Town Office Building January 22, 2014
Lower Level Conference Room immediately following 5:15 P.M. meeting
First Selectman Mailhos called the meeting to order at 6:23 P.M. with Selectmen Kowalyshyn & Blessington, Business Manager Donna Latincsics, Town Treasurer, Tish Ignatowicz & residents.
Donna presented version 1.3 of the budget, which is still a “work in progress”. She pointed out CCM and CRCOG dues have been straightened out and the line item is at $9,674.00. The Assistant Revenue Collector line item has been squared away. The increase shows higher than 2.5 % but it is because of a step level in the split of a year.
Land Use has requested an increase of $19,354 to their budget which is a place holder for filling in the Assistant Zoning Agent position. Donna noted that the place holder is for a 20 hour union position with benefits, noting the Town’s share of the insurance premium will be 44%. First Selectman Mailhos clarified that she thought we had come to an agreement last year and the BOS would support the position at 10 hours per week. The Board of Finance said to come back at budget time and if the Land Use Department could support the need for the 10 hour position, it might be considered. First Selectman Mailhos asked how it came about going to a 20 hour position. Selectman Kowalyshyn clarified if there is a need for it, we can support it, but there doesn’t seem to be a need. Selectman
Blessington stated that she (Zoning Agent) got through this year. He noted that Dunkin Donuts is almost done and the truck stop contention should be done, so they shouldn’t be that busy. First Selectman Mailhos stated that the zoning enforcement officer is the one who canvasses the Town to see if there are any violations. Selectman Blessington added that we had problems with the last Assistant Zoning Agent, as he caused a lot of contention in the past. BOF Chairman Alan Ference stated that they had come to the Board of Finance several budget seasons in a row to fill that position, but every time they (Land Use & P&Z) had a different reason they wanted to fill it each time (year) it was discussed. Selectman Blessington added that the job is still getting done, so he is not sure why they need to have an extra person there.
First Selectman Mailhos stated that the Land Use secretary was also given more hours, which bumped her up to full time last year. She added that we were never informed of that and it ended up impacting our bottom line as the insurance comes out of our budget. Selectman Kowalyshyn said she heard they have decreased their public hours. Robin Campbell clarified that they close at 11AM on Thursdays. Selectman Blessington stated that is a bureaucratic ploy. BOF Chairman Ference agreed and said they are doing whatever they can do to get the most reaction. Selectman Kowalyshyn said that the taxpayers are the ones who suffer. She then suggested that someone should volunteer to help them out on Fridays and perhaps we should have a joint meeting for them to explain to us exactly
what they need. First Selectman Mailhos stated that their budget is separate from ours, but if they want or need our support, they should come to us to make a case.
The chip seal budget was then discussed. Donna revamped the Public Works spreadsheet and revamped the chip seal budget items into its own section to help track expenses. First Selectman Mailhos said that different places we were paying for the chip seal line was coming out of different line items and they were spread apart in the budget, noting that it was difficult to track. Now they are grouped together.
Chipsealing for roads that are up next this year (totaling 5 roads: 6.53 miles); is estimated to cost approximately $139,508.16 – a 8.9% increase. First Selectman Mailhos has based the pricing off of estimates (prices are based on averages of past purchases for oil, stone, emulsion and asphalt). First Selectman Mailhos noted that asphalt is tough because it can range from $.05 cents per square foot to .20 cents per square foot, based on the depth of the application on the road. First Selectman Mailhos said we are looking at a large increase from last year and we need to figure out what to do.
Discussion was held on how to proceed. First Selectman Mailhos noted that we try to do roads on a seven year cycle, noting that last year was a catch up year that is why the budget was an anomaly. We can eliminate a road off of the list, or can try to justify the request for the increase. First Selectman Mailhos suggested coming up with number to work with and will figure out how much we can do with the budget. She clarified that this is just an estimate as we don’t know what the bids will come in at, but she will try to get it down.
Donna stated that she added an extra place holder in the health insurance line item, but does not think she needs to keep it in there, as she has an idea of who is going to sign up for it and who is going to take the waivers. Taking out the place holder will add $27,803 back into the budget.
Pension funding has been increased by an additional $20,000 as per the suggestion of the auditor. We will leave it as is.
Discussion went back to the part time Assistant Zoning Agent position. First Selectman Mailhos noted that we were talking about a 10 hour position at $10,000 per year versus a 20 hour position, costing $20,000. She clarified that it isn’t just the additional hourly cost, we then will have to add $14,000 in benefits for that one position. BOF Chairman Ference said that was a lot of the problem last year – you are doubling that position and there is no justification to back it.
The Fire Departments have not submitted their budgets yet, but Donna has added what she thinks will be as place holders.
First Selectman Mailhos recapped the budget so far: the total Selectmen’s budget is up $78,000; Region 19 is up $49,000 Board of Education (K-8) is down $92,452. She added with the elimination of the insurance place holder, the Selectmen’s budget is actually only up by $56,000 or 1.89%.
Town Treasurer, Tish Ignatowicz added that she does not see an increase in revenues for this coming year and reminded everyone that it is a reval year so she is looking at a 3 mil increase (1.5 is from the reval). She clarified that she is also basing her projection on some place holders of budgets that have not been submitted yet. Ms. Ignatowicz then clarified that last year a mil was at $478,000; this coming year 1 mil will be at $429,000. Lastly she added that another thing that hurt us is that Willington Woods assessed higher, but they are only paying a flat rate for taxes ($20,000) and they are one of the only properties that went up. First Selectman Mailhos clarified that the newly proposed cottages will be assessed on whatever the current mil rate is, to avoid any hits. Discussion was
held on the mil rate, projections and where the money is going based on spending. Education is flat and the Selectmen do not see any major increases in their budget.
Another budget workshop will be held next Monday, January 27th at 5:30 P.M. The BOS budget is due to BOF by February 13th (submission of budget is preferred by February 6th). The BOS will approve their budget at the regular meeting on February 3rd. The CIP Plan is also slated to be presented to the Board of Selectmen
The meeting was adjourned at 7:34 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Robin Campbell
Robin Campbell
Administrative Assistant
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