Council Passes Budget 7-1, Haas Votes No

Amid accusations of partisan politics, the approved a Tuesday night with a no vote from the Council’s lone Democrat.

Democratic Councilman Dave Haas continued his the town budget, citing several concerns, which did not allow him to cast a final vote in approval of the plan. Haas helped develop the plan as a member of the finance committee. Republican Councilwoman Joann Neylan, a finance committee member, took issue with Haas’ no vote.

“Councilman Haas I respect the points you take on many things, but I do not understand how you can vote against the budget you worked so hard on?” Neylan said. “Every item was looked at with a fine tooth comb. It’s unfortunate and disingenuous that partisan politics takes a role. That’s not how decision in this town are taken by myself.”

Before voting and Neylan’s comments, Haas explained that several factors that came into his reasoning in deciding to vote against the spending plan. Haas emphasized the town’s decision to not pursue an energy audit, which he said could have been paid for by federal funds. Haas, who has made environmental policy a of his agenda, has been pushing for an .

“I do hope we do an energy audit in the future,” Haas said.

In comments similar to those made by Board of Education member Mitch Slater when, Haas said he wanted to see the finance committee meetings opened to the public. He said this would allow for public comment on various aspects of the spending plan.

Open budget meetings were a of the platform of 2009 Democratic mayoral nominee Bill Brennan, who lost that election to Mayor Andy Skibitsky in a . Haas was part of Brennan’s ticket, helping to push the open budget meeting proposal.

Haas has long dissented on the town’s spending plan, traditionally citing such issues as environmental policy and the town’s decision to have part time employees enrolled in the . In 2009, Haas was to the budget by then Democratic Councilman Tom Bigosinski, who cited the in his no vote. Bigosinski lost the 2009 election to Republican Keith Loughlin.

Loughlin abstained on voting on portions of the budget relating to Board of Adjustment salaries. Loughlin’s father, Vincent Loughlin, is the Board of Adjustment’s attorney. Legal fees are paid to the downtown law firm of Johnstone, Skok, Loughlin and Lane, where Councilman Loughlin is employed. Loughlin has abstained on all payments to his law firm since joining the Council.

The spending plan is similar to last year’s, with a reduction in municipal salaries. Town Administrator Jim Gildea has said the town has been looking to reduce expenses due to declines in non-tax revenue in the budget. This year’s budget includes a salary and wage drop of $287,377.

The budget also includes a decrease in operating expenses, totaling $250,598. The budget comes in within the state’s two-percent tax cap.

The centerpiece of the budget is a change in the funding mechanism for the Memorial Library. The budget includes the creation of a new municipal library appropriation tax, which will take the annual library appropriation out of the town budget and into a separate account, funded through a direct tax. The budgeted amount for 2011 is $2,449,454.

Gildea has stressed in previous budget meetings that this was not a new tax but a change in accounting.

While Haas was calling for opening up the budget process, those who voted for the spending plan praised the process. Skibitsky was absent from the meeting and did not vote on the budget.

“This was a very difficult budget,” Neylan said. “I am proud of the work we do.”