TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
MINUTES
TOWN COUNCIL WORK SESSION
COUNCIL CHAMBERS DECEMBER 2, 2002
SOUTH WINDSOR TOWN HALL 7:00 P.M.
Prior to the meeting being called to order, Certificates of Recognition were distributed to the Tri-Town Panther Cheerleaders, winners of the Eastern Connecticut Football Conference Cheerleading Competition.
1. Call Meeting to Order
Mayor Aman called the meeting to order at 7:15 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Members Present: Mayor William Aman
Deputy Mayor Matthew Streeter
Councillor Barbara Barbour
Councillor Paul Burnham
Councillor Thomas Delnicki
Councillor Deborah Fine
Councillor Edward Havens
Councillor Judith Paquin
Councillor John Pelkey
Also Present: Town Manager Matthew B. Galligan
Town Attorney Barry D. Guliano
3. Public Participation
Bill Haun, 43 Stevens Road, referenced a letter he received from the South Windsor Assessor. He said his assessment had increased by $90,000 and expressed surprise that a letter of explanation had not been included with assessments, indicating that it was the first year of a four-year revaluation. Mayor Aman explained that assessments had increased “across the board 45 percent”; so, theoretically, if an assessment went up 45 percent, then the tax bill would stay equal to what it was this year. If the value increased more than 45 percent in the last ten years, then a higher amount of taxes would be due than what would have been due under the previous assessment. He said that the Town itself will receive
3. Public Participation (Continued)
absolutely no more revenue because of the tax assessment changes, and he explained that the mill rate would be coming down next year.
Mr. Galligan indicated that a follow-up letter of explanation could be sent out.
Communications – None
Town Manager’s Report – None
Items for Discussion
Teachers’ Contract – Town Council and Representatives from the Board of Education to Discuss
Councillor Pelkey recused himself from the discussion.
Mayor Aman explained that some responses to questions may relate to the negotiations and, therefore, not be subject to public discussion.
Tom Mooney, representing the Board of Education, said that it would be appropriate for Dr. Vannie, Assistant Superintendent of the Board of Education, to describe to the Council the terms of the new contract. He pointed out that, at this point in the process under the Teacher Negotiation Act, the Town Council has a separate role to play which does include collective bargaining strategy issues.
Dr. Vannie summarized the terms of the agreement, which was reached in a mediated settlement with the teachers. It is a three-year agreement, commencing July 2, 2003 and extending to July 30, 2006. It calls for a 3.6 percent raise, plus the cost of step movement for each of the three years. They will be increasing instructional time for students by approximately eleven days equivalent time. That includes 20 extra minutes per day and two extra days for the students for each year. Two steps have been added to the teachers’ salary schedule, which reduces the cost of the step movement.
6. A. (Continued)
They were able to achieve other language benefits that are particularly beneficial to the Board in building and monitoring a budget. They were able to achieve key dates in the contract by which teachers must give notice, such as notice of retirement. There have been some changes to the “Reduction in Force” clause, which inserts language involving teachers showing that they are qualified to move into certain positions if bumping occurs because of reduction in force.
Mayor Aman asked what percentage of the teachers are currently on the highest step, and Dr. Vannie said that about half the teachers are going through the step movement, and there is a total of about 382 teachers.
Councillor Delnicki asked about the percentage of increase and how it would impact next year’s budget, and Dr. Vannie said she could not answer that because the budget had not yet been built. She later indicated that the increase would be 5.35 percent, including the increment costs. She said that they have already been notified of teachers who are retiring and that those teachers will be replaced with teachers at lower salaries.
Councillor Delnicki asked the Town Manager how the contract reflects upon the ones which he has been negotiating on the Town side, and Mr. Galligan responded that the 3 ½ percent is a reasonable negotiation in his mind, and the salary is in the normal range.
Councillor Paquin asked what percentage of the budget relates to salary costs, and Dr. Vannie responded that personnel costs (not necessarily salary only) are 80 percent of the budget. Dr. Vannie said that the 3.6 percent increase is the same as surrounding towns and that the mediator who conducted the mediations had presented them with 16 settlements which were done in the current negotiating season, and South Windsor was “dead average.”
Councillor Paquin noted her frustration when serving on the Board of Education in that if a contract is not approved, then there are the costs of arbitration and there is not a lot of room for bargaining. Dr. Vannie said that we could expect, should we pursue arbitration, to pay “at
6. A. (Continued)
least the state average.” We perhaps would not then get the same benefits that we have been able to negotiate in terms of the instructional time. In addition, there would be the costs of arbitration.
Councillor Barbour, an observer at the negotiations, stated that there were 50 school districts negotiating this year, and 16 had already settled while they were in session. She said the negotiations were professional and deliberate and they brought forth a contract which she believed is fair to all. She recommended that it be allowed to stand.
Mayor Aman asked if the 5.3 increase took into account the additional teaching staff for next year, and Dr. Vannie responded that it is based on current staff. Mayor Aman noted that this would mean going into next year’s budget deliberations with a 2 percent increase to the Board of Education to fund this contract. He wished to advise taxpayers that this translates into a fairly significant tax increase on property taxes.
At this time, the Mayor explained that the Council only has the ability to reject the contract, not modify or accept it. It will go into effect unless the Council rejects it by means of a resolution.
Councillor Havens expressed concern that the number which had been provided to the public was 3.6 percent, and Dr. Vannie said that it was 3.6 percent plus the cost of step movement, resulting in a total increase of 5.35 percent.
When asked if the surrounding communities also take into account increments, Dr. Vannie said that our increment costs are average. She noted that even with the increment added, this is still an average settlement. Deputy Mayor Streeter said some teachers will be making in the neighborhood of 7 percent and no less than 4 percent for the majority of teachers.
Attorney Mooney said that if the Council rejects the contract, it does not go to mediation. The date on which it is rejected would be considered the arbitration date and things move forward from there. Five days later the parties pick their party arbitrators, five days later the chairman of the panel is selected. The arbitrators are all on a panel appointed by the Governor, pursuant to the Teacher Negotiation Act. The arbitrators would then take jurisdiction of the matter and hear the case.
6. A. (Continued)
He stated that “Instructional Time” under the Teacher Negotiation Act is not a subject for negotiation. The Board can unilaterally impose additional student instructional time. However, the impact of that additional time is then the issue in the arbitration--how much additional compensation teachers should receive for working the additional instructional time. The Board of Education, notwithstanding the significant gains in instructional time, is presenting an average settlement. He said this is comparable to the settlements occurring in Connecticut right now. If the matter goes to arbitration, it is possible that the settlement could be higher because of the significant increase in instructional time. This settlement compares favorably to settlements
reached where there are no additional instructional days and there is no increase in instructional time.
Mr. Galligan clarified, for the public’s benefit, that the Town doesn’t have step increments in its contracts, but the 3.5 percent would be considered average.
Tom Reale, 56 Case Hill Circle, a member of the Negotiating Committee for the Board of Education, wished to clarify that 3.6 percent would be the increase for more than 55 percent of the teachers because they are at the top step. Two steps were added between Step 9 and Step 10, which means that it takes longer to get to the top. Two steps were not added so that people at the top can continue to move up.
Continuing, Mr. Reale stated that teachers start at an artificially low salary based on their qualifications. Therefore, those increments are compensating for the fact that, in teaching, individuals are started at a salary lower than the job would command in the open market. He explained that 20 minutes per day, plus 2 additional days each year, results in 73 hours of instruction. So, for a 3.6 percent wage increase, their teaching load has increased 7 percent. Mr. Reale encouraged the Council to not reject the contract.
7. Executive Session - None
8. Adjournment
A motion to adjourn was made at 8:00 p.m. The motion was duly seconded and was unanimously approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Merlyn P. Guild
Assistant to the Clerk of the Council
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