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Board of Selectmen Budget Workshop March 24, 2014-Approved

Meeting date: 
Monday, March 24, 2014

TOWN OF SIMSBURY – BOARD OF SELECTMEN BUDGET WORKSHOP
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES – MARCH 24, 2014        

CALL TO ORDER

Ms. Glassman called the Special Meeting of the Board of Selectmen to order at 6:00PM on Monday, March 24, 2014.  The meeting was held in the Main Meeting Room of the Simsbury Town Offices located at 933 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT.  In attendance was Mary Glassman, First Selectman as well as the following Board of Selectmen members:  Lisa Heavner, Nancy Haase, Cheryl Cook, Michael Paine and Sean Askham.  Also in attendance were Rick Bazzano, IT Manager, Thomas Cooke, Director of Administrative Services, Sean Kimball, Deputy Director of Administrative Services, Burke LeClair, Board of Education Business Manager, Joseph Mancini, Director of Finance/Treasurer, Hiram Peck, Planning Director, Thomas Roy, Director of Public Works, Jeff Shea, Town Engineer, and other interested parties.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Everyone stood for the Pledge of Allegiance

PUBLIC AUDIENCE

Ms. Joan Coe, 26 Whitcomb Drive, commented on items that she believes should be removed from the 2014-2015 Town budget.  She stated that these items were added to the budget in the final hours and should all have to go to a referendum.

Mr. Robert Kalechman, 971 Hopmeadow Street, voiced his displeasure that there will not be a full-time police officer added to the 2014-2015 budget.  He stated that many items were added to the budget at the cost of the tax payers of Simsbury.

OVERVIEW OF BUDGET AND BOARD OF FINANCE GUIDELINES

Ms. Glassman noted that the Charter requires that the Board of Selectmen forward to the Board of Finance, no later than March 31, 2014, the Board of Selectmen budget as well as the Capital Plan.  Ms. Glassman stated that the budget that was submitted to the Board was a 1.57% increase that included some additions and deletions from what was currently discussed.  The Board of Selectmen had a consensus that there were a number of items to add back to the First Selectmen’s budget and that would bring the Board of Selectmen budget up to 2.2%.

Mr. Kimball reviewed the handout that summarizes all the additions and deletions from the 2014 – 2015 Board of Selectmen budget.  The Board of Selectmen members discussed these items.

Mr. Askham made a motion to approve the Board of Selectmen 2014-2015 Operating Budget in the amount of $18,751,363 with the following changes from the First Selectman’s Proposed Budget as amended by changing Public Agency “Report” to “Support”.  Ms. Haase seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.

  • $9,500 Added to Central Admin Part-Time
  • $2,000 Reduced from Central Admin Advertising
  • $1,160 Reduced from Board of Selectmen Public Agency Support
  • $5,000 Added to Economic Development Public Agency Support
  • $7,000 Reduced from Economic Development Advertising
  • $2,000 Reduced from Tourism Tech and Program Supplies
  • $635 Added to Assessor’s Office Seasonal Payroll
  • $7,000 Added to Community Development Contractual Services
  • $80,735 Added to Police Department Full-Time Payroll
  • $9,500 Added to Police Department Part-Time Payroll
  • $4,641 Added to Police Department Holiday Pay
  • $1,150 Added to Police Department Collective Bargaining
  • $20,000 Added to Buildings and Maintenance Admin Full-Time Payroll
  • $18,000 Reduced from Landfill Facilities Maintenance
  • $7,089 Reduced from Library Children’s Services Full-Time Payroll
  • $2,911 Reduced from Library Children’s Services Part-Time Payroll
  • $18,000 Added to Employee Benefits Social Security/FICA
  • $610 Added to FY2015 Capital and Non-Recurring Chargeback

Ms. Cook made a motion to approve the Water Pollution Control 2014-2015 Operating Budget in the amount of $2,953,372.  Mr. Askham seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.

Mr. Haase made a motion to approve the Residential Rental Properties 2014-2015 Operating Budget in the amount of $48,230.  Ms. Cook seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.

Mr. Paine made a motion to approve the Simsbury Farms Special Revenue Fund 2014-2015 Operating Budget in the amount of $1,914,200.  Ms. Haase seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.

Mr. Paine rescinded his motion to approve the Simsbury Farms Special Revenue Fund 2014-2015 Operating Budget in the amount of $1,914,200.

Ms. Haase rescinded the motion she seconded to approve the Simsbury Farms Special Revenue Fund 2014-2015 Operating Budget in the amount of $1,914,200.

Mr. Paine made a motion to approve the Simsbury Farms Special Revenue Fund 2014-2015 Operating Budget in the amount of $1,877,200.  Ms. Haase seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.

Ms. Heavner made a motion to approve the Capital and Non-Recurring Fund 2014-2015 Budget in the amount of $416,250 to include an appropriation for the Highway-Paving Management in the amount of $155,184 dollars for the LoCip reimbursement grant.  Mr. Paine seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.

Ms. Heavner accepted the friendly amendment to change it to include an “additional” appropriation for the Highway-Paving Management.  Mr. Paine approved.

REVIEW OF PROPOSED CUTS TO ACHIEVE .5% BUDGET

Ms. Glassman reminded the Board that they need to meet the Board of Finance’s obligation that the Board of Selectmen needs to reduce their budget, which was just adopted, to a .5%.  This would require reducing it by $95,245.

Ms. Glassman and the Board members discussed the list of items to be reduced from the 2014-2015 budget.

Ms. Haase made a motion to approve the list of items to be reduced from the 2014-2015 budget with the elimination of the Main Street Partnership offsetting that reduction minus $10,000 against the marketing study.  Ms. Heavner seconded the motion and it was passed 5 to 1 with Mr. Askham opposed.

REVIEW OF CIP

Ms. Glassman stated that the presentation to the Board of Selectmen on the Capital Improvement Plan for the Board of Education has not yet been received.  Ms. Glassman noted that the only information the Board of Selectmen has is the Town’s Capital Plans.

POSSIBLE ACTION/DISCUSSION INCLUDING POSSIBLE ACTION ON PREVIOUS BUDGET WORKSHOP ITEMS

Ms. Glassman noted that the Board of Selectmen have not yet completed their Capital Improvement Plan but it will be on the regular agenda.

ADJOURN

Ms. Haase made a motion to adjourn the March 24, 2014 Special Meeting of the Board of Selectmen Budget Workshop at 7:05PM.  The motion was seconded by Ms. Cook and was unanimously approved.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary A. Glassman
First Selectman