TOWN COUNCIL
TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
Regular Minutes Page 1 June 15, 2009
TOWN COUNCIL – Regular Meeting
Council Chambers – South Windsor Town Hall
1. Call Meeting to Order
Mayor Prague called the Regular Meeting to order at 8:03 p.m.
4. Roll Call
Members Present: Mayor Cary Prague
Deputy Mayor Gary Bazzano
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
Following the Roll Call, certificates were presented to the Patriotic Commission’s Essay Contest Winners.
5. Public Input
Ms. Rachna Khanna, 95 Bramblae came before the Town Council and explained that the individuals from the Town put a Heart Safe event together. Another event is already being planned and there is a waiting list of 50 people that had signed up after the first event. Ms. Khanna stated that the Town of South Windsor has become a Heart Safe Community, and it is her goal by 2020 there will be 1,000 residents trained in CPR. Ms. Khanna thanked everyone involved in this cause.
Mr. Gary Saintamon with the Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program at the State Department of Public Health congratulated the community of South Windsor for achieving designation as a Heart Safe Community. He presented the Town with a certificate and gave signs that can be placed throughout the Town.
6. Environmental Health & Safety Message
Mayor Prague urged town residents if a grill is under a covered porch, please bring the grill outside from under the covered porch when cooking.
ITEM:
6. Environmental Health & Safety Message (continued)
Councillor Maneeley advised the public that if they are not feeling well to please stay home until you are better.
7. Adoption of Minutes of Previous Meetings
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby approves the Minutes of the following Town Council Meetings: Work Sessions of May 18, 2009, and June 1, 2009; Special Budget Work Sessions of March 25, 2009; Public Hearing of May 18, 2009; Special Meeting of May 26, 2009; and Regular Meetings of March 2, 2009, May 18, 2009, and June 1, 2009.
Was made by Councillor Pelkey
Seconded by Councillor Hale
The motion was approved, unanimously
8. Public Petitions
None
9. Communications from Officers and Boards Directly Responsible to Council
None
10. Communications and Reports from Town Manager
Mr. Galligan reviewed the following:
- The Town Council was provided with a list of streets to be paved under the $850,000 proposal.
- The Mutual Assistance Agreement with the Town of Vernon has been signed and executed.
- There is a resolution on the agenda tonight to realign some accounts in order to cover funds necessary for the South Windsor High School field renovations and the payment into the Towns Health Insurance Fund.
- The Planning & Zoning Commission approved the 8-24 referral for the West Road realignment.
ITEM:
10. Communications and Reports from Town Manager (continued)
- The Connecticut Studios will be meeting with Robinson & Cole on June 22, 2009 to review TIF financing package. It would be in the best interest of the Town Council to have a meeting to discuss this item.
- The Town received a letter from the State of Connecticut, Department of Emergency Management Homeland Security. They have received and reviewed our emergency management plan and have found it to be satisfactory.
- Received an email that came from John Casey from Robinson & Cole which states that Mr. Wayne Gerlt has withdrawn his latest appeal.
Answering questions from the Council, Mr. Galligan explained that the Town will be applying for grant money for the firehouse, but it will be hard for the Town of South Windsor to qualify because of different requirements. Mr. Galligan stated that he would go back to the bill that is used to figure the Town Attorney fees to revisit how much time was spent on the legal opinion for text messaging and emails during a public meeting to find out if the Town has been billed correctly. If there are businesses that would like to talk to Connecticut Studios about doing business with them, they can first call the Town Manager’s Office and the Town Manager will relay a message to the proper individual.
Council members discussed the year to date expenditures and revenues.
Councillor Hale requested that if funds are leftover from the reconstruction of Buckland Road project, if sidewalks or bike paths could be incorporated into the project? Mr. Jeff Doolittle, Town Engineer stated that it is planned to have sidewalks. The Town is also adding concrete pads to be placed between the sidewalk and curb to show where bus stops are located.
Answering further questions from the Town Council, Mr. Galligan explained that the Superintendent of Schools brought to my attention the case of the swine flu in Town. It was then brought to Dr. Schwartz’s attention and was followed up with the State. The situation did follow protocol and is being monitored.
11. Reports from Standing Committees
None
ITEM:
12. Reports of Temporary Committees
None
13. Communications and Petitions from Council
Councillor Hale requested that a resolution be done to convey the land that was conveyed from the State to the Town to the Connecticut Studios in order for the project to keep moving along.
14. Public Participation
Mr. Craig Zimmerman came before the Town Council and stated that the Baseball and Softball Facility wad delivered today. Mr. Zimmerman thanked the Town Council and Town staff.
15. Consent Agenda
Motion to approve Agenda Items 16. A. through 16. C., as the Consent Agenda.
Was made by Councillor McCann
Seconded by Deputy Mayor Bazzano
The motion was approved, unanimously
16. Unfinished Business
A. Resolution Appointing Peter Jennings (R) a Full Member to the Historic District Commission
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby appoints Peter Jennings (R) a full member to the Historic District Commission for a term ending November 30, 2009 to fill an unexpired term of Dr. Bruce Burnham.
APPROVED BY CONSENT AGENDA
ITEM:
16. Unfinished Business (continued)
B. Resolution Appointing Louise Evans (R) an Alternate to the Historic District Commission
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby appoints Louise Evans (R) an Alternate to the Historic District Commission for a term ending November 30, 2011 to fill an unexpired term of Peter Jennings.
APPROVED BY CONSENT AGENDA
C. Resolution Appointing Katherine Foley (R) an Alternate to the Historic District Commission
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby appoints Katherine Foley (R) an Alternate to the Historic District Commission for a term ending November 30, 2012 to fill an unexpired term of Paul Oates.
APPROVED BY CONSENT AGENDA
D. Resolution Reappointing Jeff Prague (R) to the South Windsor Alliance for Families
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby reappoints Jeff Prague (R) to the South Windsor Alliance for Families for a term ending September 1, 2010.
Was made by Deputy Mayor Bazzano
Seconded by Councillor Yagaloff
The motion passed on a Roll Call vote of 7 to 0 with Mayor Prague abstaining
Councillor Pelkey made a motion to add Item 16. E. to the Regular Agenda. Councillor Maneeley seconded the motion; and it was approved, unanimously.
ITEM:
16. Unfinished Business (continued)
E. Resolution Supporting the Use of Bonded Road and Drainage Capital Improvement Funds to Replace the Annual Road Resurfacing Program (tabled from 6-1-09 Regular Meeting)
WHEREAS, the Town has historically funded a Capital Road Resurfacing Program in an effort to maintain the Town of South Windsor’s road infrastructure in good state of repair; and
WHEREAS, the annual evaluation of the Town’s Pavement Management Report recommends a funding level of $3.5 million per year to maintain the roads in their current condition; and
WHEREAS, the funding proposed in the Fiscal Year 2009/2010 Capital Budget for Road Resurfacing has been eliminated; and
WHEREAS, it would be in the Town’s best interests to continue some level of a Road Resurfacing Program this coming year
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby authorizes the use of $850,000 from the Bonded Road and Drainage Capital Improvement Funds for the use in continuing a Road Resurfacing Program during Fiscal Year 2009/2010.
Was made by Councillor Maneeley
Seconded by Mayor Prague
Councillor McCann stated that originally a resolution was approved that consisted of a list of significant capital projects. Councillor McCann does not feel that this money should be used for the maintenance of pavement. This would displace projects that are already on the capital project list.
Councillor Hale stated that bonding was never intended to do regular maintenance. Councillor Hale then stated that she does not support what happened during the budget seasons, and would abstain from this vote.
Councillor Yagaloff stated he would rather vote on the schedule of capital projects list then vote on the allocation of the funds and would be abstaining.
ITEM:
16. E. (continued)
Councillor Pelkey felt that the resolution is not properly formatted and a resolution should be done to adjust Schedule A.
Councillor Oates said he would not be supporting this resolution because the original bond referendum was to do large scale projects, not maintenance.
Mayor Prague stated that he would be voting yes for this item in support of Public Works and feels the Town Council should not be micro managing staff.
Councillor Yagaloff made a motion to amend Item 16. E. to include
WHEREAS, the Town Council will take items from Exhibit A, in the Town Manager’s Report, (pavement projects) and place them on the top of Schedule A, (list of Capital Projects).
Councillor Pelkey seconded the amendment.
After a discussion regarding this amendment, Councillor Yagaloff made a friendly amendment that $850,000 be eliminated from the bottom of Schedule A. Councillor Pelkey accepted the friendly amendment. The amendment passed on a Roll Call vote of 6 to 2 with Councillors McCann and Deputy Mayor Bazzano voting against the amendment.
At 9:55 p.m. Mayor Prague requested a five minute recess. The meeting reconvened at 10:03 p.m.
Councillor Maneeley withdrew her motion; and Mayor Prague withdrew his second on the motion.
ITEM:
17. New Business
A. Resolution in Support of Buckland Road Pavement Rehabilitation
WHEREAS, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) has made funds available to the States for road improvements and The Capitol Region Council of Governments has solicited municipal projects in order to distribute about $17,600,000 in Federal funds made available under this act to this region for eligible projects; and
WHEREAS, Buckland Road is eligible for funding under this program, the pavement is in poor condition and needs to be milled and repaved from the Town line to just south of Deming Street, and the Town of South Windsor was selected to receive $2,200,000 in Federal funding for the pavement rehabilitation of Buckland Road; and
WHEREAS, a public information meeting was conducted on February 25, 2009 to present this project and there was no opposition expressed toward this project at this meeting
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby supports and wishes to proceed with the Buckland Road Pavement Rehabilitation project.
Was made by Councillor Hale
Seconded by Councillor Pelkey
The motion was approved, unanimously
B. Resolution Authorizing the Realignment of Accounts
(Councillor Oates)
WHEREAS, Matthew B. Galligan, Town Manager, instituted a spending freeze in March 2009 because of the economic climate; and
WHEREAS, as a result, several Town departments will not use all of the funds available in their 2008/2009 budgets; and
WHEREAS, the Town wishes to realign budgets based on the need for financial resources
(Resolution Continued on Next Page)
ITEM:
17. B. (continued)
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby authorizes the realignment of budgets as follows:
- Transfer $70,000 from the Public Works Building Maintenance Utilities budget to the Fields at South Windsor High School Capital Project; and
- Transfer $1,500 from the Town Council Grants and Contributions budget; $10,000 from the South Windsor Redevelopment Agency Professional budget; $4,000 from the Planning Department Overtime budget; $7,700 from the Building Department Temporary Wages budget; $6,550 from the Assessor’s Part-Time Wages budget; $8,000 from the Assessor’s Professional budget; $8,000 from Information Technology Professional budget; $1,000 from the Fire Marshal’s Operating Materials budget; and $750 from the Fire Marshal’s Recruitment and Training budget for a total of $47,500 to the Capital Project for the Purchase of 1530 Sullivan Avenue.
Was made by Councillor Oates
Seconded by Councillor Pelkey
The motion was approved, unanimously
C. Resolution Authorizing Town Manager, Matthew B. Galligan to Appropriate $50,000 to Match Funds Raised by the Community for an Indoor Baseball and Softball Facility
(Councillor Pelkey)
WHEREAS, on March 3, 2008 the South Windsor Town Council passed a resolution by unanimous consent to match funds raised by the community up to $50,000 in order to construct an Indoor Baseball and Softball Facility adjacent to Rotary Field; and
(Resolution Continued on Next Page)
ITEM:
17. C. (continued)
WHEREAS, a committee of committed citizens have complied with all aspects of that resolution, namely; fund raising shall be coordinated through the South Windsor Community Foundation, secure funds and/or in kind services valued at $50,000 or more, meet all planning and zoning regulations, submit the plan to Planning & Zoning for a Section 8-24 report, meet with staff and include all of their requirements in the plan, and meet all fire regulations; and
WHEREAS, on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 the Planning & Zoning Commission approved the project by unanimous consent and to date all of the other above requirements have been met including the $50,000 amount in order to comply with all the funding criteria
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council authorizes Town Manager, Matthew B. Galligan to appropriate the matching funds to the South Windsor Community Foundation from the 2009/2010 budget with the stipulations that all funds are to be used solely on this facility and that in the event there are unexpended funds that they be returned to the Towns General Fund.
Was made by Councillor Pelkey
Seconded by Deputy Mayor Bazzano
Answering questions from the Council, Mr. Galligan stated that the money will come out of the 2009/2010 budget and he would bring that back to the Town Council when it is decided where the money would come from.
Mayor Prague called for a vote on the Resolution; it was approved, unanimously.
D. Resolution Authorizing the Transfer of $150,292 to the Town of South Windsor and South Windsor Board of Education Medical Insurance Fund (SWMIF)
WHEREAS, the South Windsor Town Council established the SWMIF by Ordinance; and
(Resolution Continue on Next Page)
ITEM:
17. D. (continued)
WHEREAS, this Fund shall be used for the purchase of insurance and services and the payment of administrative costs for Town and Board of Education employees and their dependents; and
WHEREAS, the actual claims for Town employees and their dependents, for the current fiscal year, are significantly higher than projected; and
WHEREAS, as a result, the Fund needs additional resources to pay for health insurance claims for Town employees and their dependents, through June 30, 2009
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby authorizes the transfer of $150,292 to the SWMIF from various General Fund budgets.
Was made by Councillor Yagaloff
Seconded by Councillor Pelkey
Answering questions from the Council, Mr. Galligan explained that this amount is for the Town side only. The Board of Education will have to pay for their claims.
Mayor Prague called for a vote on the Resolution; it was approved, unanimously.
E. Resolution Approving a Refund of Taxes to Twenty-One (21) South Windsor Taxpayers
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby approves a refund of property taxes to twenty-one (21) South Windsor Taxpayers, the total of said refunds being $2,494.97.
Was made by Councillor Maneeley
Seconded by Deputy Mayor Bazzano
The motion was approved, unanimously
ITEM:
18. Passage of Ordinance
A. Resolution that the South Windsor Town Council Adopt a proposed “Ordinance for the Establishment of a Trust Fund for the Purposes of Funding Retired Employee Health Care Benefits”
WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Town of South Windsor to fund current and future health care benefits for eligible retired employees; and
WHEREAS, the Government Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 45 requires state and local government employers to account and report the annual cost of other postemployment health and life benefit plans in the same manner as they account and report for pensions; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with Connecticut General Statute § 7-450, any municipality or subdivision thereof may, by ordinance, establish trusts for the purpose of holding and investing all contributions and assets for pension, retirement, or other postemployment health and life benefit plans; and
WHEREAS, the Town of South Windsor has determined it is prudent to establish a trust for the purpose of funding postemployment health care benefits for eligible retired employees
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of South Windsor Code of Ordinances is amended effective ten days after publication in a local newspaper by adding the following new section 2-37 Establishment of a Trust Fund for the Purposes of Funding Retired Employee Health Care Benefits and to read as shown in attached Exhibit A.
Was made by Mayor Prague
Seconded by Deputy Mayor Bazzano
Answering questions from the Town Council, Mr. Galligan explained that the Town has one union made up of 34 to 35 employees where the Town is required to pay 70% of their medical expenses after retirement. So far, thirteen employees that have retired have not taken this program. The law requires that the Town put in all health care items into this account.
Mayor Prague called for a vote on this Resolution; it was approved, unanimously.
ITEM:
19. Communications and Petitions from Council (continued)
None
20. Communications and Reports from Town Manager (continued)
Town Manager Matthew Galligan explained to the Town Council that he had made an offer to the AFSCME Local 1303-028, Public Works Union, but they rejected it. Two full time employees and 14 temporary positions have been notified to be eliminated as of June 30, 2009.
An offer was also made to the SEIU/AFL-CIO Local 760, Town Hall union, they rejected that offer, negotiations will continue.
21. Executive Session
At 10:27 p.m. Councillor Hale made a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss a personnel issue, (union negotiations). Councillor Pelkey seconded the motion and it was approved, unanimously.
The following individuals went into Executive Session: Mayor Prague, Deputy Mayor Bazzano, Councillor Hale, Councillor Maneeley, Councillor McCann, Councillor Oates, Councillor Pelkey, Councillor Yagaloff and Town Manager Matthew Galligan
22. Adjournment
At 10:45 p.m. the Executive Session and Regular Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Deborah W. Reid
Clerk of the Council
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