ANNUAL BOROUGH & BUDGET MEETING (Draft Minutes)

April 18, 2009 ~ 9 AM at Stonington Firehouse

 

 

                The annual Borough meeting was called to order at 9:03AM by Warden Don Maranell with approximately 40 voters in attendance.  Present were Burgesses Scott Bates, Kathryn Burchenal, Jeffrey Callahan, Robert Scala and Clerk-Treasurer, Frederick Souza.  Burgesses Sarah Blair and Edward McCreary were not in attendance. 

 

                On a motion by Burgess Callahan, seconded by Burgess Bates, Frederick Nicholas was unanimously appointed moderator.  Following brief procedural remarks by Mr. Nicholas, and on a motion by Burgess Bates, seconded by Burgess Scala, reading the call of the meeting was dispensed.  The following is the call as printed in the New London Day.

 

                This is to warn voters and taxpayers of the Borough of Stonington that the Annual Borough and Budget Meeting will be held on April 18, 2009, at 9 A.M. at the new Firehouse to approve the minutes of last year’s meeting, to hear the Warden’s report, to act on a budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, to consider a Highway Department Capital Improvement Program, to select trustees for the Waldron Fund, and to consider such other business as may come before the meeting.

 

Approval of Minutes:

After the public was given the opportunity to review the minutes, Burgess Callahan moved acceptance which was unanimously approved.

 

Warden’s Report:

                Warden Maranell opened quoting FDR and using the famous line, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”  This was in reference to the current national financial recession and the fact that those present were there to consider a budget for fiscal year 2009-2010.

 

 

The following are highlights of the Street Comissioner’s  (Warden Maranell) report:

à       The School and Trumbull Street projects were undertaken with Trumbull Street completely replaced and the intersection with School Street provided with handicapped accessibility.

à       Broad Street underwent serious drainage repair

à       The Wall Street Sea Wall was repaired

à       Snow Removal no longer used sand and salt, but rather the new sugar/salt combination used by the Town of Stonington.

à       Now that Spring has arrived, street sweeping will begin.

à       Yard waste removal is at an all-time high.

à       $20,000 in State grant money was obtained for the Cannon Restoration Project, and the cannons will soon be going to Texas A&M for electrolytic bath treatment.  The reimbursement from the grant has been submitted and expenditures thus far are in the range of $28K. Further debate regarding the Cannon Square site and what should be done there will continue, but no planting or other work will take place this spring.

 

Public Buildings Commissioner ( Jeffrey Callahan):

à       Renovations to Borough Hall have been put on hold pending the funds remaining in the budget; however, the main issue of much needed roof repair was undertaken.  The roof was rebuilt to include a slight pitch to allow for water run-off.  The approximate cost of the repair was $27K.

à       On-going leak issues with the firehouse were also addressed and seem to be under control.

à       The total in the building fund is $243,701 and approximately $35K of that was used in the above repairs.

à       Geo-thermal energy was considered in the planning for Borough Hall renovations, but is cost prohibitive and has been abandoned. 

à       Inasmuch as the energy budget for public buildings amounts to approximately 1% of the total budget, planning will address lighting, modern heat controls and a more modern and energy efficient boiler.

 

 

Brief discussion took place regarding the Borough Hall project, and at this point, Sandy Fromson asked if it makes sense to spend close to $600K on the Borough Hall building and whether it would make more sense to simply make it handicapped accessible.  Burgess Callahan noted that the elevator system is the most disruptive and expensive part of the project, but the committee has looked at the concept of phasing in portions of the project rather than addressing it all at once.

Jim Quinn asked if Capital Funds are being used for repair and whether that is appropriate, and Ben Blake asked if the handicapped accessibility should be eliminated as a cost reduction measure.  Warden Maranell noted that any renovation will need to bring the building up to code.  He also noted that such discussion will take place as the project moves forward and that the firehouse is available for some meetings which is convenient because it is handicapped accessible already.

 

Fire Commissioner (Robert Scala):

à       There are 25 volunteers in the Departments

à       The firehouse equipment is in good order

à       There is a truck fund established for future purchasing since the trucks are getting older

 

Public Affairs & Safety Commissioner (Scott Bates):

à       In the area of Emergency Management, there has been good coordination with the police and fire departments.

à       A traffic guard was added at Wadawanuck Square to protect children.

à       A 20 mph speed limit for parts of the Borough has been approved and is now enforceable.

à       Crosswalks have been updated to bring them into conformity with established safety code recommendations

à       Burgess Bates made a plea for participatory democracy in which individual citizenry would help to police their own.  This followed several comments regarding safety on Water Street.  Dianne MacFayden noted cyclists drive the wrong way on Water Street and skateboarders add to the dangerous conditions there.

 

In other discussion, Jim Quinn asked about emergency preparedness and hurricane procedures.  Warden Maranell pointed out that questionnaires regularly go out from the Town regarding the location of people who need special assistance and there is generally poor response; however, those who are interested should contact the office for further information.   Kate Love asked whether there is ever a drill and also what to do in the event of a flood and was informed that Stonington High School is the central location for emergency during hurricanes.

Sandy Fromson pointed out the evacuation plan required for Stonington Commons and suggested that such a plan is needed for the Borough.  She also suggested that the present plans should go out with tax bills when they are mailed, and that more details belong on the Borough website.

 

Sanitation Commissioner (Kathryn Burchenal):

à       Sue Cordeiro and Roger Collelo were commended for their efforts.

à       Dog waste is an ongoing issue and requires self-policing.. Reminders have been sent out and signs will be posted in various “hot spots” to help curb the issue.

à       Trash collection and animal control were discussed and residents reminded that the ordinance is that people are NOT to leave bags on the street any earlier than the morning of collection unless in a container.

à       The Town has begun to catalogue the utility poles so that a census of them will be available.

 

In other discussion, Archie Leslie pointed out that there are many feral cats in the point area of the Borough and asked that the issue be addressed since some residents feed them and the Town will not respond to cat related problems and considers them “rodents”.

Emily Wharton asked that plastic bag dispensers be more readily available, particularly on LaGrua Park, and Mary Thacher asked the same for the Broad Street Cemetery which is being used as a dog park.

 

 

In the absence of Utilities Commissioner Edward McCreary,  it was pointed out that the many new utility poles near the COMO tennis courts are supposed to be removed, but the coordination between CL&P, the cable company and AT&T has been a slow process.  The Warden also announced that representatives of the Census Bureau will be canvassing the Borough in the near future and GPS monitoring is part of the task.

Sidewalks and street lights are being monitored on a regular basis and any outages should be reported so that we can help correct the problem.  Additionally, some residents have been billed for snow removal since they did not follow through as required by ordinance.

 

Warden Maranell also noted that Parks Commissioner Sarah Blair continues to work on the Cannon Square project and that information is available on the Borough website.  Residents are encouraged to come to all regular Board meetings where the process of planning continues.  He also noted that Wadawanuck Square has been limed and seeded which prompted Mary Thacher to suggest the same for Cannon Square. 

 

Further discussion of various points led to comments regarding pothole repair at the Point. Skateboarders and the possibility of a skateboard facility were discussed, and it was noted that Wimpheimer Park was established for passive recreation as have most public parks in the Borough and therefore cannot be used as such a facility.  The Town is researching to solve this problem.

Overall cleanliness of streets was discussed with most of those speaking out dissatisfied with the cleaning and leaf removal procedures and schedules.  Tony Inzerro noted that the streets need to be cleaned more often than once a year.

 

 

 

 

Budget:  A summary of the proposed budget follows:

               

 

 

Income

Grants and Reimbursements                             $169,747

Fire Protection Fees                                               106,024

Other Income                                                           31,273

Property Taxes                                                       723,672

 

                                Total Income                    $1,030,716

 

               

Appropriations

                    To Ordinary Expenditures

                                General Government                                            222,178

                                Boards & Commissions                                         44,490

                                Fire Department                                                     192,765

                                Hydrants                                                                   39,000

                                Public Buildings                                                       22,506

                                Street Department                                                 176,173

                                Parks, Trees & Rights of Way                               16,200

                                Sanitation                                                                   1,800

 

                    To Contingency Expense                                              25,000

                    To Debt Service                                                                 156,140

 

                    To Special Revenue & Trust Funds

                                Infrastructure Reserve Fund                               114,464

                                Cannon Fund                                                           15,000

                                Wayland’s Wharf Fund                                           5,000

 

 

                                                                Total Appropriation        $1,030,716 

 

 

Jim Quinn moved that the budget under consideration be brought to a vote and was seconded by Burgess Callahan. 

 

Juan O’Callahan then asked to address those assembled with some information and presented charts and graphs delineating the percentages of increase in the General Government expenditures over the past several years.  By his calculations this area of the budget is increasing at a rate of approximately 14.5% per annum, and he feels that instead this money should have been used to reduce taxes.  He then presented the following:

 

AMENDMENT TO THE PROPOSED STONINGTON BOROUGH BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2010.

 

“THAT THE PROPOSED BUDGET TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS BE REDUCED BY CIRCA 7%, TO APPROXIMATELY $955,000, (THAT IS, REDUCED FROM $1,030,716), THROUGH REDUCTIONS IN CERTAIN ACCOUNTS AND SUB-ACCOUNTS AS DETERMINED AND AGREED BY THE BOARD OF WARDEN AND BURGESSES, AND ASSISTED BY BOROUGH RESIDENTS, AT ONE OR MORE FURTHER BUDGET-DETERMINATION PUBLIC MEETINGS TO BE SCHEDULED AS NECESSARY.”

 

Discussion of the amendment and also on the budget followed with many similar  comments.

Sandy Fromson supported the budget based on the issues previously discussed. 

Jim Quinn questioned what is being done with the funds and also pointed out the state of the recessionary economy suggesting that this might be the year to tighten up expenses.

Burgess Callahan noted that most of the money is going to the street funds and tried to clarify the meaning and intent of the amendment.  He also suggested that the budget could easily show a different total if $100,000 was not transferred.

Jim Quinn responded that the goal was not to simply transfer or not transfer funds, but to slow down the growth of expenditures.

Martha Mitchell referenced tax abatements and learned that no abatements have happened at the Borough level other than those required by law.

Lisa Bates asked what the effect might be of reducing the budget and the responses suggested that the quality of life in the Borough might be negatively impacted. 

Burgess Bates pointed out that the Borough is looking at millions of dollars in infrastructure repair and suggested that the money should remain as an investment in the community.

Burgess Callahan proposed putting more money into the Street Reserve fund by transferring $50K.

Sandy Fromson suggested that since we have plans for work and expenditures that will takes us several years to accomplish, perhaps a good place to reduce funding would be in the Professional Services line item.

Archie Leslie noted that there was some discrepancy in the intent and actual purpose of the amendment and its subsequent impact.

Warden Maranell suggested the amendment be defeated because the needs have increased and in the past Contingency Funds were often used which has reduced that as a source.

Mary Thacher noted that the contingency expenses have increased considerably.

Betty Richards noted that the amendment talks to the overall expenditure of money, not merely transfers.

Jim Quinn called the question, and the vote on the amendment was taken.

 

The result was 28 voters in favor of the amendment, and 11 voters opposed to the amendment, so the amendment carried.  This meant that the present budget was defeated and that portion of the meeting will be adjourned to a time in the near future.

 

Waldron Fund:

                On a motion by Warden Maranell, seconded by Burgess Scala, the following were named as trustees of the Waldron Fund—Eileen Jachym, Rose Raffo, and Eleanor Casey.

 

Other Business:

                Jim Quinn asked the Board to pursue the issue of relocating meetings.

                Scott Bates commended the work done by his fellow Board members as he will not be seeking reelection to the Board.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:02 AM to be reconvened at a later date which will be published once determined.

Respectfully submitted,

Frederick J. Souza ~ Borough of Stonington Clerk/Treasurer