MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
APRIL 23, 2007
A SPECIAL MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held on Monday, April 23, 2007 in the Council Chambers to review budgets.
Those in attendance included Mayor Ryan J. Bingham, City Councilors Thomas C. Jerram, Rick E. Dalla Valle, Andrew J. Slaiby, Marie P. Soliani, and Drake L. Waldron, Corp. Counsel Ernestine Yuille Weaver, Board of Public Safety Commissioner James E. Potter, Police Chief Robert Milano, Fire Chief John Field, Deputy Fire Chief Jaye Giampaolo, Emergency Management Coordinator Thomas Vannini, Representative from the Drakeville Volunteer Fire Department Michael Maccalous, and Comptroller Alice Proulx. Absent were Councilor James F. McKenna, and representatives from the Burrville and Torringford Volunteer Fire Departments.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m.
MINUTES #040
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the board, with the exception of Councilor Jerram who abstained, voted to accept the minutes of the special joint meeting with the Board of Public Safety held April 9, 2007 on budgets.
RESCIND VOTE: BULLET PROOF VESTS #050
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the board voted unanimously to rescind the Council’s vote of 3/19/2007 “To authorize the use of UP TO $21,000.00 from Contingency to purchase bullet proof vests”, and go out for a formal bid. (Board of Finance already rescinded their vote of 3/20/2007.)
USE FUNDS FROM CAPITAL RESERVE #070
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the board voted unanimously to accept the Board of Public Safety’s request to authorize the use of $5,000.00 from Capital Reserve (In addition to the $40,000.00 already approved) to hire a communication consultant and cover the cost of the preliminary project. (Board of Finance already approved this expenditure).
REVIEW, DISCUSS, VOTE ON BUDGETS #100
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT #120
Councilor Dalla Valle said the City Charter clearly states that the Emergency Management Coordinator’s salary is set by the City Council. He noted that there’s a net increase of $8,500.00 in the overall budget after the city is reimbursed 50%. He thought it was a small amount of money to pay for all the dollars the city receives in grants generated by the Emergency Management Coordinator. Additionally, the Emergency Management Coordinator is working many more hours than when the position was Civil Defense Coordinator.
Councilor Dalla Valle made a motion to reinstate the Emergency Management Coordinator’s salary, as originally submitted. (The Board of Public Safety voted on 04/09/2007 to reduce the salary line item by $6,800.00, and FICA by $521.00.)
Discussion took place concerning Line Item 5240 - Equipment Maintenance.
Mr. Vannini indicated that the city will be responsible for maintaining the light tower and an enclosed trailer for the John Deere.
Mayor Bingham recommended cutting line item 5356 - Communication Systems by $400.00.
Total budget: $30,729.00
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the board voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Emergency Management Budget at $30,729.00.
FIRE DEPARTMENT #400
Councilor Dalla Valle recommended increasing Line Item 5208 - Uniform Allowance by $6,170.00, which is half the amount of $12,351.00 decreased by the Board of Public Safety, in order to purchase one pair of trousers for every firefighter. (Please refer to next paragraph, where $7,540.00 was needed.)
Deputy Chief Giampaolo indicated that it would cost $7,540.00 to supply 58 firefighters with one pair of trousers. He would then mandate everyone to purchase a second pair in July from their own uniform allowance. He explained that he keeps a record of what the firefighters are buying to make sure they’re buying things they need.
Line Item 5230 - Masks Oxygen New Equipment, Chief Field indicated that much of the funds are to purchase four new self contained breathing apparatus units at approximately $4,000.00 each. This is necessary to insure the rotation of equipment. The remainder of the funds will be used to service and maintain other units that need repair.
Line Item 5245 - Building Maintenance, Chief Field stated that the increase is to repair the fencing around the perimeter of headquarters. The chain link fence on the bank of the river has fallen into the river and it’s a safety issue.
MOTION #1155
On a motion by Councilor Slaiby, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the board voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Fire Department’s budget with a bottom line of $4,516,251.00.
Councilor Jerram voted in favor with the understanding that they will discuss this budget further in the next meeting or two to identify further cuts, if any.
CANINE #1190
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the board voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Canine Budget.
Comptroller Alice Proulx will furnish the board with information on where the revenue for dog licenses appears within the budget.
POLICE DEPARTMENT #1260
Mayor Bingham indicated that the only change made by the Board of Safety was to add $225,000.00 to Line Item 5104 - Overtime, which automatically added $3,263.00 to Line Item 5753 - FICA.
Mayor Bingham plans to meet with Chief Milano, Deputy Chief Maniago, and Alice Proulx to discuss the Overtime Line Item to make certain it’s the most appropriate number.
Line Item 5220 - Pub.-Dues-Fees, Chief Milano indicated that this pays for dues to professional organizations and publications. Also, it’s a contingency budget to supply food and water to officers who cannot be relieved of their duties in emergency situations.
Mayor Bingham recommended reducing Line Item 5220 - Pub., Dues, Fees back to 2007's adopted budget amount of $5,450.00. A reduction of $1,180.00.
Line Item 5284 - Service Agreements, Chief Milano indicated that this was for the building’s generator, elevator, etc. This will be researched further to make certain the numbers are accurate.
Line Item 5290 - General Expense, Chief Milano indicated that prisoner expense for food, medication, and clothes is unpredictable, but could be reviewed further.
Line Items 5387.0000, 0001, 0002, & 0003, Chief Milano indicated that the increases came from shifting training costs in the internal training budget to the individual budgets so they could be better managed.
Line Item 5281 - Supplies, was reviewed.
Line Item 5103 - Regular Wages. Councilor Dalla Valle inquired about the 10% increase ($5,548.40) for the Traffic Officer.
Chief Milano explained that the Traffic Officer gets Patrolman Grade A wages plus a 10% premium because of his responsibilities as a supervisor over several employees, his responsibility for traffic lights, and budget development. Chief Milano further explained that he proposed the increase during the last contract negotiation to maintain the same person in that position because it requires several years of training.
A 10% increase ($6,250.40) is also given to the Records/MIS Sergeant.
A 5% increase ($2,774.20) is given to the Training Officer for doing hands-on work in data collection and handling, and produces training programs, etc.
These increases are in addition to any raises that are negotiated through the contract.
Bottom Line $7,113,335.00.
MOTION #2060
On a motion by Councilor Slaiby, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the board voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Police Department Budget.
Councilor Dalla Valle asked Ms. Proulx if the budget report could have a column showing the changes in dollar amount, as well as in percentages.
Ms. Proulx said she could furnish him with spreadsheets that might help.
TRAFFIC #2185
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the board voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Traffic Budget.
PUBLIC SAFETY MISC #2240
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the board voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Public Safety Misc. Budget.
ADJOURNMENT #2300
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the board voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:20 p.m.
JOLINE LeBLANC
ASST. CITY CLERK
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