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May 29. 2012 9:23PM
Manchester aldermen hold off on budget votes
MANCHESTER – The aldermen used the special Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting Tuesday night to do some budget housecleaning, but the big items – like the city general fund budget and the school budget – were left for another night.
The aldermen asked questions about adding union concession savings into the Highway and Welfare Department budgets and adjusting the mayor's office budget. Aldermen Phil Greazzo, Joyce Craig, Jim Roy, Barbara Shaw, Dan O'Neil and others told their fellow members they came to work on the budget, but weren't ready to cast a vote.
It was also noted Alderman Ed Osborne was not there, and it is typical courtesy to wait until all aldermen are present before voting on major items.
“This was a work session, not a budget-passing session,” said Greazzo. “I didn't come to vote on these things until I see them on paper and can see how it affects the budget.”
Alderman Bill Shea, however, persuaded the board to take a few non-controversial items off the table to move the budget process along.
“We've always done this separately,” said Shea. “Because we're going to be nitpicking here, maybe we should get rid of some of these items.”
The board approved $258,000 for Central Business District spending, largely for Intown Manchester, $5.8 million to pay for the school lunch program, $46 million for the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, $1 million for the Manchester Transit Authority and $13.5 million in expected sewer fees to the Environmental Protection Division.
The board also approved moving whatever funds come from the state as the result of Meals and Rooms Tax into the Civic Center Fund.
The aldermen have until June 12 to approve an alternate budget to the one Mayor Ted Gatsas proposed in March. If a budget isn't approved by then, Gatsas' budget is automatically enacted.
O'Neil asked the board to meet again on Monday to answer the final questions about the budget and possibly take a vote.
A group of aldermen, led by Craig and O'Neil, are expected to present an alternative budget during that meeting. However, when Shea asked during the meeting if there would be any aldermen ready with a budget, none of the board members admitted they would be coming forward.
The aldermen asked questions about adding union concession savings into the Highway and Welfare Department budgets and adjusting the mayor's office budget. Aldermen Phil Greazzo, Joyce Craig, Jim Roy, Barbara Shaw, Dan O'Neil and others told their fellow members they came to work on the budget, but weren't ready to cast a vote.
It was also noted Alderman Ed Osborne was not there, and it is typical courtesy to wait until all aldermen are present before voting on major items.
“This was a work session, not a budget-passing session,” said Greazzo. “I didn't come to vote on these things until I see them on paper and can see how it affects the budget.”
Alderman Bill Shea, however, persuaded the board to take a few non-controversial items off the table to move the budget process along.
“We've always done this separately,” said Shea. “Because we're going to be nitpicking here, maybe we should get rid of some of these items.”
The board approved $258,000 for Central Business District spending, largely for Intown Manchester, $5.8 million to pay for the school lunch program, $46 million for the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, $1 million for the Manchester Transit Authority and $13.5 million in expected sewer fees to the Environmental Protection Division.
The board also approved moving whatever funds come from the state as the result of Meals and Rooms Tax into the Civic Center Fund.
The aldermen have until June 12 to approve an alternate budget to the one Mayor Ted Gatsas proposed in March. If a budget isn't approved by then, Gatsas' budget is automatically enacted.
O'Neil asked the board to meet again on Monday to answer the final questions about the budget and possibly take a vote.
A group of aldermen, led by Craig and O'Neil, are expected to present an alternative budget during that meeting. However, when Shea asked during the meeting if there would be any aldermen ready with a budget, none of the board members admitted they would be coming forward.