TOWN OF WILLINGTON
MINUTES
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
NOVEMBER 3, 2010
The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m.
First Selectman, Christina Mailhos read the call of the meeting and asked for nominations for a
Moderator. Nancy Vogel made a motion to appoint Suzanne Chapman as moderator and was seconded
by Robin Campbell.
Motion carried.
Item I
To hold a presentation of the Professional Agreement between Willington Board of Education and Willington Education Associations July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2014.
Discussion was held
Mark Makuch gave the presentation as the representative of BOE and also as one of the negotiators for the contract. He stated that there would be no net effect on taxes in the three years of the contract. This will be due to Federal Funding which has to be used for teacher’s salaries.
The contract states:
Year 1- No step increase and a 1% increase in general wages
Year 2- Step increase now 2.62% and no general wage increase
Year 3- No step increase and general wage increase of 1.9%
The contract is complex and this is a generalization of the contract.
The increase is the second lowest in the state and lowest in twenty years for Willington
Contract Adds one more work day
Stricter use of sick days
Health plan benefits- Town funding will be less
Teachers will pay more of their own health care plan
Mark stated he felt it was a fair contract, the best for the town, and the teachers were in good working relationship with the town.
If we go to arbitration, depending on how long the process takes, the cost could be $50,000 plus the renegotiating of the contract in arbitration.
First Selectman Mailhos commented the Board of Selectmen is supporting the teacher’s contract that is in place.
A letter written by George Debski, who spearheaded the petition, was read by the Moderator, Suzanne Chapman. Attached copy in the clerk’s office. His concerns were increases in light of the economic times on the local, state and national level, negotiated contract prior to knowing the actual cost of the contract, negotiated the contract in total secrecy and the towns people having the right to vote on this.
Mark addressed some of the concerns of Mr. Debski’s letter stating you can not predict what will take place in the 3 years ahead and have to negotiate to the best at the time its being negotiated and as far as the secrecy issue, the negotiations are done in private by law.
Others concerns were:
That the contract was for the Willington School teachers only, not Region 19.
How the information is going to get out to the town residents for the referendum? (Per state statute the Board of Education and the Town can not distribute information using town funds)
Disappointed the contract did not come in as 0 and feels that 75% to 85% goes for the benefits and salaries when it should be going to the children.
Comment made that he disagrees with Mark and it will end up costing us money. The towns ability to pay has to be impacted.
Why would arbitrators not consider this? His concern is any increase not a good idea as they continue to compound; they will become unattainable going forward. Mark’s comment is this is not about good times or bad.
Another concern was that not only in Willington but in other towns the talk should not be about money but should about our teachers. Our salaries will not bring in good teachers.
A comment was made that he was very disappointed that this has gone this far.
A chart was presented for the 2009-2010 Teachers Salary of various Towns in Ct. and 2008-2009 Connecticut Mastery Test in various towns. (Copies in the Town Clerk’s office)
A thank you was made to Mark Makuch for his presentation and the work he has put into this process.
Item II
Should the legislative body of the Town of Willington reject the Professional Agreement between Willington Board of Education and Willington Education Association July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2014?
This question will go to referendum per petition received by the town clerk’s office and certified with the required amount of signatures.
Referendum will be set tomorrow, November 4, 2010 by the Board of Selectmen with the date, time and place.
Moderator adjourned the meeting to referendum to be set by the Board of Selectmen at 8:21pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna J. Hardie
Town Clerk
Dated at Willington
November 4, 2010
Board of Selectmen
860-487-3100
You have received this e-mail because you have subscribed to the Town of Willington’s E-mail bulletin feature. If you wish to remove your name from this list please visit www.willingtonct.org/subscriber.html to unsubscribe.
| 
