MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY
APRIL 9, 2007
A SPECIAL MEETING of the Board of Public Safety was held on Monday, April 9, 2007, in the Council Chambers to review budgets.
Those in attendance included Mayor Ryan J. Bingham, members of the Board of Public Safety Christopher H. Cook, Richard L. Zaharek, Douglas J. Benedetto, James E. Potter, Michael Colangelo, and Robert C. Zordan, Corporation Counsel Ernestine Yuille Weaver, Police Chief Robert Milano, Deputy Police Chief Michael Maniago, Fire Chief John Field, Deputy Fire Chief Jaye Giampaolo, and Comptroller Alice Proulx.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.
REVIEW BUDGETS #030
On a motion by Commissioner Colangelo, seconded by Commissioner Potter, the board voted unanimously to review Board of Public Safety Budgets.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT #040
A Discussion was held in regard to a $14,000.00 increase in the Salaries Line Item 5100-0000.
Mayor Bingham indicated that this position’s salary is 50% reimbursed by
The State of Connecticut, Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. Mr. Vannini is training almost everyone in the city, which is federally mandated, and easily putting in between twenty and thirty hours a week bringing emergency management to the next level. He also is applying and receiving grants from Homeland Security for both the Police and Fire Departments. His obligation is to work 15 hours a week.
The board agreed to reduce the following:
Line Item 5100-0000 - Salaries, reduced by $6,800.00
Line Item 5753-0000 - FICA, reduced by $521.00
On a motion by Commissioner Colangelo, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to approve the Emergency Management Budget.
FIRE DEPARTMENT #270
Mayor’s cuts included the following:
Line Item 5103 - Regular Wages, reduced by $152,204.00
Line Item 5106 - Extra Help, reduced by $79,490.00
Line Item 5753 - FICA, reduced by $7,129.00
Line Item 5357 - Capital Reserve, reduced by $15,000.00
Line Item 5295 - Telephone, reduced by $1,500.00
Line Item 5392 - Education Incentive Program, increased by $800.00
Commissioner Potter inquired whether Ms. Proulx was able to separate the dispatching costs from the budgets.
Ms. Proulx said the separation will be ready when the Board of Finance does its final approval.
A discussion took place in regard to an increase of $15,196.00 in Line Item 5208 - Uniform Allowance for dress trousers. Commissioner Potter felt the city was very generous with the uniform allowance and that firefighters could use their allotted money to acquire these trousers. He felt they could ease into the new trousers, one pair at a time, and it didn’t really matter if they were not all dressed similarly. In several years, everyone would have the same uniform.
Chief Field said the trousers will become part of the firefighters’ uniform and they had to be purchased for everyone so they would all be alike.
Deputy Chief Giampaolo stated that the new trousers have a better design and fit. The difference in cost between the current and the proposed trousers is $50.00 a pair.
Commissioner Cook said he could understand why Deputy Chief Giampaolo would like every firefighter to look alike, however, he preferred spending the $15,000.00 on air packs or something that is more pressing.
Commissioner Potter said the firefighters would still have the ability to purchase the new trousers through their uniform allotment.
Deputy Chief Giampaolo said he clearly wouldn’t allow his department to have mismatched uniforms.
ADD TO AGENDA #630
Commissioner Potter made a motion to add an item to the agenda to remove $15,196.00 for the purchase of the new trousers from Line Item 5208 - Uniform Allowance. Commissioner Cook seconded the motion. Unanimous.
MOTION # 640
Commissioner Potter made a motion to remove $15,196.00 for the purchase of new trousers from Line Item 5208 - Uniform Allowance. Commissioner Colangelo seconded the motion.
During the discussion, Commissioner Cook asked if there was a happy medium.
Deputy Chief Giampaolo suggested getting one pair of trousers for each firefighter instead of two pairs. That would be a reduction of $6,175.00.
Chief Field agreed with the Deputy that his staff shouldn’t mix and match.
AMEND MOTION #810
Commissioner Potter amended his motion to reduce Line Item 5208 - Uniform Allowance by $12,351.00, bringing the amount back to the “2007 Adopted Budget Amount” of $25,925.00. Commissioner Colangelo amended his second. The board, with the exception of Commissioner Benedetto who opposed, voted in favor of the motion.
On a motion by Commissioner Colangelo, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to approve the Fire Department’s Budget.
CANINE #880
Mayor’s cuts included Line Item 5753 - FICA, reduced by $2,000.00.
Chief Milano said the reason for the increase in the telephone line item was because the dog warden subscribes to a service where he can match dogs that have been placed on the internet as lost or found, and he can research animal issues through the same system.
On a motion by Commissioner Colangelo, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to approve the Canine Budget.
POLICE #950
Mayor’s cuts included the following:
Line Item 5103 - Regular Wages, a decrease of 83,096.00
Line Item 5753 - FICA, increase of $5,160.00
Line Item 5351 - Vehicle Replacement, reduced by $38,054.00
Line Item 5218 - Copier Service, reduced by $1,300.00
Line Item 5245 - Building Maintenance, reduced by $12,500.00
Line Item 5280 - Office Supplies, increased by $750.00
Line Item 5280.0001 - Supplies, decreased by $750.00
Line Item 5281 - Supplies, decrease of $50.00
Line Item 5295 - Telephone, increase of $2,500.00
Line Item 5296 - Telephone, Long Distance, decrease of $25,000.00
Line Item 5300 - Water, decrease of $1,000.00
Line Item 5346 - Software, decrease of $5,000.00
Line Item 5350 - New Equipment, decrease of $5,000.00
Line Item 5356 - Communication System, increase of $23,200.00 (Telephone Long Distance is placed in this line item.)
Line Item 5384 - Drug Enforcement, decrease of $5,750.00
Grand Total, $7,114,515.00
Chief Milano noted they have replaced the half year position of a second Captain with an additional half year patrolman, bringing that number up to five half year patrolmen.
Commissioner Colangelo inquired whether the amount in the Overtime Line Item of $525,000.00 is enough.
Mayor Bingham believed they wouldn’t need overtime if they are at full staff. If you’re not at full staff and use up all the overtime, you get funds from regular wages.
Chief Milano stated they were still in the regular wage surplus to fund the overtime in this year’s budget. The issue with this concept is, if we fill those positions with non-producing workers who are in training, in holding, or in academy seats, they will earn income from the regular wage line item, and the surplus will be used up even though it will still appear as though we are short staffed because they are non-producing positions.
Commissioner Colangelo said funds will be used from the regular wages line item, but we’ll still be using overtime money until they are up too full potential.
Chief Milano said that was correct.
Chief Milano stated $750,000.00 was originally budgeted for overtime.
Chief Milano stated that positions filled with rookies who are in a holding pattern at the academy or on field training, and not producing a work product, will not be considered to be relief personnel. Therefore, the department will still have an inherent shortage of staffing that can work and not have to be replaced. So, as long as they’re not on their own, they’re still earning wages from what would normally have been the surplus in the regular wage line item.
Mayor Bingham asked Chief Milano if he was looking for more money in the overtime line item.
Chief Milano said he felt his original request of $750,000.00 for overtime was appropriate because he didn’t know how many seats at the academy were available, or how fast the rookies could be pushed through, or how long it would take through the first of the year.
Chief Milano said he was pulling back whatever he could in regular line items from this year’s budget. The goal at the end of June is to be down to a zero, but to avoid a negative balance, all things being calculated.
Commissioner Zaharek asked Chief Milano if $650,000.00 for overtime would get him through before he used up the regular wages?
Chief Milano said it would be better than keeping it at $525,000.00, but the board would have to understand that he may have to pull some plugs and one of them may be participation in grants. He said he couldn’t give the board an exact answer because there are so many variables. He noted that there is a good chance his department will lose some officers to better paying departments, and five retirements are expected.
ADD TO AGENDA #1560
Commissioner Cook made a motion to add an item to the agenda in regard to the overtime line item. Commissioner Benedetto seconded the motion. Unanimous.
Commissioner Cook made a motion to increase line item 5104 - Overtime, to $750,000.00. Commissioner Zaharek seconded the motion.
Commissioner Colangelo noted that raises from the new contract would affect this budget as well.
Ms. Proulx stated that raises are budgeted under Pensions and Benefits and once the contracts are settled, the funds are transferred into each departmental budget.
The vote was unanimous.
Line Item 5753 - FICA increased by 3,263.00. (Total Increase in FICA of $8,423.00 bringing FICA up to $113,140.00.)
APPROVE BUDGET #1660
On a motion by Commissioner Colangelo, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to approve the Police Department Budget.
TRAFFIC #1670
Mayor’s cuts included the following:
Line Item 5267.0001, decrease of $5,000.00
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Colangelo the board voted unanimously to add an item to the agenda in regard to a reduction in line item 5269 - Repairs and Equipment.
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Colangelo, the board, with the exception of Commissioners Benedetto and Zaharek who opposed, voted in favor of the motion to reduce $5,000.00 from Line Item 5269 - Repairs and Equipment.
APPROVE TRAFFIC BUDGET #2180
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Colangelo, the board voted unanimously to approve the Traffic Budget.
PUBLIC SAFETY MISCELLANEOUS #2190
On a motion by Commissioner Colangelo, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board, with the exception of Commissioner Potter who abstained, voted to approve the Public Safety Miscellaneous Budget.
Commissioner Potter felt the volunteer budgets were the responsibility of the City Council.
ADJOURNMENT #2240
On a motion by Commissioner Colangelo, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:05 p.m.
JOLINE LeBLANC
Asst. City Clerk
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