MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
February 27, 2012
A SPECIAL MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held in the City Hall Auditorium on Monday, February 27, 2012.
Those in attendance included Mayor Ryan Bingham, City Councilors Drake Waldron, Paul Samele, Marie Soliani, Elinor Carbone, and Gregg Cogswell, Comptroller Alice Proulx, City Treasurer Arthur Mattiello and Elderly Services Director Nancy Hodkoski. Councilor Gerald Zordan was absent.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. He noted that this budget includes a contractual wage rate increase of 3% and asked the Council to consider an updated Management Resolution contract in the next few months. He said the expected revenue from the State looks stable, as the governor and majority leaders have indicated they will do everything they can to maintain State Aid to cities and there may be education cost sharing funds to offset some increases to Board the Education costs. Mayor Bingham said he expects no major cuts or increases in City Revenue from the State and the Grand List will soon be available. He said electricity costs are down, but oil costs are up, and the City has switched its cell phone carrier from Sprint to A T & T due to coverage issues.
ASSESSOR
After noting the cuts he made to the Assessor's budget, Mayor Bingham spoke about the next revaluation, budgeted for next year. We aren't obligated to do this until 2014, he said, and he'd like to discuss this in a regular meeting to determine the best time to do the revaluation.
Mayor Bingham said the subcommittee discussed the Assessor's contracted services, specifically construction inspection. He offered to have Mrs. Patchen attend the next City Council meeting to talk about this.
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Assessor's budget of $416,615.
BUILDING
Mayor Bingham said he has asked the Building Official to make additional reductions and to prepare a more
detailed report on his anticipated workload. He noted that the contracted services budget line is due to
anticipated projects at the hospital. On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Cogswell,
the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Building Dept. Budget of $328,547.
CITY CLERK
Mayor Bingham noted that the Annual Report fee has been eliminated because ZEO Kim Barbieri has created this publication in-house, saving $5,000. He thanked the two departments for working together and saving money.
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the City Clerk’s Budget of $608,169.
CORPORATION COUNSEL
Mayor Bingham pointed out that this budget is still lower than five or six years ago and includes increased
expenses due to new legal books. He noted a new budget line for Legal Blight and Zoning which allows
Planning & Zoning to work with Corporation Counsel, setting goals regarding litigation. Mayor Bingham said
he anticipates this legal action moving forward more regularly.
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to
tentatively approve the Corporation Counsel Budget of $194,722.
ELECTION
Mayor Bingham said this Election Budget is the direct cost of politics in Hartford, as they redistricted Torrington, increasing our polling places from 5 to 8 and increasing related costs for staff, equipment and ballots.On a motion
by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Election Budget of $76,750.
REGISTRARS
Mayor Bingham pointed out almost $30,000 in savings associated with the efficiencies in the Registrar's office.
He said they have a low fee expense to date but anticipate a fairly large expense in the upcoming fiscal year to
inform voters of their new polling places and to canvass voters.
On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Registrars Budget of $103,499. Councilor Waldron abstained.
PERSONNEL
Mayor Bingham said he has no recommended changes at this point, and will look into the advertising line. On
a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Personnel Budget of $196,483.
PLANNING & ZONING
Mayor Bingham explained the overtime charge is for office coverage during staff vacations to ensure the office remains open. On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously
to tentatively approve the Planning & Zoning Budget of $223,743. Mayor Bingham said he will get the Council additional information on Planning & Zoning's fee schedules, indicating which are State mandated.
PURCHASING
Mayor Bingham had no recommended changes to this budget. On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Purchasing Dept. Budget of $111,253.
SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY
Mayor Bingham said the City's contribution to the Senior Center Budget is probably the least of all contributions in relation to other outside services grants. The big issue this year will be facility upgrades, he said. Mrs. Hodkoski explained that one staff position was eliminated, and she put some money into contract services to hire an expert to help during the Medicare Part D Open Enrollment and during other busy times.
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Senior Center Budget of $342,938.
TREASURER
Ms. Proulx explained the credit received from the copier supplier who didn't want the Treasurer's returned copier. Councilor Soliani questioned the car allowance, and Mr. Mattiello explained this is a contractual obligation which allows the Assistant Treasurer to travel to the bank with the City's daily deposits. On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Treasurer's budget of $38,168.
DEBT SERVICES
Mr. Mattiello explained our long term debt, the bonds coming off the payment schedule and those that have been added. (Addendum 1)
Mayor Bingham said the total change is a reduction of $200,000 in expense between bond interest and principal and an additional $300,000 in credits on the revenue side. He said the change from last year to this year is a net gain of $500,000 to the budget which will greatly help our efforts of getting to the goal of no tax increase.
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve Bond/Debt Principal budget of $3,527,801 and the Debt Interest budget of $1,532,300.
Councilor Soliani requested that the Assessor, Building Official and Personnel Director attend the next City Council meeting to answer the Council's questions.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 6:47 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC Respectfully Submitted,
CITY CLERK Carol L. Anderson, CCTC
Asst. City Clerk
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