Selectmen Add Partially Funded Teen Librarian, Make Other Adjustments to CAO’s Proposed 2013-2014 Budget

With partial funding for a teen librarian position and some other modifications to Chief Administrative Officer Robert Skinner's original proposal, the Board of Selectmen Wednesday voted to pass along a $9.5 million town side budget to the Board of Finance.

The spending plan represents a 3.99 percent increase over the 2012-2013 approved budget and includes $965,831 in capital improvements and $8,590,047 in the town operations budget for a total of $9,555,878. Skinner’s preliminary budget proposal was $9,541,386, which would have been a 3.83 increase from the 2012-2013 budget of $9,189,379.

The plan will now go to the Board of Finance, which will eventually peruse it as well as the spending plan from the Board of Education, which has not yet been adopted.

While selectmen were not in total agreement on every tweak, Wednesday’s vote to adopt the entire package was unanimous.

Some of the changes adopted by selectmen were in personnel.

While not in Skinner’s proposal, the Canton Public Library for the fourth year appealed to selectmen to fund a 19-hour a week teen services librarian with a salary of $26,182.

After much discussion, selectmen included a 16-hour a week position and funded $15,000 toward it. 

Selectmen trimmed the library publications budget by $3,000, and allotted for fewer Sunday hours — two suggestions that library director Robert Simon offered as areas as possible savings. Selectmen said Simon would also have to make up the remaining difference of approximately $3,000 with staff adjustments or other savings.

While three selectmen supported the position, they also warned it could still be cut if the finance board requires any reductions in their adopted operations budget.

“I just know we’re going to get hammered from the Board of Finance,” selectman Lowell Humphrey said. “I can’t make any promises that this will be at the top of my priority list in round 2.”

Selectmen kept a proposed 25-hour Fire/EMS Business Manager in the budget at approximately $42,000. The salary is based on similar positions in the area, Skinner said at previous meetings. In his proposal, Skinner said the person in the position would need previous emergency services experience and could help keep up with ever increasing regulations, mandates and paperwork. Selectmen also said the person would ensure the department followed bid procedures and purchase order requirements. 

The department structure was another subject selectmen discussed at length, indicating the town could eventually consider the idea of a paid chief, perhaps combining such a position with other emergency functions. 

Selectmen also included Skinner’s proposal for a Department of Public Works Administrative Assistant but opted not to add a proposed part-time Senior Center Coordinator. They did, however, keep a recommendation for a $12,000 increase for Senior and Social Services Director Claire Cote after Skinner said her salary is 40 percent below the local area average.

Other cuts from Skinner’s proposal included removing a $4,000 plan to have Nutmeg television film Board of Selectmen meetings, and $6,000 in equipment purchases and software support for the police department. The latter came after police said further research was needed on proposed GPS, camera and computer equipment.

Selectmen also reduced funding for a study to expand the sewer service area to the Route 44 “Tri-Town” area near the Simsbury and Avon town line from $25,000 to $15,000.

The board also reduced the Parks and Recreation budget by $15,000, asking director Brian Wilson to increase the department’s special revenue fund by that amount through tweaks in the way the town splits the money for programs with instructors. 

Selectmen made that move after members spoke strongly about the amount of money some instructors of Parks and Recreation Department sponsored programs have taken home.

For example, first selectmen Richard Barlow said a swim coach made more than $9,000 in the 2012 season.

“I find that totally unacceptable,” Barlow said.

However, fees, participation and town resources vary and many programs do not generate that kind of revenue. Barlow told Wilson he could decide how to make the adjustments where needed. 

Increases from Skinner’s proposal included a $4,298 adjustment due to an insurance assessment changes, $65,000 toward police dispatch equipment and $32,000 for a Department of Public Works tractor with seeder.

Selectmen kept Skinner’s recommended $500,000 for road improvements.

Next week the Board of Education is expected to further discuss Superintendent Kevin Case’s proposed budget of $24,571,072, a $1,130,670 or 4.82 percent increase over the approved 2012-2013 schools spending plan of $23,440,402.

School board members have already indicated they are working to lower that increase. The school board is expected to adopt its budget proposal on Tuesday, March 5. The meeting is set for 7 p.m. in room F of the Canton Community Center. 

Wednesday night selectmen did not include any additional financial support for Case's proposal for a school resource officer, indicating that the school board may not go forward with the proposal. The Board of Education finance committee was also discussing areas of possible adjustment Friday morning.  

See a complete budget timeline here.

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