 |
MINUTES
PUBLIC HEARING
BOARD OF FINANCE AND BOARD OF COUNCILMEN
MAY 8, 2003
A PUBLIC HEARING was held by the Board of Finance and the Board of Councilmen on Thursday, May 8, 2003 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Hall Auditorium on the proposed 2003-2004 budget (except the school budget).
Attending was Mayor Owen J. Quinn, Jr., members of the Board of Finance Theodore Miasek, Michael Nejaime, Diane Libby, and Bruce Cornish, members of the Board of Councilmen Thomas Jerram, Paul Samele, Marie Soliani, David Bascetta, Richard Dalla Valle, and James Reginatto, City & Town Clerk Joseph L. Quartiero, Comptroller Alice Proulx, Treasurer, Richard J. Friday, Public Works Director Gerald Rollett, City Planner Martin Connor, Tax Assessor Brian Lastra, Purchasing Agent Charlene Antonelli, Superintendent of Equipment Maintenance Michael Michaud, Superintendent of Streets Robert Lizotte, Economic Development Coordinator Christina Emery, WPC Administrator Raymond Drew, Park & Recreation Director Richard Calarco, Police Chief Roger Janelle, Fire Chief John Field, Deputy Fire Chief Jaye Giampaolo, Personnel
Director Thomas Gritt, Board of Public Safety members Thomas Telman, James Potter, and Robert Zordan, and Torringford Volunteer Fire Chief Cornell.
Mayor Quinn called the hearing to order at 7:00 p.m.
Mayor Quinn explained that the proposed city budget had been tentatively approved by the City Council, and that he had been asked to continue the review process of those budgets with department heads.
Mayor Quinn reviewed the highlights of the budget. He noted an increase in the landfill budget of $480,000.00 in tipping fees for solid waste. The Pensions and Benefits budget had an increase of approximately $924,000.00 including a $298,000.00 reallocation of funds from the Board of Education to the city side, which is the difference between the actual claims and the census claims. The budget included an increase of approximately $370,000.00 to the wage line item for two unsettled contracts: Fire Department, three years, Public Works, one year. Contract increases were no more than 3.5%. All remaining budgets reflected minimal increases or reductions from the previous year. At the approved levels, the budget for the city would reflect an increase of 1.24 mills which would have to
be added to the Board of Education side of the budget. Anticipated revenue, year end surpluses and other unanticipated revenues, i.e., the closure of open purchase orders, will impact these increases.
Mayor Quinn indicated that the State of Connecticut had foisted upon all municipalities midyear budget cuts from the current budget due to the budget crisis.
On behalf of the Torringford Volunteer Fire Department, Chief Brian Cornell voiced his support of the Fire Service Budget as presented. He noted that the three volunteer departments were very appreciative of the monies they receive from the city on an annual basis, in addition to the fuel oil which the city pays, and for plowing their parking lots, and most recently for the tax abatement given to volunteers.
Chief Cornell indicated that the cost for running a fire department continues to increase and all three departments are finding themselves on the short end of funding. He stated that the volunteers had been trying to make certain they are included for additional funding from the city in one way or another to help them purchase new vehicles. While they appreciate the city’s steady investment in them for the past five or ten years, they felt they needed more. Whether additional funds were scheduled in this year’s budget or the next, they felt it was critical to get more because their annual budgets were becoming quite difficult to float. He asked the Board of Finance to start a fund beginning with $60,000.00 or $80,000.00, and add to it a predetermined amount every year without
fail.
Virginia Kovaleski, 32 Chelton Street, indicated that now was not a good time to cut the Board of Safety budget. It was her belief that public safety budgets shouldn’t always be based on the number of fire calls but that they should be prepared for the unexpected. Knowing that tax increases were somewhat inevitable, she had confidence that the leaders of the city would look for gradual increases rather than spikes.
Thomas Telman, 136 Clearview Avenue, member of the Board of Public Safety, implored the Board of Finance not to cut the Board of Safety budgets in view of what was going on in this town at this time. He couldn’t see where an education budget was worth that much more than the safety of the residents of Torrington. Should cuts be necessary he hoped they would be accomplished across the board.
Having no more questions or comments from the Board of Finance, the Board of Councilmen, or the public, Mayor Quinn called the public hearing to a close at 7:30 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CCTC, CMC
CITY CLERK
| |
