PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES
April 26, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
South Windsor Council Chambers
PURPOSE: To receive citizen input on the Proposed Water Pollution Control Authority Budget
Mayor Pelkey called the Public Hearing to order at 7:00 p.m.; and requested that the Clerk of the Council read the call of the meeting (a copy of which is attached hereto). There were approximately twenty-one (21) people present in the audience.
Mr. Galligan came before the Council and stated that a Committee needs to be formed to work over the next month to work on what are the responsibilities of the WPCA; what is capital; user rates; calculations of an appropriate reserve; and a formula to calculate certain users rates, (e.g. Buckland Mall).
Mayor Pelkey asked if there was anyone from the public that would like to speak.
Mr. James Throwe, 1330 Main Street came forward and stated that he feels the upgrade of the plant should be paid for by all taxpayers and user fees should be for the use and maintenance of the sewer itself.
Mr. Galligan then reviewed the three options that have been established by WPCA and introduced to the Council, (Attachment A).
Mr. Don Gonsalves, 40 Bayberry Trail stated that there is no budget and a public hearing should not be held tonight.
Mr. Larry Torff, 521 Quarry Brook Drive, came forward and stated that his first concern is that there is no budget to speak on and he feels the process is flawed when a public hearing is scheduled to receive feedback on a budget that has not been made available to the public. Mr. Torff encouraged the Town Council to look at the Glastonbury budget. One of the line items in their budget is $575,000 transfer in from their sewer operating fund to fund the initial debt of their wastewater treatment plant which he feels is a best practice and South Windsor should look at more closely. Water Pollution Control Authority needs a capital reserve fund to keep the system running
Mr. Galligan explained that a detailed budget is in the Library and Town Clerk’s Office. Mr. Gonsalves responded by saying the budget is not correct.
Following comments from the audience, Mayor Pelkey asked for a Straw Vote, the results of which were as follows:
Those in favor of option one for $232 sewer fee: - 7
Those in favor of option two for $288 sewer fee: - 0
Those in favor of option three for $306 sewer fee: - 3
Those opposed to option one for $232 sewer fee: - 0
Those opposed to option two for $288 sewer fee: - 2
Those opposed to option three for $306 sewer fee: - 3
Those in favor of the original budget as proposed: - 1
Those opposed to the original budget as proposed: - 5
Those in favor of decreasing the original budget that was proposed: - 3
Those in favor of increasing the original budget that was proposed: - 0
Town Council – Public Hearing for WPCA budget
Page 2
April 26, 2010
The public hearing was closed at 7:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
________________________________
Deborah W. Reid, Clerk of the Council
Proposed 2010/2011 Pollution Control Budget – Exhibit A
Public Hearing Notice – Exhibit B
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