TOWN COUNCIL
TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
Regular Minutes Page 1 July 6, 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 8:00 p.m., and then recessed the Regular Meeting in order to finish the Work Session. The Regular Meeting reconvened at 8:15 p.m.
4. Roll Call
Members Present: Mayor Cary Prague
Deputy Mayor Gary Bazzano
Councillor Edward Havens
Councillor Kathryn Hale
Councillor Lisa Maneeley
Councillor Paul Oates
Councillor Keith Yagaloff
Members Absent: Councillor Kevin McCann
Councillor John Pelkey
5. Public Input
Ms. Cheryl LaCoursier, a Nurse Practitioner at Minute Clinic which is located in the CVS store in South Windsor. The Minute Clinic has been in Town since January 2009 and is open seven days per week. The clinic provides care for mostly minor illnesses, (flu, allergies, bronchitis, sprains, strains, sutures that need to be removed, ears), and provides services to both pediatrics and adults.
Answering questions from the Council, Ms. LaCoursier stated that the clinic does takes insurance and does write prescriptions.
Mr. Don Gonsalves, 40 Bayberry Trail, came forward and stated that he is very upset regarding the budget. It is incredible that the Board of Education has found an additional $675,000. This should have been known last October had they managed their finances correctly. Individuals were laid off due to this error. Many members of the Town Council do not understand the financial information presented, especially the fund balance. Town Council has to do something about the financial control of this town and the school because it is an absolute disgrace how this town is being run from a financial point of view.
ITEM:
5. Public Input
Mr. Tim Moriarty, 90 Skyline Drive came before the Town Council and stated that he is elated that $675,000 was found in the budget. Staffing decisions based on revenue as opposed to need is a big mistake anyone could make.
6. Environmental Health & Safety Message
None
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 April 2, 2009, April 8, 2009, April 13, 2009, and May 13, 2009; Joint Budget Work Sessions of March 23, 2009, and June 15, 2009; Public Hearing of April 16, 2009; and Regular Meetings of April 6, 2009, and June 15, 2009.
Was made by Councillor Maneeley
Seconded by Deputy Mayor Bazzano
The motion was approved, unanimously
8. Public Petitions
None
9. Communications from Officers and Boards Directly Responsible to Council
Councillor Hale relayed a message from the Open Space Task Force to the Town Council that the Open Space Task Force is requesting a referendum question be put forward and be held in the fall for $4,000,000. to replenish funds for the purchase of open space for the Town.
10. Communications and Reports from Town Manager
Mayor Prague informed the Council members and public that there was a problem with garbage not being picked up today at Plum Ridge Condominium Complex. The residents at Plum Ridge have always had their garbage picked up at their garages, but because the Town is doing single stream recycling and garbage pickup with the same truck, which requires a larger truck, the truck can not maneuver around the complex. There may be a need to have residents place their containers near the curb where the trucks can maneuver.
ITEM:
11. Reports from Standing Committees
None
12. Reports of Temporary Committees
None
13. Communications and Petitions from Council
Councillor Yagaloff stated that he feels Mr. Gonsalves should receive answers from the Council regarding the Board of Education surplus that was discovered; why the Town Council was told by the Board of Education that 30+ positions would be laid off in order for the Board to balance their budget; and why does the Town have a larger deficit then what was reported at the time the budget was decided.
Mayor Prague stated that the Town has a revenue deficit of 1,500,000. The final collection rate number that came in last week was 98.6%.
Councillor Yagaloff then stated that the Council was told there was a deficit and the taxes were increased to pay for this deficit.
Councillor Hale stated that the Town Council can only give the Board of Education a dollar amount to spend. The Board of Education decides how they will spend their budget. This year the Board of Education did not provide the Town Council with accurate and timely information, and therefore Councillor Hale stated she feels that she was mislead before voting on the budget.
Mayor Prague responded that the Board of Education laid off five positions and twenty-nine positions were eliminated due to retirements, etc. The Board of Education did a great job sizing the positions to the number of people in this operation because there are fewer students and fewer revenues. The surplus was put towards the pension fund or was used to fund the health care reserve.
Councillor Oates requested that a final report showing the revenue and expense results be distributed to the Town Council. Mayor Prague stated that he has requested that information from the Town and would distribute it to the Town Council as soon as he receives it.
ITEM:
14. Public Participation
None
15. Consent Agenda
Motion to approve Agenda Items 17. A. and 17. B., as the Consent Agenda.
Was made by Councillor Yagaloff
Seconded by Councillor Maneeley
The motion was approved, unanimously
A. Resolution Accepting the Resignation of David Snyder (D) from the Human Relations Commission
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby accepts, with regret, the resignation of David Snyder (D) from the Human Relations Commission, said resignation to be effective immediately; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council extends its thanks to Mr. David Snyder for the time he has dedicated to servicing his community by his membership on the Human Relations Commission.
APPROVED BY CONSENT AGENDA
B. Resolution Appointing Dr. Saud Anwar (D) to the Human Relations 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 Dr. Saud Anwar (D) to the Human Relations Commission for a term ending November 30, 2011 to fill an unexpired term of Mr. David Snyder, and postpones consideration of this motion until the Town Council’s next regularly scheduled meeting.
APPROVED BY CONSENT AGENDA
ITEM:
None
17. New Business
- Resolution Authorizing the Sale or Disposal of Surplus Vehicles
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby declares the following vehicles to be “surplus equipment” and authorizes Town Manger, Matthew B. Galligan to sell, or otherwise dispose of, the following vehicles:
1993 Ford Tempo, VIN #2FAPP36X8PB192704, formally assigned to Human Services, Color: tan, Condition: poor
1994 Ford F-150, VIN #1FTDF15YXRNB07853, formally assigned to BOE and declared surplus by the Board on 5/22/2007, color: red, condition: poor
Was made by Commission Oates
Seconded by Deputy Mayor Bazzano
Councillor Yagaloff requested that the Council Clerk ask the Town Manager to look into the option of selling these vehicles through the CRCOG data base.
Mayor Prague called for a vote on this Motion; it was approved, unanimously.
17. New Business
D. Resolution Approving a Refund of Taxes to Ten (10) South Windsor Taxpayers
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council approves a refund of property taxes to ten (10) South Windsor Taxpayers.
Was made by Councillor Havens
Seconded by Councillor Maneeley
ITEM:
17. New Business
Councillor Hale made a friendly amendment to remove the refund that is for $19,986.98 in order for the Town Council to receive more information on this refund.
The Resolution would read as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council approves a refund of property taxes to nine (9) South Windsor Taxpayers, the total of said refunds being $1,421.54.
Mayor Prague called for a vote on the Resolution; it was approved, unanimously.
18. Passage of Ordinance
None
19. Communications and Petitions from Council (continued)
None
20. Communications and Reports from Town Manager (continued)
None
21. Executive Session
None
22. Adjournment
At 8:55 p.m. Councillor Yagaloff made a motion to adjourn the Regular Meeting. Councillor Maneeley seconded the motion; and it was approved, unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Deborah W. Reid
Clerk of the Council
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