TOWN OF GREENWICH BOARD OF ESTIMATE & TAXATION

Transcription

1 TOWN OF GREENWICH BOARD OF ESTIMATE & TAXATION BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING Tuesday, January 10, 2017 Greenwich High School Media Center Rooms 1 & 2 6:00 P.M. AGENDA 1. Requests for Budget Adjustments Number Department Amount Purpose SE-12 First Selectman $200, Release of Conditions Byram Fire Station Rehab ED-2 BOE $250, Additional Appropriation Z680 Western Middle School Fields Contamination ED-3 BOE $791, Additional Appropriation Z680 Hamilton Avenue School Field Reconstruction ED-4 BOE $ 27, Transfer A Equipment Rental, Professional Learning, A & Travel Expense PD-4 Police $ 7, Approval to Use F Canine Training Tuition 2. Old Business 3. New Business 4. Approval of the December 13, 2016 BET Budget Committee Meeting Minutes 5. Adjournment

2 Next regular meeting scheduled for February 13, 2017 at 5:00 P.M. in the Town Hall Meeting Room James Lash Budget Committee Chairman

3 Town Of Greenwich Request Form For Budget Adjustments BET Meeting Date: Application #: SE 12 Jan-17 Department & Division: First Selectman Action Requested: Date of Submission: Release of Conditions January 4, 2017 Fund Dept Object Project Desc Amount To: Byram Fire Station 200,000 Rehabilitation From: 200,000 Justification of Request: Please see attached. Board Chairman Department Head: Certified correct as to computations and amounts shows as appropriations to date and unencumbered balances, with any changes given. Date: Comptroller: The following action was taken at a meeting of the Board of Estimate and Taxation held on: Vote Clerk of the Board: this form as a PDF along with any supporting documentation (in PDF Format)

4

5

6

7 Town Of Greenwich Request Form For Budget Adjustments BET Meeting Date: Application #: ED 2 Jan-17 Department & Division: BOE Action Requested: Date of Submission: Additional Appropriation January 3, 2017 Fund Dept Object Project Desc Amount To: Z 680 Western Middle School Fields Contamination 250, From: Justification of Request: This request is for costs related to environmental contamination, testing and remediation development of the Western Middle School fields. In the Summer 2016, environmental testing indicated levels of constituents that exceeded the CT-DEEP residential direct exposure criteria. Based on these results, the WMS fields were closed as a precautionary measure. Results of the initial testing did not detect concentrations of the constituents exceeding Federal or State regulatory thresholds requiring immediate reporting or action. Additional soil testing was preformed to determine the extent of the fields impacted with chlordane and lead have been successfully delineated. Testing to define the extent of fields impacted with PCB's identified three locations on the field with concentrations above the Residential Direct Exposure Criteria, and in two locations above the CT Significant Environmental Hazard Threshold. The schedule and projected costs for completion of PCB delineation is contingent on the results of ongoing sampling and current delineation process approved by CT-DEEP. In the meantime, the fields remain fenced with restricted access and Langan continues to coordinate efforts with the CT-DEEP, PCB Division. Board Chairman Department Head: Certified correct as to computations and amounts shows as appropriations to date and unencumbered balances, with any changes given. Date: Comptroller: The following action was taken at a meeting of the Board of Estimate and Taxation held on: Vote Clerk of the Board: this form as a PDF along with any supporting documentation (in PDF Format)

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23 Town Of Greenwich Request Form For Budget Adjustments BET Meeting Date: Application #: ED 4 Jan-17 Department & Division: BOE Action Requested: Date of Submission: Transfer January 3, 2017 Fund Dept Object Project Desc Amount To: A Equipment Rental 25, A Professional Learning A Travel Expense 1, From: A Teaching Equipment 25, A Professional Learning 1, Justification of Request: The transfer from Equipment Rental to Teaching Equipment is to pay for a music instrument lease. The transfer from Travel Expense to Professional Learning is for a teacher to attend a national conference in San Antonio Board Chairman Department Head: Certified correct as to computations and amounts shows as appropriations to date and unencumbered balances, with any changes given. Date: Comptroller: The following action was taken at a meeting of the Board of Estimate and Taxation held on: Vote Clerk of the Board: this form as a PDF along with any supporting documentation (in PDF Format)

24

25

26

27

28

29

30 TOWN OF GREENWICH BOARD OF ESTIMATE AND TAXATION BUDGET COMMITTEE MINUTES Town Hall Meeting Room Tuesday, December 13, 2016 Committee Present: James A. Lash, Chairman; Mary Lee A. Kiernan, Jeffrey S. Ramer, Leslie L. Tarkington Staff: Board: Selectmen: BOE: Peter Mynarski, Comptroller; J.W. Fox, Town Attorney; Aamina Ahmad. Assistant Town Attorney; Mary Pepe, Human Resource Department Director; Ben Branyan, Town Administrator; Chief James Heavey, Police Department; Mark Kordick, Captain, Police Department Detective Division, Aleksandra Moch, Land Use, Conservation Department; Paul Curtis, Volunteer, Greenwich Community Television Michael Mason, BET Chairman; John Blankley, William Drake, Beth Krumeich, Leslie Moriarty, Arthur Norton, Jill Oberlander, Nancy Weissler Peter Tesei, First Selectman Barbara O Neill, Vice Chairman, BOE Chairman; Jim Hricay, BOE Managing Director of Operations RTM: Ajit Laroia, RTM District 11 Public: Juliana Moch, Student, Greenwich High School, Safe Rides Program; James Boutelle, Director, TAG; Mike Miller, Board Member, Treasurer, TAG; John Strong, GEMS Fiscal Officer; Tracy Schietinger, Director of Operations, GEMS The meeting was called to order at 5:06 P.M. Mr. Lash welcomed Committee members and attendees. EXECUTIVE SESSION Discussion of Claim Update Mr. Lash called for an Executive Session to discuss a Claim Update. Upon a motion by Ms. Tarkington, seconded by Mr. Ramer, the Committee voted 4-0 to enter Executive Session at 5:07 P.M. The Committee exited Executive Session at 5:27 P.M. Requests for Budget Adjustments The Committee voted 4-0 to end the Executive Session at 5:27 P.M. SE-10 First Selectman Additional Appropriation $14,000 A Contribution to Channel 79 BET Budget Committee Meeting Minutes December 13, 2016 Subject to Approval 1

31 The Committee voted 4-0 to postpone action on this Budget Adjustment Request. SE-11 First Selectman Additional Appropriation $65,000 A & Contribution to TAG & Safe Rides Ms. Kiernan advised Mr. Lash that she would abstain from the discussion and voting on this item due to an affiliation with the Greenwich YWCA, which contracts with TAG for a transportation program. Chief Heavey provided an overview of the Safe Rides Program s history and operations. He explained that when the Program partnered with the Police Department, the Town of Greenwich was responsible for its liability. It was moved out of the Town Budget and TAG assumed the responsibility. Mr. Boutelle commented that an $18,000 interim appropriation was needed to continue the program s Friday and Saturday night Safe Rides transportation to students between 10:00 P.M. and 2:00 A.M, as the First Selectman unintentionally had not included the Safe Rides program request in his Budget. The appropriation would fund compensation for two adult drivers and an adult in the office who worked with the 60 student volunteers. During the previous year, it had operated on 72 nights. Mr. Boutelle commented that TAG pays for the fixed costs, and the Town pays for the variable costs. Mr. Boutelle shared that when the program was run by the Red Cross it ran 10 nights a year for key high school events. TAG has expanded the program to operate every Friday and Saturday during the school year. Juliana Moch remarked that use of the program was on the increase, relying on its 60 public and private high school student volunteers to be available to manage the program s social media, answering phones and directing drivers to locations. When Mr. Lash asked if other taxi or Uber services could be substituted, Ms. Moch said that cost, dependability, and trustworthy reputation made the Safe Rides program preferable. She said that the Safe Rides program is free to the students, whereas use of, its route, and cost of an Uber ride would be identified on a student s or his parent s credit card bill. Mr. Tesei advised that there had been funding from two foundations that he had contacted on behalf of TAG, which when supplemented by a few thousand dollars of unused funds contributed from his own Re-Election Campaign Fund, provided approximately $15,000, that Mr. Tesei said he understood were to be for the FY 2017 budget of the Safe Rides program of TAG. Mr. Tesei reminded the Committee that teens driving licenses had restrictions on their hours of use, and that this life safety program took priority in his hierarchy of needs. Mr. Boutelle added that Mr. Tesei and the foundations contributions were used to fund shortfalls in the previous year s Safe Rides program. Mr. Ramer suggested that TAG and the Program return with a Budget to the Committee s February Hearings, so that the program could be evaluated among other programs requesting funding. Mr. Boutelle responded that TAG s negotiation with Norwalk Transit were taking place and he needed to know whether to inform Norwalk Transit that the program might be canceled due to inadequate reimbursement of other contracted programs or if TAG would be able to continue. Mr. Lash commented that despite the program receiving calls per weekend and transporting passengers, a more cost-efficient way to provide this service needed to be identified. The Committee discussed the average cost of a Safe Rides trip, which exceeded $40. Mr. Boutelle suggested that it was TAG s intention to encourage Safe Rides to become a standalone 501(c)(3) so that its fundraising could be more effective, but lamented the time and paper work required for the IRS application. Mr. Boutelle then moved on to the balance of the Additional Appropriation request for TAG BET Budget Committee Meeting Minutes December 13, 2016 Subject to Approval 2

32 services to offset deficits being incurred due to inadequate reimbursements by Norwalk Transit for TAG s ADA services; Mr. Miller commented that their request was urgent because the disabled population s growth was accelerating and Norwalk Transit needed to be advised by March 17, 2017 if TAG intended to discontinue this Service. He suggested that the timetable of the February Budget Hearing, BET vote and RTM voting would not allow TAG to maintain its budget without an additional appropriation. Each member of the Budget Committee shared their thinking on the issue and Mr. Lash proposed that Mr. Boutelle seek an authoritative answer from the state whether the state or Greenwich was required to provide the service. He added that the Budget Committee would take up the issue in January or February after Mr. Boutelle had that information. The Committee vote to postpone action on this Budget Adjustment Request (Abstain: Kiernan). PD-1 Police Department Approval to Use $52,500 F & Overtime Services & Benefits Chief Heavey requested that the Police Department be authorized to accept a grant for DWI enforcement; 75% of funding would come from the grant and 25% would come from funds accumulated from ticket citation payments. Upon a motion by Ms. Tarkington, seconded by Mr. Ramer, the Committee voted to approve the application and forward it to the Board of Estimate and Taxation as a Routine Application. PD-2 Police Department Approval to Use $0 F & Jet Ski Donation Chief Heavey requested the ability to accept a donation of a Jet Ski, trailer and floating dock which would be used to conduct rescue operations in shallow areas. Upon a motion by Mr. Ramer, seconded by Ms. Kiernan, the Committee voted to approve the application and forward it to the Board of Estimate and Taxation as a Non-Routine Application. (Opposed: Lash, Tarkington) PD-3 Police Department Approval to Use $182,869 F Grants/Municipal Mr. Lash asked Captain Kordick where the new equipment fit in the Police Department s IT and communication plan; Capt. Kordick responded that the equipment which would be purchased from the Grant was already planned for in the Department s 15 year plan. Ms. Tarkington asked if there was a cost advantage if the equipment was purchased in December; Capt. Kordick replied that the equipment would be purchased with state contract pricing so there was no seasonal pricing advantage. She also suggested prioritizing the amount of the request ($58,288) for telephone switching equipment and the two back-up battery packs to allow review with the other IT purchase requests in the February budget discussions. Chief Heavey pointed out that the timing of the installation upgrade was integral to the Police Department s plan for its IT and would be purchased at no cost to the Town as funds were being used from the 911 Fund charges collected on land lines. BET Budget Committee Meeting Minutes December 13, 2016 Subject to Approval 3

33 Upon a motion by Mr. Ramer, seconded by Ms. Kiernan, the Committee voted to approve the application and forward it to the Board of Estimate and Taxation as a Non-Routine Application. (Abstain: Tarkington) GM-1 GEMS Release of Conditions $182,869 F Grants/Municipal Mr. Strong and Ms. Schietinger requested the release of funds based on the presentation of the GEMS budget and current operations report. The Committee noted that there was a favorable expense and revenue report and inquired about GEMS fundraising activity. Mr. Ramer noted that administrative salaries had decreased, as well as overall salaries being less than previous year; Mr. Strong responded that there was a seasonal character to overtime reflected in the costs. Old Business None New Business Upon a motion by Mr. Ramer, seconded by Ms. Tarkington, the Committee voted to approve the application and forward it to the Board of Estimate and Taxation as a Routine Application. Discussion of New Lebanon School Building Committee In the absence of Mr. Walko who was detained, Mr. Drake offered to update the Committee. He reported that no modular classrooms would need to be installed, that students would remain in the current building; an RFP had been published seeking a Clerk of the Works; a Gilbane construction management employee was being changed; and the school design was being submitted to an independent consultant for review of the structure. The RTM had approved the MI status. A community forum had been held in September, but fewer than the expected number of local residents had attended. Mr. Drake announced that a model of the new school s design was on display at the Byram Library and Ms. Tarkington asked if it would be possible for it to be displayed at Town Hall as well. Ms. Kiernan reminded the Committee of the next State steps for the New Lebanon School Building Project State funding: Bonding Commission Hearing; review by the Education, Finance and Bonding Committees; presentation to the General Assembly and finally review and acceptance by the Governor in May or June of Approval of BET Budget Committee Meeting Minutes Adjournment Upon a motion by Ms. Tarkington, seconded by Mr. Ramer, the Committee voted 4-0 to approve the Minutes of the Budget Committee s Regular Meeting November 15, The Committee voted unanimously to adjourn at 8:05 P.M. Next regular meeting will be January 10, 2017 at 5:00 P.M. in the Greenwich High School Media Center Rooms 1 & 2. BET Budget Committee Meeting Minutes December 13, 2016 Subject to Approval 4

34 Respectfully submitted, Catherine Sidor, Recording Secretary James A. Lash, Chairman. BET Budget Committee Meeting Minutes December 13, 2016 Subject to Approval 5