TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
WORK SESSION MINUTES
TOWN COUNCIL MONDAY, January 4, 2010
COUNCIL CHAMBERS TIME: 7:00 P.M.
1. Call Meeting to Order
Mayor Pelkey called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Members Present: Mayor John Pelkey
Deputy Mayor Edward Havens
Councillor Gary Bazzano
Councillor Tom Delnicki
Councillor Janice Favreau
Councillor Kathryn Hale
Councillor Kevin McCann
Councillor Cary Prague
Councillor Keith Yagaloff
Also Present: Matthew Galligan, Town Manager
3. Public Participation
Mr. Robert Dickinson, 19 Birch Road came forward and stated that he had sent the Town Council an e-mail regarding alternative transportation. Mr. Dickinson requested that the Council find a way to include sidewalks into any new street construction. This would allow more people to walk and jog safely if sidewalks were incorporated into the street design.
4. Communications
None
5. Town Manager’s Report
None
6. Items for Discussion
A) Film Production Ordinance
Mr. Walter Summers, Fire Marshal came before the Town Council. Mr. Summers explained that a Committee was formed that consisted of Matthew Galligan, Town Manager; Chief Gary Tyler, Police Department; Sergeant Scott Custer, Police Department; Fred Shaw, Public Works; Marcia Banach, Planning Department; Craig Stevenson, Economic Development Consultant; Vanessa Perry, Town Manager’s Office; Mark Dickson, Connecticut Film Office, and Walter Summers, Fire Marshal. Councillor Hale also sat in on numerous meetings. The Committee used information from the
Work Session – Town Council
January 4, 2010
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ITEM
6. A. (Continued)
Connecticut Film Office, State of Connecticut and information gathered from Albuquerque, New Mexico to put the ordinance together and the necessary forms. All information has been reviewed and approved by the Town Attorney and is now ready for consideration by the Town Council.
Answering questions from the Council, Mr. Galligan explained that the town presently has contracts for the use of any private duty. This type of contract could be used if the studio needs private duty from the Town and could be drafted in an ordinance instead of a contract. This type of duty does nto have any credit towards pension or health benefits. The Town also charges for equipment use, such as a patrol car blocking off a road. Councillor Hale state she would like to make sure that it is very clear that all expenses caused by the studios is their responsibility.
Mr. Summers stated that there was a preliminary meeting held between himself, Chief Crombie and Sergeant Custer discussing how costs would be covered. There was also discussion on how the Town will handle a multiple of requests from the studios without straining the resources of the Town.
Answering further questions, Mr. Galligan explained that it is state din the Ordinance that use fees set forth established by the Town Manager because the Town Council would not heave to hold a public hearing each time use fees are changed. A simple resolution could be done.
Answering questions from Councillor Prague, Mr. Summers explained that Chief Crombie has been calling surrounding Fire Departments on their overtime rules and regulations. Presently the Town of South Windsor charges for fire watch. The Fire chief plans to charge for use of the Fire Department workers. Mr. Galligan said there is no plan to hire additional staff to manage the film studio. It is the Towns intent to use existing staff. There would probably be two people working on this. One person from the Police Department would be chosen because the Police personnel are use to talking in applications and reviewing permits. The other person would be from the Town Manager’s Office, maybe Vanessa Perry, who would distribute the applications to all the necessary department heads
when they come in. Training for Vanessa would consist of working with the State of Connecticut, Office of Film. Councilor Delnicki felt that the type of training for the position needs to be defined because there should be specialized training for this position. Mayor Pelkey added that when individuals are definitely identified for this position, it may be necessary to send these individuals to Albuquerque, New Mexico so they can get real experience.
Councillor Delnicki also discussed the $99.00 fine under Section 40-41, feeling that the fine seems small for a violation. Councillor Hale noticed that the $99.00 violation is per day, but does not say that consistently throughout the document and should. Councillor McCann
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January 4, 2010
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6. A. (Continued)
Mr. Summers stated that he would like to offer the Police Deparment and Fire Department personnel safety training. This would help those individuals to identify safety problems while a production is in process. Mayor Pelkey also wanted to be able to offer residents a program in order for them to get a better understanding of the film industry. Mr. Summers wondered if the Connecticut Studios would offer some type of informational meeting to residents.
Councillor Favreau stated that the Town should have automobile liability under the liability provisions.
B) Ordinance for Land Use Fees
Mr. Galligan began discussions saying that the Town of South Windsor would like to keep fees consistent with surrounding communities.
Mr. Summers explained that each Department Head reviewed their fees and then offered proposed changes. These fees have been reviewed by the Town Manager and Town Attorney and are being submitted for the Town Council’s consideration.
Answering questions from the Council, Mr. Summers explained that Section 42-83 – Special Events would only affect existing businesses if that business affects the public right of way. Within that proposed provision, the Fire Marshal would review attendance, overcrowding, how tables are set up, how chairs are set up, lighting, etc. Tents are measures for square footage and the open square area. The town can then calculate occupant load. The Ordinance on food establishments are new, which the Sanitarian can come and explain to the Town Council. Ordinance not have an effect on any existing business.
At 8:00 p.m., Mayor Pelkey recessed the Work Session in order to call the Regular Meeting to order. The Regular Meeting reconvened at 8:04 p.m.
Mr. Galligan resumed discussions regarding the impact to South Windsor on State shortfalls and the status of revenues for Tax Collection fees and permit fees. He explained that all revenues are in the negative area and expenses are in the positive. When they are merged, MUNIS will show the overages and underages between your revenues and expenses. Under the prior year, tax revenue becomes a positive because there were three court stipulations, (Target, Bench Mark GPT Windsor LLC, and DST Output). These companies had already paid their taxes when a decision by a Judge came about. Any future taxes that they have to pay will be credited to their back taxes. Mr. Galligan reviewed the report with the Council and explained the report in detail.
Work Session – Town Council
December 21, 2009
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6. B. (Continued)
Councillor Prague suggested that in the future on the reports from the Finance Department there be footnotes to explain information that is in the reports. Councillor Prague also suggested that the line be split into real prior year taxes and if there are events such as Target, DST and Bench Mark.
Councillor Hale stated that she would like to see a historical to date column and would also like to see within the current tax information that broken up into real estate and motor vehicles.
Councillor Yagaloff stated that the two areas that are of great concern to him are the overall number of $800,000 shortfall and the $800,000 spent out of the fund balance. This essentially means that the Town will lose $1.6 million from the fund balance. This is going to create a large problem and Councillor Yagaloff feels the Town Council should start looking at cutting expenses rather than invading the fund balance. The other concern that Councillor Yagaloff voiced is the Town budgeting using interest from bond money. The Town Council should establish a policy that states interest from bonded money that has not been spent on the bonded project, will go back to fund other bonded projects to reduce the costs to the taxpayers. Also, the Town Council should be informed of any court stipulations
that are placed on the Town.
Councillor McCann stated that about one year ago he had brought forward a resolution to institute some austerity measures which was rejected by the Town Council. The Town Manager had instituted some of the measures voluntarily to try to manage the budget through the end of the last year. The Town Council may need to revisit the idea of adopting some measures to reduce spending.
Answering questions from the Council, Mr. Galligan explained that the he would get the calculation of where the Town was last year in regards to building permits and where the Town was last year percentage wise. On last year’s budget, the Town cut back on the revenue side of the budget by over one million dollars. This year, the Town is down by 500 cars versus last year. The Town Assessor is in the process of quantifying what 500 cars are worth and that number will be given to the Town Council as soon as it becomes available. Mr. Galligan then stated that when the economy is good, the Town Council should consider increases taxes slightly. This would help in times when the economy is bad. The Town Council needs to meet to discuss the level of services that the Town Councils want to
see done. It should also be know that after a budget is set, other projects should not be considered to be done until the following budget, should follow a plan that has been established by the Town Council.
Work Session – Town Council
December 21, 2009
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ITEM
7. Executive Session
None
8. Adjournment
At 8:50 p.m. Councillor Hale made a motion to adjourn the Work Session. Councillor Delnicki seconded the motion; and it was approved, unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Deborah W. Reid
Clerk of the Council
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