These minutes are for informational purposes only. For official minutes contact either the Town Clerk's office or the First Selectman's office.

Budget Workshop

March 1, 2000

1. CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order at 6:03 p.m. Present were First Selectman Anita Mielert, Deputy First Selectman Joel Mandell, William Garrity, John Romano and Thomas Vincent. Madeleine Gilkey arrived at 6:13 p.m. Also present were: Kevin Kane, Finance Director, Paul Fetherston, Assistant to the First Selectman, and other interested parties.

2. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION

David Ryan, Co-Chairman of the EDC, distributed and discussed a review of the EDC's budget. He noted that the EDC encumbered $22,000 from last year for the marketing consultant. Jeff Blumenthal, Co-Chairman of the EDC, discussed the objectives of the EDC. He stated that the marketing consultant, MBIA Bartram & Cochran, has produced a marketing plan which defines the type of businesses they want to attract. He noted that quarterly the consultant provides an evaluation of available commercial land.

He stated that they anticipate an 18-24 month process for attracting businesses. Mr. Blumenthal stated that the EDC would like to encumber funds to pay for their proposed business roundtable and to increase the consultant's time to visit existing businesses to determine what they need to begin developing in town.

Mr. Romano questioned how Main Street is involved in the EDC's objectives. Mr. Blumenthal stated that the Strategic Plan focuses on maintaining existing businesses and the businesses located between the 2 banks on Hopmeadow Street are delegated to Main Street.

3. MAIN STREET PARTNERSHIP

Jerry Lintner, Director of Main Street, stated that Main Street's objective is to preserve historic centers. He presented information on the Main Street membership and their activities (Addendum 1). Mr. Garrity questioned the vacancy rate in the area covered by Main Street. Mr. Lintner stated that currently there is a vacancy above the Wilcox Grill, but otherwise space on Hopmeadow Street is hard to find. He noted that prior to Main Street it was a different situation.

Mr. Mandell questioned whether the merchants are comfortable with the Main Street budget.

John Lavery, Finula's, stated that Main Street supports local businesses better than any other organization. He stated that due to the public awareness of Main Street and their efforts there is a better vibrancy in the stores and the merchants are very cooperative with the Main Street programs.

Tom Horan, Horan's Flower Shop, stated that he is comfortable with the budget but would like to see a part-time person to help Mr. Lintner with the office work. Mr. Mandell stated that he would prefer that the business community provide funding for a part-time office worker.

Mr. Romano stated that he hoped that Main Street would provide more incentive to shop downtown. Mr. Lintner pointed out that they are limited by their small budget. Ms. Gilkey suggested that Main Street encourage newspapers to spotlight businesses for free. Mr. Horan noted that Simsbury Life has done features on businesses in town. Mr. Lavery stated that the newspapers want advertising revenue in return. Mr. Lintner noted that typically events sponsored by Main Street are covered in the newspapers after the event has taken place.

Ms. Mielert encouraged the Main Street membership to contribute funding and their time. Wayne Bursey, President of Main Street, stated that they work at increasing awareness of Main Street. Mr. Romano requested that the BOS be provided with monthly input on Main Street's activities.

Ferg Jansen stated that right now the shops are stronger in the center and the proposed improvements in the center will draw additional things into town. He encouraged the BOS to continue to support Main Street.

4. PUBLIC SAFETY

Chief Ingvertsen stated that professional and technical services has decreased because they will no longer be paying UCONN paramedics $20,000. He stated that there is an increase in the purchase of property which involves maintenance and service contracts on their equipment which has become more technical. Chief Ingvertsen stated that the community policing budget was increased from $6,000 to $9,000 and will allow them to provide programs such as youth bike day, police week, the senior citizen picnic and a pedestrian safety program. He briefly reviewed the results of the surveys which have been received thus far.

Chief Ingvertsen stated that he proposed the elimination of the 2 part-time dispatcher positions and the addition of 1 full-time dispatcher. Ms. Mielert noted that this would cause a budget increase of $110, and they would hope to eliminate some overtime resulting from assigning police officers to dispatch. She stated that the $8,000 in medical benefits would be funded with $4,800 in savings from the estimated medical benefit costs and an increase in the BOS budget to 3.99%.

Mr. Kane distributed a list of proposed budget changes (Addendum 2). Mr. Mandell questioned whether Chief Ingvertsen has other budget items he would like changed. Chief Ingvertsen stated that he plans to work within the confines of what they have. He noted that they currently have 1 new officer in field training and another officer who was assigned to a desk and will now be out on the street. He stated that once these officers are on the street he can determine whether they need more officers.

Captain Sevetz stated that $100,000 of capital funding was requested for the purchase of 4 patrol cars. He stated that this was reduced to $91,800 and due to the discount from Wagner they will be able to purchase 4 cars. He noted that they have not yet been able to trade in their cars at 70,000-72,000 as they planned, but Chief Ingvertsen has suggested assigning cars to districts to reduce the mileage and hopefully they will have lower trade in mileage in the future. Captain Sevetz stated that they use the residual value of the patrol cars for unmarked and administrative vehicles. He noted that they have 8 patrol cars and want to replace half of them each year.

Ed Simpson, Police Commissioner, stated that the Police Commission requested 3 new officers because they are concerned that if officers retire it takes close to a year for a new officer to be out on the street and this causes an overtime situation. He requested that the Police Department have the ability to recruit a new officer if they know an officer will retire in 3 months.

Chief Ingvertsen stated that they will be over their overtime budget this year because they only have $9,000 left to carry them until July. He addressed the Civil Preparedness budget and stated that 40 cots were purchased this year in case they need to set up shelters. Chief Ingvertsen noted the Animal Control Officer's budget and stated that her request for a new vehicle was not granted.

Chief Ingvertsen discussed the position of Corporal in the Police Department. He stated that he has reached an agreement with the union to reinstate the Corporal position.

Mr. Garrity moved to reinstate the Corporal rank to the Simsbury Police Department. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mandell and carried unanimously.

5. GENERAL GOVERNMENT

Ms. Mielert explained that the Teen Center was not funded because they are not in the current budget. She stated that she has cut some items from her budget, which are listed in Mr. Kane's memo, to fund the Teen Center at $8,000. Mr. Romano requested that the Teen Center provide financial information on how these funds are spent. Ms. Mielert stated that Ms. Lecours-Beck is working with Carla Levinstein and is encouraging the Teen Center to do more fundraising from parents.

Ms. Mielert addressed the BOS wish list for the budget. She stated that the EDC will receive their $3,000 through encumbrances. She stated that she is not comfortable with increasing the Tourism budget by $500 without a specific project in place.

Mr. Vincent expressed his concern with the agreed upon sewer treatment overtime. He noted that this is an increase of 46% or $48,000. He suggested that during the next contract negotiations this item be addressed. Mr. Vincent requested a report on how the Police Department's overtime is spent. Mr. Sawitzke noted that employees at the Sewer Treatment Plant must come in on Saturday and Sunday for testing.

Mr. Garrity moved to adopt the 2000/2001 BOS Budget, the Debt Service Budget, the CNR Budget, the Sewer Use Fund, the Residential Rental Properties Fund, the Landfill Fund, the Dog Fund and the Simsbury Farms/Special Programs Fund. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mandell and carried unanimously.

6. SIX YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN

Mr. Kane addressed his memo regarding the BOF's decision on proposed capital projects (Addendum 3). He stated that the BOF is considering an annual debt service budget of 5%, excluding the high school project. He noted that this will allow $6 million in capital projects over the next 2 years.

Ms. Mielert stated that Dr. Townsley has agreed to eliminate the elementary classroom construction project at a town cost of $822,840, because the project will not be necessary if a new high school is built. She stated that she moved the $100,000 request for sidewalks near Central School out 3 years. Ms. Mielert noted that athletic field improvements was reduced from $175,000 to $150,000. She reviewed the proposed BOS and BOE capital projects (Addendum 4).

Dr. Townsley discussed the BOE capital projects. He stated that the Squadron Line roof is 20 years old and is eligible for reimbursement. He stated that the old Central School boiler is leaning and needs to be converted. Dr. Townsley stated that the computer technology request includes replacing 6 year old computers for grades 5 and 6, upgrading some computers at the high school and providing printers, carts and computer desks. He stated that the Henry James classroom addition Phase II needs to be extended by March 31st in order to maintain the bid they've received. Mr. Garrity questioned whether the Henry James addition would be necessary if a new high school is built. Dr. Townsley responded that the earliest a new high school would be open is 2003/2004, but by that date they will have exceeded their capability at Henry James. He noted that none of the enrollment projections include Meadowood. Dr. Townsley stated that they were able to remove $822,000 of generic elementary classrooms assuming that (1) a new high school is built, and (2) with modules they can manage internally to buy time until a new high school is built.

Mr. Vincent questioned why an irrigation system was not included with the fields at Latimer Lane School. He suggested that it is a waste of money not to irrigate new fields when they are built. Dr. Townsley explained that the Latimer Lane fields were not built as competitive athletic fields. He noted that the Soccer Club is funding an irrigation system for Tootin' Hills School.

Ms. Mielert stated that she urged the BOE to put the computer request in their operating budget, but because of the increase in the BOE budget they declined to do so. She noted that the BOE did eliminate $822,000 from their proposed capital projects.

Ms. Mielert pointed out that none of the proposed projects need to go to referendum.

Mr. Romano moved to send forward the proposed 2000/01 and 2001/02 Capital Improvement Plan to the May 2000 Special Town Meeting. The motion was seconded by Mr. Vincent and carried unanimously.

Mr. Garrity moved to approve the BOE six year Capital Improvement Plan, with the elimination of the elementary classroom construction project in budget year 2001/2002. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mandell and carried unanimously. Mr. Kane noted that the BOS six year Capital Improvement Plan is still split out for 2 years. He stated that he will combine the bonded projects under 1 year.

Mr. Garrity moved to approve the Town of Simsbury six year Capital Improvement Plan. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mandell and carried unanimously.

7. ADJOURNMENT

Mr. Mandell moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:36 p.m. The motion was seconded by Mr. Garrity and carried unanimously.

Approved March 13, 2000