THESE MINUTES ARE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY BOARD OF SELECTMEN
The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting on Monday, February 7, 2011 at the Senior Center, 14 Riverside Road, Sandy Hook. First Selectman Llodra called the meeting to order at 7:35pm.
PRESENT: First Selectman E. Patricia Llodra, Selectman William F.L. Rodgers, Selectman William F. Furrier.
ALSO PRESENT: Finance Director Robert Tait, Director of Communication Maureen Will, no members of the public and three members of the press.
VOTER PARTICIPATION: none.
ACCEPTANCE OF THE MINUTES: Selectman Rodgers moved to accept the minutes of January 20, 2011 for discussion. Selectman Furrier seconded. Selectman Rodgers noted that the last line under communications that states the police give $100 tickets to the private plow drivers should be corrected to the police give $100 tickets to the property owners. All were in favor of accepting the minutes of January 20, 2011 as modified. Selectman Furrier moved to accept the minutes of January 24, 2011. Selectman Rodgers seconded for discussion. Under New Business, EDC Presentation, nine lines up that states Selectman Rodgers worries about an increase in funding in this economy. He would like to insert “he also voiced concern that there be specific identification of
the means by which the EDC was going to attract businesses in this economy”. All were in favor of accepting the minutes of January 24, 2011 as modified.
COMMUNICATIONS: none.
FINANCE DIRECTOR REPORT: Mr. Tait stated that this year’s CIP items will be bonded next week. As per the advice of the financial advisor we are using two rating agencies, Standard and Poors and Moodys, to rate our debt. Some investors will not bid on investments unless there are two agencies. We are hoping for a slight decrease in the interest we pay. An open system will be used where the bidders are informed of their position in the bidding so they can bid a number of times; this usually ensures a lower interest rate. The capital project status reports will be ready for the next Selectmen meeting. First Selectman Llodra commented on the importance of maintaining a healthy fund balance. Moody’s observed that towns with an equal bond rating typically have a
fund balance that is 9% or greater; ours is 6.2%. Our strong bond rating has a lot to do with policies we have in place. The plan was to completely eliminate reliance on fund balance in two steps: go from $2,000,000 to $1,000,000 which we’ve done and to go from $1,000,000 to zero in a second fiscal year; we are still trying to achieve that. It is a difficult time to make those changes because there is a constriction in revenues.
OLD BUSINESS:
Discussion and possible action:
- Implementation Plan – Plan of Conservation and Development: First Selectman Llodra noted she has spoken with CEO’s in Fairfield County (Att. A). They experience the same challenge as Newtown in that the POCD is typically well crafted but poorly executed because the planning agency lacks the authority to make the plan come alive. Selectman Rodgers agrees the concept, the PIC idea is a good one, but isn’t sure a separate committee is needed. Selectman Furrier would be interested in how powers are distributed with the PIC.
NEW BUSINESS:
Discussion and possible action:
1. Regionalization of Communications & Dispatch: Ms. Will was present to discuss regionalization. She explained there are three options regarding regionalization: 1.) do a three town regionalization center with Newtown, Bethel and Brookfield. There is a cost but the town will receive state subsidy and funding. 2.) The three towns will contract with North West Public Safety, which is considered a regional communication center. NW Public Safety handles our ambulance to hospital traffic already. 3.) Do nothing. Ms. Will recommends option 2, contracting with NW Public Safety to take care of the communications needs for the Towns of Newtown, Bethel and Brookfield. All three towns do the same job and are all considered PSAPS (Public Safety
Answering Points). If the contract goes through the State of CT gives each town $250,000 as a transition subsidy grant, to offset the cost of contracting with NW Public Safety. Services would be run out of a state of the art facility that gives the best service to the people that we serve. Brookfield is behind the concept and interested in having further discussion. Bill Halstead, Fire Marshal, wants the highest level professional person dispatching him and he wants the volunteer companies be dispatched properly. Police Chief has questions. Selectman Rodgers suggested flushing out all questions ahead of time. We don’t want to go into a group meeting with our police and fire having the most questions. A needs assessment would be conducted as far as staff. A certain number of personnel would be hired under NW Public Safety; they would not be employees of the Town of Newtown. Each town would contract with NW
Public Safety for services, with proportional costs. First Selectman Llodra questioned other communities experience with the service. Ms. Will said that constituents came before the board at a corporate meeting and there have been no problems. Any problems are immediately addressed because there is representation of all the service providers on the board. Ms. Will noted that the Fairfield Hills campus would be ideal for a facility because, using hazard assessment we are easily accessed by I-84, Routes 7 & 302, we have a railroad and we are close to the airports and the highways. It is also at a high terrain, allowing for site lines with radio towers. There are no limitations as to how many municipalities can join together for this purpose. Ms. Will said that this is the right thing to do, it’s what we need to do and it’s what is right for this community. This would be an 80% savings to the Town. Following a
meeting with the Town police, fire and EMS a meeting would then be arranged with the CEO’s, fire, police and EMS and the executive board of NW Public Safety to further discussions. The plan is contingent upon two or more or our towns joining NW Public Safety to the regional center.
2. Appointments/Reappointments: Selectman Furrier moved to appoint Joan Plouffe, 9 Sturges Road from an alternate position to a full board member and Sheila Torres, 10 Phyllis Lane to the Commission on Aging for terms to expire on 1/6/14. Selectman Rodgers seconded. All in favor. Selectman Rodgers moved to appoint Curt Symes as an alternate member of the Commission on Aging for a term to expire on 1/6/12. Selectman Furrier seconded. All in favor. Selectman Rodgers moved the appointments of Steven zVon, 4 Rockywood Drive and Walter Motyka, 5 Kent Road, to the Economic Development Commission for terms to expire 1/6/14. Selectman Furrier seconded. All in favor. Selectman Furrier moved the appointment of
Barbara Toomey, 7 Skytop Drive to the Sustainable Energy Commission for a term to expire 1/6/14 and the reappointment of Kristen Hammar, 17 Phyllis Lane, to the Inland Wetland Commission for a term to expire 1/6/15. Selectman Rodgers seconded. All in favor. There is an unaffiliated vacancy on the Conservation Commission.
3. Transfer: Selectman Rodgers moved the transfer of $65,000 from 01510-2031 Sand to 01510- 2032 Salt. Selectman Furrier seconded. All in favor
4. Tax Refunds: Selectman Furrier moved the February Refunds, Refund No. 10 in the amount of $17,344.27. Selectman Rodgers seconded. All in favor.
5. CIP – 5th year: The Finance Committee of the Legislative Council made observations that sent the CIP back to the Board of Finance. Everyone is interested in reducing the debt cap from 10% to 9% by the 5th year of the CIP (Att. B). The bonding number would need to be reduced from $30,000,000 to $20,000,000. First Selectman Llodra asked the board to look at the priorities (Att. C). The Board of Selectman will have to react and respond, with recommendations to the Board of Finance regarding the goal of reducing the debt to 9%. Possible scenarios were shared with the board (Att. D). To find $10,000,000 some smaller projects would need to be totally eliminated or larger projects would need to be looked at. One recommendation may
be that we cannot do it in one year; it may take two or three years. First Selectman Llodra noted her appreciation to the Board of Finance for sending it back to the Board of Selectmen. This item will be on the next Selectmen agenda.
VOTER COMMENT: none.
6. Executive Session: Selectman Rodgers moved to enter executive session for litigation discussion in the matters of United Water and Newtown High School. Nobody was invited to attend. Executive session was entered into at 8:55pm and returned to regular session at 9:15pm with no action taken.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: none.
ADJOURNMENT: Having no further business the Board of Selectman adjourned their
regular meeting at 9:15pm.
Respectfully submitted,
______________________________
Susan Marcinek, Clerk
Att. A: memo from E.P. Llodra to W.F.L. Rodgers and W.F. Furrier dated 2/3/11
Att. B: Set Debt Load at 9% by year 5 of the CIP
Att. C: CIP 2011-2012 to 2015-2016
Att. D: CIP scenarios using 9% debt service
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