First Selectman Mark Lyon called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Jim Brinton: Motion to elect Nick Solley to serve as moderator for meeting. Lillian Lyon seconded the motion. Motion unanimously passed.
Nick Solley asked Kathy Gollow to read the Warning for the meeting.
The voters and electors of the Town of Washington are hereby warned that the Annual Town Meeting will be held on Monday, October 5, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. at Bryan Memorial Town Hall, Washington Depot, Connecticut to consider and act upon the following:
1. To set the dates for the annual town budget hearing and meeting in May 2010.
2. To transfer funds in the amount of $50,000 from the Sanitation section, and $20,000 from the Conservation of Health section to the Highways section of the 2008-2009 General Fund budget.
3. To add up to $190,000 to the 2009-2010 Nonrecurring Fund for the Painter Ridge Road Reclaim and Repave Project that will be offset by a Rural Minor Connector Grant from the State of Connecticut in an equal amount.
Dated at Washington, Connecticut this 24th day of September, 2009
Mark E. Lyon
James L. Brinton
Nicholas N. Solley
Board of Selectmen
Resolution #1:
Mark Lyon: Resolved: To schedule the annual Town Budget Hearing to consider the 2010-2011 fiscal year budget for May 6, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. and the annual Town Budget Meeting for May 20, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. Jim Brinton seconded the motion.
Peter Tagley made a motion to amend the date to Saturday, May 22, 2010 at10am. Jack Field seconded this motion.
Nick Solley discussed the procedure for this amendment, noting 2/3 of those assembled must be in favor of amending the motion.
Peter noted during the past thirty years of attending town meetings that attendance has declined and currently only 25-30 people turn out. He felt we need to encourage participation in these meetings and that many of the weekend taxpayers should have the opportunity to have a better understanding of how and why their taxes are being spent. He felt participation in town meetings is disintegrating and would like to see this tried. He felt we have a good town government and many would like to meet the elected officials who are running the town.
Mark Lyon noted he did not have a problem with this idea but thought an Ordinance had been passed several years ago stating that all Town Meetings had to be held at 7:30 p.m. He suggested this be confirmed. He remembered there were several people concerned at the time as some town meetings had been held immediately following Selectmen’s meetings and they felt that they should be held at a uniform time. He felt it would be a good idea to try it, but the regulation must be addressed.
(Town Clerk Sheila Anson and Selectmen’s Secretary Mary Anne Greene left to examine the particular Ordinance as to requiring a 7:30 p.m. meeting time.)
Linda McGarr suggested it might be more beneficial for the townspeople to attend the budget hearing on a Saturday. This would allow them to comment on particular items and they could have more input on the budget numbers.
Peter Tagley suggested taking one step at a time. While he agreed they would have a bigger impact at the budget hearing, he felt it was important to see if the interest is there and see how it would be attended. He felt while the Board of Finance is pretty conservative and thorough, the town meeting would be very educational.
Frank Thomson felt it would give more people the opportunity to participate and would be better for the overall meeting.
Nick Solley suggested if it is found that the town meeting must be held at 7:30 p.m. per town ordinance, it most likely would not draw residents on a Saturday evening.
Sheila Anson and Mary Anne Greene reported the date and time for the October town meeting is set by ordinance for the 1st Monday in October at 7:30 pm except when it conflicts with a holiday, but they were continuing to look for any changes or amendments.
Nick reminded the voters of the 2/3 majority rule required to amend a Resolution. A vote was taken on the amendment to change the town meeting date from May 20th, 2010 (Thursday) as proposed to May 22, 2010 (Saturday) at 10:00 a.m. Vote taken by show of hands passed 11 yes, 2 no.
Nick Solley asked that the final vote on the Resolution be made at the end of the meeting to allow more time to check on the ordinance.
#2: Resolution:
Mark Lyon: Resolved: To transfer funds of $50,000 from the Sanitation section and $20,000 from the Conservation of Health section to cover overexpenditures in the Highways section of the 2008-2009 General Fund budget. Jim Brinton seconded the motion.
Mark explained the proposed transfers would cover over-expenditures due to the cost of Winter Maintenance materials under the Highway budget. The cost of road treatment had been under-budgeted by $10 per ton. This, coupled with the large number of winter storms, caused the salt and sand budget to go over by $87,700. Other sections of the Highway budget were under-spent. This resulted in the overall Highway budget being over-spent by $71,023.32 (unaudited).
The Sanitation section costs were under-budget due to decreased tonnage fees in both the municipal solid waste and recycling areas, as well as hauling of these materials. The Health area was under budget due to lower costs in the VNA’s budget, which is billed to the Town for services provided. The cost for contracted service with the New Milford Health Department was lower than anticipated because their staff was reduced by a part-time position. Motion unanimously passed.
#3 Resolution:
Mark Lyon: To add up to $190,000 to the 2009-2010 - Nonrecurring Capital Fund for the Painter Ridge Road Reclaim and Repave Project. This will be offset by a Rural Minor Connector Grant from the State of Connecticut in an equal amount. Kathy Gollow seconded the motion.
Mark explained this is mainly an accounting entry. The Town became eligible for a Rural Minor Connector Road Grant, which would cover 80% of the construction costs, while the Town would be responsible for 20%. It had been secured by former First Selectman Dick Sears in 2007 but had not been accounted for in any of the subsequent budgets. The resolution will add the amount of the Grant to this year’s (2009-2010) Capital Budget on the expense line and will be offset by the amount of the Grant received from the State DOT. The net result does not change the bottom line of the 2009-2010 Capital Budget. The expense will be offset by the grant.
Peter Tagley noted the First Selectman of Roxbury obtains state grants for which she is commissioned. He suggested perhaps the Town should commission a person to get as many grants as possible. Mark reported the Town is made aware of available grants through CCM and COST. We have obtained assistance in large grants that require a good deal of administration. Most of the grants received are handled through the Selectman’s Office. We do not have a grant writer. Motion unanimously passed.
#4: Resolution:
Mark Lyon: To add $99,500 to the 2009-10 Nonrecurring Capital budget for Nettleton Hollow Bridge project. Hunter Brown seconded the motion.
Mark explained this again is an accounting entry which covers monies received under the Conn. State Local Bridge Grant program for the replacement of the Nettleton Hollow Road Bridge over Sprain Brook with the same explanation but different numbers as this reimbursement was not included in the proposed 2009-2010 budget. Motion unanimously passed.
Town Meeting Time Change: Nick reminded those in attendance that the amendment to change the time of the Town Meeting to 10 a.m. will be studied further and may have to be returned to the original date because Maryanne Greene and Sheila Anson had not found a definitive answer on the Town Meeting time ordinance.
Frank Thompson questioned how difficult it would be to change the ordinance.
Nick noted that could not be done at this meeting and would have to be “warned” for consideration at a future meeting.
#1 Resolution as Amended:
Mark Lyon moved consider the resolution as amended to change the date of the budget meeting as follows: To schedule the annual Town Budget Hearing for the 2010-2011 fiscal year budget for May 6, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. and to schedule the annual Town Budget Meeting for Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. Peter Tagley seconded the motion. Motion unanimously passed.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathy Gollow, Acting Sec’y.