Budget concerns raised
By Kathy McCarty
PRESQUE ISLE — Much of Monday night’s City Council meeting was devoted to public comment pertaining to concerns over the proposed 2011 municipal budget and talk of possibly combining departments and services to prevent the need to increase the mil rate.
Kevin Sipe, a Presque Isle resident, was the first to address councilors, noting he was not there on behalf of the Rec Department or its Advisory Board but because of his concern over how the proposed combining of the department with the Forum could negatively impact citizens.
“This is the third time this idea has been presented. The last time a comprehensive study was done was 2007. Each time this idea has been presented, the city said proviso services would stay the same,” said Sipe. “No such savings or efficiencies could be realized and still maintain the services citizens expect.”
Sipe said the department’s and the Forum’s philosophy and missions were very different, indicating the Rec is a service-based entity, while the Forum is revenue-driven.
“The Rec and Parks Department is service-driven. The Forum is driven by fees, promotions and sales. This is not the mission of the Rec. The Rec has always focused on children first. Overseeing two departments will mean less time for the director to focus on recreation,” he said. “A loss of staff at the pool means a drop in revenue from swimming lessons.”
Sipe discussed how maintenance schedules would also be affected, if the two merged.
“It would reduce maintenance efficiency and would require the city paying overtime to Forum staff to do maintenance in the summer,” said Sipe, adding this was typically the time Forum personnel used their vacation time, since the colder months are the Forum’s busiest time.
He also expressed concern over how the bike path, which is used by people of all ages year-round, would be affected if the two departments became one.
“Clearing of the bike path after storms to ensure students’ and pedestrian safety is now done by Rec staff. If that’s turned over to Public Works, their priority is cleaning highways after storms,” said Sipe, indicating this would put pedestrians at risk, especially students who use the bike path to and from school during the week.
“The impact this would have on services, programs and aging buildings — the overtime alone would eat up a substantial portion of any anticipated savings,” Sipe said.
Steve Sutter, who lives on the Reach Road, said his concerns as a taxpayer and resident involved the bypass and how the budget handled special requests.
“The budget includes a proposed $4,500 in funding to LEAD that would go toward retention of a consultant that LEAD intends to continue a relationship with — John Melrose. Since 2008, the city has already contributed over $21,000 to the Caribou-based LEAD organization,” said Sutter, who has been a vocal proponent to the bypass. He said it was within the Council’s power to reduce this line item before the final budget was adopted.
Sutter also expressed concern over the proposed combining of the code enforcement officer position with that of a firefighter.
“Combining code enforcement with the position of a firefighter sounds untested and I’m not sure it would work,” he said.
Wayne Sweetser, a Higgins Road resident, also spoke in opposition of LEAD’s request for $4,500.
“I know you (city officials) have to find ways to keep the city running with fewer resources. Most outside requests are good and help the economy. But there’s one that should be denied — LEAD’s. The bypass is not supported by a majority of the taxpayers. That $4,500 would help replace computers for a department,” said Sweetser. “That makes more sense to me.”
Councilor Mel Hovey said the budget before them has over a $1 million increase over last year’s budget and that translates to almost a 2 mil increase for taxpayers, something he would not support.
“I can’t support any type of mil increase to taxpayers this year. One thing I want to point out, when we selected Jim Bennett as city manager, one thing in mind was to bring someone with fresh ideas and make some changes. That’s what he’s doing,” said Hovey.
He said so far he supports what’s been discussed and if it doesn’t work, then changes can be made later.
“If some of the things we’re changing don’t work out in saving money and services, then maybe something will have to be changed. But to not make changes to save taxpayers money would be wrong. I would hope people have patience with changes to see if they work. If they don’t, then we’d address that,” said Hovey. “I think not to allow him (Bennett) to move forward and make the changes he’d like to make to what he believes will improve efficiency to the city would be a mistake.”
Sipe told councilors what he and others involved with the Rec and Forum would like to see happen is a meeting with city officials to discuss how the proposed changes would impact each department and affect the citizens who use the facilities.
“What we want to know is can we maintain the services we have and be effective,” said Sipe.
Council Chair Jennifer Trombley noted that the proposed budget before Council did not include the specifics on the combining of departments and positions and that those topics would be discussed more thoroughly at a later date.
“Next Monday is solid waste, fire and police. The Following week Council will discuss the Forum and Rec,” said Bennett, indicating all services would be looked at for each department and items with the least impact would be considered for elimination of those services. “The Council will determine if it has minimal impact and if savings are available. Those details have not been shared with the Council committee. At the time I presented the budget to Council, this was a conceptual idea.”
Council is scheduled to meet on Monday, Nov. 8, at 6 p.m. at City Hall to continue discussion on budget issues. Meetings are open to the public and participation is encouraged. For more information, contact 760-2720.
