MEETING MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
3:30 P.m.
Town Hall – First Floor Conference Room
PRESENT: All members present (Scott Giegerich was present for items I, II, III, IV and VI B and C.)
I. CALL TO ORDER – First Selectman Fortuna called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE- Recited
III. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC- Tom Stevenson commented how he wants to see the smaller fixes in town taken care of. The First Selectman agreed and commented that this was a focus topic at the last Department Head meeting.
IV. COMMENTS FROM THE SELECTMAN: The First Selectman noted that he received two WPCA thank you’ s for work being done in Cornfield Point; he received from Brett Elliott of the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center (KHCAC) a report on the Economic impact of nonprofit arts and cultural organizations and their audiences in Middlesex County. It noted that the average spend per person was $32.29. The Kate had 33,000 visitors last year which potentially contributed to over 1m being spent in Old Saybrook’s local economy; the First Selectman commented on an article from Standard & Poors about how Connecticut’s Fiscal Pressures could affect local government bond ratings. Eighty-five (85) towns are in peril (not Old Saybrook).
V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Board of Selectmen Meeting September 12, 2017.
FORTUNA/CONKLIN
Motion to approve Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes September 12, 2017
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
VI. BUSINESS BEFORE THE BOARD
A. Report by the Estuary Transit District (ETD).
Joe Comerford was present to discuss the state of the ETD. State and Federal funding is
critical. Towns contributed approximately 10% of funding. He handed out a fact sheet (attached) and discussed its bullet points. The First Selectman noted how critical ETD is to
the local economy. Employers and residents would notice it a lot more if service were to
be significantly reduced.
B. Discussion and action approving the Board of Selectmen to sign a resolution
to endorse submission of a zone adoption payment application under the Housing for Economic Growth Program.
FORTUNA/GIEGERICH
Motion to approve Board of Selectmen to sign a resolution to endorse submission of a zone adoption payment application under the Housing for Economic Growth Program.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
C. Discussion and action approving the Board of Selectmen to sign a request to
endorse the Planning Commission’s plan for acquisition of property at Coulter Street.
Joan Van Epps would like to donate this land. The Board voted to send an 8-24 referral to the Planning Commission.
FORTUNA/GIEGERICH
Motion to approve Board of Selectmen to sign a request to endorse the Planning Commission’s plan for acquisition of property at Coulter Street.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
D. Discussion and action on recommendation of Public Works Director to release
the following encroachment permit bond.
29 Riverside Avenue Sapia Builders LLC - new driveway $1,500.
FORTUNA/CONKLIN
Motion to approve to release of encroachment permit bond
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
E. Motion to add to the agenda discussion concerning the Town’s OPEB off budget account and liability and possible action to recommend to the Board of Finance the recommendations of the Pension & Benefits Board to transfer said funds to the Town’s defined benefit plan.
FORTUNA/CONKLIN
Motion to approve to add to the agenda the above stated item.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
F. Discussion and possible action concerning the Town’s OPEB off budget account and liability and recommendation to the Board of Finance of the Pension & Benefits Board’s (PBB) vote to transfer said funds to the Town’s defined benefit plan.
Finance Director Lee Ann Palladino discussed that the Town’s Other Postemployment benefits (OPEB) account which has funds totaling over $1m has simply been an off budget line account since the town received the funds from the Anthem demutualization. Our auditors have informed us that these funds should no longer be classified this way and that they should be put into a trust, drop to the town’s general fund or placed in the pension fund. The PBB after discussing this matter for months decided not to create a trust but instead to place these funds into the town’s Defined Benefit (DB) plan. Ms. Palladino stated that this would decrease the town’s liability in that plan while increasing the OPEB liability, but net/net, no harm to the town’s balance sheet. In addition, the DB plan is a
hard and fast liability; the OPEB liability is not quite as certain as some may or may not take town insurance. Lastly, the town already pays its retiree health care from its operating budget and it is a manageable liability year to year.
FORTUNA/CONKLIN
Motion to approve to recommend this action be taken by the Board of Finance to move these funds as stated above.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
VII. COMMENTS FROM THE SELECTMEN- None
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
FORTUNA/CONKLIN
Motion to adjourn at 4:30 p.m.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Respectfully submitted,
Carl P. Fortuna Jr.
First Selectman
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