MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Location: file:///C:/A3A8E2D0/050905sp.htm Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" MINUTES

 

MINUTES

 

WATERTOWN TOWN COUNCIL

SPECIAL MEETING<= /b>

JOHN = TRUMBULL PRIMARY SCHOOL MEDIA CENTER

MONDAY, = MAY 9, 2005, 7:00 P.M.

 

 

PRESENT:            =             &nb= sp;    Raymond Hebert, Jr., Vice Chairman (arrived at 7:14 p.m.)

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;  Karl Fisher

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;  Robert Kane, Chairman

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;  Kevin Killeen

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;  Raymond Primini

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;  Paul Rinaldi

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;  Richard Wick

 

ABSENT:            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;      Elaine Adams

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;  Paul Valenti

 

OTHERS PRESENT:      &= nbsp;     Frank Nardelli, Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;  Meredith Robson, Town Manager

 

 

 

1.&nb= sp;        Convene Special Meeting

&n= bsp;

Mr. Kane, Chairman, Called the Special Meeting to Order at 7:00 p.m.

 

Mr. Kane, Chairman, Called a Recess at 7:00 p.m.

 

Mr. Kane, Chairman, Reconvened the Special Meeting at 7:14 p.m.

Watertown Town Council

Special Meeting

May 9, 2005

Page 2

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2.&nb= sp;        Consider Budgets for Fiscal Year 2005-2006

 

      &= nbsp;     MOTION:       (Mr. = Hebert, sec. Mr. Wick) to approve the following budgets, to be sent to Referendum:<= o:p>

 

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Town General Fund     &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;           $19,9= 21,988

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    School General Fund     &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;         $30,473,728<= /o:p>

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    General Fund Total     &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;            =             $= 50,395,716

 

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Town Road A= id        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; $     120,328

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Water Operations     &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp; $  1,393,724

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Water Capital      =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;            =        $     540,700

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Water Extension     &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;   $     125,000

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Sewer Operations     &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp; $  1,974,768

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Sewer Capital      =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;            =        $       28,5= 00

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Sewer Extension     &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;   $     213,769

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Water and Sewer Debt     = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;      $     137,350

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Crestbrook Golf Operations    &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;           $     859,372

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Crestbrook Improvement Trust    &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;       $       64,0= 00

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Local Capital Improvement    =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp; $     161,331

 

      &= nbsp;     Discussion:       None<= o:p>

 

      &= nbsp;     In Favor:      &= nbsp;   Mr. Hebert, Mr. Kane, Mr. Killeen, Mr. Primini, Mr. Wick

 

      &= nbsp;     Opposed:         = Mr. Fisher, Mr. Rinaldi

 

      &= nbsp;     Abstained:        None

 

 &= nbsp;          MOTION CARRIED (5-2-0)

 

3.&nb= sp;        Consider Setting Date for Budget Town Meeting for Fi= scal Year 2005-2006 Budgets

 

      &= nbsp;     MOTION:       (Mr. = Hebert, sec. Mr. Primini) to set the Budget Town Meeting for Fiscal Year 2005-2006 Budgets for Thursday, May 26, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. at the John Trumbull School Green Common Area.

 

      &= nbsp;     Discussion:       None<= o:p>

 

 &= nbsp;          MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

Watertown Town Council

Special Meeting

May 9, 2005

Page 3

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&n= bsp;

4.&nb= sp;        Consider Setting Date for Machine Vote on Fiscal Year 2005/2006 Budgets

 

      &= nbsp;     MOTION:       (Mr. = Hebert, sec. Mr. Primini) to approve the Referendum Notice for the machine vote on = the 2005/2006 budgets as follows:

 

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    A referendum of electors and citizens qualified to vote in Town Meetings of t= he Town of Watertown will be held on Tuesday, June 7, 2005, between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 8= :00 p.m. to vote for the approval or disapproval of Fiscal Year 2005-2006 budgets.  Voting will be at the following polling places:

 

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Heminway Park School, Heminway Park Road, Watertown, CT

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Judson School, Hamilton Lane= , Watertown, CT

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Swift Junior High School, Colonial Street, Oakville, CT

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Polk School, Buckingham Street, Oakville, CT

 

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Persons qualified to vote in Town Meetings who are not electors shall vote at any of the above mentioned polling places.

 

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Absentee ballots may be obtained at the Town Clerk's Office.

 

      &= nbsp;     Discussion:       None<= o:p>

 

 &= nbsp;          MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

 

5.&nb= sp;        Consider Setting Ballot for Fiscal Year 2005/2006 Budgets

 

      &= nbsp;     MOTION:       (Mr. = Hebert, sec. Mr. Primini) that the Budget Question be placed on the voting machines= as follows:

 

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Shall the Fiscal Year 2005/2006 School General Fund Budget be approved in the amo= unt of $30,473,728?

 

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Shall the Fiscal Year 2005/2006 Town General Budget be approved in the amount of $19.921,988 and Shall the Following Fiscal Year 2005/2006 Budgets be approv= ed in the amounts of:

Watertown Town Council

Special Meeting

May 9, 2005

Page 4

 

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Town Road A= id        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp; $     120,328

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Water Operations     &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp; $  1,393,724

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Water Capital      =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;            =        $     540,700

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Water Extension     &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;   $     125,000

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Sewer Operations     &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp; $  1,974,768

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Sewer Capital      =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;            =        $       28,5= 00

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Sewer Extension     &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;   $     213,769

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Water and Sewer Debt     = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;      $     137,350

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Crestbrook Golf Operations    &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;           $     859,372

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Crestbrook Improvement Trust    &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;       $       64,0= 00

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Local Capital Improvement    =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp; $     161,331

 

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Voters approving the question will vote "Yes", and those opposing the question will vote "No".

 

      &= nbsp;     Discussion:       Mr. Rinaldi:  Have you or has = anyone explored the possibility of having (inaudible) adding a question on the (inaudible)?

 

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Mr. Kane:  Yea, I just got an = email today, cause I wasn't in my office on Friday, but what it states, and the T= own Manager can correct me if I'm wrong, that there has only been one case historically ever tried, let's say on this issue, and I don't remember the exact town, but they did lose in Superior Court with the caveat that you ca= nnot spend municipal funds for such an advisory question.  We then asked the Town Attorney to= check with Election Enforcement and they do not govern such issues, so it's the thinking of the Town Attorney that if we like we can take the risk, with the understanding that it could be questioned or disputed, whatever terminology= you want to use, by anyone who wishes to take action for putting it on the ballot.  The risk in that case= would be the funds that we would have spent to put it on there, which in our case would probably be advertising, if I'm incorrect . . . . .=

 

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Ms. Robson:  No, that's okay.<= o:p>

 

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Mr. Rinaldi:  I can understand= the concern (inaudible) set the question, set the referendum, but you're saying (inaudible).

 

            =             &nb= sp;           Mr. Kane:  Right.

 

            =             &nb= sp;           Mr. Rinaldi:  (Inaudible).

 

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Mr. Kane:  Minimum.  The only cost would be advertising= and printing of ballots for putting this question with the actual ballot at referendum and I agree, I think the risk is minimal.  I thought the idea Ray Primini bro= ught up a week or so ago was a great idea, and these are the people who vote any= way, why not ask them their desire to have 4 or 2 voting places.  I thought it was a great idea, but= we should follow the letter of the law.  There's really no precedent except for this one town, and I don't remember which town.

Watertown Town Council

Special Meeting

May 9, 2005

Page 5

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            =             &nb= sp;           Ms. Robson:  I don't either, and I don't rememb= er (inaudible).

 

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Mr. Rinaldi:  A separate refer= endum for the question - that (inaudible) a problem.

 

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Ms. Robson:  I don't think the= attorney got into . . . . .

 

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Mr. Rinaldi:  I think it's a g= ood idea. (inaudible).

 

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Mr. Kane:  I do too, the probl= em is is that you're not supposed to use municipal funds for an advisory question= of . . . . so we did not make it to this one but what we'll do, we all hope th= at the budget passes on this referendum, but if it does not, we should bring i= t up at a Council meeting and let everyone . . . .

 

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Mr. Rinaldi:  So it won't be o= n this one?

 

            =             &nb= sp;           Mr. Kane;  It will not be on this one.  Any other questions or discussion?=   Does that answer your question?

 

            =             &nb= sp;           Mr. Rinaldi:  Yes.

 

 &= nbsp;          MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

 

6.&nb= sp;        Adjournment=

 

MOTION:       (Mr. = Hebert, sec. Mr. Wick) to Adjourn the Special Meeting at 7:22 p.m.

 

Discussion:       None

 

MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

 

Special Meeting Adjourned at 7:22 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Robert J. Kane, Chairman

Watertown Town Co= uncil

&n= bsp;

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Approve= d:        _______________________________

        &= nbsp;   Lynn M. LaForme, Clerk