Hamden Officials Prepare for Town's Own Fiscal Cliff

It won't be long before the Legislative Council once again begins the arduous process of approving a budget, and it was clear at this month's meeting that it's weighing heavy on the minds of council members.

As items came before the council that required approval of funds, comments reverted back to the town's precarious financial position and the prospect of it getting worse in the months to come.

One council member twice during the evening brought up a proposal to enact a freeze on discretionary spending -- the council didn''t act on it, but may in the future -- and the upcoming presentation from consultants on an option before them to bond money to shore up the flailing pension fund that is millions of dollars under where it should be, presenting one of the largest threats to the town's fiscal health.

It was especially evident during a discussion about a proposed reorganization of the Hamden Library jobs proposed by new head librarian Marian Amodeo. While she wanted to eliminate two positions -- that of Librarian 3 and Library Technical Assistant, she also wanted to fill the vacant Business Manager's position, which had some questioning why that position was needed when the town itself has a business manager.

"I don't feel there was enough though given with combining with the town side," said Councilman Harry Gagliardi, who previously had called for a freeze on discretionary spending for the rest of the fiscal year, "and the library is part fo the town."

Councilwoman Kath Schomaker urged the council to have "hardnosed conversations about streamlining across departments to save money.

"I agree we have to look at this," she said. "We really, really need to look at these things and have a larger conversation."

"We are not a cash cow," Gagliardi said. "We need to start looking at Hamden as a town, not a a pocket of departments like Public Works and Administration and the Library and this and that."

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"That is never going to happen," council president Judi Kozak said, referring to the problems the union contracts present in each department. "You have no idea how hard it is to accomplish what you want to accomplish."

But several council members said that now is the time to take on the unions before the town's fiscal position becomes so overwhelmingly negative that there are no other options.

"We have to do this type of thing," said Councilman Tom Rousseau. "If we run into union issues, we need to fight the battles -- if we don't do it, we're going to go down the tubes.

"I'd rather put librarians back in the library and put accountants back in the Finance Department," he said.

"These union issues will sink you," Councilwoman Carol Noble said. "Look with the rink did to us, and that was with a lawyer," she said, referring to the labor issues over the Louis Astorino Rink.

"At some point, someone has got to have the vision to look at where to save money," Schomaker said. "This has created an opportunity to have this conversation, but the status quo is not sustainable -- it's just not.

"We are in dire straits," she said.