07/08 Budget PH 3/20
Tonight's public hearing on the budget was relatively quiet. The Town Manager, Michael Milone, and Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Greg Florio (yes, he's a PhD now), each presented their proposed budgets. Then, I believe, four people spoke on various parts of the budget (senior center, library & police).
Aside from that, I have some initial thoughts:
1) pool - another $400k+ subsidy is still too much
2) middle school coordinator - this is part of the town budget and the idea is to increase the number of hours... I'm looking forward to getting a better understanding of why the town seems to be serving a school function. Or perhaps the schools aren't serving this function... although I thought this was similar to the role of a guidance counselor.
3) school maintenance - Greg Florio wants increased funding for school maintenance. And while that sounds good, I really want to make sure we have a solid plan, rather than just going off and doing ad hoc projects that may not be adding the most value possible. So following the meeting, I spoke with both Mike Ecke and Michael Milone. My goal is to make sure that before we continue spending money on energy projects (worthwhile though they may be), we set up some sort of overall plan and prioritize the potential energy projects. This is precisely why I have been calling for the town to do an RFP for ESCOs (energy services companies).
No other thoughts right now... just going to bed.
Tim White
Town Council, Budget Committee
29 comments:
good presentation by florio as he has been very vocal in showing that you cannot just go into the board of ed budget and rip out thousands and have the system work. $$ we spend in relation to others towns is actually quite modest and shows that the board has been careful-this is a dagger to the no folks because they are famous for portraying the budget has bloated-not really
He wastes a ton of money, we can find ways to cut. I think my classes had at least 27 kids in them, why not now? And why do the teachers make so much for a part-time job? It is a joke.
12:30 PM Clearly larger class sizes have reduced your capacity for rational thought. Perhaps we should avoid making a similar mistake with today's children.
I know Florio was originally asking for seven new teachers. I think this was reduced to two by the BOE. Adding more teachers when our class enrollment is declining doesn't make much sense.
Tim - I think that 1:40PM's post is offensive, could you please delete it?
1230 clearly does not understand what he is talking about and can't really be taken seriously
I watched this on TV and the format was really a budget presentation by the town executives and not really a public hearing. Mr. Hall owes the Town Manager a public apology for his insensitive remarks.
get off it the cheap shot things that Derf said during the meetings-he is the one who owes the whole town a big i am sorry!!
9:02 Can you recap what Hall said. I didn't catch it all and it would be good to clarify his comments.
Attack the person with the highest vote totals ever in Cheshire. I sure that will lead to a republican victory in the fall.
Tim...watched the meeting on TV...I almost fell off the couch when Senior center was requesting more funds for dispatcher...let me get this straight: my daughter has to walk to school during rain,snow or sleet because we live w/i certain distance from the school...but when she is 60, she can call the senior center for a ride to the hairdresser? Derf had a good point about how many classes are taught without a book...my daughter is in Dodd and trying to get a text book, if there is one, is ridiculous...all they use are handouts etc,,,,,try to review for an end of year social studies test when all you have is a binder loaded with worksheets,,,,,,my main bitch with the schools
I disagree that a getting the highest vote total is license to insult people. Mr. Hall asked the Town Manager where he went to school and did he go to CHS. He then said something to the effect that "no one from CHS would use the phrase "me and Mr. Florio" repeatedly. You should watch it for yourself.
Don't vote for him if you don't like the way he conducted himself. It is very easy. Just remember that the last Chairman insulted high school students because he did not like what they were saying.
My favorite Orsini quotes
"Name names"
"Write a check"
lets attack orsini. Then we can attak rocco and white to. Then all republicans. And remember we are
Citizens
Against
Republican
Everything.
we CARE.
we CARE to waste money on turf.
we CARE to waste money on the barn.
we CARE to waste money on the teachers union.
we CARE to waste money on the white elephant.
why do we waste money? Because
we CARE
Wow that's bad.
Anon 3:02 Turf and pool are Democrats wasting money. Republicans (Bush, Rell, Schrumm and Orsini) waste as much though.
We don't have turf and won't have turf so how is that a waste of money?
Cit against Rep Everything is not clever nor does in make any sense.
Make up your own please
Not funny
ERRt-get back old timer
9:38AM When someone says something you don't agree with you call them "old timer". All I can say is grow up. I'm not an old timer but someday both you and I will be. I also was brought up to respect everyone especially my elders. I have never seen such poor behavior as in this blog. If you have a problem with a Rep or Dem take it to the ballot box not on a blog where you can say anything and everything you want about someone and do it anonymously.
Somewhere along the way we have all lost sight of the fact that all our Councilmen do this voluntarily (without pay) and spend many,many hours of their own time. So we should be less critical and cut them some slack. They are only human. If you think you can do better run for office!
Should pay them and then we can say whatever we want?
There's nothing wrong with disagreeing with someone and stating why you disagree. It's the way everyone ATTACKS that I have a problem with. If you don't want to see Schrumm re-elected fine but as Nancy Johnson found out attacks don't work.
Gong-look out model t man
ERRRT-no way jose
Ping-step back jack
Pop-wahha
bAng zoom-all done there
Bing Bang Bomo go to the floor
What???
1:51 Don't assume the boe reduced the new teacher number of Florio's to just two. The boe trimmed 750K from the budget, but did not specify how they want it spent. If more teachers retire than the assumed number (very few) used in his budget, Florio could very well hire the 7.5 teachers he wanted. Supposedly when the council sets the final number for the boe, that's when they'll advise Florio on how they want it spent. But I will believe that when I see it, because from what I recall in the past, once the boe gets that $ figure they've seemed to have little to say on how it's spent.
Then the BOE should step up to the plate and do what their elected to do. They should have more control on how the money is spent. Florio should not have a blank check.
Council has no control over how the B of E spends their money-they can only put up a certain amount of $$ then hope for the best
It's true that the council can only appropriate money and hope for the best, they have no control over the BOE. I have a problem with the BOE not having enough control. At the meeting that I watched the BOE did not approve the hiring of the 7.5 additional teachers that Florio requested (based on the fact that enrollment is declining). If they are not approved then Florio should not be able to hire them during the year pulling a fast one.
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