March 23, 2010
Chairman Thomas Galvin called the meeting to order @ 6:30. The meeting was taped.
Members Present: T. Galvin, D. Merriman, R. Doyon, S. Pilat, P.Geary, C. Graveline and T. Graveline
Members Absent: M. Scaviola and J. Slapikas
Office of the Mayor #5000 (Increase $1.840.00):
Mayor Robert J. Chatfield stated the Office of the Mayor's budget increased by $1,840.00. This includes the Office Manager, Clerical Assistants PT and the Grants Director PT for salary increases of 2% while the elected officials' salaries are frozen. Motion made by D. Merriman to approve the budget of the Office of the Mayor #5000 in the amount of $178,274.00. Motion seconded by P. Geary. Unanimous.
Town Clerk #5500(Increase $828.00):
Mayor Chatfield advised the Town Clerk is an elected official and her salary is frozen. The Mayor also advised there are an Assistant Town Clerk and two part-time clerical assistants; additional help is added during the month of June. Questions were raised regarding hours of the Town Clerk and Assistant Town Clerk and if the clerical assistants were available at the same time during the day. Mayor Chatfield advised both the Town Clerk and the Assistant Town Clerk hours stand at 30 hours per week. The clerical assistants are not in the office at the same time of day. Motion made by C. Graveline to approve the budget of Town Clerk #5500 in the amount of $104,010.00. Motion seconded by R. Doyon. Unanimous.
Building Department #5850 (Increase $1.938.00):
Mayor Chatfield advised there is an increase in the amount of $1,938.00 for the Building Department. Questions were raised regarding the increase to line item #5850-02 Supplies/Dues/Conf. from $1,200.00 to $2,000.00 for an increase of approximately $800.00. Mayor Chatfield advised there had been an increase in the fee for the Building Department Code Book. Council members requested to add PT following line item Clerical Assistant #5850-05. Motion made by D. Merriman to approve the budget of the Building Department #5850 in the amount of $66,247.00. Motion seconded by P. Geary. Unanimous.
Land Use Inspector #6450 (Increase $363.00):
Motion made by P. Geary to approve the budget of the Land Use Inspector #6450 in
the amount of $92,265.00. Motion seconded by C. Graveline. Unanimous.
Parks & Recreation #7300 (Decrease $1.112.00)
Mayor Chatfield advised line item Contractual Mowing #7300-05 had a decrease of approximately $2,300.00. Mayor Chatfield advised there will be a 2% increase to Labor #7300-00 per Union Contract. Council members questioned line item #7300-04 Summer Support. Mayor Chatfield advised the summer help would be High School seniors or older that would work with the Public Works in the Parks.
Motion made by T. Graveline to approve the budget of Parks & Recreation #7300 with a decrease of $1,112.00 from $128,000.00 to $126,888.00. Motion seconded by R. Doyon. Unanimous.
Health & Social Services #7550 (Increase $2368.00);
Mayor Chatfield advised the State is encouraging Towns to join Health Districts or they will be assigned to join together.
Motion made by P. Geary to approve the budget of Health #7550 in the amount of $68,860.00. Motion seconded by T. Graveline. Unanimous.
Commission on Aging #7650 (Increase $3361.00):
Mayor Chatfield advised line item Activity Account #7650-04 had increased by
$2,000.00 from $26,000.00 to $28,000.00. Mayor Chatfield also stated line item Greater
Waterbury Transit District #7650-08 had decreased by $1,000.00 from $4,169.00 to
$3,169.00.
Motion made by D. Merriman to approve the budget of Commission on Aging #7650 as recommended in the amount of $156,823.00. Motion seconded by P. Geary. Unanimous.
The Recreation Director, Chris Moffo, and Board of Recreation members Mary Witham and Mike Palmerie, attended the meeting. Discussion. P. Geary questioned the $95,000.00 increase to line item Park Development #7400-03. P. Geary stated at previous meetings there were increases to this line item and stated there seemed to be more money allotted for the new baseball field at Hotchkiss Field, which only a small percentage of people use, than for any other project. Mike Palmerie stated the Park Development monies allotted are not just used for the new Hotchkiss Field baseball diamond. M. Palmerie stated monies in the past were used for drainage for the Retention Pond, Restrooms and Septic System, replacing signs in the Field of Dreams, the overhead electrical wire across the Soccer Field and the electrical shed itself. C. Moffo gave the Council a handout of the breakdown of monies used for the 2009-2010 budget year and for the upcoming 2010-2011 budget year. P. Geary requested a breakdown to be presented to the Council for the budget.
Police #6700 (Increase $19.201.00):
Resident State Trooper Nelson Abarzua attended the meeting. Mayor Chatfield advised there was an increase to the line item Officers #6700-00 of 4.2% to bring the Officers salaries up to equal of other towns. Trooper Abarzua stated once the economy improves, he would like to enhance the Department. Questions by Council members included the cost of Bullet-Proof Vests which are approximately $730.00 per vest and the Town is reimbursed 50% by the Federal Government. Council members were also concerned
with Solicitors calling for the Prospect Police Explores. Trooper Abarzua advised the Solicitors' contracts are reviewed by himself and his Office Manager, Lisa. Trooper Abarzua stated the Explorers have approximately 20 - 24 children with a cost of $469.00 each to go to the Police Academy. Most of the children also enter competitions. Council members questioned the percentage that the Solicitors receive. Trooper Abarzua advised other Solicitations are more costly that those used by Prospect, which is approximately 60/40.
Council members questioned how the Department is advertising for new hires. Trooper
approximately 3 weeks ago through
what is called the P.O.S.T. Motion made by D. Merriman to approve the budget of Police #6700 in the amount of 5670,526.00. Motion seconded by T. Graveline. Unanimous.
Prospect Animal Control #7700:
Motion made by C. Graveline to approve the budget of Prospect Animal Control
#7700 in the amount of $21,400.00. Motion seconded by S. Pilat. Unanimous.
Adjournment;
Motion made by D. Merriman to adjourn the meeting. Motion seconded by R.
Doyon. Unanimous. Meeting adjourned @ 7:47 P.M.
Thomas J. Galvin, Chairman
Rosalyn Moffo, Clerk