Cost of Maintaining New Turf Fields Unknown

combed through pages of proposed budget line items Saturday morning at the second budget hearing of 2012.

The meeting focused on the public works, fire, police and electric departments. Individual items were examined with the goal of staying as close to 2011 actual budget as possible.

The Department of Public Works was first on the agenda, taking up the majority of the morning. Superintendent of Public Works David Maines presented the proposed 2012 department budget totaling $1,635,000—a $6,700 increase over the last year's actual budget of $1,568,000.

The council questioned several items, including the proposed $142,000 for snow removal overtime. In 2011, this item was adopted at $140,000, while the actual expense, after all the snowstorms, was less than $123,000.  

“We need to get a real estimate on man hours,” Councilman Robert Catalanello said. “Everything has to be on the table, but until we get the data from David, I don’t see why we’re budgeting higher."

As the council continued down the list, Maines discussed concerns he had regarding costs associated with maintaining the new turf fields at the Madison Recreation Complex. He told the council these costs had not been figured into the 2012 budget, and he felt they should go under road supplies, which currently shows a decrease from last year's adopted budget. 

“We’re gonna have to have money for taking care of the turf field, and that’s my biggest concern,” Maines said. "From what I see, there’s going to be a lot of maintenance with regards to the cleaning and conditioning. There’s going to be a bigger schedule out there than the other fields.”

Councilwoman Carmela Vitale said there should be an auxiliary line to reflect the cost of the turf field in the budget. 

Council President Jeannie Tsukamoto asked Maines for a total estimate of the annual staff hours he would require to maintain the fields. Maines said he did not have those numbers yet, since maintance had not started on MRC. He said it would take at least a month of using the fields to determine the hours, and there were other factors to consider, like warranty requirements, a machine needed for the fields' infill and how clean the coaches keep the fields after games are played. 

Maines said he will reach out to other towns with turf fields and come back with information for the council to create a budget. Mayor Robert Conley noted that $40,000 could be reallocated from other line items toward field maintenance.

Additional departments included on Saturday's hearings included the Parks Commission, Shade Tree Management, Public Buildings and Grounds, Vehicle Maintainence, Civic Center, Natural Gas, Sewer Line, Gasoline, Garbage & Trash Removal and Water Utilities. Details were presented by Borough Administrator Raymond Codey, Assistant Borough Administrator Jim Burnet and councilmen Vincent Esposito and Catalanello 

The proposed budgets remained fairly level from last year, with cost savings and options for revenues built in. Burnet suggested saving the borough money by taking solid waste to a different facility and looking into composting in the future. Catalanello said it could be a goal.

The council gave Madison a "pat on the back" for doing a good job of recycling waste. Additional revenues for the borough are expected through a program for recycling downtown that contracts with commercial businesses and property owners who don't receive curb pickup. 

Tsukamoto said she felt the Public Works budget was a good one. 

"Looking at everything that David is responsible for the Public Works budget summary produced at the last session, I think the budget is good," Tsukamoto said. "There are just a few line items we can still tweak, but overall with DPW, we’re looking at good numbers." 

Catalanello said a tight budget is what they need. 

“In a tight fiscal budget, we review what the budgets are and once we know what our cost is, we know what our revenue is, and then we know what we can spend on things like the library, the museums, or the community gardens and things like that. We need to be very strict on this budget," he said. 

Chief Lou DeRosa then presented the Fire Department's proposed budget, pointing to 2011 as one of the most challenging years they've had, and 2012 starting out at a record pace. 

The department combined career and volunteer firefighters, and is looking to enhance efficiency and attract more volunteer members. DeRosa said they were able to achieve some additional revenue by hooking up with an electric billing department that provides customers for inspections and smoke alarm installations.

DeRosa's budget came under 2.4 percent, drawing high approval and appreciation by the council president. 

"You’ve achieved a fabulous job with the budget," Tsukamoto said. "It’s really flat, so chief, I believe you’re doing a great job providing critical services to the town in a professional manner, and I want to thank you for that." 

DeRosa took the compliment in stride.

“I happen to be the conductor of a great orchestra of guys,” he said. "They work great with me and the borough." 

DeRosa said his department also provides emergency medical services since 2010.

"All firefighters are now EMT certified," DeRosa said. "They respond with the ambulance services and provide another level of services with minimal cost impact." 

Chief John Trevena followed with the Police Department's budget. He said they charged for fingerprinting and raised parking fees for revenue  in 2011. They plan to raise alarm regular fees in 2013. The department developed an in-house 911 management program, producing savings of $13,900 over a vendor program. Trevena said his department generated $515,433 for the borough.

In 2012, they plan to implement an electronic scheduling system with donated dollars.

Tsukamoto said she wants to reduce police overtime and plans to discuss that with the chief in executive session. 

The Electrical Utility budget was the last to present at Saturday's meeting. Electrical Utility Superintendent Mike Piano budgeted approximately the same as 2011, but needed to increase fuel by $10,000. 

Remaining departments will present their budgets on Saturday, Feb. 11.  The borough budget will be discussed on Thursday, Feb 16 at 7 p.m. All exhibits are posted on the borough website.