TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
WORK SESSION MINUTES
TOWN COUNCIL MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2009
COUNCIL CHAMBERS TIME: 7:00 P.M.
1. Call Meeting to Order
Mayor Prague called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Members Present: Mayor Cary Prague
Deputy Mayor Gary Bazzano
Councillor Kathryn Hale
Councillor Edward Havens
Councillor Lisa Maneeley
Councillor Kevin McCann
Councillor Paul Oates
Councillor John Pelkey
Councillor Keith Yagaloff
Also Present: Matthew Galligan, Town Manager
3. Public Participation
None
4. Communications
None
5. Town Manager’s Report
None
6. Items for Discussion
A. Town Clerk Budget
Town Clerk, Gretchen Bickford came forward to review her proposed budget. She explained that she had distributed a list to the Town Council which shows duties of the office which is broken down into all staff members and then individual duties. The Town Clerk’s Office has a reduction in the budget.
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April 13, 2009
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6. A. (continued)
Mrs. Bickford answering questions from the Council explained that the new copier in the office is with a four year lease which includes all maintenance and supplies, except paper. The budget item for printing has been eliminated, but this year the Town Clerk’s Office will pay for printing of necessary forms as well as absentee ballots. The government used to pay for the absentee ballots, but that will no longer be in practice, but the printing cost will be done because is not a presidential election this year. In the professional line item which is $26,000 and entails of the COT system and equipment which has the land records indexed on it. Councillor Yagaloff and Hale stated that the South Windsor Town Clerk’s Office has outstanding service.
B. Library Budget
Mrs. Mary Etter, Director of the South Windsor Public Library came before the Town Council to present her budget. The increase in this year’s budget is under $30,000. People are coming in record numbers to come in and borrow items.
Answering questions from the Council, Mrs. Etter explained that there is a reduction in advertising, rent & leases, utilities, maintenance, and office equipment. The increase in the budget is due to salaries and operating materials. Overdue fines go back to the general fund, and replacement costs go to replacement of the items which may or may not be able to be replaced. The Library has not considered shortening the hours of operation or closing on certain days because the Library hours are well supported by attendance.
Chief Gary Tyler, Police Department, came forward to review the Police Departments budget. Chief Tyler stated that the Special Enforcement Unit has been reassigned. Changed the leadership and traffic Bureau from a Lieutenant and put an Agent in charge. There have not been any promotions of Agents or Sergeants in the last three years. The Police Department has also reduced our commitment to Regional Teams. What has been built up in the last 22 years has been slowly being dismantled. In 2007 the SEU Unit made 96 arrests and recovered over $10,000 worth of stolen property. Since we have reassigned that unit, we don’t have those people out there working with security people at Evergreen Walk. That is the type of impact we have when the Police Department has to go backwards in some of the
programs,
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April 13, 2009
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6. D. (continued)
including the Traffic Unit. In the last ten years the Police Department has had an increase of 20,000 in calls for service. In 2002 the Police Department had 39 sworn officers, currently there are 43 authorized sworn officers. There are two positions that are open, but frozen. Two people in the Academy, one on paternity leave, one on injury leave, so the Town Council can see what drives the over time situation for the Police Department. The reason for over time is to replace individuals that are sick, on vacation, maternity leave, paternity leave, etc. The Police Department does not have enough staffing.
Answering questions from the Council, Chief Tyler explained that the number of calls the Police Department receives in a year is 42,000.
Councillor Yagaloff stated that he feels Chief Tyler is doing everything possible to manage the over time. Staff is necessary to respond in calls and Community based programs are essential to the Town. The Town needs to keep moving forward with community based programs because it helps the residents feel comfortable and gives knowledge of the Police Department and also helps the Police Department feel comfortable and learn about the community.
Answering further questions, Chief Tyler explained that the Police Department has tried to regionalize services in order to save money. There is a lot of time spent on the selection of officers for the Town of South Windsor. Chief Tyler explained the process of how individuals are promoted through the South Windsor Police Force. The Town has more calls for service due to times changing and having credit card identity problems, and computer based crimes. Patrol cars are disposed of after they reach 80,000 to 100,000. Police cars have never been designed for police work. Sedans have always been used and have been converted. Beginning next year a vehicle will be designed specifically for police work. The areas where addition funds could be used are the communication
center, staffing, and staff training.
E. State Budget
State Representative Bill Aman, State Representative Tim Larsen, and Senator Gary LeBeau came before the Town Council to discuss the State budget. Discussion ensued and various questions were answered.
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7. Executive Session
None
8. Adjournment
At 10:02 p.m. Deputy Mayor Bazzano made a motion to adjourn the Work Session. Councillor Maneeley seconded the motion; and it was approved, unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Deborah W. Reid
Clerk of the Council
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