TOWN COUNCIL
TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
Minutes Page 1 January 13, 2014
TOWN COUNCIL ORIENTATION
Council Chambers – South Windsor Town Hall
1. Call Meeting to Order
Mayor Anwar called the Town Council Orientation to order at 7:02 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Members Present: Mayor M. Saud Anwar
Councilor Thomas Delnicki
Councilor Carolyn Mirek
Councilor Liz Pendleton
Councilor Janice Snyder
Councilor Stephen Wagner
Members Absent: Deputy Mayor Edward Havens
Councilor Cary Prague
Councilor Keith Yagaloff
Also Present: Matthew B. Galligan, Town Manager
Kari Olson, Town Attorney
2. Presentations/Discussion Items
- Town Attorney – Murtha Cullina LLP
Town Attorney Kari Olson came before the Town Council and explained that there are four roles of the Town Attorney. They are as follows:
Advisor
The Town Attorney works for the Town Council who is the legislative body of South Windsor. The Town Council is the elected officials and make the policy decisions and set the goals for the Town. The Town Attorney’s role is to advise the Town Council as to how goals can be legally obtained. The Town Council requests legal opinions on different matters and the Town Attorney’s job is to know the law and draw upon the experiences of the municipal team to give the best judgment as to what the law will allow or require and the likely outcomes. The Town Council may not always like the opinion that is given but the Town Attorney gives the opinion that is felt to be defensible in a Court of Law and the opinion that the Town Attorney would be prepared to defend on
ITEM:
2. A. (Continued)
behalf of the Town Council. The Town Attorney also assists the Town Manager and Town staff in dealing with day to day issues. Currently, if there is a legal question, a Legal Services Request Form is filled out which is then reviewed by the Town Manager who determines if a legal opinion is required. When a request is received by the Town Attorney, it is determined who is the best person amongst the team to most efficiently and effectively respond to the question.
Advocate
The Town Attorney is the Town’s advocate at all times. The Town Attorney has to keep the Town’s collective best interest at the forefront at all times and Murtha Cullina looks at every task through the lens of advocacy. Murtha Cullina will never recommend taking action for the benefit of one while being detrimental to the rest of the Town.
Facilitator
When the Town sets a goal, Murtha Cullina will want to help the Town reach that goal by keeping an eye out for the Town and bring to the Town’s attention topics of interest.
Educator
Murtha Cullina feels it is important to offer educational opportunities to the Town and to the Town staff. Murtha Cullina enjoys providing workshops, seminars and in service.
Answering questions from the Council, Town Attorney Olson explained that she does not believe a Request for Legal Services form was created for the Town Council but is mainly for Department Heads and staff. The procedure for legal services can be handled the way the Town Council feels is the best way.
Mayor Anwar stated that some legal opinions have been sought through consensus of the Council. Mr. Galligan explained that in order to keep costs down and focused, the Council has always put requests through consensus of the Town Council. A request can be brought through the Mayor and then it will go to the Town Manager.
ITEM:
2. A. (Continued)
Councilor Delnicki stated that any opinion that is rendered should be distributed to the whole Council.
Town Attorney Olson explained that Murtha Cullina is currently General Town Attorney to seven municipalities and Special Counsel to approximately a dozen other municipalities. Murtha Cullina has a core group that meets quarterly that takes care of the Town of South Windsor’s legal matters. Murtha Cullina has 155 Attorney’s in two States. Murtha Cullina works for the Town of South Windsor under a retainer agreement. Council members are covered under an insurance policy that covers each Council member in your professional role.
Mr. Michael Gantick, Director of Public Works came forward and introduced the Leadership Team, (Fred Shaw, Superintendent of Pollution Control; Jeff Doolittle, Town Engineer; Clay Major, Head of Facilities; Mark Owens, Street Manager; and Leon Clough, Associate Manager). Mr. Gantick reviewed an overview of the Department of Public Works, as shown in attached Exhibit A.
Councilor Pendleton praised the Water Treatment Facility for having an inspection from the State of Connecticut who was very impressed with the way the facility functions. Councilor Pendleton requested that Mr. Gantick include in his budget presentation the challenges and priorities that the department could use to help the department function better.
Mr. Gantick explained that the responsibility of cleaning out culverts varies depending on the rights the Town has. Town Attorney Kari Olson added that a lot of it depends on if the Town is dealing with a State or Town road and is determined case by case.
Mr. Gantick stated that the Town has 350 pieces of equipment. Most of the equipment counted in the inventory has wheels or are motorized. There may be some back pack blowers or chain saw included, but for the most part it is rolling stock that are large pieces of equipment.
The Town has entered into a new agreement for Household Hazardous Waste. On January 23, 2014 dates of collection will be established. The drop off location will be in Manchester on Olcott Street near the old landfill. If a
ITEM:
2. B. (Continued)
resident is going to use this program they will be required to have a photo i.d. showing they are a resident of South Windsor. Mr. Shaw told the Council that Capitol Region East has a satellite collection out in Stafford for one of the participating municipalities. Mr. Galligan informed the Council that South Windsor is going to try to initiate a new program where different paint stores will take paint for recycling. At this time there are no South Windsor stores and the closest location would be Manchester.
Answering questions from the Council, Mr. Gantick explained that the Town works with the Board of Education on a number of different programs. The Town houses the Board of Education’s salt and provides the Board of Education with fuel. The Town and Board of Education collaborate on building maintenance issues. In the packet the Town Council received, there is a condition report for pavement management. A map can be established showing the condition of each road in Town. There is 140 miles of road in South Windsor that is taken care of by Town staff and there is a 19 miles of State road. The Town and State work together when it is necessary.
Mr. Galligan told the Council that the Town has a three year contract with CRRA. Fred Shaw sits on a panel for CRRA.
Mr. Gantick stated that South Windsor did join with Manchester and East Hartford for a brine system. Manchester is housing the mixing tanks. Municipalities do share equipment from time to time but it is difficult because for the most part the same programs are running at the same time.
Chief Matthew Reed came before the Town Council and presented a presentation, as shown in attached Exhibit B.
Answering questions from the Council, Chief Reed explained that the Police Department has a Ride Along Program that Council members and the public can participate in. The Police Department would like to bring the PACT Academy back in the future. It is a worthwhile program that was eliminated because of budgeting issues. The Police Golf Tournament was done to help fund that program. Training for CERT is being held on January 23, 2014. It is hopeful that more training will become available in the future. Chief Reed
ITEM:
2. C. (Continued)
explained that the Tesla electric cars are not being used by Police Departments yet. The cost for these vehicles is $110,000 and then there also is a cost to put equipment in Police vehicles which Chief Reed said he does not know if equipment can fit into the electric car. These vehicles need to prove themselves in the regular civilian retail market as a viable vehicle before it could be considered for police use. Fuel usage has been reduced with the new vehicles that are being used by the Police Department and also because of the automatic shut off when the vehicle is sitting. Chief Reed said one priority the Police Department would like is to fully staff the department to the levels necessary. Chief Reed stated he would like to hire more individuals knowing that the department will have
retirements in the future. Police Officers are limited to 16 continuous hours of work and under no condition are Police Officers allowed to work beyond 20 continuous hours. The Police Departments goal is to have individuals work 5 days and take 2 days off. The Department does not look at the number of hours worked per week. There is no federal regulation that says a Police Officer can not work this many consecutive hours in a 5 or 7 day period.
Chief Reed stated that he is a member of the Police Chiefs Association and he is one of their legislative liaisons
Mayor Anwar requested that another Executive Session be held in the future to discuss Town security issues.
- Human Services Department
Mr. Dennis Sheridan, Director of Human Service came before the Town Council. Mr. Sheridan introduced Andrea Cofrancesco who is the Coordinator of Adult and Senior Services and Elizabeth Langevin, Coordinator of Youth and Family Services. Mr. Sheridan, Ms. Cofrancesco and Ms. Langevin then presented a presentation to the Town Council, as shown in attached Exhibit C.
Answering questions from the Council, Mr. Sheridan explained that transportation services do not cost the residents out of their pockets. Councilor Wagner stated that those transportation services are very important for seniors which allows them to stay in their homes rather then a managed facility.
ITEM:
2. D. (Continued)
Ms. Langevin explained to the Council that the laws are changing for school system so that more is being done to keep kids in classroom and in the school rather than having out of school suspension.
Mayor Anwar suggested that a handy-man service be established in the Human Service Department.
- Parks & Recreation Department
Mr. Ray Favreau, Director of Parks & Recreation Department came before the Town Council and introduced Ryan Kane, Assistant Director of Parks & Recreation; and John Caldwell, Parks Superintendent. Mr. Favreau reviewed the presentation regarding the Parks & Recreation Department, as shown in attached Exhibit D.
Councilor Mirek stated that she feels that there is no better way to bring a community together then through recreation. One comment that Ms. Mirek said she has heard is that residents would not mind paying a little more for the pool so it would not be so overcrowded. Mr. Favreau explained that the original pool was purchased with federal funds and by law the Town can not exclude non-residents. The law allows us to charge double the resident rate. That does detract from non-residents coming to the pool and the Town needs that revenue, so the Town charges approximately 50% more to non-residents. If the non-resident fee goes up, the residential fee will also needs to go up. Parks & Recreation is presently looking to change the fee structure from a family pass system to an individual
pass system with a photo id which will allow staff to control the gate better. The non-resident revenue is necessary at this time in order to be self sustaining. Maximum capacity for the pool is 1,500 with less then that being allowed in the pool at the same time.
Mayor Anwar suggested that a way be identified where residents could either come in earlier then non-residents or stay later.
Mr. Favreau explained that the Master Plan needs to be complete and is being worked on to be a part of the Strategic Plan. There are some maps already that have been complete for some of the parks which Jeff Folger has done. Maps of other parks can be done.
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2. E. (Continued)
Councilor Wagner stated that he feels it is important to provide exercise opportunities for individuals who do not normally sign up for recreational activities.
Mr. Favreau stated that the Recreation Department has a very active website. Sixty percent of the registrations are coming on-line. One piece that Recreation does not have on-line is facility reservation. Residents can look to see what is available but can not reserve the facility because there is a much larger demand then what the Town has. Mr. Galligan suggested that a Town sponsored credit card be considered.
Mr. Favreau said he would be in support of taking over Wapping School if the school referendum is approved. This would allow the Park & Recreation Department to have much needed space as well as the Human Services Department. Mr. Galligan added that rehabilitation of the high school field should be reviewed with the Board of Education and Superintendent if the referendum is approved. Those fields can be used by the high school and the community.
Mr. Favreau explained that the Town and CREC are finalizing an agreement where the Town would have access to two athletic fields on the CREC School property in exchange for the Town maintaining them. The Town will be able to use those fields after school, on weekends and during breaks or vacations. At this time the Town will manage those fields but in the future there maybe a need to request more staff. The plan to rehabilitate different fields throughout Town will depend on what happens with the school referendum. A map of all of the fields in Town will be established when the Park & Recreation Master Plan is complete. Mr. Favreau voiced support of putting synthetic fields on school grounds because of lower maintenance, herbicide use on natural turf is so restrictive that it is difficult
to maintain natural turf, and there would not be a need for irrigation, fertilization or over seeding. This would create a savings on an annual basis and would allow much more playing time. If synthetic fields are constructed on the high school property, the high school use would come first. A policy will be established where the Park & Recreation Department would be able to do the scheduling of the field after school hours. The high school has very low inventory of fields available to them and would probably not be able to give up any time on the fields other than after school hours, weekends and vacations or breaks. If synthetic fields
ITEM:
2. E. (Continued)
were constructed at the elementary facilities, recreation programs may have more time on the fields, but not at the middle school or high school.
Mr. Galligan stated that if the Town is going to upgrade fields, more money should be spent to create synthetic fields and they should be located next to the schools.
3. Other Business
None
4. Adjournment
At 10:30 p.m. Councilor Wagner made a motion to adjourn the Special Meeting. Councilor Delnicki seconded the motion; and it was approved, unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Deborah W. Reid
Clerk of the Council
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