TOWN OF GRANBY
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
BUDGET WORKSHOP MINUTES
MARCH 13, 2006
First Selectman Adams called the meeting to order at 6:09 p.m.
PRESENT: John Adams, Frank Judice, Sally King, Mark Neumann, and William F. Smith, Jr., Town Manager
Also present: Frederick A. Moffa, Board of Finance member (7:00 p.m.)
The meeting started with Selectman Judice beginning the review of Personal and Property Protection. Categories in this section are Building Inspection, Fire Prevention, Emergency Management, Health Services, Police Department Administration, Communications and Dispatching, and Police Operations and Services.
Selectman Judice distributed a handout providing a summary of dollars budgeted for 2005, 2006, and 2007 and showing the percentage increase for D-45 Administration at 2.8%, D-47 Communication and Dispatch at 4.5%, D-49 Police Operations at 2.5% for a total percentage increase for Police Department Services at 2.9%. These increases were mostly for contractual salary increases and overtime.
He continued with Building Inspection D-37 at $3.2% with the majority of the increase for Wetlands support. Fire prevention was 3.0% and reflected contractual increases. Health Services D-43 reflected a negligible increase for the FVHD of 1.4% and Emergency Management D-41 was a zero percent increase.
The total budgeted for Personal and Property Protection is $1,957,772 or a 2.8% increase.
In additional discussion, the Board inquired about wages for private duty police officers, the current staffing level, installation of in-car cameras this year (capital), storage equipment (a future need) and the need to fund communication equipment (console) for the future. Accreditation is every three years and will be done again this coming summer.
Review of this section concluded at 6:45 p.m. No changes were made to Personal and Property Protection at this time.
Selectman Neumann led the review of Public Works and Environment, which includes 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.
He began with Public Works Administration showing a 0.3% increase stemming from the temp/part time account.
General Maintenance showed an overall increase of 25.6% with the pick up of ½ of the new Maintainer started in ’06. The only other increase was in the street sweeping fees.
Solid Waste and Recycling showed increases in several accounts most significantly the waste collection and recycling collection accounts. This is due to new homes and increases in collections, as well as increases in fees being charged. Overall this account was up 3.5%.
The significant increases in Equipment Maintenance were for gasoline and diesel fuel. This accounted for 16.6%.
Street Lights and signalization had no significant changes.
Planning and Engineering Services were up slightly because of an increase in engineering services needed.
Concluding this section is Building Maintenance and Town Grounds with significant changes in fuel oil, electricity, heat control and misc. service contracts, which includes portable restroom fees previously shown in the Recreation Administration budget. Overall this account showed a 17.7% increase.
The total budgeted amount for Public Works and Environment is $2,623,892 or a 5.7% increase.
Review of this section concluded at 7:13 p.m. No changes were made to Public Works and Environment at this time.
First Selectman Adams began the review of Libraries, Recreation, and Social Services with Library Services. The salary increase for part-time employees was to bring them more in line with average starting salaries in Granby and area towns.
Revenues are realized from late fees, fax services, and copies.
Social Services covers a wide array of programs and includes the Director, a part-time Youth Counselor, and a part-time Youth Program Coordinator.
Services provided by the Director range from emergency assistance, fuel assistance, various counseling and treatment programs, and entitlement and Part D Medicare seminars.
The Youth Counselor and Youth Program Coordinator provide a variety of individual, family, and group services designed to enhance communication, self-esteem, and positive decision making skills.
There were no significant changes in this account resulting in an increase of 0.6%.
The only significant change in Recreation Administration was a decrease resulting from moving funding for the portable restrooms to the Public Works account. Local business people fund concerts at the park and most programs are self-sustaining and run through the Recreation Events fund.
An increase in hours for the Administrative Assistant and the Program Coordinator accounted for the significant change in Senior Citizen Activities. Also included is a paid van driver and the Congregate Meal Program preparer.
There were no significant changes in Community Support. This portion of the budget assists with funding for the Granby Road Race, Memorial Day expenses, and Community Special Events.
Review of this portion of the budget concluded at 7:45 p.m. No changes were made to Libraries, Recreation, and Social Services at this time.
Town Manager Smith conducted a review of Revenues covering Property Tax, Education Intergovernmental Revenues (collected from State and Federal grants and other governmental units), Municipal Intergovernmental Revenue Grants, (received by the town from the state and other governments). Some of these are Elderly Tax Relief, Veteran’s Benefit Grant, State Owned Property, etc. The last item reviewed was Local Revenues and Fund Transfers.
Mr. Smith indicated there is no way to know what will happen if the State eliminates the Automobile Property Tax. Legislative activity will have to be monitored.
In conclusion, Mr. Smith stated overall the revenue picture is on the conservative side and looks pretty good.
The meeting adjourned at 7:59 p.m.
Respectfully submitted
William F. Smith, Jr.
Town Manager
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