Councilor Wants to Reduce Paper Use to Save Money

During the , Councilor Nadine Bell suggested the town should eliminate using large amounts of paper in various departments in the interest of saving the taxpayers money.

With most residents including seniors owning or having access to a computer, she said the quarterly brochures distributed to every household in Rocky Hill should be online with a few copies being printed and left at various locations in town including the  and .

The Parks and Recreation Department budgets $17,200 for printing the quarterly brochures, which covers a partial funding of the book and advertising covers the other portion. The brochures also brings in an average of about $1,200 in advertising each year, according to Recreation Supervisor Chris S. Rusack

"I have concerns with spending that amount on printing," Bell said at the workshop.

Rusack said that many other towns have tried to get rid of the brochures, however many have brought them back after complaints from residents.

"I am under the strong belief that you need to keep the information in front of people," Rusack said. "When you put something printed in front of them, they tend not to forget it."

Rusack said he has had informal conversations with other recreation supervisors and they stated that they have seen as much as 30 percent decrease in revenue based on registrations when their town tried to get rid of the brochures.

"People tend to wait to the last minute, so when you get the information in front of them it reminds them to register," Rusack said. "I think it pays dividends to market that hard copy."

Rusack also said that many other magazines and newspapers have struggled when they went to only online format.

"If we went strictly online, just based on conversations I have, it probably won't work," he said.

The Parks and Recreation Department is planning to do a survey in the fall brochure and online asking residents if they find the document helpful or do they use the town's website.

"We can reallocate that money so it can be used where it is needed," Bell said.

The councilor also stated that she supported the Cora J. Belden Library focusing more of its budget on buying ebooks.

"We could have more of a balance with ebooks," Bell said Monday morning.

Director Mary Hogan debated this pointed. Currently, $110,000 has been budgeted for books, audio books, ebooks, magazines and DVDs. This item is an increase from previous years because the library plays a vital role in education especially early child literacy, Hogan said at the hearing.

"A good collection is critical to the kids," said Councilor Barbara Surwilo. "It is an issue that I am passionate about."

Councilor Joe Kochanek said increasing the number of ebooks is important, but "nothing replaces a good book."

"I think paperbacks will always have a place," he said.

The final area where Bell said she wants the council to consider reducing the amount of paper used with the distribution of packets to the members of boards and commissions.

She said she wants to look at alternative ways of the boards getting their agendas. Bell said its costs the town a lot of money and time to have all members provided with the proper documentation.

"I am looking into alternatives because we need to be more efficient in what we spend," Bell said Monday morning.

The costs and man-hours associated with copying and delivering the packets for the various boards and commissions are high, Bell said and at times, she has received correspondence from the town two to three times a week.

"I want to streamline the process and make an effective use of the resources," she said. Copies of the packages and agendas from every town meeting must be stored at Town Hall because it is required FOI regulations.

In the end, Bell said she thinks going paperless in some areas could help "cut costs."

"I think its a way of saving funds and is good for the environment as well," she said.

The council decided to put the three items on the revisit list, which means they can discuss it at future budget workshops. The next budget workshop is tonight at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at .