Rosenthal Suggests Cuts

In Park & Rec Budget

By Steve Bigham

The Board of Selectmen Monday began deliberation of a proposed $22.6 million town budget, which includes about $3.5 million in requested increases in spending. But before it could start, First Selectman Herb Rosenthal has already suggested trimming about $2.3 million or about 70 percent of that increase.

Last month, Mr Rosenthal said he planned to take a more “proactive approach,” making recommendations to the selectmen prior to their deliberations. And he came through on his promise Monday night. Mr Rosenthal said he met with several of the department heads and found that all the requests were reasonable.

“However, because we do not have unlimited funds available to us and because there may be some significant increases in capital expenditures for possible purchase of Fairfield Hills, municipal office space, schools and playing fields, substantial reductions in the requests are necessary,” Mr Rosenthal said.

Parks & Recreation, which had proposed a $2.34 million budget (representing a 150 percent increase), took a major hit from the first selectman when he recommended that more than $1 million of that be cut, at least for now. Much of the requested increase centered on the construction of athletic fields at the Amaral Property, along Queen Street and at Oakview Road. With the exception of the $390,000 request to develop the Amaral property, Mr Rosenthal recommended that the other two requests be put off for now, saving the town $450,000.

“I recommended that we take out four of the six fields,” the first selectman explained. “If we are going to have fields at Fairfield Hills there is no point in having fields at Queen Street.”

The Parks & Recreation budget had called for the construction of a $400,000 new storage garage. That is expected to be cut, as is one of two additional field maintenance people, which Mr Rosenthal also recommended be cut at a savings of $30,000. Other recommended P&R cuts include four water fountains, various pieces of equipment, a tractor and a pickup truck.

After the cuts, the Parks & Recreation Department would be left with a $322,910 increase over its current budget.

The Parks & Rec Budget

Despite Mr Rosenthal’s recommendations, the Parks & Recreation budget is far from settled, and Director Barbara Kasbarian and Larry Haskell, P&R Commission chair, are expected to fight hard to retain some of their original request. They are slated to meet with the selectmen on Monday.

This is by far the largest proposed Parks & Recreation budget in the town’s history, with much of it being for the construction of new athletic fields. The need for more playing fields had been a resounding theme over the past year thanks to an outcry from local sports enthusiasts, who are adamant about the need to address the town’s field shortage problem.

“We need additional fields. Without a doubt, the people have spoken,” said Mrs Kasbarian. “We have in here the construction of the Amaral property [two baseball/softball fields], 10-12 year olds and youth softball, construction on Queen Street. Also, the Oakview property near the high school which is in need of major repair.”

The requests for athletic fields represent about $800,000 of the total P&R budget.

The town’s lack of sports facilities has been an ongoing theme over the past year and Parks & Recreation supporters are hoping the message has finally gotten through to the selectmen and Legislative Council. As Mrs Kasbarian points out, her budget, like that of the Board of Education, should reflect the growth in the number of kids in town.

The department director warns that the new athletic fields requested barely touch the tip of the iceberg.

“It’s going to be a rough year. Our requests in here for athletic fields aren’t even scratching the surface of what’s needed. Right now, I really feel we need two new soccer/lacrosse fields. Unfortunately, the Amaral property is not large enough to accommodate all those needs,” Mrs Kasbarian said.

The Board of Selectmen did take up the $2.6 million police budget and proceeded to cut it by $114,828. Much of that savings came when the selectmen agreed to give the department five rather than seven cruisers.

The Board of Selectmen’s overall budget does not include expenditures to fund the town’s debt service, which Finance Director Ben Spragg plans to unveil next week. The debt service is the total amount of money the town is required to pay for borrowing for past projects.