TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
WORK SESSION MINUTES
TOWN COUNCIL TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2011
COUNCIL CHAMBERS TIME: 7:00 P.M.
1. Call Meeting to Order
Mayor Pelkey called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Members Present: Mayor John Pelkey
Deputy Mayor Edward Havens
Councillor M. Saud Anwar
Councillor Gary Bazzano
Councillor Tom Delnicki
Councillor Janice Favreau
Councillor Kevin McCann
Councillor Keith Yagaloff
Members Absent: Councillor Cary Prague
Also Present: Matthew Galligan, Town Manager
Dwight Johnson, Town Attorney
3. Public Participation
None
4. Communications
None
5. Town Manager’s Report
None
6. Items for Discussion
A. Volunteer Fire Department Budget Presentation
Chief Crombie came before the Town Council to present the proposed Volunteer Fire Department Budget. Chief Crombie reviewed the propose budget as shown in attached, Exhibit A.
Councillor Favreau complimented Chief Crombie on his professionalism and thanked the Volunteer Fire Department for their service to the Town of South Windsor. Councillor Favreau then stated she would be supporting this budget.
Answering questions from the Council, Chief Crombie explained that $15,000 would be used from another area in the budget in order to operate the new firehouse if there is no increase as proposed by the Town Manager. The items that would be delayed or cut back on are breathing apparatus, replacement of equipment
Work Session – Town Council
April 19, 2011
Page 2
ITEM:
6. A. Volunteer Fire Department Budget Presentation
purchases and replacement of fire hose in order to make up $15,000 that would be necessary in the operating portion of the budget to keep the Fire Department running. These items are the only discretionary items in the budget and have the most flexibility.
Councillor Delnicki voiced concern that the Fire Department would be sustaining cuts on items that they depend on in their day to day operation which also save lives in Town. The South Windsor Volunteer Fire Department also saves the Town of South Windsor a lot of money each year.
Councillor Yagaloff suggested that the Town Council cut items from other Departments that have large increases in order to have the Fire Department receive the funds for their necessary equipment.
Mr. Galligan explained that he did not receive a detailed budget which shows what is being increased, only saw the percentage of increases. Also there is a special fund for the Fire Department that presently has $57,000 which Mr. Galligan was hoping to be able to use some of those funds to off set some of the increases in this budget. Chief Crombie stated that he had sent a detailed memo showing all of the increases to the Town Manager.
Councillor Yagaloff stated that he feels the Town needs to fund for the life saving equipment.
Mr. Galligan stated that it is a Town Council decision on whether to increase certain budgets but explained that all departments are being reduced and there are items that are not being funded such as road maintenance that are also safety issues.
Answering further questions from Council, Chief Crombie explained that there were items such as snow removal from the Fire Department roof that was not anticipated in the prior year budget. Funds needed to be shifted in order to cover that cost.
Councillor McCann stated that the Town will be receiving approximately $22,000 from the Ambulance Corp for rental space at the new firehouse and felt that the Town could find some money in the budget to cover a portion if not all of the safety equipment. The Fire Department can not do their job without the proper equipment.
Deputy Mayor Havens stated he would support an increase to the Fire Department.
Councillor Favreau suggested that the Fire Department seek another method to fund special activities.
Council members discussed at length the SCBA bottle replacement program. Chief Crombie explained to the Council the life span of the SCBA bottles and how the Fire Department has only been able to partially fund these bottles on a yearly basis.
Work Session – Town Council
April 19, 2010
Page 4
ITEM:
6. Items for Discussion (Continued)
B. Fire Marshal Budget Presentation
Mr. Walter Summers, Fire Marshal came before the Town Council to present his budget. Mr. Summers explained that the Fire Marshal’s Office has a 50% loss in part time salaries which has created a large void. In 2009/2010 budget, the Town Council recognized the need to hire a part time individual for apartment inspections. There is new work on the horizon which will require more hours of work which the Town does not have at this time. The position is also necessary to help the Fire Department with new project demands and not make the existing programs suffer. The Town Manager’s adjusted income creates a 2.7% reduction and requested that the Town Council put this decrease back into the budget.
At 8:00 p.m. the Mayor recessed the Wok Session in order to call the Regular Meeting to order. The meeting reconvened at 8:05 p.m.
Answering questions from the Council, Mr. Summers explained that he would need $25,000 more in his budget for a part time inspector to restore the department back to its previous level. Inspections on apartments/condominiums are supposed to be every year and inspections on businesses are every five years. State mandates are not being met because there is only one part time person and one full time person in the department. Although the department does not meet State mandates even with an additional part time person would certainly help this department.
The part time individuals presently work approximately ten hours each per week. The Fire Marshal’s Office presently has a 2001 Crown Victoria and a Ford Explorer. The Town Manager eliminated a request under rental leases for a lease of a Ford Taurus.
In 2009 to mid February 2010 there were 101 units inspected. This year for eight months there has only been 61 units inspected. These inspections do lead to improvements and safety for those units. The units are not left unprotected, fire alarms are installed immediately if necessary.
There are two types of inspections that are performed. The first type of inspection is done to common areas and then letters are sent to individual units and those inspections are also performed. The inspections are done at various times when the unit owners are available. There is no over time used, the part time inspectors do these inspections within their schedule of 10 hours per week. The construction of the units are taken into consideration when doing inspections. If there is a fire separation between two units and then another fire separation between the next units, those are considered one and two family units which are not inspected. Council members then discussed in length the different rules and regulations of inspections. Mr. Summers explained that there are
problems with 80% of the units that are inspected.
Work Session – Town Council
April 19, 2011
Page 4
ITEM:
6. B. (Continued)
Mr. Summers explained the Chief and himself decide when snow should be removed from hydrants and when it is felt to be necessary, they call the contractor to go out and remove snow from the public fire hydrants, not private fire hydrants.
C. Park & Recreation Budget Presentation
Mr. Ray Favreau, Director of Recreation came before the Town Council to present the Parks & Recreation budget. Mr. Favreau reviewed accomplishments of the Parks & Recreation Department and then provided goals for the upcoming 2011/2012 fiscal year as follows:
- Maintain affordability.
- Address tennis courts in disrepair.
- Enhance Veterans Memorial Park.
- Assume responsibility for the management of the Community Gardens on Avery Street.
- Continue to develop a more aggressive athletic field renovation, maintenance and development schedule.
- Continue to clear the Lawrence Road Park.
Mr. Favreau then stated that the Parks & Recreation Department is always working to attract more participation; keep recreation affordable; increase enrollment; provide better customer service; maintain revenue to support the special revenue fund; and provide safe, attractive and inviting public parks and grounds.
Answering questions from the Council, Mr. Favreau explained that the credit card processing fee charged to the Town is built into the cost of the programs. The proposed concession revenues are $25,000 for 2011/2012 in the budget.
Mr. Galligan explained that petty cash is an expense amount that is used to purchase items for the Town.
Mr. Favreau explained that the brochures are sent out in a saturated bulk mailing throughout Town. This is cheaper then mailing the brochure to individuals who use the program. The Parks & Recreation Department has reduced the amount of times the publication is sent to residents from four times per year to two times per years which reduced spending. Mr. Galligan explained that there are new programs every year that residents may not know about and may be interested in. Mr. Favreau added that the cost of the brochure comes out of the user fee’s. The concert series is important to go out to all residents and there are also individuals who are out of Town users who receive this brochure which helps to offset costs when out of Town users sign up for programs. Mr. Favreau stated that
there is advertising revenue and sponsorship money that is generated from these publications. Advertising is dependent upon being distributed to every household.
Work Session – Town Council
April 19, 2011
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ITEM:
6. C. (Continued)
Mr. Galligan explained that by combining the Recreation Department and the Parks Department, the administrative costs have been reduced by 10%. There have been changes in salaries between Park & Recreation and Public Works which have resulted in a reduction of $64,000 in Public Works and an increase in Parks & Recreation of $100,000,. Mr. Galligan stated he would have the Director of Finance print out the actual increases and decreases between the departments so that the Council can see everything.
Mr. Favreau explained that Parks & Recreation has some programs for Seniors, but most programs for Seniors are run through Human Services. Meeting rooms are booked through the Parks & Recreation Department and will check to see if the schedule can be put on line only to allow residents to view if rooms are available. The Parks & Recreation presently runs approximately 90% of our programs outside of the Community Center. There have been referendums held to bond for the construction of an in-door pool, but the referendums have failed. Mr. Galligan explained that the Town has tried to do partnerships to construct a recreation facility, but that approach has failed thus far. Councillor Anwar requested to view the business plan for this concept.
Mr. Favreau stated that the 4th R Program is within the Special Revenue fund of the budget. The program is self sustaining and is doing very well. There are 196 students in the program and the program continues to grow each year. The Boundless Playground has required some repairs which the Parks Division has done as well as help from volunteers. There are weekly inspections on the equipment which has just gone into effect.
Mr. Favreau then explained that the user fee’s did increase last year which did not effect the number of participants in the different programs. The Parks & Recreation Department tries to be very sensitive to user needs and the economic times.
Councillor Yagaloff requested a copy of the Recreation fund balance. Councillor Yagaloff then disagreed with Mr. Favreau saying that the 4th R Program is self sustaining because the Town pays for all of the administrative costs and overhead expenses. Mr. Favreau stated that the direct program costs are self sustaining. Mr. Favreau added that the Parks & Recreation Department is presently running almost double the amount of programming and revenue collections with the same number of administrators from 10 years ago. Mr. Galigan stated that the current Recreation fund balance is $103,085.
Councillor Delnicki requested in writing what is being paid for each of the five schools for the 4th R Program for each school year and how much space is being utilized. Mr. Favreau said he would get that information for Councillor Delnickil
Work Session – Town Council
April 19, 2011
Page 6
ITEM:
7. Executive Session
None
8. Adjournment
At 9:38 p.m. Councillor Delnicki made a motion to adjourn the Work Session. Deputy Mayor Havens seconded the motion; and it was approved, unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Deborah W. Reid
Clerk of the Council
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