In a special meeting Wednesday, January 29, the Board of Selectmen continued the process of reviewing and approving recommendations for a dozen department budget requests, including several of the largest spending proposals tendered by the police, Public Works and Parks and Recreation departments.

The selectmen’s budget request for next year currently stands at a 1.22 percent increase totaling $483,058 over the current year’s spending. Debt service on all capital projects including all school projects represents $10,110,702 of the selectmen’s requested $40,203,958.

Perhaps the biggest news came when Police Chief Michael Kehoe and Police Commissioner Brian Budd took their turn before First Selectman Pat Llodra and Selectman James Gaston, Sr. Selectman Will Rodgers was absent.

For the first time in many years, Chief Kehoe announced that his budget request would represent a modest 1.3 percent reduction in spending from the current year. The police chief said the major bulk of savings was realized as a result of the department contracting a new software/hardware vendor for its computer aided dispatching (CAD) and records management system (RMS) representing a $74,864 reduction over the current budget year.

Another $28,029 reduction comes from retirement contributions; $16,611 from salaries; $2,500 from the department’s “equipment” line; and $1,508 from “other employee benefits.”

Both Chief Kehoe and Mr Budd, who is a police lieutenant in Stratford, praised the new IT provider, East Haven-based NexGen Solutions, which currently supplies similar services to more than two-thirds of Connecticut’s law enforcement agencies, including the State Police.

Mr Budd said the proximity of the vendor is extremely conducive to the troubleshooting process as the Newtown police switch over from what Mrs Llodra described as a “beta system” that utilized its contract as a means of attempting to develop law enforcement software and data systems.

The former vendor is no longer supporting that system, which translated into a benefit to the local department on several levels.

“Now if we have an issue, we go down to [East Haven] and work it out,” Mr Budd said.

“The transitioning between systems is going smoother than ever,” Chief Kehoe said, adding that anticipated transition time will also be less than expected, freeing up personnel attached to that duty to return to their primary responsibilities sooner.

Under questioning about the new school security officer (SSO) program, the chief said he has heard “very few negative comments,” and attributes that to finding the best fit between the assigned officers and the school communities where they are assigned.

An 2015-16 increase in SSO wages, however, contributes to a $33,282 increase over the current year — the largest single budget line increase for the department.

At the same time, Finance Director Robert Tait pointed out the anticipated hiring of a town IT Department worker who will be dedicated primarily to supporting the police and Emergency Communications departments, will also free up personnel to return to their primary law enforcement and hands-on duties.

Parks & Recreation

The Parks and Recreation Department Director Amy Mangold, and Assistant Director of Parks Carl Samuelson joined Park and Recreation Commission Chairman Ed marks briefly reviewing aspects of their budget request, representing a $63,089 or 2.78 percent increase.

Mr Marks noted that the department’s capital increase request of $3,700 comes at the end of a decade of significantly higher annual capital expenditures, which was $21,000 higher in 2012, and remained flat at $166,500 for the subsequent two budget cycles.

Mrs Llodra asked parks officials to remain vigilant about striking “the right balance between personnel and equipment.”

Moving to the subject of overtime and a $3,000 requested increase in that line, Mr Marks replied that the department is at a point where bringing on new personnel may make more sense than acquiring or making capital equipment improvements.

He said despite a robust variety of equipment that in some cases can complete work faster or more efficiently, the demand on existing staff is becoming more challenging as the town develops and maintains newer features like its trail system, skate park, and town beach and boat launch at Eichler’s Cove.

Mr Samuelson said once the new Sandy Hook Elementary School and its public playing fields are reopened, “we will tip the scale” in terms of personnel to handle all the maintenance.

Mr Marks echoed that, reminding selectmen that most town fields now have a three, and in some cases four-season usage.

“The demands [on those facilities] has tripled,” Mr Marks said.

Mr Gaston replied that he continues to be “impressed with the skills and quality of [Parks & Rec] services being provided.”

Before releasing the trio from Parks & Rec, Mrs Llodra asked them to develop a plan to show how the department is balancing staff and equipment costs over the next decade.

Public Works

Public Works Director Fred Hurley said the bulk of the Highway Department’s $232,981 increase is represented by an infusion of funding to bring the annual road repair budget back in line with projected annual spending demands.

That $250,000 bump, along with a $22,750 increase in the repair and maintenance service line, and $15,400 more for contractual services, is offset by a $45,750 reduction in the gasoline budget and a $24,600 drop in capital requests.

Mr Hurley’s Winter Maintenance request is up $28,412, primarily for the increased use of salt versus sand in that budget. Under questioning, the Public Works chief said the significant switch from sand to salt is resulting in several benefits both financially and environmentally.

Overall, he explained, the reduction of sand use in the winter is not only cutting down the amount of time crews spend sweeping streets and clearing catch basins, it is also extending the life of street sweeping equipment by several years.

“The reduction of sand use also has a tremendous impact from an environmental standpoint,” Mr Hurley said, “in terms of impact on our watercourses and the amount of particulates in them.

Today, the department uses a maximum of a one part sand to two parts salt mix to treat extremely icy road conditions, while just a few years ago, crews were using a six to eight parts sand to one part salt mix.

“We used to go through 20,000 cubic yards of sand,” Mr Hurley said. “So far this year we’ve used 1,400 cubic yards.”

That reduction on the state mandated cleanup end of the process is reducing wear and tear on machinery to the extent he projects town sweepers will last up to seven years versus having to be replaced every five.

Other subbudgets under Mr Hurley’s direction for transfer station operations and public building maintenance have request reductions over the current year of $4,333 and $2,749, respectively.

Following the large department presentations, which were all endorsed without changes, selectmen quickly approved the Technology, Insurance, Animal Control, Lake Authorities, Northwest EMS dispatching, Public Safety, Emergency Communications, and District Contributions budget lines with no reductions or discussion.

The next selectmen’s budget session is set for Monday, February 2, when the board may complete its recommendations to send the new budget proposal to the Board of Finance for its review. The finance board’s public hearing is scheduled for February 19.