By Greg Ellison

(Feb. 17, 2022) Town of Berlin officials kicked off FY23 budget discussions this week with a review of proposed capital expenditures for Parks and Recreation, Public Works and the Police Department.

Mayor Zack Tyndall and the Town Council vetted a laundry list of proposed capital purchases totaling $772,000 during a budget work session on Monday.

Finance Director Natalie Saleh said a portion of that would be paid with State Highway user funds estimated at $230,000 and a Community Parks and Playground grant of roughly $111,000.

“The remainder of capital projects would have to be funded from revenues from the general fund,” she said.

Town Administrator Jeff Fleetwood said renovating entrance doors at Town Hall is under consideration for an estimated cost of $40,000.

“Right now we have a spring loaded door is what it boils down to,” he said.

Saleh said the goal is to install double-entry doors to create a small vestibule area in front of the customer service area.

“Sometimes people just want to grab a newspaper,” she said. “It would be more heat efficient … and actually will minimize traffic at the front.”

Saleh said the building upgrade also would provide enhanced security.

“The door up front is not very secure at this point,” she said.

Police Chief Arnold Downing requested equipment and vehicle replacement items totaling $75,000.

The biggest ticket item was a 2023 Chevy Tahoe at $45,000, along with mobile radio units for $11,500, duty handguns for $7,400, Tasers for $5,000, along with radar and vehicle video equipment for $6,100.

Downing said radar and vehicle video equipment are already in need of replacement.

“The laser unit died on us,” he said.

Public Works Director Jimmy Charles detailed $535,000 in budget requests, which include $250,000 to repair streets and sidewalks primarily covered by state funding.

Roadway repairs budgeted for FY23 include Elizabeth Street at $65,000, Schoolfield Street at $70,000 and Quillin Drive to Broad Street at $65,000.

“These are the streets we’re seeing the most … pot holes and deterioration,” he said.

Additionally, plans are afoot to install a stretch of sidewalk along Tripoli Street to Stephen Decatur Park at an estimated cost of $50,000.

“Right now, a lot of people walk up the street,” he said. “It gets a little tight when you get two vehicles and people walking.”

Charles also reviewed a list of truck, tractor and mower replacements totaling $272,000.

Topping the list was a backhoe tractor at $125,000 that would also be used by the Water Resources Department.

“The backhoe we have does not meet our needs anymore mechanically,” he said.

Charles said the current backhoe is a 2001 John Deere that provides less hydraulic strength to dig holes compared to newer models.

Charles said a Ford F550 dump truck costing $87,000, which would also be used by Water Resources, would kill two birds with one stone.

“It would replace two trucks in my department,” he said.

These include a model year 2000 GMC 3500 and a 1999 GMC 7500.

“This is a discontinued unit from GMC, so when we’re looking for parts, they’re very hard to find,” he said. “When we find them, they’re very expensive.”

Other vehicle needs for Public Works include a Ford F250 pickup costing $45,000 that would replace a 2003 F150 currently in use.

Lastly, a John Deere zero-turn mower costing $15,000 would replace a 2007 model with 30,000 hours of use.

“We’ve been welding and Band-aiding the deck the last couple of years,” he said.

Additional budget requests from Public Works included $5,000 for fleet maintenance software to track repairs and upkeep.

“Right now, we track all orders by paperwork,” he said. “This will let us be all automated and do everything electronic.”

Charles said the software would permit a handful of users and could benefit other departments including police, electric, water and sewer.

The final item sought by Public Works was a 20-by-40-foot concrete pad oil separator for $8,000.

Charles said the concrete pad would be located at Public Works electric division to wash vehicles.

“When we’re washing down equipment and trash trucks, we want to start collecting the oils and sludge,” he said.

Charles said the concrete pad includes a central drain with an in-ground 55-gallon drum.

“It’s not a large amount of oils but we’re trying to be proactive,” he said.

Fleetwood said the oil separator would be pumped out roughly twice a year.

“It filters out and takes the oil and the sludge,” he said. “It will capture that and then water is discharged.”

Tyndall agreed the upgrade would provide environmental benefits.

“I have to applaud the fact that you are taking the proactive approach to separate the oil and sludge from something that would just be going into a run off ditch,” he said.

Deputy Town Administrator Mary Bohlen closed the capital expenditures review session with a request from Parks and Recreation to install lighting at the Henry Park basketball courts at an estimated cost of $122,000.

Bohlen said the bulk of funding would be provided by through a Community Parks and Playgrounds grant totaling $111,650.

Berlin resumes work on March 14 with budget introduction and first reading of the FY23 proposed tax rate.

On March 28 a public hearing is scheduled to review the proposed tax rate prior to adoption by council. The proposed constant yield rate will also be reviewed on this date.

In April, a trio of budget work sessions is scheduled on the first three Mondays starting at 5 p.m.

The first reading of the FY23 budget is scheduled for May 9 at 7 p.m.

On May 23 a public hearing on the FY23 budget is scheduled prior to council adoption.