TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
WORK SESSION MINUTES
TOWN COUNCIL MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2013
COUNCIL CHAMBERS TIME: 7:00 P.M.
1. Call Meeting to Order
Mayor Delnicki called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Members Present: Mayor Thomas Delnicki
Deputy Mayor Gary Bazzano
Councillor M. Saud Anwar
Councillor Cindy Beaulieu
Councillor Edward Havens
Councillor Kevin McCann
Councillor Cary Prague
Councillor Janice Snyder
Councillor Keith Yagaloff
Also Present: Matthew B. Galligan, Town Manager
3. Public Participation
Ms. Julie Lapp, President of the South Windsor Chamber of Commerce came forward to speak to the Council. Ms. Lapp explained that the Chamber of Commerce exists to be a catalyst for economic growth and community development in South Windsor. It is imperative that a successful Chamber work within the political realm to advocate positions important to businesses. Our local community must do everything possible to encourage investment and job creation. There is an alarming trend to take business for granted and assume that the factories, shops and offices will always be there and that businesses can and will overcome the impacts of rising taxes and fees and increased regulation. Businesses have the option to do business in other communities, states and countries. Businesses feel threatened
and uncertain about the future. When business lacks confidences, decisions to expand and add employees are deferred. There is no substainable recovery without a healthy vibrant private business climate. Full attention needs to be paid to creating an environment where business can compete and succeed. Town government must recognize the impact of the growing tax burden and exercise great restraint with regards to budgets and tax increases. Property taxes are a serious threat to economic growth in South Windsor with a possible significant increase in property taxes which could result in the loss of jobs and businesses from our community. The South Windsor Chamber of Commerce would encourage the Town Council to take serious consideration to minimizing any business tax increase and if an increase is set forth, let a phased plan of implementation be applied to create a more business friendly Town government and further encourage continued economic
growth and community development within South Windsor.
ITEM:
4. Communications
Councillor Yagaloff stated that the basic position of the South Windsor Chamber of Commerce is that a substantial increase in taxes will have a negative impact on the business community causing losses of jobs.
Mayor Delnicki explained that on April 9, 2013 there will be a pubic hearing for the Board of Education budget. The public hearing will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Timothy Edwards Middle School. Mayor Delnicki encouraged residents to come to the public hearing to be heard regarding their concerns and comments.
Mayor Delnicki then announced that the Eugene Policelli Service Awards Ceremony will be held on May 7, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. at the South Windsor High School, Main Lobby. The 2013 recipients include Maureen Bourn, Howard Fitts, Edward havens and Emma Richard.
5. Town Manager’s Report
None
6. Items for Discussion
A. Capital Projects Budget Presentation
Councillor Snyder explained that there are eight items being proposed for the Capital Projects budget, as shown in attached Exhibit A, which were not approved by referendum but should be done because they are critical in nature. These items are listed in priority. The plan would create a way to finance items that are presently being considered and it would give the Town the opportunity to save funds to meet the Capital Projects demands and infrastructure that will be needed.
Mr. Galligan came forward and explained that he is proposing that the Town lease the eight projects that are being proposed. The financing is shown on attached Exhibit B using a 3% interest rate. The projects include Town-wide I.T. equipment, emergency generator at the High School, GIS program, Fire Station generator, emergency generator at Police Department, Fiber Optic Communication Network, and emergency generator at Community Center. The next thing to review is to see when debt is coming off for the Town and there are new projects that are coming into Town which will produce new taxes. A policy can be established in order to put funds aside for Capital Projects.
Councillor Snyder explained that there is a report being done regarding school security. That item will be added as a priority to this list and will be the eighth item.
Answering questions from the Council, Mr. Galligan explained that Public Works trucks are not a part of this plan but could be put into the plan if the Council would
ITEM:
6. A. (Continued)
like. The Town can not get a lease for the paving of the Fire Department parking lot. Also being reviewed to see if it is a leasable item are the boilers.
Mr. Scott Roberts came forward and explained that to take massive amount of records that are either in the Town Clerks Office, Engineering or Planning and are converted into a digital format are done by an outside vendor. Public Safety, Recreation, Public Works, taxpayers, Open Space Task Force, Sidewalk & Bikeway Subcommittee have all benefitted from GIS. There are many ways that GIS can be used and the Town is reviewing ideas to go further with GIS.
Councillor Anwar felt that many of the projects should have been done previously because they are life saving equipment/support that the Town needs. Some items that would not be classified under life saving are the fiber optic communication network, GIS program and IT equipment. Mr. Galligan explained that leasing these projects will not have an impact on the taxpayers. If the Town had a category 2 or 3 storm communication would be cut off but the fiber optic communication network will allow the Town to continue to have communication throughout Town. The GIS will help locate gas lines and water lines that if being cut into could be harmful.
Councilor Anwar pointed out that the fixing the Police Departments oil storage is not on this list? Mr. Galligan explained that he is checking to see if that is a leasable item.
Mr. Roberts stated that if someone goes to a major crime scene there is technology used to manage that crime scene. During the winter storm, employees were using their mobile phones to send pictures in so the right person could come out with the right equipment. In this type of situation, fiber optics would have been very useful. The GIS creates maps that could be used during emergency situations.
Mr. Gantick explained that the dashboard technology is something that is amazing. The Town has been approached by a lot of Planning Agencies throughout the State with the vision of partnering with the dashboard technology. This technology could be used in life saving instances so individuals could get to different locations during a storm.
Councillor McCann felt that in looking at the capital projects budget, the Town needs to follow certain principles and needs to determine the difference between a real capital project and non-capital or maintenance or operational issues. The Town should have in the budget the non-capital items. For the true capital projects, financing makes sense that are going to last for a period of time. The generators and the GIS system fall into the definition and criteria for establishing what are capital projects and Councillor McCann stated he thinks it makes sense to move forward with financing of those projects. Councillor McCann requested that the Town Council get an itemized list for the IT equipment.
ITEM:
6. A. (Continued)
Mr. Roberts explained that during the October storm the State only had one break in the entire State of Connecticut’s fiber optic ring that they put up.
Answering further questions, Mr. Galligan explained that the driveway for Fire Station #1 is not a leasable item and can not be put into the Capital Projects. The Town presently has a bond issue to do paving for this year in the amount of $1.8 million dollars. In the future, money can be put into the Capital Projects to provide funds for paving and maintenance of roads.
Mayor Delnicki requested that the Town Manager check with the Bond Counsel to see if funds from the bond issue could be used to repave the Fire Station #1 driveway, otherwise the Town should look at using contingency.
Councillor Yagaloff requested that the Council consider stripping this Capital Projects proposal down to the items that are most emergency items in order to be able to do elementary schools upgrades and security issues when they come to the Town Council. See if the GIS plan can be stretched out longer and come back with a detailed analysis of what is required for the IT plan so we can do only what is essential. The Council needs to avoid new debt service.
Mr. Galligan stated that the plan was recommended by the Capital Projects. The Town Council should set priorities and get some projects done.
Councillor Yagaloff felt that the list could be cut back but he would like to see the elementary schools upgraded and security issues be put into place.
Mr. Galligan explained that if you look at the debt service schedule you will find that by the time they are ready to put the debt on, there will be huge debt coming off.
Councillor Yagaloff stated that there are other projects that are being discussed such as Senior Center expansion, Recreation Center expansion, etc. Those projects will wipe out the debt service coming off.
Mr. Galligan stated that the Town Council and the Board of Education should meet and list priorities. Capital Projects are the first thing that gets taken away when times are bad so there are projects that need to get done and funds need to be saved for Capital Projects for the future. There will be new projects and new revenues in the future. This plan is just to get critical needs done at this time. When new projects and revenues come in the Council should sit down and figure out where we want those dollars to go.
ITEM:
6. A. (Continued)
Councillor Havens questioned why would the Council come up with projects while the budget is being discussed. There are important critical items that need to be done, so Councillor Havens stated he would support this list but not added items that have been discussed. The Town Council should not create more debt just because there is debt coming off.
Councillor Snyder stated that the list of projects are critical to life safety and maintain emergency response for our Emergency Operation Center. The Capital Projects Committee believes as a whole that these items will positively impact our community and request the Council to have faith that the Capital Projects Commission have done their due diligence.
Councillor Beaulieu stated that the Town needs to get projects done and financing the way that is being proposed will not impact the taxpayer. If these items are not done, the list will get longer and will be more expensive.
Councillor Yagaloff said he was hoping the Town Council could narrow the list down. IT equipment and fiber optics are not the highest priority at this time. The financial model only works on a very small scale. When funds are spent on operational and maintenance items the financial model could fail. If the Council wants to keep financial circumstances healthy, reduce debt to the lowest number possible and purchase only the necessities.
Mr. Galligan questioned why over the last four years did the Board of Education get $5.8 million dollar increase in their budget and the Town went down. The Town needs to get projects done in order to take care of different needs.
Councillor Yagaloff explained that the Town Council needs to set priorities. Half of the request is for IT equipment and fiber optics and feels some items should be cut back.
Mr. Galligan stated that a referendum for the Board of Education for IT equipment should not be done. Mr. Galligan then stated that if the Town Council wants him to manage the Town and have a beautiful Town, the Town Council needs to give the resources to take care of items and should leave the Town budget alone because any more cuts to the Town budget will be detrimental to the Town. The Board of Education is requesting $5.8 million dollar increases to their budget and the Town is sitting here with no increases. Mr. Galligan stated he hopes that the Council will leave the Town budget alone.
Mayor Delnicki stated that he would like to sit down with Scott Roberts before he makes any comments on the IT issues. The generators make sense.
ITEM:
7. Executive Session
At 8:37 p.m. Deputy Mayor Bazzano made a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss a personnel issue regarding union negotiations and another personnel issue. Councillor Snyder seconded the motion; and it was approved, unanimously.
The following individuals went into Executive Session: Mayor Delnicki, Deputy Mayor Bazzano, Councillor Anwar, Councillor Beaulieu, Councillor Havens, Councillor McCann, Councillor Prague, Councillor Snyder, Councillor Yagaloff, and Town Manager Matthew B.Galligan.
At 9:00 p.m. Deputy Mayor Bazzano made a motion to adjourn the Executive Session. Councillor Anwar seconded the motion; and it was approved, unanimously.
8. Adjournment
At 9:01 p.m. Councillor Anwar made a motion to adjourn the Work Session. Councillor McCann seconded the motion and it was approved, unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Deborah W. Reid
Recording Secretary
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