BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Special Meeting Minutes
Town Office Building March 14, 2011
Selectmen’s Conference Room 5:00 P.M.
First Selectman Mailhos called the meeting to order at 5:00 P.M. with the following in attendance: Selectmen Millix & Blessington, Director of Public Works, Lynn Nicholls; Business Manager Donna Latincsics and Residents.
First Selectman Mailhos stated that we are holding this meeting based on the recommendation of the Board of Finance’s request to put $50,000 back into the chip seal route and make cuts of $50,000 elsewhere. The BOF has eliminated pay increases for all non union employees, which also extends to the library and the Fire Departments. Eliminating the pay increases for non-union employees is $14,970.00.
First Selectman Mailhos said the Board has already gone through this budget numerous times, and the only thing that will equal $50,000 is labor and/or reducing service levels to the public. Selectman Millix said we can do a few things: reduce the hours of a broad base of people or eliminate a position. His personal opinion would be best to apply as universally as we can to reduce hours across a larger number of people so the public is not impacted. First Selectman Mailhos agreed with going towards reducing hours rather than eliminating a position and contributing to the unemployment rate.
First Selectman Mailhos asked Donna to run some numbers to see what savings would be with closing the Town Office Building on Fridays. Selectman Blessington said he is hesitant on cutting the hours that we are open to the public; we are not open that many hours now.
Selectman Millix suggested cutting those who average working over 35 hours per week and reduce them each by 5 hours. This could be considered as a shared sacrifice, reducing the hours of the work force with minimal interruption to the public. It is going to come down to which option we are least uncomfortable with.
Discussion was then held regarding eliminating a position, shifting employees around and which department(s) would/could be impacted.
First Selectman Mailhos stated that we have not heard back from the Union on the proposals brought to them. They had met earlier this month and decided not to take action with the offers. Selectman Millix said he thinks that at this point the offers are off the table. Selectman Blessington said the union has more information now then they had at their meeting. First Selectman Mailhos suggested that the Board of Selectmen go to the Board of Finance in good faith to come as close to the number they are looking for, not necessarily getting the exact number.
The CIP was also reduced. First Selectman Mailhos said she will contact the CIP Committee to ask them to reconvene and revise their numbers.
First Selectman Mailhos stated that the BOF will meet again on March 24. As of that date, they will have the final numbers from Region 19. The Board has some time to think about what can be done and will discuss Monday at our next regular meeting. Perhaps we will get some information from the union by then. She will also look into a few things like consolidating the dumpster contracts to reduce some costs. We are also trying to lock in a good rate on fuel (with Region 19), however it is taking longer than expected.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:55 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Robin Campbell
Robin Campbell
Administrative Assistant
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