TOWN OF GRANBY
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
BUDGET WORKSHOP MINUTES
MARCH 10, 2005
First Selectman Adams called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m.
PRESENT: John Adams, Ronald Desrosiers, Sally King, Mark Neumann, and William F. Smith, Jr., Town Manager
Also present: Michael Guarco, Board of Finance Chairman
Selectman Desrosiers began the budget review process tonight with Public Works and Environment. This section of the budget includes Public Works Administration, General Maintenance, Solid Waste and Recycling, Equipment Maintenance, Street Lights and Signalization, Planning and Engineering Services, Building Maintenance and Town Grounds.
Selectman Desrosiers reviewed the summary detail as shown on page 112 and continued into Public Works Administration. Meetings and seminars were up slightly and part-time payroll shown is to cover the office when the secretary is out.
General Maintenance covers road maintenance, basin/culvert repair and cleaning, street sweeping, bridge painting, and line striping. Significant changes were indicated for Phase Two of the Signage Program and temporary and part-time help. The signage program is a federal mandate, which should be completed by 2007.
Under Solid Waste and Recycling the increase for collections is fees to Paine’s per their contract with the town. Mid-CT Tip Fees is an increase in tonnage for new homes. Additional discussion provided clarification on the source of the revenue (transfer station activity), increased storm water sampling (ground water monitoring), and the cost of an additional dumpster for the school under Town and School Tip Fee.
The major increases in Equipment Maintenance were for gasoline and diesel fuel. Hopefully the market will stabilize. Street Lights and Signalization shows a 10% increase in electricity.
Under Planning and Engineering Services a reduction of town costs for Engineering Services showed a minus $5,000. Town Manager Smith explained that developers pay for engineering services as required in the process of obtaining approval for subdivisions, etc. This activity is run through a fund.
Under Building Maintenance and Town Grounds, clarification was provided for the service contract for heat controls, the increase in temporary and part-time payroll, and fuel oil and electricity increases.
After reviewing all accounts in Public Works and Environment, no changes were made at this time.
Selectman King then began review of the Personal and Property Protection Summary, which includes Building Inspection, Fire Prevention, Emergency Management, Health Services, Police Department Administration, Communications and Dispatching, and Police Operations and Services.
Beginning with Building Inspection there were no significant changes except for a small increase in misc. office supplies. A cell phone will be used by the Building Official so he can be reached when he is out in the field doing inspections. A zoning and wetlands enforcement officer is badly needed but funds were not available for personnel within the guideline.
Fire Prevention Services showed an increase of $4,000 with an estimated 36 inspections to be done this year and 50 projected for next year. The personnel has changed three times over the last three years and it often takes additional hours to get the new person stabilized. The LAFD contract also showed an increase; this is formula based.
Emergency Management remained flat and Health Services showed no significant changes.
Police Department Administration includes the Chief of Police, the Captain, and the Communications/Records Supervisor. There was a very minor increase in office supplies, a $500 increase in the accreditation process and a $1,000 increase in the Regional Narcotics Task Force. Selectman King noted this activity actually includes several different regional teams from nine towns. Justifications were provided for each of these increases.
Communications and Dispatching increases in radio/transmitter repairs were to phase out the older units. Payroll increases were attributed to training for new hires, additional mandated training, and overtime costs.
Police Operations and Services showed no increase in payroll however it was noted police personnel are currently in negotiation for a new contract. Ammunition and supplies showed an increase of $1,750 and was due to mandated training in the use of firearms.
Review of Personal and Property Protection concluded at 7:30 p.m. and no changes were made at this time.
The meeting adjourned at 7:32 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
William F. Smith, Jr.
Town Manager
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