City Council

~AD HOC REPORT~ Budget Ad Hoc: Government I Tuesday April 8, 2025 Chair Joseph Britton called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8, 2025. Present were Committee Members Cheryl Wallace-Smith, Gary Simone, Duane Perkins Emile Buzaid. From the City were Elisa Etcheto, Legislative Assistant; Robin Edwards, Deputy Corporation Counsel; Laurie Esposito, Town Clerk; Waleed Albakry, Planning Director; Sean Hearty, Permit Coordinator; Joan Bielizna, Registrar of Voters; Katie Pearson, Library Director; Joseph DaSilva, Probate Judge; Mark Howarth, Candlewood Lake Authority Director; Katie Hstden, Long Ridge Library Treasurer. Absent were Kim Botelho, Conservation Commission; Mary Ann Doran, Registrar of Voters. Also from the City were Roberto Alves, Mayor; Taylor O’Brien, Chief of Staff, Mayor’s Office; Advisor, Mayor’s Office; Farley Santos, Community & Economic Development Advisor, Mayor’s Office; Joanne Stark, Assistant Finance Director (Operations). Ex Officio Members present were: Peter Buzaid, Michael Coelho, Ben Chianese, Ryan Hawley, Frank Salvatore, and Paul Rotello. Present from the public were Tom Brown, Michael Flanagan, Albert Oliveira, Ed Siergiej, and Mark O’Connor. Chair Britton opened discussion with the Long Ridge Library; Member Duane Perkins noted a conversation he had earlier with Library Director, Barbara Fulton, who confirmed that the funding was adequate, he thanked Ms. Fulton and Ms. Hstden for their work. The budgets for Legislative Assistant, City Council and Ordinances was opened for discussion; Mr. Coelho thanked Ms. Etcheto for all that she does for the Council. Member Duane Perkins asked the Probate Judge about funding; Judge DaSilva confirmed that these funds are for office needs and he noted changes that have been made to save funds; Member Emile Buzaid asked about postage; Judge DaSilva confirmed postage is the office’s largest expense; Mr. Coelho asked about legal notice costs; Judge DaSilva confirmed applicants or filers pay for these costs and that is why it was zeroed out. Member Emile Buzaid asked the Registrar about a decrease to funds for election workers; Ms. Bielizna noted that municipal election turn out is traditionally less and therefore less workers are likely needed; Ms. O’Brien noted the similar numbers between the two municipal election years. Mr. Hawley asked how early voting is expected to affect the budget; Ms. Bielizna explained that she believes these funds are enough. Mr. Coelho asked if grants are available for this year; Ms. Bielizna explained that she has been told there will be no grants for this year. Mr. Howarth addressed Member Duane Perkins questions about carp mitigation and noted that the DEEP runs the program. Mr. Chianese asked about municipalities paying their dues; Mr. Howarth confirmed that this has not been an issue. Member Wallace-Smith asked about the increase to the Conservation Commission; (Unidentified) spoke on the cost of now having to pay for grass cutting which used to be done by a volunteer. Ms. Pearson addressed increased costs with Members Duane Perkins and Wallace-Smith. Mr. Chianese asked about computer lab staffing; Ms. Pearson spoke on a reduction of computer lab use. Mr. Rotello asked about computer maintenance. Mr. Peter Buzaid thanked the library staff for their hard work. Mr. Coelho asked about part time salary cuts; Ms. Prunty noted a change to titles and a consolidation of (handyman) positions. Ms. Pearson confirmed for Mr. Hawley that fines go to the Library Board which then uses those monies to cover grant match costs. Mayor Alves spoke on the importance of the library to the community. Member Duane Perkins asked Mr. Albakry about additional costs for downtown projects; Mr. Albakry confirmed that a modest increase has been requested and that communication of projects is important and could require additional costs in the future. Mr. Rotello asked about state legislature and mandates and costs to advocating for or against them; Mr. Albakry explained that WestCOG is an important partner as well as communication with State Representative Santos. Ms. O’Brien spoke on the lobbyists that also assist with this. Member Duane Perkins asked the Town Clerk about record preservation; Ms. Esposito confirmed that temperature control is monitored and adequate and if repairs are needed the state does offer grants. Member Wallace -Smith asked about Over-time costs and legal notice costs; Ms. Esposito explained that early voting and leans with the Tax Collector lead to overtime costs; and she confirmed more notices and multi-language requirements. Member Emile Buzaid asked about Outside Service costs; Ms. Esposito confirmed costs for computer programs that provide licenses, maps, etc. Ms. O’Brien confirmed for Mr. Chianese that employees are paid for a set number of hours leading to an annual cost (salary). Mr. Chianese asked about staffing needs in the Permit Center; Mr. Hearty confirmed there is some additional need but training takes a long time which he is currently providing to new employees. Member Emile Buzaid asked about fee increases; Mr. Hearty confirmed that he is working with the Mayor to update fees to deter illegal activity. Member Duane Perkins asked for clarification on the cost of salaries; Ms. O’Brien spoke on changes to the Corporation Counsel budget that now have a more reasonable cost of outside attorneys included in Professional and Outside Services. Member Wallace-Smith asked about negotiation costs; Ms. O’Brien explained that the Fire contract should be reviewed every 4 years, Police is being finalized and the Teamsters are coming up. Member Simone asked Ms. Edwards how many attorneys she needs; Ms. Edwards spoke on recent hires and upcoming hires. Ms. Edwards confirmed for Members Wallace-Smith and Perkins that the budget does include salaries for the new attorneys that will be hired to replace retiring staff. Mayor Alves spoke on the need and intent to grow the department with attention to training needs and costs. Ms. Edwards confirmed for Mr. Coelho that the part-time salary has been removed due to the part-time attorney retiring. Ms. Edwards spoke on outside counsel who work on specific needs and Mayor Alves confirmed that increased appeals work is based on the last appraisal and costs will likely increase in 2027 with the next appraisal. Mr. Chianese asked about funds used from the Mayor’s budget to pay for lobbyists and asked for a summary of work done by lobbyists; Mayor Alves spoke on the important role lobbyists have and the work they do to provide vital information to the administration. Mr. Farley spoke on the immense number of bills that are presented each year that the Danbury Legislation would not be able to review on their own. Ms. O’Brien spoke on the lobbyist work that is done to assist with Education funding. Mr. Hawley asked about Travel and Mileage reimbursement; Mayor Alves explained that mileage reimbursement requests are not submitted by the current administration to save funds. Member Duane Perkins spoke on the value of the Membership expenses. Mr. Coelho asked about the zeroing of the department’s Capital Project line item and about the Mayor’s Discretionary Funds; Ms. O’Brien explained that the project funds were moved to a main Capital Project line item to streamline the use of funds and she explained that the Discretionary Funds have always been part of the Mayor’s Office budget and the monies are used to support non-profits through grants or sponsorships. A motion was made by Member Wallace-Smith, and seconded by Member Simone, to recommend that the City Council adopt the General Government I Budget as presented, with a raise for the Town Clerk, said 3% raises shall be effective December 1, 2025 and July 1, 2026. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Member Emile Buzaid, and seconded by Member Simone, to adjourn. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:14 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Joseph Britton, Chair Cheryl Wallace-Smith Greg Simone Duane Perkins Emile Buzaid