 Records Clerks, 1 Executive Secretary, and 1 Secretary in Administrative Services. Eleven of those positions are civilian employees, and there are also additional part-time personnel.
Chief Tyler was asked about police vehicles and specifically why the Town Manager’s and Town Attorney’s vehicles are under the Police Department budget. He said that the Police Department prepared the documents to lease the two vehicles, and it was more advantageous to include them in the pool of vehicles for which they were issuing an RFP. He said that the Department has 14 marked cruisers and the remaining units are used for special circumstances. There is a traffic trailer which was received under a grant from the DOT and is used for the seatbelt program and for the child safety restraint program. The vehicle used to tow it is a leased vehicle paid for by a business person in Town. The DARE car was confiscated from a drug dealer and was painted at a local
auto specialty
6. A. (Continued)
specialty shop free of charge. There is a Community Service Officer truck, which contains cages for hauling animals. The mobile command post is an old ambulance which was converted to all the appropriate frequencies.
Concerning objectives for 2003-2004, Commander Hart spoke of the 1,800 square feet of the Ambulance Corps’ space which would be available when they left the building, and an additional 6,000 square feet to be added to the west side of the building. He indicated that the Ambulance Corps would be going to the new Fire House on Sullivan Avenue, when it gets built. Mayor Aman interjected at this point and emphasized that the new Fire House would not be built in the near future. It has not even been discussed by the Town Council.
“Other Equipment,” which was grouped in with the police cars being cut from the budget, was described as equipment to help maintain the CREST Team (a swat team), equipment to support the regional dive team, equipment to support the traffic units, and equipment to support the Community Service Officer.
When asked whether residents would be in jeopardy with the proposed cuts, Chief Tyler said that the Department is working very hard to make certain that safety is not jeopardized. He spoke once again about the time frame involved with recruitment and training of officers, as well as the fact that the Police are first responders for all medical situations.
The discussion turned to the communications tower behind the Police Department, and Commander Hart said that at the time of the installation, money was allocated to the Police Department, Fire Department and Ambulance Corps for equipment. Approximately $180,000 was spent on radios, receivers, main equipment, etc. Chief Tyler explained that this equipment replaced an existing system which needed to be upgraded. It did not give a coordinated system, which has been discussed many times in the past. He added that there are four or five towns ready to commit to a regional system, but money is not available.
The Town Manager said that although changes might be required within the Department, basic police protection required for public safety would be maintained.
6. A. (Continued)
Mayor Aman stated that the next two groups—the Library and the Volunteer Fire Department are grant agencies. The Town provides a certain amount of money to these agencies, and while they provide information as to their budgets, they have a right to spend funds as they deem appropriate.
Library (See attached Exhibit A)
Gladys Nadel, of the Finance Committee for the Library, stated that they are asking for a 2.26% increase over the present year’s budget. There was a 6% increase in services at the Library during the past year, and in the current year the number is approaching 8%. Since the addition to the Library, there has been no addition in staff. The priorities in setting the budget this year included updating the salary range to maintain competitive positions in the library market, as well as replacement of computers and peripherals.
The Library does accept donations and memorials.
Volunteer Fire Department
Fire Chief Philip Crombie stated that the Department’s original request was $460,244; however, following the Town Manager’s request, that number was reduced to the current $339,900. The budget was broken down as follows:
Volunteer recruitment and retention – 24%. The largest two parts are the reimbursement for expenses, which worked out to $1.85 per hour for volunteers and the service award program for the Fire Department and the Ambulance Corps.
Administration and management - 17%.
Operations of the fleet of fire apparatus and the three buildings – 31%.
Operations in the way of new equipment and protective clothing – 20%.
Training and fire prevention activities – 8%.
6. A. (Continued)
When asked what the cost would be if the members of the Department were paid, Chief Crombie responded that ten individuals to cover shifts 24 hours per day at $70,000 or $75,000 per person for salaries and benefits, would equal about $1 million.
Chief Crombie explained that cuts were made in a number of areas, including in the replacement of protective clothing and in the number of physicals for firefighters each year. Some portable radios, which would have expanded their radio capabilities, were also cut.
An entry physical is currently performed for each new firefighter, and periodic physicals are performed every five years. They had proposed in this budget to have the ongoing physicals performed on a three-year cycle, but they went back to the five-year cycle. A “fit-test” is performed on an annual basis to make sure the firefighters’ facemasks fit for proper breathing.
Chief Crombie stated that the cuts won’t affect the operation of the Department of only for a one-year period. He felt that no firefighters were being placed in jeopardy. He said each individual’s personal protective equipment is inspected on an annual basis, and replacements were being done on an as-needed basis.
The Chief was asked to provide Council with a list of all of the actual cuts by line item.
The Budget Work Session was recessed in order to call the Public Hearing to order. Following the Public Hearing, the Regular Meeting was called to order and recessed, and the Work Session was reconvened.
When questioned about the funding of a new ladder truck, Mr. Galligan said that the last two trucks were leased and there is $100,000 in the Capital Projects Budget for a down payment. When it is actually leased, the lease payments are paid within four or five years. It is not in this year’s budget because there is an issue involving the fit of the truck in a Fire House.
6. A. (Continued)
The existing ladder truck is 16 years old and the normal life expectancy for a ladder truck is 20 to 25 years. That truck would be retired at the time a new one is leased/purchased.
Chief Crombie said he will soon have an apparatus replacement plan relating to the next fifteen years.
Councillor Pelkey, referencing towns of a similar size and population, asked how South Windsor compares as far as fire calls and fire prevention programming. In terms of calls, Chief Crombie said that the types of calls to which Fire Departments respond would need to be examined. Because of the volunteer Ambulance Corps in South Windsor, the Fire Department does not respond as an emergency medical service provider; they respond to fires and rescue calls. That response number is about 550 per year. In terms of budget dollars, South Windsor’s budget request was less than most surrounding communities with a similar sized department.
The fire prevention activities will be dramatically expanded this year, according to Chief Crombie. With the $100,000 Clyde Johnson bequest received by the Fire Department, a fire safety trailer is being purchased at a cost of about $40,000 and will be delivered in July. Their primary prevention activities include the Wapping Fair, the Fire Prevention Open House during Fire Prevention Week and a day spent at each of the Elementary Schools during that week.
Chief Crombie noted that volunteers are always needed in various areas—primary firefighters, the support group, the Explorer Post Youth Group (ages 14-18), and a number of other administrative functions. The current staffing is at 105, which covers the entire spectrum of jobs. Approximately six to eight people a year are brought in, and about the same number are lost through retirements or moves.
Capital Projects
Mr. Galligan stated that the Capital Projects Committee is comprised of Mayor Aman, Councillors Barbour and Pelkey, three members of the Board of Education, Dr. Wood, and the Town Manager. The Committee
6. A. (Continued)
meets on a monthly basis to review capital projects—items which are suggested by various staff people, problem areas, and possible ways of enhancing the community.
Years ago the Board of Education wasn’t part of the Capital Projects Committee and their items were handled under their operating budget. Now the priorities are set together. Mr. Galligan briefly discussed the list of “Adjusted Capital Projects” (see attached Exhibit B). The following information was shared as part of his discussion.
Misc. drainage and sidewalk repairs and miscellaneous overlay and driveway repairs involve blacktop and chip seal in order to stay on top of the situation. With the cuts to Town road aid by about $200,000, less roads are able to be done. This year the Town may receive about $56,000.
The Police Department roof replacement, the Town Hall roof replacement, and the Town-wide mapping update, Phase I, are to be funded by local capital improvement funds which come from the State.
The Police Department electronic fuel system is required by the Department of Environmental Protection.
The STEAP Grant match for I-291 is the Small Town Economic Assistance Program, a new program approved by the State Legislature, in which the Town received $500,000 to do infrastructure work at I-291 to promote economic development. The Capital Projects Committee felt that $300,000 should be matched with that grant so that the first phase of the project could be done.
The total for capital projects is $2.2 million, of which only $1.7 million will be funded by general fund taxes, and the balance will come from outside grant sources.
Further information was requested by Councillor Burnham relating to the High School kitchen equipment. Deputy Mayor Streeter noted the need for the work to be done, citing the fact that the High School serves as the Town’s emergency shelter.
6. A. (Continued)
Mr. Galligan spoke of coming up with a new system to rate contractors and the need for input from the Town Attorney as to the legal remedy when problems arise with a contractor.
Councillor Pelkey emphasized the importance of the Town Mapping, Phase I, and how it could have been utilized with the school redistricting program.
There was a question with regard to whether a resolution would be required to approve the capital projects, or if passage of the budget was sufficient. Atty. Guliano responded that he didn’t believe that a separate resolution was necessary. Mayor Aman said that if a Councillor had an objection to a particular line item, an amendment could be presented on “Amendment Night,” changing the amount of money from that particular line item, rotating down to the reserve for Capital Nonrecurring. That would force a Public Hearing to have a separate vote on that line item, yet maintain the integrity of the $1,791,000 to be spent on capital projects.
Mayor Aman said that the Town is not receiving some off-line items which usually go into Capital Projects. And, normally debt service and capital projects are added together, but debt service is down about $50,000 this year, which in a normal budget year would roll additional money into the capital projects. LOCIP funds—approximately $150,000 per year—is like a savings account; and this year the Town is tapping heavily into that account so that it will be brought down to zero again.
Regarding the paving project at Orchard Hill, Councillor Paquin asked if it wouldn’t be prudent to wait until the renovations occur. Mr. Galligan stated that the project has been delayed for the last three or four years for that very reason; however, it is now in a deplorable condition.
7. Executive Session – None.
8. Adjournment
A motion to adjourn was made by Deputy Mayor Streeter at 8:40 p.m.; it was duly seconded and passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Merlyn P. Guild
Assistant to the Clerk of the Council
Attachments
| 
