Special Meeting of the Committee on Planning, Zoning and Housing - May 6, 2025: Budget Review and Referrals
Special Meeting of the Committee on Planning, Zoning and Housing - May 6, 2025
The Committee on Planning, Zoning and Housing held a special meeting on May 6, 2025, at 6:05 PM in Council Chambers, New Britain City Hall. The meeting focused on reviewing departmental budgets for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 and acting on three resolutions: the General Fund Budget, Special Revenue Funds and Enterprise Funds Budget, and the Capital Improvement Program (LOCIP) budget appropriation. Department heads presented their proposed budgets, highlighting contractual obligations, wage increases, and operational needs. The committee voted to refer all three items back to the full Common Council with neutral recommendations. No public comments were made.
Discussion Items
1. General Fund Budget for FY 2025-2026 (Item 36785-1)
- Police Department (Chief Marino): Proposed budget increase of $751,000, driven by the new Axon contract ($630,000) and a 1.15% general wage increase. The contract locks in rates for 10 years, saving over $100,000 in the first year. The department has 156 officers, below the contractual minimum of 165, with nine vacancies actively being filled. Revenue projections are approximately $2 million from private duty and the entry-level academy.
- Fire Department (Chief Ortiz): Requested a $1,415,571 increase (8.5% over previous year), with 97.13% ($1,374,971) due to contractual and legal obligations. Overtime accounts for $3.2275 million, of which $1.8 million is for scheduled shift coverage. The department operates with 128 firefighters per contract, currently at 132 total staff. No new programs; focus on maintaining existing services and fire prevention outreach.
- Health and Building Services (Francine Truglio, acting director): No significant increase in health budget; building department requests a new building inspector position. The department has issued 2,502 permits and performed over 4,000 inspections, collecting $1.636 million in revenue. Blight enforcement: 504 tickets issued totaling $121,699 since the start of the fiscal year, with a new lien-based system. Staffing transitions include splitting the former combined health/building director role into two positions.
- Planning and Development (Jack Benjamin): Requested a modest 2% increase, with 88% due to contractual obligations. The department oversees community development, economic development, and planning/zoning. Advertising costs increased due to switching to the Hartford Courant for public notices. The Clean and Lean program is funded through federal HUD money and uses subcontractors for cleanup.
- Recreation and Community Services (Director Deprey): No major changes, only contractual wage increases and part-time wage adjustments due to minimum wage hikes ($16.35/hour). The department has 38 full-time employees and 200-250 part-time/seasonal workers. New MyRec software generated $90,000 in two weeks. Projects include golf course pavilion, ADA improvements at Martha Hart Park, and new pickleball/tennis courts. Homelessness programs: prevention assistance through community foundations and CDBG grants.
- Support Services (John Delgadillo): Overall budget shows a net decrease of $10,000 (revenue up $100,000, expenditures up $90,000). Utility costs increased 30% due to a new electricity contract, but savings from the fiber project and dark fiber connections offset some costs. The IT department conducts phishing tests for city employees. Dispatchers (union 222) received a 2.5% wage increase; other unions are in negotiation.
2. Special Revenue Funds and Enterprise Funds Budget for FY 2025-2026 (Item 36786-1)
- The committee discussed the list of projects included in the resolution. Alderman Beloin Savedra explained that the mayor compiled recommendations based on capital improvement requests, including from the Board of Education. Alderman McNamara initially raised a question about the White Bridge well field improvement and water main replacement, but withdrew after clarifying that the resolution only covers LOCIP funds. No further discussion, and the motion to refer passed.
3. Budget Appropriation for Capital Improvement Program 2025-2026 (LOCIP) (Item 36787-1)
- This item was not discussed in detail; the committee moved to refer it back with a neutral recommendation following the same pattern as the other resolutions.
Key Outcomes
- Motion 1 (Item 36785-1): Alderman Beloin Savedra moved to refer the General Fund Budget resolution back to the council with a neutral recommendation. Seconded by Alderman Russell. The motion passed unanimously by voice vote (all ayes, no nays).
- Motion 2 (Item 36786-1): Alderman Beloin Savedra moved to refer the Special Revenue Funds and Enterprise Funds Budget resolution back to the council with a neutral recommendation. Seconded by Alderman Russell. The motion passed unanimously.
- Motion 3 (Item 36787-1): The committee proceeded similarly; no separate vote recorded, but the chair indicated the motion to refer passed.
- Adjournment: Moved by Alderman Hargraves, seconded by Alderman Russell. The meeting adjourned at 7:48 PM.
Note: The meeting began at 6:05 PM and included a five-minute recess from 7:37 PM to 7:43 PM.
Meeting Transcript
The May 6, 2025 special meeting of the Committee on Planning, Zoning, and Housing. The time is now 6.05 p.m. Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll? Alderman Simpson? Present. Alder Woman Scott. Alderoman Barbosa. Alderwoman MacAdam. Alderman McNamara. Here. Alder Women Beloin Savedra. Alderman Malinowski. Alderman Russell. Alderman Hargraves. Alderwoman Sanchez. Yes. You have eight present. There is a quorum. Also seated as Alderman Connors. And Alderman Gibson. Yes. And myself. And Alderman Santiago. And Alderman Santiago. Thank you. All righty. So we are going to open the floor to oh no, I'm sorry. Are there a public hearings on tonight's agenda or no? Public participation? Thank you. All righty. So we're going to open up the uh floor to public participation. Uh please state your name and address and limit your comments to three minutes. Are there any members to there any are the geez? Are there members of the public to make comment? Any speakers? Going once, going twice, going three times. All right. Seeing no further speakers, we will move on. The time is now six oh six p.m. Can you let the record reflect Alder Woman Scott is here? Thank you. Alder Woman Scott is here. The time is six oh six. Um let's see here. So the first item on our agenda is item number three six seven eight five-one to act upon a resolution regarding the general fund budget for fiscal year twenty twenty five and twenty twenty-six. May I have a motion? I move that we refer it back to the committee. Second. All righty we have a second.
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