PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 7, 2004
7:45 P.M.
SOUTH WINDSOR COUNCIL CHAMBERS
PURPOSE: TO RECEIVE CITIZEN INPUT ON A PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO “PROVIDE EXEMPTION FROM REAL PROPERTY TAX FOR QUALIFIED FARM BUILDINGS.”
(See attached.)
The Public Hearing was called to order at 7:45 p.m. by Mayor Havens. The Clerk of the Council read the Call of the Meeting (a copy of which is attached). The following Town Council members were present: Mayor Havens, Deputy Mayor Pelkey, and Councillors Aman, Delnicki, Fine, Paquin, Pendleton, and Streeter. Town Manager Matthew B. Galligan and Town Attorney Barry D. Guliano were also present.
There were approximately 17 individuals in the audience.
Town Manager Galligan said that this Ordinance had been requested by Councillor Aman and the Town Assessor, Charles Danna, had previously addressed the properties which would be affected.
Town Attorney Guliano explained that this is a new Ordinance, and it would allow someone who is actually involved in the farming business, as defined in the statutes, to obtain an exemption on one building up to $100,000 (not in tax savings, but rather in the exemption). It does not apply to a farm residence. The owner of the property would have to apply for the exemption each year and would have to submit an affidavit indicating that he/she is actively involved in the farming business and that he/she either derived at least $15,000 in gross sales from the farming operation or incurred at least $15,000 in expenses related to farming.
Betty Warren, 494 Abbe Road and Chairperson of the South Windsor Agricultural Land Preservation Advisory Commission, stated that the Commission very much supports this Ordinance. She said that the impact on the Town income would be quite small but would be quite helpful to the farming community.
Mayor Havens questioned the amount of money which the Town would be losing if the Ordinance was approved, and Mr. Danna didn’t have the exact figure with him this evening. However, he said that if every farm building this year met this program, tax exemptions in the amount of $35, 644 would have been created. He said that the actual amount would be nowhere near that figure.
Minutes
Public Hearing – Proposed Ordinance to Provide Exemption from Real Property Tax for Qualified Farm Buildings
Page 2
September 7, 2004
Tim Shepard, Main Street, indicated his support for this Ordinance, since farmland plays a large part in open space preservation. He stated that, for each dollar received by the Town from a farm operation, it costs the Town about $.40 in services, versus for each dollar on residential, it is about $1.27. He spoke of the importance of preserving the rural atmosphere of the Town. He acknowledged that perhaps his company would benefit from the Ordinance, but he said that the amount that they contribute back to the conservation in Town far exceeds their benefit.
John Dzen, Jr., 215 Barber Hill Road and 275 Barber Hill Road, Dzen Tree Farm, spoke in favor of the Ordinance. He stated that the loss of farmland has reached an epidemic level; the State of Connecticut loses about 8,000 acres of farmland to development each year. He had previously met with the Assessor and stated that, from that discussion, they had determined that approximately 20 farms would have the ability to meet all of the requirements. He continued by statistics relating to this subject.
Mayor Havens then called for a Straw Vote, the results of which were as follows:
Those in favor of the proposed ordinance - 15
Those opposed to the proposed ordinance - 0
The Public Hearing closed at 7:57 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Merlyn P. Guild
Assistant to the Clerk of the Council
Attachments
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