EW Police Dept. keeps spending within budget
By:Kory Loucks, Journal Inquirer
06/14/2007
EAST WINDSOR - For the first time in six years the Police Department will not need to request any added appropriations to meet expenses.
"Whoever wants to take credit ... I guess it shows that it can be done," Police Commission member D. James Barton Sr. said at the Police Commission meeting Wednesday.
It was an unusual year for the Police Department, Barton said. Although being down five police officers for part of the year and without a police captain for most of the year, overtime was kept within budget.
And despite saying the department was treated "callously and rudely" by the Finance Board, which scrutinized police spending this year and withheld overtime funds, Barton acknowledged that the board's actions influenced the police budget.
"Once we get over that anger ... overtime spending seems actually to be controlled," Barton said.
The Finance Board focused a lot of its energy and time over the current fiscal year on the Police Department's spending.
The Finance Board had withheld three-quarters of the Police Department's approved overtime budget and placed it into a separate account, forcing the Police Commission to come before the Finance Board twice to request the approved funds be transferred back to its account.
Town Attorney Stephen T. Penny has said that the Finance Board's action was inappropriate and overstepped its authority.
Barton said the Police Commission needs to do its job and work with the police chief and captain to make sure that they continue to stay within their budget.
"We need to ask the right questions to make sure that overtime is spent wisely as much as possible, with no waste and no abuse. That is up to us," Barton said.
Although the department did not go over budget, money needs to be transferred among line items in the 2006-07 budget to cover expenses.
Finance Board Chairman Paul E. Catino has said the department cannot make those transfers without the Finance Board's approval.
But Penny said in a memo dated May 9 that the Police Commission does have the right to make transfers within its own budget.
"This year was unique with rule changes, but I don't think it is proper," Barton said of the Finance Board's actions.
In past years, a telephone call to town Treasurer Mary Szabo was all that was needed to make the transfers, Police Chief Edward J. DeMarco Jr. said. "We have always enjoyed good dialogue with the treasurer. We never had a problem," he added.
Barton said it is just good management to make transfers within a budget if there are unexpected expenses that need to be covered.
"All prior budget years we have always been allowed to move those line items," Barton said.
"I think we have enough justification from the town attorney" to make the transfer requests directly to the treasurer, Police Commission member Linda C. Sinsigallo said.
Police Commission member Steven Knibloe made a motion, seconded by Sinsigallo, authorizing the chief to move money within categories as needed and pay bills accordingly, which passed unanimously.
A second motion made by Knibloe and also seconded by Sinsigallo was directed to the Finance Board, stating that the Police Commission does not need added appropriations nor does it need the line item transfer approvals from the Finance Board as that board requested.
This also passed unanimously.
©Journal Inquirer 2007
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