Simsbury, CT - BOS Budget Workshop

The meeting was called to order at 6:08 p.m. Present were First Selectman Anita Mielert, John Romano, Madeleine Gilkey and Thomas Vincent. Also present were: Kevin Kane, Finance Director, Paul Fetherston, Assistant to the First Selectman, Gerard Toner, Director of Culture, Parks & Recreation, William Voelker, Director of Community Planning & Development, Tom Horan and Jerry Lintner, Main Street Partnership, William Sweeney and Ron Eisen, EDC, and other interested parties.

Joan Coe, 26 Whitcomb Drive, expressed concern with the Town subsidizing the Simsbury Farms Special Revenue Fund. She questioned the EDC budget and suggested that the Main Street program should not be an integral part of the budget. Ms. Coe questioned the accomplishments of the EDC’s marketing consultant and noted that the two large landowners in town will do projects whenever they want to. Ms. Coe suggested that funds should not be allocated to the library renovation when the plan may not move forward for 5 years. She suggested that funding should be requested on a case by case basis for projects, based on the current financial situation of the Town.

Mr. Toner stated that the proposed Culture, Parks & Recreation budget has an increase of 3.88%. He stated that this increase is driven by union contracts, the minimum wage law and utility costs. He noted that the cost for agricultural supplies has increased and the number of athletic fields will be increased. Mr. Vincent suggested that the Town should be reimbursed by the BOE for the cost to locate fields along Iron Horse Boulevard.

Mr. Toner stated that this fund is entering its fourth year and the Town subsidy continues to decrease each year. He stated that the fund’s CNR obligations will be paid through revenue enhancements and reductions in programs and services. Mr. Toner reviewed the staff reductions. He stated that fees for programs and services are expected to increase and the Town is negotiating for a higher percentage for programs run through their department. Mr. Toner stated that he hopes the fund will be self-sustaining in a year. He noted that this year there was a reduction in revenues due to the weather.

Ms. Mielert noted that the Culture, Parks & Recreation Department has six items included in the CNR budget. She stated that the trap rake and copier will be paid from the Town’s budget and the remaining four items will be paid through the Simsbury Farms Special Revenue Fund.

Ms. Mielert noted that the Culture, Parks & Recreation Department has no capital projects budgeted for next year. Mr. Vincent suggested that the BOS group the CIP projects in two year increments, based on the funding from the BOF. He stated that he wants to make sure the BOS has access to the $13 million available. Ms. Mielert stated that she does not recall an agreement with the BOS, BOE and BOF to only do CIP projects every 2 years.

Mr. Vincent noted that a grounds vehicle, requested by the Recreation Department, was eliminated from the BOE budget last year. He pointed out that the agreement for the Town to take over the maintenance of the BOE athletic fields is based on the BOE supplying the equipment. He stated that the grounds vehicle should be included in this year’s BOE budget.

Ms. Mielert stated that this budget is increasing by .96%. She noted that the funding for support services has decreased. Mr. Voelker stated that these funds are available to the land use commissions to hire consultants. Mr. Romano requested an overview of the $75,000 requested for the Plan of Development. Mr. Voelker stated that the Town does not have the necessary resources and experts will be hired to study areas which the commissions want evaluated. He stated that a principal consultant would do the Plan of Development and possibly special studies would be done within to evaluate the Town’s land use policies. Ms. Gilkey questioned whether the Planning Commission has requested this funding. Mr. Voelker stated that the funding is based on his recommendation and the Planning Commission Chairman agrees with this funding request.

Mr. Sweeney, EDC Chairman, presented a revised EDC budget with a new initiative “Simsbury Means Business” (Addendum 1). Ms. Mielert questioned whether the new initiative has been cross-referenced with the Strategic Plan for Economic Development. Mr. Sweeney stated that the proposed plan has not been matched to the Strategic Plan and he questioned what results the Town has had from the Strategic Plan. Ms. Mielert reviewed the Strategic Plan matrix and noted that 80% of economic development comes from within the community.

Mr. Sweeney expressed his concern that the EDC has not been proactive and they want to change that fact, which is dependent upon how much funding they receive. Ms. Mielert noted that funding is tight and suggested that this is not the time to change programs. She pointed out that the budget was due February 15th and if the EDC wants a $20,000 increase in their budget it needs to be taken from elsewhere in the Town’s budget.

Ms. Gilkey questioned whether this new proposal is similar to what Bartram & Cochran does now. Mr. Eisen stated that this proposal could eliminate the need for Bartram & Cochran if the public relations and advertising portions of the budget are funded. Ms. Mielert questioned whether this proposal has the consensus of the EDC. Mr. Sweeney stated he has consensus from the majority of members, but the EDC has not voted on the proposal.

Jerry Lintner reviewed the Main Street Executive Summary and matching grant information (Addendum 4). Mr. Sweeney questioned the Skate Park donations and mum sales being counted as Main Street revenues towards the matching grant. Mr. Lintner stated that Main Street is a public/private partnership and in order to work on these projects Main Street needs to count them against the matching grant.

Ms. Gilkey noted that a document from the National Main Street organization suggested that fund-raisers should be held to support Main Street. Mr. Lintner stated that the membership drive is their fundraising activity. He pointed out that Main Street is not designed to be exclusive of municipal financial support, it is a requirement of the program. Ms. Gilkey expressed her concern that Main Street has not earned the $40,000 matching grant that the BOS has been providing to Main Street over each of the last five years. Mr. Lintner questioned why the Skate Park and heart defibrillator projects are now being questioned as part of the matching grant when the Town had agreed to include these types of items. Ms. Mielert stated that the Town had agreed to include these items towards the matching grant. She noted receipt of letters in support of the Main Street Partnership.

Jewel Gutman, member of the Main Street Partnership Board and the Chamber of Commerce Board, stated that Main Street has played a significant role in keeping the charm and businesses in town. She requested that the Town continue to support Main Street.

John Lavery, town center business owner, stated that he was never approached by the EDC. He suggested that an anchor retail store is needed in the center of town. He stated that Main Street is the only organization to show concern for his business. Mr. Lavery stated that the EDC is not interested in small businesses. He noted that the Charette demonstrated that residents want more retail business in town. He requested that the BOS not reduce the Main Street budget any further, as it is minimal at best.

Mr. Horan expressed his concern that some members of the EDC don’t feel that Main Street is economic development. Ms. Gilkey stated that in other towns that have Main Street programs the town centers need revival due to vacant buildings. Mr. Lavery noted that Drake Hill Mall had been vacant.

Joyce Howard, Tourism Committee Co-Chairman, stated that the feedback the Tourism Committee has received is that the town center is an important part of tourism in Simsbury. She noted that businesses are flourishing in town center and all of these businesses are taxpayers. She pointed out the work that Mr. Lintner did to assist with the development of the Visitor’s Center sign which the Tourism Committee could not have afforded to have done by an outside firm.

Ms. Gilkey stated that she and Mr. Mandell feel that Main Street has to take more ownership of their program. Mr. Horan pointed out that 50 of the 70 businesses in town center are members of Main Street, and Main Street has 200 members overall. Ms. Mielert stated that the Town has a responsibility to support Main Street, noting that there are government buildings, public areas and rights of ways in the center of town. Ms. Gilkey questioned which is the most expedient item in the EDC’s budget. Mr. Sweeney stated that it is advertising. Mr. Vincent received clarification that the EDC is requesting a $133,000 budget which includes $35,000 of funding for Main Street.

Mr. Vincent questioned whether the $75,000 appropriation for the Plan of Development would be a one time fee or whether additional funds will be requested in the future. Mr. Voelker stated that these funds would be used mostly for the Plan of Development and rewriting the Zoning Regulations with regard to the Plan of Development. He stated that discussion regarding the Zoning Regulations will take place next year.