TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
WORK SESSION MINUTES
TOWN COUNCIL MONDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2012
COUNCIL CHAMBERS TIME: 7:00 P.M.
1. Call Meeting to Order
Mayor Delnicki called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Members Present: Mayor Thomas Delnicki
Deputy Mayor Gary Bazzano
Councillor Cindy Beaulieu
Councillor Ed Havens
Councillor Kevin McCann
Councillor Cary Prague
Councillor Janice Snyder
Councillor Keith Yagaloff
Members Absent: Councillor M. Saud Anwar
Also Present: Matthew B. Galligan, Town Manager
Dwight Johnson, Town Attorney
3. Public Participation
None
4. Communications
Councillor McCann informed the Council and the public that this past weekend the Hartford Marathon was held. There were quite a number of South Windsor residents who participated. There were 55 women from South Windsor who were in the half marathon and Councillor Cindy Beaulieu finished 5th. Ms. Gina Veils came in 3rd overall.
Councillor Havens discussed “Welcome to South Windsor” signs being placed up on Buckland Road.
5. Town Manager’s Report
Mr. Galligan reported that the deadline of October 26, 2012 for Connecticut Studios is fast approaching. Connecticut Studios is in the process of taking building permits out for this project, but has not addressed the four conditions that Council had. Connecticut Studios will be responsible for mitigation regarding the endangered birds on the property. There has been an agreement that has been going back and forth between them and the Town. The Town Attorney has spoken today with one of their attorneys. Their attorney has said he would review the Town Council’s conditions with Connecticut Studios. Mr. Galligan told the Council that the first building that they are proposing to build is 60% on Town property and 40% on the adjacent property owners property. They are in
negotiations with the adjacent property owner in order to access their subject property.
ITEM:
5. Town Manager’s Report (Continued)
Regional Animal Control Facility
The Council was sent the Regional Animal Control Facility Agreement. There was a mark up on the budget. East Hartford may have more changes to the agreement. The Council should review this agreement.
Emergency 9-1-1 Mandate
A Committee was put together by the State to look at municipalities 9-1-1 and it has been determined that any municipality under 5,000 calls should be merging with other Towns. Mr. Galligan requested that the Council pass some type of resolution that would support the Town saying this is not how the partnership should be between the State and the local communities.
Tax Abatements
Mr. Galligan met with Shari Fiveash to discuss the last three projects that are looking for tax abatements. Recommendations with be sent to the Town Council
Memorandum of Understanding
Other Towns would like to do a regional approach to share the dashboard. A meeting with CRCOG will be set to see if other Towns would be interested on a regional basis to share technologies.
Additional Meeting Item
Discussions regarding a 6320 Corporation and Community Center/Hockey Center are on the agenda tonight.
Councillor Requests
Mr. Galligan stated he would like to go back and discuss the procedure for items being requested from Town staff. If Council would like information from staff, it should be sent through the Town Manager first. Any information that is provided to a Council member will be distributed to the entire Council.
Answering questions from the Council, Mr. Galligan explained that Connecticut Studios went to take out two building permits, one for the sound stage and one for the smaller building. They were told they could not take the second permit out because the property owners permission is necessary. Connecticut Studios has paid all of their taxes and are working with the property owner on an agreement so construction can begin. The mitigation regarding the relocation of the birds is environmental and is required to happen. Town Attorney Johnson added that the work that they would do at Wapping Park would not take place until after the closing is complete for Connecticut Studios.
ITEM:
5. Town Manager’s Report (Continued)
Mayor Delnicki requested that Council members be available for a possible Special Meeting on October 22, 2012 if there is something that Connecticut Studios would like to bring forward.
Mr. Galligan added that there has been numerous communications to Connecticut Studios that the deadline of October 26, 2012 is quickly approaching and they were also given a list of other work that needs to be complete in order for this project to move forward.
Councillor Yagaloff stated that there are two issues regarding Connecticut Studios. The first issue is regarding the reverter on the deed which states that if Connecticut Studios does not start construction by October 26, 2012, the property reverts back to the Town. The other issue which seems more important is the infrastructure. Originally the Town was doing TIF which would pay for the infrastructure. That has gone away and there is no agreement about any of the infrastructure. Mr. Galligan explained that there have been numerous communications to Connecticut Studios regarding this issue and the Town has not heard anything.
Deputy Mayor Bazzano questioned if the mitigation plan for the birds would need to go through the Council? Mr. Galligan stated he would find that out.
Answering further questions Mr. Galligan explained that Connecticut Studios is assuming responsibility of the mitigation of these two birds on the property. The cost is approximately $150,000.
Councillor McCann stated that Council needs to know how this project is going to move forward and also needs an alternative plan that can be reviewed, understood and approved. If the Council does not receive these items, then the project is not going to happen.
Answering questions from Councillor Snyder, Mr. Galligan stated that the Towns involved with the Regional Animal Control Facility are East Hartford, Manchester and South Windsor. A resolution will be brought to Council at the next meeting. Councillor McCann stated that after reviewing the agreement quickly, he feels that South Windsor should be compensated for this facility.
ITEM:
6. Items for Discussion
- Regional Use of South Windsor’s Dashboard (Scott Roberts, Director of Information Technologies and Michael Gantick, Director of Public Works to be present)
Mr. Michael Gantick, Director of Public Works came forward and stated that since the deployment of the Town’s Dashboard, there has been interest from a variety of agencies in the State of Connecticut. The Town of Newtown has proposed a memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on further development of the Dashboard deployment. This would be a regional based partnership and would potentially provide South Windsor additional functionalities.
Answering questions from Councillor Snyder, Mr. Roberts explained that this agreement will allow Newtown to use the Dashboard as customized by South Windsor. If there are any changes made by Newtown, South Windsor will have access to those changes and could incorporate them into South Windsor’s Dashboard.
Councillor Yagaloff stated that he supports the relationship between Town’s. The Dashboard helps to identify where there may be problems in Town. Councillor Yagaloff said his only concern is regarding the Town locking into long term financial commitments for software.
Mr. Gantick explained that currently there is no software out there that could take the place of this software. The Town always thinks about that type of impact when looking for products.
Mr. Roberts stated that when this application was designed, it was designed with the idea that the front end will be replaced when technology does get changed. The core of technology behind the scene of our Dashboard is the foundation of our system. We expect the technologies to progress and change.
Answering further questions form the Council, Mr. Roberts explained the advantages for going into a Memorandum of Understanding agreement with the Town of Newtown and how South Windsor could make funds from this endeavor.
7. Executive Session
None
ITEM:
8. Adjournment
At 7:58 p.m. Deputy Mayor Bazzano made a motion to adjourn the Work Session. Councillor Yagaloff seconded the motion and it was approved, unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Deborah W. Reid
Recording Secretary
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