Date: Fri 29-Jan-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

selectmen-highway-dept-budget

Full Text:

Selectmen Trim Highway Dept. Budget

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The Board of Selectman Wednesday sliced more than a million dollars out of the

proposed Public Works budget.

The town's largest agency had requested an overall budget of more than $7

million, of which $6 million was for highway maintenance.

Public Works Director Fred Hurley's budget proposal was up $1.8 million over

the current budget. The selectmen let him know that his budget would be cut

and asked him where those cuts should be applied.

"I would almost do a percentage reduction. Don't gut one area to support

another area. Bring the numbers down proportionately," he said.

Public works still received an $800,000 increase over the current budget. Much

of the added costs stemmed from the department's shift in policy which calls

for more resurfacing or paving of roads in an effort to hold them together.

"There simply is not enough time or money to do reconstruction on all of

Newtown's troubled roads," said Mr Hurley, the department's director. "By

using chip seal you're getting a good return on your investment. It's a cost

effective way to try and hold on to your roads."

This change in policy upped annual paving figures of around $100,000 to $1

million dollars this year. Requests for overlays, chips seal, drainage and

capital equipment are all up.

The highway department's capital road reconstruction cost is set at $1.3

million.

"Just because you're using more chip seal does not mean you don't need capital

reconstruction," Mr Hurley said.

The selectmen also found some savings when they agreed to cut two large

trucks, two pick-ups and five dump truck bodies out of the department's

capital equipment request.

Police Budget

Also on Wednesday, the selectmen cut $130,000 out of the police department's

proposed budget. The reduction lowered the department's total budget to

$2,427,636.

Chief James Lysaght had requested five new Crown Victoria cruisers to replace

his oldest models, but will receive only three next year.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal doubted whether the department even needs as

many cars as it has now. "Every time I go by the police department I see seven

or eight cars parked out in front. This isn't during the shift change, either.

My only conclusion is we have too many cars," he said,

That is not the case, Chief Lysaght responded. "The fleet is not too large.

The fact is we are understaffed."

At one point, the department was actually down as many as 10 people. There

were five vacancies (which were just filled within the past two months), two

cadets were at the academy and two more were on sick leave.

"These are officers who should be out using those cars," Chief Lysaght said.

The department currently has 14 "first-line" Crown Victorias.

The selectmen also reduced the police budget by moving a computer request into

a separate line item.

There were no increases in spending requests for police personnel.