ENFIELD TOWN COUNCIL
MINUTES OF A PUBLIC HEARING
APRIL 30, 2008
A Public Hearing was held at the Senior Center, 299 Elm Street, Enfield, Connecticut on Wednesday, April 30, 2008. The Public Hearing was called to order by Chairman Kaupin at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL-CALL – Present from the Enfield Town Council were Councilmen Bosco, Crowley, Dumont, Edgar, Kaupin, Kiner, Jones, Mangini, Nelson and Ragno. Councilman Lee was absent. Also present were Town Manager, Matthew Coppler; Assistant Town Manager, Daniel Vindigni; Town Clerk, Suzanne Olechnicki
Present from the Enfield Board of Education were Judith Apruzzese-Desroches, Tom Arnone, Patrick Droney, Vincent Grady, Andre Greco, Joyce Hall, Gregory Stokes. Charles Johnson and Susan Lavelli-Hozempa arrived at 7:15 p.m.
Also present from the Enfield School System were Dr. John Gallacher, Superintendent of Schools.
Chairman Kaupin read the legal notice of Public Hearing which was published in the Journal Inquirer on April 19, 2008 as follows:
LEGAL NOTICE
PUBLIC HEARING
PROPOSED BUDGET FY 2008-2009
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2008
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the TOWN OF ENFIELD shall hold a PUBLIC HEARING on the Proposed Annual Operating and Capital Budget for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009. The Public Hearing shall be Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at the Senior Center, 299 Elm Street, Enfield, CT. All electors and taxpayers will be provided an opportunity to express their opinions and further give written and/or oral comment regarding the proposed budget.
Also, in accordance with Chapter VI, Section 4 of the Town Charter, along with the Notice of Public Hearing was published a summary of the proposed expenditures and revenues, as well as the amount to be raised by taxation, and that this summary can be found starting on Page 2.
At the Regular Meeting of the Town Council on April 7, 2008, Resolution #9747 was adopted establishing the conduct for this hearing. The resolution is as follows:
RESOLVED, that the Town Council of the Town of Enfield values the opinions and comments of its constituents; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with Chapter VI, Section 4, of the Enfield Town Charter, any elector or taxpayer may have an opportunity to be heard regarding appropriations for the ensuing fiscal years and for the purpose of being heard on issues of vital community importance and concern; and
WHEREAS, the Town Council shall conduct a public hearing at the Enfield Senior Center, 299 Elm Street, Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.;
RESOLVED, that the order of business of the 2007-2008 Budget Hearing be arranged as follows:
1. Presentation of the Town Manager’s Budget by the Town Manager.
2. The Chairman of the Board of Education highlights education budget.
3. Comments from members of the public for the first time.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that each speaker be requested to register with the Town Clerk his name and address and that no speaker be allowed to speak more than five minutes each successive time the speaker’s name is called; additionally, any speaker who has not registered with the Town Clerk will be allowed to speak only after those who have registered no longer wish to speak.
Town Manager, Matthew Coppler, provided a brief overview of the budget process. He then shared the budget parameters that were followed:
· Keep all non-personnel related operational cost increases below 3%
· Freeze staffing levels unless there’s a new revenue source, or if it enhances the safety and welfare of the citizens
· Look for ways to optimize the organization to reduce costs associated with providing services
Mr. Coppler reviewed issues impacting the 2008-09 budget:
· State of Connecticut Funding
· Road 2005 Debt Requirements
· Increase in Water Pollution Control Costs
As concerns State of Connecticut funding, Mr. Coppler noted on the positive side, they see an increase of $1,196,098 in ECS Grant Funding, and this is based upon what they actually received and not what was budgeted in last year’s budget. He noted there’s a requirement whereby $550,000 of this amount has to go to new funding for the school system.
Mr. Coppler stated the State Property Pilot decreased from last year’s budget by $319,729, and there’s a decrease in casino funds of $363,425.
He pointed out the net increase coming from the State, based upon the Governor’s budget, is only $509,000. He stated it’s hoped this number will improve, however, that won’t be known until the State adopts their budget.
Referring to Road 2005 debt requirements, Mr. Coppler stated the Town will be doing over $19 million dollars worth of bonding for the roads projects. He noted to date, they’ve already spent $13 million dollars. He stated this will require an additional $585,167 for debt service.
As concerns the Water Pollution Control Fund, Mr. Coppler pointed out the Town is falling behind in the replacement schedule within the Town’s sewer system. He noted some of the sewer lines are quite old and this is resulting in a lot of failures, which in turn requires the Town to spend a lot of money to repair those pipes. He stated this year’s budget includes the Burns Avenue sewer replacement amounting to $319,757. He noted through the effort of the Town Council last year, the Town has been put on a funding list through the federal government, and they should be seeing some federal monies.
Mr. Coppler stated chemicals for the Water Pollution Control plant have increased considerably over the last couple years, and they’re looking at an increase of about $100,000.
He then reviewed some positive things that this budget accomplishes:
· $1,310,000 for road improvements
· $587,000 for replacement of Public Works and Public Safety Vehicles
· $439,000 to address erosion and drainage issues on Town-owned lands
· $150,000 for the Plan of Conservation and Development
· $120,000 for the next phase of the multi-modal transportation facility
· $100,000 for continued improvement to the Angelo Lamagna Activity Center
· $50,000 for preliminary work to develop site ready industrial/commercial land
Mr. Coppler summarized the following funds:
· General Fund – they’re proposing an expenditure of $118,733,467, which is an increase of about 2.7%
· EMS Fund – increasing by 12.4%
· WPC Fund – increasing by 12.8%
· Social Services Fund – increasing by 2.5%
· Capital Fund – increasing by 31.1%
Mr. Coppler stated all of these funds receive some type of contribution from the General Fund. He noted that although the expenses are going up in the Capital Fund, they’re using different revenue sources that will actually cover most of the costs.
He stated if this budget is adopted, it will result in an increase of .31 over the 2007/08 Mill Rate or about 1.3%.
Mr. Coppler reviewed the steps remaining in this budget process:
· Town Council completes the review of department requests
· Agreement on revenue projects
· Council deliberations for final funding
· Budget adopted by May 19, 2008 – Mill Rate Set
Chairman of the Enfield Board of Education, Andre Greco, presented the 2008-09 budget proposal for the Enfield Public Schools.
Mr. Greco stated the goal for this budget was to create an operating budget that enhances the educational experience for the students. He reviewed the methodology used in the preparation of this budget:
· Due diligence through a structured process
· Engage the community
· Engage key advisors
· Ask the difficult questions
· Focus on educational impact, not just dollars
· Move forward
· Not to simply add contractual costs to the current budget to create “status quo”
· Investigate additions as well as reductions
He noted advisors included the Board of Education Review Committee, the Superintendent, Business Manager, the Enfield Public Schools Administrative Council, the Enfield Teachers’ Association, the faculty and staff of Enfield Public Schools via a survey; School Facilities Director, past budget advisory committee reports, individual board member recommendations, a previous Board of Education member who now serves on the West Hartford Board of Education, Dr. Armand Fusco and the Enfield community.
Mr. Greco stated their starting point was this year’s budget, which is $69.5 million dollars, and they added in the contractual costs which equated to about $2.7 million dollars. He explained those contractual costs are comprised of salaries, benefits, transportation, athletics and maintenance contracts. He noted these are contractual obligations that they obviously have to pay. He pointed out this came up with a starting point of $72.3 million dollars, and that equates to a 3.9% budget increase.
He stated the Budget Review Committee was made up of three Board members, and for six months they reviewed the budget line by line. He noted through that process, the Board was able to reduce the budget by $266,000. He stated these are true efficiencies and not reductions or eliminations.
Mr. Greco stated there were some reductions via retirements, late starts and health care, and this resulted in $661,500 in reductions from the budget. He noted additional reductions were realized with increases in fees, elimination of some reimbursements, reductions were found due to declining enrollment in very specific elective classes at the high school level, and reductions were found in the Facilities budget. He noted these areas reflect a reduction of $369,637.
He stated they looked at a number of additional areas in an effort to reduce this budget. He reviewed those areas they looked at eliminating:
· Technology Teacher at the elementary level
· Three Elementary Library Clerks
· TLC Reading Program
· Language Arts Chairman
· Elementary Math Chairman
· Reduction of library books for $50,000
· Middle School Library Assistant
· Partnership/Mentoring Program
· One Curriculum Director
· Department Chairs at secondary level
· Special Education Department Chair
· Head Teacher stipends
· Three elementary school counselors
· Night custodian supervisor
· School to career labs
· Faculty Managers
· High School Guidance Counselor
· High School Assistant Principal
· Special Education Coordinator
Mr. Greco pointed out the Board of Education requested the administration show in writing what the education impact would be if these eliminations happened. He noted the Board was provided details about what the impact would be with such eliminations. He stated as a result of the information provided, it was decided that none of those positions could be eliminated without having significant negative impact to the students’ educational experience. He pointed out in the proposed budget, none of those positions have been eliminated. He stated the Board of Education did the due diligence and investigated every single item.
He stated they also looked at additions which were recommended by the Enfield Teachers’ Association, faculty, staff, Board of Education subcommittees and individual Board members. He noted these recommended additions amounted to $4.3 million dollars. He stated they looked at the following additions:
· Vice Principals at each elementary school
· Full-day kindergarten
· Band uniforms
· Training for Paraprofessionals
· Textbooks
He noted this Board is realistic, and it was understood they could never bring to the community a budget that had $4.3 million dollars worth of additions. He stated they did pare down the additions list to areas where they feel they really need to make investments in areas such as technology, textbooks, special education, the arts, No Child Left Behind related areas and grant writing. He pointed out there are hundreds of federal and state grants released every year. He noted they need to invest in an individual or outsource company who can help the school system find other monies to offset some of the Town’s cost for education.
Mr. Greco stated Enfield’s special education population continues to increase. He noted the Town legally has to address and provide a fair and appropriate public education for these children, and this is very costly.
He stated the Board believes they can help move the district forward at the minimal cost of $678,000.
Mr. Greco stated this results in a 3% increase in the proposed budget and a $71,717,689 budget.
He went on to list some unknown factors:
· In School Suspension legislation – projected cost $100,000
· Replacement of new administrators (Elementary Principal and High School Vice Principal) – this will result in recruiting costs amounting to $50,000
· Inter District Magnet School Enrollment – projected at $100,000 in tuition
· Potential loss of grants (class size reduction grant - $100,000)
Mr. Greco explained what would happen if the Board does not get a 3% increase. He noted all the items discussed tonight would be back on the table for discussion. He stated there would be no additions, no forward progress, low morale, employee resignations, reductions in teachers. He pointed out there is a list of 24 teachers that have already been told they won’t have a job next year. He stated unfortunately these teachers are comprised of the youngest, brightest and most enthusiastic teachers in the district.
He stated this proposed budget was approved by the Board of Education unanimously. He pointed out this budget process was very disruptive to the administration, teachers and students. He apologized for this disruption, however, he pointed out the due diligence needed to be done.
Mr. Greco pointed out this 3% request is amongst the lowest in the State. He noted most Board of Education budget requests are already in, and the average is 5.9% at this time. He stated this 3% is not status quo or needs based, but rather it’s what is needed to keep Enfield a great place to learn and live.
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
Shannon Roberto, 49 Yale Drive
Stated she’s President of the Enfield Street PTO and the President of the Parent Leadership Association. (PLA)
Ms. Roberto stated the PLA supports the Board of Education’s request for a 3% increase in town funding for the 2008-09 fiscal year. She noted parents are investing in this community, and they’re asking the Town do the same.
She pointed out parents volunteer their time and work diligently to make Enfield a wonderful place to call home. She noted those parents consist of troop leaders, PTO members, food shelf and soup kitchen volunteers, they coach sports teams, organize programs and model civic responsibility to their children. She stated parents also serve on the Board of Education and Town Council.
Ms. Roberto stated the services parents provide are fundamental to the health and vibrancy of this community. She noted if parents need to dedicate more time compensating for an educational deficiency, or leave Enfield on account of it, access to these vital programs would be severely limited, however, the need for these programs would remain. She stated accordingly, there would be a void in the community, or the Town may be asked to fund programs that were previously run by volunteers. She urged the Town to not underestimate the value of what parents give back to the community every day. She pointed out they don’t just pay through their taxes, but they also pay with their time, energy and sweat equity. She noted it’s not too much to ask that the Town recognize and value what parents do and match their in-kind contributions at least as much as their monetary contributions.
Mary MacDonald, Steele Road
Stated she is on a fixed income and does not get salary increases. She stated her belief more money doesn’t necessarily make a better teacher.
Ms. MacDonald questioned the weekly recycling pick-up in consideration of the rising costs in gas and diesel.
She concluded stating her belief senior citizens are being driven out of town due to rising taxes.
Agnes Mercik, 19 Jewel Street
Expressed her appreciation for the work that went into the budget. She went on to note she was hoping there would be no tax increase with this budget.
Ms. Mercik acknowledged a raise for the Superintendent is appropriate, however, she feels 5% is high. She questioned if the proposed 3% increase in the Board of Education budget includes this raise.
She stated she learned Enfield teachers and substitute teachers are amongst the highest paid in the State of Connecticut, however, the quality of education ranks lower. She questioned whether the teachers would be willing to take a salary freeze for a year or two so that the school system can catch up with technology, textbooks, etc.
Ms. Mercik pointed out salaries are usually frozen for a period of time when a business is going through a difficult time. She questioned whether the teachers and administration would be willing to do this. She noted they would then truly know just how dedicated they really are. She questioned why everyone receives a raise on a regular basis. She questioned if this is fair to those who perform in an extraordinary way and what incentive is there when someone knows they will get a raise anyway. She feels the whole salary system should be reviewed.
She stated she supports education, however, she feels the teachers’ contract is very generous and should be enough to sustain them for a year or two while they have a salary freeze. She concluded noting she and her family have been involved with education in various capacities for many years.
Tim Prosinski, 8 Ryefield Drive
Stated he’s a parent, taxpayer and voter in Enfield. He voiced his support of the Board of Education’s budget because he believes the quality of education is a vital part of the community as a whole.
Mary Almeida, 327 Brainard Road
Stated she is a taxpayer of Enfield and a teacher at Hazardville Memorial School.
She noted the budget is not just about compensating teachers. She acknowledged they are getting a pay increase, however, teachers also invest their own money to the students. She stated if they cut teachers, they will have larger classes and this could effect No Child Left Behind requirements. She went on to note the TLC program provides amazing results.
Ms. Almeida stated people before her paid for her education, and she’s now paying for education. She noted this is for the greater good.
She stated they focus on data-driven instruction, but how can this be done without textbooks and technology.
She noted older teachers have spent years of dedication honing their skills and developing a curriculum to help all learners reach academic success.
Ms. Almeida stated they need to enhance the students’ educational experience. She noted rather than focusing on the dollars and cents, it’s the children that really matter.
Maureen Brennan, 11 Sandpiper Road
Expressed her appreciation to the Board and Council for their work on this budget. She spoke about a petition that has been generated. She noted this petition exists as a way to tell the Town that parents and other concerned citizens care about the quality of education in Enfield and they’re paying attention to the issues and they’re willing to invest in the future of Enfield through education even if it means an increase in taxes. She stated she started this petition and sent it out to parents and citizens who she thought might be interested. She noted many people opted to include an additional comment beside their signature on this petition. She read a few as follows:
“With fuel and utility costs increasing at a rapid rate, it just doesn’t make sense to expect our school system to exist using the same dollars next year as this year. Don’t skimp on education”.
“I support the 3% spending increase in education for the children of Enfield, just as Enfield residents supported my children’s education years ago.”
“This increase is worth giving up one large Dunkin Donuts coffee or latte a month, which is the cost of this 3% increase toward our children and grandchildren’s future. We need to start thinking about the future.”
“I was raised in Enfield and educated in our public schools along with my siblings. I recall Enfield’s school system being referred to as one of the best in the surrounding area. As my son enters kindergarten this fall, it’s important to me that he gets the best education he can have. It concerns me that other friends of ours who also have children entering kindergarten have moved out of Enfield citing the schools as part of their reason for leaving town. It is imperative that we invest in our schools, not only to bring them up to where they should be, but also to be leading the state. I hope that when my children grow up, they’ll remember the great education they received in this town and that they choose to live in Enfield and raise their own children here. I support the 3% budget and would be pleased to see a greater investment in the school’s technology plan. It is not only the future, it’s today’s reality.”
Ms. Brennan stated that through this petition, it’s being requested the Town support the 2% increase over last year’s budget allocation. She read the petition as follows:
“We the parents of Enfield’s school children are here. You may not always see us, but we are here. You may not see us because in addition to parenting our children, many of us are working, we are volunteering hundreds of hours at our local schools, we volunteer as coaches, mentors, girl and boy scout leaders, PTO members, religious education teachers and much more. We are with our children doing homework, reading, spending time. We come from various backgrounds, races and socio-economic classes, but we are here. We listen, we watch, we read. We care about our children’s education, we care about the future of our town and we support the Board of Education’s request for a 3% increase in education funding over the 07/08 Town Council approved budget allocation. Our children’s education is worth it.”
Ms. Brennan stated this petition has 250 signatures, as well as over 100 comments. She submitted a copy of the petition to the Council.
Ms. Brennan strongly agrees with the Council’s move toward a zero-based budget system. She feels this is a conscientious way to approach the budget and to be sure that expenses are justified. She noted with the advancement of technology, this should be a feasible goal and with records and spreadsheets available electronically it shouldn’t be very labor intensive as it may have been in the past.
She stated she fully supports the Board’s unanimous decision to form an external audit committee to review expenditures in the school system. She noted it’s important to her as a taxpayer to know that her dollars are being spent in the best way possible. She stated this is why it’s her recommendation that every department have such a committee to review its expenditures periodically.
Ms. Brennan stated she supports the Board of Education’s proposed budget and she hopes the Town Council will support it as well. She noted she’s willing to invest in education and other areas of the Town’s budget when needs are justified as she believes they are within this budget.
She stated the Board of Education members worked very hard this year to present a budget they felt was reasonable. She noted they are a conservative Board and yet they voted unanimously for this budget. She stated they visited the schools and listened to input from the community, and their task wasn’t taken lightly. She noted if the Council isn’t taking the Board’s word for it that the 3% increase is necessary, she hopes the Council visits the schools and programs that will be greatly affected if the budget is cut.
Ms. Brennan stated Enfield’s education budget is estimated to be under-funded by $14 million dollars by the federal government due to the many mandates that are placed on education. She noted the schools are already doing a lot with a little. She urged the Council to support the children’s education since it will benefit the whole community.
She noted she supports the Council’s decision to require residents to have tipper barrels. She doesn’t understand why the Council decided residents could afford approximately $50 for a trash can, but some Council members can’t afford approximately that same amount to invest in the future of the children. She stated surely an investment in the minds of the Enfield’s youth is more important than an investment in a trash can.
Robert LaFlamme, 4 Woodlawn Avenue
Expressed his appreciation for all the hard work that went into the budget.
Referring to the Town budget, Mr. LaFlamme questioned whether the non-contract salary increases will be frozen or will those increases take place at a later date, and what impact will those increases have on the budget should they come after the budget is set.
Sharon Racine, 24 Copper Drive
Voiced her support of the 3% increase for the Board of Education budget. She noted she wished it could be more. She pointed out she does not have any children or grandchildren in the school system, however, she recognizes the benefits of a good education. She noted people should support the whole budget because it supports the community as a whole.
Nikki Price, 1324 Enfield Street
Urged the Town Council to fund the Board of Education as presented. She pointed out that at election time, politicians voiced their support of education. She noted when it comes time to stand up and say that education is a priority, elected officials bow to political pressures from those in the community that believe the school budget is bloated. She stated those same residents vote in large numbers and politicians worry about the next election. She noted in the past, several politicians have catered to special interests resulting in inflated budgets. She stated as a result, many worthwhile town programs, especially with the Board of Education, have suffered. She pointed out these kinds of political decisions hurt the educational system and at some point, she wishes an elected official would stand up at budget time and say that funding education is important. She noted the cuts of the recent past have damaged the education system in Enfield.
Ms. Price stated at the high school level there aren’t enough non-elective level one courses for students to be competitive when applying for college. She noted this means that more periods need to be added to the school day as well as additional high school staff. She stated current students are able to get into good colleges, but this may not be true of Ivy League schools. She noted she’s aware of some young people who have the potential to attend Ivy League schools, but will not be accepted because their high school transcripts are not academically sound.
She noted she is approaching senior citizen status, and she sympathizes with those on a fixed income. She noted nevertheless, she is willing to have an increase in the school budget which is necessary for a quality education.
Ms. Price stated when elected as democrats and republicans, politicians need to leave their D’s and R’s at the door when it comes to funding education. She noted neither party should bow down to their constituents, but rather they should do what’s right in an open, transparent and non-partisan way. She concluded stating that by supporting the budget as requested by the Board of Education, the Council will show their commitment to education is real and not just rhetoric.
Joseph Saroce, 10 Briarwood Drive
Thanked everyone for their work on the budget. He referred to page 182 in the budget book, and questioned the need for stipends amounting to almost $119,000. He stated his understanding the school system also pays teachers and administrators for mileage to travel from one school to another, and he feels this is ridiculous for the salary they’re making.
Mr. Saroce stated contracts are negotiated, and the public has nothing to say about it. He noted this Budget Hearing is the only means for people to express their points of view. He stated this is not good enough. He noted they need a change in the charter so that the budget can be taken to referendum. He stated his belief that in this way, they’ll take the politics out of government.
He stated he pays 27.2% of his social security income just for taxes.
Christine Gifford, 29 Sapphire Road
Voiced her support of the 3% increase for the education budget.
Glenn Hart, Cynthia Circle
Stated he doesn’t like the way the budget is presented. He noted the Board of Education always puts up their budget as $71 million dollars and $27 million dollars of it is not funded by property taxes. He feels the Board of Education isn’t getting a fair shot.
Mr. Hart stated he recently spoke with a retired teacher who told him old textbooks don’t match the curriculum any longer.
He noted just about every town spends about 60% of their town budget on education.
Mr. Hart concluded stating residents voted for the Board of Education, and the Board passed their budget with a unanimous vote. He noted by saying the Board of Education is not correct, it’s being said the taxpayers made a mistake.
Tom Walsh, Roseanne Street
Stated his belief people should be able to vote on their budget, and he believes the Town budget and School budget should be voted on separately. He noted most residents had an increase of property taxes last year and another increase, no matter how small, is too much for people. He stated the best thing to do is to have a zero percent increase this year. He acknowledged the last teachers’ contract will make it difficult to achieve a zero increase. He believes more cuts would make this possible.
As concerns rising costs for the Water Pollution Control Plant, Mr. Walsh suggested increasing the rates for the prison.
Mr. Walsh urged the Council to seriously consider reopening the Charter and to do their best to vote on a zero increase.
Jack Sheridan, 7 Buchanan Road
Stated he’s against any tax increase this year. He noted the increases from the revaluation were more than people on fixed incomes could afford.
Mr. Sheridan stated his impression the Town keeps throwing money at education, but the only enhancement he sees is for salaries. He stated his belief they’re building a system the people can’t afford.
He stated according to his calculations, the cost per student is $13,118.
Mr. Sheridan referred to the Town budget and stated his belief a bike path and river access isn’t needed.
He stated there are nine elementary guidance counselors at a cost of $580,000 and there are nine more guidance counselors at the high schools at a cost of $677,000. He stated he doesn’t remember having guidance counselors in the past.
Mr. Sheridan voiced his support of a referendum budget because he feels things are getting out of hand.
Margaret Jedziniak, 232 Abbe Road
Urged the Council not raise taxes. She noted senior citizen investments are losing interest by the minute, while teachers and administrators’ salaries are increasing beyond what taxpayers are able to pay. She stated the benefits are killing the taxpayers. She noted the school system is way beyond the means of the taxpayers, and younger taxpayers will never be able to afford this.
Ms. Jedziniak stated teachers have a very loose sick leave policy. She noted absenteeism is a $568,000 cost for the school system. She noted when teachers are out, substitutes are teaching the children, and she feels this isn’t proper. She pointed out the absenteeism policy for the Police Department is much stricter than it is for teachers.
She stated not too long ago, $350,000 was given to the school department. She questioned why textbooks are the last things to be purchased by the school department. She noted for years, teachers have been copying pages out of textbooks so that children could take them home to do their homework.
Ms. Jedziniak stated compared to other departments in Enfield, the school system is way beyond the taxpayers’ means.
She noted $81,000 might be a reasonable salary for a Guidance Counselor, however, she feels additional stipends increasing that salary to $93,000 is too much.
Mrs. Collins, the Hazardville Section
Stated when her children were in school, there was no teachers’ union. She voiced her disagreement with a 5% salary increase for the Superintendent, and she would have given zero percent for the teachers.
Mrs. Collins stated she loves the Police Department, the Fire Departments and her rubbish pick-up.
Lou Reale, 305 Broadbrook Road
Stated he doesn’t want a tax increase this year. He noted the senior citizens have a beautiful senior center, and they deserve it.
Mr. Reale referred to an idea raised by Maureen Brennan a few weeks ago, and that was the addition of a box on the tax bill which would allow a taxpayer to add an extra amount toward the education budget. He stated his hope the Town can do this.
He stated he would like to see some of the top administrators cut, and he would like to see some money go toward security. He stated his understanding there’s some bullying going on at Fermi High School.
Mr. Reale referred to possible areas that could be cut on the Town side – Training and Employee Relations Coordinator, Risk Manager, Full-Time bulky waste employee, adult educator, sewer plant positions, Saturday overtime for rubbish. He noted the Town Manager is addressing some problems in the Solid Waste Department.
Michael Meehan, 25 Ridgefield Road
Voiced his support of the 3% increase for the Board of Education budget because he believes it’s in the best interest of the Town.
Lisa Rogers, 8 Winter Way
Voiced her support of the 3% increase for the Board of Education budget. She noted if they don’t support the education system, the Town will have to pay for it later through an increase in the dropout rate, criminal behavior will increase and social service budgets will increase.
William Scheele, 24 Northfield Road
Stated his belief the Town should have a zero-based budget this year. He feels this is the time for hard decisions and going forward they should be looking at a decrease in taxes. He feels the Town should look at everything to find ways to decrease costs without decreasing services.
Gina Reale, 228 North Maple Street
Thanked the Town Council and Board of Education for their hard work. She voiced her support of the education budget. She feels they need to pay now or pay later.
Ms. Reale stated they need to look at every part of the budget.
Tom Donahue, 18 Celtic Court
Stated his belief the Board of Education did their due diligence and voted unanimously on this budget. He questioned whether the Town went through such a process with their budget. He stated the responsibility of this Town is to provide the children with the proper foundation and give them the needed tools for success.
Mr. Donahue stated he did not see anything within the CIP budget for the school system. He noted the Town budget has increases, but it doesn’t include potential pay increases.
He concluded urging the Council support the Board of Education’s proposed budget.
Ed Poremba, 8 Overhill Drive
Stated he supports education. He went on to suggest permanently sunsetting vacant positions. He suggested looking into Social Services and noted perhaps it’s time to eliminate some programs or join forces with other towns.
Mr. Poremba stated if Enfield has the best to offer in education, why are students going to magnet schools. He questioned if it’s mandated to send students to the Hartford Art and Dance Academy. He went on to state perhaps it’s time to stop vacuuming leaves.
He agrees with a zero-based budget. He stated since property values have decreased and assessments have decreased, shouldn’t taxes decrease. He pointed out Enfield has been an affordable community. He urged the Town not drive people out.
He concluded stating his support of a referendum budget.
Scott Hozempa, 70 Laurel Street
Stated the Town and Board budgets don’t show grants. He questioned the possibility of a line item under the General Fund for contributions and donations for people who do want to pay more taxes. He concluded stating he supports a zero increase in the budget.
James Brislin, 43 Oakwood Street
Stated in the real world employers are cutting staff and laying people off, and Enfield Teachers are getting wage and step increases that total 6%. He noted in the past decade, the school budget has doubled while enrollment has declined.
Mr. Brislin suggested the following ideas:
· Property tax reform
· Use zoning as a tool to grow the grand list
· School choice-public funding should follow the student
· Personal responsibility in education
Mr. Brislin stated since the passage of No Child Left Behind, much attention has been focused on the use of high stakes testing to make teachers accountable. He noted it’s time for accountability to make the full loop to the students and their parents. He stated the school should impose fines for misbehavior and serious misconduct. He noted these fines could recapture the costs involved in detention and in-school suspension. He pointed out nothing will awaken an irresponsible parent to a child’s misbehavior faster than a bill.
Mr. Brislin stated currently the worst consequence suffered by a student who fails because of a lack of effort is the repetition of a grade. He suggested the parent have to pay the town for that wasted year.
Amelita Grimes, 103 Till Street
Stated she’s present as a member of the Parent Leadership Association of Enfield.
Ms. Grimes reminded everyone gifted and talented students are special needs students, and they deserve support just as well as all other special needs students. She noted if the Town cannot or will not offer the educational level that these students need, then the parents have the open choice and responsibility to go where those students’ needs can be met. She stated she supports open choice.
She stated 21% of Enfield’s population is children 17 and younger. She noted the Town has an obligation to provide services to these children. She pointed out better student performance, programs and services attract new residents. She noted if Enfield becomes a more desirable community, property values will increase and the median household income will increase. She stated more residents and a higher median income will attract more businesses, and more businesses will increase the grand list, thereby easing the tax burden on residents.
Ms. Grimes stated businesses need well educated and capable employees and managers, and those businesses look to draw employees from the town in which they’re based.
She stated better and more accessible education is a preemptive action to ensure the success of the children and families in Enfield. She noted if children are successful, confident and competent, parents will be more secure and empowered. She stated there will be fewer at-risk children and families, and this will reduce the stress on Town services.
Ms. Grimes concluded voicing her support of the 3% increase in the Board of Education’s proposed budget.
Christine Sirois, 30 Alban Road
Stated she is also present to support the Parent Leadership Association statement.
Ms. Sirois stated the Board of Education worked hard over the past several weeks to cut the fat from their budget. She noted parents sat through this process and fought vigorously for those things they felt mattered most. She pointed out this is not an issue of excess or wastefulness, but rather a matter of sustainability and quality of life for the children of Enfield. She noted the Board of Education is consistently fiscally conservative and yet the 3% increase was passed unanimously.
Ms. Sirois stated the Board members visited schools and saw specific programs that they were considering cutting, and they took the time to learn what the impact would be to the children. She pointed out the schools are doing wonderful things. She noted Enfield Street School is very proud to be a HOT School, which is a program supporting the learning through the arts, capitalizing on the learning style of the individual students and qualities of leadership within the student body. She stated the Buzz Robotics team consistently excels at competitions. She noted the schools are working toward getting children ready to be globally competitive in an increasingly technological society.
Ms. Sirois stated they’ve heard a lot of Board of Education members talk about their attendance at various school events, however, they don’t hear the Council talk about it as much. She noted it’s realized there’s a division of roles and responsibilities, but it is the Town Council’s responsibility to determine funding for education. She stated her hope the Council will visit the schools and take a tour to see the programs and students that will be affected if the Council decides to cut the school budget. She noted it will also be an opportunity to see the great return on investments which they’ve already made.
She concluded stating everyone should be proud of what the schools have accomplished, and they should ensure the continued success of the schools through the needed funding.
Town Manager, Matthew Coppler, addressed a few questions that were raised.
Recycling – every week vs. every other week
Mr. Coppler stated the Solid Waste Advisory Council believed a weekly collection would increase the participation rate. He pointed out the Town gets $10 per ton for recyclables, and the Town pays $10 for refuse disposal at CRRA.
Why the Town’s budget does not show salary increases?
Mr. Coppler stated in the case of personnel covered by a bargaining agreement, they will show those costs. He noted for those unions that they’re currently in bargaining with, they don’t include those salaries in the budget, nor do they include pay raises for non-union personnel. He stated they don’t want to put in a figure as to what they believe it may be because that will go against their ability to negotiate. He noted every year a certain amount is set-aside in another line item, and they can adjust the budget if they need to. He stated for the non-union employees, the Council ultimately decides what those salary increases will be. He noted for the past two years, they’ve benchmarked that figure at $100,000, and generally the pay raises amounted to less than $100,000, but no more than $105,000.
Can the Town raise the sewer rate for the Department of Corrections?
Mr. Coppler stated there is a code that outlines how the Town arrives at a per thousand gallon charge for the prison and any entity within the Town that’s not paying taxes. He noted the prison agreement also specifies they will be charged based upon what the code says. He noted the code would have to be changed to increase the rate, and then they’d have to renegotiate the agreement with the prison.
Is it possible to add a box on the tax bill for a voluntary contribution toward education?
Mr. Coppler stated this idea was raised at the community conversation, and this is being looked into. He noted an answer will be provided before the Council begins its deliberations.
Why do the increases for some Town departments seem higher percentage-wise?
Mr. Coppler stated this year they’ve changed the parceling out of the gasoline and diesel costs, as well as telephone costs. He explained in the past these were contained within a single cost center. He noted they are now addressing those to the proper cost center. He stated this is all part of developing the rationale to do zero-based budgeting in the future.
Did the Town do zero-based budgeting this year?
Mr. Coppler stated to follow the strict guidelines of what zero-based budgeting is – no. He explained although the Town collects a lot of information, it doesn’t collect it in a way that makes it manageable for Council to be able to view a zero-based budget program. He went on to note that within this budget, most of the cost centers are either flat funded or have reductions.
CIP for Schools
Chairman Kaupin referred to Page 132 and noted there’s $200,000 in this year’s CIP. Mr. Coppler stated historically, the Town has been putting money aside based on the recommendations of the school system for big capital projects such as roofing projects, windows and boiler systems. He noted one of the school system’s priorities for next year’s budget relates to the security camera system. He stated that figure is about $237,000.
Overtime for Saturday solid waste/yard waste pick-up
Mr. Coppler stated because the Town has a five-day pick-up schedule, the pick-up is bumped to a Saturday when there’s a holiday.
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS (Continued)
Mary Lombardo, 2 Northfield Street
Thanked everyone for volunteering their service to the community. She commended the Board of Education for doing a great job on their budget. She voiced her support for the 3% increase. She stated she has been a taxpayer and homeowner for over 30 years in Enfield. She noted her children went through the school system, and her grandchildren are entering preschool. She stated she is also a teacher in the school system. She noted her raise next year will be 2.6%, which is in keeping with social security and cost of living adjustments.
Ms. Lombardo stated Enfield is where she wants to live with its school system and Town services. She noted she has a hard time paying taxes and bills just as everyone else. She feels the teachers have taken a particularly difficult hit. She went on to note that even though she’s a senior citizen, she considers herself one of the best and brightest teachers that Enfield has, and her heart is still into teaching and she didn’t become a teacher to get rich.
She concluded stating her support of the education budget.
Robert Tkacz, Bernadino Avenue
Stated he has been in Enfield since 1957.
Mr. Tkacz referred to Page 180 of the school budget – system-wide certified salaries, and noted there are four items – Superintendent’s pay - $117,000; Assistant Superintendent - $136,000; Curriculum Directors - $229,000; Human Resources - $106,000. He noted this adds up to $590,000. He referred to the next column which shows the Superintendent’s pay increase to $142,000; Assistant Superintendent - $144,000; Curriculum Directors - $236,000 and Human Resource Director at $110,000. He pointed out this adds up to $491,000. He questioned what kind of math is this.
He stated there are a lot of complaints from the teachers and administration concerning the No Child Left Behind and the lack of funding. He noted a lot of money comes from the State for the school system.
Mr. Tkacz stated Enfield needs to stabilize its tax rate, and it needs to be done in the next two years.
He referred to an article in the Springfield Republican about school closings in Massachusetts. He noted most towns in Western Massachusetts are losing population. He pointed out Enfield has had a tremendous drop in its population in the last four years, and enrollment has been dropping. He stated JFK Middle School will be below 900 students in the next two years, and that school has staff for over 1,100 students. He suggested some cuts in the middle school.
Referred to the dismissal of the Connecticut-initiated lawsuit against the federal government concerning unfunded mandates set forth in the No Child Left Behind act and clarified that lawsuit was dismissed because the case was pled incorrectly, not because it was determined that the mandates were being funded.
Ms. Roberto stated Enfield isn’t unique in its spending on salaries. She noted all towns have similar median teacher salaries, however, Enfield falls short of the state average for school staff salaries. She pointed out Enfield pays a little more than other districts within its District Reference Group because Enfield has a higher proportion of teachers with Master’s Degrees and the average number of years Enfield teachers have been in the classroom is higher than many of the other towns in the District Reference Group.
She agreed there’s little correlation between a higher education budget and better student performance, but without appropriate funding, better student performance would be impossible.
Ms. Roberto stated teacher salaries are contractual, and the Board must fulfill its legal obligations. She noted if the Council is justifying under-funding education because the money is not getting to programs for children anyway, under-funding the budget will result in even less for the children. She noted fully funding the requested amount is absolutely essential to maintain the current standard.
She stated if the proposed remedy is to cut teaching jobs, the children will suffer. She noted it is the newer teachers on the list of potential non-renewed contracts, and these teachers are not those making the higher salary amounts. She pointed out they make less, and the result is that they would have to cut many more teaching positions to make a substantial dent in the under-funded portion of the budget resulting in substantial increases in class sizes.
Ms. Roberto stated if the proposed remedy is revisiting the teachers’ contract, the Council should consider what message this is sending to those people who work day-in and day-out teaching the children. She questioned if the community has gone so far as to consider undermining the stability of the school system.
She stated these incredible men and women go above and beyond every day. She noted some might think the teachers have the best of all worlds, but that’s not the true story. She pointed out these people have gone to school to get their master’s degree in education and yet they start their careers with salaries much lower than other’s with the same level of education. She stated many teachers work more than six hours by helping struggling students or communicating with parents. She noted they then go home to prepare work for the next day, correct papers, prepare and maintain their classroom. She stated school vacations are necessary to ensure that the best teachers aren’t burnt out.
Ms. Roberto stated Enfield can’t afford to let the children become victims of a political stalemate – a standoff between the Town Council and the Board of Education.
Chet Ciolkos, 4 Ridgefield Road
Agreed with several previous speakers who want a zero increase in this budget. He read from several areas of the teachers’ contract:
· Work year shall consist of 187 days – 181 days shall be teaching days
· Work day shall be 7 hours and 15 minutes
· Sick leave – professional employees shall be allowed 15 days of paid sick leave each year.
· Attendance at professional conferences – time attending will be in addition to any sick or personal days allowed
· Sabbatical leave – granted to encourage professional preparation in a specific teaching area. While on leave, compensation will be paid at the rate of two-thirds of the annual salary
· Child-Bearing Leave – may be granted for a period up to two school years with reinstatement privilege
· Other leave for personal reasons may be granted without pay for prolonged periods with reinstatement privilege
· Compensation for lost preparation time
Mr. Ciolkes then reviewed salary-related items as follows:
Salary schedule – teachers advance laterally from one group to the next upon attainment of the next higher degree level. After the fourth step, each subsequent step is approximately 6% greater than the preceding step in each of the groups. That increase, when coupled with the annual 2% COLA, results in a net pay raise up to 8.5% each year under the current contract. When a teacher moves laterally to the next group, a pay raise of approximately 16.5% is gained for that year and also in any other year when lateral movement occurs. Teachers with 30 or more years get an additional longevity stipend of $1,000. In addition, some teachers receive additional pay as set forth in the contract for added responsibilities.
Stated she wants a zero percent budget.
Stated senior citizens are sacrificing the most. She noted many seniors started IRA’s many years ago, however, the interest is very low on IRA’s. She stated seniors are trying to pay their bills and the school system’s bills. She pointed out the elderly people are the ones that built this town up. She urged the Council not make it necessary for seniors to leave town because they can’t afford to live here.
Stated her belief the school system is top heavy. She noted there’s no comparison to the COLA a teacher gets and what a senior citizen gets.
Stated her passion often impedes what she’s saying. She noted it’s difficult for her to separate herself from her job. She pointed out her job is her life. She stated she did not become a teacher for wealth, but rather to help children and make a difference.
Ms. Almeida pointed out the senior center offers awesome programs for senior citizens, however, she doesn’t benefit from those programs yet. She noted schools do the same for children. She stated she wants the schools to have the resources and options to help children be active learners and do well socially and emotionally.
Joseph Saroce, 7 Briarwood Drive
Stated he is for a no tax increase. He noted while most businesses are withholding pay increases, municipal workers continue getting annual raises. He stated if municipal workers forfeited a pay raise for one or more years, a lot could be done with those monies. He went on to state he would like to see municipal workers pay more for their benefits.
Stated she supports changing the charter so people can vote on the budget.
Ms. Price stressed the importance of presenting the budget accurately.
Stated people should take into consideration that the Board voted unanimously on this budget.
Amalita Grimes, 103 Till Street
Referred to the comments previously made by speakers concerning a comparison of today’s educational system to the educational system of 50 years ago. She pointed out fifty years ago, she would not have been allowed to attend school with any of the people at this public hearing.
Ms. Grimes stated only a modest additional increase to the mill rate is required to make up for the $600,000 shortfall. She noted it would take only an additional .1 increase to the proposed mill rate to make up for the $600,000 shortfall to fully fund the proposed education budget. She stated the mill rate is 23.88 right now, and the proposed rate is 24.19, which is an increase of .31. She noted if they need $600,000 more, they would need to push the mill rate of 24.29, which would be a total increase of .41.
She stated if the .31 mill rate increase yielded $1,954,424 in additional revenue, then a .4051 mill rate increase would yield $2,554,424, which is the $600,000 needed.
Ms. Grimes stated if these numbers are correct, the case can be made that an additional increase of .1 is minimal. She noted a home with a value of $199,000, which is Enfield’s median home sale price, will have a valuation of approximately $139,930 (70%) with the assessor’s office. She stated with the proposed mill rate of 24.19, that resident could expect to pay about $3,384 in taxes per year. She noted that to push the mill rate up to 24.24, that same resident could expect to pay about $3,398, a difference of about $14 per year.
Ms. Grimes stated the Board of Education created an audit committee, and until the audit committee has completed its work, they should let them do their job. She noted in the interim, the Board of Education has done its best to diligently limit anticipated educational expenses within reason. She stated her belief the Board’s proposal should be respected accordingly.
Stated 2.3% of $80,000 or $90,000 is considerably more than 2.3% on people who are on fixed incomes.
Mr. Ciolkos referred to 1998 and a typical classroom teacher salary progression and noted in 11 years, this person would progress from $29,137 to $87,579 if they attained a Masters Degree 6th Level. He pointed out teachers work a 187-day work year, compared to private industry which has an 8-hour day.
He stated his belief this would have been a good year for the Board of Education to approach the teachers about foregoing a salary step for one year. He noted this could result in about one million dollars in savings.
Patty Kertanis, 45 Brook Road
Thanked everyone for their hard work on this budget. She noted she’s saddened to hear generations pitted against each other. She stated her belief this community must come together.
Stated his understanding a modification in accounting standards will require the Town to carry the cost of future benefits on the books as a liability. He questioned what the implication of that will be this year and in coming years.
Mr. Brislin stated it costs $13,500 to education each child in Enfield. He noted the average family has 2.2 children, and that’s a total of $27,000 in educational services. He noted there are also people without children paying for this.
He stated his belief that because of the economic climate, it’s crucial to keep the taxes flat or even cut them so businesses don’t leave town. He suggested using this as an opportunity to make Enfield competitive with other communities and bring more businesses in.
Lou Reale, Broad Brook Road
Stated it should be realized that federal and state monies that come into Enfield come from the taxpayers, but just out of a different pocket.
Mr. Reale referred to the list of suggested cuts he made earlier and noted those savings could go to the Enfield Police Department so they can hire more officers. He noted he would also like to see those monies go to the library for books. He added he would like to see one or two additional positions for the Buildings & Grounds Division because that’s one department that is flat out.
Mr. Reale stated he agrees with the idea of including a box on the tax bill whereby people can use it as an opportunity to give more money to the schools.
Stated his belief there has to be another way to fund a good education. He noted his taxes went up 150% in 17 years. He agreed with the idea of providing a check-off box on the tax bill so that people have the option of giving more money to the schools.
Stated his belief teachers’ salaries are too high, and he believes there should be a salary freeze for the next three years.
Stated Enfield does not have enough higher valued homes to support a reduction in taxes. She noted as Enfield increases the standard of living, property values will increase and more affluent areas can develop in Enfield.
Ms. Roberto stated those towns with a higher proportion of homes selling at around $300,000 have lower tax rates. She noted that’s because a larger part of the population is taxed on that $300,000 home. She stated as a result, those people that can afford the taxes are paying a larger proportion of the taxes. She noted those residents with the smaller homes absorb less of the overall tax burden.
She stated Enfield’s median price home sales in 2006 were $199,900, and a resident who purchases a home at $199,900 can expect to pay about $3300 to $3600 per year in taxes. She pointed out a person purchasing a home in Stonington for $199,900 can expect to pay about $1,900 in taxes per year; in Southington $2,600; in West Hartford $2,800. She noted of 60 towns, Enfield came in 42nd. She went on to note that same home in Bridgeport would result in approximately $5,200 per year in taxes; in Hamden, $4,000 and in New Britain $5,800 per year. She explained the correlation – it appears to be the median home sale price. Stonington, Southington and West Hartford have median home sales in the $300,000 range compared to Enfield’s $199,900. She noted Bloomfield, Hamden and New Britain have median home sales prices in the lower end – about $150,000 to $175,000. With respect to Stonington, Southington and West Hartford, because a larger part of the population is taxed on that $300,000 home, the residents that can afford the taxes are paying a larger proportion and those with smaller homes absorb less of the tax burden. This is not the case in the towns with less diversity in the real estate market – Bloomfield, Hamden and New Britain. She pointed out these three towns not only have a relatively low median home sale price, but they also traditionally have sub-standard educational performance.
Ms. Roberto stated the argument for taking efforts to increase the standard of living in Enfield in order to attract a wider diversity of homeowners is quite strong. She noted increasing the standard of living in Enfield, including ensuring the education system is appropriately funded, will ultimately result in a better tax distribution in town.
Stated Enfield is running out of room to build more homes, and he believes there’s never going to be enough expensive homes in Enfield to offset things.
Referring to the per pupil cost, Ms. Brennan stated regular education student costs are approximately $6,800 per student.
Ms. Brennan stated the teachers’ contract is not likely to change between now and May 19th. She urged the Town move forward with the conservative budget that the Board has put forth. She stated her belief the increase requested is at least average in the State. She noted since the contract is legal and binding, any cuts made will negatively effect the children. She requested the Town support the 3% and then see what next year brings.
Stated a town’s success is dependent upon its reputation. She noted if Enfield is perceived to not devote resources to education, new families will not consider Enfield a potential home. She stated the trend is that under-funded towns tend to get worse and they lose their tax base, businesses and property values. She noted at the same time, the need for services increases. She pointed out timing and action are critical to break the cycle and early action is crucial.
Ms. Roberto concluded stating the Parent Leadership Association supports the 3% increase proposed by the Board of Education for the Fiscal Year 2008-09.
As no others wished to speak, Chairman Kaupin closed the Public Hearing at 10:48 p.m.