1977/12/22MINUTES
EXECUTIVE BOARD
December 22, 1977
'SPECIAL MEETING
The meeting was called to order at 1'1;00 a.m, by Mayor Arthur B. Powers.
Deputy Mayors Joseph P. Lanzoni and Robert A. Argazzi were present.
Also present were: Ron Cioffi, representing the Hartford Courant; Mr.
Morgan Seelye, Director of'Public Works; Mr. Joseph Paskiewicz, Deputy
Director of Public Works; Mr. Richard Howard, Assistant Town Engineer;
Mr. Donald Prue, Highway Superintendent and Mr. Edward Haber, Chief
Mechanic.
The first item to be:~discussed was Mr. Haber's budget. Mr. Haber recom-
mended that the items in his budget relating to the first, second and
third assistants be "lUmped" together into an account called "Labor".
Mr. Haber said this is done in all other departments such as Public
Grounds, Highway, Golf Course, etc. Only his department is singled out
to show each employee's salary. Mayor powers and Mr. Lanzoni agreed that
they saw no problem with that. Mr. Argazzi asked if when they come in
for their requested salary would it be broken down. Mayor Powers said
that they are on hourly rates and under union contract, they received so
much per hour as their increase. Mr. Argazzi said as long as it. is done
in other departments he could see no reason not to lump the garage into
one category.
A rundown of Mr. Haber's requests were as follows:
VEHICLES, MAINTENANCE ~ OPERATION:
#401, Gas & Oil. Requested $S0,000. This item was reduced to $4'~000
#402, Town Tires. Requested $8,S00. This is down from--~year~u" etg
the purchase of payloader tires in the present budget~. ReqUest granted.
#403, Parts. Requested $36,000. This was reduced by the Board to only
$30,000.
#404, Contractual Service. Requested $7500. The Board 'reduced this to
$7000.
Mayor Powers explained that it is always difficult to predict these figures,
particularly gas and oil. A lot depends on how many snow storms we have
and the number of breakdowns. There have been a few new vehicles added.
However, if it becomes necessary to ask for an additional' appropriation in
any of these accounts we will go before the Board of Finance at the apro-
priate time.
MUNICIPAL GARAGE:
General consent to lump together the labor accounts into one.
#504, Overtime: Requested $2000. This is due to the fact that overtime
is no longer taken from the Snow and Ice Removal Account, consequently,
more is needed in the garage's account. Request(:.~for $3000 granted.
#506, Supplies and Tools. Requested $8500. Increase of $500 due to in-
creased costs. Request for $8500 granted.
Executive Board Minutes
12/22/77
-2-
Under Capital Items, Mr. Haber is asking for a Brake Vacuum, which he say~,x
he must have to meet OSHA standards. The cost is $300. REQUEST GRANTED.~ ]
He is also asking for a 4000 gallon tank and used pump for Diesel Fuel.
He said the present tank is in an area where the water table is 7" below
the top of the tank. The tank is very old and has rusted out at the bot-
tom. He periodically has to drain it out because of the water which seeps
in. REQUEST GRANTED.
Mr. Lanzoni. said if it means we will save money we should allow Mr. Haber
to make the purchase of the tank.
Mayor Powers said he had no objection as long as it is actually needed.
Mr. Argazzi said, put it in. If he needs it, he needs it
Mr. Haber said he would also like a new tire machine. The Mayor said that
this is a large jump in capital expenditures in Mr. Haber's budget over last
year. There was a discussion about the possibility of repairing the tire
machine and Mr. Haber said he would see if he can get it repaired.
It was agreed to leave in the Brake-Vac at $500, and the 4000 gallon tank
and used pump for diesel fuel at $3000.
Mayor Powers said that Mr. Habe~ has always been careful with the Town's
money and usually doesn't ask for things unless he feels they are necessary.
. x
By general consent, it was agreed to hold the next E ecutive Board meetiff~.-~
on Wednesday, 12/28/77 at 7:00 p.m.
At this point, the p~blic Works Department, Highway and Engineering budgets
were present.ed, for discussion.
Mr. Seelye pre'sented his budgets along with a letter.describing the areas
where increases were being asked for.
#601 SuPerintendent of Highways - this is a salary item.
#602 Labor There is a requested increase of $14,560 which reflects
replacement of one Maintainer I which is one of the two Positions
which were deleted from the 76-77 and 77-78 budgets, at~7800, the
remainder of the increase is for pay raises bargained with the union.
THE EXECUTIVE BOARD HAS REJECTED THE HIRING 'OF ANOTHER EMPLOYEE AT
THIS ~'iME. DECREASE THIS REqUEST,.BY $7'800.
#603 Overtime - Requested $8S00. Only $8000 granted. In noting the increas,
in this account from $S00 to the $8000 which was granted by the Board,
this is due to the elimination of item #612, Snow ~ Ice Removal, Over-
time. This was done for bookkeeping purposes.
#604 Subcontract rental - $6000 requested. Mayor Powers said for now we
will leave this at the $6000, but that it could possibly be cut back
to $5750. ~
#605 Catch Basin Cleaning - Requested $6000. Mayor Powers said he felt
that while a small increase might be feasible that we should be able
to hold this down. THE 'BOARD AGREED 'TO INCREASE THIS ITEM-FROM
$5200 TO $5600.
Executive Board Minutes
12/22/77
-5-
#606 Materials - no change
#607 Small Tools Increase to $1S00::allowed due to increased costs for
_.supplies.
#608 Office Supplies - Requested $250. ONLY $200 ALLOWED.
#609 Tree Removal Requested $4000. ONLY $2000 ALLOWED. The Board
felt the department could live with the same appropriation as last year.
#610 Snow & Ice Removal Materials - no change
#611 Snow ~ Ice Removal - Truck Rental - no change
#612 Snow & Ice Removal - Overtime - eliminated-see Item #603, Overtime.
#613 Drainage - no change
#614 Curbing & Widening - no change
#616 New Street Signs - A requested increase'of $200. ALLOWED.
#617 Highway Monuments - A requested increase of $S0. ALL'OWED.
#619 Summer Help - no change
#621 Safety Equipment & Supplies - no change
#622 Maintenance of Installed Equipment - this is a new item and Mr. Seelye
is requesting $2S0. This is required to provide funds for servicing
the equipment installed in the Highway Department buildings, such as
air compressors, and the high temperature hot water cleaner. THIS
ITEM WAS ALLOWED BY THE BOARD.
The Highway Department's Capital Budget was then'preSented aslfolloWs:
The following items have been requested. All have been accePted by the
Executive Board with the exception of the Highway Superintendent's car
at $4200. This is no longer needed as the Superintendent has just received
one of the nurses, cars which was not traded-in. Ail Capital Expenditures
it was pointed out would be discussed in further detail as they relate to
the amount of money in the Federal Revenue Sharing portion of the budget.
Truck (Medium) with plow, material spreader and radio - $26,000
Pick-up truck with hydraulic tailgate at $5500
Curbing Machine Feed Hopper at $4000
Brush Cutters (2) at $750.00
Box for Wood Chips at $2500
Perimeter Fence for Highway Department, Park Department and Police De-
partment Impoundment (560') at $4800.
There was a discussion on a leaf pick up machine, but Mr. seelYe said it
is not really necessary. We have a good leaf pick up service through our
rubbish collector and this being a suburban area most people use the leaves
for compost. In urban areas this can be a problem because of narrow streets
and no room for the leaves. Mayor Powers agreed that we do have good ser-
vice now on leaf pick up; bnt he said, you'd be surprised how many people
ask about our instituting a leaf machine pick up.
Executive Board Minutes
12/.2Z/.7.7
The next budget Mr. Seelye presented was the Public Works and Engineerin~
Department.
Account #701 through 704 are all salary accounts.
#705 Summer Help - no change.
#706 and 707 are also salary items.
#710 Supplies - no change.
#720 - Refuse Disposal no change
#722 Sanitation ~ Leaf Collection-Contracted. This item has a requested
increase of $5000. This is to reflect inflation and additional units
served. THE BOARD APPROVED THIS INCREASE TO $95~000.
#723 Railroad Spur-Handtools ~ Supplies
$1.oo.
This item was cut from $100 to
#724 - Railroad Spur - Contract Service
to $1.00.
This item was cut from $200
#725 Sidewalk Maintenance - Contract Service - no change
#726 Call Before You Dig. This is a new item for costs related to the
new program which has just been instituted. Requested: $500. GRANTED,
#727 Engineering Outside Services ~ Equipment Rental. This is also a
new item which will be used for occasional consulting services and rental
of specialized equipment used for survey work, where purchase is not
justified. 'REQUEST 'GRANTED .
Capital Expenditures for Public Works'are:
Radio with outside speaker for inspector's vehicle at $1000
Road Reconstruction - Norton Road at $165,000
Mayor Powers said this would also be considered under Federal Revenue
Sharing. However, while agreeing with Mr. Seelye that it was important
to complete the small stretch of Norton Road still untouched, he did feel
that we had to put into this budget the Beautification of Farmington Avenue.
It was the general consensus of the Executive Board that no action would
be taken on the capital expenditures in Mr. Seelye's budget until the Fed-
eral RevenUe Sharing Budget has been considered.
Mayor Powers read a letter from the Chairman of the Board of Education in
which she advises that her Board is inviting the Executive Board to sit in
on their meetings, particularly their budget meetings. Mayor Powers said
he felt that this was an extremely fine ges'iure and shows a willingness
cooperate with the Executive Board. He read a letter which he had writteh"
in reply thanking the Board of Education for its courtesy.
At this point (1:00 p.m.) Mr. Argazzi left the meeting.
Executive Board Minutes
12/22/77
On motion by Mr. Lanzoni, seconded by Mayor Powers, it was voted to award
the contracts for snow plowing at public schools to the low bidders as
noted below.. *Denotes low bidder.
SCHOOLS
Berlin High School
McGee School
Griswold School
Hubbard School
Percival School
~illard School
R.A. Berlandy ~ Sons Hinkson Excavating L.Suprenat
--- * $350.00 ---
· $150.00 ......
· 75.00 ......
65.00 --- * $60.00
· 70.00 ---
90.00 * 60.00
MOTION CARRIED.
On motion by Mr. Lanzoni, seconded by Mayor Powers, it was voted to award
the Bond Anticipation Notes for the Housing for the Elderly Project, in
the amount of $S5,000 to the low bidder, New Britain National Bank at an
interest rate of 5.79%. These BANS axe renewals of the original $55,000.
The Bonds were signed by the Board. Other bidders were:
Connecticut Bank ~ Trust
New Britain Bank ~ Trust
Colonial Bank
Hartford National Bank
3.88%
3.97%
4.12%
4.17%
MOTION CARRIED.
On motion by Mr. Lanzoni, seconded by Mayor Powers, it was voted to sign
an agreement between the Town of Berlin and the Connecticut Light ~ Power
Company, granting a right-of-way at the location of the west side of
Kensington Road, said land which is being used as the site for the Housing
for the Elderly project by the Housing AuthOrity. MOTION CARRIED.
There was a discussion concerning the need to set a Town Meeting for some
time in the near future. Several items will be coming in from the Board
of Finance. Ne have already received requests from that Board for Town
Meeting action on appropriating $32,62S.00 from the Antirecession Counter-
cyclical Fund to Debt Retirement and to appropriate $S000 to Account #3812,
Materials and Supplies and $2000 to Account #3813, Contracted Services; both
are accounts in the Superintendent of Public Buildings' budget.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 1:35 p.m.
p~t~f_..~ lla
Secretart