TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
WORK SESSION MINUTES
TOWN COUNCIL MONDAY, July 20, 2009
COUNCIL CHAMBERS TIME: 7:00 P.M.
1. Call Meeting to Order
Mayor Prague called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m., recessed the Work Session in order to finish the Special Work Session. The Work Session was reconvened at 7:18 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Members Present: Mayor Cary Prague
Deputy Mayor Gary Bazzano
Councillor Edward Havens
Councillor Kathryn Hale
Councillor Kevin McCann
Councillor Paul Oates
Councillor John Pelkey
Councillor Keith Yagaloff
Members Absent: Councillor Lisa Maneeley
3. Public Participation
Mr. Alec Arnold of 320 Diane Drive came before the Town Council. Mr. Arnold explained that that he is President of Local 1303 Chapter 28, Public Works Union. Mr. Arnold stated that due to the budget cut of $247,000 a lot of public services will be cut dramatically. The summer employees have been cut and two full time laborers have been cut which has created Maintainers from the Parks Department to be moved to the Highway Department. All of these changes are and will decrease services to the taxpayers. The Public Works Department came up with cost savings ideas that totaled $148,000 per year for the next three years. Mr. Arnold then explained that the Town could have saved money on the High School fields. Instead of spending $423,000 for new fields made of sod, grass could have been
grown for approximately $120,000 which the Public Works Department could have accomplished. Doing this project a different way could have saved all of the employees (summer help and full time workers) positions, Public Works employees could have received a raise, and services to the residents could have remained the same.
Mr. Mike Spielman, a Public Works employees came before the Town Council and stated that he finds it very discouraging to have lost summer employees, two full time employees, as well as fighting for raises for the Town Garage because there has been money being spent in these tough economic times that could have been avoided, or put off until times get better.
4. Communications
None
Work Session – Town Council
July 20, 2009
Page 2
ITEM
5. Town Manager’s Report
None
Councillor Hale made a motion to Suspend the Rules to go to Item 6. B. Deputy Mayor Bazzano seconded the motion; and it was approved, unanimously.
6. Items for Discussion
B. Potential Referendum to Replenish Open Space Funds
Councillor Hale stated that the discussion tonight is regarding a potential referendum to replenish the open space funds. Ms. Pat Botteron, Chair of the Open Space Task Force is here tonight to discussion this item. The Town with the direction of the Open space Task Force has spent a substantial amount of the funds from the referendums that have been passed and now the balance has dwindled and it is necessary for the Town Council to consider replenishing funds so that the Town will be in a position to purchase property if they would like to.
Ms. Pat Botteron, 34 Victor Lane came before the Town Council. Ms. Botteron stated that she was present to represent the Open Space Task Force. At the June 2009 Open Space Task Force meeting, it was stated that there is only $800,000 left in referendum monies. There are two pending properties that came forth last year and there is not enough money if the Council decides to purchase these properties. The benefits of the open space for the Town is it adds character, it is cost effective, it gives us agriculture, active and passive recreation, substantial vista and views and it preserves our wildlife and our water ways. The Open Space Task Force would like the Town Council to consider holding a referendum in November to replenish these funds. The Town to date has purchased 470 acres of Town
open space since 1996. If the referendum were passed, the $4,000,000. would not be put in an interest bearing account. The Town only float bonds when there is a property that there is interest in, but the money would be available if there is interest in a property.
Answering questions from the Council, Mr. Galligan explained that the money from a referendum are not kept in interest bearing accounts because the Town does not bond until a property is purchased. The remaining $800,000 presently left in the open space monies was received from the State and is in interest bearing accounts. That interest is used for different improvements for a variety of open space.
Councillor Yagaloff stated he feels the Town Council should adopt a policy that any interest that may accrue on bonded money should go towards the project that is being bonded.
Work Session – Town Council
July 20, 2009
Page 3
ITEM
6. B. (continued)
Councillor Yagaloff then stated that he feels if the Town purchases a property at a developer’s price, like the Foster Farm, the property should be accessible to the public.
Ms. Botteron explained that the Open Space Task Force has criteria that is used when a property is rated for purchase, and one criterion is if the property can be used for agricultural purposes because agriculture is part of the characteristic of South Windsor. If the public were allowed access onto the Foster Farm property, there would be safety concerns. Mr. Galligan stated that the Foster Farm lease is for five years, but can be cancelled from year to year. If the Town determines the property should be used for Town purposes, then the lessee is sent a notice that the lease will be cancelled when that particular year is up.
Councillor Yagaloff explained that his concern is that there are other properties that the Town would like to purchase but unfortunately can not be purchased because of the large purchase that was made of Foster Farm. Councillor Yagaloff stated he does not want the Town to be competing with developers at fair market price and not be able to utilize the property. Open Space Task Force should draft a policy regarding this issue.
Ms. Betty Warren, 493 Abbe Road came forward and stated that it is her understanding that the open space purchases are not purely for recreational use. SWALPAC certainly advocates the preservation of farmland for the preservation of the heritage of the Town of South Windsor and she feels there are a lot of parcels that are suitable for either passive or active recreation. There should be funding available for the preservation of agriculture and that is included in the goals of Open Space Task Force. It was never intended to preserve land to create more recreation areas. Ms. Warren stated that she understood the concern regarding the cost of the Foster Farm. In the future, the Council might want to consider the possibility of development rights instead of an outright purchase which could save
the Town a great deal of money.
Answering questions from Councillor McCann, Ms. Botteron explained that the Open Space Task Force is requesting that the Town Council ask the voters through a referendum to authorize a bonding of $4,000,000 so if in the future properties become available there are funds available with the bonded monies. The last time voters granted this type of referendum was in November of 2005.
Councillor Havens stated he would support the Town going to referendum to replenish $4,000,000 because he feels it is important for the community to preserve open space.
Work Session – Town Council
July 20, 2009
Page 4
ITEM
6. B. (continued)
Ms. Botteron agreed with Deputy Mayor Bazzano’s statement and reiterated that the cost to preserve open space is so much cheaper than the cost of developing the property. The maintenance record for open space is very minimal.
Councillor Oates stated for the record that the Town Council is not authorizing spending the money until there is a viable property. The referendum would only put the Town in the position to be ready if a property becomes available. If there is a property that the Open Space Task Force does show interest in, the Town Council would still need to vote on the purchase of that certain property. Councillor Oates then stated that he felt it would be in the Town’s best interest if the Town Council did explore the issue of development rights versus outright purchases.
Councillor Pelkey said that he recalls when the Town was looking at the purchase of the Foster Farm, one of the prevailing things was the Town wanted to buy it because it was the only piece of land left in Town that was big enough to put another school on and the Town wanted the ability in 50 to 100 years from now to be able to put another building on there if they so choose. Councillor Pelkey then stated that the Town looks for key parcels to purchase whether the property is one acre or one hundred acres. If the parcel is an important piece to the Town, the Town will consider that parcel.
Mr. Galligan informed the Council that all of the bonds for open space have not been issued and the total funds available are $1,934,000, but Mr. Galligan stated he still feels the referendum for $4,000,000 should still go forward because the Town is presently looking at four or five properties and if the Town were able to negotiate fair prices on those properties, there would be a need for the $4,000,000. Mr. Galligan then stated that the Town presently owns close to 1600 acres.
7. Executive Session
None
At 8:05 p.m. the Town Council recessed the Work Session in order to Regular Meeting to order and stated the Town Council would come back to finish the Work Session after the Regular Meeting.
8. Adjournment
At 10:15 p.m. Deputy Mayor Bazzano made a motion to adjourn the Work Session. Councillor Havens seconded the motion; and it was approved, unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Deborah W. Reid, Clerk of the Council
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