Cromwell budget deliberations begin online

CROWMELL — In these uncertain times, the Board Of Finance intends to offer some certainty as it begins deliberations on the proposed 2020-21 budget.

The board will take up the proposed $54 million budget beginning Wednesday night.

The proposed budget calls for spending $32.6 million on education.

That is a $1.9 million, or 6.14 percent, increase over the current year’s spending total on education.

However, that number might change.

The Board of Education has called a special meeting for Tuesday night.

Included on the agenda for the meeting is this item: “Review and Possible Approval of Updated 2020-2021 Budget Request to Board of Finance.”

School board Chairman Michael Camilleri did not immediately respond to an email request Monday seeking clarification about that item

The public will not, however, be allowed to attend the deliberations in person, as part of the mandated social distancing being practiced during the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, the board’s deliberations will be both live streamed in real time on the town website, https:// www.cromwellct.com/, under Quick Links/Live Town

Meetings.

Residents can also access the meeting by using the ZOOM app: https://zoom.us/j/614541445 Meeting ID: 614 541 445 phone: 929 205 6009.

“It is our intent to allow as many people as possible to comment on this process,” Town Manager Anthony J. Salvatore said Friday.

“And we are putting in place as many options as possible so the public can take advantage of them,” he said.

But, “We’re in uncharted territory here,” Salvatore acknowledged.

Finance board Chairman Julius C. Neto, Salvatore, Director of Finance Marianne and Recording Clerk Cynthia Hardacker will be in the Town Council chambers in person as the review process gets under way.

Neto, who also serves as the executive director of the Cromwell Fire District, said he believes it is important for residents to see their government in action, “especially so

in these uncertain times.”

The three officials and Hardacker did a dry run of sorts last week during the finance board’s regular monthly meeting, which they attended in person.

The General Government or town budget, the total of all non-education expenses, calls for spending $17.83 million.

In addition to the operating budget, that sum includes funding for so-called onetime “big-ticket” items.

Earlier this month, the town council approved capital items totaling some $913,000.

The list includes $72,000 for repairs to portions of the roof at Town Hall where leaks have developed; $152,000 for replacement of the atrium roof at town hall; funding for the town’s share of the Coles Road, $225,000; and North Road Extension, $315,000 in repairs.

A separate fund, for capital non-recurring expenses, includes $325,000 for road the town’s continuing road-improvement

projects; $40,000 for a space needs assessment for all town buildings; and $50,000 in funding for the state-mandated once-everydecade upgrade of the Plan of Conservation and Development, which is intended as guide to future development in town.

Sylvester asked residents who wish to comment on the proposed budget to submit them as emails that can be sent to her at msylvester@cromwellct.com by the close of business, at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

They will then be read into the record during that evening’s meeting.

“These are indeed interesting times we are living in,” Neto said Monday.

“Given the uncertainty of today, we will navigate through this challenging time by focusing on what our mission statement is: to provide those services that our residents expect, and to try and do it in a fiscally responsible way,” he said.