2018-10-11 Joint TOWN OF BERLIN
JOINT BUDGET PRIORITY MEETING
BOARD OF FINANCE, TOWN COUNCIL & BOARD OF EDUCATION
October 11, 2018
7:00 P.M.
A. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Lomaglio called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
C. ROLL CALL
Board of Finance
Those in attendance were: Sal Bordonaro
Kevin Guite
Mark Holmes
Sam Lomaglio, Chairman
Gerald Paradis
John Richards
Town Council
Those in attendance were: Councilor Alex Giannone
Mayor Mark Kaczynski
Councilor Brendan Luddy
Councilor Charles Paonessa
Councilor Karen Pagliaro
Absent was: Councilor Jo-Ann Angelico-Stetson
Councilor Peter Rosso
Board of Education
Those in attendance were: Richard Aroian
Julia Dennis
Timothy Oakes
Tracy Sisti
Matthew Tencza, President
Absent�vas: Jake Fisher
Jaymee Miller
Adam Salina
Dr. Kari Sassu
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D. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Kristin Campanelli, 56 Hummingbird Drive—Ms. Campanelli asked members of the three
governing boards to take a stand against hate and to pass a resolution condemning hate in
Berlin.
Rachel Rochette, 61 Ellsworth Boulevard—Ms. Rochette observed that the upcoming
budget will be deliberated in the midst of a municipal election year. She asked that the
members do what is right for the Town, and not to skimp for the sake of their reelection
campaigns. She also asked that the 10-year capital plan be developed per the Town's needs
and published for the public. Ms. Rochette also asked Republican Town Committee
members to denounce the 30th District candidate Baleshiski's many offensive twitter posts.
She stated that members shouldn't condone his behavior.
Mayor Kaczynski responded that he doesn't condone hate speech.
E. NEW BUSINESS
1. Meeting process & overview—Chairman, Board of Finance
Chairman Lomaglio stated that the parties are here to discuss FY 2019 Town and School
budget priorities and the Board of Finance welcomes input from To�vn Council and
Board of Education.
2. Discussion of priorities
a. Town Council
Mayor Kaczynski stated that School Security and the Fire Department radio
upgrades are on the top of his list. There has been progress with the security
initiative (the vestibule project is in the works; a School Security meeting with the
public; informal conversation with Superintendent Benigni and Board of
Education President Tencza) but more needs to happen. Mayor Kaczynski is in
favor of more cameras and security staff in the schools. More research and
discussion is needed to address whether or not the security personnel should be
artned, including community input. The Fire Department radios are being
repaired ��vith some replacement equipment, but the rest of the system is becoming
obsolete and will require a full upgrade ($0.7 - $I.OM).
Mayor Kaczynski also outlined some projects that have already been addressed
(most with the aid of partial State grant funding), including: bridge repairs (7 in
various stages of planning / completion); Kensington Dam repair; energy
upgrade (building lighting, insulation, solar panels and street lights); sidewalk
construction; Road paving; BHS building renovation; BHS Tennis / Basketball
courts renovation; Library elevator; Pistol Creek paving; Scalise Field
renovation.
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Councilor Pagliaro stated School Security was a top priority for her, and officers
in every school is the right thing for Berlin's kids. She also wants the Town to
think in a forward manner with thoughtful capital planning and purchases. A
situation where a Town vehicle breaks down in a time of need should be avoided.
Councilor Pagliaro also thanked Town Manager Healy for all of the repair �vork
done on streets and bridges. She asked the Board of Finance and the Board of
Education to look at areas where we can cut expenses without harming our
citizens, Town and its employees. Councilor Pagliaro has some ideas and would
be happy to discuss with the Board of Finance during budget preparation. Lastly,
she feels that the ESS program cannot be set aside. Each child at risk must be
supported.
Councilor Giannone also supports the least detrimental, thoughtful cuts to the
upcoming budget to save tax payers money �vhile maximizing services. He
supports security officers in the schools, and feels that retired law enforcement
officers are ideal candidates. Not only are former officers trained for protection
and traumatic incidents, they are unlikely to seek health or retirement benefits.
Councilor Giannone stated that North Haven staffs retired officers that are also
sworn into the local Police Department and provide augmentation when school is
not in session. (Berlin could utilize additional officers for highway and traffic
duty—either during road work or for events like the Berlin Fair.)
Councilor Luddy stated he agrees �vith trying to add some items into the budget.
He has heard complaints about the To�vn bonding road paving costs. Councilor
Luddy fully supports a 10-year plan and agrees Berlin has to stop bonding. He
asked if the Town purchasing department is being utilized to its fullest extent, and
suggested possible savings by pooling expenditures / common projects over the
departments. Councilor Luddy feels school safety should be a priority, the To�vn
has to pay down some debt and utilize a 10-year plan as best we can. He further
suggests that each departments project incremental reductions (i.e.: 1% - 6%) to
kno�v exactly what those cuts would do to the department's services.
Councilor Paonessa stated that safety is a priority to everybody. He continued to
say that school vehicles, roads and bridges are also safety components. Councilor
Paonessa suggested possibly consolidating positions in the Town and/or Board of
Education and share resources where possible. He stated that Berlin can't spend
money it doesn't have.
b. Board of Education
Board of Education President Tencza stated that his top two priorities are School
Safety and support / enhancement of the curriculum. Safety is not in the current
operating budget, but it should not �vait. The schools need security personnel and
the possibility of losing the School Resource Officers currently assigned to
McGee Middle School and Berlin High School is a major concern and
disappointment. President Tencza suggests retired law enforcement officers in
each school to be supplemented by the SROs. He is very frustrated with the
delays in the vestibule installation.
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President Tencza stated that Berlin students achieve at high levels, and each
generation learns faster than the one before it. Superintendent Benigni's goal is to
have an elite high school to draw people to Town. Also, the Board of Education
should continue developing curriculum, but instead it is forced to keep scaling it
back.
Last year, the Board of Education was disappointed to have to return its biggest
budget increase. (The State reduced the Town's approved fiscal year 2018 ECS
funding during fiscal year 2018, as projected. A spending reduction was
requested of the Board of Education by the Council during fiscal year 2018 in
direct response to the State's fiscal year 2018 ECS funding reduction.
Subsequently, the State adopted a fiscal year 2019 budget that returned the ECS
funding level for Berlin to the originally approved fiscal year 2018 level;
however, this funding is for a different fiscal year.) President Tencza added that
Berlin is +$20,000 over median income and has a favorable tax rate compared to
our neighbors.
As the school year just started, it's too early to get into specifics of what is needed
in the upcoming budget, but he recognized the need to look for efficiencies �vhile
maintaining a quality educational program. The Board of Education is about to
begin mediation of the teachers' union contract. He pointed out that the Board of
Education has eliminated over 20 positions in past 2 years. ESS was paid out of
`'end-of-year funds" for last few years. President Tencza will put it into the
budget again this year hoping it can remain in — it is a successful program and
helps students.
President Tencza agrees that Berlin should stop bonding but pointed out that other
towns have established an acceptable level of bonding debt and keep the debt
repayment a flat line built into the tah rate. This practice allo�vs the to�vns to
continually address aging buildings and equipment. President Tencza added that
Berlin is a great to�vn and he is proud of���hat we have.
Mr. Richards asked about the recent facilities study, and President Tencza
responded that the study is not fully complete but he does have some early
indications. Informally, the report does not recommend that a school be closed —
doing so may show initial cost savings but will cost more over time. The study
also does not suggest restructuring grades, both due to public opinion (97% of
poll responses were in favor of neighborhood schools instead of bussing based on
grades) and because of costs to transport students and reconfigure classrooms.
President Tencza also stressed that there is no plan to close Hubbard School, but
that evaluation of inechanicals at all schools other than BHS show they are
beyond their useful life. At some time, replacements will be needed in the
Facilities budget.
Mr. Oakes challenged all three governing bodies to do what's best for the To�vn.
He observed a lot of early talk about cuts, and doesn't feel that mindset is ��vhat is
best for the Town. Mr. Oakes feels that everybody should ask "what do we need"
and not just "what do we need to cut?"
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c. Board of Finance
Chairman Lomaglio communicated that the Board of Finance carefully crafted a
budget last year that addressed the Town's needs but cut costs where possible and
it was rejected. He stated that the Town side was cut to bare bones and any cut
will affect services. Chairman Lomaglio asked for input and specific ideas of
possible reductions that won't hurt services.
Mr. Richards suggested that looking at the 10-year capital plan is the first step. In
order to fund operations, capital and school security, we need to know what it will
cost and how we are going to pay for it. He stated that the 10-year plan is
essentially a life-cycle plan. Equipment has a useful life cycle — it ages and
breaks do�vn, and eventually needs to be replaced.
Mr. Paradis stated that very little is funded thru local mill rate each year—projects
tend to be bonded. Continuing to bond every project and every capital need is not
a sustainable plan and will continue to add to Berlin's high debt. Mr. Paradis
stated that smaller things (police cruisers, dump trucks, etc.) should be funded
with the budget every year.
Mr. Paradis also stated that during budget deliberations this year there �vill be
discussion surrounding the Visiting Nurse Association. He recognizes that the
department is in the To��n Charter, and it does provide very good service to the
To�vn, however the services it provides are offered by many other organizations.
Last year, the VNA budgeted $1.7M of expenditures and only took in $1 M of
revenue. The VNA department has consistently lost money — residents may be
unaware of how much this benefit actually costs taxpayers. Other than Berlin,
Orange is the only other town-associated VNA in Connecticut and it makes
money. Mr. Paradis is aware that the new VNA director is trying to improve
patient mix and reimbursement levels, but feels it is incumbent on the Board of
Finance to look closely at this consistent loss. Should Berlin be in the business of
visiting nurses, and if so what is the acceptable level of subsidy for this
department?
Councilor Pagliaro responded that the new administrator is very good and trying
to make positive changes. She stated there is a lot of opportunity and is interested
to see ho�v the director moves things around. Councilor Pagliaro added that the
department should be able to sustain itself—it should require no subsidy.
Mr. Holmes stated that dozens of items in the capital plan are actually operating
budget items. They should not be considered capital ehpenditures and should not
be bonded.
Mr. Bordonaro stated that Berlin needs to balance its needs ���ith what it can
afford. He proposes that departments to look at their budgets for possible
reductions. Mr. Bordonaro added that for the last budget the Board of Finance did
the safety items on the capital list.
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F. ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Paradis moved to adjourn at 8:33 p.m, which was seconded by Mr. Holmes. The motion
passed unanimously.
Submitted by,
Dana Borges
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