TOWN COUNCIL
TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
Minutes Page 1 May 16, 2012
TOWN COUNCIL – Special Meeting
Council Chambers – South Windsor Town Hall
1. Call Meeting to Order
Mayor Delnicki called the Special Meeting to order at 7:37 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Members Present: Mayor Thomas Delnicki
Deputy Mayor Gary Bazzano
Councillor Saud M. Anwar
Councillor Cindy Beaulieu
Councillor Ed Havens
Councillor Kevin McCann
Councillor Cary Prague
Councillor Janice Snyder
Councillor Keith Yagaloff
Also Present: Matthew B. Galligan, Town Manager
3. Public Participation
None
4. Communications
Mayor Delnicki informed the Council that in the Journal Inquirer there was an article regarding Exit 63. There will be a public hearing tomorrow night in Manchester at 6:30 p.m. with an explanation of the project at 7:00 p.m.
Councillor Snyder stated that the Capital Projects Committee met and there will be suggestions being brought forward regarding the Committee.
5. Town Manager’s Report
None
6. Unfinished Special Business
None
7. New Special Business
A. Resolution Adopting the Budget for the Special Revenue Recreation Fund for Fiscal Year 2012/2013
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby adopts a Special Revenue Recreation Fund Budget with expenditures totaling $1,837,102; commencing on July 1, 2012, and terminating on June 30, 2013.
Was made by Councillor Anwar
Seconded by Deputy Mayor Bazzano
Mr. Ray Favreau, Director of Parks & Recreation came forward and explained that the $1,837,102 is a special revenue fund that are all user fee and charges generated to make the program a self sustaining program.
Answering questions from the Council, Mr. Galligan explained that the Tax Collector does allow taxpayers to pay their taxes on-line with a credit card. The taxpayers pay for the fee associated with the credit card they use.
Councillor Yagaloff stated that the Recreation Department has fees that are available to be paid on-line but the processing fees are paid for by the user fees. Councillor Yagaloff voiced concern for an individual who pays in cash is also paying for the processing fees. Other concerns are staff shirts are costing $3,500 that work in the 4th R program. In that program there are $20,439 for processing fees. Cell phones are costing $3,000, replacement of cabinet costs $5,000 and 4,250 for picnic tables.
Mr. Favreau explained that t-shirts are provided to staff so that they are able to be recognized. There are approximately 40 staff members who are required to wear these t-shirts for safety purposes. There are emergency cell phones at each of the five sites. The supervisors that has to have emergency operation phones. The school phones can not be used by the program and the program has to be totally independent of the schools. The cabinets need to be replaced if necessary. Not all of the funds are always used. The picnic tables are put at the site for the 4th R program’s use. The picnic tables are outside and stay there during all weather conditions. The users of the different programs pay for the credit card processing fees.
ITEM:
7. A. (Continued)
Councillor Yagaloff stated that the Town pays $519,456 for this program to operate. Mr. Favreau explained that the amount being discussed is from the administrative budget.
Councillor Yagaloff then stated that he does not feel individuals who pay for programs by check or cash should be charged for other taxpayers credit card processing fees.
Mr. Galligan felt that it could be reviewed to be structured for the individuals paying for programs by credit card being charged a fee and that would reduce the cost to those who pay for the program with checks or cash.
Mayor Delnicki called for a vote on the resolution; it was approved unanimously.
B. Resolution Adopting the General Government Budget for Fiscal Year 2012/2013
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council adopts a General Government Budget with expenditures totaling $32,943,183, for the Fiscal Year commencing on July 1, 2012, and terminating on June 30, 2013, a copy of which Budget is on file in the Office of the Town Clerk.
Was made by Deputy Mayor Bazzano
Seconded by Councillor Snyder
Mayor Delnicki stated that the budget before the Council are essentially the same numbers that the Town Manager gave to the Council on Monday night to review with a few changes. Originally the Town Clerk’s Professional Account had been reduced by $1,000 and that has been restored. Mayor Delnicki explained that he will not be taking a the Mayor’s salary and could apply it to the Town Clerk’s Operating Materials and Fees and Memberships if that is something that the Manager would like to do. In the Police Services, the overtime has been restored as well as the purchase of the three patrol cars as opposed to two. The Street Services Department equipment, the Town Council has decided to lease purchase the new plow truck and the service vehicle. The cash flow has been improved by
going from a three year lease to a five year lease. The vehicles have life expectancy of anywhere from ten to fifteen years. Contingency has been brought to the Town Council at $100,000 and the Town Council is restoring an additional
ITEM:
7. B. (Continued)
$15,000 back to that fund. Public Works will be reduced by $45,000 from the salt account.
Mr. Galligan explained that CIRMA felt that the Worker’s Compensation could be reduced by $42,000.
Mayor Delnicki went on to explain that the Management Salary increased by $36,474. A revenue had not been figured into the budget which increased the education cost sharing by $136,929. There have been discussions in Executive Session regarding two major projects and another major project in public session. Due to those discussions, the Building Permit fees have been increased by $100,000. The budget reduces the use of fund balance from $1.15 million dollars last year to $800,000 this year. This budget will bring the percentage from 3.75% proposed increase down to a 2.26% proposed increase.
Councillor McCann stated that there is one portion of the budget that comes in each year with a modest increase which is Human Services Department. The senior bus that provides the senior population with essential travel for different appointments. Councillor McCann felt that this item should be restored to the budget.
Councillor McCann amended the resolution to increase the budget by $7,500 for additional funding for the part time dispatcher for the senior bus in the Human Services portion of the budget. Councillor Snyder seconded the amendment and it was approved, unanimously.
Answering questions from the Council, Mr. Galligan explained that a dealer is reserving the Crown Victorians for the Town. That will save the Town money because the same equipment can be used in the new vehicles.
Mayor Delnicki explained that by going with the Crown Victoria’s there is a savings of $7,500; in the leased vehicles there is a savings of $10,000; light bars there is a savings of $5,000; repair and equipment for bicycles will have a savings.
Mr. Galligan stated that the salt shed is 90% full at this time. An addition 1,500 tons of salt is in the budget if the shed needed it. The one issue the Town has to be careful with is if there are not a lot of storms and the salt is
ITEM:
7. B. (Continued)
not needed, the Town would end up paying $5.00 a ton to store it.
Mr. Galligan explained that the Manager’s will not get a raise above 1% in this next budget. Last year there was $800,000 taken out of the fund balance to balance the budget and then there was an extra $315,000 extra taken out which was supposed to be supplemented by tax lien sales.
At 8:16 p.m. the Mayor recessed the Special Meeting. The Special Meeting reconvened at 8:23 p.m.
Councillor Yagaloff stated that the democratic side of the Town Council is 98% in agreement with what has been proposed. It is hopeful that the budget can be cut down to a 1.95% increase in the budget. Councillor Yagaloff proposed doing an across the board cuts on all departments to bring the increase down.
Councillor Anwar felt that it is the Town Council’s responsibility to protect those individuals that can not afford the tax increase. Cuts should not be the burden of certain departments and should be balanced throughout the Town.
Councillor Yagaloff made an amendment to do an across the board percentage cut to bring the budget to a total tax increase of 1.95%. Councillor Havens seconded the motion.
Answering questions from the Council, Mr. Galligan stated that this cut would have the Town doing additional cuts in the amount of $244,348.
Councillor Yagaloff felt that the Town Council should not single out departments and he does not want to compare departments. All departments represent services. Councillor Yagaloff did explain that certain items could not be cut because of the rating of the Town.
Mr. Galligan stated that he understands that this proposal is to keep taxes down, but these cuts will affect programs.
Councillor Havens stated that the responsibility of the minority is to check on the figures. The budget should be lower then what was proposed and he said he would support the amendment.
ITEM:
7. B. (Continued)
Mayor Delnicki called for a vote on the amendment; it failed on a roll call vote of 3 to 6 with Councillors Havens, Yagaloff and Anwar voting in favor of the amendment; and Mayor Delnicki, Deputy Mayor Bazzano, Councillors Beaulieu, Prague, McCann and Snyder voting in opposition of the amendment.
Mayor Delnicki called for a vote on the amended resolution; it passed on a roll call vote of 6 to 3 with Mayor Delnicki, Deputy Mayor Bazzano, Councillors Beaulieu, Prague, McCann and Snyder voting in favor and Councillors Yagaloff, Anwar and Havens voting in opposition.
The resolution to read as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council adopts a General Government Budget with expenditures totaling $32,950,683, for the Fiscal Year commencing on July 1, 2012, and terminating on June 30, 2013, a copy of which Budget is on file in the Office of the Town Clerk.
C. Resolution Setting the Tax Rate for Fiscal Year 2012/2013
BE IT RESOLVED that the tax rate of 29.43 mills be levied on the Grand List of October 1, 2011 based upon Total Revenues excluding current taxes of $17,978,118, which includes an appropriation from Fund Balance in the amount of $800,000 to finance total expenditures of $98,470,644 made up of a Board of Education of $65,519,961 and a General Government Budget of $32,950,683, both of which have been adopted by the South Windsor Town Council, and exhibits of which are on file in the Office of the Town Clerk for the Fiscal Year commencing on July 1, 2012, and terminating on June 30, 2013.
Was made by Councillor Prague
Seconded by Councillor Snyder
The motion was passed on a roll call vote of 6 to 3 with Mayor Delnicki, Deputy Mayor Bazzano, Councillors Beaulieu, Prague, McCann and Snyder voting in favor and Councillors Yagaloff, Anwar and Havens voting in opposition.
ITEM:
D. Resolution Appointing a Rate Maker for Fiscal Year 2012/2013 and the Tabling of Same
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby appoints Matthew B. Galligan, Town Manager, as Rate Maker for Fiscal Year 2012/2013, and hereby tables the same.
Was made by Councillor Havens
Seconded by Deputy Mayor Bazzano
The motion was approved, unanimously
8. Executive Session
None
9. Adjournment
At 9:02 p.m. Councillor Havens made a motion to adjourn the Special Meeting. Councillor McCann seconded the motion; and it was approved, unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Deborah W. Reid
Clerk of the Council
| 
