Town Weighs Fee Hikes, Crossing Guard Cuts in Budget

Several town fees are likely to raised as a part of the 2010 budget, with potential cuts made to several town services.

Councilman Mark Ciarrocca, the chairman of the finance committee, briefed colleagues Tuesday night about where the committee is in the budget writing process. He said Gov. Chris Christie's decision last month has the committee looking to plug the additional budget hole in developing a balanced budget.

Ciarrocca said Town Administrator Jim Gildea and town labor relations officials will be meeting with the leaders of the town's four public employee unions on Wednesday to discuss the current fiscal situation and look for potential changes to the employee contracts. The town is currently finalizing contracts with firefighters and police.

"To get to our final budget we have to partner with our employees and bargaining units," Ciarrocca said.

As a part of the process, Ciarrocca said the committee is currently reviewing proposals to increase town revenue, including funds generated from parking fees. He said the budget committee is currently reviewing plans to increase the frees from commuter parking fees along with on-street spots.

"We believe there are opportunities for revenue with premium meters," he said.

Ciarrocca indicated that the pay station and free parking spots are likely to not receive fee hikes in the budget developed by his committee. A plan regarding potential parking fee hikes will be presented to the public safety committee for consideration later this month.

Ordinances are currently being developed to increase a host of town construction related fees for the budget. These will include increasing the building fee, planning and zoning board filing fee and road opening permit fee. Ciarrocca said the ordinance is likely to be presented to the Council for consideration later in April.

Ciarrocca, who had warned of personnel and service cuts during a budget briefing in February, said the committee was looking to make several cuts as a part of the budget process. Two cuts pending before the budget committee include an overtime reduction in the Department of Public Works and laying off several town crossing guards. Ciarrocca said the DPW overtime cut will likely reduce the personnel count within the department.

Ciarrocca said the committee has directed the police department to conduct a crossing guard study with the potential to reduce the current 57 crossing guard intersections in Westfield. Earlier this year, Councilwoman Joann Neylan, the public safety committee chairwoman, said the total amount of crossing guards is a priority for her committee this year. Ciarrocca said Westfield has the highest amount of crossing guards in the county.

"When you start lumping them together it is a significant amount," Ciarrocca said the impact of the total amount of crossing guards on the town budget.

Ciarrocca and his finance committee colleagues reiterated comments made earlier this year that all line items in the 2009 budget are being discussed in the development of the new budget. Committee members, in a move similar to one made by the Board of Education during discussions last month to plug a $4.22 million budget hole, called on the public for new ideas to cut costs in town government.

"We've discussed a lot of thing," said Councilman Dave Haas, the vice chairman of the finance committee said. "Any suggestions anyone has are welcome. Everything is on the table"

Ciarrocca noted the committee is currently judging the impact of each program and service on quality of life in town and the budget.

"We're going to have to make a decision on whether a certain service we provide is worth the cost," Ciarrocca said.