Video index
1. Call Meeting to Order
The Mayor called the meeting to order at 8:02 p.m.
2. Prayer: TBD
3. Pledge of Allegiance
4. Roll Call
Roll Call: 10 members present, 0 members absent, 0 members excused.
Mike GAntick came up after the roll call to give individual awards for Natinal Public Works Week.
Citizen - Richard Roback
Business Partnership - Connecticut Transportation Institute
Business Partner - Mike Covensky
Employee - honor group - Water Pollution Control Division - Fred Shaw and Tim Friend
5. Public Input [Per Town Council Rules, this segment of the meeting shall not exceed twenty (20) minutes unless extended by the Mayor, with the consent of a majority of the Town Council.]
none
6. Environmental Health & Safety Message
none
7. Adoption of Minutes of Previous Meetings
Motion to Approve the minutes of previous meeting Moved by Kevin McCann, seconded by Tom Delnicki.
Vote to Approve the minutes of previous meeting (Approved)
8. Public Petitions
none
9. Communications from Officers and Boards Directly Responsible to Council
rob O'Connor - SW Walk and Wheel Ways - we applied for a status of bicycle friendly 452 applications. CT is 44th on the list. Simsbury bronze. we received 2011 honorable mention. Thanked the Council for their support. Had bike and walk day and had overwhelming successful - hd over 120 kids. thanked everyone involved. thanked the SW PD. Ribbon cutting for bike lane. Walk and Wheel Ways June 5th will be hosting fo rour town will be part of 2011 CT Trail Days. Our town iwll be one of 190 events. 1-4 on Sunday - nature walks - great day - Major Michael Donnelly Land Preserve. Hope people will come out and partiicpate in statewide event.
Pelkey - how many received honorable mention? Rob - 20 Pelkey - quite an achiement - first time putting in application.
10. Communications and Reports from Town Manager [Per Town Council Rules, this segment of the meeting shall not exceed ten (10) minutes unless extended by the Mayor, with the consent of a majority of the Council.]
Matt - will be sending out items to the Council. How to hold meeting. Cost containment. will share information with Council in memo form. Should look at training. Last week spoke at BOMA meeting and topic was "Why SW" - why do people like to come to SW. Did get call from lawyer - did presentaion and being asked to do presentation to National. Proud of IT Dept. Mr. Scott Roberts received thank you from State of CT. I think that goes a long way and was appreciaed by STate. Did go for STEAP grant - bids for improvement 81,000 came in Prices coming in very well. grant was for 200,000 so will talk to state to see what else we can use those funds for.l
McCann - Social Security in the budget shows increase of 1% - isnt there decrease by 2%
Matt - it is on the employee side doe snot effect our budget.
McCann - tax lien sale - 500,000 to next years budget (suggested by Yagaloff) - would be coming if this years budget so could not be applied for next year
Matt - would have to take out of fund balance.
McCann - the budget thatyou have recommended - you have made an adjustment to the budget that was originally recommended to us. 32,636,866 is the adjustment?
Matt - 32,461,686 is what I am recommending - 635,000 from capital projects and then 175,000-200,000 other areas.
Prague - transfer 35,000 why and what?
Matt - we have two cases pending unemployment right now.
11. Reports from Standing Committees
none
12. Reports of Temporary Committees
nnone
13. Communications and Petitions from Council [Per Town Council Rules, this segment of the meeting shall not exceed twenty (20) minutes unless extended by the Mayor, with the consent of a majority of the Council.]
Anwar - once we have taken care of budget we need to look at strategy. recently when we decided that there should not be any sidewlaks - many people in the room recognize that sidewallks are the right thing to do. As conicl have to look at this more. Sidewalks ae good, safer for community. need plan of action regarding maintenance. second part is people do not feel comfortable clearing the sidewalks. Have to develop partnerships.
Pelkey - following the public hearing on Hayes Road I sent email to SW Walk and Wheel Ways to requst other inforamtion fromother towns. will be putting subcommittee together.
McCann - agree with Councillor Anwar - we do have policy issues to address. Do not think we can require sidewalks on every road in town but do need policy without increasing burden on residents. we will need to address ordinances that we have in town. review ordinance and have discussion.
Yagaloff - agree with Councillors - I personally support having sidewalks as long as they connect to other areas. We shoudl reduce to subcommittee to review.
Pelkey - have SW Walk and Wheel Ways gathering information and bring back to us.
Delnicki - price tag needs to come out of this research. need to know impact.
14. Public Participation [Per Town Council Rules, this segment of the meeting shall not exceed thirty (30) minutes unless extended by the Mayor, with the consent of a majority of the Town Council.]
Nancy Yario - 20 Andrusis Trail - live adjacent to Bark Park - we are currently trying to resolve this issue with the Town.
Pelkey - are we still under lawsuit
Matt - yes
Pelkey - not sure if this is the right place to discuss
Matt - All correspondence should go through the Attorney. Murtha Cullina is not handling this case
Pelkey - Matt my concern is they have lawsuit against the town. We do not debate issues and we have lawsuit pending . We can not respond and do not want it to be a one way catelog - need opinion from ATtorney appropriateness of someone suiing us coming before the Town Council.
Matt - any FOI request needs to be brought by the attorney also.
Pelkey - do not want to shut her down in speaking.
Nany - my lawyer says can talk any time I want.
Pelkey - I am protecting the Town. Put me in the position of protecting the Town.
Nancy - Had no idea that the Dog Park was going in. Everyone is pointing fingers at everyone else. I am tryaing to find out how much the town has spent. Park opened in 2007. If there was discussion none of us would be here. I am so sick of this - I do not get it. there are lose dogs in the area. here are emails - we are spending a lot of money on lawyers. Why can't the town council sit down and discuss this issue. We bought into an area that was quiet, there was no Bark Park.
Pelkey - three minutes are up
Pelkey - will look at requests.
Matt - let me look at information
Don Gonsalves, 40 Bayberry Trail - reiterate - believe tonight that the Town budget should be subject to an amendment in case the State funding is decreased.
Pelkey - the difference between the town and boared budget - board of ed can not be called back - the town budget can be reopened.
Matt - the Town Council can reopen the budget any time it wants. The Town Attorney is looking at the Board of Education budget also. He can not find law that says the Town can not go back to Board of Ed if there are financial reasonings. That is not definate but will have legal opinion.
15. Consent Agenda [All items listed with an asterisk (*) are considered to be routine by the Town Council and will be enacted by one Motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Council member so requests, in which event the item will be removed from the General Order of Business and be considered in its normal sequence on the Agenda.]
Motion to Approve the Consent Agenda Moved by Keith Yagaloff, seconded by Ed Havens.
Vote to Approve the Consent Agenda (Approved)
16. Unfinished Business
*A. Resolution Appointing Steven T. Carty (D) to the Public Building Commission
*B. Resolution Appointing Joseph Kennedy Jr. (D) a Full Member to the Economic Development Commission
17. New Business
A. Resolution Appointing Kevin Foley (R) an Alternate to the Planning & Zoning Commission and Postponing Consideration of this Motion until the Town Council’s Regularly Scheduled Meeting
Motion to Approve the Resolution appointing Kevin Foley (R) an Alternate to the Planning & Zoning Commission and Postponing Consideration of this Motion until the Town Council’s Regularly Scheduled Meeting. Moved by Tom Delnicki, seconded by Keith Yagaloff.
Vote to Approve the Resolution appointing Kevin Foley (R) an Alternate to the Planning & Zoning Commission and Postponing Consideration of this Motion until the Town Council’s Regularly Scheduled Meeting. (Approved)
B. Resolution Approving a Refund of Taxes to One (1) South Windsor Taxpayers
17. B - Exhibit A
Motion to Approve B. Resolution Approving a Refund of Taxes to One (1) South Windsor Taxpayers Moved by Kevin McCann, seconded by John Pelkey.
C. Resolution Referring the Possible Conveyance of Property to Connecticut Studios LLC or Its Designee, to the Planning & Zoning Commission Pursuant to Section 8-24 of the Connecticut General Statutes
Motion to Approve the Resolution referring the Possible Conveyance of Property to Connecticut Studios LLC or Its Designee, to the Planning & Zoning Commission Pursuant to Section 8-24 of the Connecticut General Statutes. Moved by Cary Prague, seconded by Gary Bazzano.
Vote to Approve the Resolution referring the Possible Conveyance of Property to Connecticut Studios LLC or Its Designee, to the Planning & Zoning Commission Pursuant to Section 8-24 of the Connecticut General Statutes. (Approved)
D. Resolution Adopting the Budget for the Special Revenue Recreation Fund for Fiscal Year 2011/2012
Motion to Approve D. Resolution Adopting the Budget for the Special Revenue Recreation Fund for Fiscal Year 2011/2012 Moved by Gary Bazzano, seconded by Kevin McCann.
Bazzano - no support Recreation -
Yagaloff - support Recration - have 1/3 of users that are using credit cards - should pay as you go. Special Recreation Revenue should be reduced. 4th R program spending - 100 per child on clothing and uniforms. suggesting cuts. donot feel comfortable. Replacement cabinets - difference between wants and needs. not happy with budget would like it reduced by 100,000- AMENDMENT
Motion to Amend D. Resolution Adopting the Budget for the Special Revenue Recreation Fund for Fiscal Year 2011/2012
Amend the Resolution to reduce the budget by $100,000
Freindly Amendment to reduce budget by $25,000
Friendly Amendment to reduce budget by $10,000 Moved by Keith Yagaloff, seconded by Ed Havens.
Anwar - there is a good chance that in the future will have to have shared services with other towns. we may have to do calculations if credit card and processing in house. would be able to generate
Matt -if you want to be creative can put your logo on a Mastercard. Those fees could then be used towards the fee. Would be willing to take a look at that. Can review that issue again.
Anwar - that wil help other aspects in town for taxpayers to pay taxes also.
Prague - do we spend 100 per student in 4th R in clothing? Favreau - uniforms and clothing - staff shirts FAvreau - 10 months program - 40 plus staff - worn on a daily basis. They are required to wear uniform 5 days per week. Prague - 400. per staff members - that seems a lot of money. Favreau - in this program staff come and go- can go through and track that information. Prague - this number does stick out. Favreau - this is all user fee based and fees have not gone up in 5 years Prague - replacement cabinets? Favreau - we have to have our own storage cabinets. they are used 5 days per week and they get replaced or repaired. We like to be self contained. Prague - special revenue fund. - no business stays the same, it either grows or fails. to take 100,000 (self contained fund) can not take second year in a row. will not support amendment. what was it last year? Matt - 96,000 of fund balance - Favreau - 95,400 that is the ending balance after taking 100,000 last year. Prague - will that reduce budget down to nothing Favreau - could and we try to keep 10%. Prague - would not like to take that. we should ot be robbing rainy day fund that is not good fiscal management.
McCann - think the uniform dollar amount has to have a mistake there. Ray - let me go back to staff and talk about that. McCann - budget last year 5,100 and of that through March you only spend 1,565. Recreation is tremendous service to town. will not support 100,000 reduction in special revenue fund. I understand those funds are used to improve program and provide cushion in case of major problem. will not support - 17,000 figure for uniforms must be a mistake. would support 10,000 reduction
Havens - 100,000 would not support. we would never know the cost of incidentials to run a program. you manage and if you say need then will not support.
Anwar - suggest friendly amendment reduce to 25,000 Yagaloff acceptable Anwar - cabinets - uniform number has to be different then what is . Yagaloff - could agree take look at credit card fees. there are wireless cards, additional advettising, adverttisng, if you look at list there is reason to reduce 25,000. We have to put pressure on departments. please accept 25,000.
Favreau - do not support reducing 100,000 - prefer that we have general overall cut and have Dept. Head take look where he can cut.Lets give overall reduction and move on.,
Prague - will not support 25,000 reduction because it is a special revenue fund. you have to keep growing these programs.
McCann - agree with Councillor Prague - this does not affect the budget at all. Special revenue fund is created by the fees and used to have cushion. Would not be used towards the general government budget. do not see reducing those costs will have any different effect on the costs of programs. will not support 25,000
Pelkey - good dialogue - hate to see Recreation fund get into trouble because of 25,000. the points that councillors have made is that this is a special revenue fund. Councillor yagaloff point is we have to be mindful who can afford these. AT this point as much as 17,000 seems out of line there may be an explanation for that amount. like the 10,000 figure, 25,00 - friendly amendment to 10,000 Anwar agreed on the friendly amendment - 10,000 reduction.
Bazzano - will support 10,000
Amendment passed 6-3 (Havens, Yagaloff, and Favreau voting in opposition)
Amended Resolution - carried 8-1 (Yagaloff) $1,819,092
E. Resolution Adopting the General Government Budget for Fiscal Year 2011/2012
Motion to Approve E. Resolution Adopting the General Government Budget for Fiscal Year 2011/2012 Moved by Ed Havens, seconded by John Pelkey.
Pelkey - 697,986 TM budget - then adjusted 62,986 increase. if we were to subtract increase from prior year we woudl still end up with - increase. how many years can we expect to have negative budget and be able to take care of the town. 2M to 3.5M - estimated collection rate 98.70% to 98.75%, these changes would yield 83,473. increase sewer collection fee 37,240 to 42,240 that is 5,000 increase. Matt - what happens is they have to pay the fee but they bring in their own inspectors. Pelkey - it would not be prudne tto include - increase Fire Marshal fees by 25,000 and building fees to 55,000. in order to reduce even further woudl like to have suggestions. 2.1% or less tax increase. 32,461,686 - this budget would be less than 2 years ago . If we could agree on some of these things could be good. wouldlike to start off with making motion to accept the 3.5 prorated buiilding amount as well as using 98.75% as collection rate AMENDMENT - Pelkey Anwar Prague - would be in fvor of having number the same or less than this year. Galligan - would be comfortable with number of 3.5 - think will be above that. Prague - 98.75% - we are at 99.3% of 98.7 - we are not at 99.3% - do we see another 500,000 coing in? Galligan - average 500 or 600,000 average not collected. running close to 99% Prague - Want to make sure we do not overstate revenue. so we are going to be short by 400,000. Matt - correct. Prague - there are things looking better for next year. Do not want another hit. 98.7 to 98.75 is risky and woulo like to see stay at 98.7% Pelkey - it is very interested the argument that is being presented tonight. averages built on all six years. Yagaloff - Mayor's proposals are very conservative. can make relatively conservative adjustments and will support the amendment. Anwar support also McCann - should not count on increasing the grand list. Governors budget going forwad makes it worse. New construction assumption is unrealistic. It is taking much longer to get projects approved and off the ground. do not think shoudl increase Favreau - disagree with Councillor McCann - proposal is very conservative. support amendment Pelkey - called for vote 5 to 4 (Delnickik Bazzanok Prague and McCann - no)
Yagaloff - 750,000 revenue tax sale Matt - will be coming back next week and hoping to get the full amount. Yagaloff - proposed out of 750,000 - end up with 350,000 from the tax sale and suggest increase allocation from fund balance by 350,000 Amendment - fund balance from 800,000 to 1150,000; Yagaloff and seconded by Pelkey Pelkey - is that correct accounting method? Matt - total amount will go into this yeas fund. appropriating additional fund balance. increasing use of fund balance. Yagaloff -
Bazzano - not in favor of taking 350,000 more from fund balance. can't support the amendment. Delnicki - looking at contingency fund .76 and what did we have last year at this time? Galligan 70,000 Delnicki - here we go again. there needs to be consistency. Havens - this is a good solid idea. will support amendment McCann - can not agree with this amendment. that is a gamble - even after sale of tax liens there will be deficit even after tax sale. Matt - 732 versus the 800 - that is what I see hitting the fund balance. are there any other expenditures. Yagaloff - 1.2 million short or 2M or 4M Matt - accounting stand point down 4M. Yagaloff - 800,000 increased. Fund balance higher then end of last year. Galligan - the fund balance is higher than last year. Yagaloff - reason for doing this is trying to reduce tax increase for the town. Pelkey -tax sale coming in before end of this fiscal year. after July 1 when new fiscal year starts we will have 350,000 more than last year and will be used to reduce the taxes. Prague - still will have deficit of 400,000 no matter what. these are not real revenues. Revenues should ot be discussed and will not support to use ficticious revenues. Favreau - reiterate our town is at 5 - we are one of the lowest towns for unemployment. Yagaloff - last year did not have 1 million surplus but deficit. this amendment has to do with the tax lien sale. Tom - contingency account is very is .76 matt - yes one shot revenue. Tom 1.2 million sewer balloon payment due? Matt - Sept. 2013. 1.7 is the nujmber Pelkey - comment on contingency fund - normally around 50,000 left at this time of year. normall we do not have the amount of snow tha twe had this year. Matt - believe most of those funds went for the snow removal. Pelkey - call vote
Yagaloff - where are we now? Matt - if you are still looking at the 635,000 - - 77,897,042 - that 28.83% mill rate - Yaglaloff - 1.87% lower then what the Mayor wanted. do not think we are there on the spending side. I voeted for school budget as it stood. Pelkey - motion to add 35,000 back to the fire dept, Tom second, unanimous
Matt - took out plice shed, 75,000 took - wash station, TQM, fitness center, police overtime, pw admin., eng. materials, fees and memberships in Eng., Town Council, Snow removal, leases and rentals - contingency, added back the Fire Dept., overall overtime 20,000 and the last one salary contingency 185,468 Yaaloff - there ae some other places that could be cut. I am suggesting that we reduce spending. like to offer to continue to reduce the spending side. Pelkey - on the 45,000 is that the diretors position? Pelkey - EDC Director would not be in favor of cutting that position. Matt - agree Havens - would be ridiculous to cut that position of EDC Coordinator out. Favreau - have to agree. Person might not be the right person for the job but the EDC positon should stay in the budget. Anwar - agree with Councillors - the posiiot is an investment, not an expense. Can not afford to risk our future. Prague - in favor of keeping the money in the budget. We have changed consultants and need to change this consultant. have incredible economic develoment because 1) LOCATION; 2)mATT gALLIGAN AND 3) THE TOWN COUNCIL GIVING TAX ABATEMENTS McCann - do not think we need to focus on EDC, we have an excellent EDC (Matt Gallligan) the Town Council has supported with tax abatements. the town staff has been supportive in bringing development to the town. will support these reductions. there is approixmatel 650,000 of additional reductions that could be made without decrasing the value or the quality of life in SouthWindsor. Support reductions of Town Manager Pelkey - 45,000 from the 185,000 and include 45,000 in this budget for the positon of econmic development coordinator; Havens second Delnicki - would rather see you have an assistant rather than a Economic Development Coordinator. Favreau - you can have the best product out there but unless you advertise you are not going to sell. Yagaloff - did not want to handcuff the Town Manager - would like to give bottom line. not support resolution to keep or not keep. Pelkey - do you want economic development coordinator out? Matt - somebody has to be out there selling business Pelkey - economic development dollars/assistant to the Town Manager 45,000 for economic development - passsed 7-2 (McCann, Yagaloff)
Pelkey - 140,000 of cuts necessary. if we made motion to take additional 135 to 140,000 in cuts Yagaloff - Matt 1.61% tax increase plus 45,000 back in Pelkey - bottom number is right now we have reduced the budget a fair amount. where are we bottom line right now? Matt - Pelkey - townside budget this year less from previously. Matt - presently you are at - 32,496,218 Pelkey - can not keep cutting. Anwar - Fire Marshal's needs are going to increase as more businesses comes to town. Pelkey extend to 11:30; McCann unanimous mcCann -additional cuts - public works add 300,000 but decrease other areas of pubic works by 285,000. rather come to number and have TM and PW work on the issues. reduction in Capital budget, 635,000 was not a true savings which was just a shift of paying for those - suggest hold off on items in the capital projects. would not touch computer replacement, postpone code changes to the town buildings 340,000 with these savings - would not fund the changes to the modular roofs. total 716,000 with those savings in mind Yagaloff - amend to change the budget to 32,300,000; Ed Havens second Matt - increase would be 1.41% Anwar - Matt how do you fee about this? Matt - will have to figure out where to cut from. council should consider going out to refgerenduj for an addiitonal 10000 in bonding funds. Zero tax increase does not help the town and should not be done like that. if ther ae more revenues Pelkey - this is substantial cut. Things will not get done. heading in the wrong direction. won't support. Havens - agree with the Mayor. Favreau - can't support it. figure too low Havens - will Republicans support? McCann - what has been proposed is 1% less than what TM brought to us. can support. Delnicki - moiton to extend to 11:45 and recess 5 minutes; Pelkey said no Pelkey - meeting is adjourned.
F. Resolution Setting the Tax Rate fore Fiscal Year 2011/2012
G. Resolution Appointing a Rate Maker for Fiscal Year 2011/2012 and the Tabling of Same
18. Passage of Ordinance
19. Communications and Petitions from Council (Continued) [This Agenda Item permits continued communications not covered under Item #13 due to time restraints.]
20. Communications and Reports from Town Manager (Continued) [This Agenda Item permits continued communications not covered under Item #10 due to time restraints.]
21. Executive Session
22. Adjournment
May 16, 2011 Town Council Meeting
Full agenda
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1. Call Meeting to Order
The Mayor called the meeting to order at 8:02 p.m.
2. Prayer: TBD
3. Pledge of Allegiance
4. Roll Call
Roll Call: 10 members present, 0 members absent, 0 members excused.
Mike GAntick came up after the roll call to give individual awards for Natinal Public Works Week.
Citizen - Richard Roback
Business Partnership - Connecticut Transportation Institute
Business Partner - Mike Covensky
Employee - honor group - Water Pollution Control Division - Fred Shaw and Tim Friend
5. Public Input [Per Town Council Rules, this segment of the meeting shall not exceed twenty (20) minutes unless extended by the Mayor, with the consent of a majority of the Town Council.]
none
6. Environmental Health & Safety Message
none
7. Adoption of Minutes of Previous Meetings
Motion to Approve the minutes of previous meeting Moved by Kevin McCann, seconded by Tom Delnicki.
Vote to Approve the minutes of previous meeting (Approved)
8. Public Petitions
none
9. Communications from Officers and Boards Directly Responsible to Council
rob O'Connor - SW Walk and Wheel Ways - we applied for a status of bicycle friendly 452 applications. CT is 44th on the list. Simsbury bronze. we received 2011 honorable mention. Thanked the Council for their support. Had bike and walk day and had overwhelming successful - hd over 120 kids. thanked everyone involved. thanked the SW PD. Ribbon cutting for bike lane. Walk and Wheel Ways June 5th will be hosting fo rour town will be part of 2011 CT Trail Days. Our town iwll be one of 190 events. 1-4 on Sunday - nature walks - great day - Major Michael Donnelly Land Preserve. Hope people will come out and partiicpate in statewide event.
Pelkey - how many received honorable mention? Rob - 20 Pelkey - quite an achiement - first time putting in application.
10. Communications and Reports from Town Manager [Per Town Council Rules, this segment of the meeting shall not exceed ten (10) minutes unless extended by the Mayor, with the consent of a majority of the Council.]
Matt - will be sending out items to the Council. How to hold meeting. Cost containment. will share information with Council in memo form. Should look at training. Last week spoke at BOMA meeting and topic was "Why SW" - why do people like to come to SW. Did get call from lawyer - did presentaion and being asked to do presentation to National. Proud of IT Dept. Mr. Scott Roberts received thank you from State of CT. I think that goes a long way and was appreciaed by STate. Did go for STEAP grant - bids for improvement 81,000 came in Prices coming in very well. grant was for 200,000 so will talk to state to see what else we can use those funds for.l
McCann - Social Security in the budget shows increase of 1% - isnt there decrease by 2%
Matt - it is on the employee side doe snot effect our budget.
McCann - tax lien sale - 500,000 to next years budget (suggested by Yagaloff) - would be coming if this years budget so could not be applied for next year
Matt - would have to take out of fund balance.
McCann - the budget thatyou have recommended - you have made an adjustment to the budget that was originally recommended to us. 32,636,866 is the adjustment?
Matt - 32,461,686 is what I am recommending - 635,000 from capital projects and then 175,000-200,000 other areas.
Prague - transfer 35,000 why and what?
Matt - we have two cases pending unemployment right now.
11. Reports from Standing Committees
none
12. Reports of Temporary Committees
nnone
13. Communications and Petitions from Council [Per Town Council Rules, this segment of the meeting shall not exceed twenty (20) minutes unless extended by the Mayor, with the consent of a majority of the Council.]
Anwar - once we have taken care of budget we need to look at strategy. recently when we decided that there should not be any sidewlaks - many people in the room recognize that sidewallks are the right thing to do. As conicl have to look at this more. Sidewalks ae good, safer for community. need plan of action regarding maintenance. second part is people do not feel comfortable clearing the sidewalks. Have to develop partnerships.
Pelkey - following the public hearing on Hayes Road I sent email to SW Walk and Wheel Ways to requst other inforamtion fromother towns. will be putting subcommittee together.
McCann - agree with Councillor Anwar - we do have policy issues to address. Do not think we can require sidewalks on every road in town but do need policy without increasing burden on residents. we will need to address ordinances that we have in town. review ordinance and have discussion.
Yagaloff - agree with Councillors - I personally support having sidewalks as long as they connect to other areas. We shoudl reduce to subcommittee to review.
Pelkey - have SW Walk and Wheel Ways gathering information and bring back to us.
Delnicki - price tag needs to come out of this research. need to know impact.
14. Public Participation [Per Town Council Rules, this segment of the meeting shall not exceed thirty (30) minutes unless extended by the Mayor, with the consent of a majority of the Town Council.]
Nancy Yario - 20 Andrusis Trail - live adjacent to Bark Park - we are currently trying to resolve this issue with the Town.
Pelkey - are we still under lawsuit
Matt - yes
Pelkey - not sure if this is the right place to discuss
Matt - All correspondence should go through the Attorney. Murtha Cullina is not handling this case
Pelkey - Matt my concern is they have lawsuit against the town. We do not debate issues and we have lawsuit pending . We can not respond and do not want it to be a one way catelog - need opinion from ATtorney appropriateness of someone suiing us coming before the Town Council.
Matt - any FOI request needs to be brought by the attorney also.
Pelkey - do not want to shut her down in speaking.
Nany - my lawyer says can talk any time I want.
Pelkey - I am protecting the Town. Put me in the position of protecting the Town.
Nancy - Had no idea that the Dog Park was going in. Everyone is pointing fingers at everyone else. I am tryaing to find out how much the town has spent. Park opened in 2007. If there was discussion none of us would be here. I am so sick of this - I do not get it. there are lose dogs in the area. here are emails - we are spending a lot of money on lawyers. Why can't the town council sit down and discuss this issue. We bought into an area that was quiet, there was no Bark Park.
Pelkey - three minutes are up
Pelkey - will look at requests.
Matt - let me look at information
Don Gonsalves, 40 Bayberry Trail - reiterate - believe tonight that the Town budget should be subject to an amendment in case the State funding is decreased.
Pelkey - the difference between the town and boared budget - board of ed can not be called back - the town budget can be reopened.
Matt - the Town Council can reopen the budget any time it wants. The Town Attorney is looking at the Board of Education budget also. He can not find law that says the Town can not go back to Board of Ed if there are financial reasonings. That is not definate but will have legal opinion.
15. Consent Agenda [All items listed with an asterisk (*) are considered to be routine by the Town Council and will be enacted by one Motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Council member so requests, in which event the item will be removed from the General Order of Business and be considered in its normal sequence on the Agenda.]
Motion to Approve the Consent Agenda Moved by Keith Yagaloff, seconded by Ed Havens.
Vote to Approve the Consent Agenda (Approved)
16. Unfinished Business
*A. Resolution Appointing Steven T. Carty (D) to the Public Building Commission
*B. Resolution Appointing Joseph Kennedy Jr. (D) a Full Member to the Economic Development Commission
17. New Business
A. Resolution Appointing Kevin Foley (R) an Alternate to the Planning & Zoning Commission and Postponing Consideration of this Motion until the Town Council’s Regularly Scheduled Meeting
Motion to Approve the Resolution appointing Kevin Foley (R) an Alternate to the Planning & Zoning Commission and Postponing Consideration of this Motion until the Town Council’s Regularly Scheduled Meeting. Moved by Tom Delnicki, seconded by Keith Yagaloff.
Vote to Approve the Resolution appointing Kevin Foley (R) an Alternate to the Planning & Zoning Commission and Postponing Consideration of this Motion until the Town Council’s Regularly Scheduled Meeting. (Approved)
B. Resolution Approving a Refund of Taxes to One (1) South Windsor Taxpayers
17. B - Exhibit A
Motion to Approve B. Resolution Approving a Refund of Taxes to One (1) South Windsor Taxpayers Moved by Kevin McCann, seconded by John Pelkey.
C. Resolution Referring the Possible Conveyance of Property to Connecticut Studios LLC or Its Designee, to the Planning & Zoning Commission Pursuant to Section 8-24 of the Connecticut General Statutes
Motion to Approve the Resolution referring the Possible Conveyance of Property to Connecticut Studios LLC or Its Designee, to the Planning & Zoning Commission Pursuant to Section 8-24 of the Connecticut General Statutes. Moved by Cary Prague, seconded by Gary Bazzano.
Vote to Approve the Resolution referring the Possible Conveyance of Property to Connecticut Studios LLC or Its Designee, to the Planning & Zoning Commission Pursuant to Section 8-24 of the Connecticut General Statutes. (Approved)
D. Resolution Adopting the Budget for the Special Revenue Recreation Fund for Fiscal Year 2011/2012
Motion to Approve D. Resolution Adopting the Budget for the Special Revenue Recreation Fund for Fiscal Year 2011/2012 Moved by Gary Bazzano, seconded by Kevin McCann.
Bazzano - no support Recreation -
Yagaloff - support Recration - have 1/3 of users that are using credit cards - should pay as you go. Special Recreation Revenue should be reduced. 4th R program spending - 100 per child on clothing and uniforms. suggesting cuts. donot feel comfortable. Replacement cabinets - difference between wants and needs. not happy with budget would like it reduced by 100,000- AMENDMENT
Motion to Amend D. Resolution Adopting the Budget for the Special Revenue Recreation Fund for Fiscal Year 2011/2012
Amend the Resolution to reduce the budget by $100,000
Freindly Amendment to reduce budget by $25,000
Friendly Amendment to reduce budget by $10,000 Moved by Keith Yagaloff, seconded by Ed Havens.
Anwar - there is a good chance that in the future will have to have shared services with other towns. we may have to do calculations if credit card and processing in house. would be able to generate
Matt -if you want to be creative can put your logo on a Mastercard. Those fees could then be used towards the fee. Would be willing to take a look at that. Can review that issue again.
Anwar - that wil help other aspects in town for taxpayers to pay taxes also.
Prague - do we spend 100 per student in 4th R in clothing? Favreau - uniforms and clothing - staff shirts FAvreau - 10 months program - 40 plus staff - worn on a daily basis. They are required to wear uniform 5 days per week. Prague - 400. per staff members - that seems a lot of money. Favreau - in this program staff come and go- can go through and track that information. Prague - this number does stick out. Favreau - this is all user fee based and fees have not gone up in 5 years Prague - replacement cabinets? Favreau - we have to have our own storage cabinets. they are used 5 days per week and they get replaced or repaired. We like to be self contained. Prague - special revenue fund. - no business stays the same, it either grows or fails. to take 100,000 (self contained fund) can not take second year in a row. will not support amendment. what was it last year? Matt - 96,000 of fund balance - Favreau - 95,400 that is the ending balance after taking 100,000 last year. Prague - will that reduce budget down to nothing Favreau - could and we try to keep 10%. Prague - would not like to take that. we should ot be robbing rainy day fund that is not good fiscal management.
McCann - think the uniform dollar amount has to have a mistake there. Ray - let me go back to staff and talk about that. McCann - budget last year 5,100 and of that through March you only spend 1,565. Recreation is tremendous service to town. will not support 100,000 reduction in special revenue fund. I understand those funds are used to improve program and provide cushion in case of major problem. will not support - 17,000 figure for uniforms must be a mistake. would support 10,000 reduction
Havens - 100,000 would not support. we would never know the cost of incidentials to run a program. you manage and if you say need then will not support.
Anwar - suggest friendly amendment reduce to 25,000 Yagaloff acceptable Anwar - cabinets - uniform number has to be different then what is . Yagaloff - could agree take look at credit card fees. there are wireless cards, additional advettising, adverttisng, if you look at list there is reason to reduce 25,000. We have to put pressure on departments. please accept 25,000.
Favreau - do not support reducing 100,000 - prefer that we have general overall cut and have Dept. Head take look where he can cut.Lets give overall reduction and move on.,
Prague - will not support 25,000 reduction because it is a special revenue fund. you have to keep growing these programs.
McCann - agree with Councillor Prague - this does not affect the budget at all. Special revenue fund is created by the fees and used to have cushion. Would not be used towards the general government budget. do not see reducing those costs will have any different effect on the costs of programs. will not support 25,000
Pelkey - good dialogue - hate to see Recreation fund get into trouble because of 25,000. the points that councillors have made is that this is a special revenue fund. Councillor yagaloff point is we have to be mindful who can afford these. AT this point as much as 17,000 seems out of line there may be an explanation for that amount. like the 10,000 figure, 25,00 - friendly amendment to 10,000 Anwar agreed on the friendly amendment - 10,000 reduction.
Bazzano - will support 10,000
Amendment passed 6-3 (Havens, Yagaloff, and Favreau voting in opposition)
Amended Resolution - carried 8-1 (Yagaloff) $1,819,092
E. Resolution Adopting the General Government Budget for Fiscal Year 2011/2012
Motion to Approve E. Resolution Adopting the General Government Budget for Fiscal Year 2011/2012 Moved by Ed Havens, seconded by John Pelkey.
Pelkey - 697,986 TM budget - then adjusted 62,986 increase. if we were to subtract increase from prior year we woudl still end up with - increase. how many years can we expect to have negative budget and be able to take care of the town. 2M to 3.5M - estimated collection rate 98.70% to 98.75%, these changes would yield 83,473. increase sewer collection fee 37,240 to 42,240 that is 5,000 increase. Matt - what happens is they have to pay the fee but they bring in their own inspectors. Pelkey - it would not be prudne tto include - increase Fire Marshal fees by 25,000 and building fees to 55,000. in order to reduce even further woudl like to have suggestions. 2.1% or less tax increase. 32,461,686 - this budget would be less than 2 years ago . If we could agree on some of these things could be good. wouldlike to start off with making motion to accept the 3.5 prorated buiilding amount as well as using 98.75% as collection rate AMENDMENT - Pelkey Anwar Prague - would be in fvor of having number the same or less than this year. Galligan - would be comfortable with number of 3.5 - think will be above that. Prague - 98.75% - we are at 99.3% of 98.7 - we are not at 99.3% - do we see another 500,000 coing in? Galligan - average 500 or 600,000 average not collected. running close to 99% Prague - Want to make sure we do not overstate revenue. so we are going to be short by 400,000. Matt - correct. Prague - there are things looking better for next year. Do not want another hit. 98.7 to 98.75 is risky and woulo like to see stay at 98.7% Pelkey - it is very interested the argument that is being presented tonight. averages built on all six years. Yagaloff - Mayor's proposals are very conservative. can make relatively conservative adjustments and will support the amendment. Anwar support also McCann - should not count on increasing the grand list. Governors budget going forwad makes it worse. New construction assumption is unrealistic. It is taking much longer to get projects approved and off the ground. do not think shoudl increase Favreau - disagree with Councillor McCann - proposal is very conservative. support amendment Pelkey - called for vote 5 to 4 (Delnickik Bazzanok Prague and McCann - no)
Yagaloff - 750,000 revenue tax sale Matt - will be coming back next week and hoping to get the full amount. Yagaloff - proposed out of 750,000 - end up with 350,000 from the tax sale and suggest increase allocation from fund balance by 350,000 Amendment - fund balance from 800,000 to 1150,000; Yagaloff and seconded by Pelkey Pelkey - is that correct accounting method? Matt - total amount will go into this yeas fund. appropriating additional fund balance. increasing use of fund balance. Yagaloff -
Bazzano - not in favor of taking 350,000 more from fund balance. can't support the amendment. Delnicki - looking at contingency fund .76 and what did we have last year at this time? Galligan 70,000 Delnicki - here we go again. there needs to be consistency. Havens - this is a good solid idea. will support amendment McCann - can not agree with this amendment. that is a gamble - even after sale of tax liens there will be deficit even after tax sale. Matt - 732 versus the 800 - that is what I see hitting the fund balance. are there any other expenditures. Yagaloff - 1.2 million short or 2M or 4M Matt - accounting stand point down 4M. Yagaloff - 800,000 increased. Fund balance higher then end of last year. Galligan - the fund balance is higher than last year. Yagaloff - reason for doing this is trying to reduce tax increase for the town. Pelkey -tax sale coming in before end of this fiscal year. after July 1 when new fiscal year starts we will have 350,000 more than last year and will be used to reduce the taxes. Prague - still will have deficit of 400,000 no matter what. these are not real revenues. Revenues should ot be discussed and will not support to use ficticious revenues. Favreau - reiterate our town is at 5 - we are one of the lowest towns for unemployment. Yagaloff - last year did not have 1 million surplus but deficit. this amendment has to do with the tax lien sale. Tom - contingency account is very is .76 matt - yes one shot revenue. Tom 1.2 million sewer balloon payment due? Matt - Sept. 2013. 1.7 is the nujmber Pelkey - comment on contingency fund - normally around 50,000 left at this time of year. normall we do not have the amount of snow tha twe had this year. Matt - believe most of those funds went for the snow removal. Pelkey - call vote
Yagaloff - where are we now? Matt - if you are still looking at the 635,000 - - 77,897,042 - that 28.83% mill rate - Yaglaloff - 1.87% lower then what the Mayor wanted. do not think we are there on the spending side. I voeted for school budget as it stood. Pelkey - motion to add 35,000 back to the fire dept, Tom second, unanimous
Matt - took out plice shed, 75,000 took - wash station, TQM, fitness center, police overtime, pw admin., eng. materials, fees and memberships in Eng., Town Council, Snow removal, leases and rentals - contingency, added back the Fire Dept., overall overtime 20,000 and the last one salary contingency 185,468 Yaaloff - there ae some other places that could be cut. I am suggesting that we reduce spending. like to offer to continue to reduce the spending side. Pelkey - on the 45,000 is that the diretors position? Pelkey - EDC Director would not be in favor of cutting that position. Matt - agree Havens - would be ridiculous to cut that position of EDC Coordinator out. Favreau - have to agree. Person might not be the right person for the job but the EDC positon should stay in the budget. Anwar - agree with Councillors - the posiiot is an investment, not an expense. Can not afford to risk our future. Prague - in favor of keeping the money in the budget. We have changed consultants and need to change this consultant. have incredible economic develoment because 1) LOCATION; 2)mATT gALLIGAN AND 3) THE TOWN COUNCIL GIVING TAX ABATEMENTS McCann - do not think we need to focus on EDC, we have an excellent EDC (Matt Gallligan) the Town Council has supported with tax abatements. the town staff has been supportive in bringing development to the town. will support these reductions. there is approixmatel 650,000 of additional reductions that could be made without decrasing the value or the quality of life in SouthWindsor. Support reductions of Town Manager Pelkey - 45,000 from the 185,000 and include 45,000 in this budget for the positon of econmic development coordinator; Havens second Delnicki - would rather see you have an assistant rather than a Economic Development Coordinator. Favreau - you can have the best product out there but unless you advertise you are not going to sell. Yagaloff - did not want to handcuff the Town Manager - would like to give bottom line. not support resolution to keep or not keep. Pelkey - do you want economic development coordinator out? Matt - somebody has to be out there selling business Pelkey - economic development dollars/assistant to the Town Manager 45,000 for economic development - passsed 7-2 (McCann, Yagaloff)
Pelkey - 140,000 of cuts necessary. if we made motion to take additional 135 to 140,000 in cuts Yagaloff - Matt 1.61% tax increase plus 45,000 back in Pelkey - bottom number is right now we have reduced the budget a fair amount. where are we bottom line right now? Matt - Pelkey - townside budget this year less from previously. Matt - presently you are at - 32,496,218 Pelkey - can not keep cutting. Anwar - Fire Marshal's needs are going to increase as more businesses comes to town. Pelkey extend to 11:30; McCann unanimous mcCann -additional cuts - public works add 300,000 but decrease other areas of pubic works by 285,000. rather come to number and have TM and PW work on the issues. reduction in Capital budget, 635,000 was not a true savings which was just a shift of paying for those - suggest hold off on items in the capital projects. would not touch computer replacement, postpone code changes to the town buildings 340,000 with these savings - would not fund the changes to the modular roofs. total 716,000 with those savings in mind Yagaloff - amend to change the budget to 32,300,000; Ed Havens second Matt - increase would be 1.41% Anwar - Matt how do you fee about this? Matt - will have to figure out where to cut from. council should consider going out to refgerenduj for an addiitonal 10000 in bonding funds. Zero tax increase does not help the town and should not be done like that. if ther ae more revenues Pelkey - this is substantial cut. Things will not get done. heading in the wrong direction. won't support. Havens - agree with the Mayor. Favreau - can't support it. figure too low Havens - will Republicans support? McCann - what has been proposed is 1% less than what TM brought to us. can support. Delnicki - moiton to extend to 11:45 and recess 5 minutes; Pelkey said no Pelkey - meeting is adjourned.
F. Resolution Setting the Tax Rate fore Fiscal Year 2011/2012
G. Resolution Appointing a Rate Maker for Fiscal Year 2011/2012 and the Tabling of Same
18. Passage of Ordinance
19. Communications and Petitions from Council (Continued) [This Agenda Item permits continued communications not covered under Item #13 due to time restraints.]
20. Communications and Reports from Town Manager (Continued) [This Agenda Item permits continued communications not covered under Item #10 due to time restraints.]
21. Executive Session
22. Adjournment
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