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Mayor Pelkey called the meeting to order at approximately 4:35 p.m.
Members Present
Dr. Kate Carter, Superintendent of Schools (arrived 4:35 p.m.)
Matthew Galligan, Town Manager
Michael Gantick, Director of Public Works
Patrick Hankard, Dir. of Facility Services, Board of Education
Donna McKenty, Business Manager, Board of Education (arrived 4:56 p.m.)
John Pelkey, Mayor, Town Council (Chairperson)
Cary Prague, Town Council
Janice Snyder, Board of Education (Vice Chairperson)
Members Absent
Janice Favreau, Town Council
Lisa Maneeley, Chair, Board of Education
Craig Zimmerman, Board of Education
Guests Present
Raymond Favreau, Director of Recreation
Kory Loucks, Journal Inquirer
3. Approval of Minutes Previous Meetings
Town Manager Galligan made a motion to approve the minutes of the November 17, 2011, February 23, 2011, March 16, 2011, April 6, 2011, and April 20, 2011 meetings; Mr. Patrick Hankard seconded that motion; and it was approved unanimously.
4. Discussion Items
Review of Capital Projects approved by Council
Town Manager Galligan reported that the Council has come up with a budget of $32.4 million and designated the Town Manager responsible for determining what projects to move forward on. The list that the Capital Projects Committee developed will be submitted. There is $626,605 in the General Fund which will be used for year one of the paving at the High School, the Board of Education’s computers for $300,000, and the Town’s computers for $167,000. The remainder of the projects are to be funded if and when the Fire House is sold. Presently, there is $235,000 in Capital Non-Recurring.
Town Manager Galligan shared the budget information with Dr. Carter, as she needed to learn what projects are being done. They did have discussions on how the Board of Education would handle their projects, and those decisions were made at the most recent Board of Education Meeting. They also had many discussions on the surplus and how it should be used. Dr. Carter recommended to the Board that the surplus be placed in to the Pension and Health Insurance Funds.
Town Manager Galligan stated that he endorsed this idea because these are items that are reflected on the Town’s financial statement. Moody’s and S & P also look at the Pension and Health Insurance Funds to determine whether they are fully funded.
The Superintendent’s recommendation was voted on and approved at the last Board of Education Meeting.
Many members of the Capital Projects Committee spoke out about how frustrated they are with the relationship between the Town Council and the Capital Projects Committee. The general consensus is that the Committee is spinning its wheels in coming up with projects that need to be done and which projects are priority items, only to be doubted by the Council. We have experts and CEO’s that we pay to make decisions regarding these projects and should trust their input and expertise. Governing bodies must understand this and let the experts do their jobs.
Councillor Prague stated that the Council is struggling with what is a Capital Project item and what is a Maintenance item. He argued that road maintenance is more a maintenance item than a capital need, repairing a roof on a modular classroom is a capital need, but is a maintenance issue as well. He stated that computers being part of the Capital Projects Budget does not make sense.
Ms. Snyder then read a document from the Office of the State Comptroller under Public Act 01-7, Section 4A-9 of the Connecticut General Statutes. This legislative change provides for the use of Capital Equipment purchase fund dollars for the procurement of data processing equipment under $1,000.00. A State Agency may purchase necessary data processing equipment that has a unit price of less than $1,000.00 from the Capital Equipment Purchase Fund, provided such equipment has a useful life of not less than five years. Although we are on a Town Government level and do not have to adopt this, it has been an acceptable process at the State level for many years.
Councilman Prague recommended that the Capital Projects Budget be prepared in October, November and December and that it be more concise. The detail in the budget allows people the opportunity to over-scrutinize the items in it. He also felt that the Council is using Capital Projects as a way to balance the budget which should not be the case.
Councilman Prague also stated that we now have a Board of Education that the Council has complete trust in. The Business Manager presents things in a very realistic way, the Superintendent and Town Manager are managing in a very collaborative way and because of this, he recommended turning over the Capital Projects for the Board of Education to the Board of Education to handle separate from the Town’s.
Town Manager Galligan expressed concern about the direction in which we are heading. We have a budget that is less than we had three or four years ago. He has lost two people on his staff and eight managerial positions were cut. South Windsor ranks #3 in the Community because we were doing things the right way. Some years ago we were ranked #10 with Simsbury and Avon on top. We made many changes and progressed a great deal to get to where we are now. He suggested a special session be held with Council and Board of Education sometime in the fall to discuss how to move forward. Hopefully, the Town Council and the Board of Education can meet and determine the Town Council’s priorities and the Board of Education’s priorities and merge the two.
Mayor Pelkey asked that Dr. Carter meet with the Board of Education and Town Manager Galligan with the Town Council on how to move forward on Capital Projects. Dr. Carter and Town Manager Galligan will then meet to formulate a strategic plan on how to proceed.
New Business
NONE
Old Business
NONE
Adjournment: A motion to adjourn was made by Mr. Patrick Hankard at 5:45 p.m.; the motion was seconded by Ms. Janice Snyder; and all were in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
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Darlene Lehofer
Recording Secretary
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