Financial Oversight Committee approves recommended department budgets and schedules school presentation

The Financial Oversight Committee and Special Town Council met April 13 to review department budgets from Town Council through Snow and Ice and approved the recommended budgets unanimously.

The meeting, which began at 3:33 p.m., included a review of information Tom Christensen provided after the April 8 meeting, including financial policies, net school spending and input from Police and Fire. Christensen told the committee the wage classification study for non-union personnel is complete and that $35,000 was moved from reserve funds into department budgets to cover adjustments, producing a notable increase for the Human Resources department.

Committee members pressed staff on several operational items. Russell "Russ" Denver requested that, if the town hires a part-time zoning enforcement officer, most hours be allocated to evenings. Kim Collins said Scantic Valley has been subsidizing recent annual increases and that the town could face a 20–30% increase in costs later; staff added a 3–6% buffer to current budgets rather than cut to the advised level. Christensen said a new building coming online will raise electricity costs by about $600,000 and staff plan to subsidize those costs with rebates while phasing remaining costs into taxes over time.

Councilor Connor O’Shea asked for a list of all town software products and their costs; Christensen agreed to provide it. The group discussed the elections budget and the long-standing practice of using free cash to cover the uneven expenses of two- and four-year election cycles; Councilor Marilyn Richards suggested creating a dedicated election reserve fund, while Councilor O’Shea argued that predictable, recurring election costs should be placed in the operating budget.

During the review Christensen said IT has requested an additional supervisory position to address staffing needs and described "COA Bridge Intelligence" as the software used to respond to callers about center openings and programs.

Rich Freccero moved to approve the recommended budgets from Town Council through Snow and Ice; Councilor Kathy Hill seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Chair duties were handled by Jim Broderick for the session, and Broderick said the next meeting will finish the remainder of the budget review and open the Capital Plan discussion. He said he will invite the School Committee Chair and the superintendent to the April 27 meeting. The committee also confirmed meeting dates for April 23, April 27 and May 4, with May 7 held as a 4:30 p.m. backup date.

The committee approved the April 8 minutes earlier in the session and agreed that Jackie Sullivan, who takes Town Council minutes, will also take minutes for the Financial Oversight Committee; Jamie Rooke noted a Zoom AI option for additional transcription support.

Both the Financial Oversight Committee and the Special Town Council adjourned by unanimous motions later in the meeting. The minutes were signed by Town Clerk Jackie Sullivan. The committee plans to continue budget work and the capital plan at its next meeting.