TOWN COUNCIL
TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
Action Minutes Page 1 February 21, 2006
TOWN COUNCIL – Regular Meeting
Council Chambers – South Windsor Town Hall
Members Present: Mayor Matthew Streeter
Deputy Mayor Thomas Delnicki
Councillor Deborah Fine
Councillor Edward Havens
Councillor Kevin McCann
Councillor Tim Moriarty
Councillor John Pelkey
Councillor Cary Prague
Councillor Keith Yagaloff
Also Present: Town Manager Matthew B. Galligan
(No “Interim” Town Attorney present)
The Meeting was called to order by Mayor Streeter at 8:00 p.m.
ITEM #:
5. Public Input - None
.6 Environmental Health and Safety
Mayor Streeter reminded those listening that because of the warmer temperatures, and the “lure of the outdoors,” “walkers,” “joggers,” and “bike-riders” out on Town roads at night should be wearing light-colored clothing or have some type of “illumination” such as flashlights or reflectors to make their presence known to vehicles using those same roads.
Councillor Fine, again reminded residents, that every house in Town should have easily readable “house numbers,” at least 3 inches in height, on the street-side of their homes in clear view from the road, and illuminated by a light at night. She again emphasized the importance of providing emergency vehicles with this type of help when they are trying to locate a residence where there is some type of an emergency.
7. Adoption of Minutes of Previous Meetings - None
ACTION MINUTES
Regular Meeting – Town Council
Page 2
February 21, 2006
ITEM #:
8. Public Petitions - None
9. Communications from Officers and Boards Directly Responsible to Council - None
10. Communications and Reports from Town Manager
Mr. Galligan reported on the following:
a. His testimony at FOI Hearing on Witkin v. Town of South Windsor case.
b. The need to transfer $80,000 from the Town’s Contingency Fund to the Town Attorney’s Professional Account to meet current Interim Town Attorney fees; and to provide funds for a new Town Attorney when hired.
c. A transfer of $18,300 from Salary Contingency Account to Fire Marshal’s Full-time Salary Account in order to meet new Fire Marshal’s salary for the rest of the Fiscal Year.
d. New Fire House #3 – Land at 625 Sullivan Avenue has now been purchased and paid for - 7.6 acres at a cost of $495,000.
e. Budget – Mr. Galligan said that this was discussed, at length, during the earlier Work Session.
f. State Legislators suggestion that all “golf courses” be designated “open space” and, thus, be tax free. Mr. Galligan suggested that, in each case, the “local government” make that decision, rather than the State.
g. The Town Manager spoke on the success of decisions and workings of the Town’s Capital Projects Committee.”
ACTION MINUTES
Regular Meeting – Town Council
Page 3
February 21, 2006
ITEM #:
11. Reports from Standing Committees - None
12. Reports of Temporary Committees
A Temporary Committee consisting of Deputy Mayor Delnicki, Councilor Prague, and Councillor Fine were chosen, by consensus, to be the “Citizens Satisfaction Survey” subcommittee of the Town Council.
13. Communications and Petitions from Council
Councillor Pelkey questioned the need for the “Executive Session” held on February 15, 2006, wherein the Town Councillors met with the Consultant hired by the Board of Education to seek a new Superintendent of Schools. The purpose of the Special Work Session was to allow the Town Council to express its opinions regarding what qualities they would like to see in a new Superintendent of Schools. Councillor Fine, too, felt that by calling for an “Executive Session,” the Council was put in the position of not being able to make the public privy to their discussions regarding this search.
The Mayor recused himself from this discussion because he was not present at the meeting; Councillor Havens felt it should have been an “open session;” and Councillors Yagaloff and McCann, as attorneys, cautioned Council about setting a precedent by releasing itself from the constraints placed on Executive Session discussions.
In his concluding remarks, Councillor Pelkey suggested that a letter be sent to the “Consultant;” and, also, that a “Resolution” for Council action regarding this release be prepared by the Town’s Interim Town Attorney.
14. Public Participation
Art Dio, 60 Bourbon Street and a teacher in South Windsor for 34 years, rose to state the case for the teachers in the South Windsor school system, the recent “Stipulated Arbitration Award,” and the need to keep good teachers in the system as well as attracting new ones. He urged the Town Council to vote for the Teachers’ Contract.
ACTION MINUTES
Regular Meeting – Town Council
Page 4
February 21, 2006
ITEM #:
15. Consent Agenda
Motion to approve Agenda Items 16. A. through 16. G. as the Consent Agenda.
Was made by: Councillor Yagaloff
Seconded by: Deputy Mayor Delnicki
The Motion was: Approved, unanimously
16. Unfinished Business
*A. Resolution Reappointing Janice Favreau (D) to the Human Relations Commission
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council reappoints Janice Favreau to the Human Relations Commission for a term ending November 30, 2008.
(APPROVED BY CONSENT AGENDA)
*B. Resolution Reappointing Leslie Ann Carman (D) to the Human Relations Commission
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council reappoints Leslie Ann Carman to the Human Relations Commission for a term ending November 30, 2008.
(APPROVED BY CONSENT AGENDA)
*C. Resolution Reappointing Joseph Kennedy (D) to the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Commission
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council reappoints Joseph Kennedy to the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Commission for a term ending September 1, 2007.
(APPROVED BY CONSENT AGENDA)
ACTION MINUTES
Regular Meeting – Town Council
Page 5
February 21, 2006
ITEM #:
*D. Resolution Reappointing Dwight Johnson (D) to the Economic Development Commission
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council reappoints Dwight Johnson to the Economic Development Commission for a term ending November 30, 2009.
(APPROVED BY CONSENT AGENDA)
*E. Resolution Reappointing Marilyn Morrison (D) to the Economic Development Commission
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council reappoints Marilyn Morrison to the Economic Development Commission for a term ending November 30, 2009.
(APPROVED BY CONSENT AGENDA)
*F. Resolution Reappointing James Murray (D) to the Economic Development Commission
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council reappoints James Murray to the Economic Development Commission for a term ending November 30, 2009.
(APPROVED BY CONSENT AGENDA)
*G. Resolution Reappointing Carol Fletterick (D) to the Water Pollution Control Authority
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council reappoints Carol Fletterick to the Water Pollution Control Authority for a term ending November 30, 2011.
(APPROVED BY CONSENT AGENDA)
ACTION MINUTES
Regular Meeting – Town Council
Page 6
February 21, 2006
ITEM #:
H. Resolution Reappointing Edward Havens, Jr. (D) to the Water Pollution Control Authority
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council reappoints Edward Havens, Jr. to the Water Pollution Control Authority for a term ending November 30, 2011.
Was made by: Councillor Yagaloff
Seconded by: Deputy Mayor Delnicki
The Motion was approved 8 Ayes to 1 Abstention, on a Roll Call vote, the abstaining vote being cast by Councillor Havens.
17. New Business
A. Resolution Rejecting the “Stipulated Arbitration Award” Between the South Windsor Board of Education and the South Windsor Education Association
WHEREAS, the Contract Agreement on Working Conditions between the South Windsor Board of Education and the South Windsor Education Association was executed by the parties on December 1, 2005, and filed in the Office of the Town Clerk on December 2, 2005; and
WHEREAS, at its Regular Meeting of December 19, 2005, the South Windsor Town Council, by Resolution, rejected said Contract; and
WHEREAS, the South Windsor Board of Education and the South Windsor Education Association agreed to a “Stilpulated Agreement” which, when presented to the South Windsor Town Council, was no different than that originally negotiated by the South Windsor Board of Education and the South Windsor Education Association; and
(Resolution Continued on Next Page)
ACTION MINUTES
Regular Meeting – Town Council
Page 7
February 21, 2006
ITEM #:
17. A. (Continued)
WHEREAS, a Stipulated Arbitration Award was received from the Chairperson of the Arbitration Panel and filed in the Office of the Town Clerk on February 2, 2006
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby REJECTS the Stipulated Arbitration Award between the South Windsor Board of Education and the South Windsor Education Association.
Was made by: Councillor Prague
Seconded by: Councillor Fine
(For the record--Councillor Pelkey recused himself from any discussion or vote on this Resolution because of a Conflict of Interest)
Following a lengthy discussion regarding this Resolution and the “Stipulated Arbitration Award” between the South Windsor Board of Education and the South Windsor Education Association, the Mayor called for a vote on the Resolution.
The Motion failed 4 Ayes to 4 Nays, on a Roll Call vote, as follows:
Deputy Mayor Delnicki Yes
Councillor Fine No
Councillor McCann Yes
Councillor Havens No
Councillor Moriarty Yes
Councillor Prague No
Councillor Yagaloff No
Mayor Streeter Yes
ACTION MINUTES
Regular Meeting – Town Council
Page 8
February 21, 2006
ITEM #:
17. New Business (Continued)
B. Resolution Rescinding October 17, 2005 Town Council Approval of a $2,300 Grant to the “South Windsor MOMS Club” from the South Windsor Contingency Fund
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby rescinds its approval of a Resolution introduced under a Suspension of the Rules by Councillor Pelkey at the Town Council’s Regular Meeting of October 17, 2005 approving a $2,300 Grant from the Town’s Contingency Fund to the “South Windsor MOMS Club.
Was made by: Councillor Pelkey
Seconded by: Councillor Fine
The Motion was: Approved, unanimously
C. Resolution Approving a $2,300 Grant to the “South Windsor MOMS Club” From the “South Windsor Citizen Matching Mini-Grant Program”
WHEREAS, the South Windsor Town Council created a “South Windsor Citizen Matching Mini-Grant Program” on June 20, 2005; and
WHEREAS, the South Windsor MOMS Club has duly submitted a proper Application for matching funds of $2,300 to purchase furniture for a new Children’s Reading Center to be located in the South Windsor Library; and
WHEREAS, Town Manager Matthew B. Galligan has reviewed and approved this project and Application and has determined that it meets all of the criteria of the “South Windsor Citizen Matching Mini-Grant Program”
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council authorizes Town Manager Matthew B. Galligan to issue $2,300 of matching funds to the South Windsor MOMS Club from the “South Windsor Citizen Matching Mini-Grant Program;”
Was made by: Councillor Pelkey
Seconded by: Deputy Mayor Delnicki
The Motion was: Approved, unanimously
ACTION MINUTES
Regular Meeting – Town Council
Page 9
February 21, 2006
ITEM #:
17. New Business (Continued)
D. Resolution Approving the Transfer of $18,300 from the Salary Contingency Account to the Fire Marshal Full-time Salaries Account
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby approves a transfer of $18,300 from the Salary Contingency Account to the Fire Marshal Full-time Salaries Account to cover the vacation and sick-time payout to the retired Fire Marshal.
Was made by: Deputy Mayor Delnicki
Seconded by: Councillor Pelkey
The Motion was: Approved, unanimously
E. Resolution Approving the Transfer of $80,000 from the Contingency Fund Account to the Town Attorney Professional Account
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby approves a transfer of $80,000 from the Contingency Account to the Town Attorney Professional Account to cover fees for legal services.
Was made by: Councillor Havens
Seconded by: Councillor Pelkey
The Motion was approved 8 Ayes to 1 Nay, on a Roll Call vote, the Nay vote being cast by Councillor Yagaloff.
F. Resolution Approving a Refund of Property Taxes to Twenty-Five (25) South Windsor Taxpayers
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby approves a refund of property taxes to twenty-five (25) South Windsor taxpayers, the total of said refunds being $14,973.32 and as more fully described on attached Exhibit A.
Was made by: Councillor McCann
Seconded by: Deputy Mayor Delnicki
The Motion was: Approved, unanimously
ACTION MINUTES
Regular Meeting – Town Council
Page 10
February 21, 2006
ITEM #:
18. Passage of Ordinance - None
19. Communications and Petitions from Council (Continued)
20. Communications and Reports from Town Manager (Continued) -
Councillor Fine requested that the next town Council’s Agenda include a “Discussion Item” regarding Banners vs. Other Means of Communicating Events to Town Residents.
Councillor Pelkey announced that the “My Friends Place Golf Tournament” scheduled for the benefit of raising funds for The Boundless Playground had received a sponsor—that being Imperial Plumbing and Oil Company.
21. Executive Session - None
22. Motion to Adjourn
A Motion to Adjourn was made, at 9:55 p.m., by Councillor Moriarty; seconded by Councillor Prague; and was approved, unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia R. Brown
Clerk of the Council
Attmt. (Exhibit A.)
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