MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
March 18, 2013
A SPECIAL MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held in the City Hall Auditorium on Monday, March 18, 2013.
Those in attendance included Mayor Ryan Bingham, Corporation Counsel Raymond Rigat, City Councilors Drake Waldron, Paul Samele, Gerald Zordan, Elinor Carbone, and Gregg Cogswell, Comptroller Alice Proulx, City Clerk Joseph Quartiero, and Mayoral Aide Timothy Waldron, along with Board of Finance members Laurene Pesce and Bill Lamoin. City Councilor Marie Soliani was absent.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. He apprised the Council of the upcoming budget meeting schedule and process. There aren't any major changes from previous years, he said, but he is trying to forward information sooner and streamline the process.
Mayor Bingham said he is starting his reviews with the large departments because that's where the largest amounts can be cut. As he has done for the last five years, he said, each department has been asked to create a budget as close as possible to, or under, last year's budget.
Concurrently, Mayor Bingham said, the Board of Education is introducing their budget proposals, including either an additional 5.7% or 7.2% which would be a significant tax increase. Mayor Bingham said he's trying to make room on the city-side of the budget for that potential increase. He said he is working with them to find joint savings that won't affect the students.
Mayor Bingham said the revenue picture is inconclusive at this point due to ongoing negotiations at the State level, and hopefully municipal aid won't be cut. He said he testified to the Appropriations Committee regarding some of the changes and recommendations. Other revenue sources include the Grand List which is becoming more reliant as the State continues to underfund municipal and educational aid.
Mayor Bingham said the biggest thing Council can do, along with the Board of Finance and the Board of Public Safety, is to inspect with great detail what the proposed budgets look like, and if cuts are made, what the impacts of those cuts may be. He said he takes this seriously and every $100, every miniscule line item, adds up over time.
Councilor Zordan asked if the Grand List has increased and Mayor Bingham said it did, but by less than $100,000 in new revenue.
Mayor Bingham said the overall Public Works budget with everything combined has been cut by $300,000 to a zero percent increase.
ENGINEERING
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Engineering Budget of $533,698.
Councilor Carbone questioned the wide-format scanner replacement and Mayor Bingham explained that repairs and outsourcing are starting to cost more than replacement.
STREET & STREET CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
Mayor Bingham said the Governor's proposed budget will have a major impact on this department's budget. He said the Governor has proposed moving 'Town Aid Road' and doubling 'LOCIP', thereby borrowing money to make up for operational revenue that they've taken away.
He said this will reduce the amount projected in the Street Dept budget and increase anticipated revenue on the capital line. He explained that the Drainage Improvements line item be reduced by $512,422 to reflect the reduction in State revenue which will then increase 'Town Aid Road' and 'LOCIP' by that exact amount in a separate fund, as the State has projected.
Mayor Bingham said this is one of the scariest cuts because the City is already facing an uphill battle resurfacing roads.
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Street and Street Capital Improvement Budget of $3,891,187, a 10.8% decrease.
PARKS & PARKS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
Mayor Bingham said the request for additional capital reserves in line item #5347 will be cut from their budget by the amount of $24,000, bringing that line to $1,000.
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Parks & Parks Capital Improvement Budget of $1,080,038.
CITY REAL ESTATE
Mayor Bingham said he is unable to establish a sidewalk repair incentive fund to more aggressively repair sidewalks that are not the City's responsibility. This reduces the proposed budget by $100,000.
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the City Real Estate budget of $80,305.
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
Mayor Bingham noted that there are no recommended changes in this budget, as it is primarily salary.
On a motion by Councilor Zordan, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Public Works Director Budget of $139,650.
CITY HALL
Mayor Bingham said there are no recommended changes on first level review, although fuel prices may have some affect.
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the City Hall Budget of $190,841, a reduction of 1.43% from last year.
Mayor Bingham added that the reduction of one maintenance position at City Hall has worked out fairly well, primarily because John (Lombardi) is a tremendous worker.
LANDFILL
Mayor Bingham said this has a reduction of $75,000 due to CRRA's new disposal rate, and a reduction of $15,000 in Post Closure Activities. He said this is creates a total reduction of 8.45%.
On a motion by Councilor Zordan, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Landfill Budget of $975,000.
SANITARY SEWER/STREETLIGHTS
Mayor Bingham said there are no recommended changes and the LED streetlight program has been quite successful with a considerable amount of savings.
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Zordan, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Sanitary Sewer/Streetlights Budget of $454,730, a reduction of .13%.
HEALTH
Mayor Bingham said he is recommending a reduction in the Refuse Contract line of $21,000, and there may be some changes to the Dispatch Contract line in the future.
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Health Budget of $2,850,849, an increase from last year of .41%.
Mayor Bingham said these budgets set the bar high for other department heads in a tough budget year.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Councilor Zordan, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 5:36 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Respectfully Submitted,
Carol L. Anderson, CCTC
Asst. City Clerk
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