EAST LONGMEADOW – The East Longmeadow Town Council met for a regularly scheduled meeting on July 21 for the annual budget hearing, and approve an early voting location for the State Primary on Sept. 1.

The first order of business at the meeting was to hear the Financial Oversight Committee's recommendation for the budget.  At this time, Christine Saulnier, the chair of the Financial Oversight Committee recommended that the school budget be cut by an additional $56,613.

She said, "There are capital projects that are not included in the education budget, including a $1,260,000 feasibility study for the high school. In addition, there are school related expenses that are not in the school budget, they are embedded in other departmental budgets."

After hearing the recommendation, the council then approved a motion to designate Birchland Park Middle School the town's early voting location for the Sept. 1 State Primary Election.

The council then jumped into the budget hearing and Town Manager Mary McNally presented several changes to the budget from the prior meeting.

"The sources of revenue increased because that includes the precise amount for the assessment for the dispatch transfer from East Longmeadow to WESTCOMM. The total uses decreased as a result of eliminating the steam pipe debt service, there will be no debt service on that project until fiscal 22," she said.

One of the sticking points in the hearing was a discussion around changing the stormwater fee from a flat rate to charge commercial industrial costs by income.

Department of Public Works Director Bruce Fenney jumped into the call and said, "We had a discussion based on what we find in our stormwater system that needs to be modified and increase charges if we find contaminants, so thatÕs why we put that statement in."

When Councilor Ralph Page asked about going through each capital project, Council President Michael Kane jumped in to say he was in favor of passing the budget and adjusting it once the town gets funds from the state.

He said, "I would like to see a budget passed tonight and I think we all recognize this budget can be amended at a later date when more information becomes available. I believe that we are at a good point and we have that safety net to be able to adjust those numbers down the road."

McNally added that were the budget to pass, it would be 45 to 60 days before any of the projects even went out to bid.

As part of the budget approval process, the council had to vote to approve 15 different motions, including the $63,644,001 town budget for the year. The council ran through and approved each item with little discussion.