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MINUTES - SPECIAL JOINT MEETING
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY AND BOARD OF FINANCE
MAY 24, 2011
A SPECIAL JOINT MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority and the Board of Finance was held in the City Hall Auditorium on Tuesday, May 24, 2011.
Present were Mayor Ryan Bingham, Corporation Counsel Ernestine Yuille Weaver, City Council members Gerald Zordan, Gregg Cogswell, Paul Samele, Drake Waldron, Marie Soliani and Elinor Carbone, Board of Finance members Daniel Farley, Thomas Scoville, Laurene Pesce, Brian Paganini, Mark Bushka and Wendy Traub, Police Chief Michael Maniago, Personnel Director Thomas Gritt, Atty. Victor Muschell, Administrative Assistant to the Mayor Stephen Nocera, Purchasing Agent Pennie Zucco, Superintendent of Schools Christopher Leone, Board of Education Member David Oliver, Board of Education Human Resources Director William Joslyn, Board of Education Director of Facilities David Bascetta, City Clerk Joseph Quartiero and Comptroller Alice Proulx.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m.
REVIEW AND DISCUSS BUDGETS
Mayor Bingham asked the Council to approve a budget for the City in the amount of $49,266,916, not including the grant funded projects, which reflects a total cut of $1,050,812. He said this figures leaves unspecified cuts of $79,189, and that he is negotiating with the Police and Fire Unions to accept the high deductible HSA, which would cover the necessary cut. If those negotiations fail, he said, other cuts will be implemented including some loss in staff, which would be horrible to morale. He asked the Boards to grant him the leeway to find those cuts, and if they want to review budgets by individual departments.
Councilor Carbone suggested approval of the bottom line.
Mrs. Pesce asked if it is permitted to include grant funded projects in the budget’s bottom line to be approved. Ms. Proulx said the grant funded projects have been taken out of the general budget, and now have their own budget. She offered to provide any type of report requested by the Board for those grant funded projects. Mayor Bingham added that this will be very helpful to identify them as separate dollars since they are administrated through State and Federal entities.
Mrs. Pesce noted that all of this is predicated on the State budget, and asked what our options are in terms of changing the entire budget if necessary. Atty. Weaver said changes can be made to the budget because what is approved here is an estimate. When the mill rate is set, she said, that cannot be changed. She reminded the Board of a similar situation in 2003 where adjustments were made within the City’s budget to make it balance again. Mayor Bingham added that it is an estimated revenue every year.
Mrs. Traub observed that the total budget is decreased by 4%, over 4 million dollars. She said it is a significant amount, and gives all the credit to everyone involved in this undertaking.
Councilor Cogswell asked for a clarification if the number we set would translate into a zero mill increase for our taxpayers, if Council would need to approve additional cuts should the negotiations fail, if contract concessions would also need to be approved by Council, and what the deadlines are. Mayor Bingham replied that Council would need to approve these items and it should be finalized within a week.
Mr. Bushka asked if the $79,000 shortage is in addition to the potential negotiation savings. Mayor Bingham replied that no, it isn’t, and he is not making any assumptions that we will reach a concession agreement.
Mrs. Pesce noted that last week’s shortage was $138,000. Mayor Bingham said the change was made on the revenue side, due to a renewal with CIRMA, our Risk Management provider. This renewal allocated a dividend for next year. Ms. Proulx said it was $64,106.
Councilor Carbone stated that it bears repeating to say it is incredible that the administration was able to advance a budget with a net million dollar cut.
FINAL APPROVAL - BUDGETS
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the City Council & WPC Authority voted unanimously to give final approval to a City budget for the fiscal period of July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012 in the amount of $49,266.916, and advance it to the Board of Finance.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 5:50 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Respectfully Submitted,
Carol L. Anderson, CCTC
Asst. City Clerk
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