$103.7M Budget Faces Scrutiny

At the outset of Board of Finance budget hearings this week, Tom Brennen, the director of public works, told the panel his rented building was unsafe because it floods. Slip and fall compensation claims are up, he said, adding that electrical cords add to the safety issue. In addition, he said the department’s aging truck fleet is taking a beating because trucks used for snow removal cannot be cleaned properly.

Brennan was the first department head to explain his budget and why he needs a new line item, ​“garage storm water,” in order to deal with water accumulation in the building. 

As often happens during these hearings, the BOF and the public learn how departments are faring. This department is a crucial one because it is the first responder to storms and is responsible for clearing roads. 

The BOF hearings ended last night. A proposed $103.7 million town-school budget for 2014 – 15 was dissected all week as the six members of the BOF questioned the town’s department heads and school officials about their proposed budgets. The so-called ​“needs” budget amounts to a 3.7 percent increase over last year’s budget and a stiff 1 mill hike in property taxes.

But it is not expected to remain that high. 

First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove (pictured with Town Clerk Lisa Arpin) said at the outset of the hearings on Monday that he made no adjustments in the capital expenditures category. ​”There will be adjustments made at this stage, but I think it is important in the spirit of transparency to have an understanding for future years and that these capital expenditures at least be identified.” He also noted the town’s decision to pay down $8.2 million in debt. ​“The debt service reflects our commitment to aggressively pay down our debt in anticipation of future capital projects. With that said, I feel this is a reasonable initial request.”

At the opening of third and final hearing last night, Joseph Mooney, the chair of the BOF, reminded the public that the so-called $103 million ​“needs” budget” is only the first step.

“Our role here is to look at the budgets and to make changes and some reductions. We also balance between the need to raise taxes in order to keep current services and to fulfill all the obligations of the town.” He said the BOF will determine the budget and then send it to the Representative Town Meeting. (RTM). The RTM cannot increase the budget but it can reduce it. On May 19, the BOF will formally set the mill rate for the 2014 – 15 fiscal year, he said.

Last night he asked Cosgrove if he wanted to speak. He did.

“This is an initial proposal. By no means is it a final proposal,” he said, adding that he wanted the town budget to be ​“a proactive budget.”

Mooney then told the public: ​“If anybody thinks either in this room or for those watching on television that this is a rubber stamp it is far from it. There is enormous experience on this board. If we don’t ask a question it doesn’t mean we don’t care. We have seen many, many budgets for many, many years and we also know that the only way to keep the mill rate flat or reduce it is to cut services or to cut the budget.”

Under the current proposal the mill rate would go up by 1 mill which, depending upon the value of one’s home and land, would mean a hefty rise in property taxes.

This year Cosgrove asked his department heads to make three budgets, a needs budget, a zero budget and a ​“minus two” budget. He was asked about that on the Branford Eagle’s BCTV television show in January. He said then he wanted ​“to see those three scenarios, in particular the 0 and 2 percent reduction to show how that would impact the department and the services to the town.” 

The zero and ​“minus two” budgets were not addressed during the budget hearings, but they have been submitted to the BOF. After the BOF sets the budget Monday, the RTM will receive it. In the past a number of RTM members on the Republican side of the aisle have denounced the rising budget even if it came in at plus two percent. This town budget is nearly double that. The Republicans now hold a majority on the RTM.

The hearings concluded Thursday night. Superintendent of Schools Hamlet Hernandez presented a $52.6 million budget, a 2.65 percent increase over last year. Of that figure, he said the school system’s ​“drivers,” that is fixed costs comes to $48.1 million. The ​“drivers” include salaries, benefits, transportation, utilities and tuition the school system pays for special needs children who need to be educated at other schools. 

Police Chief Kevin Halloran and his top staff also outlined the department’s budget and the directors of the Town’s libraries presented their needs.

Slip & Falls and Safety Issues in Rented PW Building

The public works department’s search for a new home over the past three years has been a major issue for the town, one that is still unresolved.

Efforts by the previous Unk DaRos administration to put the public works building on the town owned Tabor site failed. Efforts to move public works to the center of the town on Ivy Street did not materialize before DaRos left office in November.

Cosgrove says he wants public works to have a new building and says there are at least five possible sites. So far he not selected one. One option is putting it on the North side of town, near Exit 56, but the town hasn’t ruled out a more central location. Click here to read the latest story about that.

Brennan (pictured), the director of public works, labeled the new line item in his budget as ​“garage storm water.” He said his employees face serious safety issues because the building floods. The department has occupied the building for more than three years, far longer than it thought it would. 

Brennan explained the cause of the flooding problem to the BOF: ​“One of the issues that we have had in the rental building is that all floor drains were plugged so that we would not be draining into the storm drain system outside. That in turn creates anywhere from 4 to six inches ponding of water, about 35 percent of the days. We have people working in there. Some of our slip and fall compensation claims are a direct result of that. There are electrical cords; so it is a huge safety issue. So what we have done this year is I have had Serve Pro come in after every snow storm. .. they come in with their units and they are sucking up the water and taking it off premise so again it is not entering our storm drain system.”

Brennan added that the water accumulation has caused a number of slip and fall accidents. He said he had safety concerns with electrical cords in the vicinity of the water. 

In addition, Brennan told the BOF that the department’s aging truck fleet is taking a beating because trucks used for snow removal cannot be properly cleaned.

“We are in a situation where the equipment is not being maintained properly because we don’t have the facility to do it.” He said it now appears that the BOF will remain in the rented facility for at least another winter.

“A large portion of the problem with trucks is corrosion, especially from salted roads. We are in a temporary facility. We are in a situation where the equipment is not being maintained properly because we don’t have the facility to do it… The equipment is getting old, it is getting tired, it is getting expensive to repair and lack of our ability to do proper maintenance is making it more difficult for department to keep them up.” In terms of years, one is 26, another will soon be 22, and two are 19, he said.

Brennan also told the BOF that the department needs additional funding to supply signs around town.

“I am sorry to say that we are asking for an increase because of the increase amount of vandalism of signs in town recently. Our regular road signs, stop signs, left hand signs, street signs, need replacement because of vandalism or theft.” He said there was more replacement this year because of vandalism ​“than we have done in prior years. I am working with the police chief on this.”

Hammer Field Playgrounds In Disrepair

A group of parents led by Robin Comey(pictured) of Short Beach asked the BOF for funds to renovate two dilapidated playgrounds at Hammer Field, playgrounds used by the elementary students at John B. Sliney School. This would be part of the parks and recreation budget. 

Comey said many parents are concerned about the condition of the playgrounds. ​“This has been on the short list for repairs for a couple of years now, “ she said, adding ​“I hope this is the year.” One parent described injuries to children, including broken wrists, the result of equipment problems.

One fourth grader, Nallory Baughman, 10, described her own experience to the BOF: ​“I would like to have a new playground. In our playground I have always been scared to go on the monkey bars because they are slippery and too high. One of my friends got the wind knocked out of her and the nurse had to come down. I think they can make it a little bit safer.”

Short Beach Fire Station

The possible loss of the Short Beach Fire Station was a topic of concern for weeks in the community after volunteers at the station learned it was part of zero and ​“minus two” fire budget. The reason? It is the only firehouse in town that pays rent for its building. The Eagle contacted the chief, who confirmed the possible cut along with many others. Click here to read about that.

On Monday night, Pam Knapp, a resident of Short Beach, spoke after fire officials gave their ​“needs” budget presentation. 

“Many of my neighbors in Short Beach expressed to me their concerns about losing our volunteer fire station,” she told the board. 

“It will cause a delay in response, and would also create a situation in which the current volunteers may not continue as volunteers at the new location. It also could result in the need to acquire paid staff, and that would be costly. I was asked to express, on behalf of the many Short Beach residents with whom I spoke, our concerns about the more than a century-old Short Beach Volunteer Fire Station before this board.”

Ahern said in an interview afterwards that he appreciated Knapp’s statement. ​“It is good to know the public has our backs and supporters throughout the entire year, not only at budget time but including budget time.”

He noted the budget process has a long way to go. ​“We have to go to the RTM committees and the full RTM. Last year is a perfect example of what can happen. They (the Republicans) proposed a two percent cut on the floor on the night of the vote. They proposed giving each department head their budget back and having them cut 2 percent.”

Knapp asked the BOF to not ever consider transferring the Short Beach fire station to fire headquarters on Main St., where the budget hearings have been held this week in the building’s community room.

That’s the plan if the fire station is cut. 
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