TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
WORK SESSION MINUTES
TOWN COUNCIL MONDAY, JULY 5, 2011
COUNCIL CHAMBERS TIME: 7:00 P.M.
1. Call Meeting to Order
Mayor Pelkey called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Members Present: Mayor John Pelkey
Deputy Mayor Ed Havens
Councillor Saud M. Anwar
Councillor Tom Delnicki
Councillor Janice Favreau
Councillor Cary Prague (arrived at 7:37 p.m.)
Councillor Keith Yagaloff (arrived at 7:11 p.m.)
Members Absent: Councillor Gary Bazzano
Councillor Kevin McCann
Also Present: Acting Town Manager, Michael Gantick
3. Public Participation
Mr. Don Gonsalves, 40 Bayberry Trail came before the Town Council. Mr. Gonsalves stated that he is unhappy about the proposal of a referendum to bond $10,000,000 for roads. The Town Council needs to define what a capital project is, what is maintenance and what should be bonded before he could support bonding for roads. Mr. Gonsalves then stated he does not want this to become a slush fund.
Mr. James Throwe, 1330 Main Street came before the Town Council to urge the Town Council to support an increase of 10 members to the Patriotic Commission.
Mr. Larry Torff, 521 Quarry Brook Drive stated that before the Town Council considers this proposal of holding a referendum to bond for road repairs, the Town Council and residents deserve a thorough transparent report on the referendum that passed in 2006. Mr. Torff requested a complete report on the existing program including how much was spent on each project, how many of these projects were completed for the assigned cost and how many were completed as per the original schedule. A status report was supposed to be updated on the website but has not been updated for more than one year. Mr. Torff also requested that the web-site be updated.
4. Communications
None
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TEM:
5. Town Manager’s Report
None
6. Items for Discussion
A. Patriotic Commission Membership – increasing membership to 10 members
Councillor Delnicki stated that he would support increasing this Commission’s membership because there should not be a balance towards one party of the other within this Commission. Councillor Delnicki also felt at a later date there are other Commission’s that should be reviewed to see if their memberships should be changed.
Deputy Mayor Havens stated he also would support this item because he feels this Commission is not political.
Councillor Anwar said he would support this item but felt that there should be clarification how to work out a tie on a vote.
Mayor Pelkey explained that when there is a tie vote, the Chair usually gets two votes and would be able to break the tie.
Councillor Favreau stated that she supports this concept and feels the Historic Commission is another Commission that should be reviewed.
B. Impacts of State Budget Adjustments to the Town
Mayor Pelkey explained that he requested this item to be on the agenda but at this time there seems to be no impact to South Windsor’s budget. Mayor Pelkey stated he would be putting this item on the next meeting agenda.
C. Appropriating $10,000,000 for Road, Drainage, and Intersection Improvements and Authorizing the Issuance of $10,000,000 Bonds
Mayor Pelkey explained that he had requested this discussion item but did not want a dollar amount associated with the discussion. A dollar amount should be disgusted and agreed upon. Mayor Pelkey stated that the projects that would be bonded, would be defined and would consist of major road drainage rehab projects, not maintenance items. Mayor Pelkey reviewed the sheet of projects submitted by Mr. Gantick, as shown on attached Exhibit A, which shows Major Road/Drainage Rehab Projects, Mill & Overlay Projects, and Parking Lot/Driveway Projects. Holding a referendum would be a way to get some projects completed that need to get done and there is not enough in the budget. Mayor Pelkey requested that an updated status of the 2006 referendum be placed on the web-site which shows the
public where items stand and also have a copy for the Town
ITEM:
6. C. (Continued)
Council at the next meeting. The 2006 referendum allowed the Town Council the ability to move projects around because of the language in that referendum. It is clear that the Council does not want that flexibility and the proposed list should consist of items that are major repairs.
Answering questions from the Council, Mr. Gantick explained that the supplemental list handed out tonight, Exhibit B, are additional projects that need to be done. There are significant projects on this list but they are projects that can wait longer.
Councillor Anwar stated that he feels the publics comments are useful. The web-site should be updated and definitions should be clarified. Councillor Anwar also felt it would be helpful if the list of projects were prioritized.
Answering questions from Councillor Delnicki, Mr. Gantick explained that within the resolution that the Council passed a number of years ago, the Town Council defined what the Council would put on the Capital Plan which was anything $50,000 or more. A project that lives within that expected period of time for borrowing and paying back the money would be one definition of a capital bonded project. The mill & overlay that is shown should have a life expectancy within a 20 year period. The other projects like the chip stone, crack sealing, or a plain overlay would not have a life expectancy of 20 years, they would probably be less than 10-15 years.
Councillor Delnicki requested that the definition of what is a capital project be given to the Town Council. Councillor Delnicki felt that all of the projects on the list should be complete within 5 yeas or less because the longer it takes to do these projects, the more it will cost the Town loses money. Councillor Delnicki then stated that parking lots and driveways should not be on the list for bonded project.
Mayor Pelkey stated that he requested the list to have a break down of the different projects, not necessarily that they would be bonded.
Councillor Yagaloff stated that he does not feel it is a good year to bring a referendum forward. The Town Council does not know what is happening with the State budget, if there will be layoffs, the size of the layoffs it they happen and if there is a Plan C. There is still the possibility of the Town’s budget being impacted. There is still close to $2,000,000 in the original bond that could be used this year.
Mr. Gantick explained that there is money that is committed for other projects and also stated that projects are getting done.
ITEM:
6. C. (Continued)
Mayor Pelkey explained further that the list on Exhibit A, was provided to the Council so it is understood how many items are out there that need to get done and a way to fund them needs to be determined if the Town does not go to referendum. This item can be discussed further at the next meeting and more public input can be given.
Deputy Mayor Havens stated that usually he is quite enthusiastic about bonding for needs in the community because it is the only way to get anything done. Deputy Mayor Havens said he recognizes all of the needs but does not feel this is the appropriate time to go to referendum for bonded projects.
Councillor Favrau felt that the Town Council should give the voters the opportunity to consider this item.
Councillor Anwar requested for the next meeting that more details be given to the Council regarding these projects such as a priority list. Councillor Anwar also felt a description of work that needs to be done would be helpful along with a slideshow of the projects.
Mayor Pelkey felt that referendums that are for infrastructure items usually get good support. If the Town does not do items now, it will cost the Town more in the future.
7. Executive Session
None
8. Adjournment
At 8:00 p.m. Councillor Delnicki made a motion to adjourn the Work Session. Deputy Mayor Havens Delnicki seconded the motion and it was approved, unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Deborah W. Reid
Recording Secretary
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