April 27, 2009

6:30 P.M.

Borough Firehouse

A budget public hearing was held with the Board of Warden and Burgesses was held on April 27, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. at the Firehouse. Present were: Warden Donald Maranell, Burgesses Scott Bates, Sarah Blair, Kathryn Burchenal, Jeffrey Callahan, Edward McCreary, and Robert Scala. Also present was Administrative Assistant Barbara Perry. Clerk-Treasurer Frederick Souza was absent. Approximately 35 residents were present.

Warden Maranell called the public hearing to order at 6:35 P.M.

Burgess Bates, as Emergency Management Commissioner, gave an update on the Swine Flu. He has been in contact with the Police Department and reported that Stage 1 was to supply the Police Department with masks, as they are often the first responders. Pamphlets are available electronically through the CDC website.

Warden Maranell noted that the goal was to cut the proposed budget by 7%, or $70,000.00. The budget could be approached line by line or by specific suggestions. He opened the hearing for public comment.

Archie Leslie of School Street asked if the Board had ideas for the proposed cuts, or should the handout list distributed by Juan O’Callahan be addressed.

Betty Richards of School Street felt that going through the budget line by line would make for a long meeting, and that they should use the handout list as a discussion starting point.

Juan O’Callahan of Salt Acres Road outlined his suggestions for potential budget reductions. Examples included reductions in Professional Services, contributions to the SE CT Council of Governments, CT Conference of Municipalities, P&Z Books, P&Z Professional Legal, P&Z Professional Engineer, Firehouse Maintenance and Training, Garage/Hall Oil, Garage/Hall Repair, Street Department Equipment, Snow Removal, Raise for Street Commissioner, Parks & Tree Plan, Contingency, and Deposit to Cannon Square Fund.

Betty Richards also gave a handout to the Board and read it to those assembled. She felt they should always consider the value, not the cost of the product. She did not believe the Borough budget, this year or last year, represents value. She contended that the number one priority is the streets to be clean and well maintained. She did not feel alone in believing that this is not what exists. A positive correlation between costs assigned to Borough streets and the condition of the streets does not exist. The streets are in the worst condition that she can remember since moving to the Borough in 1961. She felt that the Board’s response, that if the residents want better street maintenance and repair that they would have to pay for it, is the wrong approach. She felt the goal of the Board should be to assure that, at a minimum, streets are maintained and repaired to a comparable standard found in the Town of Stonington. Leaves from autumn and empty bottles and trash should not remain on the streets until Spring. Potholes should not be an ongoing hazard creating expensive repairs to one’s cars. And the annual capital improvement program should be implemented rather than treated as a wishbook. She challenged the board to consider the budget from a new perspective. She felt Borough labor costs and benefits were higher than those of the Town. She felt winter hours could be reduced since overtime for snow plowing is a regular line item in the budget. She questioned whether consultants’ fees for streets were excessive, and is it appropriate for the street commissioner to be the only board member to receive compensation, and this year, an increase in salary? She felt that the P&Z and ZBA budgets could be trimmed to less than the 2007/2008 actual expenses, and that line items for Books and Training have no place in austerity years. She also handed out copies of a newspaper article about Borough governments.

Jim Quinn of Tanner Court asked if the Board had received bids or quotes for Workmen’s Compensation, Health Insurance, Professional Services, and work on the cannons.

Warden Maranell noted that the Workmen’s Compensation policy is through CIRMA, that health insurance plans were reviewed last year comparing about 8 different plans through several companies, and the professional services line was comprised of several sources (engineering, legal services, and catch basin work, to name a few). Bids were solicited for the Cannon Restoration project. SE CT Council of Government and CCM were membership dues, not donations. CCM has been invaluable as lobbyists. Warden Maranell noted that the Snow Removal budget line was not labor charges, but for the materials used. While the new mix is more expensive than the traditional sand/salt mix, we use less, and the cleanup is quicker. It might also mean cleaning the catch basins every other year, rather than yearly. We have no choice as to the mix we use, as we use the Town’s supply. If we didn’t, we would have to come up with a place to store the materials or drive further to a different location for a truckload at a time, which would not be practical or cost effective. Snow removal supplies had never had a separate budget line in the past, and costs were absorbed into street repairs lines.

Burgess Bates thanked Juan O’Callahan and Betty Richards for their thoughtful consideration of the budget. The budget should be put to the test every budget season. Speaking on the value of Borough government, the Borough is 10% of the Town. Having a Borough provides extra attention at the local level for our parks and institutions. We can govern ourselves at an accountable level.

Jim Quinn questioned the interest of the two loan payments, and the interest of our CDs. Administrative Assistant Barbara Perry noted the Bank of America loan was at 3.9%, but was not positive of the People’s Bank interest rate off the top of her head. She noted, however, that it did have a higher interest rate than Bank of America, because when an additional principal payment was made two years ago, it went towards the People’s Bank loan as it was higher. Warden Maranell noted that the Clerk-Treasurer would be the one to report on the CD interest rates, but that he was absent.

Jesse Diggs of School Street questioned the rental of the hydrants and pipes budget line. Warden Maranell noted that these payments are made to Aquarion Water Company, as they own the hydrants and pipes and we therefore pay rental fees. Municipalities that own their own system would not do so.

Joell Kunath of Wall Street questioned what the Length of Service Awards Program was. Warden Maranell stated that it was an incentive program for the volunteer firefighters who would receive a monthly checks upon entitlement age of 65, based on the number of years of active service. Burgess Scala noted the importance of our volunteer firefighters.

Lucia Johnstone of Broad Street questioned the Cannon Fund and what was the contribution of SVIA. Warden Maranell noted the proposed budget showed anticipated revenue and expenditures.

Betty Richards wondered whether we had received any funds from SVIA. Warden Maranell noted that we had received some funds already to cover expenses.

Mary Thacher of Gold Street questioned if the Cannon Fund could be used for the square as well, or only the cannons. Warden Maranell responded that it could be used for any part of Cannon Square, and that there would be more public discussions regarding the project in the future.

Jesse Diggs questioned whether the Administrative Assistant and Professional Services line might be combined. Warden Maranell noted that the Administrative Assistant was an employee and the Professional Services line was used for outside professional services.

Juan O’Callahan asked for further clarification on the engineer. Does that come out the road project? Warden Maranell noted that the engineer fees come from the professional services line along with the lawyer’s fees. That line could be reduced if there were no street project.

Burgess Callahan noted that experience and previous budgets had been used in determining the proposed budget.

Joe Larkin of Elm Street asked what budget lines 202 and 203 were used for. Administrative Assistant Barbara Perry reported that line 202, printing, was used for printing costs of the zoning regulations, and that line 203, books and training, was used to supply regulation books to new P&Z Commission members as well as training.

Jesse Diggs asked if the Zoning Officer’s salary was relational to that of a part-time employee, and asked how many hours he worked. Administrative Assistant Perry reported that he worked 4 office hours per week, plus time for off site inspections.

Norma Jones noted that she had previously served as head of Planning & Zoning, and felt the Zoning Officer’s salary should be adjusted.

Betty Richards noted the Zoning Officer’s hours had been cut; that he had also previously had Saturday office hours, and who knows how much time he works. She felt the Board should look at the P&Z budget, and that it was time for the Plan of Conservation and Development and zoning regulations to be reviewed.

Dorothea Moore of Main Street also served on P&Z, and supported suggestions to look at P&Z and ZBA budget lines.

Betty Richards commented that if things could be changed on the budget during the last 3 months that it didn’t really matter what figures were used.

Burgess Scala noted that the budget was a road map. Warden Maranell noted the Borough operates using standard accounting practices, the same as the Town, and is held to the bottom line number of the budget.

Kevin Bowdler of Gold Street noted that the meeting should be put in perspective. He gave his thanks to the Board for their great achievement at bringing the proposed budget under last year’s budget.

Betty Richards urged the Board to improve the quality of the roads and School Street. She would like to see the streets get better and to see the School Street project done.

Burgess Bates noted that the engineer had been used in the Trumbull Street project and asked Archie Leslie to comment.

Archie Leslie noted that the cost of an engineer was critical; the process of putting the project out to bid is extensive.

Burgess Bates noted the residents’ information was solicited so that the pitch of the road and sidewalks would not flood basements, and that much consideration was put into the project.

Burgess McCreary noted that the Board had a backlog of road work to be done, and that the Borough needs a long range plan.

Warden Maranell noted that the Board is in the process of getting such a plan with expenses to come from this year’s professional services line. He also noted the possibility of borrowing for road improvements.

Betty Richards commented that the schedule should be taken very seriously and when considered should include School Street.

Archie Leslie noted that while asking that the budget be reduced, that nothing had been said about reducing the deposit to the street fund.

Joe Larkin commented that Borough residents pay 15 mills to the Town, and they also pay for a Borough street department which can’t hold a candle to the Town’s street department, and that although we pay 15 mills to the Town, we don’t get their services.

Warden Maranell noted that we get reimbursement from the Town for our roads.

Archie Leslie questioned whether the Borough should contract out to the Town. Warden Maranell reported that the Town didn’t have the equipment for our streets and would not be interested.

Norma Jones felt that the Board should take turns and oversee the departments.

Warden Maranell noted that Burgess Blair works with the Highway Department on a regular basis.

Burgess Bates noted that he had been on the highway truck during brush pickup, and that Warden Maranell has done the same.

Warden Maranell noted that has ridden with the department on several occasions, done brush pickup, installed speed bumps, and been present for potentially controversial or sensitive issues.

With no further comments, on a motion by Burgess Bates, and second by Burgess Burchenal, the public hearing was adjourned at 7:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Barbara J. Perry

Administrative Assistant