Finance Committee Quits Coddling Groups that Fail to File Funding Requests

The Finance Committee, fed up with nonprofit groups that repeatedly fail to file funding requests on time, took action Tuesday that could have repercussions for those nonprofits.

The committee decided to recommend that a number of nonprofits receive less than the typical annual funding amount.

One of the groups in question is the Raymond Library. In 2010/2011, the library did not make a request, according to Ellen Hillman, the vice chairman of the Town Council and the liaison to the town’s nonprofits; the town funded it at $36,000, the same as it was budgeted in 2009/2010, according to Hillman.

This year, it did not make a request, though entreaties to make a request were extended, Hillman said. The committee voted to propose cutting $6,000 from the library’s funding.

Town Councilor and Finance Committee member Russ Beetham disagreed with the idea.  “I don’t know what the problem is,” he said. “We are the lowest in the state of Connecticut per capita for library services. That’s almost a disgrace.”

Hillman said that she believes it’s unfair that “baseball and football have to submit a recommendation but the library doesn’t.”

Joanne Westkamper, director of the library, said that she didn't realize the library was in jeopardy.

"We've all worked very hard to improve the image of the library," Westkamper said, "and this doesn't help."

Also failing to file funding requests, according to Hillman, were Montville Babe Ruth and Literacy Volunteers.

The mayor’s suggested budget proposed $2,000 for Babe Ruth; the finance committee proposed $1,400

The mayor’s suggested budget proposed $1,000 for Literacy Volunteers; the finance committee proposed $400.

The committee voted to propose cutting funding entirely to the Eastern Connecticut Conservation District, which had requested $1,500.

It proposed raising funding to the Sexual Assault Crisis Center of Eastern Connecticut from $300 to $350.

The Finance Committee will present its recommendations to the Town Council, which will have the final say. For more about the process, click .