RECEIVED APRIL 14, 2010 @ 10:08 A.M.
Michele R. Grande, Redding Town Clerk
4 pages
REDDING BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING
Minutes
February 9, 2010
Present: Ketcham, Pemberton, Takacs
Also: Controller Gniadek, Treasurer O’Donnell, five members of the public and a representative of the Redding Pilot.
Mrs. Ketcham called the February 9, 2010 meeting to order at 7:37 pm
PUBLIC COMMENT
James Miller, Middlebrook Pond Road: Mr. Miller asked for clarification on the Police Chief’s comments regarding the cost of police vehicles in the Long Range Financial Plan. Mrs. O’Donnell responded that she confirmed the cost with Chief Fuchs and he indicated that special equipment would be transferred from other vehicles and if additional equipment was needed, it would come from the Police Department operating budget. Mr. Miller responded that the dollar amount in the Long Range Financial Plan does not reflect the true cost of a police vehicle according to information provided by Chief Fuchs during the budget workshop. Chief Fuchs had referred to the need to add lights, computers, radios, etc. to any new cruiser. Some of this equipment will be transferred from retired cruisers.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion: move that the minutes of the January 12, 2010 meeting be approved as corrected. Takacs, Pemberton. Approved. Unanimous.
Correction: under Regional Probate District Update, line 3, change name to named.
Motion: move that the minutes of the January 26, 2010 meeting be approved as submitted. Takacs, Pemberton. Approved. Unanimous.
ANNUAL TOWN REPORT
The Town of Redding Annual Report for 2008-2009 was presented. The cover of the report, an original drawing of the exterior of John Read Middle School, was done by 8th grader Sophie Ota. Mrs. Ketcham thanked Ms. Ota for her drawing and contribution to the report.
SET A TOWN MEETING FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE ACCEPTING THE CODIFIED TOWN CODE AND CORRECTIONS TO AN ORDINANCE
Town Clerk Michele Grande reviewed the five-year project she completed to get the Town’s ordinances updated and in a printed format. The book is a compilation of the ordinances in a clear and orderly format.
The corrections to the Tax Abatement for Members of the Volunteer Fire/EMS Service Ordinance are
a. to specify that the abatement is for real estate in the name of the qualifying member or spouse, and
b. to change the deadline submission date from March 1 to May 15 of each year.
Motion: move that the Board of Selectman approve the changes for the Tax Abatement for Members of the Volunteer Fire/EMS Service Ordinance, to specify that the abatement is for real estate in the name of the qualifying member or spouse, and to change the deadline submission date from March 1 to May 15 of each year. Takacs. Pemberton. Approved. Unanimous.
Motion: move that the Board of Selectmen set a Town Meeting date of February 25, 2010 at 7:30 pm in the Town Office Building Hearing Room to accept the Code Book of Ordinances and to approve the changes to the ax Abatement for Members of the Volunteer Fire/EMS Service Ordinance. Takacs, Pemberton. Approved. Unanimous.
DISCUSSION OF FISCAL YEAR 2010-2011 BUDGET
Mrs. Ketcham began the discussion with comments regarding the economic times, budget preparations, and actions in place to reduce expenditures.
1. Regional purchases: the Town has participated in regional purchasing through the State of Connecticut for several years and more recently participated in a multi-town consortium for the purchase of fuel oil, gasoline & diesel fuel. Regionalization is in place with the paramedic program shared with Bethel. Further regionalization is being explored for the Dispatch Center. Planning for a 4-town Animal Control Center is in the developmental stage and may be completed as soon as May.
2. Job Sharing: many of the Town’s departments are engaged in job sharing: the Health Office and Zoning Office share one assistant; the Police Department Records Clerk also serves as a dispatcher; the Animal Control Officer also handles parking enforcement at the train station and is able to handle traffic control as needed; two Transfer Station employees double as building custodians one day/week; one employee in Town Hall is split between the Tax Collector, Town Clerk and Water Pollution Control duties.
3. Work week: the Town Hall’s office hours are 32.5/week, but less than a dozen clerical employees work those hours; the majority of others work a minimum of 40 hours/week.
4. Union contracts: Half of the governmental employees are covered by union contracts. The unions have been contacted requesting a meeting to share ideas for cost savings in the next year. The contracts are up for negotiation over the next two years and the current economic conditions will have an impact on those negotiations. In addition, all employee insurance co-pays continue to increase on an annual basis.
5. Sharing equipment: the Controller is meeting with the Highway Superintendent and Park & Recreation Director and their counterparts in Newtown to explore shared equipment purchasing, and he is exploring the concept of leasing equipment. The Controller is also exploring cost savings ideas with the Business Director of the schools.
6. Revenue: most of public suggestions propose reductions in expenditures, but lack ideas for the generation of additional revenues. One new revenue source will result with the finalization of the leasing of a flagpole cell tower at the Highway Garage. The lease will provide $50,000/year.
Controller Gniadek began the budget discussion with the following first level of adjustments/reductions to the proposed budget increase of 3.8%.
1. Police/Dispatch: addition to reflect contracted increases, addition of $8,000:
2. Software for Tax Collector, correction item, addition of $600.
3. Old Town House interior painting, removing this item from the Long Range Financial Plan, addition of $3,000
4. Wood fencing at Transfer Station, removing the item from the Long Range Financial Plan, addition of $9,600
The following are reductions following the budget workshop, working with the Department heads:
1. Engineering & Consulting: reduction of $12,000, to reflect a State grant received for technical assistance to determine appropriate areas for Incentive Housing Zones (affordable housing zones)
2. Postage: technical correction edit, reduction of $10,000
3. Road Repair account: reduction of request from $400,000 to $200,000, to the same level as in the current year budget.
4. Health Insurance: original projected increase of 12% has been reduced to 10% due to the good experience rating of the Town. Mr. Gniadek added that he is getting alternate quotes for insurance coverage.
5. Police Department: maintain the current head count, reduction of $48,000. This amount does not include benefits, but benefits were not included in the original budget proposal.
6. Mark Twain Library: a reduction in the increase of the request of the Library by $20,000.
7. Dispatch Center: elimination of full-time position, keeps the current part-time position, and adds a second part-time dispatcher with no benefits. A reduction of $5,000
These adjustments bring the budget proposal to an increase over current year budget of 1.6%
The second tier of reductions includes:
1. Assessor contract services: a reduction of $20,000, eliminates the technical expert assistance for assessment of Brownfield properties in conjunction with the GLDC project. Mrs. Ketcham noted that should the need for this assistance arise in the next fiscal year, the cost would come from the Contingency Account. Mr. Takacs suggested creating a list of items that could fall into the Contingency Account.
2. Highway Department, vehicle repair: a reduction of $10,000, because three of the vehicles are new, the Highway Superintendent was comfortable with a reduction of $10,000 in the repair account.
3. Highway Department Road Repair account: a reduction of $50,000. Mr. Gniadek reported that road reconstruction project ($200,000) is planned for spring work, and with an additional allocated $150,000 allocated in the next fiscal year, that should be appropriate for the work to be accomplished over the next 18 months.
4. Highway Department Sand & Salt account: the Highway Supervisor indicated the request of $220,000 could be reduced to $180,000 to better reflect the current level of spending.
These potential reductions would bring the budget increase down to 0.6%
Mrs. Ketcham distributed a staffing analysis of the Building Department for review. The historical data was included and the impact of reductions of staff.
Mr. Gniadek was asked to calculate what percentage of the budget was attributable to fixed or contractual costs. In addition, he will prepare a listing of line items increases over $5,000 for further review.
Capital Plan: further discussion is needed on the items on the listing. The roadway and parking lot at the Community Center is on the list, with an estimate of $200,000. The roadway portion, up to the tennis courts, may be the responsibility of the Board of Education.
Another meeting was scheduled to discuss the recommended reductions and finalize the budget. That meeting was set for Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 7:00 pm.
REDDING ATHLETIC FIELDS COMMITTEE UPDATE
Mr. Takacs reported the Committee has begun work on the establishment of a 501C-3 non-profit organization for the purpose of receiving donations from the public for the work on Field 2 at the Redding Community Center. Mr. Takacs reported the estimate for the work is approximately$700,000, a grant of $400,000 has been received, $100,000 is a commitment from the Redding Soccer Club, and approximately $200,000 is to be raised through private donations. The mechanism for the transfer of funds from the 501C-3 to the Town will be worked out. The issue of having some of the excavation work performed by the Highway Department will also be evaluated.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Bob Sterling: question regarding the funding for the communication equipment at the Dispatch center. Mrs. Ketcham responded that the funding was from a federal grant for $775,000 for communication equipment.
Mike D’Agostino: asked if regionalization of the emergency dispatch function would have an impact on the staffing planned for next year. Mrs. Ketcham responded that the regionalization concept is in the developmental stage and is at least a year away from being realized. Mr. D’Agostino questioned the increase in health insurance costs, stating that the Board of Education increase is smaller. Mr. Gniadek responded that the Town is not self-insured as the Board of Education is, and that the pool of participants is much smaller.
Wolf Boehme, Chalburn Road: suggested regionalization of the tax collector function or having the collection process be outsourced. Mrs. Ketcham suggested that Mr. Boehme spend a couple of hours in the Tax Collector’s office to observe the operation of that office. That office is very active and is a service to taxpayers. Mr. Boehme also asked what portion of the budget is attributable to employee benefits and pension.
ADMINISTRATIVE
Mr. Takacs is exploring the program being used by Brookfield for road assessment and maintenance. They have implemented a program that includes an analysis of road, road rating, conditions, problems and cost to repair. The belief is that proper maintenance of the road will extend the life of the road. The plan is useful in planning and funding of roadway maintenance & reconstruction.
ADJOURNMENT
The Chair adjourned the meeting at 9:15 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Maday
Recording Secretary
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