Prospect Town Council

March 8, 2010

Chairman Thomas Galvin called the meeting to order @ 6:30 p.m. The meeting was taped.

Members Present: T. Galvin, S. Pilat, D. Merriman, M. Scaviola and R. Doyon Members Absent: J. Slapikas, P.Geary, C. Graveline, T. Graveline

Mayor Robert J. Chatfield present the Correspondence received to the Council:

Motion made by S. Pilat to place correspondence on file. Motion seconded by R. Doyon. Unanimous.

Mayor Chatfield requested approval for the following Categories:
Zoning Board of Appeals (No Increase)
Motion made by D. Merriman to approve as is with no increase the Budget of $1,650.00 for Zoning Board of Appeals. Motion seconded by S. Pilat. Unanimous.

Board of Assessment Appeals (No Increase)
Motion made by R. Doyon to approve the Budget in the amount of $350.00 for the Board of Assessment Appeals. Motion seconded by S. Pilat. Unanimous.

Treasurer (No Increase)
Motion made by D Merriman to approve the Budget of $5,200.00 for the Treasurer. Motion seconded by S. Pilat. Unanimous.

Planning & Zoning Commission (No Increase)
Motion made by D. Merriman to approve the Budget of $9,300.00 with no increase for the Planning & Zoning Commission. Motion seconded by S. Pilat. Unanimous.

Water Pollution Authority (Decrease)
Mayor Chatfield advised a study has been completed by the W.P.C.A allowing for a decrease, but there is an increase in hydrant rental. The Budget for the W.P.C.A has decreased in total to $120,658.60 from $128,215.52.

Town Council (No Increase)
Mayor Chatfield requested approval for the Town Council Budget. S. Pilat commented that the line item 6050-04 Seminars/Conferences should have allocate monies for any Council member that would like to attend a Seminar or Conference; such as taking a course at NVCC. T. Galvin advised this could be considered at any time if any Council member would like to attend a Seminar or Conference. Motion made by D. Merriman to approve the Town Council Budget of $6,700.00. Motion seconded by R. Doyon. Unanimous.

Town Buildings (Increased)
Mayor Chatfield stated there is an increase for line items 6100-01 Electricity 23 meters and 6100-03 Heating. The Mayor stated he will be seeking to bid out for both line items. Motion made by D. Merriman to approve the Budget in the amount of $385,000.00 for Town Buildings. M. Scaviola questioned if line items 6100-08 and 6100-09 are still necessary. The Council chose to eliminate both line items. Motion made by D. Merriman to approve the Budget in the amount of $385,000.00 for Town Buildings as amended. Motion seconded by S. Pilat. Unanimous.

Conservation Commission (No Increase)
Motion made by D. Merriman to approve the Budget in the amount of $400.00 for Conservation Commission. Council members chose to eliminate line item 6350-00. Motion made by D. Merriman to approve the Budget in the amount of $400.00 for Conservation Commission as amended. Motion seconded by S. Pilat. Unanimous.

Library (Increased)
Mayor Chatfield advised that before the presentation of the Library Budget, the Librarian Barbara Smith and Assistant Librarian Lauren Webber would like the Council to tour the Library. Mayor Chatfield called for a Recess.

Motion made by R. Doyon to convene to a Recess. Motion seconded by S. Pilat. Unanimous. The meeting convened to a Recess @ 6:50 P.M

Motion made by D. Merriman to reconvene from the Recess. Motion seconded by S. Pilat. Unanimous. The meeting reconvened from the Recess @ 7:02 P.M

Mayor Chatfield introduced Barbara Smith, Prospect's Librarian, to the Council. Ms. Smith advised the Council that the Library is the center for many children and their families, especially in hard economic times. Ms. Smith also advised the amount of new library cards and renewals for both adults and children has increased. Ms. Smith stated that circulation has increased by 31% and audio & video lending has become very popular. Ms. Smith also stated there are a large variety of activities happening at the Library: from an intra-library lending program, to library programs for young children, to meetings in the evenings for such groups as Girls Inc., the Girl Scouts and DAR. The Library is also offering additional help with orations for LRMS students and some Woodland students are using the Library's computers for their online work. Many job seekers are also using the Library's computers to due their job searching.

Ms. Webber, the Assistant Librarian, advised that the Library participates in the Nutmeg Program, the Support for Excellence hi Literature which is happening throughout Connecticut. Also the Library has outside programs; merit badge programs, Community Outreach and for the summer, there will be a program called 'Stories Ahoy' that calls for a scavenger hunt.

Ms. Sue McKernan, Chairman of the Library Board, spoke on behalf of Barbara Smith and Lauren Webber. Ms. McKernan advised that by cutting the proposed amount of $28,000.00 to $25,000.00 for line item 7350-04 Cataloging/Books is harming more than helping. Ms. McKernan advised that precataloging books saves dollars hi comparison to having a staff member catalog. Also, Ms. McKernan stated, the Library is the Hub of the Community, especially in hard economic times, and increases should be made in Computer Technology, Videos, Books on CD and the Children's area. She also stated that the Librarian and Assistant Librarian are underpaid according to the State of Connecticut's wage comparisons. A discussion by Council members took place and Mayor Chatfield requested a motion to convene to a Recess.

Motion made by S. Pilat to convene to a Recess. Motion seconded by R. Doyon. Unanimous. The Recess convened to a Recess @ 7:25 P.M

Motion made by R. Doyon to reconvene from the Recess. Motion seconded by S. Pilat. Unanimous. The meeting reconvened from the Recess @ 7:29 P.M.

Motion made by D. Merriman to approve the Budget of $247,961.00 for the Library.

T. Galvin advised the Council could revisit this Budget at a later date. Motion seconded by R. Doyon. Unanimous.

Inland — Wetlands (No Increase)
Motion made by D. Merriman to approve the Budget for Inland — Wetlands in the amount of $5,000.00. Motion seconded by S. Pilat. Unanimous.

Insurance (Increased)
Mayor Chatfield advised the overall total for insurance,had increased by $3,733.00 from $193,125.00 to $196,858.00. The Mayor stated the Insurance Company comments on areas where Liabilities are an issue. Motion made by D. Merriman to approve the Budget of Insurance in the amount of $196,858.00. Motion seconded by S. Pilat. Unanimous.

Emergency Management (No Increase)
Motion made by D. Merriman to approve the Budget of Emergency Management in the amount of $9,750.00. Motion seconded by R. Doyon. Unanimous.

Tax Collector; C.C.M.C. (Increased)
Diane Lauber, Prospect's Tax Collector, advised the Council, that the tax office is in good shape with a 97.4% collection. Motor vehicle tax intake is a little less due to some residents wait for renewals.

D. Lauber stated the bills for Sewer usage for Toll Bros, are based on the number of units and sent as estimated bills. D. Lauber also stated a Toll Bros. Representative will be at the Annual Meeting for Sewer usage as the residents of Toll Bros, are concerned with estimated bills and would like actual bills. D. Lauber advised there is an overall increase to the Tax Budget by $2,696.00. D. Lauber advised besides the increase for the Assistant Tax Collector #5350-01 and Clerical Assistants #5350-02, there has been an increase in line item DMV Fees SM #5250-07 in the amount of $250.00. This increase gives the Tax Office direct access to the DMV.

D. Lauber also advised Ms. Michelle Marchese will be leaving the tax office as of tax season. D. Lauber commented that Ms. AnnMarie Burr would like the additional hours and will be taking certification courses; the first one will end by summer. D. Lauber stated Ms. Burr will be working 25 hours per week with additional hours during the eight weeks of the year covering vacations or course schedules for the Tax Collector and Assistant Tax Collector.

Motion made by D. Merriman to approve the Budget of $99,746.40 for the Tax Collector. Motion seconded by S. Pilat. Unanimous.

Adjournment:
Motion made by D. Merriman to adjourn the meeting. Motion seconded by R. Doyon. Unanimous. Meeting adjourned @ 8:23 P.M.

Thomas J. Galvin, Chairman

Rosalyn B.Moffo, Clerk