RECEIVED MARCH 7, 2011 @ 3:07 P.M.
Michele R. Grande, Redding Town Clerk
3 pages
REDDING BOARD OF FINANCE
PUBLIC HEARING ON 2011-2012 BUDGET
MARCH 3, 2011
Present:
Board of Finance: Alvarez, DeSalvo, Dolan, Guffey, Mazzucco, Yonkers
Board of Selectmen: Ketcham, Takacs, Pemberton
Town administrators: Gniadek, O’Donnell, Grande, Moisio
Redding Board of Education: Gaspar, Barickman, Joyce-Kirk, Lewson, Miller
Region #9 Board of Education: Lewis
School administration: Cicchetti, Sullivan, McPadden, Farrell, Martin, Pierson Ugol
Media: representatives of the Redding Pilot and Patch.com
Others: more than 30 members of the public
Mr. Alvarez called the Public Hearing to order at 7:37 in the Community Room of the John Read Middle School.
Presentation: Town budget, First Selectman, Natalie Ketcham, provided information on the Town’s proposed operating budget for 2011-2012. Mrs. Ketcham reported an increase in the Town’s Grand List 0f 0.17%. She reviewed the major increases and savings reflected in the proposed budget. The proposed budget is a 1.15% increase over the current year budget.
Mrs. Ketcham indicated that if the budget is approved, with the current Redding Board of Education budget at 3.41% and Redding’s portion of the Region #9 budget at 1.97% (Redding’s share of the proposed budget of 3.41%), the total increase would be 2.4%.
Public comment:
Al Viscio, Sport Hill Road: Mr. Viscio asked that a comparison be made to determine the whether to lease or purchase the capital items proposed in the budget.
Mike D’Agostino, Glen Hill Road: Mr. D’Agostino asked if the Police Department had any funding available to purchase police vehicles as they did last year. Mrs. Ketcham responded that the Police Department is slated to purchase two vehicles with funding from private duty revenue, and the proposed budget includes funding for only the third vehicle. The overall plan for vehicle replacement includes three vehicles each year.
James Miller, Middlebrook Pond Road: Mr. Miller expressed concern for the condition of the road as a result of the severe winter snow events and suggested that additional funding be included for road repair. Mrs. Ketcham responded that the roads would all be reevaluated in the spring, and the existing plan for roadway reconstruction and repair may change.
Lawrence Ford, Cross Highway: Mr. Ford asked that the sprinkler system in the Town Hall be upgraded to meet the fire code. Mrs. Ketcham responded that this issue is being address and funding for the upgrade is included in the Town’s 5-year capital plan. An engineer has completed plans for correction of the system and discussions on the design work with the Fire Marshall are underway. Mrs. Ketcham added that the issue is not a health or safety issue, but a record retention issue, with a more flexible timetable for correction.
Presentation: Redding Board of Education Chairman, Jess Gaspar, presented an overview of the operating budget for the Redding schools. The proposed increase over last year is 3.4%. Dr. Gaspar reviewed the increases and decreases in the budget and the impact on the schools and children. Contractual increases, pension funding and special education increases account for 80% of the proposed increase. He added that declines in state and federal funding for education shifts the burden to local taxpayers.
Board of Finance member question/comment:
Mr. Guffey asked if the goal of the Board of Education was to be at the top of the DRG school list. Dr. Gaspar responded that the goal is to be above average in the CMT scores.
Mr. Mazzucco asked if data was available comparing class sizes with other DRG A schools, and asked about the significant increase in funding for special education. Dr. Gaspar will get the class size information. The increase in special education is primarily a result of the reduction of federal funding, specifically the ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009).
Lewis Andrews, High Ridge Road: Mr. Andrews was pleased that the Board of Education was planning to use output measures/performance for merit pay increases rather than input measure and asked about the process of negotiations of the certified staff contract. Dr. Gaspar responded that the change in merit pay increase will be part of the contract negotiation process. The current contract for certified staff will be in year 3 of a 3-year contract for 2011-2012. The negotiation for the next contract has begun on an informal basis and will formally begin in the fall. Board members Lewis Brey, Lewis Goldberg and Jamie Barickman represent the Board on the negotiation committee.
Jere Ross: Mr. Ross asked why staffing at the schools was increasing when there is a decrease of 50 students at the elementary level. Dr. Gaspar responded that there is an overall slight decrease in staffing. Two full time teaching positions at the Redding Elementary School will be eliminated, and there is an increase of one full-time position at John Read Middle School along with three minor increases (0.2 FTE each), for Art at John Read Middle School and Social Workers at both schools.
Presentation: Region #9 Board of Education Chairman, Mark Lewis, reported that work on the budget had just begun. The board’s starting point is an increase of 3.34% and is now at 2.5% as after the board’s first budget workshop session. The board will begin budget discussions at a meeting on March 7, 2011, with a final decision on the budge at their regular meeting on March 15, 2011. He anticipates that some adjustment will be made to the budget. Redding’s portion of the budget decreases this year due to a shifting of enrollment between Easton & Redding, and would be 1.1% of a 2.5% budget increase. Mr. Lewis added that a decrease in debt service and the announced retirement of four senior staff members has helped to keep the budget increase down.
Public comment:
Lewis Andrews, High Ridge Road: Mr. Andrews asked if the high school was offering online learning. Mr. Lewis responded that there is participation in foreign language online learning as an independent study with certified staff supervision.
Conclusion: Mr. Alvarez thanked everyone for coming to the meeting. The Board of Finance will meet on March 14, 2011 to discuss and finalize the budget
ADJOURNMENT
Motion: move that the Public Hearing be adjourned. DeSalvo, Mazzucco. Approved. Unanimous.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:17 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Maday, Recording Secretary
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