TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
MINUTES
TOWN COUNCIL WORK SESSION
COUNCIL CHAMBERS FEBRUARY 18, 2003
SOUTH WINDSOR TOWN HALL 7:00 P.M.
1. Call Meeting to Order
Mayor Aman called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Members Present: Deputy Mayor Matthew Streeter
Councillor Barbara Barbour
Councillor Paul Burnham
Councillor Deborah Fine
Councillor Judith Paquin
Councillor John Pelkey
Members Absent: Mayor William Aman
Councillor Delnicki
Councillor Havens
Also Present: Town Manager Matthew B. Galligan
Town Attorney Barry D. Guliano
3. Public Participation – None
4. Communications – None
Town Manager’s Report – None
6. Items for Discussion
A. Strategic Planning Budget for Recreation Department – Including Changes in Program and Facility Use Fees
(Please see attached Exhibits A and B.)
Town Manager Matthew Galligan began his presentation by noting that money at the State level is no longer what it once was, and it is important to examine budgets. The Recreation budget was previously made a self-sustaining budget. There are two scenarios before the Council this evening – a 5-year plan and an 8-year plan.
6. A. (Continued)
There are some items which are paid by the General Fund, such as the electricity at the VMP pool. It is hoped that, at some point, these types of costs will be moved to the Recreation Program so that the programs would be paid for by the individuals using them.
There is about $250,000 in the General Fund for administrative fees, $43,000 of which will be deducted in this year’s budget. What the Council is seeing this evening is the Public Works portion. The $43,000 represents advertising costs; administrative costs for the programs, including flyers, brochures, etc.
In examining fee increases, the fees need to be compared with those of other communities. More and more communities will be looking at “pay-as-you-go” programs.
There is money left over in the Capital Fund which was earmarked as part of the referendum question. If the money was used at VMP for upgrading the parking lot, the basketball court, the field in the back, etc., over the five-year period while the fees are increasing, there would be more amenities to be offered.
The Town Manager then accepted questions.
In looking at the comparison sheet of other towns, Councillor Barbour noted that some don’t offer passes to non-residents. She asked whether South Windsor’s facilities were being burdened by offering them to non-residents. Mr. Galligan explained that the fees are doubled for non-residents, and he advised caution in this area because of a recent ruling in southern Connecticut that it was illegal to not allow non-residents to use beaches.
It was noted that the fees for a particular program are earmarked for the expenses of that program, rather than fees of one program being used toward another program.
Councillor Pelkey suggested that when comparisons are used in the future for various projects, etc., the same reference group towns should be used. Deputy Mayor Streeter asked that other towns with pools under construction be included. Mr. Galligan explained that some communities
6. A. (Continued)
have pools in their high schools which are also used for recreation, so some of those costs would be absorbed by the education budget. It would, therefore, be difficult to see the true costs in such a situation.
Discussion turned to the possibility of losing participants because of increases in costs. Mr. Galligan said that another option would be to continue allowing the General Fund Budget to cover the costs, rather than increasing the fees.
The Town Manager emphasized the need for making a decision because of the timeframe related to publishing the brochure for the Recreation Department.
7. Executive Session - None
8. Adjournment
A motion to adjourn was made by Councillor Fine at 7:20 p.m. The motion was duly seconded and was unanimously approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Merlyn P. Guild
Assistant to the Clerk of the Council
Attachments – Exhibits A and B
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