Minutes

Mayor Hogan called the regular meeting to order at 7:03 PM.

ROLL CALL - PRESENT- Mayor Hogan, Deputy Mayor Curtis, Council member Graff, Council member Haverstock, Council member Lydecker, Council member Pacino, Council member Ploszaj (arrived at 7:16 PM), and Council member Trinks

1. PUBLIC COMMENT

None.

2. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS

Council member Graff - noted a correction in the recent memo from Town Manager Churchill regarding the vans that were purchased, one was purchased by donations to the police explorers and the other was from the general fund.

3. BOARD OF EDUCATION

Betsy Kenneson and Dr. Silverman were present and gave an overview.

Council member Graff questioned a new position - IT Director - and asked if this was the position proposed to be shared with the town. Dr. Silverman said it is; the budgeted amount is $90,000.

Council member Lydecker asked about programs for the gifted students and Dr. Silverman discussed the Gifted and Talented Programs which is in every school at this time.

Council member Trinks asked if the 2 teachers that were not proposed in the budget but were considered were in special area positions. Council member Trinks asked about the collective bargaining units, Dr. Silverman said there is another year on all the contracts and he does not expect any to be reopened.

Council member Haverstock inquired as to the impacts on the Board and the school system regarding the cuts in prior years. Ms. Kenneson said they have made steady gains but they are barely at the point of where they were when the cuts first occurred. She noted maintenance and capital improvements were not kept up with during the early part of the decade. Dr. Silverman said he thinks the present and previous Boards wisely used funds where they could have the most effect on students. The areas most in need are in middle management. Custodial services are not maintained, each custodian is responsible for 28,000 square feet and the national recommended amount is 18,000 which puts a tremendous strain on their ability to maintain clean schools. Also materials, equipment and supplies have not been adequately kept up.

Council member Pacino asked if, when factoring the budget through the benefits account, it was done the same as last year. Dr. Silverman said it was done differently this year. Last year negotiations were being completed with collective bargaining units, this year the bargaining units are not in that situation, and the budgeting has been done on much more accurate projections this year than last year. Council member Pacino discussed the reliance of $141,000 for the tobacco settlement and asked if the state was to cut that back if it would have a drastic effect on the BOE budget. Dr. Silverman noted that that money will be going to the general fund, and that it does not effect the Board’s budget but it does affect revenue.

Ms. Kenneson said on Monday, 4/26/99, the BOE will be engaged in interviews for the principal position.

4. INFORMATION SERVICES

Town Clerk Quin said the 1999 budget is expected to come in on target.

The budget for FY00 is decreasing.

Nicole LaFortune said information services is continuing to make the information on the website practical for the visitor. On line job applications have been receiving a lot of use lately, building permits and recreation forms are being put on the internet. Minutes are also being placed on the internet.

5. ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

Julian Fruend gave an overview and noted there is a vacancy shown - Assistant Town Manager.

There is propsal .5 MIS position at $36,000 in information technology.

Council member Graff proposed to increase the accounting portion of the budget by $50,000 to provide the money to pay for consulting services; and under information technology section he proposed to cut the $36,000 for the shared position until after the education summit and to determine the role of the shared position and its accountability.

6. GENERAL GOVERNMENT

Donald Cunningham gave each council member a worksheet for the basis of final budget session Monday night.

General Government’s accounts do not have major changes - town council remains the same as does boards and commissions and probate court. Elections has increased $9,000, noting the election in November. Council member Graff proposed increases for raises for the clerk of the Town Council and for electors registrars, he noted that no increase has been made for either since he has been on the Council.

Donald Cunningham discussed counsel and legal advise which has gone up - an increase of 3% for the town attorneys.

Town manager’s account has an overrun in the account this year; the proposed amount is $276,320, he noted the staff will be increasing from one to three - Town manager, assistant town manager and confidential secretary. Donald Cunningham said a confidential cannot be in a union and a secretary would be in a union. The town manager has not had a secretary for 3 years.

Town treasurer remains the same, independent audit - Scully & Wolfe has again been appointed, intergovernmental services and community services went down slightly.

Council member Pacino asked if veterans cemetery was in this part of the budget; Donald Cunningham said he thinks the parks department maintains the cemetery, i.e. mowing, etc.

Council member Pacino made a motion, seconded by Council member Ploszaj,

to increase the community services budget by $30,000 as follows: $25,000 to set up a matching fund for the youth organizations which come before the Council, and another $5,000 to be included in the WIN TV budget to increase it from $11,000 to $16,000.

Council member Haverstock asked if he was planning to cut the budget in other areas; Council member Pacino said that was a possibility.

Mayor Hogan asked who would manage the funds or over see the funds. Council member Pacino said he assumed Mr. Cunningham would.

The Motion Passed 7-1-0 with Council member Haverstock opposed.

Mayor Hogan asked the Council to let the town manager’s office know how each can be reached; all council members noted their voice mail boxes are not used.

7. GENERAL SERVICES

Donald Cunningham gave an overview. Sewer Services have gone up $128,000.

Retirement services is divided into 4 sections - town retirees, school retirees, town active employees and school active employees.

Recycling is $270,000, exactly the same as last year.

Council member Graff asked under assessment studies in the proposed capital budget - if $25,000 would be enough money to do a real assessment of town buildings. Donald Cunningham said this excludes schools and LP Wilson.

Council member Pacino indicated he would like to see the assessment done right the first time and noted that LP Wilson should be included in the study.

Unclassified is money put into the budget to be used by the Council only. Mr. Cunningham said he really does not feel $100,000 is enough. If the Unclassified is not spent it goes back into the surplus at the end of the year.

8. INSURANCE INTERNAL SERVICE FUND

Donald Cunningham reviewed the internal service fund which is broken up into 4 categories - liability, workers compensation, health and benefits and heart and hypertension - $3,685,000 is in the fund which started at zero in the year 1991. The insurance budget in 1990 was $800,000 and now the in-house budget is about $525,000. There is $234,000 in heart and hypertension. $1,587,000 is the balance in the workers compensation account. There is $700,000 in the health insurance account.

9. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Council member Pacino made a motion, seconded by Council member Ploszaj, to table the minutes of the meetings to the first meeting in May. Council member Trinks amended the motion to table the minutes to the April 26th meeting.

The Amended Motion Passed 8-0-0.

10. EXECUTIVE SESSION

Council member Trinks made a motion, seconded by Council member Ploszaj,

to go into executive session regarding Consideration of Alternative Actions to Enforce or Implement Legal Relief or Legal Rights with Respect to the Landfill

The Motion Passed 8-0-0.

Respectfully submitted,

Abigale LaViolette

cc: Town Clerk, Main Library, Wilson Branch