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TOWN OF GRANBY
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
BUDGET WORKSHOP MINUTES
MARCH 11, 2004
First Selectman Adams called the meeting to order at 6:20 p.m.
PRESENT: John Adams, Ronald Desrosiers, Frank Judice, Sally King, Mark Neumann, and William F. Smith, Jr., Town Manager
Also present: Michael B. Guarco, Richard O’Brien, and Francis Brady, Board of Finance
Selectman Judice began tonight’s workshop meeting with a review of Public Works and Environment. Categories covered in this section include Public Works Administration, General Maintenance, Solid Waste and Recycling, Equipment Maintenance, Street Lights and Signalization, Planning and Engineering Services, and Building Maintenance and Town Grounds.
Utilizing a different approach, Selectman Judice distributed a handout showing significant changes from Fiscal Year 2004. Significant changes were noted in waste collection tipping fees, salary and overtime, drop-site recycling, building maintenance, historical cemetery repairs, street signs, solid waste and recycling collection, sandblasting, outside mechanical repairs, and all other categories. The projected expenses for FY 2004 are $2,231,449. With the significant changes, the proposed budget for FY 2005 is $2,345,556 translating to a 5.1% increase.
Discussion and clarification of some of the individual line items followed the review of significant changes. Discussion included new federal guidelines for street signs, revenue, the additional fields at the Ahrens property, additional staffing, additional roads, the lack of a new snow plow route, and the time needed to complete the initial plowing of streets.
The Board questioned the Town Manager’s reduction list showing potential liability, safety issues, increase in costs, or lack of revenue. These items were $5,000 for property inspection and audits, part-time/overtime, concrete blocks and materials, and plow blades. Some of these were inventory issues and others could contribute to a possible delay in sanding or snow plowing roads.
Contracted services and the individual vendors for trash and recycling pick-up, street sweeping, line striping catch basin cleaning, etc. were reviewed, as was the large brush pile at the drop site which needs grinding. The Board also posed some general questions on personnel and maintenance to Superintendent of Public Works, James Klase.
Review of this section concluded at 7:10 p.m. No changes were made to Public Works and Environment at this time.
First Selectman Adams opened discussion on the format for the budget presentation at the Annual Town Meeting. He suggested the Boards highlight the expenses driving the budget to include CRRA increases, insurance costs, fuel costs, etc. The revenue side should be highlighted and examples of services people identify with such as police and snow plowing should be part of the presentation. First Selectman Adams also suggested the presentation should be one presentation without individual presentations by the Board of Selectmen, Board of Education, and Board of Finance.
Town Manager Smith indicated the Lost Acres Fire Department agreed to a reduced contribution tied to revaluation. This amount is close to $5,000 less, which could be eliminated or applied elsewhere within the budget.
Review of Revenues began at 7:15 p.m. Items covered in this category were Property Tax, Intergovernmental Revenues, and Local Revenues and Fund Transfers. Discussion of Revenues included automobile supplemental taxes, the process used for the State to identify money going to the towns and the formula used to determine the amounts, and the percentage Granby has in reserve (fund balance).
Richard O’Brien suggested, while he found the budget to be sound, the Board of Selectmen might want to prepare a list of cuts to be made if the Board of Finance receives indications the town will not approve the proposed increase at the Public Hearing scheduled for April 12th. Chairman Guarco also stated the town should continue to look for revenue increases wherever possible. The same is true for the Board of Education. The Board determined they would charge the Town Manager with the task of recommending cuts in the Board of Selectmen Budget should it become necessary.
In conclusion, the Board of Selectmen noted their intention to move the transmittal of this budget at their March 15, 2004 meeting, with presentation to the Board of Finance on March 29, 2004.
The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
William F. Smith, Jr.
Town Manager
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