Board of Selectmen Budget Workshop March 1, 2014-Approved
TOWN OF SIMSBURY – BOARD OF SELECTMEN BUDGET WORKSHOP
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES – MARCH 1, 2014
1. Call to Order
First Selectman Mary A. Glassman called the budget workshop of the Board of Selectmen to order on Saturday, March 1, 2014 at 8:05 am in the Main Meeting Room at the Town Offices. The following members were also present: Sean Askham, Cheryl Cook, Nancy Haase, Lisa Heavner, and Michael Paine.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
First Selectman Glassman led the room in the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. Public Audience
There was no comment from the public audience.
4. Overview of Budget
First Selectman Glassman welcomed everyone to the meeting.
5. Discuss:
-Library
Lisa Karim, Director of the Simsbury Public Library, decorated the room with over 500 red paper hearts prior to the presentation. Each heart was written by a visitor with a comment of their favorite thing about the library. Over the past year, the SPL received 254,745 visits with 461,477 materials borrowed. There were 117,676 Internet sessions. All in all, 27,935 people attended 1,010 programs. The SPL is ranked third in Connecticut by the Library Journal Index. Jenna Mayotte has started as the Business Resource Center Coordinator; notary services are now being offered; and the library is active on social media. Ms. Karim stated that the library has had to continually reinvent itself to meet the needs of the community and considers the connections to be more important the collections. The SPL offers Teen Library services as well recognizing that teens need a supervised, safe space and access to technology. Selectman Heavner noted that with the Teen Center now closed, the library is a good place for teens to go.
Ms. Karim stated that the SPL shares services in the region, relies on volunteers, collaborates with other organizations, and partners with schools in order to benefit children and families, students, homeschoolers, artists, seniors, authors, remote community users, local business, and entrepreneurs.
-Public Works
Thomas Roy, Director of Public Works, stated that DPW works to support other departments including Police, Town Hall, Social Services, Parks and Recreation, the Library, and the Board of Education. The DPW processed 2,000 invoices and received over 6,000 calls. Buildings and Grounds are on call 24/7/365 and maintain 165 miles of roadway. They are working on clearing trees away from the roads, starting with the worst offenders. The DPW will attempt to maintain existing services within current funding levels, though Mr. Roy admitted that Buildings and Grounds is understaffed. Mr. Roy stated that it costs $1.2 million per year to maintain roads. The money is used to repave ten miles of road per year.
-Water Pollution Control
Anthony Piazza is the new Superintendent of the Water Pollution Control Authority having previously worked for thirteen years as the chief plant operator for the Bristol WPCA. He stated that the WPCA operates under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The WPCA has eleven employees, nine of which are licensed by CT DEEP.
- Public Safety
Peter Ingvertsen, Chief of the Simsbury Police Department, stated that when the roads are paved, speed increases. Currently there are thirty-six officers involved in the community. In the last year they experienced twice as many medical calls and responded to 600 motor vehicle accidents.
6. Possible Action/Discussion including possible action on previous Budget Workshop items
Selectman Askham asked Chief Ingvertsen which was more important for the budget to fund: an officer or an Information Technology staff member? Chief Ingvertsen responded that an officer would be more important.
7. Adjourn
First Selectman Glassman entertained a motion to adjourn the meeting. Selectman Askham made the motion which was seconded by Selectman Haase and unanimously approved.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:42 am.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary A. Glassman, First Selectman