Campbell Won't Cut Fire Inspector, Won't Take Raise

The Board of Selectmen has shaved an additional $68,000 from its budget for the coming fiscal year, per request of the Board of Finance. The cuts counter First Selectman Dave Campbell's initial proposition to cut the fire inspector and nix instead—among other things—Campbell's anticipated salary raise.

The decision to reduce the budget by $68,000 came at the April 8 meeting of the Board of Finance, after Chair Murry Stegelmann's announcement of Campbell's plan to change a full-time community planner to a half-time position and the cut the part-time fire inspector altogether met the rest of his board with some concern.

Members were "caught off guard" by the last minute personnel cuts, and at Selectman David Bayne's urging, decided to vote on a general $68,000 reduction of the budget—passing the decision back to the Board of Selectmen as to which line items would see the red pen.

According to Campbell, his board has since had a "good discussion" via telephone and has reached a conclusion that keeps the fire inspector intact.

The primary role of the fire inspector is to assist the Office of the Fire Marshal in conducting mandated inspections of buildings in town.

"There were good reasons for and against cutting the position—we're almost at 100% of the state's requirement—but we decided to wait a year before taking a closer look," said Campbell.

A smaller $655 cut to the Office of the Fire Marshal nixes funding for non-requisite training sessions and regional organization membership.

It's good news for Fire Marshal Bob Buch who said he could "always use an extra hand," with fire inspections, even though he and Deputy Fire Marshal Marc McEwan are perfectly capable. Buch said he met with Campbell to discuss the inspector and the ramifications of letting him go.

A $3,725 cut says goodbye to Campbell's approved salary raise, effective with the first year anniversary of his time in office.

"I didn't want to take my raise," said Campbell. "I felt with the economy the way it is, it just wasn't appropriate."
 
The proposal to change the full-time manager of community development services to a part-time position stands. The cut shaves $49,785 from the budget. The manager works on community development, parking, housing and grant writing under purview of Planning & Zoning, a department that "sees less work because of the economy," said Campbell. A $2,634 fund for a P&Z intern has also been cut.

Other cuts take $4,000 from the town's beautification funds, and, per Stegelmann's request, prevent a $5,000 guardrail project near Pear Tree Point School from taking shape. The project comes at the complaints of school parents who find the drop off particularly dangerous when roads are slick.

"I've spoken with Public Works. It's a tricky situation up there, and we'll have to consider alternate routes," said Campbell.

Over $2,000 has been cut from various grant funds—the Health Department intern salary account, for example—none of which should be noticeable, said Campbell.

"These reductions may change in future years, but these are tough times," he said.

Campbell said everyone who will be directly or indirectly affected by the cuts has been informed.

The $68,000 cuts leave the Selectmen's Operating budget at $38,179,759.

The Board of Finance will vote on the budget at its meeting April 19, at which time they'll also close out some old capital project reserve funds, which, however unlikely, could reduce the budget by $80,000, according to Finance Director Kate Buch.

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The $68,000 reduction breaks down as follows:

• Board of Selectman full time salary $3,725
• Planning & Zoning full time salary $49,785
• Planning & Zoning part time salary $2,634
• Fire Marshal conferences and meetings $550
• Fire Marshal dues $105
• Revitalize Downtown $100
• Beautification $4,000
• Risk Management $675
• Youth Grants/Youth Options $500
• RFCNRE guardrail $5,000