Board of Selectmen Budget Workshop March 10, 2014-Approved

TOWN OF SIMSBURY – BOARD OF SELECTMENT BUDGET WORKSHOP
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES – MARCH 10, 2014

CALL TO ORDER

Ms. Glassman called the Special Meeting of the Board of Selectmen to order at 5:35PM on Monday, March 10, 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 Captain Nick Boulter, Police Department, Thomas Cooke, Director of Administrative Services, Chief Peter Ingvertsen, Police Department, Sean Kimball, Interim Finance Director, Hiram Peck, Planning Director, Thomas Roy, Public Works Director, Jeff Shea, Town Engineer, Gerry Toner, Recreation Director and other interested parties.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Everyone stood for the Pledge of Allegiance

PUBLIC AUDIENCE

Ms. Joan Coe, 26 Whitcomb Drive, voiced her concern, as a taxpayer, that the Board should not be including Main Street Partnership, a private organization, in the Town budget.  Ms. Coe believes that the money that was requested for Main Street Partnership should be allocated to a new police officer and a part-time records clerk for the Town of Simsbury.  She believes that a police officer is much more important than other items on the “Wish List” such as Books on Bike and additional funds for the Economic Development.  Ms. Coe believes that the administrator of the budget for Simsbury Farms should be held accountable for the $225,000 shortfall in funds.  She believes that the taxpayers of Simsbury should not have to subsidize the golf course that is used by more non-residents than residents.  

Mr. Robert Kalechman, 971 Hopmeadow Street, distributed a handout to Board members illustrating some of the budget items discussed in prior budget meetings.  Mr. Kalechman stated that is he concerned about the budget and that the Town has conducted too many studies.  He believes that too much is spent on leaf collection for Town residents and that this program should be ended.  Mr. Kalechman believes the most important item to add to the budget is an additional police officer for the Town of Simsbury.

OVERVIEW OF BUDGET

Ms. Glassman reviewed the items that are not in the budget:

• Bike program for the Library
• Zoning Regulations

Ms. Glassman noted items that are in the budget:

• Economic Development Task Force and marketing study
• $12,000 leaf collection

Ms. Glassman noted that an additional police officer is being proposed.

Ms. Glassman discussed the number of items the Board wanted to look at again and come back with some funding levels.  She also noted that the Board of Selectmen would like to stay at the $1.98% budget and discuss with the Board of Finance on Wednesday on having the Board of Education contribute to the officer position.

Ms. Glassman reminded the Board that the budget before them does include the full time police officer.

Mr. Kimball distributed a handout that notes the following items that have been restored to the budget:

• Police Records Clerk:  $9,500 for a part time position to start January 1, 2015 (includes $2,000 from advertising budget center admin)
• Custodian/Driver – DPW:  $20,000 to begin full time January 1, 2015
• Main Street:  Increase contribution to Main Street Partnership by $5,000
• Communications Specialist:  Increased by $2,500
• Economic Development Commission:  Increased by $5,000

This totals $42,000 with a $2,000 offset.

Ms. Glassman noted that the Town is only going to advertise the position and candidates can refer back to the Town website, where the full job description will be listed, to cut the cost of advertising.  This brings the advertising budget down to $5,000.

Mr. Brendon Walsh, Chairman of Police Commission, noted that the Police Department has been down a Records Clerk position for six months and this has caused challenges in providing the necessary documentation to customers, i.e. courts, in a timely manner.

REVIEW OF WISH LIST ITEMS

Mr. Kimball reviewed the changes from the “Wish List” items and how these will change the budget.  He stated that with all the changes, and no contributions from the Board of Education, the budget would be a 2.2%.

Ms. Glassman noted that she will be reporting to the Board of Finance on Wednesday as to where the Board of Selectmen are and what the new budget items include and not include.  She noted that the Board of Selectmen should be ready to vote at their next meeting on Monday, March 24, 2014.

RECOMMENDED 1.5% TOWN BUDGET WITH CHANGES

Ms. Glassman stated that the Board has come in close to a 1.5% budget at 1.98%.  The Board stated that they are all comfortable presenting the 1.98% to the Board of Finance.

Mr. Paine asked Mr. Kimball if the Board of Selectmen had to reduce the budget to the 1% or .5%, what would the deduction be.

Mr. Kimball stated the following:

• To reach a 1% budget, a reduction of approximately $185,000 would be needed
• To reach a .5% budget, a reduction of approximately $275,000 would be needed

OTHER POSSIBLE CHANGE TO RECOMMENDED BUDGET

Ms. Glassman noted some changes to the Capital Project that were requested from the Board to staff members.

Mr. Jeff Shea reviewed some of the changes to his budget:

• Alternative Energy Efficiency– Electric Car and charging station have been removed from the project which results in a reduction from $140,000 to $103,000.  Ms. Glassman noted that there may be some grants that the Town can apply for to fund this.
• Trails project – Some additional trail maintenance work needs to be done on the Town Forest Farmington River trail which includes West Mountain Road in the Town Forest area.  Mr. Shea stated that some modification needs to be made to the master plan for the Tarrifville Park and Simsbury Meadows.  The money saved from the Alternative Energy Efficiency project can be placed into this project to cover the expenses for the design study and construction.

Mr. Thomas Roy stated that some changes that occurred in the state will allow municipalities to have net metering on Town property which could offset the electric use at Town Hall.  The Town would have a third party company build and operate a solar farm.  The Town would purchase their electricity, through the third party with a 15 or 20 year contract, at a reduced rate from what the Town is currently paying.  Other than the engineering work, there would be no cost to the Town in terms of the actual solar installation.

Mr. Roy also noted that there have been computer upgrades to the computer controls at Eno Memorial which will improve occupant comfort and energy efficiency.

Ms. Glassman confirmed with Mr. Roy that with the work being done at the Highway Garage, gas will soon be available that will allow the Town to access at a lower cost.

Ms. Glassman also stated that it was requested to look at upgrading the Tarrifville Park area, which is not scheduled for funding at this time.  Ms. Glassman would like to study how the Park is being used before asking for funding from the Board.

REDUCTION TO 1% BUDGET

To be considered after meeting with Board of Finance.

REDUCTION TO .5% BUDGET

To be considered after meeting with the Board of Finance.

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

Ms. Glassman requested that Board members review the Capital Non-Recurring plan list of changes for their next meeting.

Ms. Glassman stated that the Board is comfortable with the 1.98% budget and will post it on the website and allow the Board to review.  There will be an additional presentation on March 24, 2014 after feedback from the Board of Finance.

ADJOURN

Mr. Askham made a motion to adjourn the March 10, 2014 Special Meeting of the Board of Selectmen Budget Workshop at 6:27PM.  The motion was seconded by Ms. Heavner and was unanimously approved.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary A. Glassman, First Selectman