Town of Willington
BOARD OF SELECTMEN ° 40 OLD FARMS ROAD ° WILLINGTON, CONNECTICUT 06279 ° (860) 487-3100 ° FAX (860) 487-3103
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
REGULAR MEETING DEC. 2, 2002
TOWN OFFICE BUILDING 6:30 P. M.
First Selectman Patton called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M. with the following in attendance: Selectmen Eldredge & Lewis, S. Cobb and L. Karpuska. First Selectman Patton led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
SELECTMAN ELDREDGE MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF 11/18/02.
Selectman Lewis seconded the motion.
VOTE: 3 YES (PATTON, ELDREDGE & LEWIS) 0 NO
PRESENT TO SPEAK
Selectman Lewis asked if the plaque for the playground was ordered and was told yes.
CORRESPONDENCE
A list of correspondence was available at the meeting and in the Selectman’s office.
VILLAGE HILL ROAD BRIDGE
First Selectman Patton commented that they are doing the cutovers, they ripped up the pavement on the south approach and are working on that. Selectman Eldredge commented that it is amazing how much lower that will be. First Selectman Patton commented that one wing wall needs to be poured and they have to repair or do over the sidewalk. He is hoping to have the switchover before Christmas. First Selectman Patton commented that he asked former First Selectman Roger Perry to cut the ribbon. Selectman Eldredge asked if they were going to put asphalt across the bridge. First Selectman Patton replied yes, they will put a weatherproof membrane on it.
Things are going good but the snow does not help. They are at the finishing stages; they are working until the end of December and will start up again in March. The bridge will be opened and the road paved.
TRANSFER STATION HOLIDAY HOURS
Selectman Eldredge commented that the Transfer Station will be opened Thurs. 12/26/02 and Thurs. 1/2/03, normal business hours.
FIRE DEPARTMENTS – This item was on the agenda in error.
COMMUNITY CRUSADE FOR CHILDREN
This organization would like to put a clothes collection box at the Transfer Station. They are a non-profit organization. They help the needy with free clothing and shoes and also sell used clothing and shoes. The donations from the sales go back to the local community. The Board of Selectmen agreed they could put a box at the Transfer Station and the money would go to the Library.
REGULAR MEETING -2- DEC. 2, 2002
PUBLIC WORKS REFUNDS
First Selectman Patton commented that they have been plowing snow; it has hampered the effort to but brush. Selectman Eldredge asked if the clearing of the River Road Recreation area is all set? First Selectman Patton commented that it is. The chain link fence will come down tomorrow to do the site work. He will save the fence. Selectman Lewis asked how long the walking track would be and was told about ½ mile.
GOOD & WELFARE
First Selectman Patton commented that he received notice from CCM about the preliminary State budget cuts. We are looking at about a 5% decrease over what we got from them in this year’s budget, next year will be worse. Selectman Lewis commented that they are going to try not to take anything from education. Selectman Eldredge asked about LOCIP. First Selectman Patton commented that LOCIP was canceled; town aid to roads was cut from $30M to $20M, that was in last year’s budget now this will be a 5% decrease on most revenue items. We will have to look at this year’s numbers. The Board of Finance talked about their preliminary budget at their last meeting, they are looking for no increases. The Grand List is not growing that much and the State revenue is down.
First Selectman Patton commented that the government budget does not have a lot of fat in it.
Our insurance, workers’ compensation, liability, labor costs and health insurance are going up. There are not a lot of areas to make up for that. We will have to get together with the Department Heads and do some creative thinking. First Selectman Patton commented that he looked at the numbers from the comprehensive financial report, our expenditures over the last 7 years has gone up 4% on the government side. Selectman Eldredge commented that it is going to have to go up to cover stuff. First Selectman Patton commented that the education side went from $5M to $8M. This is also not a good year for taxpayers; there are a lot of layoffs. Selectman Eldredge commented that whatever we spend this year, if we have to go with an increase, we have to go with an increase.
Selectman Lewis commented that it bothers him that our budget depends on the State. First Selectman Patton commented that the percentage of money that we get from the State is only 1/3, the income tax was supposed to be the save all; it was supposed to prevent the wild swings in revenue. First Selectman Patton commented that he will assess the situation this month, figure out the revenue and where we are in the budget cycle and get the numbers together for the last week in December. Our budget is not out of wack as far as the expenditures, we are well within everything we budgeted for, this is something we need to deal with. First Selectman Patton commented that E.O. Smith’s pre-budget meeting is Wednesday. Selectman Eldredge commented that Willington will have 18 new students. First Selectman Patton commented that our percentage of the budget is 23.86% now; next year we may be 24.50%. Selectman Lewis commented that someone was
going to look into the way it pans out in the region. First Selectman Patton commented that they are looking into the formula. Stuart Cobb commented that Willington Fire Dept. #1 applied for some grants, they will hear about them in 2/3 weeks. Selectman Eldredge commented that some elderly people are asking about sand delivery. The Board agreed to arrange delivery to the elderly that are unable to get sand on their own; they will have to call the First Selectman’s office to get on the list for this. Selectman Eldredge commented that we need to put legal fees on the agenda some time. This will be in January.
SELECTMAN LEWIS MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 7:15 P.M.
Selectman Eldredge seconded the motion.
VOTE: 3 YES (PATTON, ELDREDGE & LEWIS) 0 NO
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Bowen
Mary Bowen
Secretary
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