Overtime Sapping Town Coffers

Police overtime is killing the contingency fund. Fire overtime is burning a considerable chunk from the interest payment account. The town expects to close the fiscal year with revenue exceeding spending by over $2 million.

So said the Board of Finance Wednesday night.

Fire Chief Doug Jackson was up first. He requested $96,000 to cover unbudgeted overtime through the end of the fiscal year, June 30, $90,000 of which would come out of the interest payment line. He told the board it's for "a lot of sick time," something the acting police chief would echo later on.

Jackson said he couldn't "absolutely" guarantee $96K would do it. On top of having as many as 11 firefighters call in sick in one given day, the chief said one fighter has been out on Worker's Comp for a year and another has been at home for the last four months nursing an injury.

The finance board unanimously agreed to send Jackson's request on down to the Town Council for final approval.

Finance Director Tom Thompson addressed the need to transfer $52,600 into building maintenance primarily on account of the natural gas tab for the old high school at 200 Tyler St. More than $15,000 would come from the interest payment and $37,000 from the fire/property line.

He said the reason for the request is that the cost of natural gas has risen and the Board of Education used to pay the tab. Now the town owns the building.

"That's why it's important we do something with that building," said board Chair Mayor April Capone.

'We've been discussing it since 1997," said board member Mark Petonito.

"I wasn't here then," said Capone. She made another call for residents to join her new advisory board to decide on a reuse plan for the former high school and then send it to the voters on Election Day.

The board unanimously OK'd the $52,600 transfer.

Another money plea was for $61,300 for extra expenses incurred from change orders in straightening out the S-curve on Main Street, which was completed last November. Ralph Mauro, deputy director of town affairs, said a traffic light had to be replaced and a United Illuminating box moved.

All but Schlegel voted to give it to the Council.

Then came Acting Police Chief Gaetano Nappi. He asked for $276,000 for overtime that wasn't in his FY 2011 budget to get him through June 30. Some $226,300 would be transferred from the contingency fund -- money set aside to cover unanticipated expenses -- and $49,700 from interest payment.

Nappi said officers have taken 362 sick days and 675 injury days so far this fiscal year (675 sick days and 700 injury days were used in the 2010 calendar year). He said seven cops are out on Worker's Comp and he's down two police officers, a lieutenant and a sergeant and needs another record room clerk.

Also, he said, $50,000 and counting in overtime has gone to two officers who have been assigned to the records division to sift through "thousands and thousands" of  documents that have been requested by the federal government and others through the Freedom of Information Act. The requests are related to the U.S. Department of Justice investigation into alleged police brutality and racial profiling of Latinos, which led the FBI to East Haven last December to issue grand jury subpoenas to a reported 24 cops.

"Fiscal year 2010-11, unfortunately had many issues which dramatically impacted on the police overtime budget," Nappi wrote in a letter to the Board of Finance. "I still have issues in regards to manpower, training and usage of sick and injury time."

Nappi said Deputy Chief John Mannion has been assigned to "monitor and evaluate" the use of sick days. Paul Hongo, director of town affairs, said while many cops adhere to the rules "we do have some abusers" of sick time. He said they can be disciplined if found guilty.

Hongo also said some cops continually get reinjured in the same place on their bodies and may need to go for an independent medical exam to see if they're fit to serve.

Finance board member Richard DePalma said the $226,300 from the contingency fund would deplete that account.

"I don't think we should wipe out the whole thing," said Petonito.

Hongo responded by asking where spending could be cut in general to improve the town's bottom line. He had crunched some numbers before the 7:30 p.m. meeting. If 13 Town Hall employees, three administrators and 10 Public Service workers were laid off, Hongo said that would save taxpayers $269,000.

"I don't know where to find (the overtime) money," he said. "You can't stop collecting trash. Someone has to plow the snow."

DePalma then suggested allocating the overtime funds in pieces instead of in one lump sum.

Mauro said each request takes time since it has to go from the finance board to the Town Council for approval, and the overtime has to be covered by June 30.

"I hear Richard's concern," said board member Brendan Geelan, but if the money is needed it needs to be given.

Thompson's monthly money update

The finance director projected revenues will ring in at $85,382,898 and spending at $83,121,759 by June 30.

From July 1, 2010, to Jan. 31, 2011, Thompson said $21,019,972 in taxes have been paid. Earlier projection was $24 million. But he said February collections, so far, of $2,784,309 have exceeded expectations for the month. He predicted total tax collection will be $68,045,822 by June 30. And another $17,337,076 should be realized from other revenue sources.

On the expenditure end, as of Jan. 31, the town has spent $48,446,892 with another $34,674,867 projected by the end of the fiscal year. That leaves the town with a net surplus, on paper, of $2,261,139. But there has been a deficit hanging over the town for the last couple of years that will make that surplus go red. The exact amount of the deficit will be determined when the 2010 audit is finalized, expected later this month, said Thompson.