TOWN OF WILLINGTON
MINUTES
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
October 30, 2013
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
First Selectman, Christina Mailhos read the call of the meeting and asked
for nominations for a moderator. Peter Latincsics made a motion to appoint John Blessington as moderator and was seconded. The motion did not carry. John stated that he preferred Suzanne be moderator and Chopta Lyons seconded the motion. A motion was made by Christine Psathas to nominated Suzanne Chapman and Chopta Lyons seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
Fact sheets were available, plus the contract and the petition.
The moderator read the call of the meeting again.
Item I
To hold a presentation of the Professional Agreement between Willington
Board of Education and Willington Education Association July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2018.
Superintendent Harding explained the procedure of the negotiations, which is regulated. Negotiations started in early July and went into September. In September there was still no agreement. At that time they went to Step #2 mediation. They met September 9th from 4:30 p.m. until 3:00am at which time a final agreement was reached. The Board of Education approved the agreement unanimously at their meeting on October 8, 2013.
Mr. Harding explained the teacher’s raises and the health insurance, which he thought was very important to get under control with the averages around the state and the Health Insurance Affordable Care Act.
Discussion was held.
Questions were asked about the monies over the four year period and the change with the health insurance. Mr. Harding explained the yearly breakdown of the salaries and what the changes were with the insurance. Our Financial Manager, Donna Latincsics, confirmed the approximate figures of the salaries over the term of the contract.
Peter Latincsics expressed his thanks to Mr. Harding and the board for their hard work and for their time given to the negotiations.
The moderator commented that this is a resident’s right to petition for a Town Meeting or referendum with the required amount of signatures.
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, 2014 through June 30, 2018?
The question will go to referendum per petition received by the Town Clerk’s office and certified with the required number of signatures.
Referendum will be set following this meeting by the Board of Selectmen, with the date, time and place.
Discussion took place at this time.
The concerns about the petition question were that we should be supporting the education system in our Town and the teachers. Whether residents have children in the system or not they were willing to pay taxes to educate the children of Willington, which was very important to them.
People were upset about the cost to the Town to reject this contract. A resident added that Mr.
Harding had under quoted the cost of arbitration at about $15,000 to $20,000 as he has been an attorney involved in the arbitration process. The cost would be much higher than those figures quoted. It would be irresponsible to reject this contract.
Another concern by the residents was the cost to the Town to go to referendum. The cost for workers for the polls was estimated at about $1000.00, not including legal notices, attorney fees, ballots and time spent.
The question could not have gone on the ballot for the regular municipal election because of State Statute. Needed time to warn the question and the ballots were already printed.
The moderator adjourned the meeting to referendum at 8:00 p.m. The Board of Selectmen will meet following this meeting to set the date, time, and place of the referendum.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna J. Hardie
Willington Town Clerk
Dated at Willington
November 1, 2013
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