MINUTES
PUBLIC HEARING
BOARD OF FINANCE AND BOARD OF COUNCILMEN
MAY 6, 2004
A PUBLIC HEARING was held by the Board of Finance and the Board of Councilmen on Thursday, May 6, 2004, in the City Hall Auditorium on the proposed city budget for the fiscal period July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005.
Attending included Mayor Owen J. Quinn, Jr., Board of Finance members, Daniel Farley, James Zeller, James Nichol, Roger Dickinson, and Bruce Cornish, Councilors Thomas C. Jerram, Paul F. Samele, Jr., Marie P. Soliani, James F. McKenna, Paul W. Summers, and Drake L. Waldron, also Corporation Counsel Al Vasko, Comptroller Alice Proulx, Treasurer Richard J. Friday, Public Works Director Gerald Rollett, City Engineer Edward Fabbri, Tax Assessor Brian Lastra, Director of Social Services Yvonne Adorno, WPC Administrator Raymond Drew, Data Processing Manager William Hoffman, Republican Registrar of Voters Amelia K. Waldron, Fire Chief John Field, Deputy Fire Chief Jaye Giampaolo, and Torringford Volunteer Fire Chief Brian Cornell.
Councilor Samele, in Mayor Quinn’s absence called the public hearing to order at 7:00 p.m.
Assistant City Clerk Joline LeBlanc read the legal notice.
Comptroller Alice Proulx gave a brief presentation on the budget. She pointed out that the budget increase was currently at 5.25%, (or $2,348,020.00) with the exclusion of the Board of Education budget.
She stated that the Mayor’s directive to department heads was a zero percent growth other than contractual. The directive was adhered to except for a few modest increases in both Public Works and Public Safety. Those increases are a result of the following:
1) An increase of $1,304, 391.00 in labor costs, which includes wage increases and an increase to the pension roster.
2) An increase of $394,793.00 in health insurance costs.
3) An increase of $649,410.00 in capital outlay, which includes road projects and building improvements. (An increase of $355,000.00 in LOCIP funds will help offset this increase.)
She reported that every department head did an excellent job in keeping costs down while providing quality services. The proposed budget remains under scrutiny and will be published in the newspaper after it has been adopted by the Board of Finance.
On behalf of the Torringford Volunteer Fire Department, Chief Brian Cornell stated that they were in favor of Chief Field’s proposed budget for the Fire Department as presented, and would support any funds that Chief Field was looking for to continue providing quality service.
Chief Cornell explained that Line Item 5453.0001 in the Public Safety Miscellaneous Budget indicated the annual stipend provided in total to the three volunteer fire departments. ($25,000.00 each.) He had informed the boards last year that the volunteers would need more funding in the near future. He pointed out that Torringford asked for $50,000.00 this year and much to their chagrin, even though the Board of Safety is very supportive of volunteers in this town, their request went unheard and the amount remains at $25,000.00.
He pointed out that Torringford’s last raise was twelve years ago. He expressed their concern for increasing costs to run the department as well as their commitment to purchase a new fire apparatus to the tune of $264,000.00. His department would appreciate any increase the city could consider in the coming year. He respectfully requested the Board of Finance and the City Council to increase their current stipend of $25,000.00.
Public Works Director Gerald Rollett informed the boards that he would be requesting additional funds for the Public Works budget. He explained that the city was in the process of changing some of our solid waste practices. Although the start up costs are high, he is confident that the city will save significantly over the long term. They are looking to purchase $600,000.00 worth of automated collection bins and budget $100,000.00 in the coming year which will be offset somewhat from reductions in their solid waste collection costs.
Mr. Rollett informed the boards that the Public Works Department will have additional maintenance costs totaling approximately $25,000.00 a year with the closing of Southeast School.
He reported that all Public Works Departments are making progress in shared services with the Board of Education. It began several years ago with Equipment Maintenance and has expanded with additional work from the Street Department. Park & Recreation is currently negotiating with the Facilities Director at the Board of Education to take over more of their field maintenance. Shared services require resources and two additional employees are included in the proposed budget, one for the street Department and one for the Parks Department.
Mr. Dickinson inquired where the savings from shared services showed up in the budget.
Mr. Rollett said the savings primarily showed up on the Board of Education side. For example, they contract for the maintenance of their grounds at approximately $19,000.00 a year, while the city can provide that same service at a significant savings. In doing so, the city’s budget will increase. Discussions are being held with the Board of Education on different ways of getting paid for that service.
Mr. Dickinson expressed his concern over the possibility of that savings getting buried somewhere.
Sam “Skip” Page, President of the Torrington Citizens’ Action Coalition, indicated that he wasn’t aware that shared services were being discussed and said it sounded like something that could work. He asked the boards to consider those residents on fixed incomes. He was impressed with the direction they were taking and was certain they would do their best. The Coalition would support the boards where they could support them and hold them accountable where they needed to be held accountable.
Having no further comments or questions, Councilor Samele called the public hearing to a close at 7:25 p.m.
ATTEST: JOLINE LeBLANC
ASST. CITY CLERK
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