Ethics, budget hot topics in Litchfield

LITCHFIELD – Money, ethics and government were the hot topics of discussion at this year’s town Deliberative Session.

Voters discussed but, for the most part, didn’t change the operating budget and proposals to implement an ethics committee and change the style of town government.

One of the first matters debated Saturday was the proposed $4.38 million town operating budget. The proposal passed as is and will appear on the Town Election ballot next month.

Resident and former Selectman Al Raccio attempted to reduce the budget by nearly $60,000 because the police department’s line-item total exceeded the one in this year’s budget. Raccio offered the amendment to honor a prior Board of Selectmen’s goal of having all departments submit budgets with no increases, he said.

But Budget Committee Chairman Brent Lemire said the police department was actually underfunded in the current budget because of an error.

The department proposed a 20-percent increase for next year’s budget, but the committee reduced the increase to 10 percent, he said.

Raccio argued that other departments suffered from the same error but didn’t exceed a zero-percent increase in their proposals. His amendment was defeated after it was pointed out that the $59,757 cut would affect a $54,000 police prosecutor position or some other budget item.

Selectman George Lambert told taxpayers the operating budget was as trim as it could be, with the proposal just $33,339 more than the 2009 default budget.

The only unavoidable big expenses are the $162,500 cost to shut down the town incinerator and $18,500 for auditing that will bring the town’s books back into order, Lambert said. Town officials have said accounts were out of sorts after the conviction last year of former treasurer Horace Seymour, who stole at least $135,000 from the town coffers.

Seymour was mentioned during discussion of the proposal to form an ethics committee.

If the measure passes, taxpayers would have to raise $1,395 for the committee’s formation. Comprised of elected members, the committee would investigate citizen complaints of ethical conflict by town officials and volunteers.

The measure survived a proposed amendment to strip the committee of the $1,395 seed money. But residents still protested that the committee would create a “witch hunt” and could potentially violate the state Right-to-Know Law because members would have to meet in private to discuss complaints.

Selectman Frank Byron and others dismissed the criticism, saying the committee wouldn’t unjustifiably chase people with accusations but would instead protect the town.

Byron also detailed the creation of a town administrator position. Last year, the town proposed creating the position of town manager but it failed by 44 votes.

A manager would have had a position of authority as an independent officer, whereas a town manager helps the departments reach the goals of selectmen, Byron said.

“We are, quite bluntly, a $4 million business without a leader,” said Byron, who listed the many duties he has performed as selectman that he said could be handled by a town administrator.

A town of Litchfield’s size needs a town manager to analyze budgets, negotiate contracts and be “a second set of eyes,” Byron said referring to Seymour’s embezzlement.

Raccio said that an administrator position was unnecessary, particularly if all five selectmen shared the burden of work. But the measure made it to the ballot mostly untouched.

Albert McKeon can be reached at 594-5832 or amckeon@nashuatelegraph.com