MEETING MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
3:30 P.m.
Town Hall – First Floor Conference Room
I.CALL TO ORDER-All members present
II.PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE-Recited
III.COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC-Fern Tryon asked that the Transfer Station be open on Tuesday after a Monday holiday. Eugene Evangelisti submitted a letter from Todd Way that concerns comments made by Matt Pytlik about a fellow union member. He also submitted pictures of what he saw as a DEEP wetlands violation. However, the First Selectman said this matter was already looked into and the Town has cooperated fully. Robert Coty submitted a letter about the Pratt Street/Hartlands Drive parking situation and how it has become a nuisance with illegal parking, trash and noise. Ms. Dangona, who lives next door to the park, also commented on unwelcome activity and also submitted a letter to the Board.
IV.COMMENTS FROM THE SELECTMAN: The First Selectman commented on the following: 1. He stated he received an email from resident Fred Carstenson, UCONN Professor, that had with it attachments that he submitted to the Commission on Fiscal Stability and Economic Growth. One of the documents indicated that Connecticut’s economy has actually contracted from 2008-2016. 2. The Governor released his proposed amendment to the biennial budget which reduces Old Saybrook’s State revenue from $537,000 to $371,000. 3. The taxes paid by Old Saybrook residents that flow to the State, inclusive of the sales tax and income tax, are nearly $40,000,000. 4. He noted a Connecticut legal case stating that a municipality may have legal liability for failing to make Fire Code inspections. The case is currently
scheduled for trial. 5. He noted the RiverCog legislative agenda and 6. Commented how he attended a press conference protesting the proposed DOT reductions to Shoreline East service.
V.APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Special Board of Selectmen Meeting January 20, 2018 and Special Board of Selectmen Meeting January 23, 2018. Both sets of minutes passed unanimously.
VI.BUSINESS BEFORE THE BOARD
A. Discussion, review and possible action on referral from the Planning Commission for application for re-subdivision- Saltaire subdivision- The First Selectman offered a little background on this issue, which is before the Board as a courtesy from the Planning Commission, which has regulatory authority on this decision. Given that the pathway, originally intended to go all the way to the Castle, can no longer safely be used, and given that the parties are locked in a dispute over the condition of the bluff, it was determined to recommend the re-subdivision. Motion to approve re-subdivision request with the recommendation that the arbor vides not be placed all the way to the fence but instead commence at the boulder and run southerly from there: by Fortuna, seconded by Giegerich, Passed 3-0.
B. Discussion Harbor Management Capital Recommendation FY 18 and FY 19- This discussion was previously brought before the Board at a joint meeting with the Board of Finance. The HMC would like to move forward with an RFP on Ferry Road this spring. Motion to add to the agenda an item to Approve HMC Capital Recommendation FY18 and FY 19: unanimously approved.
C.Request by HMC to Approve HMC Capital Recommendation FY18 and FY 19- Passed 3-0.
D.Appointments
1.Planning Commission. Alternate vacancy appointment. This is for the unexpired portion of a two year term due to expire 11/2019. Thomas Cox presented his resume. Passed 3-0.
2.Gateway Commission: Elevation to regular member-Bill Webb. Passed 3-0
VII.FY 18/19 BUDGET: Department of Police Services- The Chief of Police presented his budget. He went through his budget presentation book and discussed the operating budget, which is down overall by $10,158. He discussed in various levels of detail police salary, vacation day coverage, additional hours, extra personnel, professional development, sick/injured replacement, special assignment, holiday replacement and fringe benefits. Carol Conklin asked if this was the same budget passed by the Police Commission. Chief indicated it was. Conklin asked about training due to the age of the force. The chief said there is a lot of training but it is contained within the budget. He then discussed Emergency Communications and the various budget items with dispatch. The Chief then reviewed Marine
Patrol. The budget is neutral due to cutting approximately 40 hours from the patrol. The Chief then reviewed various statistics with the Board.
VIII.ELDERLY BENEFIT TAX RECOMMENDATION- To recommend to the Board of Finance an amount of $90,000. Moved and passed 3-0.
IX.FY 18/19 BUDGET: Presentation by the First Selectman, consideration and possible action by the Board of Selectmen. The First Selectman then presented the budget that he has compiled. The document has been worked on for over two months. Finance Director Palladino gave an overview of the town’s current revenue condition, which is good. The First Selectman noted the General Government budget, inclusive of debt, is flat. Without debt, it is up .21%. The Board of Education budget is up .66%. Departments had some reductions from their requests made by the First Selectman. The largest was Youth & Family Services not bringing 100% of their payroll onto the Town budget but, instead, keeping the formula of fees and grants as a partial revenue source to pay for staff. Mr. Fortuna stated there are no
cans being kicked down the road in this budget. In fact, the town is putting money aside as recommended by bond counsel for the town for its Clean Water fund operation. The town projects all its capital projects to be funded and is not reducing budgets to get to this low percentage of a budget proposal. The First Selectman stated that, including revenues as projected, the mill rate will go down which means most peoples’ taxes will go down, which is the first time in 25 years this has happened. Scott Giegerich commented positively. A motion was made to forward this budget to the Board of Finance and seconded: passed 3-0.
X.EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS PENDING A CLAIM/ LITIGATION A motion was made to go into Executive Session for the above purposes by Mr. Giegerich at 5:35 p.m. Passed 3-0.
XI.DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE SETTLEMENT OF A CERTAIN PENDING CLAIM AS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION (OLD COLONY CONSTRUCTION, LLC)- Moved that the Board of Selectman settle the above claimed dispute for $25,000, of which the town will pay $14,000 and the HMC will pay $11,000. Passed 3-0
XII.COMMENTS FROM THE SELECTMEN- There was a question about the February 20th meeting. This meeting is strictly a Board of Finance regular meeting.
XIII.ADJOURNMENT at 6:00 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Carl P. Fortuna, Jr.
First Selectman
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