Minutes of the regular meeting of the Legislative Council held on Wednesday, April 18, 2007 in the Meeting Room of the C. H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street, CT. Chairman Rodgers called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
PRESENT: William Rodgers, Timothy Holian, Daniel Amaral, Joseph Borst, David Brown, Jeffrey Capeci, Joseph DiCandido, Stacie Doyle, Francis Pennarola. ABSENT: Keith Jacobs, Michael Iassogna, Patricia Llodra. ALSO PRESENT: First Selectman H. Rosenthal, Financial Director Ben Spragg, Kostin and Ruffkess auditor Joe Centifanto, one member of public, one member of press.
MINUTES. The minutes of the regular meeting of April 4, 2007 will be amended to note that two members of the press were present. Also, under public participation part two, Mr. Rodgers’ remarks were addressed to the crowd not to the Legislative Council and he was urging support of the budget. Upon motion of Mr. Borst, the minutes of the regular meeting of April 4, 2007 were unanimously accepted as amended.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. None noted.
COMMUNICATIONS. None noted.
COMMITTEE REPORTS. None noted.
FIRST SELECTMAN’S REPORT. Mr. Rosenthal reported that the State Appropriations Committee reduced the education funds by $30 million and that Newtown would lose $200,000 that we put in our budget estimate. However, the Pequot, Mohegan and Pilot funds were increased so that Newtown has a net increase of $58,000. Also the recommendation by the Governor to change the scale of reimbursement to range from 20%-80% to be changed to 15%-60% will not go forward. Also the conveyance tax increase will probably be permanent. There is concern among municipalities about an unfounded mandate bill. The bill includes heart and hypertension and was changed in 1996 so that employees at that time were grandfathered and future employees had to prove that heart and hypertension problems were job related. The State Labor Committee
proposed to add other diseases as well as heart and hypertension which would result in an unfounded mandate.
Mr. DeAngellis has withdrawn his FOI and Federal lawsuits with prejudice which means that he cannot pursue these suits again. Mr. Rosenthal said that the Town has spent $50,000 on these lawsuits. He is concerned that these suits may have a negative impact on volunteers, as volunteers were sued as individuals in these suits. Mr. Rosenthal said that he has answered as many of the 81 questions presented to the Board of Selectmen by Mr. DeAngellis and Mr. Davis. Mr. Rodgers hopes this does not become a habitual way of communicating.
Mr. Rosenthal estimates that there was $300,000 of damage to town property due to the weekend storm. This includes roads and ponds. Mr. Rosenthal declared the Fabric Fire Hose a state of emergency because of the dams. The sluiceway on the lower dam partially collapsed resulting in flooding of offices. The Code Red system was used to issue a town wide alert. The Turkey Hill Road bridge was flooded.
NEW BUSINESS.
Audit report. Mr. DiCandido moved to accept the audit report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006. Second by Mr. Pennarola. Mr. Centifanto distributed and discussed “Town of Newtown 2006 Annual Audit Legislative Council Meeting April 18, 2007” (Attachment A to original minutes). Mr. Centifanto reported that there were several recommendations to management concerning the IT Department because this is a new department and is integral to the function of the town. Mr. Rosenthal reported that the GIS Department has made recent changes and is responding to the recommendations. He also noted that this department is a Board of Ed department and that Mr. Sharlow now heads a three man department that will work on town matters only. Motion unanimously carried.
Reappointment of auditor. Mr. Holian moved to reappoint Kostin, Ruffkess and Company as the auditor for the year ending June 30, 2007. Second by Mr. Borst. Mr. Brown asked how long the company has been the Town’s auditors, to which Mr. Spragg replied at least twelve years. Motion unanimously carried.
Business Incentive Program Application of Architectural Glass Industries, LLC. This item will be tabled until the next meeting when a representative is present.
Transfer.
Mr. Holian moved to transfer FROM Account 01570-2000 Contingency $50,000 TO Account 01100-4063 Legal Other $50,000. Second by Mr. Borst. Mr. Rosenthal explained that this account is now at zero. The Town spent $50,000 on the FOI complaint and Federal lawsuit. There are ongoing other issues. Motion unanimously carried.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
Mr. Brown moved to add to the agenda “Long Range Planning Proposed Charge to Ad Hoc Committee.” Second by Mr. Borst and unanimously carried. Mr. Rodgers asked for comments from the Legislative Council to “Charge to Ad Hoc Strategic Long Range Planning Committee” distributed to the Council members at the last meeting. Mr. Rodgers said that Mrs. Llodra had indicated that she would contact Mr. Rosenthal with her comments. Mr. Capeci asked if the Ad Hoc Committee will develop a process or a plan. Mr. Rosenthal said the Committee will develop a process and give suggestions to the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Pennarola asked if this would be open ended or would there be an end date. Mr. Rosenthal said that quarterly reports will be requested and we do not know how long this will take. Mr. Pennarola
suggested adding Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Association. Mr. Borst asked that the Committee members represent the different demographics in town. He suggested Paul Lindquist who volunteered to conduct surveys. Mr. Brown asked if other communities have used the same approach to which Mr. Rosenthal replied that the Committee will be asked to review the process used by other communities. Mr. Brown also asked that the “worker bees” be included. Mr. Rodgers asked if HMA did a build out for the Fairfield Hills Master Plan to which Mr. Rosenthal replied that they did and that Newtown will put out a Request for Qualifications. Mrs. Doyle inquired about the size of the Committee. Mr. Rosenthal said that various numbers had been suggested. He noted that Cheshire had a larger group that broke up into small groups. Mr. Rodgers said that he feels that those with specific agendas could participate after a process is set up but should not develop the process.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. John Voket, Business Editor of The Bee, said that he worked at the Economic Development Commission and Chamber of Commerce meetings when Architectural Glass Industries LLC made a presentation. He noted that the company is leaving Norwalk to move to Newtown and will double or triple their work force. They will have hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars in personal property.
ANNOUNCEMENTS. None noted.
EXECUTIVE SESSION. None noted.
ADJOURNMENT. The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
Ann M. Mazur, Clerk
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