Mayor Trinks called the Budget Session Special Meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.

1. Roll Call – Present: Mayor Trinks, Deputy Mayor Curtis, Councilor Albano, Councilor Broxterman, Councilor Jepsen, Councilor Mulligan, Councilor Pacino, Councilor Simon and Councilor Walker.
   
2. Town Support for Education

Ms. Kelly Barrett, Assistant Finance Director and Mr. Greg Pavitt, Finance Director, presented the budget to the Town Council.

Mayor Trinks asked about the cost of living adjustment. Mr. Pavitt stated it is the same as what the Social Security Administration uses, 3.5%.

Councilor Simon asked about Aid to Private Education. Mr. Pavitt responded the town is obligated to provide nursing services to non-profit schools. Approximately 70% will be reimbursed by the state.

Councilor Jepsen inquired about the school retirement services category. He asked if it was both non-certified and certified. Ms. Barrett said that the fund is for non-certified teachers only.

Deputy Mayor Curtis questioned if the Aid for Private Education includes social work services. Ms. Barrett confirmed that it does.

Councilor Broxterman asked about school capital projects. Ms. Barrett reported that we are not proposing any capital projects from the general fund in FY 2003.

Mayor Trinks asked about the insurance increase. Ms. Barrett stated the average increase was 27%.

3. Insurance Internal Service Fund

Ms. Kelly Barrett, Assistant Finance Director; Mr. Gregg Pavitt, Finance Director; and Mr. Marty Maynard, Risk Manager, presented the proposed budget to the Town Council.

Mayor Trinks asked if we are self-insured. Mr. Maynard responded that we are self-insured in the worker’s compensation program. However in the next year, we will be investigating the possibilities of being self-insured with other policies.

Councilor Broxterman inquired about the balance of the fund. Mr. Pavitt stated that two years ago, the Town Council approved that individual departments wouldn’t pay the entire amount of health insurance. This is still in place and the insurance fund has continued to pay $170,000 in costs. Ms. Barrett reported that the existing balance is $4.8 million.

Councilor Walker inquired about the 50% increase in Employee Protection School Board Errors and Omissions. Mr. Maynard replied that negotiations continue regarding a new insurance program which should be implemented by July 1, 2002. He also commented that all of the insurance policies have increased substantially.

Councilor Pacino asked for an explanation for errors and omissions coverage. Mr. Maynard stated that the coverage is for legal claims submitted towards the Board of Education staff such as breach of duty, neglect, malpractice, etc.

Councilor Jepsen questioned the employee benefits premium reimbursement for short-term disability. Mr. Pavitt replied that it involves both direct town benefits and additional add-ons for employees, i.e., additional life insurance protection. The town did so well on premiums that it accrued excess funds, however, the earnings cannot be used by the town because they are employee dollars. Councilor Jepsen asked if experience affects the liability coverage. Mr. Maynard replied that the premiums are based on experience, but the market has become very difficult and premiums have increased approximately 27%.

4. Revenues

Ms. Kelly Barrett, Assistant Finance Director, and Mr. Greg Pavitt, Finance Director, presented the revenues to the Town Council.

Councilor Pacino asked about the rent for the Caring Connection and if it is inclusive of utilities. Ms. Barrett responded that they will be relocating and the rent will be applied to a special revenue account to be utilized for operational costs of the building. Mr. Peter Souza, Assistant Town Manager, responded that their rent is inclusive of utilities.

Councilor Broxterman asked if we are ahead or behind for licenses and permits compared to this time last year. Ms. Barrett believes that we are just shy of last years pace, but will confirm this.

Councilor Walker asked about the charges for alarm services and noted that in 2003 no charges are listed. He also asked specifically about false fire alarms. Ms. Barrett stated in the past the town received fees for acting as a monitoring station for alarms and fees were paid to the town for this service. Mr. Souza further explained the above practice was changed during the past year and the alarms are now directly monitored by the private sector alarm companies. Mr. Souza also replied that the town has an ordinance stating that the property owner can be charged after a certain amount of false alarms. Those funds are placed in miscellaneous revenues.

Councilor Pacino asked about the special education fund and if it is for sending students from other towns to Windsor. Ms. Barrett confirmed that it is.

Councilor Albano further discussed the false alarm charges, and specifically inquired about the $7,500 figure. Mr. Souza stated he believes it is for the connection of the telephone and for monitoring at the dispatch center and it is separate from the false alarm ordinance.

Councilor Simon asked for confirmation of the $750,000 surplus in the current fiscal year. Mr. Pavitt confirmed that the FY 2002 revenue is projected to be approximately $750,000 higher than budgeted.

Councilor Broxterman inquired about tower uses and if the dollar amount was per tower. He also asked that once the towers were fully utilized, would we see projected revenues of $140,000. Mr. Souza explained the revenue amount projected is for three tower sites. The projected revenue from the tower leases if fully built out is projected to be approximately $120,000 per year.

Councilor Jepsen questioned the machinery exception. Mr. Pavitt responded that there is a substantial amount of machinery value. The state gives a substantial exemption for the property and we get a reimbursement of 80%.

Mayor Trinks asked that since the landfill is still operating, is it considered a closing cost and questioned why is it going to stop paying rent. Mr. Souza stated staff is proposing to wean ourselves off of the rent and PILOT revenue from the landfill in anticipation of its eventual closing.

Councilor Albano inquired about the cell tower leases and questioned the projected revenue amount. Mr. Souza explained that as part of the lease agreement AT&T purchased public safety radio equipment in return for rent abatement. Once the rent abatement period is completed and the towers are fully utilized annual lease revenue will increase to as high as $120,000.

Mayor Trinks asked Mr. Souza to follow up on the cell tower revenue issue. Mr. Souza responded that he would.

5. Discussion of CIP

Peter Souza, Assistant Town Manager, addressed the Town Council and asked if anyone had questions regarding the CIP and if the Town Council wanted the CIP placed on the agenda for approval next Wednesday, April 24, 2002.

Mayor Trinks asked for the highlights of the CIP. Mr. Souza overviewed the highlights.

Councilor Pacino asked if the Town Planning Zoning Commission approved the CIP, and would future amendments have to be sent to the commission. Mr. Souza responded that the TPZ approved the CIP and that amendments could be addressed at the Town Council level without further TPZ action.

Councilor Broxterman asked about debt service increase. Mr. Souza stated that this proposal was written to stay within the policy guidelines approved by the Town Council as part of the Debt Management Policy.

Mayor Trinks formally requested that the CIP be placed on the agenda for the meeting of Wednesday, April 24, 2002.

6. Adoption of Minutes

1. April 1, 2002 Special Town Council Meeting – Public Hearing

Motioned by Councilor Broxterman, seconded by Councilor Mulligan to accept the minutes of April 1, 2002 Special Town Council Meeting – Public Hearing. Corrections: None.

Motion Passed 9-0-0

2. April 1, 2002 Special Town Council Meeting – Public Hearing

Motioned by Councilor Broxterman, seconded by Councilor Jepsen to accept the minutes of April 1, 2002 Special Town Council Meeting – Public Hearing. Corrections: last page – barre spelled wrong.???

Motion Passed 9-0-0

 

3. April 1, 2002 Regular Town Council Meeting

Motioned by Councilor Broxterman, seconded by Councilor Jepsen to accept the minutes of the April 1, 2002 Regular Town Council Meeting. Corrections: None

Motion Passed 9-0-0

4. April 8, 2002 Special Town Council Meeting – Budget Session

Motioned by Councilor Broxterman, seconded by Councilor Jepsen to accept the minutes of the special budget meeting of April 8, 2002. Corrections: None. Mayor Trinks requested that the two Councilors not voting be listed. Councilor Walker stated that he had not received the requested information from the WVA. Mr. Souza reported that the information would be in the next packet.

Motion Passed 9-0-0

5. April 6, 2002 Special Joint Council Board of Education Joint Retreat

Motioned by Councilor Broxterman, seconded by Councilor Jepsen to accept the minutes of the Special Joint Council Board of Education Joint Retreat Meeting of April 6, 2002. Corrections: None. Councilor Simon commented that the topic of the coordinating meeting would be a topic on the first May meeting.

Motion Passed 9-0-0

Mayor Trinks remarked that we are on schedule for the budget sessions and requested that if there are any questions to please e-mail the town staff.

7. Adjournment

Motioned by Councilor Broxterman, seconded by Councilor Jepsen to adjourn the meeting at 7:55 p.m.

Motion Passed 9-0-0.

Respectfully submitted,

Kristin Countryman

Clerk of the Windsor Town Council

cc: Town Clerk

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