Council Approves Cost Containment Measure

Elevated snow removal costs caused by record-setting accumulation in January and other emergency needs have drained the town’s contingency fund. Now the town council is taking action to ensure the 2010-11 budget remains in the black.

The Southington Town Council voted unanimously Monday night to approve cost containment measures that will freeze purchases and overtime while also reducing spending on office materials.

“Based on the unanimous decision by the Board of Finance, it is an appropriate time to move to tier 3,” said Council Chairman Edward Pocock III.

The new provisions outlined in tier 3 restrict spending by placing a freeze on all equipment purchases, limits overtime for any non-public safety officials and places a cap on office supply purchases.

With the town’s contingency budget down to just $144,000 and more than four months remaining in the fiscal year, the Board of Finance approved a motion 5 -0 at its Feb. 9 meeting requesting the restrictions.

The town has already spent more than $705,000 on additional appropriations in the 2010-11 fiscal year, including $330,000 for the highway department associated with additional snow removal.

“At times, with the unusual circumstances as we’ve had this winter, you need to make adjustments,” said John Leary, chairman of the Board of Finance. “There are override procedures built into the mechanism to prevent unnecessary red tape.”

For the first time in nearly a decade Southington has overspent the budgeted amount for snow removal.  Other costs, including equipment repair at the Southington Police Department, have further increased the appropriation totals, Leary said.

Furthermore, the town charter prevents the transfer of funds between departments prior to April 1, which places further strain on spending.

Should the emergency costs continue to mount, the Board of Finance could also consider further restrictions by moving the cost containment measures to tier 2, a recommendation that was already considered by board members.

“If we moved to tier 2, it gives us a lot more to get through this year,” said board member John Moise. “It's in the best interest to have any costs not associated with snow removal or emergencies to be controlled by the board, the town manager and the town council."

Despite support from board members including Moise, Kevin Beaudoin and Edward Pocock Jr., the board held off on such measures to give new Town Manager Garrison Brumback an opportunity to further review the budget for other solutions.

Brumback said he appreciates the board’s desire for fiscal conservatism but feels there could be other options available.

“I just want the opportunity to look across all departments to find if there is a contingency to transfer before we make such a move,” Brumback said. “Moving to tier 2 now would put burdens on an already hard-working staff.”