Video index
7
1. Call Meeting to Order
7
2. Roll Call
Roll call (10 Present, 0 Absent, 0 Excused)
Delnicki - suspend the rules to take Communications before Public Participation, Mirek - unanimous
4. Communications
Dr. Carter - tonight you have doucment to understand what the impact of $2M reduction would look like. See attached Major Reorganization - Restructure Food Service Department - outside vendor - healthcare costs would be eliminated. 37 employees met today. They are aware that we are discussion this. $300,000 savings which is a rough estimate. We are imagining this happening in January - can not happen for the fall. This scenario transitions from inhouse to outside vendor. Feel this is ill advised. Do feel it is in the best interst to do next fall. Surplus - we hope to have 1-2% in surplus. We plan for at least a 1% surplus. we have a 400,000 overage in Special Education. $100,000 needs to go for the softball field to make it safe. We never take unexpended funds and use if towards something the district might want. This year is unusual - Anwar - our grand list decreased. If you look at the tax increase - the initial increase - then 6.8% - this would impact the community. There are two sink holes in town that will cost a lot of money. Wagner - how much of your request was teacher salaries? 735,000 for teachers and administrators was 70,000 - paras Dr. Carter - when teachers contracts are done - other towns of like size are looked at. Teachers that have not veterans will have both a genral wage increase and a step increase. 1.5% - been hee max - not max percentage and wage increase. Wagner - step increase can be large. Wagner - received letter from student of POP? Carter - Pre-school programs - special ed and peer models. we have a large program. IPOP - is intensive (kids with more intensive needs). program is mandated. Wagner - we had one company move all of its equipment out of town and that was 35M. Anwar - this year the BOE paid the pension 2016 requirements. Dr. Carter - not in full - 231,000 out of current dollars adn next year231,000 prefunded last year and 268,000 has been encumbered for this year. Anwar - 267,000 - do we need to put that amount in the budget? Kate - right now there is only 100,000 in that budget. Riley - the Board has been great stuarts - did budget 100,000 in this coming budget. there is going to be a $600,000 line item that is not in their budget. Snyder - special ed and union negotiations - 2.248 million would give the board just how they do things today. This would not move the district forward. The security of the schools is very imjportant. Open the door and stopping - 2.3M increase? Carter - Yes I could agree with that. Snyder - some of these changes will seriously affect the schools. without the 2.3 to 2.4 we will be looking at a very different school system Mirek - the cuts would be very upsetting. asking for a status quo will bring the school backwards. Would hate to see so many employees laid off. we need to do a lot of things. we have children that need extra help. hope that we can provide what the schools need. Delnicki - deliberations are going to be challenging. Anwar - DRGB - 22 school systems - looking at the costs. of the 22 districts, we are the 4th most expensive. What could we do better - Carter - Statewide - 99 out of 166. There are always things we should do. Preschool special education is a large program. I have looked at a outside consultant to look at this. We are taking the special education very serously. We try to anticipate future budgets. Last year we warned the Council that there would be a larger request. Anwar - status quo 2.2M - is the favorable adjustment apply to the favorable adjustments. Kate - we have special ed - Anwar - keeping the door open 2.8M - if we subtract 5 Kate - 2.6 and then take away cost of new inestments 2.2 excluding the special ed. Anwar - 2.2 coudl take 500,000 Chris - started at 3.1% - Kate - 2.3 - apply the good news - Chairperson Joy - Thanked the Mayor for meeting with him and discussing items. We know the grand list is down but the responsible thing to do tonight is to find a number that will not hurt anything. urge the council to fund a compromise. need to find an appropriate number - Anwar - I agree with you - we will have to work together to find a solution. when you are in a tough situation you have to ask questions. need to make decisions that are in the best interest of the town. Delnicki - to meet the legal requirements you have what is the number? Cartr 2.3 minus the 500,000 Delnicki - 1.8 - would like to get it from the Board staff. Kate - will get that for the Town Council Pendleton - thanked the BOE and administrators - thanked the educators. Galligan - (memo) spent a lot of time - was told this morning - reduce the budget - concern - feel next year there will be projects coming off - Reviewed the Expenditure Summary Statements - only going to have 150,000 approximately in surplus. There will not be any new projects - we had Main Street sink hole which is going to cost approximately $500,000. We have to realize that whatever happens with the budget, we need to have a strategic planning process. This council has done a lot of things with the unions. These cuts are recommendations by Town staff. Have to invest into the community so SW becomes a major player. Mirek - surprised to read in the last TM - 2.25% increase TC asked for target. Where did that come from? Galligan - it was a discussion with the Mayor at the April meeting. Mirek - it was not an entire council decision. Snyder - are you taking any money from fund balance. Anwar - the fund balance amoount is made by the council, not the Town Manager Galligna - I put 500,000 - think it has been upped to $1M Paterna - concerned about he car tax? Galligan - think it is going to pass - the changes that were made - if you have a mill rate of 29 or larger you will pay the state and you will pay 29 mill rate. Anwar - people should call their State Reps. Galligan - prevailing wage is a problem for us. Delnicki - suggest - talked to Aman and he is opposed to this. Anwar - we need to look at the budgets together. Galligna - we have to start thinking about our infratructure. Anwar - Dr. Carter Carter - thanked Couniclor Pendleton for her comments. status quo - which factors in the good news and elimiates all new inestments - $2.1M that does remove safety officers, school psy, sTEm teachers and courses. In a met the mandates we would be looking at 1.8% scenario. $300,000 would need to be cut from the lsit. Anwar - break down of actual needs. .
3. Public Participation [Per Town Council Rules, this segment of the meeting shall not exceed thirty (30) minutes unless extended by the Mayor, with the consent of a majority of the Town Council.]
75 Deming STreet - have child in special education. proposed budget was supposed to be a medically fragil - the program was on a secnd floor. which does not make sense for someone with a wheelchiar. Medically fragile program - should be o the first floor Outplacement wil ll increase - Cindy Beaulieu, 19 Cody Circle - tremendous job from the BOE - We do have sink holes in town but do have bond monies that can be used for that. education is not something that can be done on status quo. we are cutting way to into status quo. need to pull from the fund balance. Encourage you not to cut the BOE budget. Gene Boltteron, 34 Victor Lane - over 2% tax increase is a large increase. our business community and seniors can not afford an increase in property taxes. we all know people who have left South Windsor. 35-40M decrease in property. We can not continue ot raise taxes. Education is not he only contriubtor to property values. Strongly urge TC to fight for low property taxes. We are already paying high taxes. Lorraine Krupa - POP - the changes to the budget - could affect the Para's - they are very important and keeps the students safe. support the board of ed budget. Parrot - 27 year resident. SW has provided an excellent education. with severe cuts in the budget, how do we - people come to SW because of the education. TC shoudl support a bude that will not hut SW. Dick Kelley, 49 Rosemary Lane. Never have I seen a Superintendent be so transparent. Came to SW to teach and then be a guidance counselor. 53-54 tenants. People are hurting. we need to find a way to do things different. There is a different between a need and want. I am willing to pay for needs. We have three grandkids in the school system - Dr. Carter can't put bandaids on the schools. Do not believe in leasing. it is our obligation as a taxpayer to step tot he pate and help them through. Wendy La - 77 Woodland Drive - one of the reasons we moved to SW because of its school system. Here to advocate for the future. Programs and employees would suffer if the cut is what it was proposed. The decrease n the budget will implement the budget. do not let this happen. Kevin McCann - 170 LIsa Drive - 5 years ago this town hired Dr. Carter - She has furfilled the promise to SW - she has presented a transparent budget that will make our schools better. Not certain where the Counicil was told - the cuts that would maintain the status quo would be less then the status quo. It does not fund the pension. TC approved a synthetic truf field at the HS - urge the Council to adopt the BOE budget. Don Gonsalves, 40 Bayberry Trail - unions control the school budget. 400,000 to 500,000 there is money in the budget. 5 salary scales. Daria Plummer, 235 Orchard Hill Drive - retired - there are excellen town services in Sout Windsor. people come to SW - special education. when items get cut out of the budget, they don't get put back in. SW residents want to provide good schools. Good schools nd good services sell smor ehome. Mary Justine Hockenberry, 16 Foxglove Lane, BOE works hard. SW is stagnet. We need to start moving forward. we need pschotolis. we need to keep the money in the BOE budget. I wantt a strong school system. Lets give the Board of Education what they want. We need our students to have base and be strong. 551 Foster Street - support the BOE - support good schools, beig competitive, the elderly, would like to see my house value go up. would like to see us go higher then the status quo. 36 Birch Road - Having the budget pass make me a better teacher. Status quo is not good enought. SW Schools are wonderful. The cuts are too much. Bill Myers, 1141 Strong Road - I am wiling to pay for great schools. Do the right thing. Greg, 34 Palm Lane - have two kids in the school system. my daughters schuled is going to be full. we should fund this proposed budget. Jean, 32 Aubrey Drive - we chose SW because of the close community. support this. we need to listen to the voters. do not mind paying taxes - need to support the budget in full. Carolyn MIrek letters into the record Nicole and Mark Colleen Lyons Carter - do not consider a hardship the hours I put into this job. Recognize Town staff - when we develop budget do not do town side board side.
5. Consent Agenda [All items listed with an asterisk (*) are considered to be routine by the Town Council and will be enacted by one Motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Council member so requests, in which event the item will be removed from the General Order of Business and be considered in its normal sequence on the Agenda.]
none
6. Special Business
A. Resolution Adopting the Board of Education Budget for Fiscal Year 2015/2016
Andy 70,355,567.00 Wagner 1.8M increase Havens - have been silent all night. We can't afford to more (business) - Businesses will just move if they don't like the tax increase. We have support the turf field - we added 1.8M to the budget. Delnicki - we heard two different numbers. 2.1 number should be considered. should be advocating for a little more money AMENDMENT 70,655,000, Carolyn second Snyder - would that Carter - 300,000 from existing list - would have to go back and look at the list. Snyder - is the Food Service part of that? Carter - would delay that item Snyder - Carter - would have to go through the list. Snyder - if 300,000 is the difference between status quo - should not have to touch existing. New programs gone Carter - tht would be my recommendation Riley - 1.8 was a figure that was meeting the mandates. 2.1 figure seems to be one that people are using "keep the lights on" level funding""kick the can". Last year the BOE got 0.63% increase. If you are not moving forward - sad that we can't agree to make any improvements. very disappointed. will suppport Councilor Delnicki's amendment. Mirek - 2.1 is still a sacrifice - Anwar - it is going to be about compromise - we have to realize that the question that is being asked - it is about the how much the town can sustain. the money has to come from somewhere. the money from the state is limited. there are town issues that we have to deal with. it is about balancing and coordinating. I will not support the amendment. Wagner - I would love to give larger budgets. we are tring to find way to do the best for the whole town. 1.1M was not enough - heard the details and increrased by 700,000 - will not support amendment. concerned about impact of taxes to the town. next year we have new construction and buisneses coming off of the Delnicki - since Dr. Carter came to SW it has been a whole new way of doing buisneses between the BOE and the Town. There is a level of trust in the numbers that Dr. Carter would bring forward. Last year we balanced the budget on the kids - I don't want to see a double catch up next year. That is the reason why I am supporting the amendment. This furfills and obligation we have. it mitigates an impact that we will have next year. Mirek - two weeks ago I asked the Mayor if you support the BOE budget. Last year the BOE budget was hurt - proposal will lessen the blow - We should be supporting the BOE budget. Anwar - last year budget - Capital Project budget was the lowest in Connecticut. $167,000 was not enough for capital budget. Salt budget was taken a few years back and next year we had to bring the salt back. Wagner - .6% away - Snyder - last year gave them 1/2 of what they requested. Board really need 2.3 or 2.4 - a 2.1 would be able to fund the programs. People speaking tonight are telling us they support the Board budget. 1.8 and 2.1 is 300,000 - to give the Board to open the doors and operate. I want to support the whole budget. 2.25% increase was put into place with no understanding of the impacts. if we don't give them the money it will desimate the BOE budget. Anwar - I was the one who said 2.25% - starting point - Snyder - that was not the Council Riley - 1.8 -526,000 is not a given under special education as a savings and that is a gamble. You are making the budget so tight. next year you may see $600,000. The increase does not make the district better. Anwar - staff reductions Carter - 1.8 requires us to cut 300,000 - those decisions have not been made. do not want ot do food service - certified staff. Larger concern is looking ahead long term. we are digging a hole that will be hard to get out of because we are not maintaining.
B. Resolution Adopting the Budget for the Special Revenue Recreation Fund for Fiscal Year 2015/2016
Wagner, 2,463,829 Pendleton unanimously
C. Resolution Adopting the General Government Budget for Fiscal Year 2015/2016
Pendleton, Wagner 38,500,253 Pendleton - Amendment - f Maintainer I position - Public Works fund Fire Department with utilities Wagner accepted Pendleton - take some of Fire House maintenance over - Chief Cooney - 103,000 - 25,423 so if you take 103,000 out of our budget you are hurting our budget very much. Galligna - 103,000 includes snow removal, Chief - when we sat down the most the town could do is 25,000. They were not interested into doing the other items. Pendleton - these are public buildngs tah the town isresponsible for. Chief - for 6 months you asked us to look into the support of the PW - the town was not interested in snow removal, etc. Anwar - can this be addressed after the budget. Galligan - this would be a resolution changing line items. Pendleton - the fire department is a town bildng and the town should take care of the building. Delnicki - understand you want a takeover by the town. Delnicki - if we did not act on it tonight - iron out the issues. Could we by resolution after the budget is passed - transfer some of the duties - Chief - understand the goal. Delnicki - empower that committee. Want the level of service to be maintained. Paterna - this is a long term goad. the council and tm have been Snyder - do not think could handle taking out 103,000 at this time. Galligna - the town crew does the lawn Riley - shared services, shared purchasing - Chief Cooney is uncomfortable - support the concept but can't support this at this time. Galligan - Delnicki - if you want to get someone moving hire a part time Maintainer and do it slowly. need a go slow approach. Delnicki - showing 400,000 savings on the street lighting line - building permits Galligna - building permits same as last year Dlenicki - increases in fees? Galligna - no Delnikci - collection rate Galligna - same as last year Delnickk - 30, Galligna - can get the name fo ryou - Delnicki - hiring any new people? Galligna - no took new posiiton out brought down to 1.1M - all the posiotns for PW taken out. Delnicki - upgrades? Galligan - Director of Planning - slaries were also taken out. Snyder - salary increases for who? you took out salary increaes Galligna - that is correct Snyder - union what is causing you problems? Galligan - 2.3M budget incease from staff 837,000 I took out of the budget was asked to get down - which I did no new staff, no increases. Staff not getting an increase, that is an issue. very tight budget. snow is a concern. Delnicki extend meeting 15 minutes, Anwar, unanimous Galligan - the police department overtime was taken out. Snyder - how much in contingency 11 not increasing 38,000 cutting Jay's budget Snyder Van - no outreach did not get more hours. Snyder - really uncomfortable with the town budget. - concerned - decrease the tax increase. Galligan majority party always dictates the budget. Delnicki - myself, Bill Aman - observation think twice before you give the day after Christmas off. need to bring tot he council Galligna - this has been past practice. for years this was being done. it is a moral booster. Riley - 2.1% increase Galligna - 2.09% 1M capital projects - Wagner -- Pendleton - withdrew friendly amendment Wagner accepted
D. Resolution Setting the Tax Rate for Fiscal Year 2015/2016
E. Resolution Appointing a Rate Maker for Fiscal Year 2015/2016 and the Tabling of Same
10 minute recess - 9:34 p.m.
6. Special Business
D. Resolution Setting the Tax Rate for Fiscal Year 2015/2016
Wagner Anwar Wagner - changed Anwar - accepted Delnicki - extend 5 minutes Anwar unanimous Riley - fund balance Delnicki - concerned about fund balance.
E. Resolution Appointing a Rate Maker for Fiscal Year 2015/2016 and the Tabling of Same
Delnicki anwar unanimous
7. Executive Session
8. Adjournment
Delnicki Paternma 11:18 p.m.
May 11, 2015 Town Council Special Meeting
Full agenda
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7
1. Call Meeting to Order
7
2. Roll Call
Roll call (10 Present, 0 Absent, 0 Excused)
Delnicki - suspend the rules to take Communications before Public Participation, Mirek - unanimous
4. Communications
Dr. Carter - tonight you have doucment to understand what the impact of $2M reduction would look like. See attached Major Reorganization - Restructure Food Service Department - outside vendor - healthcare costs would be eliminated. 37 employees met today. They are aware that we are discussion this. $300,000 savings which is a rough estimate. We are imagining this happening in January - can not happen for the fall. This scenario transitions from inhouse to outside vendor. Feel this is ill advised. Do feel it is in the best interst to do next fall. Surplus - we hope to have 1-2% in surplus. We plan for at least a 1% surplus. we have a 400,000 overage in Special Education. $100,000 needs to go for the softball field to make it safe. We never take unexpended funds and use if towards something the district might want. This year is unusual - Anwar - our grand list decreased. If you look at the tax increase - the initial increase - then 6.8% - this would impact the community. There are two sink holes in town that will cost a lot of money. Wagner - how much of your request was teacher salaries? 735,000 for teachers and administrators was 70,000 - paras Dr. Carter - when teachers contracts are done - other towns of like size are looked at. Teachers that have not veterans will have both a genral wage increase and a step increase. 1.5% - been hee max - not max percentage and wage increase. Wagner - step increase can be large. Wagner - received letter from student of POP? Carter - Pre-school programs - special ed and peer models. we have a large program. IPOP - is intensive (kids with more intensive needs). program is mandated. Wagner - we had one company move all of its equipment out of town and that was 35M. Anwar - this year the BOE paid the pension 2016 requirements. Dr. Carter - not in full - 231,000 out of current dollars adn next year231,000 prefunded last year and 268,000 has been encumbered for this year. Anwar - 267,000 - do we need to put that amount in the budget? Kate - right now there is only 100,000 in that budget. Riley - the Board has been great stuarts - did budget 100,000 in this coming budget. there is going to be a $600,000 line item that is not in their budget. Snyder - special ed and union negotiations - 2.248 million would give the board just how they do things today. This would not move the district forward. The security of the schools is very imjportant. Open the door and stopping - 2.3M increase? Carter - Yes I could agree with that. Snyder - some of these changes will seriously affect the schools. without the 2.3 to 2.4 we will be looking at a very different school system Mirek - the cuts would be very upsetting. asking for a status quo will bring the school backwards. Would hate to see so many employees laid off. we need to do a lot of things. we have children that need extra help. hope that we can provide what the schools need. Delnicki - deliberations are going to be challenging. Anwar - DRGB - 22 school systems - looking at the costs. of the 22 districts, we are the 4th most expensive. What could we do better - Carter - Statewide - 99 out of 166. There are always things we should do. Preschool special education is a large program. I have looked at a outside consultant to look at this. We are taking the special education very serously. We try to anticipate future budgets. Last year we warned the Council that there would be a larger request. Anwar - status quo 2.2M - is the favorable adjustment apply to the favorable adjustments. Kate - we have special ed - Anwar - keeping the door open 2.8M - if we subtract 5 Kate - 2.6 and then take away cost of new inestments 2.2 excluding the special ed. Anwar - 2.2 coudl take 500,000 Chris - started at 3.1% - Kate - 2.3 - apply the good news - Chairperson Joy - Thanked the Mayor for meeting with him and discussing items. We know the grand list is down but the responsible thing to do tonight is to find a number that will not hurt anything. urge the council to fund a compromise. need to find an appropriate number - Anwar - I agree with you - we will have to work together to find a solution. when you are in a tough situation you have to ask questions. need to make decisions that are in the best interest of the town. Delnicki - to meet the legal requirements you have what is the number? Cartr 2.3 minus the 500,000 Delnicki - 1.8 - would like to get it from the Board staff. Kate - will get that for the Town Council Pendleton - thanked the BOE and administrators - thanked the educators. Galligan - (memo) spent a lot of time - was told this morning - reduce the budget - concern - feel next year there will be projects coming off - Reviewed the Expenditure Summary Statements - only going to have 150,000 approximately in surplus. There will not be any new projects - we had Main Street sink hole which is going to cost approximately $500,000. We have to realize that whatever happens with the budget, we need to have a strategic planning process. This council has done a lot of things with the unions. These cuts are recommendations by Town staff. Have to invest into the community so SW becomes a major player. Mirek - surprised to read in the last TM - 2.25% increase TC asked for target. Where did that come from? Galligan - it was a discussion with the Mayor at the April meeting. Mirek - it was not an entire council decision. Snyder - are you taking any money from fund balance. Anwar - the fund balance amoount is made by the council, not the Town Manager Galligna - I put 500,000 - think it has been upped to $1M Paterna - concerned about he car tax? Galligan - think it is going to pass - the changes that were made - if you have a mill rate of 29 or larger you will pay the state and you will pay 29 mill rate. Anwar - people should call their State Reps. Galligan - prevailing wage is a problem for us. Delnicki - suggest - talked to Aman and he is opposed to this. Anwar - we need to look at the budgets together. Galligna - we have to start thinking about our infratructure. Anwar - Dr. Carter Carter - thanked Couniclor Pendleton for her comments. status quo - which factors in the good news and elimiates all new inestments - $2.1M that does remove safety officers, school psy, sTEm teachers and courses. In a met the mandates we would be looking at 1.8% scenario. $300,000 would need to be cut from the lsit. Anwar - break down of actual needs. .
3. Public Participation [Per Town Council Rules, this segment of the meeting shall not exceed thirty (30) minutes unless extended by the Mayor, with the consent of a majority of the Town Council.]
75 Deming STreet - have child in special education. proposed budget was supposed to be a medically fragil - the program was on a secnd floor. which does not make sense for someone with a wheelchiar. Medically fragile program - should be o the first floor Outplacement wil ll increase - Cindy Beaulieu, 19 Cody Circle - tremendous job from the BOE - We do have sink holes in town but do have bond monies that can be used for that. education is not something that can be done on status quo. we are cutting way to into status quo. need to pull from the fund balance. Encourage you not to cut the BOE budget. Gene Boltteron, 34 Victor Lane - over 2% tax increase is a large increase. our business community and seniors can not afford an increase in property taxes. we all know people who have left South Windsor. 35-40M decrease in property. We can not continue ot raise taxes. Education is not he only contriubtor to property values. Strongly urge TC to fight for low property taxes. We are already paying high taxes. Lorraine Krupa - POP - the changes to the budget - could affect the Para's - they are very important and keeps the students safe. support the board of ed budget. Parrot - 27 year resident. SW has provided an excellent education. with severe cuts in the budget, how do we - people come to SW because of the education. TC shoudl support a bude that will not hut SW. Dick Kelley, 49 Rosemary Lane. Never have I seen a Superintendent be so transparent. Came to SW to teach and then be a guidance counselor. 53-54 tenants. People are hurting. we need to find a way to do things different. There is a different between a need and want. I am willing to pay for needs. We have three grandkids in the school system - Dr. Carter can't put bandaids on the schools. Do not believe in leasing. it is our obligation as a taxpayer to step tot he pate and help them through. Wendy La - 77 Woodland Drive - one of the reasons we moved to SW because of its school system. Here to advocate for the future. Programs and employees would suffer if the cut is what it was proposed. The decrease n the budget will implement the budget. do not let this happen. Kevin McCann - 170 LIsa Drive - 5 years ago this town hired Dr. Carter - She has furfilled the promise to SW - she has presented a transparent budget that will make our schools better. Not certain where the Counicil was told - the cuts that would maintain the status quo would be less then the status quo. It does not fund the pension. TC approved a synthetic truf field at the HS - urge the Council to adopt the BOE budget. Don Gonsalves, 40 Bayberry Trail - unions control the school budget. 400,000 to 500,000 there is money in the budget. 5 salary scales. Daria Plummer, 235 Orchard Hill Drive - retired - there are excellen town services in Sout Windsor. people come to SW - special education. when items get cut out of the budget, they don't get put back in. SW residents want to provide good schools. Good schools nd good services sell smor ehome. Mary Justine Hockenberry, 16 Foxglove Lane, BOE works hard. SW is stagnet. We need to start moving forward. we need pschotolis. we need to keep the money in the BOE budget. I wantt a strong school system. Lets give the Board of Education what they want. We need our students to have base and be strong. 551 Foster Street - support the BOE - support good schools, beig competitive, the elderly, would like to see my house value go up. would like to see us go higher then the status quo. 36 Birch Road - Having the budget pass make me a better teacher. Status quo is not good enought. SW Schools are wonderful. The cuts are too much. Bill Myers, 1141 Strong Road - I am wiling to pay for great schools. Do the right thing. Greg, 34 Palm Lane - have two kids in the school system. my daughters schuled is going to be full. we should fund this proposed budget. Jean, 32 Aubrey Drive - we chose SW because of the close community. support this. we need to listen to the voters. do not mind paying taxes - need to support the budget in full. Carolyn MIrek letters into the record Nicole and Mark Colleen Lyons Carter - do not consider a hardship the hours I put into this job. Recognize Town staff - when we develop budget do not do town side board side.
5. Consent Agenda [All items listed with an asterisk (*) are considered to be routine by the Town Council and will be enacted by one Motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Council member so requests, in which event the item will be removed from the General Order of Business and be considered in its normal sequence on the Agenda.]
none
6. Special Business
A. Resolution Adopting the Board of Education Budget for Fiscal Year 2015/2016
Andy 70,355,567.00 Wagner 1.8M increase Havens - have been silent all night. We can't afford to more (business) - Businesses will just move if they don't like the tax increase. We have support the turf field - we added 1.8M to the budget. Delnicki - we heard two different numbers. 2.1 number should be considered. should be advocating for a little more money AMENDMENT 70,655,000, Carolyn second Snyder - would that Carter - 300,000 from existing list - would have to go back and look at the list. Snyder - is the Food Service part of that? Carter - would delay that item Snyder - Carter - would have to go through the list. Snyder - if 300,000 is the difference between status quo - should not have to touch existing. New programs gone Carter - tht would be my recommendation Riley - 1.8 was a figure that was meeting the mandates. 2.1 figure seems to be one that people are using "keep the lights on" level funding""kick the can". Last year the BOE got 0.63% increase. If you are not moving forward - sad that we can't agree to make any improvements. very disappointed. will suppport Councilor Delnicki's amendment. Mirek - 2.1 is still a sacrifice - Anwar - it is going to be about compromise - we have to realize that the question that is being asked - it is about the how much the town can sustain. the money has to come from somewhere. the money from the state is limited. there are town issues that we have to deal with. it is about balancing and coordinating. I will not support the amendment. Wagner - I would love to give larger budgets. we are tring to find way to do the best for the whole town. 1.1M was not enough - heard the details and increrased by 700,000 - will not support amendment. concerned about impact of taxes to the town. next year we have new construction and buisneses coming off of the Delnicki - since Dr. Carter came to SW it has been a whole new way of doing buisneses between the BOE and the Town. There is a level of trust in the numbers that Dr. Carter would bring forward. Last year we balanced the budget on the kids - I don't want to see a double catch up next year. That is the reason why I am supporting the amendment. This furfills and obligation we have. it mitigates an impact that we will have next year. Mirek - two weeks ago I asked the Mayor if you support the BOE budget. Last year the BOE budget was hurt - proposal will lessen the blow - We should be supporting the BOE budget. Anwar - last year budget - Capital Project budget was the lowest in Connecticut. $167,000 was not enough for capital budget. Salt budget was taken a few years back and next year we had to bring the salt back. Wagner - .6% away - Snyder - last year gave them 1/2 of what they requested. Board really need 2.3 or 2.4 - a 2.1 would be able to fund the programs. People speaking tonight are telling us they support the Board budget. 1.8 and 2.1 is 300,000 - to give the Board to open the doors and operate. I want to support the whole budget. 2.25% increase was put into place with no understanding of the impacts. if we don't give them the money it will desimate the BOE budget. Anwar - I was the one who said 2.25% - starting point - Snyder - that was not the Council Riley - 1.8 -526,000 is not a given under special education as a savings and that is a gamble. You are making the budget so tight. next year you may see $600,000. The increase does not make the district better. Anwar - staff reductions Carter - 1.8 requires us to cut 300,000 - those decisions have not been made. do not want ot do food service - certified staff. Larger concern is looking ahead long term. we are digging a hole that will be hard to get out of because we are not maintaining.
B. Resolution Adopting the Budget for the Special Revenue Recreation Fund for Fiscal Year 2015/2016
Wagner, 2,463,829 Pendleton unanimously
C. Resolution Adopting the General Government Budget for Fiscal Year 2015/2016
Pendleton, Wagner 38,500,253 Pendleton - Amendment - f Maintainer I position - Public Works fund Fire Department with utilities Wagner accepted Pendleton - take some of Fire House maintenance over - Chief Cooney - 103,000 - 25,423 so if you take 103,000 out of our budget you are hurting our budget very much. Galligna - 103,000 includes snow removal, Chief - when we sat down the most the town could do is 25,000. They were not interested into doing the other items. Pendleton - these are public buildngs tah the town isresponsible for. Chief - for 6 months you asked us to look into the support of the PW - the town was not interested in snow removal, etc. Anwar - can this be addressed after the budget. Galligan - this would be a resolution changing line items. Pendleton - the fire department is a town bildng and the town should take care of the building. Delnicki - understand you want a takeover by the town. Delnicki - if we did not act on it tonight - iron out the issues. Could we by resolution after the budget is passed - transfer some of the duties - Chief - understand the goal. Delnicki - empower that committee. Want the level of service to be maintained. Paterna - this is a long term goad. the council and tm have been Snyder - do not think could handle taking out 103,000 at this time. Galligna - the town crew does the lawn Riley - shared services, shared purchasing - Chief Cooney is uncomfortable - support the concept but can't support this at this time. Galligan - Delnicki - if you want to get someone moving hire a part time Maintainer and do it slowly. need a go slow approach. Delnicki - showing 400,000 savings on the street lighting line - building permits Galligna - building permits same as last year Dlenicki - increases in fees? Galligna - no Delnikci - collection rate Galligna - same as last year Delnickk - 30, Galligna - can get the name fo ryou - Delnicki - hiring any new people? Galligna - no took new posiiton out brought down to 1.1M - all the posiotns for PW taken out. Delnicki - upgrades? Galligan - Director of Planning - slaries were also taken out. Snyder - salary increases for who? you took out salary increaes Galligna - that is correct Snyder - union what is causing you problems? Galligan - 2.3M budget incease from staff 837,000 I took out of the budget was asked to get down - which I did no new staff, no increases. Staff not getting an increase, that is an issue. very tight budget. snow is a concern. Delnicki extend meeting 15 minutes, Anwar, unanimous Galligan - the police department overtime was taken out. Snyder - how much in contingency 11 not increasing 38,000 cutting Jay's budget Snyder Van - no outreach did not get more hours. Snyder - really uncomfortable with the town budget. - concerned - decrease the tax increase. Galligan majority party always dictates the budget. Delnicki - myself, Bill Aman - observation think twice before you give the day after Christmas off. need to bring tot he council Galligna - this has been past practice. for years this was being done. it is a moral booster. Riley - 2.1% increase Galligna - 2.09% 1M capital projects - Wagner -- Pendleton - withdrew friendly amendment Wagner accepted
D. Resolution Setting the Tax Rate for Fiscal Year 2015/2016
E. Resolution Appointing a Rate Maker for Fiscal Year 2015/2016 and the Tabling of Same
10 minute recess - 9:34 p.m.
6. Special Business
D. Resolution Setting the Tax Rate for Fiscal Year 2015/2016
Wagner Anwar Wagner - changed Anwar - accepted Delnicki - extend 5 minutes Anwar unanimous Riley - fund balance Delnicki - concerned about fund balance.
E. Resolution Appointing a Rate Maker for Fiscal Year 2015/2016 and the Tabling of Same
Delnicki anwar unanimous
7. Executive Session
8. Adjournment
Delnicki Paternma 11:18 p.m.
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