TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
MINUTES
TOWN COUNCIL BUDGET WORK SESSION
COUNCIL CHAMBERS APRIL 25, 2005
SOUTH WINDSOR TOWN HALL 7:00 P.M.
1. Call Meeting to Order
Mayor Havens called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Members Present: Councillor Roseann Williams
Councillor Elizabeth Pendleton
Councillor Judith Paquin
Councillor Deborah Fine
Deputy Mayor John P. Pelkey
Mayor Edward Havens
Councillor Thomas Delnicki
Councillor Cary Prague
Councillor Matthew Streeter
Also Present: Town Manager Matthew B. Galligan
Melanie Crucitti, Director of Finance
Public Participation - None
Communications - None
Town Manager’s Report – At the request of Mayor Havens, Town Manager Matthew B. Galligan gave an overview of the Report. He stated that it is basically to talk about some of the questions that did come up by Council. The first question was regarding the technology budget, which was for the Board of Education for $250,000 over 10 years. After reviewing the original plan and the revised plan, it was then decided that if the Town is going to have a technology plan, it should be for one town wide technology plan. He also said that the Board of Education had wanted this in last year’s budget.
Town Manager Galligan also discussed the questions that were raised regarding the Public Works budget, he said that he provided the Council with a memorandum from Mr. Gantick that highlighted some of the issues. Also, $18,000.00 was taken out of the CRA budget.
5. Town Manager’s Report (Continued)
The questions that were raised regarding the Recreation Department Day Camp was also discussed by Town Manager Galligan. He said that one Councillor thought that the cost was too high. He said that there are about 40 daycares in South Windsor and he provided the Council with their prices. He reminded the Council that the Recreation Department is not a daycare, but that they are providing a camp program that provides many different activities for the children. He explained that the Recreation Department does a lot of work comparing prices with surrounding towns.
Town Manager Galligan also distributed three scenarios (Exhibit A). Scenario 1 is the original budget that shows no reduction. Scenario 2 is the targeted tax rate at 2-½%, which shows what the increases and reductions are. Scenario 3 is another targeted budget, which is looking at 1.99% tax increase, which shows the various increases and shows what needs to be reduced. Attached to Scenarios 2 and 3, there are lists that show what was reduced. He asked if anyone had any questions
Items for Discussion
A. Proposed 2005/2006 General Government Budget
Before anyone asked any questions, Mayor Havens read the list of the South Windsor Residents that are currently serving or have served in either Operation Iraq Freedom or Operation Noble Eagle, which he does at every Council Meeting.
Deputy Mayor Pelkey stated that they did have a Capital Projects Meeting last week, and the subject of the computers came up again. He said that last week when the Police Department gave their presentation, they also brought up computers as well. He said that it was his understanding that this was all going to be under one inclusive budget. He suggested that in order to make this a Shared Services thing, all of the line items for computers be put into Capital Projects. He asked Town Manager Galligan to find out the details, so that the money can be taken out of Operating and put into Capital Projects. Town Manager Galligan said that they can make that adjustment to be put up for adoption at the Council Meeting on Monday May 2nd.
6. A. (Continued)
Councillor Matthew Streeter asked Town Manager Galligan several questions, in which he answered, regarding the different Commissions and some of the items that weren’t discussed previously because of the cancelled Work Session.
Councillor Thomas Delnicki and Councillor Streeter both had a few questions for Town Manager Galligan regarding the Scenarios that were distributed. If the Council wants to change where the deductions are taken from, a Resolution would need to be done to that affect.
Mayor Havens asked how to go about making those requests. Town Manager Galligan said that a Councillor would have to make a motion and it would have to be seconded at the May 2nd Council Meeting.
Deputy Mayor Pelkey pointed out that by looking at the Tax Impact Sheet, it looks as if the difference of the 2.5% proposal versus the 2% proposal are relatively close with the numbers as far as where they are going to end up at the May 2nd Council Meeting. He said that between now and then, they have some reflection to do to come up with the final figure.
Councillor Streeter said that he still hasn’t gotten an answer from Dr. Wood regarding the numbers for “Special Education”. He asked Town Manager Galligan to follow up with the request. Town Manager Galligan said that his opinion is that the Board is fully funding the “Special Education” program.
Mayor Havens asked if there were any further questions.
Executive Session – To discuss personnel matters
All were in favor of going to the Executive Session. The Executive Session began at 7:45 p.m.
Adjournment
After the Executive Session, they returned to adjourn the Work Session. The Work Session was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Vanessa Perry
Assistant to the Clerk of the Council
Attachment (Exhibit A)
| 
