TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
WORK SESSION MINUTES
TOWN COUNCIL MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 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 Cindy Beaulieu
Councillor Edward Havens
Councillor Kevin McCann
Councillor Cary Prague
Councillor Janice Snyder
Members Absent: Councillor Keith Yagaloff
Also Present: Matthew B. Galligan, Town Manager
3. Public Participation
Mr. Carl Werkhoven, 68 Oakwood Drive came before the Town Council to request that something be done in Town to create more safety for people on the road. There are individual’s texting and driving all over Town. Those individuals are not abiding the rules of the road such as speed limits and stop signs. Those individuals are creating a dangerous situation.
At 7:22 p.m. the Work Session was recessed in order to call the Public Hearing to order. The Work Session was reconvened at 7:26 p.m.
Mr. Don Gonsalves, 40 Bayberry Trail came before the Town Council and explained that he had attended a WPCA meeting last week. The WPCA financial numbers are totally wrong and the sewer fee is too high. There was an opportunity for the Town Council to lower the sewer bills this year by $100.00
Ms. Sue Larsen who is the Democratic Registrar of Voter and Ms. Sue Burnham who is the Republican Registrar of Voter came forward and announced that the Town will have a Modified Polling Place this year at the Town Hall, Lower Level. This will be an area where people who have not registered to vote can do so and then can vote. The hours of operation will be 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. There will be sufficient signage to alert people about this.
Answering questions from the Council Ms. Burnham explained that people can come to the Town Hall in the Sprenkel Room where they can register and then vote. This will only be a place where people who are not registered will be allowed to vote.
ITEM:
4. Communications
Mr. Galligan stated that he would make sure that Mr. Gonsalves get all of the information he is requesting. This information will be provided to the Town Council also.
Councillor Anwar felt that the Town should move towards charging taxpayers for their sewer use by the volume that is used at their property rather than a flat fee. Councillor Anwar then thanked Council members for their service to the Town and also thanked Mayor Delnicki for being fair to all Council members.
Councillor Snyder felt that cell phone use while driving should be addressed by the Council. The Council needs to raise awareness or put a local campaign together for this issue.
Mayor Delnicki felt that there is an opportunity to have the Board of Education and the Police Department work together to raise awareness. This is a daily hazard that needs to be addressed.
Mr. Galligan suggested that the Metro Traffic Authority be involved.
Councillor Prague questioned who owns the baseball field on the King Street map? Mr. Folger answered that the Church is the owner of the baseball field.
Mayor Delnicki stated that the Torch Walk held on Saturday, October 19th was a very successful.
6. Items for Discussion
A. Funding Status of Town/Board of Education Pension Plans (requested by Councillor Beaulieu)
Councillor Beaulieu explained that the Town’s discount rate is currently at 8%. Towns and some private and State pension plans are starting to bring their expectations down. Councillor Beaulieu referred to a report provided to the Town Council by Fiduciary Investment Advisors showing the Town Council the Towns that are AAA rated that have lowered their discount rate, a shown in attached Exhibit A. If the Town Council decides to do this, the Town would have to make a contribution to the plan above and beyond the ARC. A stepped process makes a lot of sense that would bring to the Town down to 7 ¾% and then possibly 7 ½%.
ITEM:
6. A. (Continued)
Councillor McCann stated that Council members have stated from time to time that the Council should rely on experts. We are very fortunate to have an expert in this area sitting on Council and on the Pension Committee and she brought forward this discussion item tonight. The State of Connecticut is ranked as one in the worst financial shape of any 50 States and one of the major reasons for that is the State of Connecticut underfunds it pension plan to a tremendous amount. The Town Council does not want the Town of South Windsor to go down that same road. The 17 Towns that have lowered their discount rate to a reasonable level is something that the Town of South Windsor should do.
5. Town Manager’s Report
Mr. Galligan informed the Council that he had sent an email to the Council today consisting of four documents (Trust Agreement, Lease Agreement, Services Agreement and Charter) regarding Connecticut Studios. Mr. Galligan stated he would be meeting with representatives from Connecticut Studios on Thursday, October 24, 2013 to finalize a budget so that all of the numbers can be put into the document. In two to three weeks they will close on the land and then within eight weeks will close on the whole deal. The commitments from the State are all updated. Every Monday at 10:30 a.m. there will be a meeting held regarding Connecticut Studios to continue this process.
Two union negotiations have been settled. One will be going to arbitration and then the other one is still in mediation. There may be another settlement coming back to the Town.
The RFP Committee met regarding Ambulance Services. Interviews will be held for the vendors that have bid, evaluations will be done and then will come back to the Town Council with a recommendation. Mr. Galligan explained that he sits on a Task Force for EMS Services where the main focus is that all of the municipalities feel that the PSA should be with the Town’s not with individual companies or not-for-profits.
8. Adjournment
At 7:56 p.m. Councillor Prague 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
| 
