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Town Council Regular Meeting Minutes 4-21-2008

TOWN OF placeCitySOUTH WINDSOR

Minutes Page 1  April 21, 2008

TOWN COUNCIL – Regular Meeting
Council Chambers – placePlaceNameSouth Windsor PlaceTypeTown Hall

1.      Call Meeting to Order

Mayor Streeter called the Regular Meeting to order at 8:03 p.m.

4.      Roll Call

Members Present:        Mayor Matthew Streeter
Deputy Mayor Cary CityplacePrague
Councillor Gary Bazzano
Councillor Kathryn Hale
Councillor PersonNameKevin McCann

Also Present:           Matthew B. Galligan, Town Manager

5.      Public Input

Mr. Alan Witkin, addressStreet64 Lawrence Road came before the Town Council to address a concern regarding the PlaceNameplaceLawrence PlaceNameRoad PlaceTypePark.  Four years ago the Town planned to build a park on addressStreetLawrence Road.  Approximately twenty six families filed a law suit against the Town to stop the Town from clear cutting the land for the park by using herbicides and poisons strong enough to kill the tree stumps and vegetation.  Mr. Witkin continued to give the Town Council a review of past events and then stated that the families of addressStreetLawrence Road do not want to hold up the progress of the park, but want to be ensured that the wells in the area will not be contaminated.  Mr. Witkin then requested that the Town Council address this issue.

Ms. Brenda Chase, 31 Birch Hill Drive came forward to speak in favor of the dog park and thanked the Town Council for the Bark Park.  Ms. Chase then stated that the park is a huge success.

Mr. Sergio Castro, 7 Andreis Trail stated that although he feels the Bark Park is a great idea, there should have been more input from surrounding neighbors.  The placement of the park could have been considered more carefully.  The traffic in the area is now horrible and there are loose dogs running through the neighborhood, which could result in a safety problem especially for young children in the neighborhood.




ITEM:

5.      Public Input (continued)

Mr. Michael Pollack, 54 Andreis Trail voiced concerns regarding the PlaceNameplaceBark PlaceTypePark.  He stated that he likes the idea of a dog park in Town and it is a good public service.  The execution and the placement of the dog park were absolutely horrendous.  There has been an enormous impact on the neighborhood.  There are issues of safety for children with loose dogs in the neighborhood, and nuisance from the noise, and traffic now in the neighborhood.  The Town never notified the neighborhood of this project.  Mr. Pollack requested that there be a meeting regarding this issue to try to fix issues in the neighborhood.  

Ms. Nancy Yario, 20 Andreis Trail came forward to speak in opposition to the PlaceNameplaceBark PlaceTypePark.  More planning and neighborhood input was necessary for this project.  The park creates a lot of noise in the neighborhood.

Mr. Don Gonsalves, 40 Bayberry Trail stated that he disagrees with the way the Town holds public hearings.  At the public hearing for the Board of Education, Mr. Gonsalves was told that the session was not a question and answer forum.  The public has the right to ask questions and get answers.  He stated he wanted to know how much the Town receives from the State for the 59 students that are taken from CityHartford and taught in placeSouth Windsor.  Mr. Gonsalves feels that at public hearings residents should be able to get answers.

Councillor Hale questioned the Town Manager if he could get that calculation for Mr. Gonsalves.  Mr. Galligan stated that he would.

Mr. George Hill, 20 Andreis Trail came forward and stated that it is his feeling that a position of the Town Manager should have a limited life span in any Town.  Town Manager’s should be replaced over a period of time.  After that period of time a new person will come in with new relationships, new points of views and things will get done differently and I think for the better.  The current Town Manager has done an excellent job raising revenue for the Town but items and issues like the dog park may not have happened.  Mr. Hill also discussed the proposal of turf fields at the High School.  There seems to be great economic benefit, but he wants to make sure the Town researches the subject thoroughly in order to use the appropriate product that is not an environment hazard.

6.      Environmental Health& Safety Message

        None


ITEM:

7.      Adoption of Minutes of Previous Meetings

        None

8.      Public Petitions

        None

9.      Communications from Officers and Board Directly Responsible to Council

        None

10.     Communications and Reports from Town Manager

Town Manager, Matthew Galligan reviewed his report to the Town Council, Exhibit B.

11.     Reports from Standing Committees

        None

12.     Reports of Temporary Committees

        None

13.     Communications and Petitions from Council

Councillor Hale questioned if anyone from the Town has reviewed the State Comptrollers Health Insurance plan that covers the State employees.  The plan is being offered to Municipalities.  Mr. Galligan stated that he has attended  meetings regarding this issue and found out that the Town’s plan is cheaper than the State.  The Town is self insured and does not pay health insurance coverage for retirees like the State does.  During negotiations there will be information provided which would keep health costs down.

Councillor Bazzano requested that the Town Council Members get tax comparisons from other Towns.  Mr. Galligan stated that an analysis was completed and he would give the report to the Town Council

ITEM:

14.     Public Participation


Councillor Bazzano then questioned the program where the State gives money to Towns for open space and asked if the Town uses this program?  Mr. Galligan explained that the Town has used the program, but only passive recreation can be used under that program.

Answering further questions from Councillor Hale, Mr. Galligan stated that when the placePlaceNameLawrence PlaceNameRoad PlaceTypePark was first looked at there were no plans for a park.  The idea was to go out and take some of the plant life out that did not belong in there.  The only way to keep that plant life there without bulldozing it down, was to use these chemicals to keep the brush down.  The land was given to the Town by the developer through the Planning & Zoning process.  The property was chosen for active recreation.  The Town is not looking to build playing fields of any kind, right now the Town is prepared to develop trails, boardwalk for fishing at the pond with a nice tree line being left there.  Mr. Galligan said he would meet with Mr. Witkin and go over the plan.

Councillor Bazzano added that it is very important to clean that area up.  The neighborhood should be informed as to the plans for the area.

Mr. Ed Duclos from the PlaceNameplaceSouth Windsor PlaceTypeHigh School came before the Town Council to discuss the safety of the High School playing fields as they exist presently.  There is a safety concern regarding these fields because they are played on so much that there is no chance for the grass to grow.  Artificial turf has been proposed for these fields at the High School.  He stated that after reading an article in the newspaper about the dangers of the synthetic fields, he decided he should come before the Council to explain that the turf fields being proposed for placeSouth Windsor are not the fields discussed in the newspaper, and the proposed fields are safe.

Mr. Justin George, addressStreet177 Kent Lane, came forward to address the fields at the High School.  The present fields are a safety concern for the students and need to be addressed.  The fields should be upgraded to an acceptable standard.

ITEM:

14.     Public Participation (continued)   

Mr. Jack Longo, Athletic Director at the High School stated that placeSouth Windsor is lucky that more students have not been injured badly while playing on the current fields and he urged the Town Council to vote for the upgrade to the fields.

Mr. Dennis Sullivan, addressStreet96 Gilbert Lane came forward and said that the programs at the High School have depleted and it is necessary for these fields to be done.

Mr. Mark Duclos, addressStreet94 Earl Road stated that he has been a resident of placeSouth Windsor since 1966.  He has coached various sports in Town since 1984 and has seen the conditions of the fields.  The quality of fields in Town have slipped to the bottom of the list and need to be addressed.

15.     Consent Agenda

Motion to approve Agenda Items 16. A. through 16. C. and Items 17. A. through 17. B., as the Consent Agenda.

Was made by:    Deputy Mayor Prague
Seconded by:    Councillor McCann

Before calling for a vote on the Consent Agenda, Mayor Streeter asked if there were any items to be removed, there was none.

Mayor Streeter called for a vote on the Consent Agenda; it was approved, unanimously.

16.     Unfinished Business

*A.     Resolution Appointing David Romejko (R) to the Park and Recreation Commission

BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby appoints David Romejko (R) to the Park and Recreation Commission for a term ending November 30l 2009 to fill an unexpired term of Ronald Mirek.


(APPROVED BY CONSENT AGENDA)

ITEM:

16.     Unfinished Business (continued)

*B.     Resolution Appointing Barbara Hoff (R) to the Human Relations Commission

BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby appoints Barbara Hoff (R) to the Human Relations Commission for a term ending November 30, 2009 to fill an expired term.

(APPROVED BY CONSENT AGENDA)

*C.     Resolution Reappointing Elizabeth MacDonald (R) to the South Windsor placeCityAlliance for Families

BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby reappoints Elizabeth MacDonald (R) to the South Windsor Alliance for Families for a term ending September 1, 2009.

(APPROVED BY CONSENT AGENDA)

*D.     Resolution  Reappointing James Kupchunos (D) to the South Windsor Agricultural Land Preservation Agency Commission

BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby reappoints James Kupchunos (D) to the South Windsor Agricultural Land Preservation Agency Commission for a term ending November 30, 2010.

(APPROVED BY CONSENT AGENDA)

ITEM:

17.     New Business

*A.     Resolution Accepting the Resignation of Paul Mozzicato (R) an Alternate from the Patriotic Commission

BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby accepts, with regret, the resignation of Paul Mozzicato (R) an Alternate from the Patriotic Commission, said resignation to be effective immediately; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council extends its thanks to Mr. Mozzicato for the time he has dedicated to servicing his community by his membership on the Patriotic Commission.

(APPROVED BY CONSENT AGENDA)

*B.     Resolution Appointing Leonard B. Glasser (R) an Alternate to the Patriotic Commission and Postponing Consideration of this Motion until the Town Council’s Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting

BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby appoints Leonard B. Glasser (R) an Alternate to the Patriotic Commission for a term ending August 31, 2008 to fill an unexpired term of Paul Mozzicato and postpones consideration of this motion until the Town Council’s next regularly scheduled meeting.

(APPROVED BY CONSENT AGENDA)

C.      Discussion Item:  Artificial Turf Fields at the High School, (Mr. Ed Duclos to be present)

Mr. Ed Duclos came forward again and explained that there has been a lot of research done into this matter and reiterated that the proposed turf fields for the High School are safe.  The fields discussed in the newspapers are old fields that contain lead.

Mr. Orlando Casiano, addressStreet214 Farnham Road stated that placeCitySimsbury has had these turf fields for four years and they have been nothing but positive.  He then urged the Town Council to please support the proposed turf fields.



ITEM:

17.     C.      (continued)

Mr. Bob Onthank, addressStreet1497 Main Street stated that a detailed report regarding different testing such as metals, water analysis that has been performed on different fields.  Mr. Onthank then said he would get the report to Council Members when it is done.

Answering questions from the Mayor, Mr. Galligan explained that the Board of Education has had presentaions regarding the turf fields, and seem to be in support of this concept, but it would be appropriate to keep the Board of Education informed on this issue.  The turf fields are presently being discussed with the Planning & Zoning Commission and the Town Attorney will be contacted to see if an 8-24 referral is necessary for this project.

Councillor Hale stated that she is in support of this item, but voiced concerns with moving this issue forward.  Councillor Hale would like this issue postponed in order to have newly raised concerns about the environmental safety of these fields discussed, and to review paperwork received at tonight’s meeting.

Councillor McCann said he could understand Councillor Hale’s reluctance to move forward, but felt this issue should move forward as soon as possible.  There is presently no other area on the High School property to create new fields and this option is the only viable option.

D.      Resolution Authorizing the Town Manager and Town Attorney to Bid and Bring Back to the Town Council all Contracts and Financing Documents for the Installation of Artificial Turf to be Installed at all Town of South Windsor High School Fields

WHEREAS, a group of concerned citizens and staff of the Board of Education has concerns about the conditions of various playing fields that our sports program currently uses; and

WHEREAS, these concerned citizens have done an enormous amount of research into providing different synthetic type fields which will help to protect the players who participate in these sport organizations; and

(Resolution Continued on Next Page)


ITEM:

17.     D.      (continued)

WHEREAS, this group of concerned citizens have researched various products throughout the State of placeStateConnecticut to determine some of the costs and safety of these products; and

WHEREAS, there have been many presentations made to the Capital Projects Committee, the Board of Education, and the Town Council, who support the refurbishing of the High School Fields with this new artificial turf product

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby authorizes Town Manger, Matthew B. Galligan and the Town Attorney, Halloran & Sage, to prepare appropriate bid specifications for the installation of such turf and further authorizes the Town Manager and the Town Attorney to advertise such bids for the installation of the fields through the normal appropriate bidding process of the Town of South Windsor; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that upon the completion of the bid specification advertisement that the Town Manager bring back to the Town Council the appropriate costs associated with this project plus a contract with the responsible bidder, as well as any lease arrangements that can be made for the financing and installation as long as such arrangements are in the best interest of the Town of South Windsor; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that no contracts or lease arrangements will be signed until Town Council has fully reviewed all of the documents concerned and authorizes the Town Manger and Town Attorney to do so.

Mayor Streeter made a motion to postpone consideration of this Resolution until the Town Council’s next regularly or special scheduled meeting.  Councillor Hale seconded this motion, and it was approved, unanimously.

ITEM:

E.      Resolution Approving the Arbitrage Rebate Payment of $90,671.89 to the Internal Revenue Service

WHEREAS, the Town issued $9,425,000 of General Obligation Bond Anticipation Notes (tax-exempt proceeds) dated March 1, 2007; and

WHEREAS, for various unforeseen circumstances, the Town was unable to expend a majority of the proceeds within one year of the issue date of March 1, 2007; and

WHEREAS, as a result, the Town recognized a profit (referred to as arbitrage) from investing the tax-exempt proceeds in investments that yielded a higher rate of return than the interest expense the Town had to pay to borrow the money; and

WHEREAS, in accordance with Federal Laws, Robinson & Cole LLP calculated the Arbitrage Rebate Payment due to the Internal Revenue Service to be $90,671.89

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby authorizes Town Manager, Matthew B. Galligan to pay the Internal Revenue Service the amount of $90,671.89, from the General Fund Investment Interest Earnings Account.

Was made by Councillor Hale
Seconded by Mayor Streeter

Answering questions from the Council, Mr. Galligan explained that the Town had borrowed money at a very favorable rate for the Firehouse project.  That project was not going forward, so the Town placed the money in a fund that earned more money then what the Town was paying on the bonds.  The Town, through the recommendation of the Town Attorney, is now submitting $90,000 to the IRS to avoid penalties at a later date.

Mayor Streeter then called for a vote on the Motion, it was approved, unanimously.

ITEM:

F.      Resolution setting a Time and Place for a Public Hearing to receive citizen input on a proposed Amendment to Ordinance #148 (Section 90-6), an “Ordinance for Tax Relief for Certain Homeowners Age 65 or Over or Permanently and Totally Disabled”

BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby sets Monday, May 5, 2008, at 7:30 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 a proposed Amendment to Ordinance #148 (section 90-6), an “Ordinance for Tax Relief for Certain Homeowners Age 65 or Over or Permanently and Totally Disabled.”

Was made by Councillor Hale
Seconded by Councillor McCann

Councillor Hale reviewed how the amount were established for this Ordinance.  She then Amended Ordinance #148 (section 90-6) to read $195.00 instead of $200.00.  Mayor Streeter then called for a vote on the Motion, it was approved, unanimously.

G.      Resolution Approving a Refund of Taxes to Three (3) placeSouth Windsor Taxpayers

        BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council approves a refund of property taxes to three (3) South Windsor Residents, the total of said refunds being $3,085.57, and as more fully described on attached Exhibit A.

Was made by Councillor Bazzano
Seconded by Councillor Hale
The motion was: approved, unanimously


ITEM:

H.      Discussion Item:  Proposed 2008/2009 Budgets for Police Department, Library, Town Clerk, Volunteer Fire Department, Fire Marshal, Town Manager, Town Council, and Boards & Commissions

                Boards & Commissions

The total budget of the Boards & Commissions has only increased by $500.00.

        Police Department

Police Chief Gary Tyler came forward to review the proposed budget with Town Council Members.  He explained that the budget was kept within the 5% increase as requested.  Police Chief Tyler then reviewed the increases and decreases to the proposed budget.

Answering questions from the Council, Chief Tyler explained that salaries increased because of contractual agreements.  The Police Department is presently  short on positions due to different circumstances, but if the Police Department was fully staffed, the overtime budget would decrease by a minimal amount due to the type of duties that a Police Department is expected to perform.  

Mayor Streeter ended discussions on this budget by stating the Town Council will have to look further at this budget and will probably make more reductions.  This year the budget will be a little tougher than last years and all departments will be sharing the pain.

        Library

Mary Etter, Library Director came forward to review the Library budget.  The proposed budget is 2.46% increase and the major shifts in the items are due to machinery usage.

Town Clerk

Gretchen Bickford, Town Clerk explained that the Town Clerk’s overall budget decreased by 1.5%.  

Answering questions from the Council, Ms. Bickford explained that the Town Clerk’s Office charges for copies made on the copier and turns back money to the general fund every year.  The DEP will be making available fishing license on line starting in July, 2008.  The general recordings have decreased somewhat.

Volunteer Fire Department

Chief Phil Crombie came forward to review his budget with the Town Council (Exhibit C) and stated that there is a proposed increase of $33,000 over the operating budget that we had in this current year.

Mayor Streeter stated that in previous years the Town Council used money left over in the Contingency Account and feels this would be a good use for this year’s budget to cover the cost of the Cityplacehurst tool.  Mr. Galligan explained that there is presently approximately $60,000 in Contingency and he would discuss with Finance if there are any plans for this money.

Councillor McCann questioned what the money under Professional Services is used for?  Chief Crombie explained that the biggest part of Professional Services Account is the Length of Service Award Program which is a retirement benefit for the Volunteer Fire Fighters.  That is funded at about $64,000.  The other part of that is the accident and disability policy which is about $8,000.
Fire Marshal

Mr. Walter Summers, Fire Marshal presented his budget to the Town Council, (Exhibit D).  Mr. Summers explained that he is requesting a new position for a full time position which would be at a cost of approximately $60,000 plus benefits.  

18.     Passage of Ordinance

        None

19.     Communications and Petitions from Council (Continued)

None



ITEM:

20.     Communications and Reports from Town Manager (Continued)

        None

21.     Executive Session

        None

22.     Motion to Adjourn

At 10:35 p.m., Councillor Bazzano made a motion to adjourn the Regular Meeting; Councillor Hale seconded the motion; and it was approved, unanimously.


Respectfully submitted,



                                                
Deborah W. Reid
Clerk of the Council