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Town Council Work Session Minutes 9/3/2013
TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
WORK SESSION MINUTES

TOWN COUNCIL                                                TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 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
                                Town Attorney Dwight Johnson, Murtha Cullina, LLP

3.      Public Participation

Mr. Jim Morrison, 167 Ayers Road came before the Town Council to speak regarding athletic fields proposal.  Mr. Morrison said he knew the Public Hearing for the athletic fields proposal had been rescheduled but wanted to come before the Council tonight.  Mr. Morrison stated that he has some concerns regarding the athletic field proposal as follows:

  • Drainage in that field and how it will affect his property.
  • Light pollution into his property.
  • How the rebuilding of Nevers Road will affect his property and would like to see the type of culvert being proposed as well as what type of concrete work is being proposed.
  • Guardrail being proposed for his property
  • The possibility of sidewalks being put in front of his property.
  • There have not been any engineering studies and/or environmental studies done for the athletic field proposal.
Mr. Jack Phillips, 200 McGrath Road also came to discuss the athletic fields proposal.  Mr. Phillips first wondered about the need for these fields because if there are new schools that are going to be proposed in the future, fields will also be proposed.  The CREC Magnet School is also having fields in their proposal.  South Windsor has always encouraged farming and open space to the greatest extent possible.  These fields do not qualify and will be taking away from open space and farming.  There are a number of reports regarding injuries on fields with artificial turf and Mr. Phillips felt that artificial turf fields should not be constructed.  Instead of coming into a project by a backhanded method, this proposal should go to referendum and allow the taxpayers make the final decision on the way the tax money is spent.

ITEM:

3.      Public Participation (Continued)

Mr. Jim Libby, Scantic Meadow Road came before the Town Council and questioned why the Mayor would go for a primary and expect the taxpayers to pay for it.  The Mayor’s taxes went down because of his ham radio tower was classified as being “a cell tower” and the Mayor is saying he did not know that for how many years.  If someone is going to run this Town, how did he not know they were paying too much in taxes.

4.      Communications

Councillor Beaulieu informed the Council and the public that on Sunday, September 1st Ms. Lara Eaton held an event called Turn The Town Teal which is a national campaign to promote awareness of ovarian cancer and its silent symptoms.  Volunteers tie teal ribbons throughout town centers and hand out symptom cards during the month of September which is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.  Councillor Beaulieu also informed the Council and the public that Miss USA was at the event because it was her platform and she brought forward information about ovarian cancer awareness as well as breast cancer awareness.  Councillor Beaulieu thanked Lara Eaton and the South Windsor Junior Women’s Club.

Mayor Delnicki thanked Councillor Beaulieu for bringing this topic forward to the Town Manager and himself.  The Town of South Windsor is only one of four or five other communities in Connecticut that have declared September “Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month”.  Mayor Delnicki suggested that letters be sent out to other communities encouraging them to declare September as “Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month”.

Mr. Galligan, Town Manager felt that letters from the Council supporting this issue would be a good idea.  

Mayor Delnicki thanked Miss USA, Erin Brady.

Councillor Anwar explained that spreading awareness helps to identify symptoms in an earlier stage.  This cancer has response to surgery as well as chemotherapy but needs to be identified early enough.  Councillor Anwar thanked Councillor Beaulieu and Mayor Delnicki for taking leadership.  Councillor Anwar announced that tomorrow is the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah and he wished those who celebrate it a Happy New Year.

5.      Town Manager’s Report

Mr. Galligan reported on the following items:

  • An Emergency Management Coordinator has been hired.  This gentleman will bring vast experience to the Town and is already reviewing our systems, grants, responses and certain projects to enhance our Emergency Management System.
  • The Town is still in negotiating.  Issues will be discussed at the next meeting in Executive Session.

ITEM:

5.      Town Manager’s Report (Continued)

  • The Easement Referendum question that will be going on the ballot is approved by the Town Council and is a very small easement or piece of land through Evergreen Walk.  This area would be used for plan conformance.  The property was valued at $175,000.
  • South Windsor is trying to work with a few different contractors in order to secure a Household Hazardous Waste Program.  
  • An RFP was done for ALS service.  These RFPs will be forwarded to Committee members comprised of myself as well as Deputy Mayor Bazzano, Councilors Anwar, McCann and Yagaloff.  The Committee will then meet to discuss the RFPs and come back to the Council with a recommendation.
  • The Fire Department bids came in for a new pumper truck.  All of the information has been forwarded to the Fire Department for their committee to review and once they have a recommendation, they will contact the Town Manager.
  • With the help of Senator LeBeau I have been appointed to the EMS Task Force with the State of Connecticut.  The first meeting was supposed to be held but there was a problem with the legal notice.  A meeting has now been scheduled for September 9th at 5:00 p.m.  A program will be established at that meeting.
  • The Council has received a fund balance report as well as a report dated July 31st of what was spent in the STEAP Grant for the I-291.  
Answering questions from the Council, Mr. Galligan explained that there were three bids received for the fire truck.  The low bidder failed to do a bond so therefore that bid may have to be thrown out.  The next bid was approximately $50,000 more which was at $623,000.  There were also three bids received for the ALS service.  AMR was one of the bidders who bid just on the ALS portion of the bid which was over a five year period in the amount of $2.2 million dollars cost to the Town.  Another bidder was ASM.  The bid two alternatives, one on an hourly and the other was if they did ALS and BLS there would be no cost to the Town.  The last bidder was South Windsor Ambulance Corp.  They bid the whole thing at no cost to the Town.  The Committee needs to review the bids to compare services, quality that they bring forward and the number of years of service.

Councillor Havens felt that South Windsor Ambulance Corp. has done a good job for the Town of South Windsor and should get consideration.

Answering further questions, Mr. Galligan explained that the $175,000 for the easement is being negotiated and it is being determined who that money would be going to, either the Town or the State.



ITEM:

5.      Town Manager’s Report (Continued)

Councillor Anwar stated that he is happy that the household hazardous waste collection is coming to a plan of action.  There is a membership fee of $4,631.22, what was the Town paying previously?  Mr. Galligan explained that the Town paid to the MDC $20,000 but if you were to get three other Towns involved that fee would be split.  Each homeowner would also have a fee or charge.  Manchester and Glastonbury formed a Board of Directors many years ago to take care of hazardous waste.  South Windsor is going to try to get involved with Manchester and Glastonbury.  Previously hazardous waste collection was only once per year and with this new plan Mr. Galligan stated he believed it would be held quarterly.  Councillor Anwar also stated that he is happy to see that the Resource Officers are functioning and ready to go.  Councillor Anwar requested that the Emergency Management Coordinator come to a future Town Council meeting to discuss the plan and the strategy.  

Mayor Delnicki stated that the membership fee is a one-time fee calculated over 18 years in the amount of $11,000.  Town Attorney Dwight Johnson stated that the existing agreement which goes back to 1995 provided that if a new municipality was brought into the partnership that it would be required to pay some portion of the capital expenditures which had initially been incurred.  The $11,000 is the number they came up with for South Windsor’s share of the capital expenditures.  

Councillor Prague said that the Household Hazardous Waste Collection is being held on September 7th, September 21st and October 15th in Manchester.  Somers will have a collection on October 5th.  Mr. Galligan explained that South Windsor is trying to be a part of the September 7th collection.

6.      Items for Discussion

A.      Budget Surplus (requested by Councillor McCann)

Councillor McCann stated that he asked for a discussion on this item because the Town Council had been notified by the Town Manager that the Town has a significant budget surplus for the year ending June 30, 2013.  Each month the Council receives a printout of where the Town is in expenditures and revenues for the year broken down by month.  These reports are helpful but do not give the Town Council a complete picture of the Town’s finances.  Following up with the Town Manager after the budget was already set, it was found that there was a large surplus of approximately $2.9 million dollars.  After learning this information, Councillor McCann explained that he contacted the Town Attorney.  It was ruled that the Town can not rebate to the Taxpayers any money that they have paid in taxes.  Out of the $2.9 million dollars, $962,000 is from excess education equalization grant and is dedicated to the Board of Education and can not be used by the Town.  Another $800,000 has been airmarked in last year’s budget out of the fund balance.  Councillor McCann questioned the Town Council on what should be done with the remaining $1.1 million dollars.  Councillor McCann then suggested a few scenarios for this surplus which are to adjust the taxes going forward or leave the surplus in the fund balance which would bring the Town up to about 5-6%, showing fiscal

ITEM:

6.      A.      (Continued)

stability in the Town.

Councillor McCann credited the surplus on the spending freeze that was placed on all spending in Town.

Answering questions from the Council, Mr. Galligan explained that he has never held back any financial information from the Council during budget season.  The issue that happened during this last budget is that in April of last year Anthem was predicting an $800,000 shortfall in health.  It is very difficult to give the Council information and predict a surplus when there are reports showing a $1 million dollar shortfall and claims that are high.  The Town Council sets its budget in May and the State and Federal budgets have not been set yet which also could affect the Town’s budget.

Answering further questions, Mr. Galligan explained how ECS funding is handled stating that there really was no surplus for this item.  The $800,000 is handled the same way each year in fund balance which also is not a surplus.  There is a surplus of $1.1 million dollars.

Councillor Yagaloff felt that the surplus should be used to reduce taxes or stabilize the Town’s budget.  The Council should not look for other areas where these funds could be spent.

Discussions regarding this issue were continued to the Regular Meeting.

7.      Executive Session

None

8.      Adjournment

At 8:01 p.m. Deputy Mayor Bazzano made a motion to adjourn the Work Session.  Councillor Anwar seconded the motion and it was approved, unanimously.

Respectfully submitted,



                                                
Deborah W. Reid
Recording Secretary