MINUTES

WATERTOWN TOWN COUNCIL

SPEC= IAL MEETING

POLK SCHOOL LIBRARY

TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2008, 7:30 P.M.

PRESENT: = &nb= sp; Elaine Adams, Chairman

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Gary Bernier

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Mr. Demirs

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Richard DiFederico

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Carl Mancini

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Scott Marotta

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Raymond Primini, Vice Chairman

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

ABSENT: &nb= sp; = Richard Fusco

OTHERS PRESENT: Chuck Frigon, Town Manager

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Frank Nardelli, Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director

1.&nb= sp; Call Meeting To Order

Ms. = Adams, Chairman, Called the Special Meeting to Order at 7:30 p.m.

2.&nb= sp; Discussion and Possible Action concerning a Moratorium on the <= st1:PlaceName w:st=3D"on">Three School Renovation Projects

&= nbsp; MOTION: (Mr. = Primini, sec. Mr. Bernier) I make a motion to place a moratorium on the High School, Judson and Polk building projects, not to exceed 60 days.

&n= bsp;

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'> &= nbsp; Discussion: Ms. Adams: I just want to first, this was originally intended to be a workshop for the Town Council. We had two major budget failures in Town, and to sit down and talk about it so there’s no public participation. We meant no disrespect, it was just that we kind of felt that this was going to be a workshop session.

<= o:p>

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; I can remember back about a year and a half ago when we were meeting with the Board of Ed and we were talking about the need for the schools to be done, = we had NEASC for the High School, we had Judson that hadn’t been touched= in, oh goodness my brothers were like 8 years old and they’re almost 50 n= ow, and of course you know Polk, it was felt that there wasn’t a cafetori= um, and that we could go and do this and we sat down (inaudible) on the Council= and the Board and we talked about that and we also talked about using Heminway = for a Town Hall.

Watertown Town Council

Special Meeting

June 24, 2008

Page 2

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; So we proceeded on, the Board talked to architects, Public Buildings, so everything proceeded on and the referendum passed and it passed big time. It was probably 2 to 1, the Town.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> So okay we got moving here, we got= the firms, we got everything going. We go to the (inaudible) and things are moving along and (inaudible) starting = our budget process okay, we need to pay for the schools. Chuck Frigon and Frank Nardelli and others did a lot of research on this, found that our bond rating was going = to exceed what was recommended, but it would be for like 5 or 6 years, how can= we lessen the impact, and we came with after all the research, they came back = with instead of using the standard 20 year bond issue, that we could then go 25. It certainly didn’t= make any sense just going so okay the Council we have a presentation, we said ok= ay you know what, we’ll go the 25. Subsequently what happened, after (inaudible) is that we put our bud= gets together and with everything that would be required in Town. They were good budgets. At the Public Hearing, then of cou= rse you know what happened there especially the Board members, subsequently the= budget failed more than 2 to 1 back in May, kind of gave us a wake up call. Generally when budgets fail that&#= 8217;s a very large margin so we looked at what are we going to do now. So we put another cut, put the next budget through and it came back and failed over 2 to 1.

<= o:p>

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; I myself, I felt about a year and a half ago that the Town was going to move ahead. I can remember working= with the Board of Ed on whether converting Heminway to a Town Hall if it was available and we sent out thee notices, cards to everybody to explain that there will be a tax increase. I think now however, we’ve had 2 major budget failures. We are getting dangerously close to major impacts on services, we’re probably already there. I think the Board of Ed is having problems just trying to figure out how they’re going to manage the cu= ts they already have, as the Council is. No one wants to cut their budget.&n= bsp; I believe the voters have mandated it. Now we’re sitting on 2 failed referendums, we have school starting in 2.5 months and conversations among Council members is how are we going to pay for this, what are we going to d= o?

<= o:p>

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; After those conversations, and of course the second budget failure last week, we wanted to sit down and talk about a moratorium. As you saw the moratorium was put = on for 60 days. I’ll tell you = tonight, the Council does not have the power to stop the project, and that’s certainly not what I want to see happen, but I think we have the bid openin= g on Thursday and that will give us a handle on just what the actual costs could be. They could be less, they = could be more, that’s the (inaudible) to come on what I foresee is should t= his motion pass tonight, is the Council sitting down with the Board of Ed in a = few short weeks, once those bids are opened, we’ll know where everything = is going with this and we can make the right decision concerning the schools.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Does anyone else want to speak to = the Motion?

Watertown Town Council

Special Meeting

June 24, 2008

Page 3

<= o:p>

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Mr. Rinaldi: I do. Just a couple of concerns that I have. #1, the bids aren’= ;t opened, which is a concern, we don’t know if they are going to be hig= her, lower or right on target, we don’t know. That’s a little frustrating = for me at this point. The other conc= ern I have is that if a moratorium goes into place, any delay of time is going to cost, we run the risk of increases in the bid. In today’s market nothing is stable, they go up by the day, especially on petroleum based projects, we’ve seen this before, we’ve seen government projects go up for bid, whatever, and probably come in 10% or 15% higher than what they started out with. I think we need a substantial amount of information before we can actually make a decision on what to do with this.

<= o:p>

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Mr. Primini: One of the problems we’ve been hearing, I’m sure all of the members who I’ve been talking to, = is people are very concerned about the cost of heating their houses this coming year. Everybody I’ve be= en talking to on the Town Council I’ve been hearing that loud and clear = from everybody. We also have those= same concerns just heating our own buildings.&n= bsp; We’re looking right now, Public Works Committee, just for asph= alt we’re looking at $70.00 a ton right&= nbsp; now and about 4 or 5 years ago we were paying $35.00 or $40.00 a ton= for asphalt. Our roads are really getting terrible. We’re hearing the complaints loud and clear that chip sealing is just not cutting= it anymore. That’s been a = band aid approach. I’m heari= ng from the Highway Department guys, the side streets are really getting bad, = and the costs are just going up, we’re not going to even be able to get a= way with just overlaying the roads or the pavement, we’re going to have to start milling the roads. The = costs are just going up constantly. We’re looking right now at ha= rdly any money in asphalt budget now. The only road I’m looking at = paving right now this year is the section of Bunker Hill Road because it’s been pretty bad.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> If it wasn’t for the local r= oad aid we get from the State we wouldn’t be doing anything. This is something we have to hamme= r loud and clear.

<= o:p>

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; We all knew what these projects were gong to cost. Last year I wrote a letter to the editor, I predicted a 3.5 mill increase this year, just the school projects alone we’re at a 2 mill increase.&nb= sp; We’re looking, typically just salary and benefits for the Boar= d of Ed, we’re looking at 1 mill. Our education cost sharing is down this year. We got $1,200,000 last year; which pretty much covered that, this year we got $500,000. So you see the difference of what happened right there. The cuts we’re looking at right now, I don’t know how we’re going = to get away from avoiding layoffs. If anything the only way we’re going to avoid layoffs this year is probably going= to be just not hiring positions. We’re looking at right now, in 1991 we had 5 layoffs in the Highway Department. We have 5 less guys in the Highway Department than we did in 1991, and once you make these kind of cuts, you n= ever get them back, you never get anything back. I remember there was over $500,= 000 several years ago cut for the asphalt budget, we never go tit back. The past year we were down to $98,000. I don’t know w= hat we’re going to be doing.

Watertown Town Council

Special Meeting

June 24, 2008

Page 4

<= o:p>

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; I mean we’re looking right now in the area of another ½ mill. If this budget is cut ½ mil= l the 1.5 mills we’re looking at right now is just the school construction projects, so that’s the reason why we’re looking at the possibi= lity of a moratorium, because if this budget goes down again, I don’t know= how we can possibly build these 3 schools.&nbs= p; There is the possibility of Polk being delayed because of some of the problems that are coming out of here, but these are some things we are hammering out right now. I= 217;m glad to see everybody showing up tonight.&= nbsp; I wish we had more of these coming along, but the voting turnout has been terrible. I just wish we= had the voting turnout we did for the referendum for the 3 school projects and = that would have made a big difference. We’re looking at next year. As the funding for the schools keeps going up it will be more, but unfortunately t= he people that are taking the time to go out and vote are the ones that are vo= ting no on the budget and we’ve all heard on this Town Council, loud and clear, it was a 2 to 1 defeat both times I mean that’s a solid defeat= , so we need help from the public when we make these decision, but this is what we’re looking at. Whate= ver cuts are made tonight, I don’t know how it’s going to be made u= p either way cause both the Town’s side, and I know the Board of Ed’s si= de is very lean on both sides and this way look at the only increase would be = is the cost of the construction projects.

<= o:p>

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Mr. Bernier: As we had discussed previously loca= lly permits are down, the Grand List (inaudible) has not grown, very slight increase in the Grand List, nationally we’ve got the oil prices, pric= es of gas and fuel rising, I think that everybody sitting here understands that and the concerns. When we wen= t to vote for the 3 schools last year, times were different, times were much bet= ter both nationally and locally. = As Ray has stated at this point, beyond the cost to fund the new schools, there’s a ½ a mill approximately left in the budget, the manda= te of 2 to 1 rejection rings very loud in all our ears, and we are really faced with a position in which we need to obviously save the money that’s p= ut in there for the school, and as we go forward to budget if we want the scho= ols I think the vote would be yes and if we’re not interested in pursuing= the new schools the vote would be no. But that’s where we are. What we are looking at, and what we will talk about soon, is that it’s a zero mill no increase, the mill rate with the exception of the costs that we incur for the new school projects.

<= o:p>

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Ms Adams: Any other discussion?

<= o:p>

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'> &= nbsp; In Favor: &= nbsp; Ms. Adams, Mr. Bernier, Mr. DiFederico, Mr. Marotta, Mr. Primini

<= o:p>

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'> &= nbsp; Opposed: = None

<= o:p>

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'> &= nbsp; Abstained: Mr. Demirs, Mr. Mancini, Mr. Rinaldi

<= o:p>

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'> &= nbsp; MOTION CARRIED (5-0-3)

Watertown Town Council

Special Meeting

June 24, 2008

Page 5

<= o:p>

3.&nb= sp; Discussion and Possible Action on the Proposed Fiscal Year 2008/2009 Budget=

&= nbsp; Mr. Bernier: I make a motion to a= pprove the following budgets to be sent to referendum, town general fund, school general fund . . . .

= ; Ms. Adams: We need dollar amo= unts. Yea, we don’t have them, no that’s just for discussion. I think what we heard in the last Motion was, in the last discussion was that Frank, do you have, (inaudible) numbers that talked about cutting all the excess spending except the amount for the bonding at Swift and for the 3 new schools that we are, we need to (inaudible)? Okay, so (inaudible).

&= nbsp; Mr. Mancini: You asked Frank that a couple of Co= uncil members to discuss this budget, or discuss where the cuts are going to be coming fr= om or whatever. Can you tell us,= let the people know who the Council members are?

&= nbsp; Ms. Adams: Well one of the things, to be hones= t with you, that I brought forward and asked the Manager to prepare was to (inaudi= ble) Council to take a look at, if we were just to put out to the next referendum the cost of the Swift bonding and the cost of the 3 new schools, what would= we be looking at, and this is that just to see with that and in order to get t= here we would be looking at cutting a reduction of .51 mills, would be $816,000,= and if we were to do a 40/60 split the numbers are there. For purposes of discussion, I can = take a Motion to reduce the budget .51 of a mill for a total of $816,000, to be the Town’s portion 40% and the Board of Ed’s portion 60% of the cut= .

= ; MOTION: (Mr. Bernier, sec. Mr. Primini) I make a motion to reduce the budget .51 of a mi= ll for a total of $816,000, to be the Town’s portion 40% and the Board of Ed’s portion 60% of the cut.

= ; Discussion: Mr. Mancini: Before I can support any Motio= n, I’d like to know who determined 40% for the Town and 60% to the Board= of Education?

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. Adams: Just a suggestion, Carl. We can take it all from the Board,= all from the Town, anything, whatever, that’s just put on the Table.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Mancini: We can’t tell the Board of Education where to cut their budgets, so I’m not going to ask them wh= ere they would cut another $489,000, but I think we can ask the Town. If the Towns portion is 40% and it’s $326,400, I’d like to know from the Town where they propos= e to cut this money from. I’= d like to know where that money is coming from.&n= bsp; I don’t know if anybody else agrees with me or not.

Watertown Town Council

Special Meeting

June 24, 2008

Page 6

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. Adams: That would be one of the things that would need to be sat down with the Council, with Chuck Frigon, Frank, possi= bly the department heads, to bring them in and ask them for their suggestions on just what can we do. At the l= ast meeting remember you came up with a lot of cuts, I’ve asked Chuck to = put that in a spreadsheet order so we can bring that back and see what we can do there, Carl, we’re not (inaudible) we’re going to (inaudible) e= very possible cut that we can come up with and hopefully not affect the services= .

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Mancini: I agree 100% on that. My only thing is that you’re asking us to vote on something tonight to make a recommendation . . . .

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Demirs: We don’t even know where the = cuts are.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Mancini: We don’t know where the cuts are. I can’t vote for a= ny budget tonight. I don’t care what the percentage is unless I know whe= re the cuts are coming from, if I feel comfortable with those cuts. I think we should sit down and talk= to the Town Manager at another meeting like you said, and decide where the cuts are coming from and then vote as a group if we should recommend this budget= or not.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. Adams: I remember (inaudible) is with the = Board of Ed, is that they are spending the Summer doing a lot of work, they spend= the Summer if they need to hire, whatever they need to do, they rearrange class= es, whatever they do. I think it’s important that the Board of Ed know the number of the cut as soo= n as possible. That would be my on= ly concern in putting this off tonight.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Mancini: My problem is a month ago we were a= t a Council meeting and I asked a question, where the numbers were coming from = that were being cut, the $100,000, the meeting before when you decided that I wa= s in the hospital, I wasn’t there, so I asked you where did the Town decid= e to cut the $100,000. I didn̵= 7;t ask where the Board of Education was cutting, I asked where the Town was go= ing to cut their $100,000, and you told me that Chuck was going to have that prepared at the next Council meeting and that’s when you came up with this 60, the last month, the $1,200, the $50,000 or $68,000 from road aid a= nd you said that would be done before we could vote, and I’m asking to do the same thing, to have the exact same thing that you presented on June 16<= sup>th come to the Town Council with that number, where it’s being done, bef= ore we vote to send this to referendum or not, cause I might not like where the Town Manager is going to cut the budget from.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. Adams: (Inaudible.) none of us want to hav= e to cut. That’s quite obvious. We are dealing with = times now where we have, I mean just from the Public Hearing we had on the budget= gas has gone up almost $1.00 a gallon. I hate to think what home heating fuel is. People are (inaudible) that they j= ust can’t afford it, and that was the big discussion at the Budget Public= Hearing, that was like $1.02 per gallon, yea.

Watertown Town Council

Special Meeting

June 24, 2008

Page 7

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Mancini: Exactly, 3, that’s why I̵= 7;m saying I’m concerned, I want to know where it’s being cut befor= e I agree to a budget. I can̵= 7;t agree to a budget unless I know where it’s being cut.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. Adams: I think though, Carl, too, is we ne= ed to give the Manager direction as far as the number to look for. I have no doubt in my mind that th= at budget failure last Tuesday was a mandate to cut, no doubt. (Inaudible) on a second round usua= lly what happens all the time is you end up with getting a little closer. I mean we’ve had budgets tha= t failed by 100 votes, okay so you cut a very small (inaudible) and then you go back= out and hopefully the voters do agree. We didn’t have that this year. We have unprecedented prices. I mean we haven’t even talked about groceries. I mean what’s happened in the West, people are hurting.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Mancini: Elaine, believe it nor not, I hope everyone understands this, I’m not disagreeing with you, I agree, the people have mandated cuts, but I want to know where the cuts are coming from before I can vote on this budget. Are you going to take it out of road, out of bridges, are you going = to layoff?

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. Adams: We don’t have anything in bri= dges, I wish, I wish.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Mancini: I’m just trying to say I don’t know where it’s coming from. I agree with you. People are hurting right now. Fuel oil is going to be double wha= t it was last year, that’s why they are mandating serious cuts, but I can’t support a budget where I don’t know where the money is co= ming from.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Bernier: We supported a budget twice before,= one with an arbitrary number of 6% and 4% without any questions asked about whe= re it’s going to come from. We have the ability and the authority in the end, after the Town Manager and h= is department heads look at it to say yes or no. We have a mandate in front of us, I don’t know what else we can do except reduce this budget to what it w= as last year, with the exception f the monies that have been incurred for the = new projects, and put that to bid. As I had said before, unfortunately at this point it then becomes a question of = if you want the new schools you vote yes, and if you don’t want the new schools you vote no. There wa= s a mandate. It’s 2 to 1, we’ve cut over ½ a mill already, the people have spoken. We have the ability at the end of = the day to say yes or no to the cuts that the Town Manager brings forward. We need to move forward.

Watertown Town Council

Special Meeting

June 24, 2008

Page 8

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Rinaldi: I want to elaborate on what Carl sa= id, if you’re going to make cuts and we have to support them, I think they h= ave to be itemized. I want to know where this money is coming from. We have a habit in the past, and I’ve been here a long time, we have a h= abit in the past of just lopping off big numbers off items in the budget and that’s not necessarily the smart thing to do. I don’t know if I really agr= ee with Gary saying that well we’ll just take what we have and run with it. We need to know where the cuts are coming from. I don’t wa= nt to know after the referendum, I want to know before the referendum so I can make an intelligent decision here. I = just feel that that is the responsible thing to do. If my wife wanted $100 for groceri= es and I told her well try to make it with $80, and she came home with no spaghett= i ,she’s in trouble. My point is I just think it would be the responsible thing to take a look at the cuts first. I mean Carl made some suggestions = at the last Council meeting. I don&#= 8217;t know whatever became of those, I don’t know.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. Adams: Those were given to the Manager for= the Manager and Frank to put in spreadsheet form and to review them, and I think that i= s in the process, Chuck?

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Frigon: Yes.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. Adams: Because I think at this point in ti= me we are looking, there are really no big ticket items, we are going to be looki= ng at here and there and just where we can cut, as the Board is, I mean the Board is in a bad position right now also. I don’t believe that the public, when we all voted yes, and I voted yes, I think everybody here I’m sure voted yes for the project, I don’t beli= eve that the public, at that time we thought that we would be trying to build schools based on cutting our current services. I don’t think that was anyone’s intention last year. Unfortunately it seems that’s what it has become. The Board of Ed needs a dollar amo= unt, they need to work with (inaudible), Chuck and Frank need to know where they= are going to go, what are you asking us to look for, what is the dollar amount. The department heads = know best what is absolutely essential and what is, you know what, maybe I can do this. We need to be extremely= clear in this process. I think we h= ave to take a look at where we are now, where our departments are located, and can= we consolidate anybody. We have = a huge nut as we know at Depot Square Mall. Is there anything we can do about that with the leases being up? Can= we renegotiate it? Are there oth= er properties in Town that we can get for us?= I don’t know, but the Manager and Frank and every department (inaudible) to really (inaudible) this thing and take a look because I don’t see gas prices going down, I don’t see home heating oil g= oing down, (inaudible) to cut, so we need to give the Manager direction and the Finance Director help us, help us try to (inaudible). Ray brought up are we looking at (inaudible)? We don’t know. The Board doesn’t know. The Board doesn’t= know what they’re going to be able to do until we give them a number. Let’s hope that this is the = one that the voters can say yes to; I hate to think what will happen after this= .

Watertown Town Council

Special Meeting

June 24, 2008

Page 9

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Primini: I don’t think this is anything that’s been unusual from the past, is where the Town Council gave the Town Manager a number to come up with.&nbs= p; We’ve heard in the past that the department heads would rather make their own cuts and get a number from the Town Manager. In the past it’s been where = we’re going to cut this, cut that, but we heard that the department heads want to= be able to make their own cuts based on their priorities. We have to come up with a number a= nd we’re going to leave it up that way.= That’s been done in the past.= We’ve heard a lot in the past that we’d rather let them = make that decision so that’s just a subject that we are throwing out tonight. We give them a numbe= r, that number right now, I know in the past we’ve broken out what &frac= 14; mill means, what ½ mill means, but we’ve got to come up with s= ome kind of number, but what we are hearing loud and clear, the budget vote 2 t= o 1, ¼ mill is not going to do it, from what we’re hearing. Like I said, I talked to you about= this and you know the same thing, people are looking at $1,000 to fill up their = 275 gallon oil tank, and you’re going to do that 2 or 3 times a year so I have to take that into consideration. I mean on top of a tax bill, we talked about that, we sat down at Du= nkin Donuts and talked.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Mancini: I don’t disagree.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Rinaldi: What Ray said is right. I’ve been on Councils in the= past where we’ve gone specifically to the Town Manager and said here is wh= at we propose as a cut, here’s a dollar amount, we want you to go through and find out what has to be cut, come back and give us a list for our review and then we’ll vote on it. So that’s what I want to see ahead of time, where the cuts are, not after the fact, cause then you have very little control on what’s going on.=

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Demirs: I think these numbers should have b= een brought to the table ahead of time and we should see where each cut is comi= ng from. This is like throwing t= his money out here and we have no idea or no control of what’s being cut.=

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. Adams: No, we have (inaudible) control on = what line items we’re going to cut.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Demirs: No we don’t, we don’t.<= /p>

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. Adams: We do.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Demirs: No, if we vote on this we have no c= ontrol over what’s being cut.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. Adams: No we do, the cuts have to (inaudib= le).

Watertown Town Council

Special Meeting

June 24, 2008

Page 10

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Demirs: This dollar amount should have been brought to the table, all of the cuts should have been brought before us and then vote on these numbers. Y= ou can’t just vote on numbers and say okay, now we’re going to go = back and cut this or that. I don&#= 8217;t agree. There seems to be some= thing going on, you know, I don’t like that.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Mancini: I agree with everything you said, everything Ray said too.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. Adams: It sounds like it’s the proce= ss you don’t like.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Mancini: It’s the process, but a good question is . . . .

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. Adams: You want to change what’s bee= n done in the past.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Mancini: Are the numbers right? I mean we’ve had, I’ve= heard the word mandate. We had one = mandate, we cut, supposedly cut $800,000 and there’s another mandate right aft= er that to keep on cutting by the same margin 2 to 1 and you’ve cut . . = . .

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. Adams: It’s about the same cut as la= st time.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Mancini: The same thing as last time and you’re trying to tell me that you’re recommending a 7.2% tax increase?

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. Adams: 7.2?

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Mancini: That’s what this is.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. Adams: So you’re saying you want to = cut more.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Mancini: I’m saying is that the right number? Is this what the peop= le are saying they want a mandate of ½ a mill? Do they want more?

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. Adams: Well yea, that’s why we go to= referendum. I’ll bet everybody in this r= oom doesn’t want to see any cuts, but (inaudible) a mandate by the voters, those who vo= ted.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Mancini: You’re right, and I don’= ;t know if this is enough.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. Adams: It may not be, we may be going agai= n, I don’t know.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Mancini: That’s why I agree, oil is go= ing up, gas is going up, food is going up, everything is going up. Can they afford that plus this? I don’t think so.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Bernier: Three points. First of all the 7.2% increase that we’re talking about is the cost to fund the new school project.

Watertown Town Council

Special Meeting

June 24, 2008

Page 11

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. Adams: To fund Swift and, right the 3 schools. Just the bonding on = the 3 schools.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Bernier: The numbers have been brought to the group tonight and I don’t think it’s unreasonable to say to the Town Manager we want to have you come back within the next 2 weeks with a l= ist of where you propose to cut to this Council for approval and discussion. I guess (inaudible) unreasonable.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> For us to cut any deeper, I don= 217;t even know how to respond to that. We’re looking at spending the= same type of dollars with the increase in gas, the increase in fuel, on and on a= nd on. All we are looking to do = is go back to where we were last year, it is a deep cut and the only thing that we’re looking to fund as we go forward is the new schools as this community had voted to go forward with.&nb= sp; The Town Manager, Frank, and the department heads need to have an opportunity to look at this, this is the first time we’re looking at = this as a group is tonight and I think it is very reasonable for us to request t= hat within 2 weeks that that list of those cuts be brought back to us for our review (Tape #1, Side A ended – may have missed some).

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. Adams: Chuck, can you get that list back t= o us in 2 weeks?

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Frigon: It will be very tight, but it’= ;s doable.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Bernier: I mean at least rough numbers that = we can start to work with.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. Adams: (Inaudible.)

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Marotta: I think it would be pertinent to kn= ow where the cuts would come from if the reason we wanted to know that was bec= ause we would potentially reduce the .51 to something else. But as we know the voters have vot= ed about 2 to 1 and voted the past budget down, so looking at that magnitude, = I do not think that ¼ mill would be voted yes on, nor do I, nor would I l= ook into cutting monies from the 3 school project, so my thought is this .51 of= a mill is something that I think can be passed, if everyone goes out there and pit= ches this and does the best they can to communicate this, as spoken we’re = all not comfortable with this at all, but once again we are the voice of the pe= ople and this is what the Town wants, so I’m always, I’m an advocate for, we hire good people, we have good staff here. We have a Town Manager and a staff= and I have the utmost respect for them and the utmost confidence in them that they will make the appropriate cuts to bring it down to the .51 mills. I do not need to see exactly where = they are going to be cutting things. I believe in them and you all should too.

Watertown Town Council

Special Meeting

June 24, 2008

Page 12

= ; In Favor: &= nbsp; Ms. Adams, Mr. Bernier, Mr. DiFederico, Mr. Marotta, Mr. Primini

= ; Opposed: = Mr. Demirs, Mr. Mancini, Mr. Rinaldi

= ; Abstained: None

&= nbsp; MTION CARRIED (5-3-0)

4.&nb= sp; Consider Setting Date for Machine Vote on Fiscal Year 2008/2009 Budgets

            MOTION:       (Mr. Bernier, sec. Mr. Primini) I make= a motion to approve the Referendum Notice for the machine vote on the 2008/20= 09 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<= /st1:City> will be held on Tuesday, August 5, 2008, between the hours of 6:00 a.m. to = 8:00 p.m. to vote for the approval or disapproval of Fiscal Year 2008/2009 Budge= ts.

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Voting will be at the following polling places:

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Voting District 68-01     = ;            &n= bsp;          Heminway Park School, Heminway Park Road, Watertown, CT

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Voting District 68-02     = ;            &n= bsp;          Judson School, Hamilton Lane= , Watertown, CT

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Voting District 68-03     = ;            &n= bsp;          Swift Middle School, Colonial Street, Oakville, CT

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Voting District 68-04     = ;            &n= bsp;          Polk School, Buckingham Street, Oakville, CT

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    Persons qualified to vote in Town Meetings who are not electors shall vote at the Office of the Registrar, 5= 1 Depot Street, Depot Square Mall, Suite 113, <= st1:City w:st=3D"on">Watertown, Connecticut.

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

&n= bsp;

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'>        &= nbsp;   Discussion:       Ms. Adams: I just want to note that for those= of you who vote at Swift, we are now allowed to go back to Swift and vote ther= e, so that will help a lot of people having to hike up to Polk.

<= o:p>

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'>        &= nbsp;   MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

Watertown Town Council

Special Meeting

June 24, 2008

Page 13

<= o:p>

5.         Consider Setting Ballot for Fiscal Year 2008/2009 Budgets

      &= nbsp;     MOTION:       (Mr. Primini, sec. Mr. Bernier) I make a motion that the budget question be plac= ed on the voting machines as follows:

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    1.         = Shall the Fiscal Year 2008/2009 School General Fund Budget be approved in the amo= unt of $35,205,816?

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;    2.         = Shall the Fiscal Year 2008/2009 Town General Fund Budget be approved in the amoun= t of $23,386,146 and Shall the following Fiscal Year 2008/2009 Budgets be approv= ed in the amounts of:

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;    Town Road A= id        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; $     226,805

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;    Water Operations     &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;            = $ 1,377,266

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;    Water Capital      =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;       $     224,588

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;    Water Extension     &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;   $     151,443

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;    Sewer Operations     &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;            = $ 2,066,508

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;    Sewer Capital      =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;       $     224,588

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;    Sewer Extension     &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;   $       94,7= 36

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;    Water & Sewer Debt    &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;         $     226,900

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;    Crestbrook Golf Operations    &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           $<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'>     732,502

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;    Local Capital Improvement    =             &nb= sp;            = $     161,176

      &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;    Voters approving each question will vote "Yes" and those opposing each question will vote "no".

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

&= nbsp;          MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

6.         Adjournment=

      = ;      MOTION:       (Mr. = Bernier, sec. Mr. Marotta) to Adjourn the Special Meeting at 8:20 p.m.

            <= /span>Discussion:       None<= /p>

            <= /span>MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

            <= /span>Special Meeting Adjourned at 8:20 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Elaine H. Adams, Chairman

Watertown Town Cou= ncil

Approved: _______________________________

      Lynn M. LaF= orme, Clerk