BET approves budget; fire station among cuts
Written by Ken Borsuk,
Greenwich Post Staff Reporter
Monday, March 23, 2009
The Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) gave its official blessing to the town’s $340 million 2009-10 municipal budget Thursday night, but those supporting a King Street fire station will have to wait for now.
The budget, which was approved unanimously, does not include money for architecture and engineering work on the project, which residents and town officials argue is vital because it leaves Northwest Greenwich vulnerable since fire trucks have to come from further away. First Selectman Peter Tesei’s original proposed budget included $175,000 for the work on the proposed fire station, which would also serve as a station for Greenwich Emergency Medical Services, and Mr. Tesei is a strong proponent for it, as is Fire Chief Peter Siecienski. The BET cut the money during its February deliberations and chose not to restore it on Thursday, despite residents pleas to do so at a Tuesday night public hearing.
However, the BET did not close the door on the project, and it could be pushed forward later this year as an interim appropriation. The board said it would be ready to consider approving the funding before next year’s budget is developed, as long as the fire department and the town can bring it more information on a plan for staffing and deployment and a plan for coverage of all the backcountry.
BET Chairman Stephen Walko stressed the board’s commitment to the project, saying its “importance cannot be understated.” Because the project is so important he said it shouldn’t be bound to the timing of the budget process, comparing it to the renovation project at The Nathaniel Witherell, which is being paid for with the same approach.
“It’s incumbent on all of us to work together to try and find a solution to this for the department, for backcountry Greenwich and for all the citizens of the town under the fire protection,” Mr. Walko said. “This allows us to move forward and develop a plan.”
BET member Edward Krumeich II said he couldn’t echo Mr. Walko’s statements enough and indicated the majority, if not all of the board, was ready to support the fire station once it got more information.
“We recognize there has been a long-standing problem with respect to deployment,” Mr. Krumeich said. “The chief himself has told me that. We want to see some progress on that. We do not want to hold this project up.”
Chief Siecienski told the Post Monday the department would continue to meet with the BET about the project. He said he hoped to have things wrapped up within 60 days of the budget.
“We’re very encouraged with the remarks from the BET,” Chief Siecienski said. “They do understand the importance of the fire station and of the overall staffing model for the town of Greenwich. It’s a very big plus for us that they want to sit down and discuss this and we’re very excited about it.”
Several changes were made to the budget as the BET reviewed each department’s budget line and approved them individually before the ultimate vote was taken. The majority of the changes involved shifting money from one account to another and most additions were offset by cuts elsewhere. The budget was finally approved at $340,160,221, which represents a $16,000 cut from what was approved last month by the budget committee.
The biggest suggestion, proposed by BET member Larry Simon, was to restore money previously cut from the $394,000 requested for organic maintenance of all town fields. On the recommendation of its Environmental Action Task Force, the Board of Selectmen passed a resolution earlier this year mandating the use of organic products instead of pesticides, which have been attributed to both health and environmental damage.
BET member Nancy Barton objected to the motion, saying the board had not been given enough information about the organic program. She said the BET had been given only a “small snapshot” of what would be a complex and expensive project and while she did not support the use of pesticides, she wanted to make sure the BET had more information first. An outside consultant’s report had been prepared by the task force and town Parks and Recreation Director Joseph Siciliano offered to provide it right there to BET members.
Ultimately the board voted 10-2 to restore the money because members felt it would be a mistake not to allow for proper field maintenance when there is such a high demand for fields in town.
While the budget was approved unanimously, Ms. Barton did voice her concerns that the budget, which contains a 3.55% increase in the mill rate, did not go far enough under the current economic conditions either in cuts or in raising taxes.
“We all must sacrifice,” Ms. Barton said. “We have to cut back on the things we want, not the things we need while continuing to maintain our infrastructure.”
The budget will go on to the Representative Town Meeting for consideration in May.