Present: Mayor Trinks, Deputy Mayor Curtis, Councilor
Dean, Councilor Ellingwood, Councilor Jepsen, Councilor
Broxterman, Councilor Mulligan, Councilor Simon and
Councilor Walker
Town Manager Leon Churchill, Town Attorney Oswecki
and Assistant Town Manager Peter Souza entered
Executive Session at 6:32 p.m.
Town Attorney Oswecki and Assistant Town Manager
Souza left Executive Session at 6:55 p.m.
Moved by Councilor Jepsen, seconded by Councilor
Walker to exit Executive Session and reconvene the
regular Town Council meeting at 7:10 p.m.
Motion Passed 9-0-0
- Approve ordinance for the sale of 124-126
Palisado Avenue
Moved by Councilor Mulligan seconded by Councilor
Jepsen that the reading into the minutes of the text
of the ordinance entitled "THE SALE OF 124-126
PALISADO AVENUE IN THE AMOUNT OF $171,000 AND GROUND
LEASE" is hereby waived, the full text of the
ordinance having been distributed to each member of
the Council and copies being made available to those
persons attending this meeting; and the full text of
the ordinance be recorded with the minutes of this
meeting."
Motion Passed 9-0-0
- Set Special Town Meeting for the sale of real
estate
Moved by Councilor Mulligan, seconded by Councilor
Jepsen that a Special Town Meeting be held at the
Windsor Town Hall on Monday, May 3, 2004 at 7:15 p.m.
(prevailing time) to approve or disapprove the
foregoing ordinance and further resolved, that the
Town Clerk is authorized and directed to post and
publish notice of said Special Town Meeting.
Motion Passed 9-0-0
- Board of Education
Mr. William Herzfeld, BOE Member, Dr. Betty Feser,
Superintendent of Schools and Mr. Frank Williams, BOE
Finance Director were present. A memo regarding
responses to questions from the April 12, 2004 Town
Council meeting was distributed prior to tonight’s
meeting.
Councilor Jepsen asked if a target goal for program
reserves for the Tree House program has been set. Mr.
Williams said that a goal for next year had not been
set, but they will for the third year of operations.
He stated the goal is to support the Family Resource
Center. If the goal were reached, expansion of the
Family Resource Center would be considered.
Councilor Ellingwood asked if the Tree House
program would continue to generate enough funds to
support the Family Resource Center. Dr. Feser
responded that the expectation is to cover full-time
salaries of the resource center leaders at each of the
five schools. Right now we are funding ½ time leaders
in some of the schools. Councilor Ellingwood asked if
the growth of the Tree House program revenue is going
to equal the growth of the Family Resource Center
leaders. Mr. Williams responded that if the revenue
and expenses don’t support funding full time leaders,
they would not expand. Councilor Ellingwood believes
the school system shouldn’t pursue this avenue and
they have enough challenges at the present time.
Councilor Broxterman asked if the Suzuki teachers
are full time. Dr. Feser replied that several teachers
teach on a part-time basis. Councilor Broxterman asked
if there is a correlation between the Suzuki program
and better math skills, fewer dropouts, etc. Mr.
Herzfeld said he did not have that information at this
time but that we could look at data of the students in
the Suzuki program vs. peers.
Deputy Mayor Curtis asked about the program
"Capturing Kids Hearts" and if it will continue or be
expanded. Dr. Feser said that the staff involved with
the alternative program was trained in the program and
the program will continue. She will provide more
information.
Councilor Jepsen is a supporter of the Suzuki
program and said it is very successful.
- Information Services
Ms. Enita Jubrey, Assistant to the Town Manager and
Ms. Kathy Quin, Town Clerk, presented the budget.
Mayor Trinks asked about the Hotel Welcome Program.
Ms. Jubrey said that it would promote tourism in
Windsor by coordinating marketing efforts with the
Windsor Chamber of Commerce and local hotels and
conference centers, which will include kiosks in the
lobby of hotels.
Mayor Trinks inquired about the conveyance tax.
Town Manager Churchill said that the legislature said
the conveyance tax would roll back to $1.10 per 1,000,
with the exception of some distressed municipalities.
- General Government
Ms. Shermin Ferrier, Assistant Finance Director and
Mr. Gregg Pavitt, Finance Director gave an overview of
the General Government budget.
Councilor Jepsen inquired about the requirements
regarding implementing electronic voting machines .
Town Manager Churchill said that it is under debate in
Congress and it has been delayed a year.
Councilor Simon requested more explanation for
electronic government. Town Manager Churchill replied
that to encourage the best information available for
the Town Council, there is $21,850 identified for
laptop computers. This would enable Councilors to
download or access information, making it more readily
available and reducing paper usage. The return on
investment should be in five or six years.
Councilor Simon said that the development of an
arts policy was one of the goals from the Council’s
retreat. He asked Town Manager Churchill to introduce
the topic publicly and to discuss the organizations
requesting funds. Town Manager Churchill said that he
did not alter or edit the request for funds from the
organizations on page P-12 of the budget. What is
being proposed is that all or part of these funds be
appropriated and that business continues as usual.
There are some reporting requirements to be met.
Perhaps this summer, or fall, an Arts Commission could
be created. They typically are the clearinghouse for
concerns and ideas about the arts, they increase the
consciousness of the arts, recognize local artists,
etc. The Town Council would create this commission.
That group would discern what amount of funding is
available, take applications and take their
recommendations to the Town Council for the budget.
Councilor Simon asked why a couple of organizations
are getting a substantial increase in funding. Town
Manager Churchill responded that the WIN-TV request is
related to current discussions with the organization,
which is for technology. The Celebrate Windsor a/k/a
SummerWind request is to sponsor a major concert,
along with four other major sponsors, to kick off the
season. Archer Memorial AME is requesting funds for
producing musical concerts. The Huntington House
requested funds this past winter and is requesting a
more annualized amount of $10,000.
Councilor Walker commented about the electronic
voting machines. At the federal level, the favored
manufacturer had an issue with the source codes. A
professor had a concern with manipulation of the
machines. Councilor Walker suggested that Town Manager
Churchill check with the Secretary of State on which
machine is favored. Councilor Walker said that we
provided $10,000 to the Huntington House recently.
Town Manager Churchill confirmed this and said that
this request is for next budget year. Councilor Walker
asked if the Celebrate Windsor request for funding is
in addition to the emergency request recently
received. Town Manager Churchill confirmed this.
Councilor Ellingwood asked about the running fund
for the voting machines. Mr. Pavitt said that we do
have a special revenue account for voting machines.
There is $35,000 in the account currently and $15,000
will be added.
Councilor Broxterman inquired about WIN-TV’s
ability to switch the signal and if there is a need.
Town Manager Churchill said that it is part of the
administratively agreed upon contract. WIN-TV wanted a
tighter hold on the signal, knowing that it has to be
switched back and forth for government programming.
Councilor Mulligan asked if there is anything in
the franchise agreement that requires that they have
control of the signal. Town Manager Churchill said
that it is a product of the negotiation process.
Councilor Mulligan is also concerned that the laptops
will be outdated by the time they recoup their costs
in 5-6 years.
Deputy Mayor Curtis asked if it is possible to do a
lease program so the laptops don’t become outdated. He
asked if there was a reduction in the budget for paper
that the laptops would replace. Town Manager Churchill
said the exact cost savings are unknown right now.
Councilor Jepsen commented that Celebrate Windsor
and Archer Memorial have requested over $35,000 on top
of the loans and everything else that we have done. He
requested a report on how much we have done for these
organizations. Town Manager Churchill will provide
that information.
- Town Support for Education
Mr. Gregg Pavitt, Finance Director, discussed the
budget.
Councilor Ellingwood commented that the retirement
services fund is down substantially from last year.
Mr. Pavitt confirmed this, which was due to
projections in future liability and improved
investment performance.
Councilor Jepsen asked about Page Q-7 and does
acceptance of this commit us to annual evaluations.
Town Manager Churchill said that is the proposed
policy and we are very confident that annual
evaluations can save us a considerable amount of
money. The more frequently you do it, the lower the
costs. Councilor Jepsen asked if we make this change
by approving this budget, will it be enough or does
the Council have to take additional action. Town
Manager Churchill responded that budgets are business
plans but the Council may want further discussions.
Councilor Mulligan said that the biggest issue we
have is to get people away from looking at the mill
rate and look at the amount of spending.
Councilor Ellingwood commented that the concept
deserves some discussion.
Councilor Simon replied that it will get some
discussion as it has been referred to the Finance
Committee.
Councilor Dean said that we should discuss this
issue and look at other alternatives, such as perhaps
every other year. This is something that needs our
attention.
- General Services
Mr. Gregg Pavitt, Finance Director, discussed the
budget.
- Insurance Internal Service Fund
Mr. Gregg Pavitt, Finance Director, and Mr. Marty
Maynard, Risk Manager Analyst, discussed the budget.
Councilor Broxterman asked if it is a good year
this year and how was the year before. Mr. Maynard
said that this year has been very good, however last
year there were a few accidents involving police
cruisers and chases. Last year we had a collision and
there was only one minor police cruiser accident this
year.
Mayor Trinks asked that if we go to the lease where
officers take their vehicles home, would we need to
have collision or increased liability. Mr. Maynard
confirmed that we do have collision now and we are
looking at if we there will or will not be increased
liability. Town Manager Churchill said that we have to
look at the policy further. There may be some
advantages insurance wise.
- Revenues
Mr. Gregg Pavitt, Finance Director, identified
significant highlights in the budget.
Councilor Jepsen asked about the cell tower leases,
he was expecting this line item to go down. Town
Manager Churchill responded that many of our contracts
have escalator clauses with increases of 3, 4 or 5%
and this line item reflects that.
Mayor Trinks asked about the special education
tuition from other towns. Mr. Pavitt responded that it
is tied to the number of special education students
from other towns and the annual amount changes from
year to year depending on the number of students.
- Adjournment
Moved by Councilor Broxterman, seconded by Councilor
Mulligan to adjourn the meeting at 8:50 p.m.