TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
WORK SESSION MINUTES
TOWN COUNCIL MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2013
COUNCIL CHAMBERS TIME: 7:00 P.M.
1. Call Meeting to Order
Mayor Anwar called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Members Present: Mayor M. Saud Anwar
Deputy Mayor Edward Havens
Councilor Thomas Delnicki
Councilor Carolyn Mirek
Councilor Liz Pendleton
Councilor Cary Prague
Councilor Janice Snyder
Councilor Stephen Wagner
Councilor Keith Yagaloff
Also Present: Matthew B. Galligan, Town Manager
Kari Olson, Town Attorney (arrived at 7:30 p.m.)
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. Mr. Werkhoven explained that he has put 177 hours in trying to get the message out to stop people from driving distracted. When individuals are texting while they are driving it is like a person drinking and then driving. Mr. Werkhoven requested that businesses in Town place signs in their windows that say “No Texting, No Phone, Its Law”.
Mayo Anwar presented Mr. Werkhoven with a proclamation which stated that the Town is united with Mr. Werkhoven on raising awareness in the Town of South Windsor regarding distracted driving.
Mr. Tim Shepard, 45 Newberry Road stated that he was before the Council as President of the South Windsor Land Trust. Recently the Town was offered a four acre parcel which the Town declined and the South Windsor Land Trust is interested in. Mr. Shepard requested that the Town assign the tax lien to the Land Trust for $1.00 and let the Land Trust acquire that property.
Ms. Patty Lazos Hood, 770 Clark Street came before the Town Council and requested that the Town reconsider putting signs up and banning tractor trailers from using Clark Street as a cut through. At the very least, Ms. Lazos Hood asked that the Town talk to Hartford Distributors about their trucks not using Clark Street.
ITEM:
4. Communications
Councilor Pendleton informed the Council and the public that on Saturday, November 23, 2013 the South Windsor Fire Department will participate in a Torch Light Parade at Evergreen Walk. Evergreen Walk is sponsoring their Winter Festivities which begins at 5:00 p.m. and the parade starts at 5:30 p.m. Ms. Pendleton then invited Council members to participate.
Councilor Snyder announced that the South Windsor Department of Human Services is embarking o their holiday gift program. Andrea Cofrancesco oversees the program which is called “Adopt a Child”. Councilor Snyder urged anyone who is interested to please contact Andrea Cofrancesco.
Councilor Snyder also informed the public and Council members that the South Windsor Food Alliance will continue to bring local produce through the winter months. The Winter Market will be open from now until December 21, 2013 on Saturday mornings from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at St. Margaret Mary’s Church Hall. The South Windsor Community Foundation wills tart working with the South Windsor Food Alliance to bring the Farmers Market to the Priest property to have an indoor farm.
Councilor Snyder also stated that she discussed with the Town Manager about getting a Distracted Driving Campaign started locally. Sings on Town property could be made stating a message regarding distracted driving. Mr. Werkhoven could be part of this campaign.
Councilor Delnicki welcomed the Boy Scouts from Troop 62 who are present at the meeting tonight. Councilor Delnicki then stated he would also support a campaign regarding distracted driving. The town council should contact the Board of Education to see if there is an opportunity for Mr. Werkhoven to engage in some sort of a program there to get the message out to young drivers.
5. Town Manager’s Report
Mr. Galligan reported the following to the Town Council:
- There are two important resolutions tonight regarding Emergency Management. One is for a regional grant and the other is for a local grant. Jay Gonzalez is here tonight for any questions.
- The developers for the Evergreen Walk proposal have requested that the resolution tonight be tabled until the December 2, 2013 meeting. There are issues that need to be resolved before this item moves forward.
- The Town Council will be discussing the Strategic Planning Program tonight. This program will make sure the Town’s budgets reflect the Strategic Plan of our community. Town staff stands ready to accommodate the Council.
- Due to some changes of the Council, there will be changes in the various Boards/Commissions that the Council participates in. Council liaisons will also be changing.
ITEM:
5. Town Manager’s Report (Continued)
- Town staff would like to do a Council Orientation when possible in order for the Town Council to reach their goals and objectives.
- Mr. Galligan informed the Council that he serves on the EMS Taskforce which meets every Monday at the Department of Public Health. Today Mr. Galligan explained that he met with Mary Ellen Harper from Farmington to put in some new regulations based upon what is happening in South Windsor. A lot of suggestions were taken from Council and hopefully the proposals will move forward. CCM is backing these proposals.
Answering questions from the Council, Mr. Galligan stated that the Mayor will be appointing two Republican Town Councilors to sit on the Committee for the Ambulance. Councilor Delnicki stated that he would like to sit on that Committee.
Mr. Galligan updated Council members on different items concerning the Connecticut Studios project. Mr. Galligan then informed the Council that the Town is in a three- year contract with CRRA which locked in the tipping fee also. The Town got the best deal at the time at the lowest cost available. It is hopeful as the market opens up, the Town can do even better. Mr. Galligan stated that the Town has a five-year contract with Murphy for recycling.
6. Items for Discussion
B. MDC (Fred Shaw, Superintendent of Pollution Control to be present)
Councilor Delnicki recused himself from this discussion because he is a Supervisor in the Maintenance Department of MDC.
Mr. Galligan explained to the Council that he had received a call from a resident who explained that their water bill went from $30.00 to $90.00.
Representative Bill Aman came forward and explained that last November or December, MDC published a notice in the Hartford courant informing people that a public hearing was going to be held regarding water rates which showed the increase. Nobody showed up to the public hearing so therefore the rate increases were passed. There was another public hearing held last week where 200+ people came. The theme was that there was no representation on the Board, this was a very unfair increase and much too fast. The rates were then lowered from $105.75 a quarter to $49.74 a quarter for a non-member fee. It is definitely a much more reasonable charge for what they are trying to accomplish. Representative Aman stated that he does sympathize with the MDC; they have some tremendous expenses that they
are going to have to face, along with Connecticut Water Company and the rest of the water companies. Water lines have a useful life of approximately 100 years and the lines are now 50-60 years old. It is incredibly expensive to repair the lines. Presently the Board that runs the MDC has 28 members and there are no non-member Towns sitting on the Board.
ITEM:
6. B. (Continued)
Representative Aman said he would be putting forward legislation that will be to have the Board increased by a couple of members for non-member Towns or maybe even more simply that the Governor gets a certain number of appointments and two of the appointments have to be non-member Town citizens.
AT 8:00 p.m. the Work Session was recessed in order to call the Regular Meeting to order. The Work Session reconvened at 8:10 p.m.
Mr. Fred Shaw, Superintendent of Pollution Control explained that the Town is split between users of Connecticut Water and users of MDC. MDC provides water service to approximately 1,600 to 1,700 residential units and approximately 150 businesses. South Windsor is not a member Town because MDC only serves South Windsor with water and does not provide sewer service since South Windsor has its own sewer service.
Mayor Anwar felt that there needs to be some type of long-term solution where South Windsor will have a voice regarding MDC rates and the Town is fortunate to have Representative Aman looking for a solution.
Councilor Pendleton explained that every fall, MDC reviews their prices and she would be keeping her eyes open on this issue along with the Town Manager and Mr. Shaw to review the rates for the residents of South Windsor.
A. Strategic Planning (Michele Lipe, Town Planner to be present)
Mr. Galligan explained that Strategic Planning is a collaborative effort where it is discussed what the priorities of the community are. The vision of the Town was established as well as a list of the top ten items that were felt should be accomplished. The Strategic Plan is then incorporated into the budget. Round Table discussions are held where all of the Board and Commission members and Town staff can sit down and talk about the visions for the Town as well as priorities of the Town.
Ms. Michele Lipe, Town Planner came forward and explained in the early 2000’s there was a lot of work done in developing the Strategic Plan, Ms. Lipe stated she feels it is appropriate to reflect on the documents that were established and move forward with the information to establish a new Strategic Plan. Notebooks are created that are given to individuals that are members of a Board and/or Commission. The information in the notebook gives background about the Town as well as the Board or Commission duties and by-laws. A Leadership Round Table is held which is a mechanism where as a group, everyone gets together to talk about where the Town is, how the Town should set their priorities to get different projects done and what projects are the priority of the Town.
ITEM:
6. A. (Continued)
Mayor Anwar felt that this is an exciting opportunity for the Town to set priorities moving forward. This plan should involve all the different segments of the community.
Answering questions from the Council, Mr. Galligan explained that when the Strategic Plan was originally established, a consultant was used. At this time, Mr. Galligan felt that since the staff has been previously trained that a consultant would not be necessary.
Councilor Snyder voiced enthusiasm that the Town is going to go back to Strategic Planning. This is a different time and a different world from 1999-2001 sol it is very important that priorities be re-assessed that give the Town Manager and Town staff clear direction of the priorities of the Town.
Mr. Galligan stated that he would have booklets for each Council member made and then from there meetings can be planned and the process can begin.
Mayor Anwar felt that the general public should be made aware of when meetings will be held so they can come to them if they would like.
7. Executive Session
Executive Session to be held in the Regular Meeting.
8. Adjournment
At 8:30 p.m. Deputy Mayor Havens made a motion to adjourn the Work Session. Councilor Snyder seconded the motion; and it was approved unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Deborah W. Reid
Recording Secretary
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