Public Works, EDC, Library, IT Budgets Face Scrutiny

By John Voket

The second phase of the Board of Selectmen’s budget deliberations focused on a broad range of initiatives and departments last Thursday, January 25, providing several opportunities to shave dollars from line items. The Board of Selectmen expected to wrap up its responsibilities related to the budget just after The Bee went to press February 1, and pass the municipal side package to the Board of Finance for review.

While selectmen were scheduled to complete their pass on the government-side spending package, the Board of Education accepted its proposed budget for review and deliberation this week, scheduling several subsequent review sessions (see related story). Both the school and municipal budgets are due to the finance board, by charter stipulation, no later that February 14.

The January 25 session, the third in as many days for the Board of Selectmen, started out with technology reports from Newtown’s technology and GIS coordinator, Scott Sharlow. Mr Sharlow reviewed his department’s request that included several new high-end Dell computers sanctioned for the emergency dispatch center.

Selectman William Brimmer, Jr, inquired about both the seemingly high cost of the CPU units compared to prices he said he has seen in the retail market, why Mr Sharlow was going with the Dell brand versus an established commercial brand like IBM, and also asked whether the existing computers were still usable.

Mr Sharlow said the Dell line was ideal for the town’s needs because several IT staff members were Dell certified, and could handle much of the system maintenance and even repairs in-house. He said the town was purchasing from Dell’s commercial “Optiflex” line, which were comparable commercial-grade machines, and said he planed to redeploy the existing CPUs into municipal departments calling for less intensive use.

“The dispatch center has these going 24/7,” Mr Sharlow explained. “We really can’t afford to have them go down in the dispatch center.”

Mr Sharlow also detailed his request for an upgraded laptop with a $1,200 software package to employ Geographic Information System (GIS) satellite capability.

Tech Park Consultants

Next up were members of the Economic Development Commission. Chairman Chet Hopper discussed his budgetary proposals including an infusion of $25,000 earmarked for consultants who would support Community Development Director Elisabeth Stocker in marketing the Newtown Technology Park.

Mr Hopper said the idea was to contract one or more consultants who could apply their individual specialties where required in the coming year as the EDC carries out its charge as the development authority for the new commercial project.

When Mr Brimmer asked whether $25,000 would be enough to accommodate the consulting services required, Mr Hopper admitted that he picked a figure he thought would be acceptable to the taxpayers.

“Our aim was to use consultants, which wouldn’t add to the payroll or require benefits,” Mr Hopper said. “These individuals could be on call as needed as we begin the marketing and design process.”

Referring to several fellow EDC members in the audience, Mr Hopper conveyed, “We are all taxpayers ourselves, so we went with a figure we thought would be acceptable to the taxpayers — this is something that has never been done before.”

When asked if Ms Stocker could handle the added responsibilities for marketing the development, Mr Hopper replied that only 20 percent of her time was allocated to the EDC. With the balance of her duties being devoted to the planning department, he did not think the EDC should have to add more to her workload, especially with any duties outside her range of expertise.

“Normally a developer would have an entire staff working on marketing and designing a tech park of this size, but we’re going to do it with volunteers and 20 percent of Liz’s time,” Mr Hopper said.

Library Facing Demands

Representatives from the Booth Library board were on hand to explain the budget request for $952,963. Judge William Lavery, the Library Board chairman, detailed the organization’s loss of $12,000 last year because the library incorporated online renewals that stemmed the income from late fees.

He said significant increases in electricity and utility costs had to come out of funds previously allocated for the library’s book collection budget, and that trust funds set up to help fund library operations were not performing as well as hoped.

Judge Lavery pointed out that in recent years, the Booth Library has had to depend more and more on funding directly from taxpayers through the budget, but added that taxpayers were also requesting more services and items to borrow from the institution like music CDs, DVD movies, and new book releases.

“We’re at the point where our budget is 81 percent town-funded,” Judge Lavery said. “We have really become the town library with help from Mary Hawley.”

The primary trust fund for the Booth Library was established by benefactor Ms Hawley some 75 years ago. In the last fiscal year, the Friends of the Library volunteer group also contributed $100,000 to the cause, but specifically designate where the money can be spent, Judge Lavery said.

Parks, Highway Budgets Cut

Parks and Recreation Director Barbara Kasbarian was on hand representing her department. She explained that several new pieces of replacement equipment would be required in the next budget round, but agreed to forgo the cost of adding a new full-sized pickup truck and plow to help trim the budget line.

Carl Samuelson, who oversees the Parks & Rec grounds and maintenance division, said proposed funds for painting the Treadwell Pool building could be taken out because his crew could handle much of that work this fiscal year. An additional $30,000 was eliminated by taking out one commercial-grade mower Mr Samuelson requested.

Fred Hurley closed out last Thursday’s deliberations reviewing myriad lines across the several budgets he maintains, including the public works and highway departments, the municipal car pool, and public building maintenance.

He told the selectmen that his department was significantly ahead of last year budgetwise because of the relatively mild winter weather. While he warned of previous experiences when large storms hit in February and March, Mr Hurley said any surplus sand and salt he could retain would represent a savings against next winter’s allotment, which would also be more expensive.

Mr Hurley said he also expected to save some money when the town goes out to bid on diesel fuel purchases in a few weeks, adding that the per gallon cost of that fuel has been reduced since the last contract.

Selectmen decided to adjust the capital roads budget by $1.8 million, and push out the purchase of a road grader machine until next year.

Mr Hurley agreed that those lines could withstand cuts, saying the town’s 20-year-old grader recently required an engine and transmission replacement, which could extend its life.

“They’re just not making parts for it anymore, so if we can’t find replacements in a bone yard somewhere, we can always rent a grader for specific projects,” he said.