MINUTES SPECIAL JOINT MEETING CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY & THE BOARD OF FINANCE MAY 19, 2009 |
A SPECIAL JOINT MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority and the Board of Finance was held in the Main Room of the Senior Center on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 to discuss budgets.
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Those in attendance included Mayor Ryan J. Bingham, City Councilors Rick Dalla Valle, Michael Colangelo, Elinor Carbone, Thomas Jerram, and Marie Soliani, Board of Finance Members Daniel Farley, Laurene Pesce, Mark Bushka, Thomas Scoville, Wendy Traub, and James Zeller, Corporation Counsel Ernestine Yuille Weaver and Comptroller Alice Proulx.
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Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. He pointed out that next Thursday there will be a special meeting of City Council at 6:00 p.m. There may be two budget changes from the Police Department and our health insurance carrier. Potential participation in the early retirement program may also affect the budget.
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UPDATES REQUESTED #1101 Mrs. Traub requested that any information changes be communicated to them before next Thursday's meeting.
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Mr. Zeller asked if there is a final number yet. Mayor Bingham said it is $52,982,879, a 1.39% increase.
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Mrs. Pesce asked for a flip chart next week as a visual aid to the decisions they have to make.
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53 WEEK PAY PERIOD #1296 Mr. Farley asked if the $52,982,879 figure is based on the 53 week pay period, and if Corporation Counsel has a legal opinion on the need to pay it. Corporation Counsel Weaver said she will rely on the research done by Atty. Muschell, and will get back to Mr. Farley. Mr. Farley asked for this clarification because the city's contract is an annual agreement, but the city's prior practice has been to pay the 53rd week pay period.
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POLICE DEPT OVERTIME # 1346 Mr. Scoville asked if the police department is fully staffed now. Mayor Bingham said there are two vacant positions. Mr. Scoville said that one of the reasons for the overtime budget in the past was that the police department wasn't fully staffed. He noted that there isn't a decrease in overtime now that they are staffed. Mayor Bingham explained that other reasons for overtime include FMLA, absences, sick time, injuries and light duty.
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Mrs. Traub asked about the difference between the adopted budget on the April 2009 report and the figure on the current report. Comptroller Proulx offered to review them with her.
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Mr. Bushka asked that the projected operating deficit or surplus for this year and our available fund balance be provided to the Board. Comptroller Proulx said she would get this information for them; she's working on the revenue but doesn't have any hard numbers from the State. Mayor Bingham recommended the Board call or make appointments to see the Comptroller before the next meeting.
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MILL RATE OPTIONS #1590 Mrs. Pesce asked what options there are should the mill rate not be set next Thursday, as she is concerned about having a better idea of what the revenue from the State will be. Mayor Bingham explained the mill rate delay creates difficulties for the staff, that they use very conservative numbers based on what other communities are doing and what the appropriation budget is, and that mill rates have already been set across the state.
ASSESSMENT NUMBERS #1697 In response to Mrs. Pesce's inquiry, Mayor Bingham explained we are using 2007 grand list figures updated with many new buildings.
BILL 997 #1703 Mayor Bingham said Bill 997 gives us more flexibility, and we're waiting for OPM's decision on throwing out this grand list or postponing it a year. He said City Council will decide whether or not to use Bill 997. Mrs. Pesce asked what the advantages are and Mayor Bingham explained that State Statute allows Torrington to postpone using the 2008 revaluation numbers until 2009 without financial penalty if OPM approves. In contrast, the Bill 997 Option allows the City to throw out the entire 2008 revaluation and
rehire a firm in 2011. Essentially the difference is spending money two or three years early. Mrs. Pesce pointed out that money would be spent twice to obtain the same numbers. Councilor Colangelo said giving assessment staff more time to work would give them a better snapshot of what the figures are. |
EARLY RETIREMENT DEADLINES #1871 Mr. Zeller asked if there are any deadlines for employees wishing to take an early retirement. Mayor Bingham said it's July 1st, so that some changes may come in after the budget is adopted.
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ADJOURNMENT #1901 On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Colangelo, the City Council and Board of Finance voted unanimously to adjourn at 6:27 p.m.
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ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC CITY CLERK
Respectfully submitted, Carol L. Anderson, CCTC Asst. City Clerk |
