The RTM Ways and Means Committee met on Monday, January 7, 2008, at 7:00 PM at Canoe Brook Senior Center, 11 Cherry Hill Road, Branford, CT.
Present for Ways and Means were Representatives Nardella, Prete, Avitable, and Thayer. Rep. Keefe was absent. Representatives Black, Fowler, Bodner, Sullivan, Lambert, Docknevich, and Sterling were present for the Rules and Ordinances Committee. Also present : Assistant Building Official William Bergantino, Registrars of Voters Burkard and Hally, Town Clerk Kelly, Representatives Reiners and Twohill, and Selectman Opie.
The Committee heard these items:
1. To consider and, if appropriate, approve a request from the Registrar of Voters for the following transfer (FY 2007-08):
From: 101-4112-412.11-03 Voting Machine R&M $(6,000)
From: 101-4904-494.59-13 Contingency $( 800)
TOTAL $(6,800)
To: 101-4112-412.11-02 Election Workers $ 2,600
To: 101-4112-412.61-01 Operating Supplies $ 4,200
TOTAL $ 6,800
Registrars of Voters Burkard and Hally presented. The transfer is needed to pay for costs associated with the November 2007 election. This was the first election to use the new optical scan machines and paper ballots. Operating supplies included the paper ballots and HAVA compliant phone lines. Costs were also higher because an audit of the Third District voting was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of the new system. Much of the expense will be reimbursed by the Secretary of the State's office, but the amount of the reimbursement was not available yet.
The Committee approved the transfer by a vote of 4-1.
2. To consider and, if appropriate, approve a request from the Building Department, which when combined with existing funds will enable the purchase of a hybrid SUV (FY 2007-08):
From: 101-4205-425.33-17 Consulting Services $( 3,700)
To: 101-5000-500.95-10 Capital Projects $ 3,700
Item 2 was heard jointly with the Rules and Ordinances Committee. Assistant Building Official William Bergantino presented. The Town is purchasing three hybrid Ford Escape SUV's for Public Works, the Water Pollution Control plant, and the Building Department. The new vehicles will replace Jeep Cherokees. A total of $45,000 was budgeted for FY 2007-2008 for the three vehicles. A state grant will provide $6900 per vehicle to cover the difference in price from a standard gasoline engine vehicle compared to a hybrid. The three vehicles will cost the Town a total of $48,700. The $3700 transfer from the Consulting budget is available because the use of a part-time consultant to act as an assistant building inspector has been less than budgeted.
Ways and Means voted 3-1 to approve; R & O voted 7-0 to approve.
3. To consider and, if appropriate, approve a request from the Town Clerk for the following transfer (FY 2007-08):
From: 101-4904-494.59-13 Contingency $( 9,775)
To: 101-4101-401.52-01 Update Law Ordinances $ 9,775
From: 101-4904-494.59-13 Contingency $( 1,500)
To: 101-4101-401.58-01 Training & Education $ 1,500
Town Clerk Kelly presented. The $9775 transfer will be used to replace the small format Town Code Books, which are in various states of being out of date. Sixty-five new Code Books, up-to-date, recodified, and reformatted to 8 1/2 X 11" will be delivered by March. The transfer was approved 4-0.
The $1500 transfer will fund training and education for the members of the RTM, many of whom are new this term. The Committee voted to approve the measure by a vote of 4-0. The Committee expressed its intent to create a framework for the administration of this funding by endorsing the following resolution drafted by Rep. Reiners:
Resolved, that the RTM wishes to establish the following guidelines for the encumbrance of funds allocated to Training and Education in the RTM Account 101-4101-401.58-01: The Moderator's approval is necessary before any encumbrance of these funds shall be made. No approval shall be given for more than 2 training events for any legislator and the tuition paid for any single event shall not exceed $100 per person.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:45.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott Thayer
Ways and Means Committee Chair
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