January 25, 2005
The Town Council meeting was called to order by Robert Doyon, Chair at 7 p.m.
Members Present: Joseph Commendatore, Robert Doyon, Patricia Geary, Douglas Merriman, Edward Miller and Dominick Mirabelle.
Members Absent:Theresa Graveline and Frederick Harkins
Mayor's Report:
Mayor Chatfield reported that a $700,000 Small Cities program grant to expand the Senior Center has been awarded to the Town of Prospect for the expansion of the Prospect Senior Center. The grant will be used to fund a two-story, 2,550 square foot addition. Recreational activities will be held in the lower level of the Senior Center and the upper level will allow for more than one activity to be in progress at the same time. The paper process needs to be completed prior to work commencing. There is approximately $200,000 in the budget for expanding the parking lot. Also, the Mayor has been in contact with the State for fill that will be needed.
Mayor Chatfield stated that he is opposed to any open buring and will be present at the public hearing for the Open Burning ordinance.
Mayor Chatfield reported that he is working on the budget and reminded the Council that their budget is due. Dates for workshops and meetings will be discussed in the near future.
Mayor Chatfield submitted a Water Main Improvements report detailing the costs. State Representative Vickie Nardello and Senator Joan Hartley are working on getting this on the bonding agenda. Mayor Chatfield will contact Representative Nardello's office with an update.
Mayor Chatfield submitted a request for transfer from the General Fund Balance to Town Roads, Maintenance $300; Ice & Snow, Maintenance $5,000; Ice & Snow, Supplies $7,500; Ice & Snow, Labor $45,000; Town Trucks, Maintenance, $10,000; Town Trucks, Parts $10,000.
Motion made by J. Commendatore to approve the transfer from the General Fund Balance to Town Roads, Maintenance $300; Ice and Snow, Maintenance $5,000; Ice & Snow, Supplies $7,500; Ice & Snow Labor $45,000; Town Trucks, Maintenance; $10,000; Town Trucks, Parts $10,00. Motion seconded by P. Geary. Unanimous
Mayor Chatfield reported that a water pipe had frozen in the furnace room of Town Hall and a sprinkler head broke in the Radio Room of the Firehouse last week.
R. Chatfield, Fire Chief, submitted a 2004 Call Log report. There were 7 structure fires, 3 brush fires, 7 car fires, 66 false alarms, 77 motor vehicle accidents, 15 C.O. alarms, 493 medical emergencies and 106 calls under the category of "other." The Fire Chief stated that if the open buring ordinance passes in his opinion there will be an increase in brush fires. Last year there were three. Medical calls increased by 100 from the previous year. There are currently 68 active members. Of the 68 active members, 58 are medical response and firefighting, 4 are paramedics and 10 respond to medical only.
No Chair's report
Guests/Pulic Participation:
Art Lagasse of 51 Greenleaf Avenue, Waterbury, stated that he requested to be notified when the Council would be meeting to discuss his request for pay for unused sick time and no one notified him of this meeting. R. Doyon stated that the subcommittee just met last week and it was not confirmed if a decision/vote would be made at this meeting.
Approval of Minutes:
Motion made by P. Geary to table the approval of the November 16, 2004 minutes due to absence of F. Harkins until the February 1, 2005 meeting. Motion seconded by D. Merriman. Unanimous
Motion made by D. Merriman to approve the January 4, 2005 minutes. Motion seconded by P. Geary. J. Commendatore abstained. Five approve. Motion carries.
Correspondence:
An article on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission plan to construct power generating stations in the southwestern part of Connecticut. Governor Rell and Attorney General Blumenthal strongly oppose this plan. Attorney General Blumenthal sent a letter of opposition to Patrick Henry Wood, III, Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from Governor Rell. D. Merriman suggested that the Council read the article. P. Geary suggested that the Council follow-up with a letter.
Motion made by D. Merriman to place correspondence on file. Motion seconded by P. Geary. Unanimous
No New Business
Old Business:
Subcommittee Reports:
P. Geary, Pension & Benefits Subcommittee reported that they have met three times since the last Town Council meeting of January 4, 2005. The Subcommittee has been working on changing the Town of Prospect's union employee's pension plan to the State of Connecticut Municipal Employees Fund (MERF). A comparative study of the two plans, the current and MERF was done by Pentec, Inc., and indicates that the MERF B Plan would be beneficial to participants and cost effective for the Town Of Prospect. The committee recommends enrollment of Public Works union employees only and will investigate participation of all town employees for next year. If the Council approves this enrollment they would like participation to begin July 1, 2005 and the following must be done:
P. Geary requested the Council's approval and indicated that everything would need to be done by April 1, 2005 in order for July 1, 2005 participation. The attorney feels that the side letter would be acceptable but if not, a Town Meeting would need to be held for approval.
J. Commendatore questioned if the Public Works union employees agreed to this plan even though it would cost them. P. Geary reported that they agreed to this plan because it is a defined benefit, whereas the current plan entitles them to a lump sum and they also expressed their dissatisfaction with the current investment growth.
J. Commendatore questioned why Town Hall employees were not included.
P. Geary stated that no other town employees have been addressed, however, they were taken into consideration in the study under a separate cost and will be addressed for next year. Presently there are six union employes and fourteen town employees. Because the union employees came forth with the request quite some time ago, the Subcommittee wanted to have this plan placed in action for July 1, 2005.
Motion made by J. Commendatore to approve the Pension & Benefits Subcommittee recommendations to move the public works union employees to a MERF B Plan for retirement. Motion seconded by D. Mirabelle. Unanimous
D. Merriman commended P. Geary and the subcommittee for their diligence over the past year and a half and bringing this to pass.
P. Geary commended the Town union employees for their patience and persistence.
J. Commendatore, Blight Ordinance Subcommittee reported that he has tried to contact a few towns similar in size to the Town of Prospect and no one has a blight ordinance. Thomaston said they had one but there are too many issues defending it. J. Commendatore feels that enforcing the Blight Ordinance would be difficult. Waterbury is always in court regarding Blight Ordinance Issues.
D. Merriman questioned if this is a duplication of work that falls under Planning and Zoning. J. Commendatore will contact Wolcott to see if they have a Blight Ordinance in effect and the status of their cases and R. Hiscox, Chairman of Planning & Zoning to inquire if this would be a duplication of what they are doing.
J. Commendatore, Open Burning Subcommittee, reported that he has been in contact with the attorney, although it took him over three weeks to report back to him. P. Geary questioned if the Town was looking to be more restrictive. J. Commendatore stated that the ordinance on file from 1970 is a tough ordinance and to include the lines from Keith Griffin, Fire Marshal, would restrict open burning more.
Motion made by E. Miller to have a Public Hearing on the proposed Open Buring Ordinance including the additional commentes from the fire marshal on February 1, 2005 at 6:45 p.m. Motion seconded by P. Geary. Unanimous
Motion made by J. Commendatore to adjourn. Motion seconded by D. Merriman. Unanimous
This meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert Doyon, Chairman