MINUTES
SPECIAL JOINT MEETING
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY AND THE
BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY
March 30, 2011
A SPECIAL JOINT MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority and the Board of Public Safety regarding Budgets was held in the City Hall Auditorium on Wednesday, March 30, 2011.
Those in attendance included Mayor Ryan Bingham, City Councilors Drake Waldron, Gerald Zordan, Marie Soliani, Elinor Carbone, and Gregg Cogswell, Board of Public Safety Commissioners Angelo LaMonica, Richard Zaharek, Douglas Benedetto, James Potter, and Christopher Cook, Comptroller Alice Proulx, Police Chief Michael Maniago, Deputy Police Chief Christopher Smedick, Officer Robert Shopey, Fire Chief John Field, Deputy Fire Chief Gary Brunoli, Emergency Management Director Rick Dalla Valle, Board of Finance member Laurene Pesce, Purchasing Agent Pennie Zucco, and Comptroller Alice Proulx. Councilor Paul Samele and Commissioner Darlene Battle were absent.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Mayor Bingham said he would like to see the Board of Public Safety finalize their budget work with full approvals at this meeting and the City Council will figuratively receive it. He encouraged the Council to ask questions of the Board of Public Safety while they are here.
DISPATCH
Mayor Bingham said a new line item was added to the Health Budget, but the Board needs to formally zero out
this budget.
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the Board of Public Safety voted unanimously to approve the Dispatch Budget of $0.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Mayor Bingham asked Mr. Dalla Valle about the communications line item vs. the communications cell phone line item. The communications line item is a stipend for the Director to use his personal cell phone and the communications cell phone line item is the EOC internet service. The satellite phone and payment to the WARN system in the contract line item were clarified. The equipment maintenance line item was zeroed out.
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, the Board of Public Safety voted unanimously to approve the Emergency Management Budget of $28,846.
FIRE
Mayor Bingham recapped to City Council the reductions made thus far at previous Board of Public Safety meetings, initially representing a $401,000 reduction including Vehicle Replacement and Equipment Maintenance Chargeback adjustments. He explained the Board of Public Safety’s decision to add two positions back in.
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, the Board of Public Safety voted unanimously to approve the Fire Budget of $4,991,823.
CANINE (ANIMAL CONTROL)
Mayor Bingham listed the two additional cuts in uniform allowance and building maintenance.
Commissioner Potter asked for an update on using this year’s unused funds to complete projects slated for next year. Chief Maniago said the $3400 will be used to remove weeds from the fence, do lawn work, and power wash the exterior. Commissioner Potter suggested that the Parks and Recreation Dept. might have chemicals for the weeds.
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the Board of Public Safety voted unanimously to approve the Canine (Animal Control) Budget of $105,731.
POLICE
Mayor Bingham recapped the $83,000 of reductions from this budget.
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, the Board of Public Safety voted unanimously to approve the Police Budget of $8,018,125.
TRAFFIC
Mayor Bingham said this budget has not changed except for Vehicle Replacement, so the budget stands at
$254,573. Officer Shopey said he cut the Education line item by $500. He found there were over expenditures in electrical expense since there were two separate line items being used, and they had been over drafted. He said the electric costs at the Winthrop Street building average $1200 per month. In comparison, the lighting for all municipal parking lots amount to $3000 per year, but the added heat and power requirements for the Winthrop Street building bring this expense to approximately $14,000. Officer Shopey requested an additional $8,000 in the Electrical line item.
Commissioner Potter requested more time to consider this. Mayor Bingham suggested the Board approve it as it stands now, and have a subcommittee meeting to discuss further cuts. Commissioner Benedetto said he would like to see some oversight of this building. Councilor Zordan noted the invoice is for $.75 per kilowatt hour which may be an error. Officer Shopey said he would follow up.
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, the Board of Public Safety voted unanimously to approve the Traffic Maintenance Budget of $262,073.
PUBLIC SAFETY MISC/VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPTS.
Mayor Bingham listed the Equipment Maintenance Chargeback and Vehicle Replacement adjustments. Commissioner Benedetto said a million dollars is too much money to rent fire hydrants, and he’d like to meter
them. Mayor Bingham said the dollar amount is regulated, but he is going to work on the issue of identifying hydrant locations.
Commissioner Potter noted that, at the budget subcommittee meetings, the Volunteer Fire Depts. did have an opportunity to present their budgetary needs to representatives of the other Boards.
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, the Board of Public Safety voted unanimously to approve the Public Safety Miscellaneous Budget of $1,836,938.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Board and Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:00 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Respectfully Submitted,
Carol L. Anderson, CCTC
Asst. City Clerk
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