Date: Fri 26-Jan-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

budget-Cascella-Fetzer-

Full Text:

Budget Review: Roadwork, Personnel Director Expenses Questioned

B Y K AAREN V ALENTA

The Board of Selectmen met Wednesday night to begin reviewing the $18.8

million budget proposed by First Selectman Bob Cascella for the 1996-97 fiscal

year.

The vote on the initial sections of the budget reviewed by the selectmen

generally fell along party lines, with Democrat Gary Fetzer objecting to

increased spending and expessing concern over Mr Cascella's proposal that the

town bond $1 million for roadwork.

"I stated last year that I wouldn't vote for any increases in the budget," Mr

Fetzer said. "I have a lot of concern about bonding an extra million for roads

while at the same time giving money back to the taxpayers as Mr Cascella has

proposed. We are pushing debt off onto the younger people in town."

Mr Cascella has proposed using $1.2 million of the town surplus to reduce

taxes in next year's budget.

"With this winter, I forsee a major increase in just the cost of maintenance

on our roads," Mr Fetzer said. "And I think there is a need to start putting

money into our open space account to preserve the quality of life in our

community."

Mr Fetzer also objected to Mr Cascella's proposal that the town allocate

$40,000 to hire a human resources director.

"How will this save the town money?" Mr Fetzer asked.

Republican Selectman James Mooney said a personnel director would allow the

first selectman to spend his time on other tasks than day-to-day personnel

matters.

"A human resource director can hire, discipline, evaluate and release (fire)

employees when necessary," Mr Mooney said. "Mishandle one workman's

compensation complaint and one other issue and you've paid the salary for this

position. Hiring a professional will allow us to save on labor attorneys and

outside consultants."

The account that includes the human resource director position was approved on

a 2-1 vote with Mr Fetzer casting the negative vote.

Mr Fetzer also objected to Mr Cascella's proposal to spend $37,000 on computer

hardware for the town offices.

"While I think it is a good idea that the town join the computer generation, I

think it should be phased in over several years with the town spending about

$12,000 a year," Mr Fetzer said. "By buying one-third of the equipment each

year we will have the ability to stay ahead of the technology curve, getting

better equipment each year and not having it all become obsolete at the same

time."

Mr Mooney disagreed.

"If you purchase it all together you have compatible equipment," he said. "You

can't buy computers piecemeal."

The proposal passed, 2-1.

The selectmen voted 3-0 to approve the proposed spending for other accounts,

including Social Services, the tax collector's office, Board of Tax Review,

Probate Court, town clerk's office, registrars of voters, tax assessor's

office, financial director's office, the town-school administration computer

center, the Conservation Commission, Commission on Aging, the pension fund,

and other spending such as for unemployment compensation, and health insurance

for town employees.

Finance Director Ben Spragg recommended that the town budget more for its

self-funded health insurance program next year. "Our claims are just huge this

year," he said. "We are maxing out. Last year we spent $1 million but we've

already hit $708,000 for the first five months of this year."

Mr Spragg said the town has a "stop-loss" plan that begins to pay once the

town pays $1,186,000 in claims. "I have no doubt that we have saved hundreds

of thousands of dollars by being self-insured," he said. "But claims can

fluctuate significantly from one year to the next. If the claims continue to

increase at this pace, the town might need $1.4 million to fund this account

in January 1997."

The selectmen agreed to budget $850,000 for 1996-97 and put another $50,000

into the contingency account to be transferred later into the health insurance

account if needed.

Workshops are scheduled for January 25, January 29 and January 31 to review

other budget accounts. The meetings will be held at 7:30 pm in the conference

room at Town Hall South.