Board of Warden and Burgesses

Minutes of Special Meeting  ~ March 25, 2010

 

                The special meeting of the Board of Warden & Burgesses for the intention of reviewing the budget was called to order at 7:32PM at the firehouse by Warden Don Maranell.  Present were Burgesses, Paul Burgess, Jeffrey Callahan, Howard Park, Robert Scala and Clerk-Treasurer, Frederick Souza.  Absent were Burgesses Kathryn Burchenal and  Edward McCreary.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT:

 

                There was no public comment as there was no one in attendance and no correspondence regarding the call of the meeting.

 

OTHER ACTION:

 

                The Burgesses reviewed the most recent draft of the budget and adjusted various line items.

 

There were very few modifications from the previous draft which was discussed at the regular meeting of the Board of Warden & Burgesses on March 15, 2010, at which the proposed mil rate was set at 0.00190.

 

A significant portion of the meeting, in conjunction with the budget preparation was developing a tentative plan for street improvements for the next five years.  The recent evaluation of the conditions of the streets along with preliminary cost estimates guided both the development of the plan and the financial ramifications of the improvements as they pertained to the budget, both for the upcoming fiscal year and into the future.  Part of the considerations also involved the required plan of development necessary to be able to obtain LoCIP grant monies which require the budgeted capital improvement expenditure of funds prior to being able to obtain the grant monies and is subject to the constraints of the State budget for capital improvements.

 

Essentially, the rudimentary plan established priorities in the following order (subject to available funds and other budgetary constraints):

2010-2011                             Complete School Street and add Hyde (assuming drainage issues allow)

2011-2012                  Cliff Street and Omega Street

2012-2013            Temple Street and Grand Street

2013-2014            Denison Avenue and Wall Street

2014-2015            Northwest Street and Front Street

 

Additionally, discussion focused on continuing to repair sea walls (Church Street is the next on the list) and the availability of funding from the Town of Stonington for them, drainage issues in a couple of locations, and controlling the cost of legal services.  Sidewalks and curbs will be improved/replaced as needed.

 

The Waldron Fund was discussed since trustees will be named at the public meeting in April.  Therefore, the names of a few residents were brought forth as possible candidates for this role.  Additionally, there is some interest on the Board to expand the usage of the funds, but the authority for that needs to be explored further.

 

On a motion by Burgess Scala, seconded by Burgess Callahan, the budget as modified (Draft #5) was unanimously moved to the public meeting of April 17, 2010, to be held at the Firehouse at 9 AM for action by the voters.

 

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

On a motion by Burgess Scala, seconded by Burgess Callahan, the meeting adjourned at 9:42

 

Respectfully submitted,

Frederick J. Souza ~ Borough of Stonington Clerk/Treasurer