MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
MAY 10, 2007
A SPECIAL MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held on Thursday, May 10, 2007 in the Council Chambers to review budgets.
Those in attendance included Mayor Ryan J. Bingham, City Councilors Rick E. Dalla Valle, Andrew J. Slaiby, Marie P. Soliani, and Drake L. Waldron, Comptroller Alice Proulx, Public Works Director Gerald Rollett, Police Chief Robert Milano, Deputy Police Chief Michael Maniago, and Parks & Recreation Director Mark Lavoie. Councilors James F. McKenna, and Thomas C. Jerram were absent.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.
REVIEW, DISCUSS, VOTE ON BUDGETS # 010
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to review, discuss, vote on budgets.
RECREATION #060
Line Item 5105 - Part time, reduced by $13,936.00 (reflects part-time position that will be paid by other means.
Line Item 5398.0002 - SumBas, Custodians, reduced by $11,000.00
Bottom line $397,039.00 - Total increase of $18,450.00, or 4.78%
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Recreation Budget.
COE TRUST FUND #175
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Coe Trust Fund.
PERSONNEL #220
Mayor Bingham suggested increasing Line Item 5526.0001 - Labor Negotiations by $40,000.00 to hire a consultant to review and make recommendations to re-allocate funds in the Pensions.
Mayor Bingham assured the Council that the consultant would not be allowed to bid on the project. He felt the city should have proper guidance to determine whether we should remain with Bank of America or select a different institution to manage the City of Torrington’s Pension Funds.
CONSULTANT FOR PENSION FUNDS #440
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, further discussion took place in regard to Mayor Bingham’s request to increase the Personnel budget by $40,000.00 to hire a consultant to review the Pension Funds.
Councilor Dalla Valle said it should be noted that the $40,000.00 is not to be used for Labor Negotiations. He suggested creating a new line item specifically for the $40,000.00.
Comptroller Proulx had no problem designating a new line item for the expense.
Councilor Soliani inquired whether anyone on the Board of Finance had the expertise to advise the Pension Committee.
Mayor Bingham indicated that no one has stepped forward.
Ms. Proulx added that there may be a conflict of interest.
Councilor Soliani suggested trying to find someone who could donate their time to the city.
VOTE #580
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted in the following manner to tentatively approve the amended Personnel Budget. Councilors Dalla Valle and Waldron voted in favor of the motion, Councilors Slaiby and Soliani opposed the motion. Mayor Bingham broke the tie and voted in favor of the motion. Motion carried.
FIRE DEPARTMENT #590
Line Item 5106 - Extra Help, reduced by 9,477.00
Line Item 5753 - FICA, reduced by $137.00
Line Item 5208 - Uniform Allowance, reduced by $7,540.00
Line Item 5284.0001 - Service Maintenance, reduced by $5,000.00
Total reduction: $22,154.00; Bottom Line $4,494,097.00, Total increase of 8.93%
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Fire Department Budget.
POLICE DEPARTMENT #790
Line Item 5208 - Uniform Allowance, reduced by $1,300.00
Line Item 5220 - Publication and Dues, reduced by $1,100.00
Line Item 5223 - Education & School, reduced by $2,000.00
Line Item 5281 - Vehicle Supplies, reduced by $500.00
Line Item 5350 - New Equipment, Furniture & Fixtures, reduced by $1,000.00
Line Item 5357 - Capital Reserve, reduced by $15,800.00
Line Item 5211 - Cleaning Allowance, reduced by $1,000.00 reflects less personnel
Line Item 5387 - Accident Investigation Team, reduced by $2,000.00, reflects a reduction in overtime for training
Line Item 5415 - Abandoned vehicles, reduction of $300.00
Total reduction of $25,000.00
Councilor Dalla Valle inquired whether the Overtime Line Item remained at $750,000.00.
Mayor Bingham said they were going to use the increase of $225,000.00 as a one time expenditure, and a portion of the fund balance will offset it. He said the overtime will decrease in years to come once they hire the personnel they need.
Councilor Dalla Valle asked if they were going to use the one time expenditure toward salaries to entice existing officers to remain with the force and/or entice new officers to join the department.
Mayor Bingham stated that enticing personnel to stay with the Torrington Police Department would be an on-going expenditure as opposed to a one-time expense, and that increasing their salaries would be done through contract negotiations.
Councilor Dalla Valle said he understood the need for overtime at the present time and preferred beefing up salaries so officers will remain with the City of Torrington once they are trained.
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Police Department Budget.
TRAFFIC #1110
Mayor Bingham said he was creating a new committee to recommend changes concerning downtown parking, and Councilor Slaiby will serve as the representative of the City Council. He requested taking a certain percentage of revenue generated from the meters for a project that the committee will choose to beautify downtown. His recommendation was to put $15,000.00 in a new Line Item, 5512.0001 - Streetscape Beautification.
Councilor Dalla Valle opposed the recommendation.
Mayor Bingham said the committee will be twofold. Not only will they use some of the revenue generated from parking meters that would normally go into the general fund, they will make recommendations based on many variables, i.e., remove the meters, extend the meters, etc.
MOTION #1220
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, a discussion continued on the Traffic budget.
Councilor Slaiby asked if funds from the parking meters paid for the meter attendant.
Councilor Soliani said it was her belief that the revenue paid to plow the parking lots and salaries.
Councilor Dalla Valle said the revenue from the parking meters and tickets offsets the salaries for personnel who maintain the parking meters and give out tickets. If the meters were eliminated, the salaries would no longer be necessary and Torrington would become a friendly town for people to shop in.
Mayor Bingham said the meters eliminate abusers and create a turnover so shoppers have a place to park. This is something the committee will have to deal with.
VOTE: TRAFFIC #1300
The board voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Traffic Budget.
EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE #1310
Line Item 5120 - Lump Sum Retirement, increase by $20,000.00
On a motion by Councilor Slaiby, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Equipment Maintenance Budget.
STREET DEPARTMENT #1350
Line Item 5816.0031 - Road Abandonment Restorations, reduced by $50,000.00
Line Item 5818 - Drainage and Roadway Improvements, increased by $50,000.00
Councilor Dalla Valle said he preferred spending money on improvements as opposed to abandoning roads.
On a motion by Councilor Slaiby, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Street Department Budget.
ADJOURNMENT #1395
On a motion by Councilor Slaiby, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 6:43 p.m.
ATTEST: JOLINE LeBLANC
ASST. CITY CLERK
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