TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
WORK SESSION MINUTES
TOWN COUNCIL MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013
COUNCIL CHAMBERS TIME: 7:00 P.M.
1. Call Meeting to Order
Mayor Delnicki called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Members Present: Mayor Thomas Delnicki
Deputy Mayor Gary Bazzano
Councillor M. Saud Anwar
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. Anna Mae Davis, 9 Ridge Road came before the Town Council to request that the two drains on Ridge Road be fixed this year. Ms. Davis then stated that she calculated the increase to her budget on the proposed mill rate of 35.05 and found that her taxes would be increasing by $423.30 but she does not see that the taxpayers are getting anything extra for this increase. Although the Board of Education has been passed, Ms. Davis stated that she was opposed to the amount that was passed.
Mr. Don Gonsalves, 40 Bayberry Trail stated that with the proposed budget increase, the average house will go up 9%. The other issue is that the Water Pollution Control Authority never gives good financial information from them. The reserve status is never given out. The sewer fee should be going down because the Water Pollution Control Authority has been spending a lot of money. Funds have been included in their budget that will be added to the reserve to pay off the 2% loan from the State. The Town is paying that off. The Water Pollution Control Authority should not have a reserve account that they do not need. This Council should do something about this.
4. Communications
Councillor Yagaloff felt that he should not be included on the criticisms regarding the Water Pollution Control Authority because he has been raising issues regarding WPCA for many years.
Answering questions from the Council, Mr. Galligan explained that the Council has never appropriated the funds necessary to fix the drains on Ridge Road. The cost is $100,000.
Councillor Yagaloff requested that the plan be given to the Town Council for review. The flooding issue has been significant and should see if this issue is a priority.
ITEM:
4. Communications (Continued)
Mayor Delnicki explained that he supported additional funding in the referendum for drainage and paving because he felt thought issues like Ridge Road would be addressed. Mayor Delnicki requested to see the list of issue that will be addressed with the funds from the referendum. Mr. Galligan stated he would sent the Council that list.
Councillor McCann stated that revaluation does not increase taxes, it redistributes taxes in accordance with the changes and values that have occurred over the past five years. Some properties go up and some go down. The taxpayers are not looking at a 9% increase to taxes and is a misperception.
Mayor Delnicki stated that one of the reasons he requested the creation of the WPCA Study Committee on the charges was to try to come up with some sort of fashion to give relief to those who are being disproportionately billed. The Committee has been working on it and should report back to the Council.
Mr. Galligan explained that the Committee has been trying to come up with a fair billing system. The Committee is close to getting that done and will bring it back to the Council.
Mayor Delnicki requested that the Town Manager review the utility patching standards to see if there is a more stringent standards because the Town will be doing $4 million dollars in road repairs. Mr. Galligan explained that he sent an email to the Council regarding the Town’s best practices. Mr. Doolittle felt that should be discussed at another meeting.
Mayor Delnicki informed the Council and the public that he attended a Boy Scout Court of Honor for three individuals. Mayor Delnicki congratulated Nicholas Bonzani, Michael Edson and Matthew Edson.
5. Town Manager’s Report
Mr. Galligan informed the Council that Attorney Dave Panico who is the Town’s Bond Counsel has reviewed the Mayor’s request regarding whether funds can be used from the bond issue for the paving of the Fire Headquarters. It has been determined that it could not be done because the bond issues are very specific about road improvements not parking lots.
There is a Hi-G Agreement between Dr. Constantinos and Jan Exman. Town Attorney Kari Olson is here to discuss this issue later in the meeting.
On May 8, 2013 there is a Capital Projects Committee Meeting which the Council has been invited to. At the meeting projects will be discussed as well as the leasing for those projects.
There was additional budget requests from a Council member which have been given to the whole Council.
ITEM:
6. Items for Discussion
A. Information Technology Services Regional Opportunity with the Town of Tolland
Mr. Galligan began discussions by explaining that the Town of South Windsor has been working on a regional approach with Coventry for their IT services. The regionalization has helped to keep costs down and has also helped with receiving grants. The Town of Tolland has been looking to expand their IT services. If South Windsor were to support Tolland it would be revenue neutral for South Windsor. There will be additional hours and revenues that will come to the Town of South Windsor. Having a third Town to regionalize with will give South Windsor more opportunities for further grants. Tolland will need an answer soon.
Mr. Scott Roberts, Director of Information Technologies came forward and reviewed a break down of services and costs if South Windsor were to support Tolland, as shown in attached Exhibit A. There are two different ways that this could be approached which are to hire another employee or hire an outside contractor to perform this service.
Mr. Galligan added that some of the regional opportunities that are taken advantage have a very positive aspect that bring South Windsor to the forefront with the State.
Councillor Anwar felt that regionalization is going to become the future and many of the Towns will have their areas of expertise which can be shared with other Towns at a lower cost. Councillor Anwar stated he would be supporting this endeavor and feels it is financially good for South Windsor.
Councillor Yagaloff stated he would be supporting this resolution for the same reasons that Dr. Anwar stated. There is no reason not to move forward with this. Financially it makes sense and it pays for itself. The new employee will be paid for by the contract and this position is contingent upon the relationship between Tolland and South Windsor continuing. This will expand our expertise into other Towns beyond the Town of Coventry. The Town of South Windsor will get 13.5 hours of additional hours from this individual that is paid for by Tolland.
Mr. Roberts did explain to the Council that this individual could be hired as a contractor if the Town Council wishes rather than a new employee. It is a lot more challenging to hire as a contractor but if that is the direction the Council wants to move that is what will happen.
Councillor Yagaloff stated that this position will bring in a certain number of hours of free labor to South Windsor. It also increases South Windsor’s expertise. This will also be good for the economy, it create another job.
ITEM:
6. A. (Continued)
Mr. Roberts informed that these opportunities allow for South Windsor to register for a bigger deal with HP which also means that South Windsor received a bigger discount. South Windsor received ten extra computers that before regionalization South Windsor did not qualify for. Also the Town gets 30% reimbursement rate from the State of Connecticut because South Windsor is the only municipality that has joined with another municipality to purchase computers. These are items that will help each Town.
Councillor Prague felt that this deal is more of a risk then it would be a benefit to South Windsor if a new employee is hired. Mr. Roberts explained that is why he offered the second idea of a contracted position with zero benefits. Councillor Prague stated he would support a contracted position. Mr. Roberts stated that the staff needs the Councils permission for the Town Manager to move forward with negotiating a contract with the Town of Tolland. That contract could be brought back to the Council for approval. Mr. Galligan explained that the Town takes risks every day with employees.
Councillor Havens felt that this is an easy decision and he would be supporting this resolution. It gives the Town of South Windsor the reputation of the Town to look to for cooperation. Other Towns may be able to help South Windsor with different services.
Mayor Delnicki said he favors the contractor concept. This will allow South Windsor to see how this will work. This will also reduce the risks to the Town.
Councillor Yagaloff stated that he would like to distance himself from the comments made about risks and any hiring decisions by the Town need to be free of any discrimination. Councillor Yagaloff said he would not support the vote on a contractor position because the Town would get significant benefits from this position in terms of both cash and hours.
Councillor Snyder questioned if the position could begin as a contractor and then hiring somebody in the future? Councillor Snyder also questioned Mr. Roberts his opinion regarding hiring a contractor versus hiring an employee.
Mr. Roberts explained that he believes there are benefits for both ways.
Councillor McCann stated that no one is talking about discrimination against anyone. Risk management has been discussed in a contractual relationship between the Town of South Windsor and the Town’s of Coventry and Tolland. Councillor McCann stated he would support this concept if a contractor were hired but not a direct employee of the Town.
ITEM:
6. A. (Continued)
Councillor Anwar said he feels the Town needs to enter into this new endeavor and if a contractor is the way it will happen he would support that but feels that a full time additional employee would make more sense.
Answering further questions from the Council, Mr. Galligan explained that any position whether it is part time or full time there is a risk of unemployment. If the contract ceases, then the position will no longer exist. After Tolland reviews the contract and approves it, the contract can be brought back to the Town Council for review and approval.
7. Executive Session
None
8. Adjournment
At 7:59 p.m. Councillor Anwar 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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