By Meghan Peterson, PhD.
Editor’s Note: This meeting can be viewed in its entirety on Valley Shore Community Television Channel 19 and at vsctv.com. All budget documents can be viewed at www.haddam.org.
The annual town budget vote took place on Thursday, May 23, 2019 at the Haddam Volunteer Fire Company Station #1. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Tony Giamei was nominated to act as moderator. Ann Riebold, Assistant Town Clerk, read the legal call for the evening’s proceedings.
Giamei asked if residents wanted to hear more details about the capital plan and budget from the Board of Finance (BOF). There was a question about the capital plan budget. BOF Chair, Joe Centofanti, explained that $3.7 million was for roads, with the remainder of the $10,861,350 total capital improvement budget comprising projects such as sidewalks, Dublin Hill Bridge reconstruction and town equipment and vehicles. Mark Lundgren, BOF member, made a motion to reduce the 2019-2010 capital plan budget by $811,000 consisting of various proposed town plow and truck replacements as well as the Haddam Volunteer Fire Station #2 parking lot paving.
Centofanti explained that the capital plan budget strategy is to “catch-up” on the replacement of equipment and vehicles, as the vehicles are beyond their use of life, ranging between 13 and 17 years old. Likewise, he noted that a town snow plow “consistently” goes out of commission each winter. The logic behind the bonding strategy is that costs will “level-out” to a more “manageable” and “reasonable” levels beginning FY 2023-24. BOF member, Sean Moriarty, expressed that he does not think the town should be bonding for trucks and equipment. Lundgren explained his position that the town should not replace the trucks/equipment in one year and said that he would prefer spreading the purchases over several years. Giamei described the “difference in opinion” as centering on a “pay now or pay later” situation. Centofanti emphasized that timing of bonding payments are tailored to the item. In addition, he noted that bonding is a strategy to help keep the mil rate relatively stable while addressing immediate equipment and vehicle needs.
Later during the budget vote, Maurice Adams commented about a discrepancy in budget numbers described in publications throughout town as well as on the official town website. Ed Munster commented that the BOF-proposed budget does not raise the mil rate. Scott Larson commented that the Haddam Fire Station #2 parking lot was last paved in 1990. A couple residents commented that the BOF-proposed town budget did not attend to other priorities.
The amendment offered by Lundgren did not pass: 13 Yea; 19 Nay. The original motion to accept the capital improvement budget passed: 17 Yea; 12 Nay.
Residents also approved the issuance of bonds for a total of $7,007,250 to fund projects that are designated “bond-funded” in the capital improvement budget: 19 Yea; 13 Nay.
In the capital nonrecurring fund, residents approved transferring $300,000 that previously funded a radio system replacement project to the Haddam Volunteer Fire Department Rescue truck replacement line.
The annual town budget ($8,271,000) as recommended by the BOF for FY 2019-2020 passed. The mil rate also did not increase.
