TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
MINUTES
TOWN COUNCIL BUDGET WORK SESSION
COUNCIL CHAMBERS APRIL 23, 2007
placeSOUTH WINDSOR TOWN HALL TIME: 7:00 P.M.
1. Call Meeting to Order
Mayor Streeter called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Members Present: Mayor Matthew Streeter
Deputy Mayor Thomas Delnicki
Councillor Edward Havens
Councillor Kevin McCann
Councillor Tim Moriarty
Councillor John Pelkey
Councillor Cary placeCityPrague
Councillor Keith Yagaloff
Members Absent: Councillor Deborah Fine
Also Present: Town Manager Matthew Galligan
Melanie Crucitti, Director of Finance
3. Public Participation: None
4. Communications: None
5. Town Manager’s Report: None
6. Items for Discussion
A. Proposed Fiscal Year Budgets for: Town Clerk, Library, and Police Department
Town Clerk’s Office
Ms. Gretchen Bickford, Town Clerk came forward and stated that in keeping with the Town Manager’s recommendation, there have not been any increases in the regular line item. Answering questions from the Town Council, Ms. Bickford
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Budget Work Session – Town Council
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6. A. (Continued)
Town Clerk (Continued)
explained that there is an increase in the salaries which was due to a salary survey of fourteen surrounding towns being complete. It was found that the Town Clerk’s Office was well below the average salaries of surrounding towns.
Library
Mrs. Gladys Nadel who is a member of the South Windsor Library Board of Directors came forward to introduce the proposed budget for the Library. She stated that the Library followed the Town Manager’s guidelines for the budget. There will be two expenses that the Library will be incurring this year. They consist of a new telephone system and the replacement of two copy machines. The current telephone system is obsolete and replacement parts are no longer available. The copy machines are used by patrons that are visiting the South Windsor Library. The total increase is 3.8%.
Mayor Streeter asked if the equipment was being bought or leased? Mrs. Nadel responded that both the telephone system and the copy machines fall under the lease section of the budget.
Councillor Prague questioned why the Library would not just integrate their phone system with the existing Town Hall telephone system? Town Manager Matthew Galligan explained that the Town Hall and Library are separate grant agencies and they come under different management. This is something that Town staff and Library Board could take a look at to see if this would be feasible. Mrs. Nadel added that under State Charter, the Library receives a lump sum from the Town’s budget and the Library can use this money as they see fit. Mrs. Nadel also stated that the Town’s telephone system is more sophisticated than the Library needs.
Police Department
Police Chief Gary Tyler came forward to review the proposed budget with Town Council Members. He explained that there are no new positions or programs proposed for this budget. The increases are geared towards fuel costs, electricity costs, vehicle costs and personnel costs which are part of ongoing contracts, (Exhibit A). The proposed increase is for $238,475 which is a 4.6% increase.
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Budget Work Session – Town Council
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6. A. (Continued)
Police Department (Continued)
Chief Tyler answered several questions for the Council. C L & P has a program which has been used in previous years to use more energy efficient bulbs and street light apparatus. The street lights are not metered and C L & P charges the Town a flat fee for each light and traffic light. There is a charge for the lights whether they are on or off. There is also a cost to the Police Department if any of the light poles are damaged or need to be replaced.
There was a brief discussion regarding poles lying on the ground for a long period of time. A resolution letter will be written stating that this is an unsafe situation and will be sent to C L & P.
Councillor Prague stated he would like a work session held where the Police Department could discuss their accomplishments. This would let the public know exactly what tasks are performed by the Police Department.
A discussion ensued regarding the dispatch center and the cost to renovate and upgrade that area. Chief Tyler estimated a cost of approximately $1 million for the update.
Town Manager Galligan informed the Town Council that there is a town nearby discussing creating a program that will allow pension plans to move with employee’s (Fire and Police personnel) to other town jobs in Connecticut.
The Mayor announced the P.A.C.T. Academy Graduation (Police and Community Together) being held on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 at The Mill on the River beginning at 6:30 p.m.
7. Executive Session - None
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April 23, 2007
8. Adjournment
At 8:07 p.m. Deputy Mayor Delnicki made a motion to adjourn the Work Session; the motion was seconded by Councillor Pelkey and approved unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Deborah W. Reid
Clerk of the Council
Attmt. Exhibit A
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