MINUTES
SPECIAL JOINT MEETING
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY AND BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY
April 8, 2013
A SPECIAL JOINT MEETING was held by the City Council & WPC Authority and the Board of Public Safety in the City Hall Auditorium on Monday, April 8, 2013.
Those in attendance included Mayor Ryan Bingham, Corporation Counsel Raymond Rigat, City Councilors Drake Waldron, Paul Samele, Gerald Zordan, Elinor Carbone, Marie Soliani and Gregg Cogswell, Board of Public Safety Commissioners Darlene Battle, Christopher Cook, Douglas Benedetto, and Angelo LaMonica, Comptroller Alice Proulx, City Clerk Joseph Quartiero, Police Chief Michael Maniago, Deputy Police Chief Christopher Smedick, Fire Chief Gary Brunoli, Deputy Fire Chief Christopher Pepler, and Board of Finance member Laurene Pesce.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. He explained the budget process, asking the Board of Public Safety to make their final approvals if they are ready, and asking the City Council to make their tentative approvals if they are ready.
POLICE DEPT. BUDGET DISCUSSION
Commissioner Cook said the Board of Public Safety wants to consider the Parking Enforcement Officer position. Mayor Bingham noted that the Police Budget is currently proposed at $8,019,405--a 1.26% increase from last year, the Animal Control Budget is $134,359--an 8.24% increase, and the Traffic Budget is $255,270—a reduction of 10.75%.
Commissioner Benedetto said he doesn't think eliminating the Parking Enforcement Officer is a good idea, as there is a public relations aspect to the job, as well as being a set of eyes downtown. He said this person is an asset to downtown and the position pays for itself. Commissioners LaMonica and Battle agreed.
Chief Maniago listed some additional cuts that could be made to the Police Budget including $10,000 from Capital Reserve Loan Payback, $1,000 from Education Incentive, $500 from Bicycle, and $250 from Drug Enforcement. He further listed cuts from the Traffic Budget including $1,000 from Capital Reserve, $500 from overtime, and $500 from Building Maintenance, Traffic Barn. Chief Maniago said all these cuts equal a reduction of $13,750.
Chief Maniago requested the City contribute the remaining $8,766 to pay for the Parking Enforcement Officer after these cuts are made.
Councilor Soliani asked what the parking meter revenue is per year. Chief Maniago replied that it is roughly a total of $200,000, with the Parking Enforcement Officer issuing a little over 2,000 tickets this past year.
Commissioner Benedetto pointed out to the Council that an outside company fertilizes, mulches and trims the trees at the Police Department. He said he feels this should be done by the Parks and Recreation Department.
Chief Maniago cautioned that this may not be possible.
Mayor Bingham suggested the Board vote on the adjustments individually to see where the budget ends up.
Chief Maniago clarified that the $5,000 needed for a sixth lieutenant position, created by eliminating one sergeant, is included in this budget under discussion.
BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS
On a motion by Commissioner Battle, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the Board voted unanimously to accept the cuts proposed for line items #5357, #5392, #5387, #5384 from the Police Budget and #5357, #5104, #5245 from the Traffic Budget which equate to $13,750.
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner LaMonica, the Board voted unanimously to reduce the regular wage line item #5103 by $5,000--a figure to be adjusted when more information is known.
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the Board voted unanimously to keep $22,516 in the regular wage line item #5103 in the Traffic Budget for the Parking Enforcement Officer.
POLICE BUDGET APPROVAL
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner LaMonica, the Board voted unanimously to approve the Police Budget of $8,002,655.
ANIMAL CONTROL BUDGET APPROVAL
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the Board voted unanimously to approve the Police Budget of $134,359.
TRAFFIC BUDGET APPROVAL
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the Board voted unanimously to approve the Traffic Budget of $274,786.
Commissioner Benedetto asked how the line painting will be affected by the cuts. Chief Maniago said they will do the best they can to determine which street signs can wait another year and which ones can't. He said it is unknown at this time how much line painting will be needed.
FIRE DEPT. BUDGET DISCUSSION
Chief Brunoli updated the Council on the budgets he was asked to create including one with 13 personnel per shift, one with 14 per shift, and finally one with 12 per shift at $4,943,188, a .99% increase over last year.
FIRE DEPT. BUDGET APPROVAL
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner LaMonica, the Board voted unanimously to approve the Fire Department Budget of $4,943,189.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT BUDGET DISCUSSION
Chief Brunoli said his original budget of $42,000 had included monies to replace equipment in the new Emergency Operations Center, and this was cut from the budget. He noted that this budget is reimbursed at a 50% rate by the State.
Commissioner Benedetto asked what equipment needs to be replaced in line item #5229 and if it could be reduced by $2000. Chief Brunoli said it is for some projectors and computer equipment that are eight to nine years old, and asked that the money remain.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT BUDGET APPROVAL
On a motion by Commissioner Battle, seconded by Commissioner LaMonica, the Board voted unanimously to approve the Emergency Management Budget of $36,296.
VOLUNTEERS BUDGET DISCUSSION
Mayor Bingham explained that this budget reflects the changes to how the City funds the Volunteer Departments, and said there is hope that it won't have a net negative impact.
Chief Brunoli said he was asked to consider all Volunteer Fire Service funding, including their revenue projections and cash on hand, and put it in a line item format. Ms. Proulx said the total budget is $121,242, including five line items: Equipment for $5000, Physicals and Drug Testing for $8758, Vehicle Replacement for $43,484, Stipend for $51,000 and Fuel Oil for $13,000.
Chief Brunoli said the only thing that really changed is the contribution to the stipend that went from $25,800 down to $17,000 because he feels they can support that $10,000 reduction. He noted that it gives the Volunteer Fire Service everything asked for in their budget request and covers the basic necessities to provide service. He added that there are some capital projects that do have to be taken care of, and the City will help with driveway repairs.
VOLUNTEERS BUDGET APPROVAL
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner LaMonica, the Board voted unanimously to approve the Volunteers Budget of $121,242.
PUBLIC SAFETY MISC. APPROVAL
On a motion by Commissioner LaMonica, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the Board voted unanimously to approve the Public Safety Misc. Budget of $1,818,705, a reduction of 6%.
CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL
Mayor Bingham explained that the Council could tentatively approve these budgets tonight, if they are ready to, and then be able to cancel their next budget meeting. He said he is meeting with Commissioner Benedetto and the Parks and Recreation Department to discuss any savings that could be found in the Police Department's grounds keeping.
Councilor Cogswell commended the Chiefs for their hard work on these budgets.
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Police, Traffic, Animal Control, Fire, Emergency Management, Volunteers and Public Safety Miscellaneous budgets as presented.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 6:50 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Respectfully Submitted,
Carol L. Anderson, CCTC
Asst. City Clerk
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