Stratford staff describe community and senior services budget; state transit grant could add $49,179

Tammy Trojanowski, who presented the town’s Community and Senior Services budgets on March 26, said the budget book shows modest increases to cover custodial supplies ($10,000) and outside services ($22,000) for facilities that include Birds Eye Municipal Complex and the South End Community Center. She told the council that the headcount fluctuation reflected part‑time and seasonal staffing and a prior calculation error; “no one’s lost jobs,” she said.

Dawn, a finance staff member, explained that grant matches are recorded in Fund 30 and not the general fund: when grants require a local match, the town transfers the matching expense into the grant fund and spends it there. Tammy said professional services line items include counseling and grant matches, and that clinical staffing consists of a clinical coordinator, one full‑time counselor and contractual support; juvenile diversion services carry a caseload of about 30 youth.

Steve DeMichael of Greater Bridgeport Transit (GBT) outlined the State municipal grant program that supports senior and disabled transportation. He said the formula allocates funding to each municipality and that Stratford’s apportionment is up to $49,179 per year; the state requires a 50% local match so the grant expands, rather than replaces, the town’s current program. GBT provides vehicles, drivers, maintenance and grant administration and coordinates among Stratford, Trumbull, Bridgeport and Fairfield.

Council members asked how the town schedules Baldwin Center versus GBT trips; Tammy said Baldwin buses handle local trips and GBT is typically reserved for out‑of‑town medical appointments. Steve said Stratford has used the grant to provide 743 municipal‑grant trips year‑to‑date and that GBT’s paratransit fleet (about 30 vehicles) is shared regionally rather than dedicated to a single town.

Why it matters: the grant could expand transportation access for seniors and people with disabilities without displacing existing town services, but it requires a 50% local commitment. Council members pressed staff for clearer fund‑level history and a breakdown of matching commitments before final votes on grants or budget transfers.

Next steps: staff agreed to provide additional fund detail and historic comparisons and to return with any grant applications for Council approval. The workshop recessed and will continue April 2.