Politics & Government
Selectmen Review FY13 Budget Requests for Medfield Police, Fire
The Board of Selectmen have started to review each department's budget as the board prepares to make a recommendation to Town Meeting regarding FY13. Last week, the selectmen reviewed budgets for the fire and police departments.
It's budget season in Medfield and the Board of Selectmen have started to meet with department heads regarding their fiscal year 2013 budget requests.
Last week, the board reviewed the fire and police budgets, most of which included an increase – notably an $8,400 increase for longevity payments within the fire department; and a $33,631 increase at the police department for a two percent salary increase for personnel.
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Medfield Fire Chief William Kingsbury has proposed an $8,400 increase in the FY13 Fire-Rescue (and ambulance) budget.
“Salaries went up by $3,400 because of changes in longevity payments and he wants to provide increases for two promotions that he would like to make during the year,” said Town Administrator Mike Sullivan after the budgets were presented at the last Board of Selectmen meeting.
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Other budgeted increases to the Fire budget include a $3,000 increase in Ambulance Billing Service to cover medical billing costs (the increase will ultimately be offset by increased revenue); and a $2,000 increase in Equipment Repair and Service to cover the higher cost of maintaining trucks and equipment.
Fire Administration
This budget was level-funded at $126,695. Within that budget, Kingsbury reduced the printing and postage line by $125 to cover an increase in the uniform allowance.
The Medfield Police Department budget includes personnel; administration; traffic, parking and signs; school traffic; and animal control.
Personnel
Medfield Chief of Police, Robert E. Meaney Jr., has proposed an increase of $33,631 – to $2,174,578 – to the police operating budget which represents a contractual increase, said Sullivan.
“The biggest portion of that is in the salary account because of a two percent salary increase the police officers will receive as of next July 1,” explained Sullivan, noting the police officers took a zero percent raise last year and this year and will take a two percent increase in FY13.
Other requested increases include an increase of $2,000 to Dues to cover increased costs from various associations; and $4,000 increase to the Medical Services line to cover potential injuries incurred on the job (police and fire are not covered under workmen’s compensation; those costs are incurred by the town).
Police Administration
The proposed budget includes an increase of $3,720 (or 4.15 percent) to $94,040 to cover operating and maintenance costs for two small generators for the radio repeaters for the water towers at Mount Nebo and the former .
“When we had the storms this summer and fall, and we lost power, they had to go up and get portable generators and rig them to make sure the radio repeater sites were still working because they went out when the power went out,” explained Sullivan.
The cost of the generators themselves is included in the town’s capital budget.
There is also money in this line to increase Internet access at the police station so the desk officer has the ability to generate reports and access e-mail when the department secretary is not in the office.
Traffic, Parking and Fines
The Traffic, Parking and Fines budget has a requested increase of $9,000 to $65,000.
“$7,000 of that is for some upgrades to the traffic lights because some of them are so old they can’t get parts to fix them,” said Sullivan.
The budget also calls for a $2,000 increase to start updating traffic signs’ reflectivity so all stop, yield, warning and speed limit signs meet the federal mandate by January 2015.
Sullivan acknowledged this line was up in FY12 as well because residents wanted to paint traffic markings two times a year instead of once.
“That budget has taken quite an increase in recent years mainly because it’s a higher quality of signage and markings we’re trying to offset,” said Sullivan.
School Traffic
The budget for the school crossing guards is level-funded at $48,518.
Animal Control
The requested budget of $95,001 includes an increase of $374 which would cover $274 for a step increase for one employee; $50 for longevity for one employee; and a $50 increase in dues.
The Board of Selectmen will continue to meet with department heads to review proposed FY13 budgets. Their next meeting is Tuesday, Jan. 31.
