TOWN COUNCIL – Regular Meeting
Council Chambers – South Windsor Town Hall
1. Call Meeting to Order
Mayor Prague called the Regular Meeting to order at 9:05 p.m.
4. Roll Call
Members Present: Mayor Cary Prague
Deputy Mayor Gary Bazzano
Councillor Edward Havens
Councillor Kathryn Hale
Councillor Lisa Maneeley
Councillor Kevin McCann
Councillor Paul Oates
Councillor John Pelkey
Councillor Keith Yagaloff
Also Present: Matthew B. Galligan, Town Manager
5. Public Input
None
6. Environmental Health & Safety Message
None
Councillor Hale made a motion to Suspend the Rules in order to go to Item 17. A. Councillor Pelkey seconded the motion; and it was approved, unanimously.
17. New Business
A. Resolution Authorizing Town Manager, Matthew B. Galligan and Town Attorneys, Halloran & Sage LLP, to further negotiate and execute an Agreement for the acquisition of 765 Sullivan Avenue
WHEREAS, the Town of South Windsor and A.F. Associates have entered into discussions regarding the purchase of a 26.5 acre parcel located at 765 Sullivan Avenue, South Windsor, Connecticut; and
(Resolution Continued on Next Page)
ITEM:
17. A. (continued)
WHEREAS, the purchase of said property would be of substantial benefit to the Town of South Windsor and its citizens for a fire station and other potential commercial and open space uses; and
WHEREAS, the Town Manager and the Town Attorneys were authorized to negotiate a Purchase and Sales Agreement with the owner of said property and a revised Agreement has been submitted to the Town Council for its review and approval; and
WHEREAS, the revised Agreement provides additional benefit to the Town of South Windsor and is a substantial improvement over the prior Agreement submitted to the Town Council for review and approval.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, Town Manager, Matthew B. Galligan and Town Attorneys, Halloran & Sage LLP, are hereby authorized to further negotiate and execute an Agreement and prepare all other documents necessary for the acquisition of said property by the Town of South Windsor.
Was made by Councillor Hale
Seconded by Councillor Pelkey
Councillor Hale proposed an Amendment to the last paragraph in the Resolution, which would be to delete “and execute”. Councillor Pelkey seconded the Amendment and it was approved, unanimously.
After some discussion was held regarding the Amendment, Councillor McCann made a motion to table this Item. Deputy Mayor Bazzano seconded the motion to table. The motion failed on a Roll Call vote of 3 to 6 with the dissenting votes being cast by Mayor Prague, Councillors Hale, Havens, Oates, Pelkey, and Yagaloff.
Mayor Prague called for a vote on the Amended Resolution; it was approved by a Roll Call vote of 8 to 1 with the dissenting vote being cast by Deputy Mayor Bazzano.
ITEM:
7. Adoption of Minutes
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby approves the Minutes of the following Town Council Meetings: Special Work Session of November 10, 2008 and November 24, 2008; Work Session of November 17, 2008; and Regular meeting of November 17, 2008.
Was made by Councillor Oates
Seconded by Deputy Mayor Bazzano
Councillor Hale made a motion to table the Approval of Minutes in order to review some of the minutes. Councillor Pelkey seconded the motion; and it was approved, unanimously.
8. Public Petitions
None
9. Communications and Reports from Town Manager
None
10. Communications and Reports from Town Manager
None
11. Reports from Standing Committees
None
12. Reports of Temporary Committees
None
13. Communications and Petitions from Council
None
14. Public Participation
None
ITEM:
15. Consent Agenda
Motion to accept Agenda Items 16. A. through 16. I as the Consent Agenda.
Was made by Councillor Pelkey
Seconded by Councillor Hale
Before calling for a vote on the Consent Agenda, Mayor Prague asked if there were any Items to be removed, there were none.
Mayor Prague called for a vote on the Consent Agenda; it was approved, unanimously.
16. Unfinished Business
* A. Resolution Reappointing Louise Neary (D) to the Economic Development Commission
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby reappoints Louise Neary (D) to the Economic Development Commission for a term ending November 30, 2012.
(APPROVED BY CONSENT AGENDA)
* B. Resolution Reappointing Gary Pitcock (D) to the Historic District Commission
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby reappoints Gary Pitcock (D) to the Historic District Commission for a term ending November 30, 2013.
(APPROVED BY CONSENT AGENDA)
* C. Resolution Reappointing Jean Klein (D) an Alternate to the Historic District Commission
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby reappoints Jean Klein (D) an Alternate to the Historic District Commission for a term ending November 30, 2013.
(APPROVED BY CONSENT AGENDA)
ITEM:
16. Unfinished Business (continued)
* D. Resolution Reappointing Dwight Johnson (D) to the Housing Authority
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby reappoints Dwight Johnson (D) to the Housing Authority for a term ending November 30, 2013.
(APPROVED BY CONSENT AGENDA)
* E. Resolution Reappointing David Snyder (D) to the Human Relations Commission
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby reappoints David Snyder (D) to the Human Relations Commission for a term ending November 30, 2011.
(APPROVED BY CONSENT AGENDA)
* F. Resolution Reappointing Janice Favreau (D) to the Human Relations Commission
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby reappoints Janice Favreau (D) to the Human Relations Commission for a term ending November 30, 2011.
(APPROVED BY CONSENT AGENDA)
* G. Resolution Reappointing Tony Duarte (D) to the Inland Wetlands/Conservation Commission
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby reappoints Tony Duarte (D) to the Inland Wetlands/Conservation Commission for a term ending December 1, 2012.
(APPROVED BY CONSENT AGENDA)
ITEM:
16. Unfinished Business (continued)
* H. Resolution Reappointing John Blondin (D) an Alternate to the Inland Wetlands/Conservation Commission
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby reappoints John Blondin (D) an Alternate to the Inland Wetlands/Conservation Commission for a term ending December 1, 2012.
(APPROVED BY CONSENT AGENDA)
* I. Resolution Appointing William E. Keohane to the Redevelopment Agency
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby appoints William E. Keohane to the Redevelopment Agency for a term ending December 31, 2012 to fill an expired term of Bernard Demko.
(APPROVED BY CONSENT AGENDA)
- Resolution Addressing the Expected Shortfall in Revenues for the 2008/2009 Budget
WHEREAS, the Governor of the State of Connecticut has notified the State Legislature of projected budget shortfalls for fiscal years ending in 2009, 2010, and 2011, and is implementing substantial budget reductions for the State, and has called for additional major budget tightening for the next two fiscal years; and
WHEREAS, the Town of South Windsor received a substantial portion of its revenues each year from the State of Connecticut, which may be lowered as a result of budget reductions by the State; and
WHEREAS, the Town Manager of South Windsor has reported to Council an expectation of lower revenues from a variety of sources in the current fiscal year and for the next fiscal year; and
WHEREAS, Council wishes to prepare in advance for anticipated lower revenues, and avoid budget deficits
(Resolution Continued on Next Page)
ITEM:
16. J. (continued)
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that effective immediately upon passage of this resolution:
- The Town of South Windsor shall institute a hiring freeze until further notice. No full time or part time positions shall be filled without further action of the Council.
- Neither the Manager nor any Department Head of the Town shall authorize overtime other than on a critical need basis until further action by Council. To the extent possible, the Department shall adjust their shifts to provide necessary coverage without overtime. The Manager shall direct the Department Heads to provide the Manager with periodic written reports of overtime which they deem to be a critical need. The Manager shall make the determination of what is and what is not a critical need. The Manager shall report monthly to Council with a statement of critical need overtime.
- The Town of South Windsor shall cancel all out-of-state travel by Town personnel, including trips for seminars, training, “fact-finding”, marketing, etc. until further action by Council. To the extent that previously planned out-of-state training is available at a substantial savings to the Town though the alternative means of video conferencing, teleconferencing, the internet, or similar means, Town personnel shall utilize such alternative means.
- No vehicles or equipment shall be ordered or purchased without prior notification to Council.
- The Manager shall take necessary steps to ensure that the total actual expenditure for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009 are at least 5% below budgeted amounts.
- This Resolution shall expire on June 30, 2009, unless extended by Council.
Councillor McCann began discussions stating that the Town is in an economic downturn and needs to be careful of spending. This resolution will need some amendments which Councillor McCann reviewed. The purpose of this resolution is to provide guidance to the Town Manager.
ITEM:
16. J. (continued)
Town Manager, Matthew Galligan reviewed the Towns expenses with Council Members. Mr. Galligan stated that there has not been a budget year when he has not returned anything less than $400,000 to the Town. Next year’s budget will have to be reviewed carefully. Mr. Galligan concluded by stating he is willing to work with Council, but does not want to hurt the productivity or the quality that residents in Town are accustomed to.
Council members discussed combining Town Departments with Board of Education Departments. This is a way in which to save both the Town and Board of Education money.
Councillor Oates made a friendly Amendment to #5 of the Resolution to read as follows: “The Manager shall take the necessary steps to ensure that the total actual expenditure for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009 is at an amount below the current budget”. Concillor McCann accepted the friendly amendment.
Councillor McCann reviewed Amendments he is proposing to this Resolution. They are as follows:
- #4 – insert the words, “at a cost of more than $5,000”, after the word purchased.
- #1 in the second sentence, after positions, insert, “except positions which are funded by programmatic fees”.
Council members then discuss vacant positions as well as different scenario’s that could arise.
At 11:00 p.m., Councillor McCann made a motion to extend the Regular Meeting to 11:10 p.m.; Deputy Mayor Bazzano seconded the motion; and it failed, and the meeting ended.
Respectfully submitted,
Deborah W. Reid
Clerk of the Council
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