Update: According to the town’s website, the third budget vote is now scheduled for Tuesday, May 25, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Seymour Community Center.
Original story, posted Wednesday night, follows:
The finance board wants more time before making cuts to next year’s budget, which has been twice rejected by voters.
A third referendum is scheduled for May 18.
However, at the suggestion of former First Selectman Robert Koskelowski, the finance board Wednesday voted unanimously to ask current First Selectman Paul Roy to ask the Board of Selectmen to postpone the third referendum to a later date.
If the Selectmen delay the vote, the finance board will use the extra time to go over the budget — again — with department heads.
The finance board had been scheduled to start making reductions at its Wednesday meeting.
Koskelowski spoke twice during the public comment portion of the meeting, urging the board to take its time.
Koskelowski said the voters sent a clear message Tuesday, when both the town and school budgets were defeated.
“It’s almost like voters are angry out there now,” Koskewloski said. “Let’s get this one right. Let’s not rush to judgement.”
The former First Selectman also urged the finance board to make sure the tax rate doesn’t increase by more than 1.1 mills.
Roy, who was in the audience, at first resisted pushing the May 18 vote, saying the traditional process calls for the town to hold as many votes as possible before a drop dead, state-mandate deadline in mid-June.
However, finance board members wanted more time.
Bill Paecht said he had only had about 10 hours since Tuesday’s vote to decide what else to trim.
Finance board chairman Mark Thompson said he took a day off from work Wednesday to discuss possible reductions with Roy. Thompson felt under the gun and welcomed more time.
Roy suggested the finance board take a vote, which they did, asking him to take the suggestion to the full Board of Selectmen.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, several people spoke for and against the budget.
James Garafalo of Bungay Road urged the finance board to cut services, so the public can get an idea of what a zero-percent increase feels like.
Resident Joe Orlando of Brookfield Road wondered if the people voting “no” to the budgets represent the whole town.
“We’re reacting here to what is, essentially, a very small percentage of the overall population,” Orlando said. “In my opinion, I don’t feel the voters really spoke at all.”
Tuesday’s Vote Results
The $20.5 million proposed town budget:
NO: 950
YES: 753
The $29.8 million school budget:
NO: 1056
YES: 649
The budget was also rejected in April. After the defeat, the finance board shaved off $579,000.
