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MINUTES
TOWN COUNCIL WORK SESSION
COUNCIL CHAMBERS APRIL 28, 2008
placeSOUTH WINDSOR TOWN HALL TIME: 7:00 P.M.
1. Call Meeting to Order
Mayor Streeter called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Members Present: Mayor Matthew Streeter
Deputy Mayor Cary CityplacePrague
Councillor Gary Bazzano
Councillor Lisa Maneeley
Councillor Kevin McCann
Councillor John Pelkey
Councillor Keith Yagaloff
Also Present: Matthew B. Galligan, Town Manager
3. Public Participation:
Mr. Larry Torff, addressStreet521 Quarry Brook Drive came before the Town Council to comment on the Capital Projects budget. He felt that the Capital Project Committee overstepped their bounds. Their goal is to identify and prioritize the capital projects for the Town should be. The financing of the old post office should not be in this budget because it will not be purchased for three years. The artificial turf project should be in the budget.
A resident from addressStreetWest Road came before the Town Council. He felt that the artificial turf grass should be considered part of the school referendum rather than being a separate budget item in the budget. There have been news reports that the turf fields could cause different kinds of injuries and they may contain lead or different toxins in them, which could lead to liability for the Town. The fields are being worn out, but there are alternatives by either not using the fields as much or alternate use of the fields. There are large budget items and the Town should be prioritizing these items instead of trying to do them all at the same time.
Mr. Don Gonsalves, 40 Bayberry Trail came to the Town Council and stated that he is not for or against the artificial turf. He did question if there was a public hearing on the artificial turf. If not, there is no way the Town Council should be acting on this item. The public should be entitled to speak for or against this item.
4. Communications
None
Work Session – Town Council
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April 28, 2008
ITEM:
5. Town Manager’s Report
None
6. Items for Discussion
A. Proposed Budgets for Information Technology, Public Works, Capital Projects, Recreation, and Town Council
Information Technology
Mr. Scott Roberts, Director of Information Technology came before the Town Council to introduce the proposed budget, (Exhibit A).
Answering questions from the Town Council, Mr. Roberts explained that the school system and Town would have a problem sharing services because both entities are on different networks. The Board of Education is in a program called Connecticut Education Network (CEN) that Town Government can not participate in. Until the networks are combined, they do not interchange.
Deputy Mayor Prague questioned if the GIS system is available to the public? Mr. Mike Gantick explained that in the next couple of weeks that site will be live for the public, which will be a free service.
Mr. Roberts explained that Reverse 911 is not available for the Town yet. Mr. Galligan stated that Connect CTY still exists and the State of placeStateConnecticut is looking to get grant funding for municipalities to be a part of that system. The item was taken out of the budget.
Deputy Mayor Prague then asked if the use of Channel 16 is still in the budget? Mr. Roberts stated that the use of Channel 16 is still in the budget. The Town can air different shows that are wanted.
Mr. Galligan added that AT & T is looking to go into the television business. Unfortunately when residents sign up for that service, A T & T can not get the local channel like the Town has with Cox, but it is being investigated how to get that service available.
Answering further questions from the Council, Mr. Roberts said he would look into the system that the Board of Education used to monitor energy consumption in the building. A generator would not be able to handle the equipment that the Town has plus the other functions that are handled during an outage. The Town has a 4’ x 8’ shed that is climate controlled which is used to store equipment. When the Town Hall Annex is complete, there is a design for an IT room and storage would be available at Town Hall, so the shed would not need to be used. The Information Technology Capital Account is presently down to $6,000 and should be exhausted by the end of the year.
Work Session – Town Council
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April 28, 2008
ITEM:
Public Works
Mr. Michael Gantick first introduced staff that was present and then reviewed his proposed budget, (Exhibit B).
Councillor Pelkey voiced concern regarding the Pavement Management Program which showed that just to maintain our roads as they are today, the Town would need about $3,000,000 per year. Every year the Town falls behind in maintaining roads. Mr. Gantick explained that when roads are chosen to be done, there is an economic process that is used.
Mayor Streeter recessed the Work Session at 8:00 p.m. in order to call the Special Meeting to order; and then the Work Session was resumed at 8:28 p.m.
Answering further questions from the Council, Mr. Gantick stated that there is only one new position being requested. Presently the problem with using the process of chip stone for road maintenance is that most residents do not like it because it creates a rough surface. The other problem is that there is increased traffic throughout Town. This process can only be used on roads that have 3,000 cars per day or less. Public Works is looking at other alternatives, but the chip seal process will be used in Town where it can be used.
Mr. Karl Reichle, Superintendent of Operations came before the Town Council and explained that the Board of Education has chosen to hire a contractor to come in and mow the field hockey field.
Councillor Yagaloff felt it is important to inform the public that PlaceNameplaceLawrence PlaceNameRoad PlaceTypePark can precede independent of the law suit because we are going to remove the trees by mechanical means. The final plans should be complete soon. Mr. Galligan explained that presently the Town is working with Mr. Witkin. Some of the trails at the addressStreetplacePlaceNameLawrence PlaceNameRoad PlaceTypePark will need chemicals to ensure that there will not be grass growth.
Council Member reviewed the road replacement process and the decreases and increases in the proposed budget.
Work Session – Town Council
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April 28, 2008
ITEM:
Recreation
Mr. Ray Favreau, Director of Recreation came before the Town Council to review Recreations proposed budget, (Exhibit C). The Recreation Department operates as a Special Revenue Fund. The only direct tax subsidized component of our operation is the administrative function.
Answering questions from the Town Council, Mr. Favreau explained that Recreations goal is to promote the Ropes Program to the private sector in order to generate more revenue. There is a 20% increase planned in the 4th R Program, but the Recreation Department can accommodate a larger increase in that program if necessary.
Capital Projects
Mr. Galligan explained that there is a list of various projects that the Capital Projects Committee had recommended. The Capital Projects Committee has a goal to increase projects by 20%. There are six school projects and nine Town projects proposed. Mr. Galligan then went into detail regarding each project. If any Council Member has any suggestions or problems, the Capital Projects Committee should be contacted.
Mayor Streeter began discussions regarding this budget stating that he is leery to move forward with setting money aside in this budget season for the purchase of the Town Hall Annex. That money could be utilized in different ways.
Answering questions from the Council, Mr. Galligan explained that when there is a zero next to a project, the project may have been done or may have been pushed off to a future year.
Council Members discussed in length the purchase of the Town Hall Annex and how the Town would budget for this item. Further discussions took place regarding a facility study that would help plan for priorities in each Town infrastructure. Councillor McCann informed Council Members that the five elementary schools and the PlaceNameplaceEllsworth PlaceTypeSchool have all had a comprehensive architectural review of the major systems within those buildings. The study was part of the Steering Committee report.
Councillor McCann then stated that there is over $323,000 left in the Recreation Projects Capital Account and an additional $175,000 will be added to that account. Where will that money be used? Mr. Galligan explained that the first phase of addressStreetLawrence Road is $340,000. Then the creation of bathrooms facilities at placeCityRye Street Park will be use up the rest of the money.
Work Session – Town Council
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April 28, 2008
ITEM:
Town Council
Mr. Galligan explained that there will be a 3.2% increase in this budget. The increases are generated from memberships to various organizations, an increase for the salary of the Clerk of the Council, the annual audit and different events that are funded through the Town Council budget.
Mr. Galligan explained that under printing there is $10,000 that will be used for the printing of the Annual Report and the $5,000 under Recruiting which will be used for the Boards & Commission Recognition event in June.
7. Executive Session
None
8. Adjournment
At 9:49 p.m., a Motion to Adjourn was made by Councillor Bazzano; seconded by Councillor Maneeley; and was Approved, unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
_________________________________
Deborah W. Reid
Clerk of the Council
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