Minutes

Mayor Hogan called the regular meeting to order at 7:05 PM.

ROLL CALL - PRESENT- Mayor Hogan, Deputy Mayor Curtis, Council member Graff, Council member Haverstock, Council member Lydecker, Council member Pacino, Council member Ristas and Council member Trinks

1. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS

Susan Robinson, 19 Laurel Avenue, said she is disappointed in the leadership of the Board of Education because the issue of class size at WHS has not been addressed; there has not been curriculum development; the economy is expanding and the BOE budget does not provide for the basic needs in Windsor.

Bradshaw Smith, 23 Ludlow Road, said the position of Assistant Town Manager is not necessary. Each service came in at 1%-3% increases except for the town manager’s appropriation with a 200%-300% increase.

Paul Giampolo, Harvest Lane, said the budget will cause taxes to be raised by about 5 ½%; every year the BOE budget keeps going up, millions have been spent on education yet test scores fail to improve. He said many residents cannot afford to have taxes increased year after year.

2. COMMUNICATIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS

Council member Haverstock - said he does not see any compelling reason why taxes should increase in Windsor. With the strong economy, the revenues are increasing. He noted the excellent self-insurance program. He said he is willing to support an inflation-based increase, which would equate to about 2%. He is in favor of the suggested $5,000 increase for WIN-TV and the $25,000 program to provide matching funds for non-profit organizations, and to encourage development in the Wilson area. He said he does want to support the BOE budget but with minor reductions.

Council member Pacino -- does not believe that more money for the BOE will improve test scores. He suggested CMT’s be given in June. He felt raises should be reflected by the accountability of the teachers.

Council member Ristas -- as a town the biggest challenge it faces for the future is education and he said he feels the resources available are ample. He said everyone should spend more time on performance issues rather than money.

Mayor Hogan thanked Town Manager Churchill, the staff and BOE for assistance in getting through the budget process.

3. FY 1999/2000 BUDGET DELIBERATIONS

Council member Graff made a motion, seconded by Council member Trinks,

to increase Building Permits by $25,000 for a total of $375,000.

The Motion Passed 8-0-0.

Council member Graff made a motion, seconded by Council member Lydecker,

to increase Interest by $50,000 to $1,300,000.

The Motion Passed 5-3-0 with Mayor Hogan, Deputy Mayor Curtis, and Council members Graff, Lydecker, and Trinks in favor and Council members Haverstock, Pacino, and Ristas opposed.

Council member Graff made a motion, seconded by Council member Trinks,

to increase account 250-110 Recording Legal Documents by $10,000 for a total of $125,000.

Council member Haverstock made a friendly amendment to increase it by $8,000.

Council member Graff declined the amendment.

The Motion Passed 8-0-0.

Council member Graff made a motion, seconded by Council member Trinks,

to increase account 290-199 Opening Cash by $200,000 for a total of $300,000.

Mr. Cunningham said Enfield has open cash of over a million dollars, Farmington has $2.3 million.

The Motion Passed 5-3-0 with Mayor Hogan, Deputy Mayor Curtis, and Council members Graff, Lydecker, and Trinks in favor and Council members Haverstock, Pacino, and Ristas opposed.

Council member Lydecker made a motion, seconded by Council member Trinks,

to increase the Collection Rate from 98.42 to 98.50 which is an increase of less than 1%.

The Motion Passed 8-0-0.

Deputy Mayor Curtis made a motion, seconded by Council member Pacino,

to hold off on the BOE side until the town side is completed. The Motion Passed 8-0-0.

Council member Trinks made a motion, seconded by Council member Lydecker,

to reduce Town Support for Education in the amount of $196,000 regarding Capital Projects.

The Motion Passed 7-1-0 with Council member Pacino opposed.

Council member Graff made a motion, seconded by Council member Trinks,

to increase Safety Services - Personal Services by $100,000 and to cut Capital Outlay by $25,000 which equates to a $75,000 increase in the Safety Services budget.

He noted the reduction is equivalent to one cruiser.

Council member Haverstock asked that the motion be broken into 2 separate motions.

Council member Graff and the seconder, Council member Trinks, agreed to do so.

Council member Graff’s motion to increase Personal Services by $100,000 -

Motion Passed 5-3-0 with Mayor Hogan, Deputy Mayor Curtis, and Council members Graff, Lydecker, and Trinks in favor and Council members Haverstock, Pacino, and Ristas opposed.

Council member Graff’s motion to decrease Capital Outlay by $25,000

Passed 7-1-0 with Council member Pacino opposed.

Donald Cunningham noted that he did not put Northwest Park under Family Services therefore he asked that money be added to Family Services and deducted from Health and Environment, as noted in his memo to the Council dated 4/23/99. He proposed to have the breakdown as follows: Health Services total $289,360 and Family Services $1,538,680.

Council member Lydecker made a motion, seconded by Council member Trinks,

to add $87,490 for Northwest Park Education and Recreational Activities to the Health and Environmental account.

The Motion Passed 8-0-0.

Council member Lydecker made a motion, seconded by Council member Trinks, to add $133,250 to Family Services to be taken from Health and Environment.

The Motion Passed 8-0-0.

Council member Trinks made a motion, seconded by Council member Lydecker,

to reduce Health Services by $87,490 and add it to Family Services.

The Motion Passed 8-0-0.

Council member Trinks made a motion, seconded by Council member Lydecker,

to add $10,000 to the current mosquito reduction program.

The Motion Passed 7-1-0 with Council member Haverstock opposed.

Deputy Mayor Curtis made a motion, seconded by Council member Lydecker,

to add $6,000 to the Library Services Budget for the Wilson library.

Mayor Hogan said she would like to see the tutoring program increased.

The Motion Passed 7-1-0 with Council member Haverstock opposed.

Deputy Mayor Curtis made a motion, seconded by Council member Graff,

to add $5,000 to the Main Library for books and supplies.

The Motion Passed 6-2-0 with Council members Haverstock and Ristas opposed.

Council member Graff made a motion, seconded by Council member Trinks,

to add $25,000 to Administrative Services under Accounting and Reporting.

Council member Graff said this would allow some flexibility for the Council regarding consulting, particularly in response to the educational summit.

The Motion Passed 5-3-0 with Mayor Hogan, Deputy Mayor Curtis, and Council members Graff, Lydecker, and Trinks in favor and Council members Haverstock, Pacino, and Ristas opposed.

Council member Graff made a motion, seconded by Council member Trinks,

to cut $36,000 from the information technology section.

He said he does not feel it appropriate to fund the half MIS person until it is determined where this resource would be used.

The Motion Passed 7-1-0 with Council member Pacino opposed.

Council member Lydecker made a motion, seconded by Council member Trinks,

to cut Community Services by $1,400.

He said this is a reduction of contribution to the growth council.

The Motion Passed 8-0-0.

Council member Lydecker made a motion, seconded by Council member Trinks,

to add $1,000 to the Town Council personal services account.

The Motion Passed 8-0-0.

Council member Pacino made a motion, seconded by Council member Ristas,

to add to Community Services a total of $30,000 - $25, 000 for a matching contribution for non-profit organizations that come before the Council, and to increase by $5,000 WIN-TV’s funding.

Council member Trinks asked for the motion to be split.

Council member Pacino made a motion, seconded by Council member Haverstock,

to add $5,000 to Community Services for WIN TV.

Council member Trinks suggested taking the money from the Unclassified Account for this year, noting that a lot of the needs are one-time expenses.

The Motion Failed 3-5-0 with Council members Haverstock, Pacino, and Ristas in favor and Mayor Hogan, Deputy Mayor Curtis, and Council members Graff, Lydecker, and Trinks opposed.

Council member Pacino made a motion, seconded by Council member Haverstock,

to add $25,000 to Community Services account to set up a program for matching contributions for non-profit organizations that come before the Council.

The Motion Failed 3-5-0 with Council members Haverstock, Pacino, and Ristas in favor and Mayor Hogan, Deputy Mayor Curtis, and Council members Graff, Lydecker, and Trinks opposed.

Council member Lydecker made a motion, seconded by Council member Graff,

to increase General Government by $3,000.

This would go to the elections department.

The Motion Passed 8-0-0.

Mayor Hogan commended the work of Town Manager Churchill and said she feels an assistant town manager is in order.

Council member Trinks made a motion, seconded by Council member Graff,

to add $40,000 to the Unclassified portion of the General Services budget.

Donald Cunningham said MDC has between 2% and 3% of their budget in Unclassified.

Council member Ristas noted this isn’t free money and the public will be taxed for it.

The Motion Passed 5-3-0 with Mayor Hogan, Deputy Mayor Curtis, and Council members Graff, Lydecker, and Trinks in favor and Council members Haverstock, Pacino, and Ristas opposed.

The Council reconvened at 9:04 PM.

Council member Haverstock made a motion, seconded by Council member Pacino,

for a proposed amendment to adopt a BOE budget in the amount of $36,637,945.

Council member Haverstock said the intent of the amendment is to achieve an increase, over last year’s budgeted amount, a full 5%. He said he feels this demonstrates a strong commitment to Windsor’s schools. The BOE’s proposed budget reflects a 5.8% increase over last year.

Deputy Mayor Curtis said he does not believe the budget as presented by the BOE represents any excessive spending. The presentation presented by the BOE was very compelling and was presented after unanimous agreement by the BOE.

Council member Pacino said too much stress is being put on class size, noting that in college courses there could be 200+ students in a class and wondered whether a small class size properly prepares students.

Council member Graff said he would support the BOE budget as it was proposed noting he challenges the teachers, administrators, etc. to make it work.

Council member Lydecker said participation is clearly better in a smaller class size environment.

Mayor Hogan said she feels the need to support the BOE’s budget as presented.

The Motion Failed 3-5-0 with Council members Haverstock, Pacino, and Ristas in favor and Mayor Hogan, Deputy Mayor Curtis, and Council members Graff, Lydecker, and Trinks opposed.

The Motion Passed 8-0-0.

4. FINAL MOTIONS

Council member Graff made a motion, seconded by Council member Trinks,

to approve the Board of Education budget in the amount of $36,910,100

The Motion Passed 5-3-0 with Mayor Hogan, Deputy Mayor Curtis, and Council members Graff, Lydecker, and Trinks in favor and Council members Haverstock, Pacino, and Ristas opposed.

Council member Lydecker made a motion, seconded by Deputy Mayor Curtis,

to approve the Town Support for Education budget in the amount of $3,342,110

The Motion Passed 8-0-0.

Council member Trinks made a motion, seconded by Council member Graff,

to approve the Safety Services budget in the amount of $5,492,350

The Motion Passed 5-3-0 with Mayor Hogan, Deputy Mayor Curtis, and Council members Graff, Lydecker, and Trinks in favor and Council members Haverstock, Pacino, and Ristas opposed.

Deputy Mayor Curtis made a motion, seconded by Council member Trinks,

to approve the Family Services budget in the amount of $1,538,680

The Motion Passed 8-0-0.

Council member Ristas made a motion, seconded by Council member Trinks,

to approve the Health & Environment budget in the amount of $299,360

The Motion Passed 8-0-0.

Council member Pacino made a motion, seconded by Council member Graff,

to approve the Library Services budget in the amount of $1,015,910

The Motion Passed 7-1-0 with Council member Haverstock opposed.

Council member Haverstock made a motion, seconded by Council member Lydecker,

to approve the Building & Land Development budget in the amount of $1,175,710

The Motion Passed 8-0-0.

Council member Graff made a motion, seconded by Council member Trinks,

to approve the Public Lands, Roads & Facilities budget in the amount of $4,038,120

The Motion Passed 8-0-0.

Council member Lydecker made a motion, seconded by Deputy Mayor Curtis,

to approve the Information Services budget in the amount of $395,080

The Motion Passed 8-0-0.

Council member Trinks made a motion, seconded by Council member Graff,

to approve the Administrative Services budget in the amount of $871,890

The Motion Passed 5-3-0 with Mayor Hogan, Deputy Mayor Curtis, and Council members Graff, Lydecker, and Trinks in favor and Council members Haverstock, Pacino, and Ristas opposed.

Deputy Mayor Curtis made a motion, seconded by Council member Lydecker,

to approve the General Government budget in the amount of $704,480

The Motion Passed 8-0-0.

Council member Ristas made a motion, seconded by Council member Graff,

to approve the General Services budget in the amount of $5,017,680

The Motion Passed 5-3-0 with Mayor Hogan, Deputy Mayor Curtis, and Council members Graff, Lydecker, and Trinks in favor and Council members Haverstock, Pacino, and Ristas opposed.

Council member Graff made a motion, seconded by Council member Trinks, to accept the total General Fund expenditures for the 1999-2000 budget in the amount of $60,801,470.

The Motion Passed 5-3-0 with Mayor Hogan, Deputy Mayor Curtis, and Council members Graff, Lydecker, and Trinks in favor and Council members Haverstock, Pacino, and Ristas opposed.

Council member Trinks made a motion, seconded by Council member Lydecker,

that the annual vote on the budget be held on Tuesday, May 11, 1999 between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. at all 7 polling places.

The Motion Passed 7-0-1 with Council member Pacino opposed.

Council member Graff suggesting having an information town meeting on May 10th.

Council member Haverstock said the meeting should be it informational only and not advocacy.

Mayor Hogan suggested the meeting be held in Council chambers and aired on WIN TV.

Council member Graff made a motion, seconded by Council member Trinks,

to hold an informational town meeting on May 10, 1999 at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers.

The Motion Passed 7-1-0 with Council member Pacino opposed.

5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Council member Pacino made a motion, seconded by Council member Trinks,

to table the minutes. The Motion Passed 8-0-0.

6. ADJOURNMENT

Council member Haverstock made a motion, seconded by Council member Graff 

to adjourn the meeting at 9:55 PM.

The Motion Passed 8-0-0.

Respectfully submitted,

 Abigale LaViolette

Clerk of the Council

cc: Town Clerk, Main Library, Wilson Branch