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SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
Minutes
June 2, 2014
A special Town Meeting of electors and citizens qualified to vote in Town Meetings of the Town of North Stonington, Connecticut was held in the North Stonington Elementary School Multi-Purpose Room, Norwich Westerly Rd, North Stonington, CT on Monday, June 2, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. Present First Selectman Nicholas H Mullane II, Selectman Bob Testa, and Selectman Mark Donahue. Selectman Mullane called the meeting to order then asked the Town Clerk Norma Holliday to read the call of the meeting. Selectman Mullane asked for a motion from the floor to elect a Moderator. A MOTION made by Dan Spring, seconded by Joe Gross, to elect Bob Shabunia Moderator. A MOTION made by Dan Spring seconded by Nita Kincaid to close all nomination, MOTIONS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY, Bob Shabunia was declared Moderator and then asked the Town
Clerk to read item one of the call.
1. To hear and act upon the following Resolution: Resolved: that the Board of Selectmen is hereby, authorized and empowered to obtain loans at current interest rates for loans to municipalities in anticipation of the receipt of tax collections and in anticipation of the receipt of federal and/or state grants with respect to a project or program on such terms and conditions as follows: (a) the amount borrowed shall not exceed $1,000,000, at any one time; and (b) the Board of Finance shall receive, as early as possible, prior notification of any borrowing. The Board of Selectmen is further authorized and empowered to execute any and all documents necessary and required. A MOTION made by First Selectman Mullane, seconded by Dan Spring to approve item #1 as presented, discussion followed. Robin Roohr, Town
Treasurer gave a brief explanation of how and why the Board of Selectmen needs the approval to borrow money, MOTION APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
2. To hear and act upon updates to the Town’s Local Capital Improvement Plan for Fiscal Years 2014-15 through 2018-2019. A MOTION made by First Selectman Mullane, seconded by Dan Spring to approve item #2 as presented, First Selectman Mullane gave a brief explanation, no discussion followed, MOTION APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
3. To consider and act upon the de-obligation of the follow capital project account balances:
Wash Station $ 133.44
Village Green Bridge $ 39,739.24
Middle School Boilers $ 18,922
NSVFC Engine #2 $ 6.06
Used Bucket Truck $ 275.00
Bulky Waste Closure $ 1.00
LOCIP TS Scales $ 32,812
and return the monies to the General Fund undesignated fund balance. A MOTION made by Dan Spring, seconded by First Selectman Mullane to approve item #3 as presented, discussion followed. First Selectman Mullane gave a brief explanation regarding the give back. The LOCIP number was printed on the call wrong Dan Spring withdrew the original MOTION and First Selectman Mullane withdrew his second. A new MOTION made by Dan Spring, seconded by First Selectman Mullane to approve item #3 with the LOCIP amount amended to read $38,812 and the Wash Station $133.44 to be deleted, MOTION APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
4. Shall the Town of North Stonington, in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes 7-9b, amend the hours of referenda, for days other than State and Local Elections, by vote of its legislative body that the polls at such referenda shall be open at an earlier hour but not earlier than 6 AM? A MOTION made by First Selectman Mullane, seconded by Mustapha Ratib to approve item #4 as presented. Marilyn Mackay, Registrar of Voters and Town Clerk Norma Holliday explained the absentee ballot process, and that changing the hours would not make a difference for someone who is out of Town. There needs to be a longer time between Town Meetings and voting to allow for mailing absentee ballots to people who are not available to come in, discussion followed. A MOTION made by Dan Spring, seconded by Mustapha Ratib to move
the question, MOTION approved unanimously. The original MOTION APPROVED by a show of hands 26 yes, 4 no.
5. Shall the Town of North Stonington approve the estimates and recommendations of the Board of Finance with respect to the annual General Government budget including Redemption of Debt and Capital for fiscal year July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015, in the amount of $5,586,016 and make specific appropriations and authorize expenditures in connection therewith as appear advisable? Moderator Bob Shabunia stated that questions 5 & 6 were for discussion only a referendum is scheduled for Monday, June 9, 2014 between the hours of Noon to 8pm. A MOTION made by Joe Gross, seconded by Walter Mathwich to open the discussion. First Selectman Mullane gave a brief overview of the General Government budget. A MOTION made by Dan Spring, seconded by Joe Gross to table item #5 temporarily to discuss item
#6 first. MOTION approved unanimously. After discussion of item #6 a MOTION made by Dan Spring, seconded by Joe Gross to move item #5 off the table, so moved. Dan Spring, Chairman of the Board of Finance gave a presentation of the General Government budget, discussion followed. A MOTION made by Joe Ressiner, seconded by Shawn Murphy to move the question, so carried. A MOTION made by Shawn Murphy, seconded by Robin Roohr to move the question to the referendum on June 9, 2014, no discussion followed, MOTION APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
6. Shall the Town of North Stonington approve the estimates and recommendations of the Board of Finance with respect to the annual Board of Education budget for fiscal year July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015, in the amount of $ 12,739,602 and make specific appropriations and authorize expenditures in connection therewith as appear advisable? A MOTION made by Dan Spring, seconded by Selectman Testa to open the discussion. BOE Vice Chairman Walter Mathwich gave a presentation of the school budget with a 0% increase. Superintendent Peter Nero, Elementary School Principal Veronica Wilkinson, Interim Principal Donald Macrino, Associate Principal Kristen St.Germain, Special Ed Dept. Head and the IT Dept. Head all participated in a power point presentation of the school budget, discussion followed. A MOTION made by Joe
Ressiner, seconded by Nita Kincaid to move the question, MOTION APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. A MOTION made by Joe Gross, seconded by Shawn Murphy to move the question to the referendum on June 9, 2014, no discussion followed, MOTION APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
A MOTION made by Dan Spring, seconded by Shawn Murphy to adjourn the meeting at 9:00 pm, so carried.
June 9, 2014
Referendum Results
The June 2, 2014 Special Town Meeting reconvened at 8:05 pm on June 9, 2014 following the Referendum, the results were read by the Referendum Moderator Debra Barnes:
“SHALL THE TOWN OF NORTH STONINGTON APPROVE THE ESTIMATES AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BOARD OF FINANCE WITH RESPECT TO THE ANNUAL GENERAL GOVERNMENT BUDGET INCLUDING REDEMPTION OF DEBT AND CAPITAL FOR FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 2014 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2015, IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,586,016 AND MAKE SPECIFIC APPROPRIATIONS AND AUTHORIZE EXPENDITURES IN CONNECTION THEREWITH AS APPEAR ADVISABLE?”
236 YES 222 NO
“SHALL THE TOWN OF NORTH STONINGTON APPROVE THE ESTIMATES AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BOARD OF FINANCE WITH RESPECT TO THE ANNUAL BOARD OF EDUCATION BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR JULY 1, 2014 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2015, IN THE AMOUNT OF $ 12,739,602 AND MAKE SPECIFIC APPROPRIATIONS AND AUTHORIZE EXPENDITURES IN CONNECTION THEREWITH AS APPEAR ADVISABLE?”
236 YES 223 NO
A MOTION made Shawn Murphy, seconded by Dan Spring to adjourn the Town Meeting at 8:09 pm, so carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Norma J Holliday
Town Clerk
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