TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
WORK SESSION MINUTES
TOWN COUNCIL MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2010
COUNCIL CHAMBERS TIME: 7:00 P.M.
1. Call Meeting to Order
Mayor Pelkey called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Members Present: Mayor John Pelkey
Deputy Mayor Ed Havens
Councillor Gary Bazzano (arrived at 7:10 p.m.)
Councillor Tom Delnicki
Councillor Janice Favreau (arrived at 7:04 p.m.)
Councillor Kathryn Hale
Councillor Kevin McCann
Councillor Keith Yagaloff
Members Absent: Councillor Cary Prague
Also Present: Matthew Galligan, Town Manager
3. Public Participation
Mr. Craig Zimmerman, 5A Amato Drive came before the Town Council and stated that the Town Council needs to rely on the advice from the Town Manager and the Consultants who have been hired for this project. The Town needs to develop the I-291 Corridor and this project will create jobs. This project will bring other businesses to the area also.
Mr. Ralph Mosher, 308 Sandstone Drive thanked the Council for their due diligence with this project and then recognized Mr. Galligan and Mr. Stevenson for their role in this project. This is a great project.
Ms. Beth Cvejanovich, 108 Tumble Brook Drive came before the Council to speak in favor of this project and felt this would help young people to be able to return to this area and find jobs.
Larry from All American Waste came before the Town Council to urge the Town Council to vote in favor of Connecticut Studios on behalf of all businesses here in South Windsor.
Mr. Carol Driscoll, 61 Austin Circle felt that this project would bring revenue to the Town and jobs for graduates so that they may stay in the State.
Mr. Jim Neary, 1017 Ellington Road came before the Council to speak in favor of the Project Labor Agreement. Need to move forward and pass this resolution. The Town has the opportunity to receive future taxes and jobs. Recommend that the Town approves this tonight.
ITEM:
3. Public Participation
Mr. Frank Bonzano, 255 Lisa Drive came forward to speak in favor of this resolution. The Town will make money on taxes for this project as well as the cost of permit fees. Other businesses will also benefit. The Town Council should be listening to the Consultants for this project.
Mr. Tom Gambard with Teamsters Local 559, stated that his business address has been over on Chapel Road across from the project for the last 25 years now. Commended the Town Council on their efforts with this project. This project will bring jobs to the Town.
Mr. Peter Riley, President of Greater Hartford New Britain Building Trades Council came before the Town Council to request that the Town Council endorse this project. The Town has an opportunity to create something positive to help build the economy. Urged the Town Council again to support this project.
Mr. Gilbert Holt, 533 Rye Street stated that this project is positive for South Windsor and is necessary.
At 7:15 p.m. Mayor Pelkey recessed the Work Session in order to call the Public Hearing to order. The Work Session reconvened at 7:59 p.m.
4. Communications
None
5. Town Manager’s Report
None
6. Items for Discussion
Mr. Galligan stated that he feels the Council should know that in the PLA Agreement there is a clause giving preference of jobs to South Windsor residents.
Councillor Delnicki requested that a brief review of that be given of how jobs are going to be guaranteed to South Windsor residents.
Councillor Hale called for a point of order asking if there is going to be another time where the public can speak again. Mayor Pelkey stated that the public will be able to speak again during the Regular Meeting.
ITEM:
6. A. (Continued)
Mr. Peter Riley, President of Greater Hartford New Britain Building Trades Council came before the Town Council to speak regarding the PLA Agreement. Mr. Riley stated that the best way to satisfy Council members request of giving preference of jobs to South Windsor resident would be to put a 30% residency goal in the Project Labor Agreement. In addition to that a career day at the local High School for apprenticeship opportunities could be held.
Mayor Pelkey questioned if that was the recommendation of the Unions? Mr. Riley answered that it was. When the agreement is drafted that 30% residency goal from the Town of South Windsor will be inside the Project Labor Agreement.
Town Attorney Dwight Johnson explained to the Council that previously the following language was agreed to by Mr. Riley which states, “Notwithstanding the provisions of any job referral system in any local union schedule A (which is a list of local unions), Each local union with a job referral system agrees that it shall give preference with regard to referral to the project to qualified individuals otherwise in the job referral system who resides in South Windsor, Connecticut”. What Mr. Riley has offered today is a step beyond that.
Mayor Pelkey recessed the Work Session at 8:04 p.m. in order to call the Regular Meeting to order and then recessed the Regular Meeting in order to finish the Work Session agenda.
Councillor Yagaloff stated that it is important that the union jobs go for Connecticut residents and not for those coming from out of State, but the real problem is that if the Council votes on the TIF, it will not protect the PLA Agreement because the PLA Agreement is subject to negotiations. What leverage does the Town have at that point to make sure the Town gets a good PLA. Mr. Riley explained that he has met with Connecticut Studios on several occasions and has a commitment from Connecticut Studios and they have his commitment on behalf of organized labor. There should not be any problem executing the document.
Answering questions from the Council, Mr. Galligan explained that the Project Labor Agreement is between the Unions and Connecticut Studios. The Town only wanted to make sure that residents are allotted a guarantee of so many jobs. The Town Attorney has seen the PLA and is the person working on behalf of South Windsor residents to make sure the language is in the PLA. The Town Attorney stated that a draft could be sent to the Council.
Councillor McCann questioned what the enforcement mechanism would be to require that Connecticut Studios employ 30% of South Windsor residents to their work force? Town Attorney Johnson explained that the Project Labor Agreement is a binding agreement and there are contractual obligations between the parties.
ITEM:
6. A. (Continued)
Mr. Ralph Palumbo came before the Town Council and stated that Connecticut Studios is in full support and cooperation with the PLA. The Town Attorney added that a Developers Agreements will be drafted and the Project Labor Agreement will be a part of the Developers Agreement.
Councillor Delnicki thanked the Town Manager for making sure that residents will be hired for the jobs at Connecticut Studios.
Mayor Pelkey stated that as all nice as it sounds that we can employ 30% of South Windsor residents will be employed for the proposed jobs, nobody will be employed on this project unless we pass the TIF Financings.
7. Executive Session
None
8. Adjournment
At 8:15 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
Recording Secretary
| 
