Mayor Trinks called the Budget Session Special
Meeting to order at 6:31 p.m.
- Present: Mayor Trinks, Deputy Mayor Curtis,
Councilor Broxterman (arrived at 6:50 p.m.),
Councilor Jepsen, Councilor Mulligan, Councilor
Pacino, Councilor Simon and Councilor Walker.
Absent: Councilor Albano
- Board of Education
Ms. Jane Garibay, President, Mr. William
Herzfeld, Dr. Elizabeth Feser, Mr. Ernest Perreault
and Mr. Stephen Ellingwood were present.
Councilor Jepsen asked for clarification
regarding the improvements at Poquonock School. Mr.
Frank Williams responded they are for improvements
to the sidewalks, and the bus loading area.
Councilor Jepsen also inquired about the salary
increase of 6.9%, noting that he came up short by
$200,000 when calculating the average increase and
the addition of staff. He continued by stating the
5.2% includes the contractual step increases in all
bargaining units and the lane changes for the
teachers (teachers getting their masters, finishing
their six years, etc.) and an extra $430,000 has
been added for the new staff requests (professional
and non-professional). Mr. Frank Williams will
provide a copy of the detailed sheet that breaks
this number down.
Mayor Trinks thanked the Board for the student
activity fund breakdown. Mayor Trinks received three
e-mails in support of the Partnership Program’s
positions.
Deputy Mayor Curtis questioned the Partnership
Program’s two FTEs. Ms. Garibay responded that there
are two teaching positions covering the program.
They may not cover the same things that the Police
Officer covered.
Councilor Walker congratulated the Board of
Education on the proposed budget and he wished Dr.
Feser well in her continued efforts with the school
system.
Ms. Garibay expressed her thanks to the Council
for e-mailing their questions and concerns to the
BOE.
- Information Services
Ms. Enita Jubrey, Assistant to the Town Manager
and Ms. Kathy Quin, Town Clerk, presented the
budget.
Councilor Simon asked about the reduction of the
evening hours for the Town Clerks office. Ms. Quin
replied that they are open until 6:00 p.m. on
Tuesday evening. That is a total of 52 evening hours
for the year that is primarily used for residents
obtaining marriage or birth certificates.
Councilor Jepsen asked about the reduction of
$30,000 and asked if it was printing. Ms. Jubrey
said that it includes printing costs and contractual
services for graphic design.
Councilor Mulligan inquired about the conveyance
tax increase in March. Ms. Quin confirmed that the
town-side increase was made by the state
legislature. Town Manager Churchill said that the
fee is expected to remain the same in FY 2004.
Councilor Walker requested a copy of the packet
that is sent to new residents.
- General Government
Ms. Charlotte Foley, Assistant Finance Director
and Mr. Gregg Pavitt, Finance Director gave an
overview of the General Government budget.
Councilor Jepsen asked about the costs of new
voting machines and any sinking fund. Mr. Pavitt
said that there is a sinking fund that exists which
can be used to purchase two voting machines.
Councilor Mulligan asked about the budgeted
amount for legal counsel for the appeal of
revaluations. Mr. Pavitt said that there are some
funds available under the revaluation and if any
more is needed, it will come out of the unclassified
account. Councilor Mulligan also asked about any
anticipated changes from the state regarding probate
court. Mr. Pavitt said the latest information from
the probate court is that there will not be any
changes during the coming fiscal year.
Councilor Pacino questioned if the town
attorney’s account covers an attorney’s waiting
period during a Council Meeting until Executive
Session and when does that lawyer start billing his
time. Town Manager Churchill responded that it is a
separate fund and the lawyer probably starts billing
when he leaves his office. Councilor Pacino
recommended moving Executive Session to the
beginning of the Council Meeting to reduce legal
fees.
Councilor Simon asked about the Housing Education
Program. Ms. Foley said they provide assistance for
people having trouble with their rents and
landlords. Town Manager Churchill also added that
the program educates residents about down payment
assistance and budgeting for purchasing a home.
Councilor Jepsen asked about the audits from
organizations that receive funds from us. Mr. Pavitt
stated those reports are not required until December
2003.
Councilor Pacino asked about the Bradley
Development League. Town Manager Churchill said that
Windsor is the largest beneficiary out of the four
communities that fund the league. There is a toll
free number that is staffed by our economic
development staff.
- Town Support for Education
Mr. Greg Pavitt, Finance Director, and Ms. Kelly
Barrett, Assistant Finance Director, discussed the
budget.
Councilor Broxterman noted that he received a
call from the Director of Social Services who stated
that the Partnership Officer at the elementary
school levels is very important. The plea was that
if it could be reinstated it would be beneficial,
but they understood the budget crisis. Town Manager
Churchill reiterated that there are other methods to
create relationships with elementary schools and the
police department. There is PAL and other events.
This does not preclude or exclude the possibility
that patrol officers, while on their shifts, could
have classroom interaction, but they may be pulled
away during that time for a call.
Councilor Pacino asked about the DARE Officer and
if he could perform the Partnership Officer duties.
Town Manager Churchill said the DARE Officers. Hours
are much lower than the hours the Partnership
Officer performs.
Councilor Jepsen asked about the C.O.L.A part of
the retirement fund. Mr. Pavitt said that when
retirees receive a cost of living adjustment each
year based on the amount used by the Social Security
Administration.
Mayor Trinks asked about debt service and
refinancing and if the rates are still favorable.
Mr. Pavitt said that we don’t have any bond issues
eligible to refinance, and that it is not cost
effective to refinance less than $1 million bonds.
- General Services
Mr. Greg Pavitt, Finance Director and Ms. Kelly
Barrett, Assistant Finance Director, discussed the
budget.
Councilor Broxterman asked how we determine what
we contribute towards retirement services. He also
asked if the contribution is designed to keep us
from being under funded. Mr. Pavitt said that we
evaluate the fund annually as to projected
liabilities and our returns on investments to
determine approximate funding levels.
Mayor Trinks asked about the plan of development
and how often it is done. Town Manager Churchill
said that state statutes require it to be updated
every ten years.
Councilor Simon asked about the unclassified line
item. Town Manager Churchill responded that it is a
contingency fund.
Councilor Jepsen asked about the property
revaluation done four years ago and how many appeals
there were. Mr. Steve Kosofsky, Town Assessor, said
that in 1999 we had a situation where market values
went down and there were nine appeals. He expects it
to be much higher this time because the favorable
real estate market has pushed valuations up.
- Insurance Internal Service Fund
Mr. Greg Pavitt, Finance Director, Mr. Marty
Maynard, Risk Manager, and Ms. Kelly Barrett,
Assistant Finance Director, discussed the budget.
Councilor Jepsen asked about the police
professional liability fund. Mr. Maynard said it is
not new. It was segregated out this year.
Councilor Pacino asked about the volunteer
firefighter accident insurance and if it is medical
coverage for volunteer firefighters. Mr. Maynard
said that it is for the loss of pagers, other
associated equipment and an excess health insurance
plan.
Councilor Simon commented that he was surprised
to see the employee health insurance increasing very
little, only $2,000 more than last year. Mr. Pavitt
said that health insurance goes up 13.2%, with the
increases being reflected in department budgets.
Mayor Trinks asked about the rise in the CGL and
if there is an increase in exposure to
municipalities. Mr. Maynard confirmed the increase
in exposure to municipalities and in the last few
years, the insurance industry has been hardening up
and trying to recoup their losses. Over the next two
to three years, we will probably see increases but
will show some signs of relief.
Councilor Broxterman asked what areas we
self-insure. Mr. Maynard replied that we self-insure
workers compensation. We are looking into the
possibility of self insuring other lines of coverage
in the next few years. Councilor Broxterman asked
about workers compensation claims. Mr. Maynard
stated the town is doing well this year with 53
claims, of which 35 are open, for a total incurred
and reserved of $75,000.
- Revenues
Mr. Greg Pavitt and Ms. Kelly Barrett, Assistant
Finance Director identified significant highlights
in the budget.
Councilor Walker asked about state grants in lieu
of taxes. Mr. Pavitt said that state law mandates
the town provide these for veterans and disabled
persons. Under the proposed budget, the Governor has
eliminated that reimbursement.
Councilor Broxterman noted the increasing fees
for the Recreation Department. Ms. Barrett said that
their fees would be sent to a separate account, a
step in the direction of an enterprise fund.
Councilor Jepsen asked which Recreation
Department activities will be sent to a separate
account. Ms. Robin Newman, Director of Family and
Leisure Services, responded that summer tennis,
summer fun playground program, gymnastics, and the
special needs camp will be targeted for the separate
account.
Councilor Simon inquired about collection rates.
Ms. Barrett said they anticipate the same rate as
last year, a 98.75% collection rate.
Councilor Pacino inquired about the figure for
the special education reimbursement from other
towns. Ms. Barrett responded that the figure is
provided by the Board of Education.
- Child Day Care
Ms. Robin Newman, Director of Family and Leisure
Services, and Ms. Anne Wakelin, Manager of the
Windsor Discovery Center presented the budget.
Councilor Broxterman asked about the age bracket
enrollment. Ms. Wakelin said that they are fully
enrolled and they have a waiting list for the fall.
Councilor Jepsen inquired if there are still head
start programs going on. Ms. Wakelin said that there
is a head start program in their building, but it is
not run by the Discovery Center. CRT, who pays rent,
operates the program. Councilor Jepsen asked if
there is a breakdown of revenue. Ms. Wakelin said
that the infant/toddler program doesn’t quite break
even, but it is the only program that doesn’t.
Councilor Jepsen asked about the BOE increasing
their preschool and before/after school program and
if it would affect the Discovery Center. Ms. Wakelin
said that she believes it will not. Many times a
parent has a school age child and a younger child
and they prefer to keep both together at the center.
She has 50 before/after school children enrolled for
the fall.
- Adjournment
Motioned by Councilor Broxterman, seconded by
Councilor Pacino to adjourn the meeting at 8:00 p.m.
Motion Passed 8-0-0.