2620
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
April 4, 2017
SELECTMEN PRESENT: J. Christopher Kervick, Michelle L. Hill, and Denise T. Balboni
ALSO ATTENDING: Scott Paluck, Shannon Walker (Human Resource Director),
Mary Glassman, Robert Lindberg, Gail Stegman, and a Reporter from
The Journal Inquirer
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CALL TO ORDER:
First Selectman Kervick called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
The Pledge of Allegiance was observed.
PUBLIC INPUT: None.
APPROVAL OF THE MARCH 17, 2017 SPECIAL MEETING & THE MARCH 21, 2017 REGULAR MEETING MINUTES:
Selectman Hill moved to approve the March 17, 2017, Special Meeting Minutes as presented. Selectman Balboni seconded the motion. All were in favor. Motion carried.
Selectman Balboni moved to approve the March 21, 2017, Regular Meeting Minutes as presented. Selectman Hill seconded the motion. All were in favor. Motion carried.
CORRESPONDENCE:
a. Resident Letter Regarding Snow Removal around Fire Hydrants
A letter was received from Kathy Jamroz suggesting that the Selectmen consider adopting an ordinance that requires snow removal from around fire hydrants in town. The Towns of Suffield, Enfield, Windsor, Manchester, Watertown, East Hartford and Wethersfield all have ordinances that require the listed property owner be responsible for removing the snow from around hydrants.
Scott Paluck expressed the necessity of instituting this type of an ordinance as a way to assist volunteer firefighters and for public safety.
The Selectmen agreed to forward the letter to the Town Attorney for review and determination.
Ms. Jamroz’s letter is available for review in the First Selectman’s Office.
b. Windsor Locks Little Opening Day
The Windsor Locks Little League has announced their Opening Day for Saturday, April 22, 2017, with a rain date of Sunday, April 23, 2017. The Parade will be held at 11:00 a.m. followed by the Opening Ceremonies at 12:00 noon. The Selectmen are invited to participate in the event.
OLD BUSINESS:
a. Reset Town Meeting Date – Transfer Requests from March 7th & March 21st Meetings
The original date set at the Selectmen’s March 21st meeting to hold a Town Meeting on April 4th was postponed because the Board of Finance had scheduled Budget Appeals for that night. The Town Meeting was for approval of four line item transfers.
After a brief discussion the Selectmen agreed to reschedule the Town Meeting for another date for three of the original transfer requests, and to delay the transfer of $265,000.00 for the purchase of a dump truck for Public Works until another time due to a project that the funds were originally designated for. The project may move forward but it is uncertain at this time.
Selectman Hill moved to set a Town Meeting Date for Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. Selectman Balboni seconded the motion. All were in favor. Motion carried.
Board of Selectmen
April 4, 2017
Page 2
b. Consider the Repeal and Replacement of the Blight Ordinance
New legislation is pending which would significantly alter the State Statute regarding what towns can do regarding blight. More review of the proposed legislation is necessary before any changes to the town’s existing ordinance can be made. The Selectmen agreed to table any further discussion until another time.
c. FY 2017-2018 Budget Cuts
The Town Attorney forwarded his opinion regarding the legality of postponing the adoption of a Town Budget until a later date until more information is forth coming from the State. A joint meeting with the Board of Finance to discuss the Town Attorney’s opinion will be held at 6:30 p.m. tonight.
Discussion included notifying the public if the budget adoption is delayed so that it is understood why tax bills haven’t sent out, and to meet with the Board of Finance again by June 6th to revisit any information that is known at that point if a budget hasn’t already been adopted
The Selectmen all agreed that delaying the budget would be the best option at this time.
d. Public Safety Building Upgrade Transfer Request
The architect has resubmitted his proposal to include more detail at a lesser cost. A copy of the proposal will be emailed to the Selectmen for review before the next meeting. The request for the funds should be made in this fiscal year.
NEW BUSINESS:
a. TIF District – Revise Assessor’s Certification of Original Assessed Value
The Grand List has been completed however two properties (47 Chestnut Street and 1 Elm Street) were not listed in Schedule B of the adopted TIF District Master Plan. Adding the properties to Schedule B of the Downtown TIF District Master Plan will require Town Meeting approval.
Selectman Hill moved to add amending to Exhibit B of the TIF District Master Plan to the Town Meeting date previously set for April 18, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. Selectman Balboni seconded the motion. All were in favor. Motion carried.
b. Insurance Stop Loss Presentation
The town self-insures for employee medical claims up to $500,000.00, but to cover claims exceeding that amount the town participates with CT Prime Inc. (non-profit group) to save money on reinsurance costs. The stop-loss program has saved the town a substantial amount of money over the last two years. The program is designed around the philosophy of long-term stability in coverage and pricing, and to further protect the town from unpredictable, severe claims.
Shannon Walker (Human Resources Director), and Mary Glassman & Robert Lindberg of CT Prime, Inc. came forward to give a one-year look back on the town’s savings in joining the stop-loss insurance program.
Ms. Glassman gave an overview of how the CT Prime program operates. The program is regulated by the State of Connecticut and is modeled after the CIRMA workers compensation risk pool. Thirteen local towns currently participate at an individual stop-loss level. She added that any of the premium funds that aren’t used to reinsure stay with the member towns.
Mr. Lindberg spoke regarding the captive insurance program which is an arrangement with towns and schools with self-insured health benefits and good loss experience have come together to create their own group risk pool to extend the benefits of self-insurance to a higher level, without increasing budgetary instability. The goal is to help stabilize and reduce members’ costs, short term and long term, and to also provide a platform for additional regional cooperation opportunities that members may choose to pursue.
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April 4, 2017
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Regulating the rate structure, and establishing a criteria for new applications to the program based on the individual claim experience level was discussed at length. Plans for employee health and wellness programs are being explored to as a way to help reduce high risk claims.
The premium costs and the stop-loss limit claims from 2012 to 2016 for the town were reviewed. The total claim reimbursement from 07/01/16 through 02/28/17 is approximately $100k with the premium savings for 2016 estimated at $93,281.00.
Ms. Glassman briefly outlined a new program called “Market Place” that is being offered through CREC to assist towns with purchasing supplies at a reduced cost through one website.
APPOINTMENTS, RE-APPOINTMENTS, RESIGNATIONS: None.
TAX REFUNDS:
Selectman Balboni moved to approve the April 4, 2017 Tax Refunds in the amount of $10,226.52 with Selectman Hill seconding the motion. All were in favor. Motion carried.
A copy of the April 4, 2017 Tax Refunds is attached to these Minutes.
PUBLIC INPUT: None.
SELECTMEN’S COMMENTS:
Selectman Hill asked to schedule discussion of the Employee Handbook at an upcoming meeting. The Labor Attorney will be contacted to get his comments on the proposed changes so that the Selectmen can move it forward.
COMMENTS – FIRST SELECTMAN:
A Joint Grant application with the Town of Suffield and Windsor Locks has been signed. The Grant funding (100%) will come from the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation and the State Historic Preservation Offices and will be used to do a capital needs assessment of the canal and a hydropower feasibility study.
Beacon Properties won’t know until April 27th if they have received the CHFA tax credits needed to move forward with their project.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further discussion or information to come before the Board of Selectmen;
A motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:22 p.m. was made by Selectman Hill and seconded by Selectman Balboni. All were in favor. Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan R. Barsanti
Susan R. Barsanti
Recording Secretary
Schedule A
Refund Request for April 4, 2017
Name / Bill Number / Reason for Refund / Refund AmountPrior Year Refunds
Cab East LLC
Ford Credit Personal Prop. Tax
P.O. Box 67000, Dept. 231601 / 2014-3-51733 / Vehicle / $ 93.23
Detroit, MI 48267 / 2014-3-51735 / Sold / $ 31.24
Current Year Refunds
Diana Cech
11 Lownds Drive
Windsor Locks, CT 06096 / 2015-3-51966 / Vehicle Sold / $ 35.25
Stephanie Holtman
49 Grove Street
Windsor Locks, CT 06096 / 2015-3-58997 / Trade In / $ 124.29
Sanjaykumar Kaneria
129 Oak Ridge Drive
Windsor Locks, CT 06096 / 2015-3-59584 / Vehicle Sold / $ 23.91
Denise Lawlor-Whelan
369 North Street
Windsor Locks, CT 06096 / 2015-3-60234 / Total Loss / $ 105.58
Permasteelisa
Attn: Brian Pyrzenski
123 Day Hill Road
Windsor, CT 06095 / 2015-2-40484 / MME Exempt / $ 9,524.02
Steven Sabat
23 South Street
Windsor Locks, CT 06096 / 2015-1-4176 / Disabled / $ 159.96
Rhonda Sheets
266 Main Street, Unit 322
Windsor Locks, CT 06096 / 2015-3-68008 / Vehicle Sold / $ 129.04
PRIOR YEAR REFUNDS / $ 124.47
TOTAL CURRENT YEAR REFUNDS / $ 10,102.05
TOTAL REFUNDS / $ 10,226.52