Board of Selectmen
SPECIAL MEETING
MAY 16, 2007

Present: Scott Adamsons, John Anderson, Susan Bransfield, Mark
Finkelstein, Brian Flood, Sharon Gibala and Kathleen Richards

The special meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by First Selectwoman Susan Bransfield.

Mrs. Bransfield reviewed the voter participation in the budget referendum. Approximately 20% of the registered voters voted in the referendum and approximately 55% of those voted against the budget. A second referendum needs to be scheduled by May 31st. The mill rate will be set within 7 days after the budget is passed. Rob Buden commented that he hoped to have better knowledge of the State budget prior to setting the mill rate.

Mrs. Bransfield reviewed the following proposed cuts that were presented to the Board of Selectmen for consideration:

1. Eliminate repair of the Library entrance & park improvements ($50,000)
2. Eliminate CT VNA Contract ($50,000)
3. Reduce Town Road Repairs ($32,592)
4. Assessor's Office: Eliminate the Revaluation Co.; eliminate the
Assistant Assessor Position; eliminate the part-time Assessor and
hire a full time Assessor position ($51,806)
5. Eliminate Library part-time position ($12,000)
6. Additional Board of Education cuts ($80,000)
7. Eliminate Health Insurance Consultant ($90,000)

Other items to be considered are:

1. Elimination of door-to-door brush and Christmas tree pick for 2008
2. Town vehicles will not be taken home overnight
3. Thermostats to be set at 68 in winter and 76 in summer
4. Unnecessary lights and other power use will be turned off
5. Installation of Photovoltaic Cells
6. Participation in the CL & P Load Response Program for town and
Board of Education buildings
7. Fixed cost contracts for electricity generation, gasoline, diesel
and oil for the town and Board of Education

Mr. Buden commented on the elimination of the Assistant Assessor position and stated that one person will not be able to conduct a revaluation. He stated that this will have to be looked at in 4 to 5 years.

Mr. Finkelstein commented on the issue of the VNA contract. He felt that it was important to have the services of a social worker.

Mr. Adamsons stated that residents have voiced concern about the cost of the benefit package for town employees and he felt that it might be appropriate to reduce benefits. He also commented on reducing labor expenses and possibly eliminating some positions.

Mrs. Bransfield stated that there have been 7 reductions in staff since 2006, five of which were full-time positions that were not refilled. In the current budget, some positions are being reduced. As contracts are renegotiated, union groups have been receptive to paying higher cost shares.

Mr. Finkelstein questioned the Contractual Services line item in Probate Court. Mr. Buden stated that this reflects the outsource cost of indexing books. By State Statute, towns must provide an office and all necessary expenses to run the Probate Court office.

Mr. Finkelstein questioned the large increase in Elections. Mrs. Bransfield stated that this is due to the increase in the number of hours being spent.

Mr. Finkelstein commented on the audit. Mr. Buden stated that the budget ran over last year; the largest problem that has not been addressed is the general ledger system.

Mr. Finkelstein questioned line item 02-02 in the Fire Dept. budget. Chief Shea stated that an increase of $5,000 was requested last year and it was not received. There is $26,000 worth of gear that needs to be replaced. Also, the rescue truck is be refurbished and the equipment needs to be replaced.

Mr. Finkelstein questioned the status of the storm drain cleaning. Mr. Kelsey stated that the town is under State mandate to clean each catch basin every year.

In the Grounds Department budget, Mr. Finkelstein questioned the equipment repairs and equipment supplies line items. Carl Johnson stated that the equipment is getting older and requires more repairs.

Mr. Finkelstein noted that the $40,000 for snow removal road materials is substantially more than last year. Mr. Buden stated that the cost is entirely flat when compared to T.A.R. He stated that the cost of materials is increasing and if there is a normal winter, this amount will be used up quickly. Mr. Kelsey stated that roads will be chipped sealed with this year's fund for chip sealing and the material for chip sealing will be out of next year's budget.

Mr. Finkelstein asked Mrs. Doyen if the Board of Education could operate with the $80,000. Mrs. Doyen stated that the major items such as special education, transportation and energy savings will be looked at.

Mr. Finkelstein asked if there are any special projects added to the police overtime. Mrs. Bransfield stated that there have been problems at softball games and she asked the police to be in the area. Overtime is needed to cover regular shifts and it is important that one officer is not working alone while on duty. She felt that the town is close to hiring another officer which would improve efficiency. She commented that the State needs to do more patrolling of the State roads.

Mrs. Bransfield read a letter from Karen Reinhart stating her concerns about the cutting of services and staff from the schools and the library if additional budget cuts are made.

Mrs. Bransfield questioned if the mill rate could be reset if the town receives additional money from the State after the mill rate has been set. Mr. Buden stated that the town has two choices if additional funds are received. 1) the extra money could be put towards the education budget next year, and 2) the Board of Education expenditures and revenues could be increased by the additional appropriation with no mill rate impact. In either case, the money will go towards the Board of Education.

Motion was made by Scott Adamsons and seconded by Kathleen Richards to incorporate the First Selectwoman's proposed budgetary reductions, items one through 7, into the budget. Motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Finkelstein proposed the following reductions to the budget:

$2,500 from the Fire Department
$4,000 from Police Dept. Overtime
$1,200 from Highway Dept. Tree Removal
$5,000 from Snow Removal
$400 from Grounds Maintenance Equipment Repairs
$400 from Grounds Maintenance Equipment Supplies
$3,000 from Senior Center Instructor Fees
$1,000 from Animal Control
$1,500 from Youth Services
$3,000 from Parks & Recreation
$3,000 from Resource Recovery

Mr. Buden advised that the Contingency Budget is under budgeted and the town should be prepared for a lack of a surplus in the budget with no increase in Fund Balance to be available for use in future years.

Mr. Anderson questioned the need for a full-time Assistant Collector of Revenue position. Mrs. Bransfield stated that the original intent was to use this position in places where help is needed. The consensus of the Board was to retain the floater position and to reflect the total salary for this position in Central Services.

Mr. Adamsons commented on the CT River Assembly and suggested reducing this by $500 until a decision is made about where they are going. The consensus was to reduce the CT River Assembly by $500.

Mr. Buden calculated the total reductions at $25,500. The estimated mill rate would be 27.06. Mr. Anderson stated that he would like to see the mill rate below 27 mills. Mr. Buden stated that adding $49,500 to the ECS cost sharing grant revenue would achieve this.

Motion was made by Mark Finkelstein and seconded by John Anderson to approve the additional reductions as noted above. Motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Buden calculated the General Government operations budget figure at $10,971,180 and the Board of Education budget at $17,017,961 for a total budget figure of $27,989,141 with the approved reductions. This represents a reduction in expenditures of $391,898 from the defeated budget. The expenditures will increase by $533,887 over the current year adopted budget.

Motion was made by Sharon Gibala and seconded by Scott Adamsons to approve a fiscal year 2007-2008 budget totaling $27,989,141 of which $10,971,180 is for general town government operations and $17,017,961 for the Board of Education.

Motion was withdrawn by Mrs. Gibala and the second was withdrawn by Mr. Adamsons.

Mr. Buden calculated a new revenue figure for the ECS cost sharing grant at $3,857,750 which will put the mill rate below 27 mills.

Motion was made by Scott Adamsons and seconded by Kathleen Richards to approve a fiscal year 2007-2008 budget totaling $27,989,141 of which $10,971,180 is for general town government operations and $17,017,961 for the Board of Education.

The estimated mill rate is 26.99.

Motion passed unanimously.

Motion was made by John Anderson and seconded by Sharon Gibala to schedule the budget referendum for Wednesday, May 30, 2007 from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Portland Library. Motion passed unanimously.

Mrs. Bransfield stated that she will notice a special Board of Selectmen's meeting for 8:30 p.m. on that evening if needed.

Motion was made by Sharon Gibala and seconded by Scott Adamsons to adjourn the meeting at 9:45 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.

Respectfully submitted,

Virginia Darna
Recording Clerk