East Lyme — First Selectman Mark Nickerson presented a list of proposed budget reductions Wednesday to the Board of Finance, following the finance board's $275,000 cut to the selectmen's proposed 2016-17 town government budget.

Position hours, overtime, heating oil and storm materials are among the cuts to the 2016-17 selectmen's budget. 

Under Nickerson's proposal, the town's transfer station would be closed for one day during the week. Nickerson said this would not affect garbage or recycling pick-up.

The proposal would move an engineering inspector position from full time to part time, decrease the hours of a custodial position, and decrease some hours for the fire marshal's office.

Two positions proposed for 2016-17 — a part-time clerical position for the police department and an additional part-time emergency dispatcher — would start later in the fiscal year.

The positions would begin in Jan. 2017, said Nickerson.

The proposal also would reduce a seasonal maintainer position for the Parks and Recreation Department, reduce gate attendant hours at McCook Point Park, and cut back by one week a lifeguard position at Niantic Bay Beach.

The beach would open a week later, according to Nickerson's presentation. 

A proposed health and wellness counselor for at-risk youth, a $10,000 postion in the Parks and Recreation Department's budget, also would be eliminated. 

Board of Finance members discussed using a regional approach to address addiction.

The proposal also reduces funding for overtime for some departments, fuel, equipment and park maintenance.

Funds for items such as software, roofs and the revaluation also were reduced.

The proposal would increase funding for the town's contingency account to provide an option for departments to ask for additional funds from the town.

The proposed 2016-17 spending plan for town government, excluding the Board of Education budget, is $23,759,421, or a 2.8 percent increase over the current year. 

The Board of Selectmen agreed with Nickerson's proposed reductions.

Nickerson said in a phone interview Thursday that the town is in a tough place, as the region has not fully recovered from the recession.

He said the reductions are never easy, but he has full confidence in the town's department heads.

Meanwhile, the state also is working on its budget.

Nickerson said the town would address any additional cuts once the state finalizes its budget.

The Board of Education is reviewing its $45.48 million budget, which includes a $115,000 cut by the finance board.

The Board of Finance will hold a public hearing on the 2016-17 budget at 7 p.m. on April 25 at the East Lyme High School auditorium. 

The board is expected to vote on the budget at a special meeting following the public hearing.  

k.drelich@theday.com