001shop for April 9th. Um, let's call this meeting to order. And first up is the pledge of allegiance. >> Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Right. Thank you everyone. Do we have >> anybody on Zoom? >> I sent John a uh a link but I don't think it's realized. >> He's on a plane right now. >> What's that? >> Yeah, Mimi has to be >> Mimi never sent me a uh she didn't tell me she wouldn't be here. I can send her one now, though. She had said she might be able to, but >> I think she's also traveling and traveling right now is >> okay. >> Difficult. >> I
002can still send her one nonetheless. >> Okay. Well, we have everybody here. Um, so next on the agenda is public comment. This portion of the meeting is specifically set aside for comments from the public who are asked to limit their comments to two minutes. Any person interested in providing public comment via email should email public meetings atroyhillct.gov of prior to 4 p.m. on the day of the meeting to have their public comment read into the record. Do we have anybody present step right up? Thank you. Good afternoon. Uh Derek Kalin, 116 Ridgewood Drive. Uh I wanted to speak in favor of fully funding the library budget. My family loves the library. My wife Mara serves on the board of trustees. I volunteer to run a kid's chess club and our nine-year-old weekly brings home as
003many books as he can carry from the children's section. Uh to teach a child to love reading is an important job for a parent and we have been deeply grateful that the library has helped us to satisfy his uh rapacious appetite. The Rocky Hill Library staff are always exceptional. Participating in their programs has meant so much to our family since we moved to town in 2021. Throughout our time here, the library has remained uh one of the most important ways for us to u connect with other residents and feel a sense of community in Rocky Hill. For years, however, the library staff has been expected to do more with fewer hours and a smaller materials budget. Last year's library budget included a goal of increasing the number of library visits, program participants, and library card
004users by 2.5% each while cutting a 35hour uh position and $5,000 from the book acquisitions budget. This is on top of a full-time position frozen in the previous year. The impact is that popular library programs are quickly oversubscribed. One-on-one technology help sessions have greatly decreased and we are more reliant on surrounding libraries to purchase the books that we can't. Library staff is at full capacity and as fulfilling as I find volunteering with the library, Rocky Hill deserves dedicated, skilled, paid staff to run this important community center. Please provide the funding that the library needs in order to continue this excellent service. Thank you. >> Thank you. Seeing nobody else here. Uh Daniel, do we have anything? >> I do. >> Submitted. Great. >> Just one. >> Okay. It's from uh Tony Sakulo of 58 Jennifer
005is away. He says, "I'm sorry that I will be unable to attend tonight's town council meeting. However, I would like to provide my support for the library in the ongoing budgetary meetings. As residents of Rocky Hill and active members of the Friends of the Library, my wife and I are writing to strongly urge the town council to maintain full funding for our library services. The library is a cornerstone of our community, and we believe it is important to expand programs and services rather than scale them back. Specifically, we are concerned about recent challenges regarding consistent staffing and the availability of new books. Dedicated staff are the heartbeat of the library's educational mission, and keeping our collection current is vital for resident engagement. We ask that you prioritize these essential areas in the upcoming budget to
006ensure the library remains a robust resource for all. >> All right. Thank you. And that's it. >> That's all. >> Anybody else? No. All right. Uh moving on to uh get right into the budget. And I believe Mona or Ray, you guys are going to start off. Yeah, but Moto will be walking you through as an example through the budget and kind of like an like an example of how to read through the budget and it might help those out there watching also. >> Great. >> Okay. First, I was just going to point out >> is your Sorry, is your mic on? >> There I am. Okay. >> All right. Thank you. >> Loud and clear. Those that were watching the town managers budget presentation the other day I wanted to point out that in
007this proposed book you have a total of 110 257 244 presentation was all about 110 2007 244 and an 8.38. Uh the presentation is the number we would like to start with. There was a $50,000 uh in the detail book. It's in the human resources uh for part-time that should be a zero. Town manager's budget uh had intended to have that as a zero. So your in the presentation was um the number will go and that's an 8.38. Uh we're also reviewing and when we'll get to that department in the building department there was a duplication of a part-time for 30,000. We'll have that already. So you have to make the recommendation that will be out. And we're also reviewing, let me jump down on revenues, the 220,000 we're researching. There is a good possibility
008that that revenue may come to the town. So town managers researching it. We'll work with the state. So that could be good news for us as we get rolling. the revenue sharing. >> When will you know that by the way? >> You put it out there. >> When the budget is finally voted on at the state level or something >> exactly >> which is due. >> So the legis legislative session ends before we vote on our budget. There'll be time for Yeah. There'll be time for us to figure it out. Well, we might not know until May 7th. >> Yeah. >> Uh just a a quick I'm sure we've all figured it out by now, but I would do a quick on how to follow this because the document looks a little different than it
009did uh last year. I'm going to just grab finance. I love it because it's closest to me. I would say my heart. That's kind of tacky, but um uh you'll see a section that looks like these little bar graphs to give you an idea what that's about. That's something new. Uh you'll have this information that says, for example, number one, budgetary factors. Those are all in the priorities that we had sent around to the council uh earlier in the year as we were presenting this. Uh you will find those numbered individually up here. Let me drop it down a little bit. So you'll see strategic plan and priority issues. If you ever have a desire to go back and say, "Well, what what does that mean?" These numbers are on that page. The directive to
010all department heads was if you're going to do a goal, make it tie back to that. What we've seen in previous budgets, you would just have this narrative here and not tying it back. And we've got an added uh portion which is showing uh progress percent. This is going to become the working document for the town manager and department heads. So now we have a goal. It ties back to the plan and then throughout the year departments are expected on a monthly basis to say and this is how I'm moving along with my uh goals. So rather than it a oneliner appearing on your budget book and close the book, it's over. this is going to become the working document. >> Uh to to that point, sorry to interrupt. I I promise I won't do
011that a bunch of times, but um how often are directors circled back with to follow up on the status of these goals? >> I would say in this format, we're going to do it monthly. This is the first time that we've had it in this format, but go ahead. Yeah, it's uh we plan on doing it monthly, but and this is like a could be even a weekly thing, but minimally it would be quarterly or not quarterly, monthly. Um but um we'll keep in touch more often with the department heads to see what's going on. >> Yeah. Just in case things start to fade away or go a different direction, pull them back. >> Great. uh other section I'm going to just point out a little bit. This is an example. We're not doing this
012one tonight, but uh in the past you would see uh for example this line here which is that first indent it would say full-time salary. So in the past years you would see that line. What is different this year? We've got a higher level that would gather everything salaries all everything services. uh in case you wanted to look at at the high level. These lines here are what you're used to seeing. What we've done this year is on the salaries. It's what we're calling itemized. So you'd see every position and then it'll show the salary for the individual. So if you notice all of this indent is what's totaling up to the level above. So it's more of a reverse roll up. And you know, we'd love to see that what it looked like last
013year. This is new software, first time getting it out. So, next year would be beautiful. I think right now it just it's it's a good tool, more detail. We've had questions in the past. What do we have? $500,000 in salaries. Who is it? And now you know these are the positions. We did the same level on not all but many of those line items that could use more description. for example, on technology software last year, you would have seen software 66,000 and moving up uh wouldn't know what it was for. So, the directive to department heads on these that could use more detail. You'll see an indent. This will tell you which vendors are going to be used or what type of purchase. Of course, we didn't get all of the accounts. If you got
014a meeting expense, we didn't go to which meeting, but of course, that's the software is capable of doing that. But uh we really wanted to get the tool out there and get as much detail as we uh could. So it it may be a little awkward to read, but the level of detail hopefully gives you that transparency that uh that we're always striving for. >> Mona, quick question on that. I think the prior years we actually had fiscal year 2025 projected versus actual. And yes, I think was this your >> Yeah, Frana brought that up. Yes, let me tell you about that one. Okay. >> And yes, I I have been made aware of that. Thank you. >> Uh so in the Yes, in the past we would have uh last year the prior year's
015actual this year's budget and then we'd have this year's year-to-ate actual uh that is not there. Um I think in the past what would happen is it was being built. It was probably about three-month old data. So we would do the how much have they spent and then I would report accordingly. uh if this is really a a column that you want to use um it's obviously I can't change the proposed budget but I can modify and insert that column. I don't know if I can get it as soon as the following Tuesday but if you feel it's something that's very valuable uh we can try to to put that in there. Not sure it's necessarily available on salaries, but on other expenditures, I think it is something that we if if a certain department
016didn't use the money because I remember the road money last year, they didn't use it. So, >> in giving them their budget for the following year, we said, well, they still have x amount left over. No, and it wasn't necessarily earmarked. So, I mean, I really don't want to make extra work because this is a bear on you more than anybody, but um that was helpful in some instances to me. >> And I think the next meeting that we have, hold on there, I'm going to grab my >> There are certainly departments that doesn't mean >> right, we've got some of the smaller departments on next Tuesday, the following, which is the 21st with facilities and parks and and so forth. I don't if you don't mind I'll try to make it a goal to
017have it for those which are a little >> Yeah. And I think it does come in handy, >> you know, but we can always give updated. >> I think I mean I think that that's a good point. I remember that from previous years too and sometimes it would be way off and you're like how are you? I remember the um registars's office >> was like we don't have any elections between now and June. Why are we so much under? and yet you're still anticipating to spend this amount. Sometimes it has to do with the payment of contracts when contracts are due. You know, you have a software contract that's due in May or something like that. Um my thought is, you know, if the other thing is, you know, this is made now, but I
018mean, we're only, you know, really a month away now from eventually when we'll end up deciding on the budget. But um maybe that's something a lot of those type of things like the road budget things like that that we get that we we get those projected numbers maybe or actual numbers. >> Well, we have actual >> close. >> We have actual we just don't have what we thought we were going to spend. >> Well, you have the actual of last year. So that actual that I'm looking at here is for the 2425. That's last year's actual. >> Yeah. >> You have this year's budget. >> Well, that's current, right? that that that actual >> that's the current year budget >> that was no that's last year's >> 256 yeah >> 2025 we don't have 2026
019actual >> correct >> so because we're still in that >> so perhaps those are the type of numbers we need closer to the end maybe not or or maybe on a department by department basis if if there's a big gap there might be something that's good for us to know >> in all honesty it's probably easier if I just export and I load an entire thing up. Just keep in mind that if with that to put that in something will fall off the page. I hope and no one's got that great, you know, love for these account numbers here. There we go. They they mean everything to >> you probably have them memorized, but we are not going to know the difference. >> Nobody feels like they're miss them. >> Well, that would what it
020would be. It would be an actual year to date. we hand have it in a separate handout that we do for finance, those that are on finance and I see we do it all the time. Um, but if it's it looks better and it's easier to follow it on this page. I didn't u probably fit the column in dropping off the account number and probably inserting year to date right in here. >> Yeah, I think we might want to see particularly if there's a big difference, you know, >> right? They're good to say. You always answered our questions anyways because they were to your point a two or three month lagard. >> Yes. Right. >> Yes. Or I'll just have them with me and which I have tonight. >> Which you do. Yeah. >> Of
021course. >> Right. >> So that's enough I think on how to read it and what we'll do and I'm going to uh pass it back for the first budget down council. Right. Do you need to look at the monitor? >> Um, bottom line is so we reduce the town council budget by uh $2,000. um retaining enough money under fees for like for Memorial Day events and any events that you might want to contribute to like inclusion and innovation um 911 memorial events time things like that. um out of the member expense accounts. So you're looking at um um town council like conferences, cost conference, council, small town, things like that, CCM conferences, um dues and subscriptions. We're looking at uh subscription yearly annual subscriptions for cost CCM URG and other other larger uh um organizations
022that we uh need to be a member of. >> Can I ask a question? >> You're ready. >> Fire away. Um I I did see under fees that the actual 2025 was only $440 and then in 2026 it went up to $4,000 which we're keeping that 4,000. Can you elaborate on that? Like why it went up to so high? >> In fact, I'm going to jump in because this would be one of those places where that year to date would be beautiful. Yes. Zero. >> So yeah, that's point. But um >> so is this maybe somewhere where we could cut more if we're at year-to- date zero and we have $4,000 is just sitting there. >> Yeah. And I think the intention was to have at least something for council that if something were to
023come up and we've had >> maybe >> in the past they wanted to I can't even recall what it was. It was something with this this whole setup the the audio visual or the way that the it's like we really prefer you know this or they had um the cell phones or the iPads or so so it's there at your discretion to >> use accordingly >> and also in the event that >> $3,000 >> it's it's like when I was on student council and we had a bank account and you know you want to hand it over to the next group so they can use it if they need we have a reason to use it we'll use it but if Huh? It's great to hang out. >> Well, with the amount we're up, I
024think we need to figure out where we're going to cut where we can. And you know, it's only >> totally open to that. I just conceptually I just >> holding it just in case for one year, I think is not worth it. >> We've always been asked uh I've been always asked that the can the council contribute more to the Memorial Day parade? >> Yeah. >> And >> yeah, >> you know, so that could be part of that, but sure. I mean, you know, it's $4,000. C can can I ask though if if we budgeted 4,000 last year and we spent zero I think you said >> 440 440 >> 440 right here okay >> today year to date is zero >> okay year to date is zero >> yeah last year we spent 440
025but this fiscal year we spent nothing >> correct >> okay so what happened with that 4,000 does that end up going to the general fund what what >> yes it You're you're going to make me want to do an accounting class really. >> I I just want to make sure it's not it's it the general fund which is now discretionary. >> No, what it what it will do is when we close out the year and many of you have already seen that we'll do that year-end uh journal entry. It'll say if you know we're going to turn something to non-recurring like for example that road repair had 100,000 left put it to non-recurring. All of these other unexpended amounts will go to fund balance. And I we'll talk about our beautiful presentation the other day
026when you saw that bar graph about how the budget keeps going up but our fund balance is going downward. Uh these are the things that when you close out the year if you have enough of these 2000s 1000s they'll go to fund balance. If you've got a hund00 million budget and our ordinance goal is to get to uh 10% or 10 million and today we're at six million. It's it's a small uh increment but that is what will fund your fund balance is the unexpended as well as any revenues higher than the uh the budgeted amount. That's where they go. Could you give us a breakdown on that dues and subscriptions? You're saying part of that's crag. How much do we pay to crag as far as >> yearly? >> I did not bring that.
027Sorry. I know you got CCM cost and crag. >> I don't have that number those numbers right now. >> Is there is there more than those two in there or is it mainly just those two? Because >> cost and CCM. >> Wow. >> Like CCM is like over $11,000. Uh, Krag is per capita again per uh per capita. >> Okay. >> Um, >> what's CCM? >> Connecticut conference of municipalities. >> Okay. >> Cost of council of small towns. >> Yeah. And they've offer free trainings and stuff like I went to the one this year that was like a free first, you know, first time member >> training and it was good. >> Yeah. I think okay >> we probably when Crag is mostly funded by the state and by federal funds >> they're the administrator
028of federal funding around transportation and stuff like that. So the amount of money or the amount of like resources and grants and stuff like that that we get from Crog every year is probably well in excess of the amount that we put in because most of the money that Krag operates on is federal and state. It's just a little bit from each of the towns like per capita. Um but like cost and CCM is a little bit different than that. They their funding sources are a little different. I don't know about CCM specifically, but I know that some of these organizations do it on a per resident basis. So something like a dime or 20 cents per resident and then builds up to be like in our case 4,000ish, you know, something like that. >>
029So that's what I expect it would be. >> Thanks. >> But so the um things like the Chamber of Commerce and stuff like that, that's not in this number, right? >> no. I think I put chamber in um economic development. >> Yeah, >> it's like $430. >> Yeah. >> All right. Good on the first budget line item. >> Sorry. So, are we going to ask them to do what do we do if we want to officially like change something? >> We're just getting information and stuff now. Yes. >> Okay. Okay. >> Yeah. Lock it away. make notes. >> Okay, I put it in my notes already. >> Yeah, >> sounds good. Thank you. >> All right, that's probably one of the smallest ones. >> Start in slow. >> My budget, Tom, manager's budget. Um, 0%
030increase on that. Um >> oh yeah while there are only two goals listed on the page there are different steps within those two goals that are uh that need to be considered um you know for goal number one um investigate and evaluate intermunicipal equipment and service sharing opportunities um you know that's involving um which we've done already some of you know looking at Crag for example um they're uh you know the speed camera services shared services we had CRO come in and take a look at what we can do for shared services uh looking at uh intermunicipal sharing equipment through the parks of wreck we had a grant with Prague and there are other other areas that I need to investigate where we can possibly save money um equipment sharing even looking at you know
031transfer station possibilities you know with other municipalities. The most recent one is the uh regional sharing with uh for municipal uh trash solid waste going in on a bid RFP for uh for trash consultant with Weathersfield in Newington. Um second goal continuously review budget financial reports against performance management. Um that was a question that was uh asked earlier. um that requires uh I think you know weekly, monthly, quarterly uh meetings with department heads. It's checking on the progress against the goals in the budget, making sure that we're all tied in to what this policy manual, which is really what the budget is um says and make sure we're trying to keep on track. Um so that requires a continuous budget review with the finance department. Uh reviewing um progress um and uh conformance with uh
032goals with HR meeting with uh again meeting with the department heads. um dues and subscriptions. That's ICMA, International City Managers Association, and the uh CT CMMA is the Connecticut City Managers Association, Local Town Managers Association. um business expenses. Um again, CCM while they do offer many free um um sessions, coun uh training and uh educational sessions, there are some that do cost same thing with cost council small towns um and various in some educational uh uh various educational workshops that might be of interest for me. So, so we can Can I ask a question, Ray, then on that? Um, >> for professional services, we budgeted zero. >> We projected 4,000. What is that number? >> Yeah, tell me about that. >> Actually, >> I'm going to um I know again this is the the presentation,
033so I'm going to do this one. So the budgeted amount, excuse me, first indent is the line item. So we budgeted 4,000, projected 4,000. Down here is where they expected to put in detail. This one doesn't have any detail, so it's not a good example. >> It's justing fees, but this would be where it's going to be a breakdown of the line above. So this is not a 04. Do you follow where I'm going? So the first indent is the line. This the next indent is detail. >> But okay, so that fee should be a professional services some sort of fee for professional services. >> But what but >> because we have two 4,000s in there now. >> Well, no. What she's saying is that's a it's the same amount. It's just a subset. >>
034That's a detail. >> Yeah, it's a detail. So, what this is saying is that in 2025, we actually spent $84 and then uh but we we budgeted $4,000 and we're carrying that same $4,000 this year. >> So, what is that 4,000 and can we reduce that since we actually only spent 800? >> Well, but I but I see I see 4,000 under professional services and fees and both then you run up to the bolded purchase professional services and it's 4,000. Yeah, I the header. That's the header. That's the header. >> Then there are two header. Then it should be 800. >> There's three, I guess. But but the the header, the bolded one is the total of all the things underneath. >> I get that. I I totally get that. But under the header, there
035are two 4,000. >> There's two 4,000. >> All right. I'm going to have one more. Right. The very bold is going to be the high level. If he had professional service, well, you do. You have training, professional services, and training. The bold is going to be what is going to total up these first indents. This one. and this one. So the 4,000 is actually adding up that one and this. Then the internal indent is what goes with that. >> All right. Understood. >> So I said a lot of great information. A little uh awkward to read, but it flows once you get used to it. >> And have we spent anything this year? >> We are at very little. 162 >> again leftover general fund. Is is there an opportunity to >> not not necessarily
036um it's always good to have that cushion in case the in town council or we or I need to do something that is at a higher level you know that we might need some consulting services or additional legal >> No I'm just saying if we don't use it it >> goes to fun >> well he was answering my predicted question that I was asking at the same time can we reduce that question yeah can we go ahead and bring that down to maybe a thousand >> um >> but Um something to consider. Yeah. Thank you. >> Something with the salaries. We don't have the um budgeted for 2026 andor the projected for these are two people in that office. >> Yeah. >> Or am I missing something again? Yeah, this one it's like I said
037it's kind of new. So I'm not sure why but they're actually the projected for 26 27 they dropped below where it would be ideal if they were side by side but it would show no increase there. This is current year and for non-bargaining which is the case for both of these individuals there is nothing budgeted that will be determined after the uh beginning of the fiscal year. So they should stay consistent. So this person is there, that person is here. >> Just a learning curve trying to figure this out. >> They said it's the good news is it's a lot more information. It just gets a little >> The good news is it's easier when the numbers are the same. >> Yeah, it's when the numbers change that it might be difficult to match them
038up. >> I do I do I was going to ask why. I mean, I see the numbers are different, but I was I was wondering why they're on two different line items for each of the same >> thing. Why wouldn't you put it on the same >> one line? >> Yeah. I mean, >> it's a learning experience. >> I'm sure it's going to ask the programmers that one. >> I'm lucky. I got it. >> Why this one is it different from all the others? >> They're actually the same reference number, too. >> It is the same. I was thinking maybe it was different, but it is the same. Exactly. All right. Any other questions for the town manager department? >> Just why wouldn't we project the town manager's raise? It's a contractual raise. Why wouldn't
039we just put that in there? Do you know >> it's in his contract how much he gets a raise. I believe >> 3%. >> I think it's just been a habit that we've been >> that all non-bargaining. Okay. >> That could be could be done. >> We could Thanks. >> Yeah, that I mean that makes sense. If we know what it's going to be next year, then why not? >> Let's put it in. >> Yep. >> Did we ask about the dues and subscriptions at the end there? >> Good. >> Already. >> Yeah, that was ICMA. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And u I don't want Sorry, repeating. >> Well, it it is a lot lower number. It's a >> what is actual. >> It would be helpful to have the what you know. Yeah.
040I'll put them in for you. >> But if it hasn't been spent yet, you know, then kind of moot. But >> I think we're Yeah, I mean, we're probably going to run into that in a lot of departments around professional development. I mean, obviously, I I think it's important for people to continue professional development. And when you know um almost if the money is there you almost want to encourage it's almost a way to encourage people to take it. But obviously if you h we don't have the ability to spend that money on professional development because maybe the thing isn't out there or the course isn't out there to take or you just don't have the availability or whatever. >> Doesn't necessarily make sense to budget for it every single year. Mhm. >> Um uh
041so all set town manager department >> human resources and legal compliance. >> Tonight we have a guest. >> Director of human resources and legal compliance Dana McGee up to the podium. >> Yes, sir. >> Welcome. Welcome. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. Uh, good early evening, mayor and town counselors. And for those watching live, I'm Dana McGee, the director uh for human resources, legal compliance in the town of Rocky Hill. I have here with me uh Autumn Guyire sitting at the back table. She is the human resources generalist and search administrator for the town and the person that you're most likely to see when you're walking upstairs and coming off the elevator. >> And the and the one that decorates the office. >> And the one that decorates the office. This is true. Very true.
042Uh, as you know, the department partners with all municipal departments across the municipality to build and retain top talent workforce folks that serve the community while providing personnel administration solutions that reduce legal risk and in doing so reduces financial risk. Uh, this department can be very broadly organized into three areas. I think that usually when I'm before you, I'm talking about one of our nuanced areas that we focus on, but tonight I'm going to talk to you broadly about what we do. Uh, in each of these areas, you'll find um some sort of awardwinning system or function that's been credited by underwriters with reducing the town's public officials liability portfolio. Those three areas are personnel administration and classification, number two, labor relations and legal compliance, and number three, workplace safety and OSHA compliance. In the
043budget book that you're looking at, you're going to see safety and OSHA compliance figures prominently in terms of expenses, and I'm going to talk a little bit about that. Um, some of the functions uh that we have always focused on in the past and I've talked to you about this would be our objective hiring process, any activities associated with the OSHA written compliance plans and the town safety committee and HR training sessions for supervisors and non-supervisory employees. In terms of the goals that you see, I'm going to skip back to our goals. I'm sorry. >> That's okay. Um, we will note that there are there should be some updates that aren't reflected here. The town manager actually um received and signed off on cohorts several months ago. This relates directly to your staffing priority and
044your succession planning. Um, keep in mind that when we talk about succession planning, before we get to succession planning, we have to have people who are uh available and who are interested and capable of performing the duties that we need them to perform when they become leaders. So, we have to prepare them for that. So, we have to go back to the beginning and start providing leadership development programs to them. you mentioned professional development and the money that's available for that or sometimes not available for that. Um that is directly related to our succession planning efforts. So what we have been trying to do over the years is to find free resources, free opportunities to provide leadership development uh programming and training to folks. And you also mentioned CCM. I just want you to see
045how all this stuff is related. We are a member of CCM. CCM is actually one of those places that provides free training including leadership development and supervisory training. Our ESI employee assistance program provides free resources. So when you see subscriptions and memberships to different organizations, you're going to see that ticket item, but keep in mind what we're getting out of them is substantial. Okay? I would say even Kerma, right? Uh so for our purposes, when you look at my I'm going to skip again. I'm sorry, Mona. You look at my fees and training. One of the reasons that our training um we've been able to keep that flat or decrease that is because we are relying on the free the memberships that exist in their free services. Does that make sense to everybody? >> Yep.
046>> Okay. So that allowed us to keep our training um numbers very low especially considering what we want to be able to do with succession planning in the future. Okay. Uh in terms of uh the other goal leadership development programs we have already identified a number of programs and some of those are forp pay we will not be doing a lot of those therefore this coming fiscal year because of our financial challenges. So what you will see in the future is me preparing for Ray reports on all of the free opportunities that we took advantage of. But the uh meaty substantive programs that might require travel or days away or intensive days um where folks, you know, have to spend their time in a live session. You may not see those for a couple of
047years until we can pay for them >> or we can have you do them. >> Thank you. Yes, we could have me do them also. Um, one of the other things I'd like you to look at is with regard to OSHA compliance and safety, job safety expenses. Um, this is what we're getting for that $27,000. And Mona, that is what they're looking at, right? 27,000. Okay. This is what they're getting. What we are getting as best dose awareness training, aometric testing, random drug testing programs for both the Department of Transportation and our all of our CDL employees. CDL physicals, health and wellness requirements for the police accountability bill. The police accountability bill requires that our officers, and this is a new one, an unfounded mandate, um they have to go through uh mental health screenings,
048random drug screenings, um all of those things have to be paid for by us. And so that's included in that $27,000 figure. OSHA site visit responses, OSHA written compliance plans and training. We have to hire vendors to do the bloodborne pathogen exposure control, confined space, hazard communication, hearing conservation, lockout, tagout, tickborne illness training, silica exposure training, and all of the respiratory protection training including fit testing. That's the mask that goes every over everyone's face. And the medical evaluation that we have evaluation that we have to perform to ensure that our employee is is is of a certain level of of health and and can take wearing that mask and that it won't affect their ability to be healthy while they're performing whatever um job it is they need to perform. And so for that 27,000,
049we're getting quite a bit. >> Okay. >> Um, generally you'll just see that a lot of my uh line items stayed flat and again we were able to decrease in some areas mainly trying to take advantage of free services. We did um uh decide to forego um we have a legal research engine that we used to use Lexus Nexus. We will not be using that in the future to save some money. and I'll take any questions. It >> kind kind of looks like you're under budgeting for training the last couple years. You've exceeded it. Uh you had 18,025. I don't know what we are year to date, but we're projected to be 15 and we only budgeted six. So considering and we're and we're only proposing six. >> Are we are we under budgeting that?
050>> So I have an explanation for that. Um because clear gov provides a new way for us to categorize our training. Um training used to include broadly even the uh OSHA safety related training but this new program has allowed us to break it out now. So we've separated our safety and OSHA training from our um like our job training and our leadership development programs. So that's why >> that was going to be my other question is we we had nothing budgeted for OSHA and job safety compliance but you're saying that's >> it was it was in a different it was um categorized differently in the past. Am I am I explaining that well enough? >> Yeah, it's more of a a coding. So I know you had asked for example training a year today right
051now is 11,000 but the fees where it's the 42 is actually at 31. So it's really just a matter of putting it in the right bucket. Okay. >> It's labeled differently and I think that's why it looks like that. >> Council or Sydney, >> so then we're not underbudgeted because we budgeted under OSHA job safety and compliance to make up for that deficit. >> Correct. >> Is what I'm seeing. >> Correct. That's correct. >> Did we have CDL? Didn't we have to do all that before? >> We have and stuff. It was It was embedded before, just labeled differently. >> Okay. >> I've got a question, but any Yeah, go ahead. >> Um, the part-time person. Um, >> oh, wait, that's a sub. So, we did Okay. No, I'm reading it wrong. That's the subcategory,
052right? The part-time salaries that underneath it says PT salaries. That's the subcategory, right? And that is the line that is actually zero that was an error >> earlier misprint. >> It's it'll show 50 here but in the town manager presentation was >> that's what we're getting. >> That's the zero. >> Okay. So that's not'll be 50. >> Well actually that does. So do we have a part-time hire for 50,000? >> We do currently but >> and we and >> I I remember you had to wait to put them into the next year last year. So actual we're at what again Mona >> on part time go down there 33 >> so we're on close to pace >> correct y >> okay >> but that's not going to be funded in this budget >> well it
053is it's proposed 50 no this is what she said at the beginning of the meeting that we're going to be less 50 >> took that out >> this is coming back to us >> question about the uh salaries uh the proposed now I I assume that she's not collective bargaining correct >> that's right >> being a director but how is she have a we have a raise in there >> you know on the town manager we didn't have anything but now these positions we do have something >> 1% >> yeah I think it's um really it's more of a rounding on this so we're trying to make a a budget program do payroll. So I think you'll get a little rounding on >> but is that going to be accurate you think or is that
054>> the proposed is accurate when it's trying to project your year? >> Oh okay. >> It's going to take the based on an hourly and switch you to 26 pays and 35 hours. I think you're going to lose a little rounding but your proposed is correct. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And then my question is just around that part-time position. So, um, if we're not funding that part-time position, what's the effect of that going to be? Other than the just the financial, you know, saving the the money? So, um the department um like any other department um certainly needs staff, right? It's the staff that gets the work done. And um a large part of our work, labor relations and legal compliance in particular, uh takes up an inordinate amount of our time. But I
055will say that um as a management team, a decision has been made and the department stands ready to work with the management team to figure out simply how to get the work done. That's it. >> So, do we feel confident that we'll be able to absorb that workload elsewhere? >> It will be absorbed in my department by the two people that you see sitting here. >> Yeah. Plus, um, I'd like to rely more we have on our labor council for some of these legal issues that Danny gets wrapped up into. Um, and also, well, we have we have a labor council and then we also have how Sage with a labor component. So, >> that we use on a >> case by case basis. >> Yeah. Recently, we just we forwarded something to Hower and
056Sage that we Dana would probably usually get tangled up into to try to free her from some of those. So are are we adjusting for that under that line item then expecting that we're >> not we're not >> okay >> yeah I don't I don't think we need to at this point >> we've used council to take the position I mean take some of the responsibilities of part-time salary is what we did last year allocating a little bit more money to if she needed the help on particular cases right if that's fairly accurate Dana Say that again, Dave. >> I think you were overworked. This is my third one, so I I got a good history going, right? But um you know you you we ended up allocating more discretionary use of our legal counsel
057Alleren and Sage for issues that she needed not to put her time into but would be better suited for the legal counsel to use a way of alleviating a little bit of your responsibility. >> Right. >> If I'm not mistaken >> that's what we're doing now. >> Yeah. Exactly. No, I I Allan was asking the question, I think, you know, how are we making up for it, you know, and whatever. So, >> no, makes sense. >> Doing great. >> Anything else for Miss McGee? >> No. >> All right. Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. Economic Development. >> Our second guest, economic development manager, Alandre. >> Hello. >> How are we doing tonight? I hear it's the mayor's birthday. Is that correct? >> I didn't hear that. >> What changes economic development? I'm looking 96.
058I just follow you. >> Um, my name is Alander Main. I'm the economic and business development manager. Um, a lot of what I do revolves around serving as main contact for businesses and developers. Um, creating marketing events to help promote the town's culture. Um, events such as Shoppee Hill Saturday and the Food Capital campaign that me and the mayor are currently working on. um doing routine business visitations and working with the Middle Sex Chamber of Commerce when need be. Um all of these things are explained a little bit more in um touched upon a little bit more in this uh nice little table that Mona created. I got to give Mona a shout out. Um and there there's a few things that I want to point out. Um uh where is it? Maintain online inventory
059of local businesses. that's at 90% because the business inventory is completed. Um I just have to add categories to it. So when I do that, that's going to be at 99%. Um and then update town's public artwork policy. Obviously, I know you guys are working on that. Um so when it is updated, I would like to be more involved um my department to be more involved in that. Um and then the last thing I wanted to touch upon was the first one. Um introducing funding assistance program for business expansion and improvement. Um that's a new initiative that me uh the town manager, the director of finance and our uh town treasurer are working on and we actually just met with Liberty Bank on Tuesday um to go over what we would need to do in
060order to put this in motion. Um and obviously it's still in early early stages because it depends on if that were to get passed um or not and we still need to go over you know application process and um our criteria and processes and all that fun stuff. So >> So what is Liberty offering us or >> sorry what is Liberty partnering with us on? >> Um it's 150,000 should I? >> Yeah. Um we we met with them. We're not nothing is final. We're getting information now. We're going to be look probably meeting with Nutmeg also. Um but um there was a proposal in capital budget for $150,000 for business assistance program which is basically we're looking to do a loan program for small businesses maybe to help them expand, stay in town, do some
061improvements. Um partnering with a bank will help us with the credit analysis. They'll do an analysis letting us know, yeah, it's too risky or not risky, >> right? >> Um hopefully they'd kick in some matching money >> and we'd give out, you know, we go through a loan process >> for a particular business. >> No. Great. >> Thank you. >> Um and I will say that having some sort of program, funding assistance program, um has been requested many times from business owners that I've uh spoken to. So it is um desirable and I I know that many businesses across Rocky Hill would would definitely be interested. Um so I would I would be very excited for that. Um and then I think within my budget, yes. Um the biggest increases are obviously the salary going
062from part-time to full-time. Um, and then there is, I guess, a mistake here with the grants writer. That shouldn't be in mine. It should be somewhere else. Is that correct? >> Oh, no. You get to keep it. >> Okay. Um, what else? I mean, I I guess if if if you guys have obviously you're going to have questions for me. Um, I will just say that my department is very small. It's it's just me on a part-time status. Um, but I've had a great time being here the year and a half that I've been here now. Um, it's it's been a great ride and I ever since the beginning when I first applied for this job, I'd kind of felt like this position was sort of made for me in a way, not to get
063too sappy, but I've really enjoyed it. Um, and I hope to keep that momentum going. So, with that, I'd be happy to uh answer your questions and comments and concerns. Okay, I have a question for you, Alandra. Thank you so much for uh great presentation. Looks like you're doing some good work here. And uh let me ask you a philosophical question. >> What do you think is the reason for our flat grand list? >> Uh the flat grand list is probably because currently we have one economic development person on a part-time status. And so I think if the town is serious about upgrading the not upgrading but increasing the grand list um to ease the the burdens on our taxpayers, we should take take that seriously and have a full-time economic development person who can
064um who can take care of that. >> So you think uh our grad list will increase if we >> Yes. Well, that's the goal. Yes, that's the goal. But how >> how confident are you in that analysis, >> in that philosophy that um >> having a full-time person will get us wherever we want to go. And that's my next question actually. So let's just say like we give you and you can answer both of them. Let's just say you get your wish, right? You have the full-time person, right, which is you. >> Mhm. And according to your diagnosis or your philosophy, we should be making gains. >> Mhm. >> Accordingly, if we provide it, it's due uh it's due uh recognition, right? This role, right, which is full-time. What will you do which you're not
065doing already to get us there >> um >> with those with that full-time role which is basically doubling your time, right? So, what are there any things like >> Oh, she's 30 hours a week right now. >> So, let's just say 10 hours. It's fine. It's Yeah. Yeah. 10 hours. >> Um what will you do incrementally to improve our grand list? Um, I think if it's full-time, it would definitely um improve the connection between um, you know, the the the developers that are looking to build on the remaining parcels of land that we have, which is not a lot. Um and there have been conversations which obviously I can't go into uh too much detail about it because it is confidential but um you know I I think it is important as a town to
066have at least one person full-time to do economic development to um work as efficiently as possible. >> I do understand I do understand that. What I'm saying is can you quantify what you can achieve >> with your fulltime full-time status? I mean, no, cuz I'm not in a full-time right now, so I don't know exactly how to quantify that. >> For a year and a half, you should have a good sense of like what do you need >> to achieve what you >> Mr. Mayor, may I help? May I help in ahead? >> Because Ray, you were in you were the economic development director in the past, right? >> For a short time. Yeah. For seven 17 years. So, I I'm pretty knowledgeable about that. Basically, it's time. One thing is time to put into
067research who's expanding, who's not expanding, what company is looking for new property, and if we can find out what that company is or who those companies are, who who has that interest, try to match them with the very little remaining properties we have, which is difficult because properties are for sale. Um, the owners of those properties are not really enthusiastic about selling. So we have to it would be more time communicating with the property owner and with realators. Um I had a lot of uh contact with realators. It takes a lot of time, a lot of phone calls, a lot of visits. Um and it and if it was a full-time it wouldn't be 40 hours, 5 days, it would be weekend more. >> So So Ray, I do understand qualitatively what you're saying. What
068I'm looking for is because ultimately I'm voting on this budget based on what you can achieve with this money and I want some concrete numbers behind what can be done. >> You really can't with the with with what is that >> you really can't get concrete numbers. I mean how how do you >> I mean why can't you no I mean she has been in the job for a year and a half council pash under what metric would you like to have the numbers? >> Well I'm just just propose a metric please propose a metric. Uh listen yeah let me complete now you're asking me a question I answer I'm not the economic development expert these guys are so they should come up with a metric and they should tell me what the metric is
069it's not my job to tell me the tell them their metric so should be telling me that metric or maybe re should be uh but there should be a metric which we can actually measure >> performance if you're going to increase the number of like ours here >> if it's a it's increasing the uh tax base so to in order to increase the tax base real estate wise, you have to have a building. You have to have an addition to a building. You have to have a new building or you have to have more personal property of value. And it's hard to predict how much more building we're going to get when it's out of our control. >> But you are saying that the grand list will increase because >> we hope we hope we
070hope it will increase. It has a better chance of increasing. >> Hope is not a strategy. We are increasing the headcount here. Here's a thought for >> doubling the money we're spending on it on the the current headcount. >> That's the answer. That's that's all we can give. >> So, you cannot like tell me like what measurable gains we'll have on the grand list if you get this position as a full-time. >> We're hoping to increase the grand list by maybe attracting a business that maybe we couldn't attract because we didn't have the hours to put in to do the research to find out who's expanding and who who's looking. >> We need to do something. >> Yeah, sure. We need to do something, but we need to have a goal. >> This may not
071be a quantitative thought, but as a qualitative thought, >> be able to do it. >> Can't do it. >> Part-time position. Forget who's in the position at the moment. Just treat it generically as the part-time position. We as a town should presume with any part-time position we have that the person in that position is spending some of their life on having or seeking other employment in order to be fully employed. Though many that we might hire in those positions may not be seeking full employment. It would be I would say the fair thing to do to presume that they would. So in terms of how would it be different if it's a full-time position regardless of who's in it. That's the difference. their life would not be split in terms of their employment and so
072they might be able to focus more they might be able to it's not quantitative but I genuinely >> I'm not disputing that I'm not disputing the qualitative idea >> stripping away I'm asking for a goal I hear you >> I'm asking for a goal >> what is the goal here like what are we chasing what are we setting the goal as 2027 goal if we fund this position to a full-time position that's all I'm asking I agree with everything qualitatively you said but what is the goal goal here. What are we going to hold our town manager accountable to if we fund this position as a full-time position? That's my question. And I don't have an answer yet. Okay. >> To grow our grand list. >> Yeah. I think I think there's really no way
073that you can just assign a number to that because there's so many other factors that are beyond anybody's control. But I can tell you this, when cuz you know I deal in real estate stuff every day and when a business is looking to move somewhere, they are going to reach out to probably a broker. That broker is going to take a look around and look at properties that are available and maybe they've got something a little bit different. And so they're going to look for towns that maybe can work with them. And if we don't have somebody who can pick up the phone and connect those pieces any day of the week and the weekend and at night, there's going to be another town that does pick up the phone cuz all the towns around
074us for the most part, especially the ones that are really doing well with economic development, they have full-time economic development people and more than that even. And that's the difference that that Rocky Hill is missing. And I think that's what's contributed to not a lot of new stuff coming in in the last few years. What >> is we haven't had this as a as a full-time position? One of the other things too I I do see we've um which I think is great. We've increased our grant writing like fees and grant writing, but isn't the economic develop director or person also going to be helping with grants and things like that which would then help with other things in in um reducing our hopefully our costs on other things. I would think that's going to
075bring in revenue from other sources as well, not just tax revenue from a new business that opens as well. Yeah, >> They're separate. They're separate line items, honestly. And if we hired a full-time >> economic development, if I'm not mistaken, Ray, you you were the grant writer when you were the economic development manager. >> I did I did a lot of grants. Yeah. >> Right. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, I you know, if we're going to have both, >> but it's only 15,000. That's not really a 50 >> 15 um if I >> c can I ask a question for you Mona quickly? What what are the benefits attached to a full-time employee >> yearly? >> I'd say your percentage-wise I would estimate at about 40%. >> Okay. So the the 47,234 increase would be plus
076the 40% of the salary >> you would have right. >> So so the budget though it appears to be only here it would also hit the benefits part. >> Correct. Okay. And that is in that benefit line. So if you're looking at that line, if you were choosing not to do that, then you'd >> would it be itemized that it's for economic development, the additional? >> No, it it runs into the employee bank. >> So I'm just saying so it'd be a 47,000 increase plus 40% of 112 >> again roughly, >> you know, 44 45,000. >> So fully loaded, it's like 90k2,000. >> 90,000. >> Right. Okay. And and we have the grant writer uh for 15,000. >> Correct. So now >> but the grant writer doesn't have benefits because that's on a per deal
077basis 1500 flat. >> So you're basically at 105 at least 57 107. >> So fully lowered you're like basically increasing 107 and everything again all the hypothesis are great like from the mayor and from Zach but the question is like what are you willing to put behind that hypothesis? I haven't heard that number. What are you going to do with that money? And if you're that confident that it makes a difference, which you are, Alan, then why don't we put a number and ask the town manager to put a number behind it. I'm not saying that you should not do it. I'm saying I need a goal here. >> I think there are like five goals on the page here. >> Those are the goals. >> We talking about grand list. We talking about grand
078list. Yeah. >> Yeah. We talking grand list because that's that's what we're talking about. not on the goal page though >> and that's what it it should be because we we have been talking about grand list forever >> you know >> and Alandra just said what is ailing our grand list is a full-time person and I'm saying if you get the full-time person if I vote for that person >> sure like >> give me a number what we can like actually take home >> that's all I'm asking I'm not asking that difficult >> I just want to point out >> number like how how much we're going to grow the grand list >> government does not grow grand list business does. So, we're at the mercy of the business. Government does not create jobs. >>
079So, why are we so confident that making this role full-time? >> Because what we have been doing hasn't worked. >> That's what he's been doing for 17 years of his life. He >> Why not? >> Because we haven't been investing. We've handed over and I understand your theory of the case. I do understand the theory of the case. But you have to put behind something. >> Okay. I understand all talking about. >> Yeah. You >> we had we had a comment all over for 17 years. You saw the record what he did right what she did for one and a half year. You compare those you know and you cannot come to your matrix >> MKkesh I'm not comparing I'm not comparing anything. I'm just saying we have a theory of the case. What are
080we willing to put behind that theory as a goal? That's all I'm asking for. It's that simple. It's not it's not about her. It's not about our current director. It's not about our current town manager. I'm just saying going forward we fund this right position to the fullest extent >> what are we gonna get for this as just a even like a forecast is there a metric like is there something you can say hey this is what we're going to get if we really believe in this which we think we do listening to the mayor and listening to Zach that's all I'm saying >> I'm not I'm not I'm not saying I'm not I'm not I'm against this I'm for something concrete The goal is growth. How much that is, how can we quantify that
081>> based on all the other things that are out of our out of our control. And not only that, but the the work that goes in now becomes a shovel in the ground like two years from now. So when do you start counting the the dollar amounts? M >> Mr. Mayor, I have a goal. How about we grow the grand list more than the 0.02% it has grown in the last two years that >> you've been on the council. >> Sure. If you think that's good enough like >> I don't but it's a goal. >> Well, I'm not going to comment on that because yeah, if that's good enough, there's something I'm I'm thankful to you on actually bringing up a metric >> which we searching for like Thank you for that. I >> 02%
082it grew last year >> 0.3 >> 0.003 or 0.02 I forget what it was. >> What do you think about it? I >> what you need you just the people but what you need >> I'm not an expert right that's why I'm looking to the experts that's why I started with with our director today right that was my first question what do you think is the problem I'm not an expert and I the metric I it we have time we can define this we are not voting today >> all right I get what you're saying let's let's let's talk logically all right so is there a way to say I mean it would be a goal. We don't have to I mean it it doesn't mean we have to actually do it. So can we
083is there a way to say we want to by getting this position grow the grand list by I don't know what is a percentage uh that would be realistic 2% 5% that would that would be a goal that that would be something we would want to meet. I'm serious. I mean, I kind of agree like is there a goal that we can realistically think about and if if if it's it is understandable that it's out of control out of our control there's lots of factors but is there actually like a percentage that's even like realistic by having like if we actually like really dedicated our time to this can we say 5% is that even I don't know something a small goal >> yeah something reasonable that's fine yeah >> I don't know is there
084is there I mean if We can't. If absolutely you can't, then fine. There's something. >> I think this this is just one piece of the pie, too. >> This is just one piece of the puzzle. >> Yeah. >> You know, there's lots of there's a lot of other factors. It's uh you know, easing the process for permitting. It's all of these other factors that go into this as well. That's that's you know, beyond the economic development director's uh control. So I you know the thing is even a small percentage is still talking about millions of dollars when you're looking at a grain list of you know $110. >> All you really need is to build like a a house or an addition worth like $400,000 >> to be greater than 002.02. All right. So >>
085one business to come >> one expansion of a house. There you go. Yeah. And just uh >> but she she's not the economic director is not going to do anything with residential houses. >> No, just as an example, exactly one house, >> but but even right even if we need expansion of businesses, which she is dedicated to. >> Well, I mean, unfortunately, we had one very large opportunity that could have grown the grand list by like a million dollars a year. >> Yeah. >> And we're not really getting much from that. >> That's a good point. >> What up? Do >> you have any numbers of what other towns have we campaigned on tax? >> To put this to put this another way, I I do hear loud and clear that you want to see
086some kind of goal that's attached to it. And as the conversation unfolded, I started to hear in my head that maybe you'd even be willing to hear goals that are about a fiveyear, a 10-year outlook that are about long-term, knowing that the dollars don't necessarily come in right away. Um, so I hear you. I do. Uh that's a one year. >> Sometimes I feel like >> I don't necessarily hear from you wanting to be constructive towards the end goal of what you're asking the the wanting a metric. And so I just or in other things I just I hope that we can work on it a little. I I apologize for kind of coming back at you pretty snappily there. But I do think that we our grand list has been out of balance. The
087commercial side hasn't really been carrying the weight that we think it ought to especially for the number of businesses we have and the amount of footprint they have in our town. Um, and that was a valid point. There there is a significant chunk of money that otherwise would be coming in due to an abatement that occurred years ago. And we need to find ways to build up our grand list in spite of that. I'm not saying anything about a particular person when I say I do truly believe that if we increase this to a full-time position, any person in that position will do a better job of it than a part-time person, specifically in this type of a field. It's not the exact type of work I do, but I'm in a consultancy space that's
088around politics and policy. And this is a relationshipdriven endeavor. The person in that position needs to go and build some relationships and chase down some leads and start to try and get people to see Rocky Hill as the place they want to be. That's time. That's a lot of handholding. I'm telling you, lots of phone calls, lots of emails. It's not easy to just nail down like in one number >> but but pro possible metrics you could have metrics around things that that person can control how much output how how many leads do they develop and then make communications on you could develop we could develop metrics around that >> I still think that by adding this position and the $90,000 will ultimately contribute to everyone in this town's pockets. and it's worth the investment
089of 90k to put that money in everyone's pockets because we don't have the million dollars a year that we should be getting. So spending 90,000 to get some of that back I think is a good investment. >> I got a concern about why are we not having this person >> write the grants? Why are we hiring another person or why do you want to hire another person for grant writing? uh this job job description initially did not have grants involved. It was a part-time uh not a director position, but it was a I called it a manager position part-time specifically to do some of these outreach tasks for to help to work with businesses, go go doortodoor, visit some businesses, work on events like what's happening with the mayor right now and the other food
090things that you've been doing. I don't know exactly what they are. That was the thrust of that this part current position right now and also the work on the inventory. >> But we're looking to get a full-time position. >> Yeah. >> Why is the 15,000 still in there? >> That 15,000 is to hire a part-time consultant to work on other grants. There were a lot of grants that I couldn't work on and especially like a lot of the federal grants takes a lot of time, a lot of research. um all the fire assistance to firef fire grants uh which I applied for for never got because there's a lot of work a lot of data a lot you know so >> you know to have two people or two more than one resource working on
091grants I think is a huge benefit >> I I fully agree I've I've some of our capital investments have already started looking at grants um for things like our um tennis courts that we need to redo over two over multiple years are um the tank at the garage that needs to be replaced. There's multiple multiple grants on the state and federal levels that you can combine and and look at and do together. And I think that to some of those may require a special consultant to understand and do the to to be able to win those. So I do agree to to have a specified grant writer to be working on those so that we can get that I'm going to call free money. it's worth $15,000 plus if you know maybe the economic developer
092and and Ray could continue to help on some of those more basic regular ones. >> So Ry like what kind of qualification you're looking for in that grant writer for $15,000. What kind of qualifications that person will bring? uh I don't know 10 years or more in in the business accessing billions of dollars worth of federal state >> and how how many hours a week they will work. >> Um it depends. It would be it would be as needed. Um I I do have a a uh a proposal. Yeah, I would love to see that because I want to what I'm getting at is what is the per hour rate of this person who is highly qualified paying them $15,000 a year. To Zach's point, >> seems like a person to me who will look
093for another job. >> Zack, to your logic, >> this person that's their job. >> This is actually a little closer to the space that I work in. Perfect. Perfect. I will get some answers yet now. >> Okay. >> I'm ready. >> Yeah. We're not hiring a person. We're hiring a consultant company. >> Yeah. But $15,000 a year is still seems pretty low to me for a consultant. It is very low >> kind of person we are going to get >> because they're hired by multiple other towns and other places and they work on a jobby- job basis based on how much money they bring in. So they might make six figures and that's their full-time job just not all from Rocky Hill. >> What I'm asking is how many grants do we >> That's why
094I'm asking like how many hours do you think they will work? >> How many grants do we want to write approximately? I think that because we're we're sitting here we're sitting here obviously with no hiring process have occurred for this. We haven't even said that this is what we're doing. >> I personally if I were in the position of hiring for this I would be rather picky. I would be picky looking for somebody who has a background in doing some grant writing. I'm not necessarily so focused on having 10 years of experience. But if it's a firm, yeah, I like the way they're thinking because you're going to direct that firm to the grants that you want them to write. And it's going to be that space where it's either the overflow is because it's
095just if we have our salary person here do it, it's going to take too many hours versus they do it at a rate that is frankly lesser per hour >> potentially. >> And they may have templates and you know they could do it like that. >> But as far as as far as goals, I like >> this is obviously not I I would be asking for the goals to be reflective of the types of grants that you would like to see done in terms of >> like I'm not even talking about the goals here. Like what I'm asking is like it just seems to me like for $15,000 um how many people will write grants that are like >> good quality grants and that's why I'm asking if you're writing two makes sense what Alan
096is saying >> that you know okay yeah they're consultant they take 7,000 on each one a pop and they're good okay >> but are we going to write two grand I mean that's what I'm trying to get at like what is the rate here I want to know more about that. >> Has some information I think. >> Yeah. >> How many grants are we writing approximately? >> I don't know how many but it's $110 per hour for the uh senior partner and $75 an hour for associate grant. >> So you can back into the number ray right like how many grants are we like >> depends you know it depends on what the goals are because you don't write a grant unless it's like in our capital budget >> grants. So, you know, we have
097to prioritize the grants because you as you're right, you know, it's not going to be a thousands of grants, but if we can get a few of them, that's, you know, that >> I mean, if if >> we can get a few grants that will accomplish some of the tasks that we have in our capital budget, beautiful for 15,000 >> or even they maybe could review a grant to just make sure that it's putting in the specific verbiage to make sure that we can win it. For example, the FEMA hazard grant for the tank. >> That's a federal grant that if you as long as you put the correct words in there to show that there's a risk that those tanks could leak and that there's an actual hazard, you could get the grant, right?
098It's the the nuances and having a consultant review it for an hour or two might win us the grant of could be up to a million dollars. >> Okay. Now, we are to grant reviewer instead of grant writer. We have a grant a little bit here. Okay. Maybe the line item should be grant consultant instead of writer. >> Yeah. >> But I I mean I would advocate for more but I know we have a tight budget. So I think we'll be >> No, just asking some critical questions because it doesn't make sense to me like to take both sides of this like kind of right where it is 15,000 will do it and it will be you know enough for us at the same time. we have a full-time person who should be doing that
099job which Ry was doing himself uh before um that that's yeah anytime you're adding positions with a fully loaded $105,000 a year on the taxpayers I'm going to ask some difficult questions even if not the popular guy here that's okay I do have some questions though um we want to grow the grand list which we know we want to do >> there's very limited properties available to grow the rentless. Um, you being the economic developer in the past, I think you realize that those same pieces of property are still available from when you were there. So, I don't know hiring somebody full-time is going to make a difference. I mean, they were there when you were there full-time. They're still vacant. I think that I think a lot of it should be the mayor, yourself,
100our part-time person all working together to bring these people in. I don't know necessarily we need somebody fulltime that's going to make much of a difference. Just my thought. Can can it also can you also grow the grand list from using existing vacant properties that maybe are not to its full potential and then those can also bring more growth as well, right? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> That's what businesses >> another part of it. It's not just vacant, it's also growing unused. It's also the >> But that's what a business does. The business would grow itself for profitability. It's not necessarily an economic development person making a difference there. If I want to grow my business, I want to put another piece of property or another building up. I'm doing that on my capital. My reasons
101to grow my business. It's not necessarily a person from the town that's helping that or changing that. I mean, if you look at what Weatherfield's doing on Silus Dean, perhaps, you know, that's improving that Silus Dean that we can carry into if we had a full-time person, we can carry some of their uh what you call it their strategies and bring it into our stretch of Silus Dean. I mean, there's a lot that can be done there down so people can come from Weathersfield into Rocky Hill, too. So, there's other things you can do and I don't this is not my forte, but that is something to me that seems kind of obvious. Sorry, if I can chime in for a moment. Um, in the year and a half that I've been here, I will
102say that I've heard from business owners that it does make a difference to have an economic development person within town hall um to be that point of contact because there are a lot of people whether they're residents or business owners and they just don't know who to talk to. Like they don't want to go directly to the town manager. Maybe that's a bit intimidating. Um, and you know, the mayor, that could also be a similar issue. Um, and in any case, it's, you know, businessoriented and I've I've had phone calls with people or in-person visits where they're like, I've been searching for somebody like you and I'm so glad that I found you. And um, having that conversation and keeping in touch with people and um, you know, getting updates about like, hey, how's that
103grant going? How's how's that expansion coming? Is there anything I can do for you? um it it goes a long way even if they're um you know they could be looking at other towns. I've I've had um Joseph Merritt for example, they're at 301 Hammermill Road. They were looking at Middletown. They were looking at Weathersfield and Rocky Hill and they were kind of torn about where to go. And they had called my office and I I uh spoke to I called him right back. I spoke to him right away and he was impressed by that and he was like, "Oh my god, you answered my phone call immediately and I, you know, it's so nice that I can get a hold of somebody and and have that person to talk to to to get this
104going and and have conversations." Um, and that took a lot of time. It was like a year that we were working on getting them into Rocky Hill. Um, and they were in Hartford. um their headquarters was stationed in downtown Hartford for about a hundred years. And so after a hundred years being there, they chose Rocky Hill. Um and if if I wasn't here, I don't know if that would have happened. >> Yeah. And and this person could also do help social push Rocky Hill on social media, like those sort of things, right? too. Like, >> well, this is a union position, so we'd have to wait and see what the criterias are, you know, of the job description. >> Oh, I see. >> It'd be nice to do all that, but we got to live
105within the union. >> It would be nice. >> And council ran, I mean, you make good points. We have limited amount of space, but I think that's a really good example of that's developed land that was uh vacant business. That building is still essentially worth the same amount. So, the real estate taxes are not any different than a new business is coming in. But this business coming in, I think, is like a printing company. They have a lot of equipment. That equipment is personal property. That personal property is taxed. >> But we did that with a part-time person. That was excellent. We accomplished that and I'm glad she was there to w work with that person. That's fantastic. >> Yeah. My point is just there's there's other opportunities like that. Okay. >> You know, of
106of I mean, we've certainly got some empty businesses, the lottery building, things like that, and trying to connect some of those um pieces. And and you're right, like I get contacted occasionally about things in town, but I also have a full-time job, you know, >> and uh so it's good to have somebody here, but they're not working seven days a week answering the phone late at night. And we don't expect, you know, somebody who's who's uh part-time to do that all day every day the same way, you know. >> I agree. any day >> or any particular day cuz sometimes it is that you go the sprint within the marathon, you've got a hot lead, you are actually running hard on that, you're trying to chase that down. Sometimes you have a stretch of a
107week where you got to put in a lot and if you're >> right >> I I don't know where we land on this in the end. I just know that there's there's I hear valid points on both sides about where we need to be focusing our thoughts on it. >> Yeah, >> this is a healthy discussion. I just got one more line item question about the arts and culture events. What What is that about Mona? >> Um, >> we should ask her. It's not my department. I'm sorry. >> Well, I'm going to let her first. >> Well, sorry. >> You know, is that a new thing or what? I don't recall that. >> Um, well, one of the goals within the economic development commission is initiating an arts and culture movement. I know I spoke
108about that last year with you all. Um and so especially with the public artwork policy being updated. Uh I I hope to work with um you know Rocky Hill Arts now to put on more events throughout the year. Um and and not even just um events really, but um kind of well it is under marketing technically, but um to to promote the art and the culture we have in town that will in turn um entice people to visit here, to move here, um open their business here. It kind of goes hand inand when when you have economic development that uh centers on the culture of the town and and uplifting that and highlighting that it it attracts people from all over. So I would I would like to do there's a lot of potential there
109and I'd like to do more with that. >> Thanks. So when Mona I'm just breaking that down as I'm learning this >> you're good >> layout what you're doing. >> Yep. We got nothing budgeted for that in 2026 yet. We're spending $2,500. >> Okay, we're gonna go back to my I know I'm going to tort you with my class. So, marketing. I don't know. Are you going to welcome watch the screen with me if you want to? So, right here, that's what we had last year is this marketing line. >> Okay, >> that was 4,000. >> All right. She's expecting 25 this year because it got a kind of a late start. It's still four. This line that's called arts and cultures is the description of the marketing. >> Is that a new line? >>
110Not a new line. Marketing has been there for this year. >> Oh, marketing. But what about the arts and culture? >> Arts and culture is telling us how is she spending that marketing budget. >> Okay. >> Right. So indented is giving you the description of how she's spending that marketing line. It's not >> any other initiatives besides arts and cultural events that could fall into marketing that you thought could help us. >> Yeah. >> Um well, it kind of falls in between whether it's an art or culture, but um >> or restaurant week marketing. I mean, I'm just talking marketing. I mean, you have 4,000 for marketing. >> Yeah. I mean, I I feel like that's definitely, you know, >> is that could that be a social media? We just talked about something getting somebody
111the promotions around the restaurant week that >> Well, yeah, there there's a lot of like social media um graphic design like we we uh worked with a graphic designer to do the strolling maps um and potentially helping with like the the restaurant uh campaign, food campaign that we're going to be doing um in terms of like creating a new logo and um >> Shopee Hill >> and yeah, Shopee Hill Saturday that I did um on Small Business Saturday last year. So, um, >> could could this part of the budget for for this position be used to fund I'm sure I'm just stepping back and I apologize if it was brought up. Um, >> line items. >> That's what we're talking >> marketing. Perfect. Perfect. So, so this could be used for geoargeted social media advertising
112in in our town to promote these events and and frankly on some of these platforms at a pretty substantially inexpensive rate >> um to reach our residents about these events that are happening in town. >> Yep. Yeah, I I totally agree and obviously I'm I'm on social media. I think I'm good at using it and um that would be no issue. I could definitely do that. >> In in addition um it has been used to market the town in general as far as trying to attract um manufacturing nationwide. You know, you can put ads online and also even hard print. They're still doing that. like site selector magazine is online and hard print. Um we've advertised on that a few times. So you know we're not just focusing on retail and small business. We're focusing
113on larger um high value >> there there are definitely ways to use that traditional print marketing and very targeted ways. You know you develop a an industry in an area that you're really trying to go after. I can see how it could be helpful. >> I have one last question. Is this if it gets to be a new job position, is this going to be posted or are we just having this person? >> We have to go through the normal process. Okay. >> Posted internally first because it is a union job and then market outside have a >> What do you mean? What do you mean internally first? >> It's a union job. >> So all union don't we we advertise in house first. >> Okay. >> For union members >> to to apply before
114it goes public. I think it's two weeks or a week and then we go and then we'll go advertise public. Okay. Thank >> for my meeting. So, we got to keep going. >> All right. >> Thank you, Alandra. >> Thank you, everyone. And legal. >> Legal. >> Is this additional legal? >> Yep. >> All right. >> So, it looks like it's a reduction of legal. >> It is. >> Yeah. 82. >> Ah, yes. >> You want to go with it? Library's last. >> Yeah, I'll leave. You can go with it. >> Okay. >> Yeah, we're tag teaming to it, Ray. I'm so sorry. >> I'll let the expert go, please. >> So, yes, there is a reduction on this line. Uh, we have already contracted for general legal legal. We've got the um town attorney.
115We did the contract for >> uh support services will be some of those maybe special um obviously services that we right we've had uh no changes in there. Uh we are doing a reduction on tax appeals on there. That's the the greatest change in that page. We've been working very closely, town manager, myself, and the assessor at trying to um get a better handle on our tax appeals and and looking at them before they go into the uh the the legal fee level. And uh we feel confident that we can keep that at the 40,000. >> There's the uh high level if there's any questions. >> No questions. What is the year to date on the services? It's uh >> actually uh we are over uh right now current the year to date is 15,000
116uh75 uh and we did have an an outside agency that had to do a specialized service for a a legal issue. >> Where would that money come from? on the over budgeted part. >> Ideally, as we close out the year, for example, tax appeals right now year to date is at 49,000. So, our first goal is to have it balance itself within that page. So, the underexpended of one line will cover the overexpended of the other. So, we're still in good standing on that page. >> Good. for the tax appeal part of that. Are we just we're looking better in that area because we're further away from re revals as well. Is that >> that's Oh, definitely part of it. Definitely part of it. As we get to the next reval, we'll have to revisit
117that number because obviously the volume, but I think we're also looking at some of the ones that are out there that are lingering on how to address them. Do we review it? Do we settle it? Do we fight it? And uh I think it's we've really got a good team working on that better handle on the costs. >> Okay. >> Anything else? >> No. All right. Thank you, legal. Which brings us to the library. >> Thank you for your patience. >> Our final guest tonight is Mike Murphy, library director. Good evening. Yes, my name is Michael Murphy. I am the library director over at the Rocky Hill Library. Um, if you'll indulge me for a minute, I'm just going to uh talk a little bit about uh the value of the public library uh to
118our community. Um I don't also want to um miss thanking those who submitted the public comments um in uh support of the library. So I appreciate that uh very much. Um so at the library we focus on having a great staff and that includes excellent customer service and I think we are known for that. providing great programs and events for all ages that includes babies all the way to seniors and having a great collection um excellently curated by the professional librarians that we have. We strive to play a key role in providing an increased quality of life to town residents. And I'll just go through some of the things that uh we provide um in in the goal of providing an increased quality of life. Um we provide free access to information that includes ebooks,
119books, audiobooks, newspapers and academic databases. This helps bridge the knowledge gap regardless of income of residents. We provide digital access and technology. This includes free internet and computer use, printing, scanning, and technology assistance. And this is also critical for people without reliable home access to these services. We provide education and lifelong learning for all ages. We provide literacy programs for children and adults. We have workshops on topics like coding, job skills, and languages. We provide early childhood development. We have storytime sessions and reading programs again for babies, preschool, elementary age. Support language development and school readiness through things like our thousand books before kindergarten program. We have plenty of community engagement, events, book clubs, lectures, and cultural programs. We provide job and career support. We provide help with resume, job search. We provide a self
120a safe and welcoming space for the town. It's a quiet place to study, work, or relax. And we work hard to provide a friendly atmosphere where everybody is welcome. We provide cultural enrichment. This includes things like art exhibits, music events, and author talks. And I think one of the big things is that we provide cost savings for individuals. So all of these things that I'm talking about, you get for free with access with your library card. You can borrow instead of buying books, movies, and tools. All of the programs that we provide are free. We do not charge for any of the programs that we do, and they are a substantial number of them. And we even provide now um things that you wouldn't expect libraries to provide. For example, we provide tools that you
121can check out, metal detectors, hotspots, Wi-Fi hotspots, musical instruments, and of course, things like museum passes. >> So, we have a robust um collection, like I say, excellent customer service. Um, and I'll just want to point out just pulled the report this morning of some of the statistics of where we stand so far in this fiscal year and some of the numbers um that we have. So, we've done so far this year 520 programs. We've had over 14,000 people attend these programs. So they can be as small as you know five people coming to a technology session or 500 people coming to for example like the art history uh show. Uh we have participants per program average about 27 people come to the programs that we provide. We have so far this year we have
122a door counter. We're at 66,183 people have walked in the door. I can't guarantee that they're all unique, but that's what our door counter is telling us. We provide research and reference. So, we've had about 5,271 questions. That includes things like read readers advisory, help with technology, help on the public computers, things like that. We have 7,355 residents who have library cards, and we're always looking to increase that, of course. And in terms of our computer usages, we're sitting at about 5,100 internet and computer sessions where somebody has gone on to the public computers and logged in. So that's just to give you a summary of just how busy we are. Um we're very active. Um always looking to be on the cutting edge of programs and providing things for all ages for the community.
123Like I say, to increase uh quality of life. Um we have several goals here. Um, just recently we purchased um and are hoping to upgrade our public computers. They're a bit old, a little long in the tooth. Um, and so I'm looking forward to having them installed. So, we're going to be upgrading the public computers. Um, and we're hoping to increase computer sessions based on um, the fact that they're going to be a lot more usable to the public. Of course, we're always looking to increase library visits by providing a lot of the things I just spoke about. Excellent customer service, great programs and a great collection. Um, one of the big things for the library coming up is that we along with the other members of our library consortium which is about 34 libraries.
124Uh, we are migrating to a new uh software which is a huge deal. Um, some of it is mandatory, some of it is optional. Uh, we plan to include all of the optional components. That means that eventually um hopefully by the end of next year, this is why it's one of the goals, uh patrons will be able to have an app that will have all of their information related to the library in one place. So, for example, they'd be able to use the app to um see what they have checked out, see what they have on hold, see what museum passes they have reserved, see what programs they have signed up, everything in this one app. That's going to take some time. Um, but that's going to be one of the major things. And of
125course, I mentioned being a safe and welcoming space. One of the other goals um is to improve the comfort for patrons um through new furniture and space configurations um because you know some of the some of the furniture we have in the building you know has been there for a long time and we always want to make the building a welcome safe and comfortable environment and I think that goes a long way for having people come into the building and spend some time there. Um, so that's a kind of general overview. Happy to answer any questions. >> You you talk about that you're Okay. First of all, um I I would if I wasn't here, I would be submitting a support letter as well because my sons are in the library every week. My son
126sit in the corner on every Wednesday getting tutor with his tutor. They come in and take every um Wimpy Kid diary book. They do the chess cub that the Kalin the Mr. Kalin talked about. You know that we attended the putt putt event and love that. And I love to see the local schools display their art there. Um that's one of the things you didn't say. Um you know my husband contacted the library to get 3D printing which was cool. Now we have our own 3D printer but >> probably spoke to him. >> Exactly. It was probably him. He wanted some crazy things that you weren't able to do, but that's okay. We have our own 3D printer now. But um you know and and the the having the pass to the library also allows
127you to have things like audiobook access through Audible and and I mean I'm sorry through Libby and things like that. So um that's one thing that also I wanted to say. But um yeah. Um, so you you mentioned that, you know, you want to these these these new things, but you're not proposing any increase in anything from last year except for a part-time person, which is desperately needed, and um some minor, you know, increases in wages for the staff that's already there. Correct. >> Correct. >> Those are contractual increases on the salary anyways. Correct. >> Uh vast majority of them. Yes. All the full-time salaries. And I won't >> I won't steal Monus thunder, but I know the full-time thing, right? >> What's that? >> It's contractual. >> Oh, it is. Yeah. >> Yes. They've
128got two bargaining units that are that are in there as well as the non-bargaining. Um the part-times do have increases. There are uh union bargaining unit part-time people. This is the only department there you'll find a 24-hour person. So that is driven by a contractual change. Um the others library assistance and and so forth are not bargaining unit. >> I think probably >> I think we can uh I think you won the award for the most positive letters of support uh even beating out the school this year at least at this point. Um but some of the things that I think came up even through some of the layers of support were some challenges around um staffing. Um can you just you know share with us maybe some of the challenges you've you guys have
129had around that? I I recall also and I I think I got an email from a resident too um you know wondering why the library was closed one day but I think it was like there was a storm and one person couldn't make it but there was also somebody else out and if we're running so thin >> right >> you know if you could just talk about that. >> Yes, of course. So since when I took over as the director um the past couple years we've lost two full-time positions. Um the assistant director position that I was in previously was uh frozen um in my first year. Um the second year around the 35-hour library technician position um was also frozen. Um I eventually was converted into a 24-hour uh union position, which was helpful.
130Um, but the problem is is when that position became a 24-hour position, it moved into a different line and moved into the part-time line. Um, which meant that um, we were not able to bring in as many subs and part-time non-unionized staff as we had in the past. Um, and the role of the part-time non-unionized staff is generally to cover the desk not only so that professional librarians can be doing things like focusing on programs, but also to be covering shifts, for example, on evenings and weekends and subbing for when people are sick um and have called out and things like that. So, um, we have been pretty crunched the last couple years. We've had to get really creative w with the schedule. Um that one night that you mentioned, um we did have several
131people call out sick and um I did not feel that it was safe to keep the building open with two part- timerrs who are generally only there for about 10 hours a month. That seemed really irresponsible. Um so yeah, it it definitely has been challenging. I mean, part of the reason that I asked for the increase in the part-time line was to cover a lot of those things that I just mentioned, um, evening, weekend, um, and other shifts where people are calling out, um, and give us a little bit of leeway. >> Okay. Yeah, thanks for that uh, context. >> Yeah. Um, I I got to commend you too, by the way, because it it looks like you've done a nice job of having the equipment and supplies like we don't have a line item
132increase here and yet you talk about these new computers and whatnot. So, it looks like you're doing a really good job of rolling it as it should be, >> right? Yeah, we've tried I mean, the past several years, you know, we've focused on um doing the RFID equipment, then tackling the audio visual, and then tackling the public computers. So, it's been sort of like a yearby-year type of thing where we've tried to keep things current. For sure. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> I'm just a little lost because you have budgeted 2026 yet you project to use every penny of it. I mean, every other department we've had have not been up to that amount for dollar for dollar. >> For which specific? You budgeted so much money in 2026 and you're projected to use every
133cent and every line item. Is that >> I'm not sure why it appears there. I think it's mainly just because we're coming in flat. Am I explaining that correctly? >> Yeah. >> No, we're actually in to expend >> his entire budget, which I would probably at this point say that was an accurate projection. Okay. >> So, his estimate is that he will spend every dollar that he's been allotted. >> I Yeah, we definitely plan to spend the budget. I would say that for sure. >> Yeah. >> Well, I hope only if you need it, not just to spend it. >> Well, no, we do need it. >> Yeah. >> I have I have a question about the staffing >> the situation that you had over and apologies. I don't know. How long have you been
134director? >> Uh, two years. >> Before that, you were assistant director for for how long? >> Six years. >> Okay. Anecdotally, I've heard repeatedly from residents about the the library feels like it's understaffed, and it doesn't sound like you're coming here complaining about staffing. You're seeking to have some added uh part-time uh money to to make sure you don't have any gaps and situ and have situations like what you described coming up where a night comes up where you end up having to close the library. >> Correct. Correct. Yes. Is it safe to say that even in the way that you're approaching it right now, which seems about as efficient as anybody coming before this council, that this isn't sustainable for the long term, that in just in terms of human burnout, I can imagine
135that you couldn't go like this for several more years without looking to a future that involves more staff. >> I would say that's a fairly accurate assessment. >> Okay. I mean, I wouldn't lie when I would say that having another full-time staff member to what we were in the past, which was a team of essentially four reference librarians, would be incredible. >> Um, but I am just trying to be realistic based on the precedent of what I've experienced as a director the past two years. So, >> I understand. Uh indeed, >> I I would be interested if you're willing to add us maybe as an addendum to this by submitting it to us, but one pager kind of like a memo about what a fully staffed library looks like in terms of staffers and not
136to get into too much detail, just what you see that being >> and absolutely I'd be curious about that. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> And thank you for everything you're doing. >> Oh, thank you. Can I ask uh just a maybe a followup question what councelor Ben Lingling's saying um the amount of residents versus non-residents that use our library. I mean I don't want to get into this but do we have a lot of non-residents also utilizing the library? >> I mean there definitely are non non-residents using the library for sure. I would say um that's not a bad thing. >> I'm just curious >> in terms of a statistic. I could not provide that with you um or for you. But what I would say is we are known for being, you know, not that
137I want to put down our neighboring libraries, but we are known as the friendly library. People do prefer to come to our library. >> Yeah. Who's the mean library? >> Yeah. Yeah. I won't go any further than that, but uh um yeah, people do prefer to come field. But what I would say is is that when non-residents come to our library and borrow our items, we are reimbursed from the state for the cost of that. >> So we do get a pretty hefty check from the state. So um >> that's not necessarily a loss. >> Yeah. So it's not a money maker, but it's not a loss, which which is not kind of where it's going, but you know, sometimes if you become too good, right, >> it could be a loss, but that's that's
138good to know, >> right? Yeah. We run a report every year and we track it in our uh system and then we submit it to the state and we are reimbursed. >> Yeah. Great job. Yeah. Thank you. >> Is that a special revenue fund? >> He does. Yes. >> Yes. >> Do we use that for what do we use that for? >> Probably go back to the library. >> Your your books and materials your your six fund is. >> Yeah. >> Well, we were complaining that we cut the last budget your funding for books. Why aren't we using that money to replenish your books? >> I mean, it's >> like, did I bring your I'm gonna look up your book balance if I have a second for you. Sorry. >> So, there was funding for
139more books. You just maybe not chose to fund it. >> Well, I used the uh available available budget. Yeah, that's been aotted for that for sure. Sure. But there is more money in your funds that hopefully you could use in the future. >> Yeah. I I'll give you an example. A lot of the special revenue fund, for example, was used to pay um a couple years ago for the new copers that we have. >> So, it's been used for things like that. Um we also had a um you may have noticed that our book drop outside um has been replaced. We used some of that for that as well. um partially because we were having a tremendous amount of issues with the um with the book drops locking um people somehow moving it out of
140place um and other bizarre things like that. So those are just some of the >> Well, I appreciate you using some of that funding instead of the budgetary monies. You know, there are monies that you can use to improve things. >> Oh, for sure. It's definitely used for things. Yes. To improve services. Fantastic. Thank you. >> Presently 40,000. >> Okay. In that fund. >> Great. >> That's good. Correct. >> I have a quick question like this should be this should be easy one. Um why is that number of library visits down? Is it like you know is there any hypothesis you got there? >> Yeah, I would say it's a direct result of uh staffing. Um I think that the visits are down primarily because I mean >> you are closed more. Is that why?
141When we originally had the original uh 40hour position frozen, we moved from opening from 9:30 to 10 um to sort of alleviate some of the pressure on the staff. However, there has been no other hourly changes since then. Um but I would say that when we have less professional librarians on staff, they are not able to first of all, you're losing I'll give I'll give myself as an example. When I became the director, when I was the assistant director, I was doing about 60 programs a year. That's not an exaggeration. I was teaching technology classes at least four or five times a month. I was doing probably 30 one-on-one tech help appointments. And when I became director and that position was frozen, that service was severely diminished. And so you're looking at examples like that
142where when you're losing staff members, the other staff members are having to instead of spend time doing programs and things like that, they're having to spend time at the public service desk. And that is a huge part of what we do and we provide great customer service, but the programs and the events are play a key part in library visits and people coming in the door. >> How do you measure library visits? >> There's a door counter. So people coming in going out that's it >> correct >> and so clearly you can break this data into how many people are actually asking for services versus like you just described right versus people who are just coming in like me just checking out a book. >> You can break that down. >> We can measure how
143many people have attended our programs. We can measure how many people have checked out books. I would love to see that data like just out your hypothesis like how many people are actually asking for services >> that you're not able to provide >> versus just the foot traffic being done. I would love to break that down a little bit if you have that data. Looks like you you have uh some ability to do that. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, and I think a lot of it goes back to some of that stuff I I shared earlier where we can break it down in into different categories of you know what what people are using, what they're utilizing if they're coming to programs and things like that. >> Right. Right. So I think that'll be great if
144you can if you can send it to Mona I guess she can share it with us. And the second part of this question I have is uh for a comparable library right for our size what would you think is a good comparison for a town? >> I'm sorry. Can you say the last part again? >> Do you have a comparable town in your mind for the size, the population, etc., etc. >> A library, right? >> Oh, yeah. Library. A comparable town. >> I mean, yeah. I mean, I have a a list here of um libraries that are a similar size to us across the state. Um I mean, you're looking at libraries, of course, their budget's wild. very very of course of course >> based on where they are but generally places like Berlin Cromwell
145um Avon um Glastonbury New Kane and Newington places like that >> do you think do you think do you think Glastonbury is comparable or to us >> relatively I mean based on sort of population um and the amount of hours that they're open per week and the amount of staffing that they have >> and do you think >> fairly similar although we have less Do you think they are like top of the line in terms of the services they provide? Because I want to compare myself to something which is you will like feel like as a professional is top of the line which you aspire to be. >> Indeed. Um that's a hard judgment to make. Yeah. About whether I mean I would say that we are top of the line >> but we need
146all the money. I we're not doing enough right. So it could be either one or the other. So, I'm just trying to like get >> I guess I don't know what their statistics are. >> No, no, and that's that's fair. I'm just saying we do this comparison all the time for schools, right? Let's just say like I was doing a comparison for libraries and >> just making the case for you that you're severely underfunded. I want to give you three more full-time people >> which you're lacking since last two years. What would you compare it to? >> Hey, we talking hypothesis here. We everybody has one. So, like I I'm postulating mine. >> Yeah. So let's just go there man. U do you think like we can if we were to reach to instead of
147a like durk D in schools to durk B in schools is there like a higher level of aspiration we have for libraries? >> I believe we could increase statistics for sure we could provide more programming. Yeah absolutely. Um I don't have any doubt about that. In terms of measuring directly against um these other towns I I guess I would need to know their statistics. I mean, I could look at the state the state releases a report every year that does break down statistics by town. Um, which I could look at for sure. >> Yeah. And this is more more for like, you know, future conversations like, okay, are we really underfunded or can we do something different that other people are doing? I mean, it'll be just as much as I agree with you that
148we're doing a great job, you are doing a great job. >> I appreciate that. Then then you know the question becomes like you know do we want to be better and if you're not looking around then you're not I guess not >> will not not measuring yourself >> the one thing I would say is that each year we have to provide the annual report to the town I think around January and I look at the average median etc. I wish I had the chart with me. I didn't bring it. I would say that every major category, including visits, checkouts, and program attendance, we are in a higher category than both the state average and state median. >> Yeah, that's a good >> So, I can say that confidently. >> Okay. >> I wish I had
149the chart in front of me, but I don't. >> He's the Billy Bean of Liberians. >> I'm gonna remember that one. >> All right. Thanks. Page Yankees. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. >> What else? All right. Thank you, Michael. That said, anybody have any final thoughts for Ray and Mona requests based on what we've heard this evening? All right. I just like to make a positive comment to our town manager and finance director because they did eliminate or they didn't fund some positions when some of these people left. So, I think they did somewhat of an efficiency study. We've been talking about that and we're we're going to do some future ones, but it's nice to see that they saw some areas where they didn't need to refill.
150they saw some areas that they do need to fill. So that's what we have to judge here. But it's nice to see that and I just want to thank them both for that as well. >> Yeah. Absolutely. I think one of the thing one of the quick things that um that Mona brought up uh maybe early on was, you know, we've got some ideas. >> Well, good. Let's implement them. >> Yep. We'll get you on a good start. >> Yeah. We also we also >> you are hereby empowered to implement those efficiencies. >> We um >> we'd all be in. >> We thought that we would be crazy not to do something after listening to the conversation for such a long time. We had to do something anyway. So >> good job. >> May maybe
151we could add to that like to help the library if some of our other departments could hold some programs there. That's like a shared service type thing. >> Oh, there we go. All of the departments will do shared services. But that that might take a little off of their plate but also add to their point. >> How how about an economic development summit >> at the library >> technology support by director soil. How about that? Um use of cell phones and >> I mean I do think the point is to bring people to the library for the events, >> right? >> We don't want to have them at the library so people could see the books and come back and you know use the services at the library. Uh shout out as well though to
152the friends of the library that does that uh put in a lot of work uh for for the library. >> All right, >> motion to sec >> Second. All in favor? >> Yeah. >> I All right. Have a great night everyone. >> Thank you.