TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
WORK SESSION MINUTES
TOWN COUNCIL MONDAY, MAY 10, 2010
COUNCIL CHAMBERS TIME: 8:00 P.M.
1. Call Meeting to Order
Mayor Pelkey called the meeting to order at 8:00 p.m. and recessed the Work Session in order to finish the Special Meeting. The Work Session reconvened at 9:09 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
None
4. Communications
None
5. Town Manager’s Report
None
6. Items for Discussion
A. General Government Budget
Councillor Delnicki stated that he had requested a number of pieces of information and would like to get the following: a complete table of organization for town staff; detailed explanation of the capital projects budget which will include what the town is buying, how many and at what price for each; what is the value in savings to the town for a furlough day.
Answering questions from Councillor Bazzano, Mr. Galligan explained that under the fair labor standards act there are managers and then there are supervisors. Some supervisors that are a certain level you have to pay overtime to. They are one level
(Discussion Continued on Next Page)
ITEM:
6. A. (Continued)
above their highest Maintainer III so they are not in the union, but are on an hourly basis. Mr. Galligan stated that he would get the Council a copy of the fair labor standards act and will provide a schedule of overtime between Maintainers and Supervisors and each level of Supervisory staff also.
Councillor McCann stated that one of the biggest components of our budget every year is the cost of the health insurance for the entire town. The projection for next year is approximately $15,000,000. Is there an opportunity to achieve any savings in this year’s budget? Mr. Galligan explained that the Town put $2,800,000 in the budget for health care and is looking at a reduction of $311,678 going from the 20% to 12%. The Board of Education put $9,000,000 and there is reduction of $527,000.
Councillor McCann then stated he would like to take a look at the Capital Improvements projects for Recreation. There is $175,000 reserved for Recreation Capital Improvements, but the Recreation Department itself has a Special Revenue Fund which has approximately $200,000 in it. The Town should either pay for the Capital Improvements out of the Special Revenue Fund of the Recreation Department or the Recreation Department should contribute the $175,000 to the Capital Improvements Fund.
Councillor Hale questioned if the revenue of $1,240,000 from Manufacturing Equipment includes projections on the Studio project? Mr. Galligan stated that the revenue does not include projections on the Studio project. That amount was approved by Connecticut Office of Policy and Management. DST won their case that their equipment was for manufacturing, therefore they get the break, but the check comes to the Town.
Answering further questions from the Council, Mr. Galligan explained that in the budget the Educational Rentals is $10,000 and in 08/09 there was $96,000. This amount has changed so dramatically because someone at the board of education made the decision that the bulk of this money is kept in the revenue side of their budget to reduce their costs. The amount the town gets out of the Education Rentals is approximately $10,000. Under the General Fund the Town does not get interest like it used to so there is nothing that can be taken from that line item. All of the non-bargaining unit employees in the budget have an assumption of a 3.5% increase. These increases are based upon a 2.5% cost of living adjustment and will be capped at 3.5% based upon individual evaluations. The only way an
employee will receive higher than a 3.5% increase is if they are being promoted. The contractual obligations are presently at a 3.5% increase.
(Discussion Continued on the Next Page)
ITEM:
6. A. (Continued)
Councillor Yagaloff requested an analysis of the 12 salaried employees in Public Works Town Garage budget versus the 36 hourly employees showing their overtime and their position.
Councillor Favreau then requested that the Town Council receive what the current number is going to be for building permit income and what the anticipated portion of that number will be for fees for Connecticut Studios. Mr. Galligan stated that he would be comfortable with putting the building fees at approximately $550,000 which would include $250,000 from the Connecticut Studios project.
Councillor Prague stated that he feels that the Town Council should not take $100,000 out of the Recreation Special Revenue Fund account because it will take years to replenish and should be used for necessary items.
Councillor McCann felt that a 3.5% increase to Town workers should be given because employees took a 0% increase last year. The 53rd pay period to employees should be based on their rate of pay, not on the annual increase.
Mr. Galligan informed the Council that staff is surveying surround towns to see what they are doing with the 53rd pay period and that information will be given to the Town Council when it is complete.
Mayor Pelkey felt that the $50,000 for the Plan of Development should be reallocated because after reviewing Legislature that has passed, it is allowed to push that time out until 2010. Mr. Galligan explained the shared services that the Town has with other Towns with the Police Department and the Fire Department.
Council members discussed in length the Park & Recreation accounts. Mr. Galligan explained that the current fund balance amount is $25,000 which is with the expenses and revenues as of today. The fund balance at the end of the year could be as high as $125,000. Councillor Yagaloff voiced concern over the budget stating that without seeing profit or loss for any programs, the Town Council does not know which program is subsidizing others and the Town Council does not know how efficient each program is being run...Mr. Galligan said that Ray Favreau or Melanie Crucitti could give the Council a report of the expenses and revenues.
Council members then discussed the Probate Court budget. Mr. Galligan stated that the Probate Court under the law has never paid rent. The budget for Probate Court is currently $11,277. Mr. Galligan then stated that he would like to keep Probate Court in South Windsor if possible.
7. Executive Session
None
ITEM:
8. Adjournment
At 9:57 p.m. Councillor Bazzano 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
| 
