MINUTES
BOARD OF FINANCE
NOVEMBER 18, 2003
A REGULAR MEETING of the Board of Finance was held on Tuesday, November 18, 2003 in the Council Chambers.
In attendance was Mayor Owen J. Quinn, Jr., Board of Finance members James Zeller, Michael Nejaime , Diane Libby, Roger Dickinson, and Bruce Cornish, Corp. Counsel Albert Vasko, Comptroller Alice Proulx, Tax Collector Robert Crovo, and Fire Chief John Field.
Mayor Quinn called the meeting to order at 4:03 p.m.
MINUTES #010
On a motion by Mrs. Libby, seconded by Mr. Nejaime, the board approved the minutes of the regular meeting held October 21, 2003.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #020
On a motion by Mrs. Libby, seconded by Mr. Zeller, the board opened the meeting to the public. There was no public participation.
REVIEW OF TAX COLLECTOR # 040
Mr. Crovo indicated that he had handed in his May evaluation and that his November evaluation that needed to be approved by the Board of Finance was ready. Basically, the evaluation was a letter from the Treasurer=s Office stating that he had handed in all the money that was expected of him and the fact that his credit line was still in good standing with the bank. The bond was scheduled to be renewed on December 1 and he would furnish the city with it at that time.
Mr. Crovo indicated that more money had come in during the past year than it had in the past fifteen years. It came in faster and correctly. When he was first appointed Tax Collector, he was behind by almost $5 million; $600,000.00 was due to Angram and $4.3 million to Trans America, the company that Angram had farmed off its liens to. Funds due to Angram was almost non-existent, and Trans America was down to about $1 million. The real estate owed to him on the 2001 grand list was less than what was owed to him on the 2002 grand list. Motor Vehicle taxes were more difficult to collect.
Mr. Crovo stated that he continued to work with the Blight Committee. He claimed success in turning over some of the properties and having them cleaned up. Two more were sold on October 18, but won=t actually turn over to the new owners until the redemption period is over.
Mayor Quinn explained that he had a file on identified blighted properties and was working on the most serious and most long standing. He meets on a weekly basis to discuss the worst twelve properties with the Fire Marshal, Building, Inland Wetlands, Planning & Zoning and the owner of these properties.
Mr. Crovo said the blight list alerts him to properties that may owe him taxes much closer to the assessed value than he wants to be and he goes after the taxes earlier.
Mayor Quinn pointed out that Mr. Crovo=s good working relationship with the city and his involvement with the blighted properties is a benefit to the City of Torrington. He adjusted his working hours to coordinate with the new hours set at City Hall, something he didn=t have to do.
Mr. Nejaime inquired whether all the safeguards were being followed through and whether Mr. Crovo was working hand in hand with the Treasurer=s Office. He said, AThere was a time you weren=t getting reports you needed or you were handing in stuff that wasn=t.....(sentence unfinished.)@
Mr. Crovo said he still had everything in his office, since it hadn=t been requested.
Mr. Nejaime indicated that, at some point, procedure should be followed.
When Mr. Crovo said he had it all, Mr. Nejaime said that wasn=t where it belonged.
Mr. Crovo said he needed it, but the city should have a copy of it as well.
Mr. Nejaime said it should be passed along, and at some point, that really needed to be done.
Mr. Crovo agreed with Mr. Nejaime.
Ms. Proulx said she would make a note and let the Treasurer=s Office know.
SCULLY & WOLF #490
On a motion by Mrs. Libby, seconded by Mr. Nejaime, discussion took place in regard to the status of Scully & Wolf.
Mrs. Libby indicated that Scully & Wolf had met with her and Ms. Proulx to bring them up to date on where the city stood with their original proposal and the cost perspective. Their original estimate for the conversion was $141,000.00 and they had already accrued time for about $75,000.00. They were now estimating the cost to be closer to $148,000.00 by the time they finish the project. Additional costs will pay for more hook ups, firewalls and security types of issues which they hadn=t anticipated initially. Due to changes in personnel,
additional training will also be required.
Mrs. Libby reported that Scully & Wolf still believed firmly that there should be no problem with the conversion from an accounting system point of view. They were somewhat concerned with the change in personnel and those issues would be addressed at a meeting scheduled for the early part of December. Domenic, from Scully & Wolf, was putting together some information to present during that meeting in terms of things that had to occur and hopefully it would be a very productive meeting.
Mayor Quinn stressed the fact that failure was clearly not an option.
Mrs. Libby said she believed the funds in the management contingency account would cover the additional expenses for Scully & Wolf.
BUS: IN SECTION B #690
On a motion by Mr. Cornish, seconded by Mr. Dickinson, the board voted to consider business in Section B.
GORDON, MUIR & FOLEY #700
On a motion by Mrs. Libby, seconded by Mr. Nejaime, the board voted to accept the Council=s request for the payment of $1,479.00 from Contingency to Gordon, Muir & Foley, LLP for professional services rendered in the Southwest School matter.
WARNER THEATER #720
On a motion by Mr. Dickinson, seconded by Mrs. Libby, the board voted to accept the Council=s request to reimburse the Warner Theater $9,754.20 from the Tax Abatement Account for property taxes paid upon its purchase of 84-94 Main Street pursuant to Chapter 197 of the Torrington Code.
The purchase of the building by the Warner Theater would result in the loss of approximately $35,000.00 worth of taxes to the city.
Although Mr. Nejaime was a very strong supporter of the Warner Theater and what they had accomplished, he didn=t feel the purchase of this building by the Warner was a positive thing for the City of Torrington, since it was eliminating retail space that the city could use. It was his belief that a joint partnership between the city and the Warner would be beneficial in terms of deciding who was going to utilize that prime retail space on Main Street. The Warner is a partner in the downtown renovations and it would be difficult for the city to flourish if they ate
up all the retail space.
Mayor Quinn said it was his understanding that the first floor of the Marine Building would be used for retail, which would be taxable retail space, and the upstairs would be used for storage. He thought the Mertz Building would operate in the same manner.
Corp. Counsel Vasko explained that any portion of the building rented by non-profit organizations would be tax exempt.
Mayor Quinn indicated that Mr. Nejaime=s point was well taken.
MURDOCK CLAIM MGMT #1020
On a motion by Mrs. Libby, seconded by Mr. Dickinson, the board voted to accept the Council=s request for the payment of $60.50 from Contingency to Murdock Claim Management Co., F/B/O The Hanover Insurance Company for the city=s deductible in the Zavatkay matter.
SRSNE #1030
On a motion by Mr. Dickinson, seconded by Mr. Cornish, the board voted to accept the Council=s request for the payment of $407.65 from Contingency to SRS Removal Action for Assessment #17 in the SRSNE Superfund Action.
BUS: MAYOR AND MEMBERS #1050
On a motion by Mr. Nejaime, seconded by Mr. Zeller, the board voted to consider business presented by Mayor Quinn and Members of the Board of Finance.
Mr. Nejaime announced his resignation from the Board of Finance. He said it had been a pleasure working with both, Mayor Quinn and former Mayor Gryniuk, as well as the members of the board and that he had truly enjoyed himself.
Mrs. Libby expressed her concern over out placing Middle School children into other districts and the expense that it will create in the Board of Education budget.
Mr. Nejaime inquired whether the board was supposed to act on Chief Field=s proposal for a new rescue vehicle during this meeting.
Mayor Quinn said ANo, we=re working with Roger, and...it=s in the process.@
Mr. Cornish said, AI hoped that we=d see the whole plan so we=re not dealing with out of context
.....(end of sentence inaudible).”
Mayor Quinn said AWe had an original meeting with the department heads, with the Fire Chief, and the Police Chief and some people, Roger wasn=t there, we=re going to do a follow up on December 4th and it will be in the pipeline.@
Mayor Quinn thanked Mr. Nejaime for his time and service to the City of Torrington and pointed out that his shoes would be hard to fill.
Mr. Nejaime congratulated Mayor Quinn for his re-election.
ADJOURNMENT #1320
On a motion by Mr. Nejaime, seconded by Mr. Dickinson, the board voted to adjourn at 4:40 p.m.
ATTEST: JOLINE LeBLANC
ASST. CITY CLERK
| 
