MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
APRIL 24, 2006
A SPECIAL MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held on Monday, April 24, 2006, in the Council Chambers.
Those in attendance included Mayor Ryan J. Bingham, City Councilors James F. McKenna, Thomas C. Jerram, Rick E. Dalla Valle, Andrew J. Slaiby, and Drake L. Waldron, Corp. Counsel Ernestine Yuille Weaver, Comptroller Alice Proulx, Police Chief Robert Milano, Deputy Police Chief Michael Maniago, Fire Chief John Field, Board of Public Safety Commissioner James Potter and Board of Finance member Bruce Cornish. Absent was Councilor Marie P. Soliani.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
On a motion by Councilor Slaiby, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to review/discuss/change/vote on the following budgets:
EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE #050
Line Item 5104 - Overtime, reduction of $5,000.00.
Line Item 5753 - FICA, reduction of $383.00
Line Item 5279 - Repairs Outside, reduction of $5,000.00
Line Item 5279.0001 - Insurance Deductible, reduction of $3,000.00.
Line Item 5349 - Tires, reduction of $10,000.00
Line Item 5360 - New Equipment, reduction of $900.00
The Council requested further information from Mr. Michaud, specifically on the New Equipment line item.
On a motion by Councilor Slaiby, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Equipment Maintenance Budget.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT #235
No changes made.
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Emergency Management Budget.
FIRE DEPARTMENT #250
Line Item 5106 - Extra Help, reduction of $40,000.00
Line Item 5753 - FICA, reduction of $348.00
Line Item 5357 - Capital Reserve, reduction of $16,800.00
Line Item 5270 - Repairs, reduction of $16,150.00
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Fire Department Budget.
CANINE #410
Line Item 5753 - FICA, reduction of $1,597.00
Line Item 5245 - Building Maintenance, reduction of $750.00
Line Item 5281 - Supplies, reduction of $500.00
Line Item 5295 - Telephone, reduction of $1,000.00
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Canine Budget.
POLICE DEPARTMENT #450
Line Item 5103 - Regular Wages, reduction of $77,000.00
Line Item 5120 - Lump Sum Retirement, reduction of $30,000.00
Line Item 5208 - Uniform Allowance, reduction of $1,440.00
Line Item 5211 - Cleaning Allowance, reduction of $3,150.00
Line Item 5300 - Water, reduction of $1,000.00
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Police Department Budget.
TRAFFIC #500
Line Item 5269 - Repairs, Equipment, reduced $5,500.00
Line Item 5356 - Communication Systems, reduced $750.00
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Traffic Budget.
PUBLIC SAFETY MISCELLANEOUS #525
Mayor Bingham stated that a recommendation was made by the subcommittee to increase Line Item 5453 - Equipment VFD, by $15,000.00 to offset the purchase of new vehicles in the future. It was also in recognition of the fact that there was never a plan implemented for vehicle replacement for the volunteers. This would be a way for the Board of Safety members on the Fire Service Coordination Committee and the Fire Chief and his Deputy to approve the vehicles purchased in order for them to coincide with the needs of the city.
Councilor Jerram asked if the $5,000.00 per volunteer department would strictly be used for vehicles.
Chief Field said “Usually it is, but not always. There was a time in which they used it for equipment also.” He stated that, if the Council wanted these funds to be spent specifically on vehicles, his recommendation would be for them to review their contract and make the adjustment accordingly to state exactly what this money is to be used for.
Councilor Dalla Valle said the sub committee decided to give the volunteers $15,000.00, with Torringford being the holder of said funds, and said funds would be dispersed through the Fire Service Coordination Committee for equipment. He felt that could be in lieu of any contract change.
Mayor Bingham said a change to their contract would be necessary should the Council want to specify that the funds are to be used for apparatus only.
Commissioner Potter thought it would be better for the city to re-negotiate the volunteers’ contract should they want to specify the additional funds going towards apparatus. Additionally, the city should have the final say in what type of apparatus is being bought so it will coincide with the city’s needs. That would be a good way to protect the taxpayer’s investment in the volunteers. It was his recommendation to re-negotiate their contracts to specify the purchase of apparatus with these additional funds.
Councilor Jerram inquired whether it would be possible to create a new line item strictly for apparatus, controlled by the city and the Fire Service Coordination Committee. That would allow for future needs for apparatus and, at the same time, they could work on contract negotiation after the fact.
Mayor Bingham suggested tabling this issue until they reviewed the contracts.
It was noted that the Fire Service Coordination Committee will meet again next week, at which time it could be a topic of discussion.
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to table the Public Safety Miscellaneous Budget.
BOARDS AND AGENCIES #895
Line Item 5199 - Grant Writing. No funds will be budgeted for this.
Line Item 5503 - Community Development, the line already has a $10,000.00 increase for more Christmas decorations for downtown. Total in line item is $21,000.00.
Line Item 5512.0001 - Streetscape Beautification, reduction of $5,000.00. This will be a separate fund through fund raising.
Line Item 5515.0001 - Veterans’ Administration, reduced by $9,140.00
Line Item 5517 - Torrington Library, reduced by 12,600.00
Line Item 5527 - Susan B. Anthony, reduced by $6,000.00
On a motion by Councilor Slaiby, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Boards and Agencies Budget.
INSURANCE #1210
Mayor Bingham pointed out that the city’s Worker’s Compensation Insurance (Line Item 5700) had increased by 10% and he was going to talk to CIRMA to see what he could do about the increase.
Line Item 5701 - General Insurance Premium, remained the same as last year. The total budget is $1,297,840.00, an increase of 5%.
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Insurance Budget.
PENSION & BENEFITS #1270
No changes proposed.
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Pension & Benefits Budget.
TAX COLLECTOR #1400
Councilor Dalla Valle made a motion to table the Tax Collector’s Budget pending an answer on the interest expense line item. There was no second.
In regard to the question that arose on why there was a 100% increase in Line Item 5601 - Interest Expense, Comptroller Alice Proulx explained that it was based on pre-paid taxes that the Tax Collector gives the city. It varies, depending on how much money he gives the city ahead of time, and it varies also, based on the interest rate the bank is paying. The increase in next year’s budget is primarily because he had more interest, due to more pre-paid taxes in that account and also because the interest rates are higher. There is also an increase on the revenue side as well.
Councilor Dalla Valle withdrew his motion.
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Tax Collector’s Budget.
CONTINGENCY #1480
Mayor Bingham indicated that $60,000.00 put aside for hiring a Finance Director was eliminated. He suggested creating a new line item for Fuel Contingency.
Councilor Dalla Valle made a motion to reduce the Management Operations Line Item 5652 by $60,000.00 and add a new line item for Fuel Contingency and add $60,000.00 to it. Councilor Jerram seconded the motion. Unanimous.
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to give final approve to the Contingency Budget.
ADJOURNMENT #1670
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 6:50 p.m.
Joline LeBlanc
Asst. City Clerk
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