TOWN COUNCIL
TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
Minutes Page 1 July 16, 2007
TOWN COUNCIL – Regular Meeting
Council Chambers – placePlaceNameSouth Windsor PlaceTypeTown Hall
1. Call Meeting to Order
Mayor Streeter called the meeting to order at 8:10 p.m.
Mayor Streeter received a check from the Mr. Brian Rivard, Chairman of the South Windsor Historical Society for the conveyance of property located at addressStreet771 Main Street (placePlaceNameUnion PlaceTypeSchool) to the South Windsor Historical Society. Mr. Rivard then thanked all those who helped this process happen.
At 8:15 p.m. the Regular Meeting was recessed in order to finish the Work Session Agenda.
At 8:46 p.m. the Regular Meeting was reconvened.
4. Roll Call
Members Present: Mayor Matthew Streeter
Deputy Mayor Thomas Delnicki
Councillor Edward Havens
Councillor Daniel Jeski
Councillor Kevin McCann
Councillor Tim Moriarty
Councillor John Pelkey
Councillor Cary CityplacePrague
Councillor Keith Yagaloff
Also Present: Director of Finance, Melanie Crucitti
5. Public Input
Mr. Roy Normen, addressStreet158 Homestead Drive thanked the Town Council Members for a no tax increase for this year.
6. Environmental Health & Safety Message
None
ITEM:
7. Adoption of Minutes of Previous Meetings
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council approves the Minutes of the following Town Council meetings: Special Meeting of May 10, 2007, Work Session of July 2, 2007, and Regular Meeting of July 2, 2007.
Was made by: Councillor McCann
Seconded by: Councillor Pelkey
The motion was: Approved, unanimously
8. Public Petitions
Deputy Mayor Delnicki stated that there was a gentleman, Mr. Lee Santos, that came before the Town Council at the July 2, 2007 meeting and presented a petition pertaining to addressStreetDeming Street truck traffic. Deputy Mayor Delnicki informed the Town Council that he has been in contact with Mr. Santos and would be requesting that this issue be discussed at the next Town Council Meeting on September 4, 2007 during the Work Session.
Mr. Don Gonsalves, 40 Bayberry Trail came before the Town Council to request that at the September 4, 2007 meeting an item be placed on the agenda concerning the financial status of the Towns Pension and Health Benefit Programs.
9. Communications from Officers and Boards Directly Responsible to Council
None
10. Communications and reports from Town Manager
None
11. Reports from Standing Committees
None
12. Reports from Temporary Committees
None
ITEM:
13. Communications and Petitions from Council
Councillor Pelkey told the Town Council that he has received legal opinions on two issues that had come before the Town Council. The first issue was regarding a citizen who was concerned about giving their name and address at a public meeting. The Town Attorney responded that if a citizen feels uncomfortable about publicly putting their name and address in the public record, they can approach the Town Council to waive the rule and submit their name privately. The second issue was regarding the waiving of fees for the Fire Marshal’s inspection. The Town Attorney has suggested language that could be placed in the Ordinance. At the next meeting there will be a resolution to Amend the Fire Marshal Fee Ordinance.
Councillor Prague announced the following: 1) The Wapping Fair will be held at Evergreen Walk behind LA Fitness; 2) On August 10, 2007 LL Bean will be opening; 3) Every other Thursday night for the next six weeks the Rockville Bank Concert Series will be held; and 4) Every Friday there is a movie in the back of Evergreen Walk.
14. Public Participation
None
15. Consent Agenda
None
16, Unfinished Business
None
17. New Business
Deputy Mayor Delnicki made a motion to Suspend the Rules and move Items 17. B. out of order; Councillor Prague seconded the motion; and it was Approved, unanimously.
ITEM:
17. New Business (continued)
B. Resolution Endorsing the plan by Lawrence Associates for the Town Hall expansion project at 1530 Sullivan Avenue
WHEREAS, the South Windsor Town Council has, by resolution, voted to acquire a lease on the building at addressStreet1530 Sullivan Avenue; and
WHEREAS, Lawrence Associates of Manchester, Connecticut was retained by the Town Council to work with Town Staff to professionally consider the space needs at Town Hall as well as to consider the best uses for utilization of space at both Town Hall and the building at 1530 Sullivan Avenue; and
WHEREAS, the Space Needs Sub-Committee has recommended the Town Council proceed forward with the project; and
WHEREAS, the plan has been endorsed by the Town Manager and Town Hall Staff
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the placeSouth Windsor Town Council hereby Endorses the plan by Lawrence Associate for the Town Hall expansion project at addressStreet1530 Sullivan Avenue.
Was made by: Deputy Mayor Delnicki
Seconded by: Mayor Streeter
Deputy Mayor Delnicki began by stating for the record that he did not write this resolution and is 100% against the plan. Deputy Mayor Delnicki then reviewed the amount the Town will be spending to implement the plan before the Council. Economically it does not make sense to construct a new Council Chambers at addressStreet1530 Sullivan Avenue and then renovate the existing Council Chambers into office space. The Town Council should look to place a few Town Hall Departments at addressStreet1530 Sullivan Avenue. Deputy Mayor Delnicki urged fellow Councillors to reject this plan of moving the Council Chambers to addressStreet1530 Sullivan Avenue.
Councillor Yagaloff made a motion to table this item; Councillor Jeski seconded the Motion; and the Motion Passed 5 Ayes to 4 Nays on a Roll Call vote. This dissenting votes being cast by Deputy Mayor Delnicki, Councillor Moriarty, Councillor Prague and Mayor Streeter.
ITEM:
17. New Business (continued)
A. Resolution Approving a transfer of $89,875 from the Capital and Non-Recurring Expenditures Account to the Capital Projects Account
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby approves a transfer of $89,875 from the Capital and Non-Recurring Expenditures Account to the Capital Projects Account to cover costs for Professional Services Associated with the Renovation of 1530 Sullivan Avenue.
Was made by: Councillor Yagaloff
Seconded by: Councillor Pelkey
Councillor Pelkey suggested an Amendment to this resolution by adding an additional paragraph to read as follows:
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council directs Town Manager, Matthew B. Galligan, to come back to the Town Hall Expansion Committee with additional options of a potential use for the building at addressStreet1530 Sullivan Avenue.
Councillor Yagaloff seconded the amendment.
Councillor Pelkey stated he would like to see other recommendations for the building at addressStreet1530 Sullivan Avenue, but also felt the building should be utilized as soon as possible.
Councillor Yagaloff stated that he does not believe the Council Chambers should be moved to addressStreet1530 Sullivan Avenue, but would recommend that office space be moved to the building. Councillor Yagaloff said he is in favor of moving ahead with this project because the Town already has a lease/purchase agreement with the owner.
Councillor McCann agreed with the amendment.
Mayor Streeter then called for a vote on the Amendment. The Amendment Passed Unanimously.
ITEM:
17. A. (continued)
Councillor Prague began discussions on the Amended resolution stating that he would be more willing to spend the money on the senior center prior to spending it on Town Hall space needs. Councillor Prague then stated that conceptual plans could be created in house prior to spending money on the development of plans.
Councillor Moriarty stated that the Town does not need to spend $89,875 to have a firm tell the Town what the building at addressStreet1530 Sullivan Avenue should be used for. The Town Council is supposed to be deciding what the space should be used for. Councillor Moriarty said he is opposed to this resolution.
Councillor Pelkey felt that with this resolution the Town Council is essentially transferring money from one account to another. The Amendment is requesting the Town Manager to come back to the Town Hall Expansion Committee with more options for the building. The renovation at addressStreet1530 Sullivan Avenue will also crate more space for meeting rooms which in turn will free up space at the Town Hall that could be turned into office space.
Deputy Mayor Delnicki suggested an Amendment to the resolution of changing the figure of $89,875 to $25,000; Councillor Prague seconded the Amendment. The Amendment failed 4 Ayes to 5 Nays on a Roll Call vote. The dissenting votes being cast by Deputy Mayor Delnicki, Councillor McCann, Moriarty and placeCityPrague.
Councillor Havens stated that he is in support of the resolution and feels the Town Council has obligated themselves to the Tax Payers of South Windsor by entering into the lease/purchase agreement.
Councillor McCann stated that the Town Council does need to move forward with a plan for the building at 1530 Sullivan Avenue, but until a plan is developed, and is premature to move almost $90,000 from one account to another.
Councillor Yagaloff said that the Town Manager has set the amount suggested and has recommended the Town Council moves forward. There is an entire Committee to watch over this process and make sure things are done correctly.
ITEM:
17. A. (continued)
Deputy Mayor Delnicki stated that he feels $25,000 is an appropriate amount to accomplish what is necessary to begin this process.
Councillor Moriarty felt that if $89,875 is authorized, it will be spend and he is not in support of this resolution.
Mayor Streeter then called for a vote on the Motion. The Motion Passed 5 Ayes to 4 Nays on a Roll Call vote. This dissenting votes being cast by Deputy Mayor Delnicki, Councillors McCann, Moriarty and placeCityPrague.
C. Resolution Approving the payment of $25,000 to William Lanning from Salary Contingency Account
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby approves a payment of $25,000 from the Salary Contingency Account to the Town of placeCitySouth Windsor’s Former Fire Marshal, William Lanning, for accrued vacation time over the allowed maximum of 35 days.
Was made by: Councillor Pelkey
Seconded by: Deputy Mayor Delnicki
The motion was: Approved, unanimously
D. Resolution Approving an Hourly Wage Increase and Fringe Benefits Equivalent to Those Approved by Council for Non-Bargaining Unit Members for the Clerk of the Council for Fiscal Year July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council approves an hourly wage increase of 3.5% ($21.75)/hour) for the Clerk of the Council for Fiscal Year 2007/2008 said wage increase and benefits being equivalent to those approved by Council on July 17, 2006 for the Non-Bargaining Unit Members Job Classification Plan for Fiscal Years 2006/2007 and 2007/2008; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that said benefits will be calculated on a prorated basis according to the average number of hours worked in the previous Fiscal Year; and
(Resolution Continued on Next Page)
ITEM:
17. D. (continued)
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the hourly wage increase and participation in the Non-Bargaining Unit Members Fringe Benefit Package shall be effective as of July 1, 2007.
Was made by: Councillor Moriarty
Seconded by: Mayor Streeter
The motion was: Approved, unanimously
E. Resolution setting a Time and Place for a Public Hearing to Receive Citizen Input on an “Ordinance Prohibiting Tractor-Trailer Truck Traffic on portions of Troy Road and Brookfield Street,” in the Town of South Windsor
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby sets Tuesday, September 4, 2007, at 7:45 p.m., in the Council Chambers of the South Windsor Town Hall, 1540 Sullivan Avenue, South Windsor, Connecticut as the time and place for a Public Hearing to receive citizen input on an “Ordinance Prohibiting Tractor-Trailer Truck Traffic on portions of Troy Road and Brookfield Street,” in the Town of South Windsor.
Was made by: Councillor Jeski
Seconded by: Deputy Mayor Delnicki
The motion was: Approved, unanimously
F. Resolution Approving a Refund of Property Taxes to nine (9) placeSouth Windsor Taxpayers
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council approves a refund of property taxes to nine (9) South Windsor Residents, the total of said refunds being $1,709.84, and as more fully described on attached Exhibit A.
Was made by: Councillor Prague
Seconded by: Deputy Mayor Delnicki
The motion was: Approved, unanimously
18. Passage of Ordinance
None
ITEM:
19. Communications and Petitions from Council
None
20. Communications and Reports from Town Manager
None
21. Executive Session
None
22. Motion to Adjourn
At 9:52 p.m., Councillor McCann made a motion to adjourn; Deputy Mayor Delnicki seconded the motion; and it was Approved, unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Deborah W. Reid
Clerk of the Council
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