TOWN OF GRANBY
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
BUDGET WORKSHOP MINUTES
MARCH 12, 2007
First Selectman Adams called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m.
PRESENT: John Adams, Ronald Desrosiers, Frank Judice, Sally King, Mark Neumann, and William F. Smith, Jr., Town Manager
Also present: Barbarajean Scibelli, Administration Finance Officer; Michael B. Guarco, Board of Finance Chariman; and B. Scott Kuhnly, Board of Finance; and Knute Gailor, Student Liaison
Selectman Desrosiers began the review of Libraries, Recreation, and Social Services by thanking the department heads for taking the time to review their sections with him. Categories under this section are Library Services, Social Services, Recreation Administration, Senior Citizen Activities, and Community Support.
Beginning with Library Services, Selectman Desrosiers drew attention to the measures of activities noting the continued increases. Sunday hours are very popular and it would probably be beneficial to the residents to look at increasing those hours. Increases in Granby Public Library (GPL) books (purchases) include replacement of books lost as well as new purchases. Computer supplies for GPL spiked due to the increased cost of toner and other computer supplies. While the percentage of increase for services and supplies looks large the dollars involved are relatively small. Annual revenues for this section are $23,700, which goes to the General Fund.
Social Services shows a significant increase in the temp/part time/O.T. account of $4,227 due to a fall off of grant money. Services and supplies reflect normal growth and the contract and maintenance service line item at 3.8% is actually relatively small dollars.
Recreation Administration shows a new request for online registration in the amount of $2,190. There was a fairly lengthy discussion on this item covering: would it help with the staff shortage in that office, who would pick up the cost of offering the credit card option, current fees for programs, etc. Kay Woodford, Director of Recreation and Leisure Services, stated she continually struggles to keep fees reasonable and would not want to put the whole burden (of the credit card issue) on the residents. One of the biggest problems is people registering for wrong dates, missing deadlines, etc. and then processing refunds. Part time assistance in that office is paid from the program fees and she believes office assistance for her office should be paid from the General Fund. Town Manager Smith agreed with
that assessment but noted the town needs resources to be able to do that.
Senior Citizen Activities also showed a significant change in the temp/part-time/O.T. account due to grant fall off. There are five staff members in this department, including a Transportation Coordinator, Senior Center Program Coordinator, Administrative Assistant, Senior Van Driver and Congregate Mean Preparer. Senior Services operates two handicapped accessible vehicles for transporting seniors to Senior Center Events, shopping trips, cultural events, and medical appointments for wheelchair bound riders. The overall increase in this portion of the budget is 15.7%, however, here again the actual dollars are small.
Community Support covers the Memorial Day Parade, the Road Race, and Community Special Events and remained flat at $2,600
Review of Libraries, Recreation, and Social Services concluded at 6:57 p.m. and no changes were made at this time.
Selectman King began 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.
There were no significant changes in Public Works Administration. Salary increases are accounted for in contingency and the increase of $400.00 in services and supplies reflects more of the actual costs.
General Maintenance shows a revenue of $2,700 which comes from snow plowing and grading; signs are mandated to be completed by 2008; products containing asphalt have all increased due to increases in oil; and the increase for salt is because more salt than sand is being used to treat the roads.
Solid Waste and Recycling showed significant changes in tip fees for town and schools because of an additional dumpster at one of the schools. Revenues of $95,000 are from fees collected at the drop site and also a feed of $50,000 (for 2 years) from the Enron CRRA Settlement.
Significant changes for Equipment Maintenance were an increase of $4,958 in the diesel fuel account. Contract and maintenance service remained the same.
Street Lights and Signalization realized a reduction of $500 because an audit of lights in the town was performed. Planning and Engineering Services are basically covering contract services for the IWWC consultant and the town engineer.
Discussion during the review of Building Maintenance and Town Grounds covered the significant changes in fuel oil and electricity. Also savings were realized in carpet cleaning because Public Works is doing this themselves rather than contracting it out, and in the water account because less irrigation is being done. The increase for building repairs is for work to be done at Cossitt Library.
Review of Public Works and Environment concluded at 7:25 p.m. and no changes were made at this time.
The Revenue Section of the budget includes Property Taxes; Intergovernmental Revenues; and Local Revenues and Fund Transfers. Discussion on this section of the budget was lead by Town Manager Smith and covered all revenue from Education Grants to Municipal Revenues and Local Revenues and Fund Transfers. Mr. Smith did note that some of the local revenues are down from previous years.
Review of Revenues concluded at 7:45 p.m.
Discussion followed on the Governor’s Budget and the significant increase in ECS funds and how to handle the vote on the town budget in April if there were significant changes.
The meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
William F. Smith, Jr.
Town Manager
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