Board of Selectmen Budget Meeting March 7, 2017

Board of Selectmen Budget Meeting March 7, 2017

After listening to the comments made during the budget workshop, I am concerned that the scope and services provided for by the town budget have not directed costs at the core needs of the town but have enhanced private non-profit groups. The budget has consistently increased the taxpayer costs for the Performing Arts by providing them with $15,000 golf carts, reduced lease costs for the town property and other expenses related to their operating budget. The taxpayers should not be subsidizing the Performing Arts.

Although the Golf Course has served the town over the years, the taxpayers are asked to subsidize a golf course at a cost of $90,000 per year when only half of the players are Simsbury residents. It is time to explore the need for a professional management company to manage the golf course as other towns and private clubs are doing. This is not only being fiscally responsible to the taxpayers but allows the golfers the use of several golf courses with one membership fee.

Recently there was a survey about the costs and placement of a Senior Center. There was little enthusiasm for spending $6.4 million for a renovation to Eno Hall or anywhere else. There was never a consensus. At this time Eno Hall has served the seniors without any costly additions. The $6.4 million addition and expansion of services will not solve the parking problem but exacerbate it. The more programs the more need for parking. The increase for parking will encroach on the parking for the restaurant patrons in the area, reducing their incomes. Placing an addition on Eno Hall detracts from the majestic building in the Center of Town. Many of the services provided by Social Services in programming can be transferred to the Recreation Department and the Library. Thereby, eliminating the need for an expansion.

There was much discussion about the need to move SCTV immediately out of Eno Hall, when the appropriate place is the library basement. Services would be increased with the cooperative efforts of the library, the costs would be greatly reduced since an infrastructure is already in place, and there would be no need to take businesses off the tax rolls. SCTV would be able to increase their services to the town. The only reason this cannot be done is because the “Friends of Library” have imposed their will on the town for using the basement for sorting and selling used books. Political power should not interfere with the realistic placement of SCTV in the library basement. The “Friends of the Library” could use the Hudson property for their materials. The house and garage will not be demolished in the near future and this is useable space for the Friends used books at no cost to the town. Since it appears that the Senior Center will probably not be approved if placed in the Capital projects, there will be no need to move SCTV from Eno Hall at all and all these discussions will be terminated.

There was much discussion about costs of cyber security. This is one area where regionalization would be a benefit to all communities. By having one organization supply and manage all cyber activity for all the towns would be less costly and would provide a higher level of security and oversight that each town could provide. Is there a State agency that could provide this service?

I am concerned about the $22.825 million cost for renovating HJMS. The addition of an auditorium is not a necessity for the core curriculum and should be eliminated from the project. The project should be reduced to sprinkler safety and renovations to the core curriculum projects.

Eventually there will be a need for a full-time paid ambulance department. As the population increases there will be a strain on providing services to the community in a timely manner. Lives will be lost if there isn’t an immediate response. We are now on the breaking point. This costly increase will place a strain on the budget in the coming years and this has not been addressed.

There will be a need to increase the Police Department’s Officers to meet the expanded need. The Police Department will eventually need to move from the basement of Town Hall to a separate facility for expansion. These increased services will place a burden on the budget for future years.

Perhaps the town should take a one year holiday on all Capital projects until we know what the transfer of expenditures the State will be imposing on the towns. Operating budgets can be reduced; Capital projects have to be funded year after year. There are too many unknowns to burden the town will increased debt.