Budget Cuts And Summer Fun On Town Board Agenda
by Doug La Rocque
Budget shortfall warning alarms have been going off in municipalities for weeks now, as fiscal specialists from the federal government on down to villages and towns, struggle to determine the actual impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In his weekly news release on Saturday, June 20, NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli reiterated that statewide, sales tax revenues were off 32.5% in May, and that he is doubtful any July economic rebound will make up the difference.
So what’s a town to do? The answer, start figuring out how much they might lose, and what to cut back on. That was the stated purpose of the Town of Grafton’s Workshop meeting on Monday, June 22. Bookkeeper Maureen Seel was asked by Councilman Frank Lewandusky to translate a 25 to 35 percent drop in sales and mortgage tax revenues into real numbers. Her answer was somewhere between $59,000 and $80,000. Since these tax revenues go into the town’s general budget, that is where the cuts would have to come from, not the Highway Department’s expenditures.
Councilman Lewandusky asked if in light of the fact the proposed paid ambulance service for the towns of Grafton, Petersburgh and Berlin, is not up and running yet, would they need all of the $50,000 budgeted for Grafton’s share of the expenses when they do. Supervisor Ingrid Gundrum said she was opposed to making any cuts in public safety at this time, something the rest of the board, including Mr. Lewandusky later agreed with. Rescue Squad spokeswoman Donna Baldwin said to those gathered for the workshop, they were just informed the Certificate of Need transfer from the Berlin Fire Department to Grafton’s squad had just been approved by the NYS Department of Health. As to how long it might now take to finalize the transfer and start the hiring process for Emergency Medical Technicians and drivers, she was unclear.
As to how the town’s 2020 spending is shaping up, Ms. Seel said they have spent slightly more than 50% of the budget bottom line, with just under a half year under their belt and just more than half year to go. She warned, this number is somewhat skewed, as the Town makes several yearly payments, such as to the Grafton Community Library, upfront. Payments they will not be making later in the year.
Garbage Is Trashing The Budget
Residents who use the Town’s Recycling Center pay $4 to dump a regular size bag of garbage, but pay nothing for recyclables. According to Councilman Steve Beaudry, that is a problem. For years the refuse companies did not charge municipalities to haul away the plastic, glass and cans, etc. That has changed, and in a big way. According to the councilman, who also operates the Recycling Center, “it has just been non-stop.” He attributes that to so many people being home during the COVID-19 pandemic – they have taken advantage of the time to really do some spring cleaning. He told the meeting, more than 60% of the center’s volume is now recycling. Ms. Seel further backed up Mr. Beaudry’s contention, saying the center’s contractual expenses line (money to haul it all away) has only 27% of its slightly more than $20,000 left.
The Board members talked briefly about beginning to charge for recycling, or to put residents on a permit system, something used by neighboring towns. Councilman Jeff Wagar asked if it was not again time to seek out a better price from the refuse haulers, something Mr. Beaudry indicated he could work on and report back to the board at its July meeting.
As far as any budget cuts go, the Board opted not to react at this time, but to keep a close eye on both revenues and expenditures.
Summer Children’s Program Is A Go
Grafton Youth Director Noelle Goyer made it very clear, this year’s program is not a summer camp, simply a “drop off” program for games and crafts. That means parents or guardians must drop children off and pick them up outside. Councilman Lewandusky presented the board with a 2020 safety plan, 37 pages long and drafted from the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) 87 page document. He indicated it contained all that was pertinent to their planned operation. It is quite detailed, but according to Ms. Goyer, quite workable.
The program this year does not include swimming or field trips, and will be held at the former Grafton Elementary School, which an inspector from Rensselaer County last week labeled as perfect for the program. Protocols include checking children’s temperatures upon entering the building in the morning, and again after lunch. It also calls for COVID-19 screening questions each day. Children will not be allowed in the building until cleared, or if there are any COVID-19 indicators. The program also calls for frequent hand washing and sanitizing, as well as sanitizing the portion of the facility the children might use, each evening. According to Mr. Lewandusky, the insurance questions for the Roxborough Holdings building ( the school’s new name), have also been ironed out.
As of the Monday meeting, Ms. Goyer said they have 37 applicants and enough counselors hired to provide at least a 9 to 1 ratio to participants, the minimum required. These counselors will also be assigned to the same group of children each day, and family members will also be kept together.
Supervisor Gundrum said it was no secret she is opposed to the program because of COVID-19 fears, but feels slightly better about it after the presentation by Councilman Lewandusky and Ms. Goyer. These summer programs have been given permission by Governor Cuomo to begin after June 29.
The program runs July 27 through August 31, and has already been approved as part of the 2020 adopted budget.