January 20, 2009
Chairman Thomas Galvin called the meeting to order @ 7:00 p.m. The meeting was taped.
Members Present: Robert Doyon, Tom Galvin, Stan Pilat, Pat Geary, Roger Kergaravat, D. Merriman and Carl Graveline.
Members Absent: Charles Mallon.
Mayor's Report:
Mayor Robert Chatfield mentioned the reigns had been given to the new Fire Chief is Charles Martin (Marty) Lautenschlager.
Mayor Chatfield also advised, during the night of January 24th or 25th 2009, an over-sized load move will take place through town; there will be approximately four loads of equipment for the new power plant to be erected on South Main Street in Waterbury. The Mayor stated that police, CL & P and D.O.T. trucks, among other vehicles, will be involved hi this move. The move will follow down Route 68 to the Naugatuck Industrial Park before ending at their destination in Waterbury.
Mayor Chatfield asked the Council to approve a resolution for Homeland Security for a Memorandum of Understanding for the year 2007. Motion made by R. Doyon to approve a resolution for Homeland Security for the Memorandum of Understanding for 2007. Motion seconded by C. Graveline. Unanimous.
Mayor Chatfield advised he has reviewed revenue status up until the end of December 2008. He will look at it again at the end of January 2009 and decide if any cuts need to be made after the tax checks are received.
Mayor Chatfield introduced to the Council Mike Battista, the auditor for the Town of Prospect. Mr. Battista presented the Annual Report for ending fiscal year June 30, 2008. He advised the town has a surplus of $475,489.00 which is up from the previous tax year by $58,500.00; 2007 ended with a balance of $416,989.00. Mr. Battista advised the Town has a stable financial history. Mr. Battista also advised the Town Council could appropriate up to 2.5% of the actual collectible taxes raised in a fiscal year. Mayor Chatfield advised in cases of emergencies 5% of collectible taxes could be appropriated for use. Mr. Battista also gave an example, that in the event of a bad year, the Town could take monies from another area of funding, such as the Open Space Fund, and repay the balance over a 2 year timeframe. Mr. Battista reviewed the Annual Report with the Council. T. Graveline questioned the difference between 'Actual' and 'Final' for expenditures. Mr. Battista advised the 'Actual' is the true expense and the 'Final' is what has been adopted. P. Geary questioned the practice of paying bills in July and August after the fiscal year has ended. Mr. Battista advised the checkbook is left open for approximately 60 days for any late coming expenses to be paid; he also goes through these bills to confirm the actual month they are for. Mr. Battista stated it is a 12 month period for the budget. P. Geary complimented Diane Lauber, the Town of Prospect's Tax Collector on her task of collecting the taxes for the town. P. Gear}' also complimented the Town's Public Works Department for the job they have done in keeping the streets clean so far this winter. P. Geary also suggested allowing more in the budget for the Public Works Department; in the past, more monies were needed to be appropriated to the Public Works Department due to the increase in winter storms. Mr. Battista continued with the explanation of the Annual Report. P. Geary questioned if State Grants applied to Youth Services. Mayor Chatfield advised the programs that are run by Youth Services are subsidized by State Grants; in the summer, 4 weeks of programs that are run for the Town are paid through the Town. T. Graveline questioned the amount of $20,000.00; if this was the amount that was used by the Open Space Purchasing Committee to purchase the Nettleton Property. Mr. Battista advised it was and that the land value is on an accrued basis. Mr. Battista advised the Town Buildings are subject to depreciation; such as would be itemized for a corporation. Mayor Chatfield advised the Town Buildings are insured at replacement costs. Motion made by P. Geary to accept the Financial Report ending for fiscal year June 2008. Motion seconded by D. Merriman. Unanimous.
Mayor Chatfield advised as of 1/13/08, the Public Works clocked in a total of 1067 3A hours; as of 1/13/09 the Public Works Department clocked in 1223 hours. Mayor Chatfield also stated as of 1/13/09 418 tons used; as of 1/13/08 260 tons of salt used.
Mayor Chatfield requested transfers from the General Fund to Town Buildings Repairs, $15,000; Town Buildings Contracted Maintenance, $10,000.00; Ice & Snow Supplies, $10,000.00; Ice & Snow Labor, $20,000.00; Town Tracks Maintenance, $17,500.00; Town Trucks Parts, $9,500.00; for an amount of $82,000.00. Discussion: Mayor Chatfield advised parts for the Public Works Department are purchased during the summer; so far drive wheels and 2 sander chains have been replaced. Mayor Chatfield also advised the 'Stanley Door' for Town Hall has been repaired, septic tanks have been pumped, and the exit signs at the Fire House have been replaced. P. Geary questioned the replacement of the exit signs at the Fire House. Mayor Chatfield stated for one battery it would be $30.00 and for an LED light it would be $35.00. Motion made by C. Graveline to approve the transfers from the General Fund balance to Town Buildings Repairs, $15,000.00; Town Buildings Contracted Maintenance, $10,000; Ice & Snow Supplies, $10,000.00; Ice & Snow Labor, $20,000.00; Town Tracks Maintenance, $17,500.00 and Town Trucks Parts, $9,500.00; for a total of $82,000.00. Motion seconded by P. Geary. Unanimous.
Mayor Chatfield requested a transfer of January 14, 2009, from the General Fund balance for emergency tree clean-up work from the ice storm on January 7th and 8th 2009 to Town Roads Trees hi the amount of $3,300.00. Motion made by T. Graveline to approve the transfer of January 14,2009, from the General Fund balance for emergency tree clean-up work from the ice storm on January 7th and 8th, 2009 in the amount of $3,300.00 Motion seconded by P. Geary. Unanimous.
Mayor Chatfield also requested transfers of January 20, 2009 from the General Fund Surplus to Ice & Snow Parts, $7,500.00; Ice & Snow Labor, $50,000.00; Town Tracks Maintenance, $5,000.00; Town Trucks Parts, $7,500.00; Social Security, $4,000.00 for a total of $74,000.00. Motion made by D. Merriman to approve the transfer of January 20,2009 from the General Fund Surplus to Ice & Snow Parts, $7,500.00; Ice & Snow Labor, $50,000.00; Town Trucks Maintenance, $5,000.00; Town Trucks Parts, $7,500.00; Social Security, $4,000.00 for a total of $74,000.00. Motion seconded by C. Graveline. Unanimous D. Lauber submitted for approval Tax Refunds as amended as of January 20, 2009 in the amount of $1601.89; the original was dated January 6, 2009. Motion made by P. Geary to approve as amended the Tax Refunds for January 20, 2009, originally dated January 6,2009, in the amount of $1601.89. Motion seconded by R. Doyon. Unanimous.
Mayor Chatfield gave an update of the Scott Road Project. The Mayor advised per the meeting of January 6, 2009, a contractor from Harwinton was awarded the job, and weather permitting, the project should being hi March; 80% of the funding will be coming from the Federal Government, and 20% will be funding from the State. The Mayor advised 5000 yards of fill will be coming from this project. The project should conclude in either May or June. R. Doyon questioned if the Town considered bidding on the fill. Mayor Chatfield advised the bid had been closed. The Mayor also advised part of Scott Road would be closed during the day while construction was being done. Phase I of the project would be to Nicholas Court; Phase II would be from Nicholas Court to Maria Hotchkiss.
T. Galvin advised there would not be an 'Executive Session' in this meeting.
P. Geary commented on an incident that occurred approximately 2 weeks prior. A colleague from Beacon Falls needed a passport quickly due to an incident. P. Geary called Mayor Chatfield and Mayor Chatfield immediately called U. S. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. P. Geary 'thanked' Mayor Chatfield for his immediate response. P Geary advised she had the highest praise on both the 'State and Local' levels for their quick reactions to her request.
P. Geary questioned if the Ice Skating Rink was opened. Mayor Chatfield replied the rink will be open from 7:00 A.M. and will be open until 10:00 or 11:00 P.M.; unless there is snow then commerce is 1st and then the Town crew will clean the rink to allow residents to use it.
P. Geary and T. Graveline questioned if the McAllen Contractors are continuing with the U.S. Cap property. Mayor Chatfield advised there are concerns of a waterline and whether or not a grant could be used to obtain the waterline. Mayor Chatfield also advised the Town has contacted Attorney John Knott for further inquiries regarding this property and if the Town Council would need to vote again. Diane Lauber stated the amount collected to date is approximately $12,000.00 to $13,000.00.
T. Graveline requested of Mayor Chatfield for the Council to be advised of the situations that the Town is going through with court cases. Mayor Chatfield advised in the past several months he had given info to the Council. T. Graveline advised if the Mayor gave the Council at least the names of the parties involved, the Council would then know which parties they should not be speaking with regarding these situations; in the past, she had been confronted in the store and called at home. T. Graveline requested an 'Executive, Executive Session' regarding these cases.
Chair's Report:
T. Galvin requested to add to the agenda a discussion of Region 16 Administrators' Contract. Motion made by D. Merriman to add to the agenda a discussion regarding Region 16's School Administrators' Contract. Motion seconded by T. Graveline. Unanimous.
T. Galvin advised the Council, regarding the vote to approve Region 16 Administrators' Contract; it would be more costly to go to arbitration. Lisa DeGoes of the Region 16 School Administrators' Association advised the contract is a good Agreement since the Association worked hard to keep the contract at 3%. R. Kergaravat requested a motion to approve the Contract. T. Graveline advised the Council could either vote to reject or do nothing which would allow the Contract to be accepted. R. Kergaravat amended the request to take no action. D. Merriman replied that of his 32 years weighted hi education, it was a shame to make a decision based on money being spent on arbitration. C. Graveline commented he agreed with D. Merriman. T. Graveline advised the Council should make an active response. R. Kergaravat requested a motion to take no negative action to allow the Contract to be approved. Motion made by R. Kergaravat to allow the Administrators' Contract to go through by taking no negative action by the Council. Motion seconded by T. Graveline. 8 Approved/0. Unanimous.
T. Galvin mentioned to the Council the resignation of David Byrne's from the Region 16 Board of Education.
Guests - None
Public Participation - None
Approval of December 2, 2008 Minutes:
Motion made by D. Merriman to approve the Minutes of 12/2/08. Motion seconded
by R. Doyon. 7 Approved/1 Abstained, T. Graveline. Motion Carries.
Correspondence: Overload Move Directions, Tax Collector's Report (November), Building Inspectors, Electrical Inspector's Plumbing & Heating Inspector's Reports (November & December), Zoning Inspector's Reports (November & December), Police Report, (Hours worked for a 5 month period for the 13 Officers) a request was made to have the officers' names listed to the hours, Region 16 Administrators' Contract, Town of Prospect's Revenue Sheet, Expenditure Budget year end June 30, 2008 and General Fund Balance Sheet (June 30 2008 and 2007).
T. Galvin mentioned to the Council the proposed budget for the Town Council for the fiscal year 2009-2010. Motion made by S. Pilat to place correspondence on file. Motion seconded by C. Graveline. Unanimous.
New Business:
R. Kergaravat requested the Council Names to be contributed to the new Prospect Telephone directory. T. Graveline agreed and suggested to include a statement to advise the residents of the dates and times the Council meets. D. Merriman advised the recycling for the Town had increased by 1% and the garbage output decreased by 1% (the cost for garbage burn is $65.50).
Old Business:
Adjournment:
Motion made by D. Merriman to adjourn the meeting. Motion seconded by R.
Doyon. Meeting adjourned @ 9:05 P.M. Unanimous.
Thomas J. Galvin, Chairman
Rosalyn B. Moffo, Clerk