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ALL RIGHT, FOLKS, WE'LL, UM, BEGIN THE WORK SESSION, THE HENRICK TOWN BOARD, AND ASK YOU TO PLEASE JOIN ME IN STAND FOR THE PLEASURE TO APPLY STATE FROM MATTER NAMES, NATION LIBERTY NAMES ALL.SO THIS IS A WORK SESSION, UH, PRIOR TO THE SPECIAL MEETINGS FOR THE BURY TOWN BOARD, UH, FOR THE BUDGET PRESENTATION.
WE HAVE, UH, ONE ITEM TO DISCUSS IN THE, UH, FORMAL WORK SESSION.
AND THEN WE HAVE SEVERAL ITEMS TO DISCUSS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SO WE'LL BE STARTED WITH, UM, THE PRESENTATION, UH, FROM THE FOLKS FROM THE, UH, RUSH CREEK, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO, UH, THIS TIME I'D RECOGNIZE, UH, THE LARKY, WELL, I'M GLAD THIS IS A PLAYGROUND GROUP, BOTH OF US AND NOT SPEAKER, A BUNCH OF HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS TRYING TO GET SIGNATURES BECAUSE THEY LOOK A LITTLE
AND FIRST I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU, UM, UH, FOR HEARING AND CONSIDERING OUR PROPOSAL FOR, UH, RENOVATING THE BRU CREEK PARK.
UM, WE HAD THREE YOUNG CHILDREN WHEN WE FIRST MOVED TO BRUCH CREEK, ACTUALLY 30 YEARS AGO AS, UM, AND ONE OF THE, UH, REASONS WE, UH, CHOSE TO BUILD IN
UM, IT'S NICE TO HAVE GREEN SPACE AND, UH, PLACE FOR CHILDREN TO PLAY.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I, UH, CHILDREN, THEY THOROUGHLY USED THE PART.
YOU THEY WERE, THEY PLAY THERE WITH THEIR FRIENDS ON THE EQUIPMENT, UM, FOOTBALL GAMES.
UM, MY YOUNGEST SON ACTUALLY, UH, USED TO GO THERE ON FRIDAYS.
AND, UH, HE WOULD, HE WOULD DO CRAFTS, OURS AND CRAFTS, PLAY BALL.
AND EVERY SO OFTEN FOR $2 HE WOULD GET A SLICE OF PIZZA, KEEP HE REMEMBER, UM, DOING THAT.
UM, WELL, THE NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS HAVE ALL GROWN UP AND, UM, THE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE, ARE LEFT, ARE EITHER NEW PEOPLE WITH CHILDREN'S OR, UM, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE LIKE US SAID, HAVE GRANDCHILDREN.
SO THE PARK IS, IS KIND OF FALLING APART.
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NEEDS, UM, AN UPDATE.SO, UM, IT WOULD, YOU KNOW, BE, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE A, HAVE A SAFE, UH, PLACE FOR THE KIDS TO PLAY.
THE PARK IS IN A GREAT LOCATION.
IT'S ON THE CORNER, UM, OF THREE ROADS, UM, AND IT'S VISIBLE, UM, FROM, FROM ANYWHERE IT, YOU CAN SEE WHAT'S GOING ON PARK.
SO WE ALWAYS FELT OUR, OUR CHILDREN WAS SAFE THERE.
UM, MY, UH, DAUGHTER USED ALLOWED TO SWIM.
SHE CAN SWING THERE, YOU KNOW, MANY HOURS DURING THE SUMMER OR WHENEVER SHE COULD.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PROPOSING THAT WE GIVE THE NEW PEOPLE IN OUR GRANDCHILDREN THE SAME OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAD WITH THE SAFE PART.
HI, I'M LAR I STARTED OUT THIS A GRANDMOTHER BRUSH HER PLAYGROUND DUE TO MY 2-YEAR-OLD GRANDDAUGHTER WHO MY THREE GRANDSONS RIGHT BACK HERE, UM, TO, UM, UPGRADE THE EQUIPMENT BECAUSE WE
UM, SO I REACHED OUT TO SUPERVISOR RANDY HOPE TO SEE WHAT WE COULD BE DONE WITH THIS SPECIFICALLY BROKEN FLAVOR.
WE STARTED MONTHLY NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS LAST OCTOBER 3RD, UM, 2023.
UH, WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 25 PEOPLE THAT COME TO OUR MEETING HERE AND TAKE THE MEETINGS.
AND WE ALSO WANNA THANK COUNCILMAN DAN
MY GRANDSON'S HUSBAND AND I WENT DOOR TO DOOR TO OVER 200 HOMES IN THE AREA, HANDING OUT FLYERS TO SPREAD THE WORD OF CREATING A COMMUNITY TO REBUILD THE RUSH BIRD PLAYGROUND.
MY DAUGHTER, AARON STEVENS WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN BUILDING A FACEBOOK GROUP PAGE FOR COMMUNICATING WITH NEIGHBORS IN OUR AREA.
WE WENT DOOR TO DOOR WITH VOLUNTEERS TO PASS OUT SURVEYS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE COMMUNITY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THE PLAYGROUND.
THIS WAS ALSO POSTED ONLINE AS WELL.
WE CONTINUE TO MEET AND WORK WITH SUPERVISOR HOKE AND HIS STAFF TO REBUILD THE SAFE PLAYGROUND FOR OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.
UM, I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT IN MY STORY WITH THE AREA.
UM, MY GRANDFATHER, ACTUALLY GREAT-GRANDFATHER, MOVED IN IN 1947 TO THE AREA, UM, WHEN THERE WAS BARELY ANY HOMES ON THE STREET.
I THINK THERE WAS A TOTAL OF FOUR OR FIVE.
UM, AND IT SLOWLY PROGRESSED THROUGH THE TIME, BUT MY GRANDFATHER CAME BACK AND BUILT HIS HOUSE THERE.
MY PARENTS CAME BACK AND BUILT THEIR HOUSE RIGHT NEXT DOOR.
UM, AND JUST A COUPLE YEARS AGO, MY HUSBAND AND I CAME BACK AND BUILT OUR HOUSE IN THE AREA.
UM, AND WITH THAT, IT HAS GROWN TREMENDOUSLY.
THERE'S, UH, RUSHFORD ITSELF WENT IN, UM, DURING ABOUT WHEN I WAS 10, RICHWOOD HAD EXPANDED AND WENT IN.
UM, SO WE'VE REALLY GROWN IN SIZE SINCE THAT BEGINNING TIME WHEN MY FAMILY HAD JOINED THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, WE ARE IN AN ISOLATED AREA, UM, KIND OF LIKE ON AN ISLAND WITH SOUTH PARK AND MCKINLEY ON EITHER SIDE OF US.
UM, WHEN MY FATHER WAS GROWING UP, HE SAID IT WAS EASY ENOUGH.
THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC.
YOU COULD GO AND WALK ALONG THOSE ROADS AND FEEL SAFE ENOUGH.
UM, BUT IT DEPENDS ON, UM, I NEVER WALKED UP SOUTH PARK AND MCKINLEY JUST STEERING OF DIFFERENT ACCIDENTS AND EVERYTHING THAT I'D GONE ON.
UM, SO IT WAS ALWAYS UP TO MY PARENTS EITHER HAD TO DRIVE US OR WE MET FRIENDS AT THE PLAYGROUND.
UM, SO DEFINITELY NEEDED AND THAT, ESPECIALLY AS IT GETS BUSIER AND BUSIER WITH MORE AND MORE PEOPLE MOVING IN IN HAMBURG, UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO MY CHILDREN BEING ABLE TO PLAY ON A NEW PLAYGROUND.
UM, QUICK STORY MYSELF, UH, I GREW UP IN MY WIFE, GREW UP IN, UH, FOR THE POLE IN TIME, EVER GUN REE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SPENT ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF, UH, LOOKING FOR A NEXT HALL.
I HAVE THREE OF MY FOUR CHILDREN HERE.
I'VE HAD A FOURTH ONE THAT, UM,
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UM, BUT WE KNOW NEIGHBORHOOD FOR A LOT OF REASONS.
A LOT OF FAMILY IS A LOT OF CHILDREN.
THERE IS A PARK IN THEORY, BUT AS DAVE MENTIONED IN DISREPAIR.
UM, CURRENTLY WHEN WE LOOK FOR A PARK TO GO TO MY CHILDREN AND I AND SEVERAL OTHER CHILDREN, NEIGHBORHOOD, I'LL HOP IN OUR CARS AND WE DRIVE TO ANOTHER PLAYGROUND BECAUSE AS DEVIN HAS TALKED ABOUT AND MY KIDS ARE NOT SAFE RIDING THEIR BIKE OR WALKING ON KINLEY, SOUTH PARK WOULD BE FORCEFUL.
HAVING SAID THAT, UM, WHAT WE SEE HERE TODAY IS A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY GOING TO OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AFTER ORGANIZING FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS AND COMING TOGETHER WITH AN ORGANIZED PLAN AND ORGANIZED BUDGET AND ASKING OUR TOWN BOARD TO APPROVE MONEY THAT, AS BEST AS I CAN TELL, WAS ALREADY AT LEAST CONSIDERED TO BE ALLOCATED TO THIS PART AND NEEDS TO BE SPENT BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, OR AT LEAST ALLOCATED BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.
SO WE ALL COME HERE RESPECTFULLY ASKING THAT YOU LOOK AT WHAT THIS COMMUNITY OF RUSH CREEK HAS DONE, WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR, AND AS WE ARE CONSIDERING A SAFE PLACE FOR OUR KIDS TO PLAY, THIS IS KIND OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AT IS BEST.
THIS IS WHY WE ASKED, UH, OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO, TO RESPOND TO CITIZENS, AND THIS IS WHY WE PAY OUR TAXES.
SO THIS TO ME, KIND OF SEEMS LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF A NO BRAINER.
UM, I'M GLAD THAT THE GROUP WAS ABLE TO GET TOGETHER AND PUT TOGETHER SUCH AN ORGANIZED EFFORT.
UM, BUT TO ME THIS JUST SEEMS LIKE THIS IS WHAT WE DO.
AND DID ANYBODY ELSE, UH, COME TO SPEAK ON THE PLAYGROUND? ALRIGHT, SO JUST TO, UH, PUT THINGS INTO CONTEXT, UH, FOR THE TOWN BOARD, UH, THE PREVIOUS TOWN BOARD HAD APPROVED, UH, UH, AT EARMARK, I SHOULD SAY, UM, SOME FUNDING OF OUR AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS TO INVEST IN PARKS THROUGHOUT THE TOWN OF HAMBURG.
UH, WE WERE ABLE TO BRING SOME OF THOSE, SOME OF THOSE RESOURCES TO, UH, THE OSBORNE PARK COMMUNITY JUST SOUTH OF THE VILLAGE OF BLADA, UH, WITHIN THE HOPES THAT WE'D BE ABLE TO EXPAND THAT TO, TO OTHER PARKS.
UH, THERE IS A SHIFT IN THAT FUNDING PRIORITY, UH, THIS YEAR.
UH, BUT THERE REMAINS FUNDS IN THE, UH, AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS THAT THE TOWN OF HAMBURG HAD RECEIVED.
UH, IT'S MY HOPE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE SOME OF THOSE FUNDS TO, UH, COMPLETE A GOOD PORTION OF THE PLAN THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS HAS LAID OUT.
AND I'D LOVE TO TALK JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT PLAN.
UH, MRS. BULAKI MENTIONED, UH, THE SURVEYS AND THE MEETINGS.
UH, WE HAD, UH, I BELIEVE TWO OR THREE MEETINGS, UH, TO REALLY KIND OF DRILL DOWN ON WHAT THE PRIORITIES OF THE COMMUNITY WERE.
AND, UH, AS THE FOLKS HAVE MENTIONED, THOSE WERE VERY WELL ATTENDED, UH, NOT JUST BY THE HOMEOWNERS AND THE PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS THEMSELVES, UH, BOTH BY THE, THE KIDS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO WERE VERY EAGER TO SHARE WHAT THEY, THEY LIKED.
AND, AND THESE KIDS ARE CERTAINLY EDUCATED SHOPPERS.
UH, THEY'VE, THEY'VE BEEN TO, UH, MANY PLAYGROUNDS IN THE AREA.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HEARD FROM THE FAMILIES IS THAT THEY OFTEN HAVE TO GET IN THE CAR AND DRIVE TO A BRICK PLAYGROUND TO AFFORD THEIR KIDS THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO ENJOY THE OUTDOORS AND THROUGH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.
SO, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE ALL THAT INFORMATION AND LOOK AT WHAT TYPE OF FEATURES, UH, WOULD BE PREFERRED BY THE FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND, UM, WE HAVE AN ESTIMATE FROM, UH, ARCHITECTS.
THOSE ARE THE FOLKS THAT HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK, UH, THROUGHOUT THE TOWN OF HAMBURG ON ON PARKS, INCLUDING THE WORK AT, UH, OSBORNE, AS WELL AS THE, UH, THE PLAYGROUND, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE WOODEN PLAYGROUND IN THE VILLAGE OF HAMBURG.
WHAT, UH, WE'RE ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER IS A COST ESTIMATE, UH, THAT IS $267,434 FOR THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF THE EQUIPMENT.
THE RESIDENTS ALSO HAD INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE SOME, SOME SPACE FOR, FOR SPORTS, SOME COURT SPACE, UH, SPACE THAT COULD BE USED FOR, FOR A SMALL BASKETBALL GAME OR FOR PICKLEBALL.
AND WE DID TALK TO OUR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT TO SEE, UH, WHAT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE THERE, UH, TO LOOK AT THE CONDITIONS ON THE GROUND, TO LOOK AT DRAINAGE CONSIDERATIONS.
AND, UH, WE BELIEVE THAT THAT'S, UH, A PROJECT THAT WE COULD BRING SOME TOWN RESOURCES TO, UM, FROM OUR WORKFORCE.
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SOME FUNDING.$267,000 PLUS THE SPORTS COURT IS A, UH, IS A BIG ASK.
UH, THIS IS A PART THAT SERVES MANY HOUSEHOLDS IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND I BELIEVE THAT, UH, WE COULD ALSO, UH, GET SOME HELP FROM OTHER GOVERNMENTS, COUNTY OR STATE FUNDING.
BUT WE HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE.
AND MY HOPE IS THAT THE TOWN BOARD WOULD CONSIDER, UH, ALLOCATING SOME OF THE REMAINING AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS, UH, FOR THIS PROJECT SO THAT WE CAN, UH, THEN SEE WHERE WE'RE AT, SEE WHAT OTHER FUNDING WE MIGHT NEED TO, UH, ACQUIRE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN, OR SEE WHAT MODIFICATIONS WE MIGHT WANNA MAKE TO THE PROJECT AT THIS TIME.
I'D BE HAPPY TO OPEN IT UP TO ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES ON BOARD.
DID, DO THEY HAVE A, A SET, UH, PLAN THAT, YOU KNOW, WHICH EQUIPMENT THEY WANTED? I I THINK THAT YOUNG MAN OVER THERE WANTED A, UH, ROCK CLIMBING WALL AND THAT ONE OVER THERE AND WANTED A SLIDE.
UM, AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT STORAGE OR SOMETHING FOR SOME EQUIPMENT TOO, PUTTING A SMALL SHED UP THE PIPE.
UM, AND I THINK IT'S ALSO, UH, AWARE THAT, UH, SOMEBODY FROM MR. REVERE'S OFFICE, UM, STATE ASSEMBLYMAN, UH, WAS THERE ALSO AT THE MEETING.
UM, BUT YEAH, I THINK THIS IS ALL DOABLE.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO'S HERE THIS EVENING.
I'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT, UM, YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE PLANS FOR THIS PLAYGROUND.
FOR A WHILE I'VE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH OUR YOUTH REC AND SENIOR SERVICES, UM, DIRECTOR JILL GORMAN KING.
AND I KNOW, UM, THE SHIFT OF SOME OF THE ARCO FUNDS THAT THE SUPERVISOR SPOKE ABOUT.
UM, AT THE TIME, I KNOW THE, UH, MRS. UM, GIL, UH, JILLIAN GILMORE, I'M SORRY, JILLIAN GORMAN KING HAD SAID THAT SHE WASN'T READY YET FOR THE RUSH, UM, CREEK AREA PLAYGROUND.
SO THAT WAS PARTLY WHY THAT WAS, WAS REDIRECTED.
SO IT'S GREAT TO HEAR THAT THROUGH ALL OF YOUR MEETINGS THAT, UM, YOUR PLAN HAS ADVANCED MORE.
AND I WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, SEEING THIS PROJECT ADVANCE.
IT'S ALWAYS GREAT WHEN WE CAN HAVE PARTNERS FROM OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS SUCH AS ASSEMBLYMAN, UH, RIVERA.
HE HAS BEEN A GREAT HELP IN THE PAST WITH MANY OF THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE TAKEN ON WITH OSBORNE, WITH OUR SKATE PARK.
SO WE, UM, YOU KNOW, ARE, ARE PROUD OF THE, THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE COMPLETED.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
AND AS IT GETS TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAN THEN, UM, MOVE FORWARD WITH THOSE, UH, UH, FROM PLANNING TO CONSTRUCTION AND CAN LOOK FOR SOME OF THOSE PARTNERS AND FUNDING AND LOOK TO SEE WHAT FUNDS WE HAVE, IT'LL BE GREAT TO SEE THIS PROJECT COME TOGETHER AND GO FORWARD.
UNLESS YOUR SUPERVISOR ALSO, THEY TALKED ABOUT A WALKING PATH AROUND THERE AND THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THE DRAINAGE TOWARD THE BACK END.
LIKE WAS ANY OF THAT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION? YEAH, SO ON ANY OF OUR PARK PROJECTS, WE ARE MINDFUL OF ACCESS, AND THAT'S ACCESS FOR, UH, FOR ANYBODY, FOR PEOPLE OF ALL PHYSICAL ABILITIES.
SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN GET FROM THEIR, THEIR HOMES, UH, THROUGH THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THEN ABLE TO ENJOY THE AMENITIES IN THE PARK.
SO, UH, PAVING AROUND THESE STRUCTURES WOULD, WOULD CERTAINLY BE A PART OF THE PROJECT.
UH, THE WAY THE, THE, THE LAND IS, IS SET UP RIGHT NOW.
UH, THERE WERE NO CONCERNS FROM OUR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT ABOUT DRAINAGE.
AND, UH, AS MR. POLOWSKI POINTED OUT, IT REALLY LENDS ITSELF, UH, FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT, UH, WITH, UH, BEING VERY VISIBLE TO, UH, MANY HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE PARK, WHICH, UH, IS IMPORTANT FOR SAFETY AND AS WELL AS, UH, TO, UH, PREVENT VANDALISM OF, OF THE EQUIPMENT.
DAN, I LIKE YOUR IDEA OF THE PACIFY CREATION USE.
I WAS JUST AT RESERVOIR PARK THIS PAST WEEKEND AND THERE'S A SUBSTANTIAL WALKING PATH MM-HMM
THAT ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO WALK AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE PLAYGROUND.
AND SO IT LETS, UM, PARENTS OR RESIDENTS ENJOY THE PLAYGROUND WHILE LITTLE ONES ARE AT A BASEBALL PRACTICE OR AT A BASKETBALL GAME.
AND YOU DON'T NEED TO QUITE BE HOVERING, BUT YOU CAN GET YOUR STEPS IN AND GET A MOMENT OF PEACE AND SOLITUDE OR ENJOY MOTHER NATURE AT OUR FINEST.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S WORTH LOOKING INTO.
I THINK PLAYGROUNDS ARE ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE INVESTING IN AND LOOKING AT.
UM, IT'S ALL ABOUT FINDING THE MOST CREATIVE WAY AS ANYBODY WHO'S WORKED TO FAMILY BUDGET KNOWS YOU WANNA DO ALL THE EXTRAS AND ALL THE FUN THINGS.
IT'S FINDING THE WAY TO PINCH THE
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PENNIES AND MOVE THINGS AROUND SO THAT YOU CAN GET THOSE THINGS DONE.SO I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATIONS OF HOW WE'RE GONNA MOVE THINGS AND, UM, FIND THE PENNIES TO PINCH TOGETHER AND FIND OTHER PARTNERS TO HELP US MAKE THOSE GOALS ACHIEVABLE.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD? WELL, I THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME ON MONDAY NIGHT TO ATTEND THE TOWN BOARD MEETING, AND, UH, WE WILL, UH, TAKE THIS UP FOR CONSIDERATION AT A FUTURE TOWN BOARD MEETING.
OUR NEXT TOWN BOARD MEETING IS OCTOBER 7TH, AS WELL AS OCTOBER 21ST.
SO I'LL BE SURE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE PKIS, UH, WHEN THIS COMES UP.
AND I APPLAUD EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU PATIENT, PATIENT CHILDREN OUT THERE, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT AN EASY TASK TO LISTEN TO ADULTS TALK ABOUT SOME VERY BORING STUFF.
YES, IT'S GREAT TO SEE EVERYTHING AND GREAT TO SEE ALL THE GENERATIONS TOGETHER, UM, WITH A COMMON GOAL AT THIS.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS MATTER OF LITIGATION.
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HERE.I REALLY GOOD AT IT THOUGH, KATHY.
PROBABLY HELPFUL TO HAVE, RIGHT? JET? I ALWAYS LOVE SEEING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS HERE, LIKE THEY MADE A WISE DECISION TO HIT THESE MEETINGS.
AND NOW WE'RE UNTIL NOVEMBER BEFORE WE LEAVE, REMIND ME AND I'LL GRAPH.
I HAVE A BUNCH OF THAT NUMBERS.
HE IS LIKE, OH, THIS IS THE SEASON, HUH? AND I EVEN HAVE MY OWN LIKE, ORANGE NEED.
SOMETIMES I, I WILL SWEAR LIKE I HAVE ENOUGH STUFF GOING ON THAT I CATCH THESE THINGS SO EASY.
SO IF I DON'T DO SOMETHING, I'M DOWN FOR THE COUNT.
WE'LL CALL TO MEETING THE CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE HENRY TOWN BOARD.
UH, I'D LIKE DEFER AS THE VOTE.
COUNCIL MEMBER HANFORD PRESENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER FARRELL LOREN PRESENT AND I ALL ATTENDANCE, PLEASE RISE.
UNITED STATES TO THE REPUBLICS
WE HAVE A VERY LIGHT AGENDA THIS EVENING, BUT SOME VERY IMPORTANT THINGS TO DISCUSS.
UH, ONE OF THE PURPOSES OF CALLING THIS MEETING WAS TO COMPLY WITH NEW YORK STATE TOWN LAW, WHICH REQUIRES THE TOWN CODE TO PRESENT THE BUDGET TO THE TOWN BOARD.
AND OUR INTERPRETATION OF THAT IS HANDING US A DOCUMENT.
AND ALL MEMBERS OF THE TOM BOARD HAVE A COPY OF WHAT IS CALLED THE
WE HAVE, UH, TWO RESOLUTIONS TO ENTERTAIN, AND THEN I WILL GIVE A PRESENTATION OF THE TENTATIVE BUDGET BE RESOLVED THAT THE TOWN CLERK IS AUTHORIZED TO ADVERTISE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON A 2025 TOM HAMRICK BUDGET.
THE HEARING IS TO BE SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 4TH, 2024 AT 7:00 PM LOCAL TIME.
YOU'RE RESOLVED THAT THE TOWN CLERK BE AUTHORIZED TO ADVERTISE FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS.
REVIEW THE REQUESTS OF VARIOUS VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANIES AND FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICTS FOR THE 2025 CONTRACTS WITH THE TOWN.
THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 21ST, 2024 AT 7:00 PM LOCAL TIME SOON.
SO THIS BRINGS US TO THE REMAINING ITEM ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS THE BUDGET PRESENTATION.
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I CAN CLICK IT IF YOU WANT TO GIVE THAT TO ME, JOE.IS IT THE SAME AS THIS? UM, DOES IT FOLLOW ALONG RIGHT IN THIS, THE PRESENTATION? SO THIS FIRST SLIDE HERE SPELLS OUT THE BUDGET PROCESS.
SO IN JULY IS WHEN THINGS REALLY FIRST START.
UH, REQUESTS ARE SENT TO, UH, EACH DEPARTMENT HEAD.
UM, SO THEY CAN BEGIN THE, THE PROCESS OF CONSULTING WITH THEIR DEPARTMENTS ON WHAT THEIR NEEDS FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR WILL BE IN AUGUST.
THOSE DEPARTMENT REQUESTS ARE DUE TO THE SUPERVISOR AND THEN REVIEW AND EVALUATED IN EARLY SEPTEMBER.
WE TYPICALLY HOLD MEETINGS WITH EACH DEPARTMENT AND FROM AUGUST TO MID-SEPTEMBER, THE PAYROLLS, BENEFITS, DEBT SERVICE, ALL THOSE ESTIMATED AND ALL ESTIMATES OF REVENUES ARE ALL PUT TOGETHER BY OUR TEAM IN FINANCE AND PERSONNEL IN MID-SEPTEMBER.
COMPLETE BUDGETS FOR EACH FUND DETERMINE THE TAX RATE OBLIGATIONS, AND WE MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS BY SEPTEMBER 30TH, WHICH IS TODAY.
UH, THE TENTATIVE AT LAUREN BUDGET IS PROVIDED TO THE COUNCIL, THE TOWN CLERK, AND TO THE PUBLIC FOR REVIEW.
UH, THAT WAS, THAT WAS THE DAY FROM LAST YEAR.
THIS YEAR WILL BE NOVEMBER 4TH.
UH, WE WILL HOLD THE PUBLIC MEETING AND WE HAVE TO ADOPT THE FINAL BUDGETS, UH, BY NOVEMBER TWENTIES.
THIS NEXT SLIDE IS JUST, UM, SHOWS THE DIFFERENT FUNDS WITHIN THE BUDGET.
WE HAVE THE GENERAL FUND, WE HAVE THE TOWN OUTSIDE VILLAGE FUND, SPECIAL DISTRICT FUNDS, THE HIGHWAY FUND, AND THE INSURANCE RESERVE FUND.
THE GENERAL FUND, OF COURSE, COVERS, UH, THE ENTIRE TOWN AND THE TOWN OUTSIDE VILLAGE FUND, UH, EXISTS BECAUSE THE, THE VILLAGES AND THE TOWN EACH RECEIVE PROCEEDS FROM THE ERIE COUNTY SALES TAX.
UH, SO THOSE HAS HAVE TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR ACCORDINGLY.
AND THERE ARE SERVICES THAT ARE, UM, PAID FOR BY, BY TOWN RESIDENTS, UM, THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND OR THROUGH THE TOWN OUTSIDE VILLAGE FUND.
AND AS MANY FOLKS KNOW, THERE'S SOME SERVICES THAT THE VILLAGES PAY FOR THEMSELVES.
A GREAT EXAMPLE WOULD BE THE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
BOTH VILLAGES HAVE THEIR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENTS.
SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE BUDGET, YOU'LL SEE ESTIMATED REVENUES.
THAT'S THE AMOUNT OF, UH, REVENUE THAT WE EXPECT TO RECEIVE IN 2025.
THE APPROPRIATIONS, WHICH IS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE PLAN TO SPEND, AS WELL AS THE APPROPRIATED FUND BALANCE.
AND THAT'S MONEY THAT WE TAKE FROM, UH, MONEY THAT'S LEFT OVER AT THE END OF EACH YEAR, UH, TO, TO, UH, BRING AGAINST, UH, THE BUDGET.
THE TOWN HAS, UH, BEEN IN, IN GOOD SHAPE IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS WHEN IT COMES TO THE AVAILABLE AMOUNT OF, OF FUND BALANCE.
AND THEN OF COURSE, THE TAX 11.
SO THAT'S THE AMOUNT OF TAXES, UH, AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT IS RAISED BY TAXATION THAT COMES INTO THE BUDGET.
A LOT OF FOLKS KNOW THAT NEW YORK STATE WE HAVE A TAX CAP.
AND, UH, VERY SIMPLY PUT, UM, IS THAT THE PROPERTY TAX CAP IS 2%.
HOWEVER, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THAT PROPERTY TAX CAP IS A CALCULATION OF THE TAX LEVY AND NOT THE TAX RATE ADDITION.
IN ADDITION TO THAT DISTINCTION, THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS THAT ARE TAKEN INTO THE TAX CAP FORMULA.
SO, UH, WE REALLY START WITH THE LAST YEAR'S REAL PROPERTY TAX LEVY, AND YOU ADD TO THAT A GROWTH FACTOR, AND THAT'S A FORMULA GIVEN TO US BY THE NEW YORK STATE CONTROLLER.
AND WE THEN, UH, ALSO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE AMOUNT OF, OF PILOTS AS PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES FOR CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY AND THE CARRYOVER OF THE TAX CAP THAT WE DIDN'T USE THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
UH, AND THEN THERE'S SOME EXCEPTIONS TO THE TAX CAP, WHAT THAT, UH, PERTAINED TO, UH, RETIREMENT EXCLUSIONS.
SO THE, UH, TAX CAP IN THE TOWN OF HAMBURG FOR 2025 WOULD LIMIT OUR TAX LEVY TO $32,261,701.
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THE BUDGET THAT, UH, I FILED ON FRIDAY CALLS FOR A TAX LEVY OF $32,074,594.THIS NEXT SLIDE SHOWS OUR SOURCES OF REVENUE.
YOU CAN SEE IN PURPLE THAT THE BIGGEST SLICE OF THIS PIE CHART IS REAL PROPERTY TAXES AT ABOUT 61%.
THE NEXT BIGGEST SOURCE OF REVENUE IS DEPARTMENTAL, DEPARTMENTAL CHARGES AND FEES.
THOSE COULD BE CHARGES FROM OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICE.
THOSE COULD BE CHARGES FRAUD THAT FOLKS, UH, PAY TO ENJOY OUR, OUR GOLF COURSE AND OTHER RECREATIONAL AMENITIES.
UM, WE ALSO RECEIVE SOME FEDERAL STATE AID INTERESTS ON OUR CASH INVESTMENTS, UH, VIDEO LOTTERY, TERMINAL REVENUE FROM THE FAIRGROUNDS, REINO APPROPRIATED FUND BALANCE, AND SO FORTH.
THIS NEXT SLIDE SHOWS THE APPROPRIATION HISTORY OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST 10 YEARS.
IN 2016, WE APPROPRIATED $45 MILLION.
IN 2025, THIS BUDGET CALLS FOR AN APPROPRIATION OF $56 MILLION.
HERE WE LOOK AT ALL OF OUR OPERATING FUNDS.
THIS IS WHERE ALL THOSE APPROPRIATIONS GO TO.
ESSENTIALLY, HOW DO WE SPEND THE, UH, TAXPAYER'S MONEY IN THE TOWN? WE HAVE, UH, TWO AREAS THAT TAKE UP, UH, THE, UH, SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF APPROPRIATIONS, THAT'S EMPLOYEE BENEFITS THAT COULD INCLUDE, UM, RETIREMENT HEALTH INSURANCE, UH, AS WELL AS, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY COMING IN AT 26% OF OUR OVERALL, UH, APPROPRIATIONS.
THIS SLIDE IN THE FOLLOWING SLIDES, UH, REALLY SHOW WHAT YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL IS MADE UP OF.
SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT A, A PERCENTAGE INCREASE, UM, THIS BUDGET CALLS FOR A 4.47, UH, RATE INCREASE.
UM, BUT THAT IS ONLY APPLIED, OF COURSE TO THE TOWN TAX.
SO THIS SLIDE SHOWS A HAMBURG RESIDENT THAT LIVES IN THE TOWN OF HAMBURG, OUTSIDE OF THE VILLAGES OF HAMBURG AND BLADE, THOUGH, AND IN THE HAMBURG CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, 64% OF YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL GOES TO THE SCHOOLS, 17% GOES TO WARD COUNTY, AND 19% GOES TO THE TOWN OF HAMBURG, OR SOMEONE THAT LIVES IN THE VILLAGE OF HAMBURG AND IS IN THE HAMBURG CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT.
51% GOES TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, 28% GOES TO THE VILLAGE OF HAMBURG, 14% WARD COUNTY, AND 7% TO THE TOWN OF HAMBURG.
FOLKS THAT LIVE IN THE TOWN OUTSIDE OF THE VILLAGE, BUT ARE IN THE FRONTIER DISTRICT, YOU CAN SEE 58% OF THE SCHOOLS, 20% OF THE COUNTY, AND 22% OF THE TOWN.
AND FOR FOLKS THAT LIVE IN THE VILLAGE OF BLAZEDALE, THOSE NUMBERS CHANGE A LITTLE BIT.
45% OF THE SCHOOL, 31% OF THE VILLAGE, 16% TO ERIE COUNTY AND 8% OF THE TOWN OF HAMBURG.
THIS BUDGET COMING UP FOR 2025, UH, WAS A DIFFICULT BUDGET TO PUT TOGETHER.
THE TOWN HAD, UH, PREVIOUSLY HAD SOME VERY FAVORABLE FINANCIAL CONDITIONS, UH, AND SOME OF THOSE HAVE CHANGED, UH, AS A LOT OF FOLKS IN THIS ROOM AND THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY KNOW THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS, THE COST OF GOODS AND SERVICES, THE COST OF BILLING SUPPLIES HAVE ALL GONE UP.
IT CERTAINLY HAS BEEN A YEAR OF TOUGH DECISIONS, AND I WANNA OUTLINE SOME OF THOSE DECISIONS, UH, IN THIS SLIDE AT THE TOP OF THE LIST, AND THIS WAS A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION TO MAKE, WAS TO PHASE OUT OUR SOCIAL MODEL ADULT DAY PROGRAM.
WE ALSO ARE PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE, UH, AND FUTURE LITIGATION ON ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO HAMBURG TAXPAYERS IN OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
THIS BUDGET INCLUDES A SIGNIFICANT
[01:20:01]
INCREASE TO THE LITIGATION BUDGET AS WELL AS PERSONNEL DECISIONS.SO WE, UM, THERE'S BEEN SOME CHANGES IN SOME DEPARTMENTS.
UH, AND OVERALL WE ARE LOOKING AT A, A NET LOSS OF, OF FULL-TIME POSITIONS OVER 2024.
THIS BUDGET DOES NOT CUT ANY, UH, POSITIONS THAT, UH, PEOPLE ARE, ARE CURRENTLY IN.
SO THERE, THERE WON'T BE ANY LAYOFFS AS A RESULT OF THIS BUDGET.
SO I MENTIONED THE LITIGATION BUDGET.
YOU CAN SEE THAT, UM, OUR BUDGET HAS REALLY BEEN IN THE RANGE OF 40,000 TO $100,000, UH, FOR THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.
AND GOING BACK 7, 8, 10 YEARS AGO, THAT MAY HAVE BEEN ADEQUATE, UH, BUT THE PAST COUPLE YEARS HAVE SEEN INCREASED LITIGATION AND WE KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE MORE LITIGATION TO COME IN 2020, IN 2024 AND 2025.
SO THIS TENDER BUDGET CALLS FOR AN INCREASE FROM $100,000 TO $250,000.
UH, WE'VE HEARD FROM THE PEOPLE OF HAMBURG, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE, THERE'S CERTAINLY AN IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT THEY WANT US TO HANDLE AGGRESSIVELY.
AND, UH, THESE ARE THE RESOURCES THAT WE ARE GONNA NEED TO DO THAT.
THE SOCIAL ADULT DAY PROGRAM, NOT A LOT OF FOLKS KNOW ABOUT SOCIAL ADULT DAY UNTIL THEY NEED IT.
THE HAMBURG ADULT DAY SERVICES HAS SERVED FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS FROM AQUA ACROSS WESTERN NEW YORK FOR ALMOST 40 YEARS.
WE ARE THE ONLY MUNICIPALITY THAT OPERATES A SOCIAL ADULT DAY PROGRAM.
THIS IS A PROGRAM FOR FOLKS THAT MAY BE SUFFERING FROM SOME COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS, UH, DUE TO, UH, DEMENTIA, OR THEY MAY BE SUFFERING FROM SOME PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENTS AND HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING ROBBED.
WE ALSO HAVE SERVED FOLKS WHO ARE IN NEED OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIALIZATION.
THEY MAY NOT HAVE A SOCIAL NETWORK, THEY MAY BE NEW TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND THIS IS A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN COME AND THEY CAN INTERACT WITH PEOPLE, UH, IN A, IN A SAFE, UH, PROTECTIVE AND POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT.
I MENTIONED THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT IS CURRENTLY IN ITS 40TH YEAR OF OPERATION.
SHORTLY AFTER THE PROGRAM BEGAN, THEY RECEIVED AN AWARD FOR A CREATIVE USE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDING.
AND THE PROGRAM WAS, BY MOST MEASURES, A SUCCESS.
WE WERE ABLE TO SERVE MANY FAMILIES AND KEY PEOPLE OUT OF MORE CONSTANTLY INSTITUTIONALIZED CARE.
THINGS HAVE CHANGED OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST 40 YEARS.
IN 2014, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT BEGAN TO BRING MONIES FROM MEDICAID AND MEDICARE TO COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES AND SUPPORTS LIKE THE SOCIAL ADULT DAY PROGRAM.
NEW YORK STATE STRUCTURED A MEDICAID PROGRAM IN SUCH A WAY THAT THAT FUNDING DID NOT GO DIRECTLY FROM THE STATE MEDICAID OFFICE TO THE PROGRAMS. THEY CREATED THE OPPORTUNITY FOR WHAT IS NOW KNOWN AS MEDICAID MANAGED LONG-TERM CARE PLANS.
SO FOLKS THAT WERE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID AND MEDICARE WERE ABLE TO ROLL IN THESE PLANS AND RECEIVE SERVICES UNDER THOSE PLANS.
I MENTIONED THIS BECAUSE IT HAS CHANGED THE, UH, WAY THAT SOCIAL ADULT DAY PROGRAMS OPERATE AND HAS BROUGHT NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR PROGRAMS LIKE THE HAMBURG SOCIAL ADULT DAY TO ADHERE TO.
THESE ARE MOSTLY ADMINISTRATIVE IN NATURE, UH, BUT RE REQUIRE, UH, GREAT ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND WOULD ALSO LIKELY REQUIRE, UH, INCREASED STAFFING.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'VE ALSO, UH, HAD A DIFFICULT TIME FINDING STAFF FOR THE PROGRAM AND THE COST OF THE, THE STAFF OF THE PROGRAM HAS GONE UP IN 2020.
THE WORLD, UH, REALLY CHANGED FOR EVERYBODY IN MANY WAYS WITH THE ADVENT OF THE, UH, OF THE PANDEMIC.
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AND IN NEW YORK STATE, THINGS CHANGED, UH, FOR THE GOOD FOR CAREGIVERS WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW YORK STATE PAID FAMILY LEAVE PROGRAM, WHICH ALLOWS EMPLOYEES TO TAKE PAID LEAVE, UH, COMPENSATED PAID LEAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR LOVED ONES AT HOME.AND THE PANDEMIC ALSO OPENED UP THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MANY PEOPLE TO WORK FROM HOME.
SO AT THAT POINT, WE SAW A, A DROP IN THE DEMAND FOR THOSE SERVICES.
NOW, THE PANDEMIC CERTAINLY BROUGHT A DROP IN DEMAND FOR, FOR MANY SERVICES, BUT THAT DROP HAS SUSTAINED AND IN CONSULTATION WITH THE ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SENIOR SERVICES, THEY'RE SEEING LESS DEMAND FOR SOCIAL ADULT DAY.
THE ERIE COUNTY SENIOR SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS ANOTHER FUNDING SOURCE THAT CALLED USE TO ACCESS OUR PROGRAM.
THEY HAVE FUNDS AT THE READY FOR FOLKS THAT WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND ADULT DAY PROGRAMS, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED OR NEED THOSE, THOSE PROGRAMS. AND OF COURSE, IT'S IMPORTANT WHEN MAKING THESE DECISIONS TO CONSIDER THE FINANCIAL IMPACT.
THIS SLIDE REPRESENTS THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THIS YEAR INCLUDED ON THE NET COST OF THE PROGRAM.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE COST OF THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN ROUGHLY $200,000 A YEAR.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT IT OPERATED AT A LOSS BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THESE SERVICES ARE ABOUT PROFIT AND LOSS.
IT'S CERTAINLY AN INVESTMENT AND SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY, BUT THAT COMES AT A COST.
THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT, UH, SERVES PEOPLE THROUGHOUT WESTERN NEW YORK.
WE HAVE FOLKS THAT COME FROM, UM, I, I'VE KNOWN FOLKS THAT HAVE COME FROM AS FAR AS MACHA TO ATTEND THIS PROGRAM.
CURRENTLY, WE HAVE 28 HAMBURG FAMILIES THAT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS PROGRAM.
THAT MIGHT BE ONE AFTERNOON A WEEK, IT MIGHT BE MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, AND FRIDAY, OR IT COULD BE FULL-TIME MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM EIGHT TO FOUR.
BUT IT'S A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION AND IT'S A SIGNIFICANT COST.
ADDITIONALLY, MANY FOLKS MAY BE AWARE THAT, UH, WE ALSO HAVE TO CONSIDER SPACE FOR OUR PROGRAMS. AND THIS IS ANOTHER FACTOR, PERHAPS NOT A DECIDING FACTOR, BUT A FACTOR TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION AS WE START TO PREPARE FOR LESS SPACE TO CARRY OUT OUR YOUTH RECREATION AND SENIOR SERVICES PROGRAMS. SOME ADDITIONAL BUDGET CHALLENGES THAT THE TOWN IS LOOKING AT IS THAT THE NEW YORK STATE VIDEO LOTTERY TERMINAL 11 HAS BEEN BELOW THE PREVIOUSLY COMMITTED LEVEL.
WE SAW A VERY, VERY SMALL INCREASE IN THE AIM FUNDING FOR THE TOWN OF HAMBURG.
UH, CERTAINLY NOT ENOUGH TO KEEP UP WITH INFLATION AND THE OTHER BOUNDING FINANCIAL FACTORS.
AND THEN WE HAVE LIMITED DEPARTMENTAL REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES.
YOU CAN ONLY, UH, ISSUE SO MUCH IN FINES AND CHARGE PEOPLE SO MUCH FOR A ROUND OF GOLF BEFORE PEOPLE, UM, STOP ENJOYING THOSE.
UH, SO THERE'S VERY LITTLE OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE THOSE, THOSE REVENUES.
AND IT'S A DECISION THAT WE TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY.
THE VIDEO LOTTERY TERMINAL, UH, REVENUE CALLED FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO RECEIVE THREE, TO RECEIVE 3.5% OF THE NET WIN AT WHICH THE TOWN OF HAMBURG WOULD RECEIVE THREE QUARTERS AND THE COUNTY WOULD RECEIVE THE REMAINING 25% ESTIMATES BASED ON THAT FORMULA, HAVE THAT NUMBER NORTH OF $2 MILLION.
YET, UH, THE TOWN HAS BEEN RECEIVING $865,669 FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.
WHEN IT COMES TO APPROPRIATIONS, SOME OF THE BIG TICKET ITEMS ARE HEALTH INSURANCE, CAPITAL REINVESTMENT, AND HIGHWAY FUND RETIREMENT SYSTEM COST INCREASES, SALARY AND PERSONNEL COSTS, AND INCREASED UTILITY COSTS.
HERE WE HAVE THE HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IN 2025, AS WELL AS SOME HISTORICAL DATA.
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NOW YOU NOTICE THAT, UH, IN SOME YEARS THOSE COSTS HAVE GONE DOWN 2021 TO 2022.WE SAW ALMOST A MILLION DOLLAR, UH, DECREASE.
2023 TO 2024, WE SAW A SLIGHT DECREASE, AND THAT WAS DUE TO TO SHOPPING AROUND OUR INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR EMPLOYEES.
UH, WE WERE ABLE TO SHOP THAT AROUND.
WE WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE VARIOUS UNIONS THROUGHOUT THE TOWN TO AGREE TO A VERY SIGNIFICANT COST SAVING MATTER.
SO WHILE WE'RE LOOKING AT ALMOST A $500,000 INCREASE IN 2025 OVER 2024, THAT NUMBER WOULD LIKELY BE MUCH HIGHER.
HAD WE NOT BEEN PROACTIVE IN LOOKING AT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES WITH OTHER PLANS, THE RETIREMENT, UH, RATES, THE PERCENTAGE OF MONEY THAT WE PAY TO NEW YORK STATE TO FUND THE PENSIONS OF OUR EMPLOYEES CHANGES CONSIDERABLY.
AND THIS GRAPH DEMONSTRATES THAT THE TOP LINE IS A RED LINE.
THIS IS OUR POLICING, POLICING FIRE EMPLOYEES, AND IT REPRESENTS THE PERCENTAGE OF THEIR SALARIES THAT WE PAY TO NEW YORK STATE TO FUND THE NEW YORK STATE PENSION FUND.
THE BLUE LINE IS THE NEW YORK STATE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
UM, SO THAT WOULD COVER ANYBODY WORKING FOR THE TOWN THAT DOES NOT WORK IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THOSE NUMBERS, AS YOU CAN SEE, ARE ON THE RISE.
UM, BUT AS I SAID, THEY DO FLUCTUATE, UH, EVERY YEAR.
I'VE OUTLINED SOME OF THE BUDGET SOLUTIONS THAT YOU'LL FIND IN THE TENTATIVE BUDGET.
I MENTIONED THE PHASE OUT OF THE ADULT DAY PROGRAM.
THESE ARE APPROXIMATE SAVINGS IN 2025 OF $120,000.
AND IN 2026 AND BEYOND, WE WOULD BE SAVING OVER $180,000 A YEAR.
IT'S LESS THAN 2025 BECAUSE WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THE PROGRAM AND HELP FAMILIES DURING THAT TRANSITION.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING, I'M PROPOSING TO SELL THE WHAT DOES NORO TOWN HALL AS THE WHITE HOUSE, WHICH IS, AS THE NAME SUGGESTS, THE WHITE HOUSE, UH, ON THE CORNER OF THE TOWN PROPERTY HERE BETWEEN TOWN HALL AND TOPS PLAZA.
CURRENTLY, THIS HOUSE, THIS BUILDING IS USED TO HOUSE OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICE.
AND, UH, OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST TWO OR THREE YEARS, UH, WE'VE REALLY TAKEN A HARD LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE USING OUR SPACE FOR IN TOWN HALL AND OTHER AREAS.
WE HAVE, UH, A, UH, AVAILABLE SPACE HERE IN TOWN HALL.
IT IS, UH, SEVERAL ROOMS THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN USED FOR OUR DISPATCH SERVICES.
AND MY PROPOSAL IS TO, TO SELL THAT PROPERTY SO THAT WE CAN GET IT BACK ON THE TAX ROLLS AND WE COULD SEE, UH, MORE VIBRANT USE OF THAT BUILDING, UM, AND THEN MOVE THOSE OFFICES INTO THE OLD DISPATCH SPACE.
THIS WILL BRING REVENUE TO THE TOWN, UM, THAT WE CAN USE TO FUND SOME OF OUR, OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
THE REDUCTION IN FULL-TIME POSITION, WE ARE LOOKING AT A REDUCTION.
UH, WE ARE ALSO ADDING A POSITION TO THE TOWN HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT.
THIS BUDGET CALLS FOR THE ADDITION OF A SENIOR CLERK, TITUS, WHICH WOULD THEN REPLACE, UM, A TAKE THE PLACE OF A LABOR WHO IS SERVING IN A CLERICAL CAPACITY.
BRINGING THE SENIOR CLERK TYPES OF THE DEPARTMENT WILL ALLOW US TO BRING ADDITIONAL LABOR TO HELP PLOW THE ROADS, UH, DURING OUR WINTER STORMS. OVERALL, THE REDUCTION IN THE FULL-TIME POSITIONS, OF COURSE, WILL PROVIDE BUDGET RELIEF TO OUR TAXPAYERS.
HERE I'VE OUTLINED SOME BUDGET FACTORS AROUND THE APPROPRIATE FUND BALANCE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT $975,000 IN THE GENERAL FUND.
THE TOWN OUTSIDE THE VILLAGE FUNDED 900,000 IN THE HIGHWAY FUND AT $225,000.
THIS WILL KEEP OUR FUND BALANCE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF ABOUT 14%, WHICH IS ON THE LOW END OF THE RECOMMENDATION, BUT STILL FALLS WITHIN,
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UH, THE, THE LIMITS OUTLINED BY, BY ACCOUNTANTS ASSOCIATION OF TOWN AND CONSIDERED BEST PRACTICE WHEN IT COMES TO, TO FUND BALANCE.IN THE NEXT, UH, WE OUTLINE THE TAX RATE CHANGES, UH, BOTH FOR THE TOWN OUTSIDE VILLAGE AND TOWN WIDE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THIS SLIDE AND PERHAPS A LITTLE BIT MORE CLEARER HERE, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE TOWN HAS BEEN IN A POSITION OF BEING ABLE TO OFFER MODERATE TO LOW TAX INCREASES SINCE 20 18, 20 25.
AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE LOOKING AT A 4.47% TAX INCREASE.
AND I THINK THAT FOLKS WILL FIND, UH, THAT THIS IS A TREND IN MUNICIPALITIES THROUGHOUT WESTERN NEW YORK, UH, THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND PERHAPS THE COUNTRY, UH, THAT IS RELATED PRIMARILY TO THE INCREASING COSTS OF DOING BUSINESS, MOST OF WHICH I'VE OUTLINED THE PREVIOUS SLIDES.
THIS GRAPH SHOWS THE TAX RATE COMPARISON OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST 10 YEARS.
THE VERY BOTTOM LINE IS TOWN OUTSIDE VILLAGES, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THAT HAS REALLY BEEN ALMOST FLAT.
THERE IS A SLIGHT INCREASE OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST 10 YEARS, BUT THE TOWN OF HAMBURG OVERALL HAS BEEN ABLE TO KEEP, UH, THE TAX INCREASES LOW AND IN SOME YEARS WE'RE ABLE TO OFFER A 0% OR A TAX CUT.
UM, IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER TAXING AUTHORITIES, THEY'VE SEEN MORE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST 10 YEARS.
THE TOWN TAX AND THE COUNTY TAX ARE THE NEXT LINEUP.
AGAIN, THOSE HAVE REMAINED RATHER STABLE.
ABOVE THAT, YOU SEE THE VILLAGE OF HAMBURG AND THE VILLAGE OF BLAZEDALE, THERE'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT MORE OF AN INCREASE IN THOSE TRENDLINES.
AND THEN WHEN YOU GET TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, UH, WHICH HAVE, UH, BIGGER BUDGETS, UH, AND SIGNIFICANT RESPONSIBILITY, YOU SEE A BIT OF A BIT OF A HIGHER CURVE.
SO THIS IS, UH, JUST SIMPLY, UH, A SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSED TAX CHANGES OUTLINING THE TAX RATES IN THE GENERAL FUND, THE VARIOUS FUNDS THROUGHOUT THE TOWN, THE DOLLAR AMOUNT PER $1,000 OF ASSESSED VALUATION.
UH, AND COMPARED TO THE ACTUAL RATES OF 2024, I KNOW FOLKS ARE, UH, CERTAINLY LOOKING FOR US TO DO THE BEST WE CAN WHEN IT COMES TO THE FINANCIAL DECISIONS OF THE TOWN.
SO IN OFFERING THIS, UH, 4.47% TAX INCREASE, I DO WANNA HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE WORK THAT'S TAKEN PLACE, UH, THIS YEAR AND OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS THAT, UH, HAVE REALLY PUT US IN A POSITION TO BETTER WEATHER THIS SITUATION.
FIRST IS INTEREST ON INVESTMENTS.
JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, WE HAD ALL THE CASH THAT THE TOWN TAKES IN THROUGH PROPERTY TAXES FROM STATE AID, FROM FEDERAL AID, UH, SITTING IN A VERY, VERY LOW INTEREST CHECKING ACCOUNTS.
TOWNS ARE ABLE TO, UH, BRING THAT MONEY TO CERTAIN LOW RISK, EASILY ACCESSIBLE INVESTMENTS LIKE TREASURY BILLS AND COOPERATIVE INVESTMENTS AMONG MUNICIPALITIES.
AND WITH INTEREST RATES GOING UP OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
SO WE ARE ABLE TO SAY THAT IN 2025, WE EXPECT TO RECEIVE ABOUT $1.5 MILLION IN INTEREST ON OUR CASH ON HAND.
ALSO, UH, WHAT HELPED PUT THIS BUDGET TOGETHER IS ANTICIPATED REVENUE OF $300,000 IN DIVESTING REAL PROPERTY ASSETS, A HEALTHY FUND BALANCE ALLOCATION, WHICH IS ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE PRUDENT FINANCIAL DECISIONS THAT WE'VE MADE.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS RESULTS IN A RESPONSIBLE BUDGET BALANCE IN NEEDS AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF OUR RESIDENTS.
AND THIS DOCUMENT, I BELIEVE, IS EXTREMELY TRANSPARENT AND IN ACCOUNTING AND FORECASTING
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THE PAST THREE BUDGET CYCLES, WE'VE WORKED DILIGENTLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT HEADS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BUDGET THAT'S PASSED AT THE END OF THE YEAR IS TRULY A PLAN AND ACCURATELY REFLECTS OUR INTENTIONS TO SPEND MONEY ON THE PROJECTS THAT ARE OUTLINED IN THE BUDGET.IT CAN BE EASY, IT CAN BE TEMPTING TO CUT CORNERS, TO PUT MONEY IN FUNDS THAT, UH, WE MAY LOOK TO DO TRANSFERS LATER IN THE YEAR, BUT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO CURTAIL THAT PRACTICE SO THAT THE PLANNING WE PUT TOGETHER IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER IS THE PLAN THAT IS IMPLEMENTED THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE NEXT YEAR.
AS WE MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, OR AS, AS WE VOTED ON, THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET ON NOVEMBER 4TH.
MY HOPE IS THAT BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, UH, THIS BOARD CAN WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE WHETHER CHANGES WE NEED NECESSARY.
UM, BUT WE CAN'T DO THAT WITHOUT YOUR HELP.
THIS BUDGET WILL BE POSTED ONLINE, UH, AND MYSELF AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF THE BOARD ARE CERTAINLY AVAILABLE, UH, TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER 4TH.
BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO COME BACK, UH, FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FOURTH AS WELL AS TO OUR TOWN BOARD MEETINGS ON DECEMBER 7TH AND, OR, I'M SORRY, OCTOBER 7TH AND OCTOBER 21ST.
UH, IF YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS, IDEAS, SUGGESTIONS, OR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PROPOSED BUDGET, I WOULD, UH, LIKE TO OPEN UP THE OPPORTUNITY MY COLLEAGUES AND TOM BOARD TO, TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS OR TO DELIVER ANY OUT THERE.
I I THINK YOU ARE BEING TOO CUTTING TO THE STATE, UH, WITH THE SENIOR SERVICE, UH, THE DAYCARE, I MEAN THAT, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE, UM, THE, THE MANDATES AND, UH, THE UNFUNDED MANDATES MOSTLY.
AND THE STRINGENT, UH, THAT THEY'RE PUTTING ON PUTTING ON US TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES IS JUST, UM, WE CAN'T SUSTAIN 'EM.
AND THEY'RE BASICALLY FORCING PEOPLE TO PUT THEIR LOVED ONES IN NURSING HOMES.
THAT'S THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT IT.
AND SO, AND I'VE HEARD THIS COMING BEFORE, AND, UH, AND CERTAINLY THE STATE HAS A ROLE IN THE MEDICAID PROGRAM, BUT BEFORE THE MEDICAID MANAGED LONG-TERM CARE PROGRAMS WERE IN EXISTENCE, THERE WAS NO STATE FUNDING THROUGH MEDICAID FOR THESE PROGRAMS. AND THE TERM UNFUNDED MANDATES IS, IS THROWN OUT QUITE A BIT.
AND I SEE THOSE AS MANDATES FROM STATE GOVERNMENT TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
UM, AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE HERE.
THE STATE HAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES AND SUPPORTS TO RECEIVE FUNDING THROUGH MEDICAID.
IT'S A MEDICAID MANAGED LONG-TERM CARE PLANS, UH, THAT HAVE INCLUDED THEIR OWN REQUIREMENTS.
UM, SO IT'S, IT'S CERTAINLY A MAJOR, MAJOR FACTOR WHEN IT COMES TO THIS VERY DIFFICULT DECISION.
IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH, UM, YOUTH REC AND SENIOR SERVICES DIRECTOR JILLIAN GORMAN KING, I KNOW SHE, I ASKED THAT QUESTION ALSO, WHAT WOULD THE OPTIONS BE? AND, UM, I DO BELIEVE THERE ARE, WHICH, YOU KNOW, MAKES ME A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THIS CONVERSATION.
UM, SHE LISTED ABOUT SEVEN OR EIGHT OTHER OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
SO IT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE FAMILIES FORCED INTO PUTTING A LOVED ONE INTO A NURSING HOME, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE QUITE A FEW VERY GOOD NURSING HOMES AVAILABLE.
BUT I, UM, I BELIEVE SHE OUTLINED I THINK SEVEN OR EIGHT OPTIONS AND THAT, UM, WE'D BE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, TRANSPORTATION.
SO THAT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE CONVERSATION.
AND I THINK THOSE PROGRAMS, AS SHE LISTED THEM, WERE ALL, UM, VERY HIGHLY REGARDED, BUT THEY'RE IN A BETTER POSITION THAN A MUNICIPALITY TO BE ABLE TO MEET THESE MORE STRINGENT GUIDELINES THAT ARE BEING IMPOSED.
ADDITIONALLY, THIS BUDGET CALLS FOR AN INCREASE IN FUNDING TO HARMONIA COLLABORATIVE CARE.
THEY ARE A PARTNER OF THE TOWN OF HAMBURG.
THEY'RE ALSO PART OF THE ERIE COUNTY SENIOR SERVICES, UH, CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
UM, IT'S A SMALL INCREASE TO THE MONEY THAT WE GIVE TO HARMONIA.
UM, BUT I DID TALK TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UH, AND MENTIONED THAT THIS MONEY WAS INTENDED TO HELP FAMILIES DURING THAT TRANSITION.
UM, SO THERE ARE MANY COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES AND SUPPORTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO CAREGIVERS AND FOLKS
[01:45:01]
IN NEED OF THIS TYPE OF CARE.CERTAINLY MORE OPTIONS AVAILABLE NOW THAN THERE WERE 40 YEARS AGO.
A LOT OF THOSE OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE RIGHT HERE IN HAMBURG.
AND THE TOWN OF HAMBURG HAS BEEN VERY PROACTIVE IN ENSURING THAT WE HAVE A LIVABLE COMMUNITY, A COMMUNITY THAT MAKES SENSE FOR FOLKS OF ANY AGE OR ANY ABILITY.
SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT BRINGING SIDEWALKS TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TRAFFIC ECONOMY, THOSE ARE MEASURES THAT WILL LIMIT COSTLY INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF PEOPLE, UH, BECAUSE THEY CAN LIVE SUCCESSFULLY IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
SO THE TOWN OF BURG HAS BEEN PROACTIVE IN THIS REGARD THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES.
AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT STAND AT THE READY TO HELP DURING THIS TRANSITION.
WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM IN OUR YOUTH RECREATION AND SENIOR SERVICES DEPARTMENT THAT WILL BE ABLE TO ASSIST THE FOLKS DURING THIS TRANSITION.
THE ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SENIOR SERVICES, WHICH IS THE AREA AGENCY IHN, HAS A NUMBER OF SERVICES THAT THEY CAN OFFER.
UH, AND WE DIDN'T TOUCH THE TRANSPORTATION BUDGET FOR THIS PROGRAM.
SO OUR HOPE IS THAT WE CONTINUE TO OFFER TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR THOSE THAT STILL MAY NEED A SOCIAL ADULT DAY SOLUTION IN THEIR FAMILY, UH, BUT BE ABLE TO TRANSFER THEM INTO OTHER PLACES.
ADDITIONALLY, IN THE SOUTH TOWNS AND THROUGHOUT ERIE COUNTY, THERE ARE SEVERAL FAITH-BASED, UH, SOCIAL ADULT DAY PROGRAMS. THEY DON'T OPERATE, UH, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
THEY MIGHT OPERATE ONE DAY A MONTH OR PERHAPS A FEW DAYS A MONTH.
UH, BUT WE WILL BE AT THE READY TO CONNECT FAMILIES TO THOSE RESOURCES THAT DO EXIST IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I WOULD JUST MAKE A COMMENT ON WHAT YOU SAID, UH, AND CALL OUT A BIT OF HYPOCRISY.
UM, YOU SAY THAT YOU FAVOR TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES, BUT THE LAST, OR PREVIOUS TO THE LAST MEETING, YOU VOTED TO RE UH, ZONE AN AREA ON ROUTE 20 THAT'S GONNA BRING MORE DEVELOPMENT TO THE TOWN AND MORE TRAFFIC.
SO ON THE ONE HAND YOU SAY, OH, I WANT TRAFFIC CALMING, AND YOU BASICALLY REITERATE TALKING POINTS.
BUT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO ACTUAL POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION AS A SUPERVISOR, YOU FAIL THE TAXPAYERS AS FAR AS THE BUDGET GOES.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S AN OVERSIGHT ON YOUR PART, BUT I DON'T HAVE A COPY OF YOUR POWERPOINT.
I'M SURE YOU MEANT TO GIVE US A COPY.
IT'D BE HELPFUL IF WE COULD HAVE ONE.
IF YOU COULD PROVIDE US ONE THAT WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
UH, AND AS FAR AS ANY TAX INCREASES, UH, I MEAN, I'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS MORE CAREFULLY, BUT MY TENTATIVE THOUGHT IS I WOULD IMPOSE ANY BUDGET THAT INVOLVES RAISING TAXES.
PEOPLE LEAVE NEW YORK ALL THE TIME BECAUSE THEY'RE SICK OF PAYING HIGH TAXES.
AND, UM, I'VE HAD RELATIVES, FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS OF MY CHILDREN LEAVE BECAUSE THEY'RE TIRED OF OPPRESSIVE TAXES.
AND I THINK WE OWE THE CITIZENS BETTER.
UM, AND I'LL BE MEETING WITH, UH, MR. SHEA, OUR FINANCE PERSON, TO FIND OUT WHAT WE CAN DO, UH, AS TO BOARD MEMBERS TO, UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, SUBMIT SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE INCREASE IN TAXES, BUT IF YOU GIMME A COPY OF THE POWERPOINT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD FROM THE BOARD? I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HEAR CITIZENS OUT, ESPECIALLY ON ALL MATTERS REGARDING THE BUDGET, BECAUSE I KNOW, UM, EACH ONE OF US WAS ELECTED BY THE GENERAL POPULATION OF CITIZENS THAT ARE HERE.
AND I VALUE HEARING THEIR INSIGHT BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I MAKE BETTER DECISIONS WHEN I HEAR THE INPUT OF OTHERS AND WHEN I HEAR WHAT OUR PRIORITIES TO THEM AND THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE BUDGET AND WHERE THEIR PRIORITIES LAND WITH THE TAXES, HOW MUCH THEY'RE COMFORTABLE WITH, HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH.
UM, AS SOMEONE WHO'S RAISING A YOUNG FAMILY, I WILL ADMIT THERE WAS STICKER SHOCK AT THE GROCERY STORE THIS PAST WEEK WHEN WE SAW HOW EXPENSIVE GROCERIES WERE.
AND IT WASN'T EVEN ANYTHING FUN WE WERE BUYING.
IT WAS VEGGIES AND MEATS AND NONE OF THE FUN COOKIES AND THINGS THE KIDS WANTED.
SO I CAN SEE ALL THOSE THINGS.
I DO WANT RESIDENTS TO KNOW, WE DO TAKE THIS VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY.
OUR ROLL UP HERE, WE DO TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY.
THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND ENERGY WE'RE GONNA PUT INTO IT FOR THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS OF REALLY HAMMERING OUT THE BUDGET, THERE ARE GONNA BE SOME VERY DIFFICULT, UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS, I'M SURE BETWEEN THE FIVE OF US OF WHAT EACH ONE OF US THINKS NEEDS TO STAY AND WHICH EACH ONE OF US THINKS IS SOMETHING THAT CAN GET TIGHTENED OR SOMETHING THAT CAN GO PROBABLY MUCH LIKE WHEN YOU DO YOUR HOUSEHOLD BUDGETS, YOU MAY HAVE ONE
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PRIORITY AND SOMEBODY ELSE IN THE HOUSEHOLD MAY HAVE A DIFFERENT PRIORITY.I'M SURE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND WEATHER THOSE STORMS. I ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THE RESIDENTS ARE AWARE THAT THE ADULT DAYCARE PROGRAM TOO, WE HAVE WORKED VERY HARD IN THIS ENTIRE TRANSITION OF OUR SENIOR CENTER TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS ALWAYS A PRIORITY.
SO THE FACT THAT THE SUPERVISORS PRESENTING IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER REMOVING FROM OUR REPERTOIRE OF SERVICES WE OFFER.
I APPRECIATE THE TIME AND EFFORT HE IS PUT INTO IT.
I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD WITH JILL ABOUT THIS VERY DIFFICULT DECISION THAT WE'RE FACING AND REALLY DOING ULTIMATELY THE BEST WE CAN FOR THE RESIDENTS AND PUTTING THEM IN THE BEST POSSIBLE HANDS.
BUT ALSO, PLEASE KNOW, IT WAS, THIS DECISION WAS NOT COME TO LIGHTLY, BUT IT WAS ALSO NOT COME TO WITH THE INTENTION OF WE DON'T HAVE SPACE FOR YOU.
WE WERE ABSOLUTELY GOING TO FIGURE OUT WE HAD OTHER OPTIONS.
WE HAVE PLACES, BUT SOMETIMES YOU NEED MORE THAN SPACE.
SOMETIMES WE NEED MORE THAN WHAT A SPACE CAN OFFER.
SOMETIMES WE NEED BETTER SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER BETTER.
AND THERE'S A CERTAIN, I GUESS, UM, RESPECT THAT HAS TO BE GIVEN TO THE FACT THAT IF THE SUPERVISOR'S PRESENTING A BUDGET, AND SO IS THE YOUTH REC SENIOR SERVICES SAYING MAYBE IT'S TIME THAT WE ARE NOT THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS, AND WE STEP ASIDE AND LET SOMEBODY ELSE STEP FORWARD, WE NEED TO AT LEAST HEAR THEM OUT.
BUT I DO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO REACH OUT TO US.
I DO ENCOURAGE, UM, FAMILY MEMBERS TO REACH OUT TO US.
ALL YOU SENIORS WHO ARE THERE FEVERISHLY WRITING YOUR NOTES OF THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT TONIGHT.
SEND US EMAIL AND TELL US WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU.
YOU'RE GONNA BE THE ONES IN 20 YEARS SITTING WHERE WE'RE SITTING, UM, MAKING THESE DECISIONS.
AND SO TELL US WHAT YOU'RE THINKING BECAUSE IT'S REALLY HARD TO MAKE A GOOD DECISION FOR THE COMMUNITY IF WE DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING.
AND THESE ARE DIFFICULT DECISIONS.
AND I KNOW, UM, I'VE ALREADY GOTTEN SOME CALLS FROM FROM INDIVIDUALS ASKING ME, DID YOU SEE THIS ON FACEBOOK? DID YOU SEE THIS? AND, AND I ACTUALLY TRY NOT TO MONITOR THAT.
UM, BUT THERE DOES SEEM TO BE A LOT OF MISINFORMATION OUT THERE.
SO I WOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO COME ASK US QUESTIONS, GET THE RIGHT INFORMATION AS COUNCILWOMAN.
UH, KAFER JUST SAID, THESE ARE DIFFICULT DECISIONS AND THEY'RE NOT MADE IN ISOLATION.
THEY'RE MADE IN RELATIONSHIP TO, UH, SOME OTHER FACTORS.
UM, AND, AND WE WANT TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE AS WE MAKE THE DECISIONS AND, AND HELP YOU UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE MANY OF THEM ARE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT.
BUT SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT I, THAT WERE SENT TO ME, UM, THE LAST THING I WOULD WANT IS EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY TURNING AGAINST EACH OTHER.
THESE ARE IMPORTANT THINGS TO EVERYONE.
AND I WOULD HOPE THAT EVERYONE WOULD RESPECT AS AS, AS YOU WERE SAYING, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE DIFFICULT DECISIONS AND PRIORITIES AND EVERYONE HAS A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF IN MISINFORMATION THAT I SAW STARTING TO CIRCULATE.
IT CAN BE DIFFICULT FOR THE PUBLIC WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING.
AND IT CAN ALSO BE DIFFICULT WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THESE IMPORTANT DECISIONS AND WE WANNA GET TO YOUR COMMENTS.
SO I WOULD JUST ENCOURAGE EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE'RE BEST WHEN WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER AND IF WE CAN RESPECT EACH OTHER'S THOUGHTS AND WAIT TO GET ACCURATE INFORMATION.
I KNOW OUR DIRECTOR OF YOUTH REC AND SENIOR SERVICES WILL BE HERE AT THE NEXT MEETING.
I'M SURE SHE'S GONNA BE GIVING US MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR TOPIC.
BUT THERE'S EVEN OTHER ASPECTS OF THE BUDGET THAT WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT DECISIONS.
AND SO WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO GIVE YOUR INPUT.
PLEASE HELP US IN THAT PROCESS SO WE CAN MAKE A GOOD DECISION.
AND PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE SOMETIMES A LOT OF DYNAMICS INVOLVED AND WE'RE WEIGHING A LOT OF THINGS AND TRULY TRYING OUR BEST FOR OUR COMMUNITY, OUR SO AT, AT THIS POINT, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
COULD I, COULD I INTERRUPT FOR ONE MORE SECOND? I'M SORRY.
IF I COULD ASK FOR ONE MORE THING, UM, BEFORE WE ADJOURN TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, IF WE COULD JUST CLOSE WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR A MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO PASSED AWAY IN THE LAST WEEK, WHO WAS A DEAR MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY.
SHE CONTRIBUTED A LOT, WAS VERY HIGHLY REGARDED IN OUR YOUTH REC AND SENIOR SERVICES.
SHE WAS A MEMBER OF OUR SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD AND WORKED WITH MANY OF THE INDIVIDUALS IN THE DEPARTMENT.
SHE HAS CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN, GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN, GREAT-GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN.
SHE WAS DEFINITELY A VERY INVOLVED MEMBER, UM, IN OUR COMMUNITY.
A GENUINE, SWEET, KIND, OPINIONATED, STRONG WOMAN WHO, UM, DEFINITELY LEFT A GOOD IMPRESSION IN OUR COMMUNITY.
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A MOMENT OF SILENCE, A MOTION.AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SECOND TO, TO CONSIDER A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ISSUE, A DISCIPLINE RELATED PERSONNEL ISSUE, AND, UH, DISCUSSION AROUND THE SENIOR CENTER.
THOSE HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS WHO NEED SIGNATURES.
IF YOU WANNA COME FORWARD AND GET THOSE NOW.
BEFORE WE HAD TO TAKE EXECUTIVE SESSION, SHE WAS THE SECOND MOTHER TO MARIA.