2008-2009 Budget Projected to Balance - Very Good News !

By Ann DeMatteo, Assistant Metro Editor

HAMDEN — Despite revenue shortages, town officials believe they will end fiscal 2008-09 in the black.

Acting Finance Director Jennifer Charneski told the Legislative Council Monday night that she was confident that with some transfers, the $174.17 million budget, which ended June 30, would be balanced.Charneski said she doesn’t have exact numbers for any shortfall because revenue is still coming in, and because it will take a few months to reconcile the budget.The town started the last fiscal year in the hole for about $250,000 because the state didn’t provide as much Payment in Lieu of Taxes for colleges and hospitals. But, several other grants brought in more, so the town was short only $181,000 in state grants.So far, the town has a $500,000 surplus on the expense side because of hiring and spending freezes.

But on the revenue side, the town didn’t take in $1.8 million in building permit revenue because of the delay of the Whitney Center expansion. And, building permit revenue from the Quinnipiac University expansion ended up being counted toward fiscal 2007-08.Also, $1 million in anticipated income didn’t come through because the sale of the former Hamden Middle School on Newhall Street didn’t materialize by June 30.And because of the economy, the town took in $550,000 less than planned in interest income.

“It was a difficult year across the board,” Charneski said in a report to the council. “We’re really hoping we break even.”Charneski hopes that shortfalls can be made up by transferring $500,000 to $750,000 from unexpended capital funds into the general fund.The town also will use some of the $6 million it recently received as a result of the transfer of the Wallingford trash-to-energy project from the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority to Covanta Energy. Of the amount, $2.1 million was used as revenue in the current budget. Some of the remaining $3.9 million will help cover the 2008-09 shortfall. If anything is left over, it will become part of the town’s fund balance, which is close to 5 percent of the budget, she said.

Meanwhile, Charneski told the council she is “very optimistic” about the 2009-10 budget because it was developed based on the experiences of 2008-09. Also, about $2 million in insurance savings was recently realized.The town is preparing to go to the bond market in August. It plans to permanently finance $16 million for capital improvement projects in progress, such as the school fire alarm system and the purchase of the Dadio farm on Putnam Avenue. And, the town will be seeking $20 million in temporary notes to cover cash flow for the start of renovating Memorial Town Hall and the adjoining fire station. The project includes the addition of a police station.After the meeting, several council members said they were pleased that it looks like the 2008-09 budget will be flat.

“We did the best we could,” said President Al Gorman, D-at large. “We’re minding our assets. The economy hurt us and we started the year with a deficit.”

Hamden Police Station / Town Hall Renovation Update Article

By Ann DeMatteo, Assistant Metro Editor

HAMDEN — The cost of the proposed renovation of Memorial Town Hall has increased by $555,000 because its walls, ceilings and concrete floor are mixed with asbestos.

The additional hazardous material abatement increases to $36.4 million the proposed cost to renovate the 1924 edifice and adjoining fire station plus add on a state-of-the art police station. Close to $4 million already has been spent in development and preparatory costs.

A joint meeting of the Legislative Council and the Town Building Committee, made up of council members and residents with experience in the building trades, was held Tuesday night. Construction Manager Tom Walsh of A.P. Construction Co. of Stamford, architect Jeff Bianco and Scott Jackson, the town’s chief administrative officer, explained the most recent revised cost estimate for abatement produced by Fuss & O’Neill of Trumbull.

Walsh explained that 77,000 square feet of plaster work in the old town hall needs to be abated; “virtually all the ceilings and walls,” because there is asbestos in them. “We also found that all the concrete floors in this building are hot,” he said.

Previously, Fuss & O’Neill reported that only 22,000 square feet needed to be remediated. An earlier estimate reserved $515,000 for hazardous materials abatement, but members of the Town Building Committee pressed for a more thorough examination.

Councilman Curt Leng, D-6, asked Jackson for a 20-year bonding analysis, taking into account a 2 percent annual increase in the town’s operating budget.

In the coming weeks, the Legislative Council will be faced with weighing the need for the new police station and other renovations with how much they think Hamden can afford. The town is hoping to bid the project later this month. A town financial adviser has already said that it would cost the average homeowner whose house is assessed at $180,000, $106 more a year in taxes over the life of a 20-year bond issue, if $35 million were to be bonded.

Councilman Matt Fitch, D-1, said he’s not sure the actual cost has gone up because there is a large amount reserved in contingencies. “Realistically, with the economy the way it is and contractors desperate for work, many people feel portions of the job can come in under what’s been budgeted. The one thing I do know is that delay is no longer an option. We have an impending disaster at the existing police station. The longer we wait, costs are only going to escalate.”

But Councilman Craig Cesare, R-At large, said Wednesday that while he believes police need a new building, “this is a horrible time to be spending $40 million.” Councilman James Leddy, D-9, said he would favor an amount “considerably lower” than $40 million.

Councilman Jack Kennelly, D-At large, a former police chief and member of the building committee, said he continues to absorb all the aspects of the project and is undecided. “The building committee has said it’s comfortable with $36.4 million as realistic to bond. The council has to decide if this is an expenditure it’s willing to commit to,” Kennelly said.

New Hamden Police HQ and Memorial Town Hall Restoration

New information is in on the project, including a lower estimated cost. More information will be coming shortly and you can expect to see more information from the Town Building Committee and the Legislative Council in the weeks to come. Please feel free to contact me with your thoughts!

Still No Word on Police HQ Information

Still waiting for a response from the Mayor on the memo sent to him about the Police HQ/ Memorial Town Hall project. I'm sending a follow-up memo today. Will keep you posted.

Thanks for Feedback on PD HQ

A quick thank you to everyone who has e-mailed or called over the last couple of days regarding your thoughts on the new Police HQ/Town Hall Renovation project. I appreciate your opinions and promise to keep you posted as we get more information. For those of you who don't have the information, I can be reached via e-mail at councilmancurtleng@yahoo.com.

Best Regards,

Curt

Hamden Police Headquarters Questions Sent to Mayor

This is a copy of a memo sent this week to the Mayor regarding our proposed Police HQ/Town Hall Renovation project. The goal of the memo is to get a discussion started about what options we can make to ensure that a project gets started this year if the full $40-$45 Million project doesn't have full support because of the ever growing price tag.

Please e-mail with your thoughts - councilmancurtleng@yahoo.com.

Legislative Council

Memo

TO: Mayor Craig Henrici

FROM: Curt Leng, Councilman, 6^th District;

Finance Committee Chairman

Jack Kennelly, Councilman-at-Large

Town Building Committee (Sub-Chairman)

John DeRosa, Councilman 8^th District

Town Building Committee Member

RE: New Police HQ/Memorial Town Hall Renovation Project

DATE: January 7, 2009

The new Police HQ/Memorial Town Hall Renovation Project, with $5 million Parking Garage, has grown in cost to an estimated $41.8 million project. The most recent estimates presented to the Town Building Committee was brought into question because several of the members considered the project sub-costs to be conservative which could drive the overall project north of $45 million.

We are concerned that a project with such a high price tag may not have the support of the Legislative Council when it comes time to request funding approval. This could risk the timetable set to get the project started this summer.

It is our understanding that a reduction of square footage has been requested and may result in some savings to the overall cost of the project. However, we are still looking at a $40+ million project.

As such, we respectfully request that you consider directing the

Project Team to develop more cost-effective alternatives, should

support for the project in its current form and cost not be there.

Alternatives would ensure that we get a project started this summer

in one form. Spending a small amount of the most recently

approved $1.2 million on alternatives would allow you to

maximize use of these funds.

We believe that there is real universal support for getting our

Police Department out of the inadequate and unhealthy

environment they currently reside in. Without preparing some

alternatives we would risk doing nothing in 2009 should the

current $40-45 million project not be approved. This is

unacceptable.

We hope you can support the preparation of project alternatives and/or project “phasing” options, including but not limited to:

(l) Cost estimates for a “stand alone” facility on-site;

(2) Cost estimates for potential elimination of the parking

garage with the alternative of site acquisition, additional

regular parking and related security.

(3) A plan for “phasing” the project in, with construction and

completion of the Police Department Headquarters

finishing first.

(4) Other alternatives that would ensure a new Police

Headquarters started in 2009.

Thank you in advance for your consideration of this request. Working together we can ensure that Hamden has a shovel in the ground for this most worthwhile project in 2009.

cc: All Council Members

Town Building Committee Members

Police Chief Wydra

Scott Jackson, CAO

Charter Revision ... Hiccup or Back to Basics?

There was a Special Meeting of the Legislative Council tonight to approve the appointment of a 9-member Charter Revision Commission. Now, after we unanimously approved the establishment of the Commission one would think that this vote would have sailed through, but clearly that would be too simple for Hamden ...

The meeting was a mess of confusion as a majority of Council members didn't know if the make-up of the new Commission was in conformity with state regulations. The main point of confusion centered on the rule that states no more than 1/3 of the commission can be made up of elected or appointed officials of the Town.

5 of the 9 members presented for appointment were in fact Town Commission members. Now, it appears that a couple of them were willing to resign their other commission posts to serve on the Charter Commission, but no one did by the meeting time. We tried to verify the rules with the Town Attorney, but she was trying to make sure that we were in complete compliance and couldn't give a definitive answer until she could research the matter thoroughly.

In the end, the Council tabled the item, in a 7-6 vote (I voted to table). Hopefully we can address the confusion, ensure that we are doing everything legally and appropriately and get Charter Revision back on track. Better to do things right then to push things through incomplete or out of compliance.

If anyone has any questions or comments, please e-mail me at anytime at councilmancurtleng@yahoo.com.