TOWN OF SIMSBURY
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 27, 2004
CALL TO ORDER
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Selectmen for September 27, 2004 was held in the Main Meeting Room of the Simsbury Town Offices. Present were First Selectman, Thomas Vincent, Board Members, Madeleine Gilkey, John Romano, Joel Mandell, William Garrity, and John Hampton. Also present were Brandon Robertson, Assistant to the First Selectman, Bruce Barth, Jerry Toner, and other interested parties.
Mr. Vincent called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
PUBLIC AUDIENCE
There were no comments for public audience.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mr. Garrity made motion to adjourn to Executive Session for the purpose of discussing strategy with respect to collective bargaining. Mr. Mandell seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
The meeting went back to open session at 7:37 p.m.
FINANCE
Ms. Gilkey made motion to approve the tax refunds in the amount of $8,630.96 for the period covering September 14, 2004 to September 22, 2004. Mr. Romano seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
Mr. Vincent said the next item is to award a bid pursuant to A-161-6 of the Purchasing Ordinance. The bid the staff recommends is not the lowest bid, however there seems to be a compelling bid to award this accordingly. The difference between the bids is approximately $656.00.
Mr. Mandell made motion to award the bid for the 3/4 ton pick-up truck to Wagner Ford of Simsbury in the amount of $18,782.00. Mr. Garrity seconded the motion for discussion.
Mr. Mandell said the low bidder is in Providence, Rhode Island and there could be some problems with respect to service. He doesn’t feel that $656.00 is enough to go to Rhode Island.
TOWN OF SIMSBURY
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 27, 2004
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Ms. Gilkey said she recommends that we ask the local bidder to meet the low bid so the business could be kept in Town. This is not a big difference. We should give them that opportunity.
Mr. Garrity said we would be compromising the bidding process if we don’t vote for the low bidder. At what dollar amount don’t you go to the second bidder, where is the incentive to keep bidding here. We should really follow the bidding process.
Mr. Romano felt that we should also follow the bidding process as long as all specifications are met.
After further discussion, Mr. Vincent said there was a motion on the floor to award the bid pursuant to A-161-6 of the Town Code of Ordinance. A yes vote would be to take the second lowest bid a no would be to take the lowest bid. One vote was in favor and five were not in favor, therefore the lowest bid was approved.
CULTURE PARKS AND RECREATION
Mr. Vincent said this is to execute into agreement for services with the Farmington Valley ARC Corp. for special needs individuals. This agreement has been approved as to the form and cost of the services. The cost of $4,700.00 has been included in the ‘04-‘05 operating budget.
Ms. Gilkey made motion to authorize the First Selectman to execute this agreement as proposed. Mr. Romano seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
PERSONNEL
a. Director of Administrative Services
Mr. Vincent asked Mr. Mandell to go through items 4 a -d. Mr. Mandell said on 4a, which is an approval of job description, salary range, and step for position for Director of Administrative Services, the Personnel Sub-committee met and they voted to approve this job description as an E6, with at a step 29.
Mr. Mandell made motion to approve the job description of the Director of Administrative Services to an E6 and step 29. Mr. Hampton seconded the motion. After some discussion, all were in favor and the motion passed.
TOWN OF SIMSBURY
FIRST SELECTMEN
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 27, 2004
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b. Golf Course Superintendent
Mr. Mandell said the Personnel Sub-committee discussed the job description of the Golf Course Superintendent and approved pending further salary data. This would make this position an A4 to A7 and become a salary position, which means there would be no overtime pay.
After further discussion, Mr. Mandell made motion to approve the job description, salary, and step from A4 to A7 for the Golf Course Superintendent position. Mr. Romano seconded the motion. After some discussion on hours to be worked, all were in favor and the motion passed.
c. Assessor’s Clerk
Mr. Mandell said the Personnel Sub-committee also discussed the Assessor’s Clerk position. This grade would remain the same at T4. Mr. Romano made motion to approve the Assessor’s Clerk description. Mr. Garrity seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
d. Shop Foreman
Mr. Mandell said the Shop Foreman is a revised job description. Ms. Gilkey made motion to approve the Shop Foreman description with Grade T10. Mr. Romano seconded the motion.
Mr. Vincent said the Shop Foreman has retired and we need to replace him. All were in favor and the motion passed.
Mr. Vincent excused himself.
Mr. Mandell said e., f., and g., work together. The Personnel Sub-committee and Selectmen discussed these in great detail. This deals with non-represented employees. Mr. Mandell said the memo of September 10th also included elected officials who never get a merit increase as well as the crossing guards.
Mr. Mandell said the Committee unanimously voted to recommend the Crossing Guards receive a 3.5% increase. The Committee also voted to recommend the Registrar of Voters receive a 3.5% increase. Mr. Mandell said the vote was two to one to recommend an increase of 3.5% for the First Selectman position. As far as all the other positions, the Committee felt they should discuss this with the entire Board. The 457 Contribution Deferred Compensation Plan was to be discussed with the entire Board. Mr. Mandell said there was also discussion on raising the co-pay from 7% to 10% .
TOWN OF SIMSBURY
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 27, 2004
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Mr. Garrity made motion to approve the wage increase of 3.5% for the Crossing Guards. Ms. Gilkey seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
Mr. Romano made motion to approve the wage increase of 3.5% for the Registrar of Voters. Mr. Hampton seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
Mr. Romano made motion to approve the wage increase of 3.5% for the First Selectman. Ms. Gilkey seconded the motion.
Mr. Hampton said he feels the First Selectman’s position is well compensated at this time and doesn’t feel he should receive another wage increase. Mr. Garrity agreed with Mr. Hampton as the grand list isn’t growing and there are people who don’t have jobs. We shouldn’t be awarding a salary increase at this time.
Mr. Romano said he feels it is necessary to give an increase as they put in a lot of hours and need a comparable salary to draw people in who would be interested in the position. They give up their livelihood for this position even though he does understand the times. He will vote in favor of it.
Ms. Gilkey agrees with both sides, but we need to attract the most capable people for this position.
Our First Selectman is very capable and puts in many, many hours in this position.
Mr. Mandell said he does think this salary needs to be capped at some point, but we haven’t reach that level yet.
There were three votes in favor of the salary increase of 3.5% for the First Selectman. Two opposed and therefore, the motion passed.
e. General wage increase for non-represented employees
Mr. Garrity made motion for the non-bargaining employees, for a wage and salary increase for the fiscal ‘04-‘05, there be a wage freeze. Mr. Hampton seconded the motion.
Mr. Garrity said there are capable Department Heads who are part of management. If he looks at the Town as a company, the grand list has not grown and people are looking for jobs. He cannot give a wage increase and a merit increase at this time. When things aren’t going well, Department Heads shouldn’t be getting increases as the taxpayers are always taking on the burden.
TOWN OF SIMSBURY
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 27, 2004
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Mr. Romano said he is not totally against an increase, but doesn’t like this amount. He would be in favor of a lessor amount.
Ms. Gilkey said in the private sector, management hasn’t received an increase in two years because of the nature of business. She would like 2% contribution to be placed in the 457 Deferred Compensation Plan instead to show recognition of a job well done.
Mr. Hampton agrees with Ms. Gilkey and would like a freeze on the wages and a 2% contribution made as well.
Mr. Mandell said we haven’t gotten to the top point yet. These employees work a lot of hours and should be compensated. He would not vote for a merit increase but for a co-pay increase.
There were three votes in favor of the wage freeze and two opposed. The wage freeze passed.
f. Substitution of Merit increase with contribution to 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
Ms. Gilkey made motion to approve a contribution, based on merit, up to 3%, on behalf of non-bargaining employees on the freeze, to the 457 Plan for next year. Mr. Hampton seconded the motion.
After further discussion, four were in favor of the motion, one opposed. The motion passed.
g. Health insurance co-pays
Mr. Romano made motion to increase health insurance co-pays from 7% to 10%. Mr. Hampton seconded the motion. Three were in favor with two opposed. The motion passed.
LEGISLATIVE
Mr. Vincent returned to the meeting.
a. Public Hearing entitled Pensions
Mr. Vincent said this was pursuant to Section 404 of the Town Charter to revise Chapter 46 of the Town Code of Ordinances entitled Pensions.
TOWN OF SIMSBURY
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 27, 2004
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Mr. Barth said there were four proposed changes for unaffiliated employees. The first change is to take the employee contributions currently made, which are currently 2% of pay, and currently made on an after tax basis, and make the contributions pre-tax basis now. This is item A3 on the draft document.
The second change are items A2b and D2 on the draft document. This is to increase the participant contribution to the pension plan from 2% of pay to 5% of pay. This is also done on a pre-tax basis. In turn, there would be an increase in the pension formula from 2% of pay times years of service to 2.5% of pay times years of services. This would be paid for by the participant increased contributions.
Mr. Barth said the last item is item D5 which allows the individual to purchase additional service that they had with another municipality before coming to work for the Town. They would have to pay for the cost of buying that service.
Mr. Romano made motion to approve the meeting date of Wednesday, October 13, 2004 for the Public Hearing pursuant to Section 404 of the Town Charter to revise Chapter 46 of the Town Code of Ordinances entitled Pensions. Mr. Hampton seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
b. Code of Ethics
Ms. Gilkey made motion to approve the meeting date of Wednesday, October 13, 2004 for the Public Hearing pursuant to Section 404 of the Town Charter to revise Chapter 13 of the Town Code of Ordinances entitles Code of Ethics. Mr. Hampton seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
c. Simsbury Zoning Commission
Ms. Gilkey made motion to approve the meeting date of Wednesday, October 13, 2004 for the Public Hearing pursuant to Section 404 of Town Charter to enact a proposed ordinances entitles Designation of the Simsbury Zoning Commission as the Town’s Aquifer Protection Agency. Mr. Hampton seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
CORRESPONDENCE
Mr. Vincent said the Friends of Town Farm Dairy asked that the Town waive the custodial and rental fees for rental of Eno Memorial Hall. Mr. Mandell made motion to waive the rental fees only. Ms. Gilkey seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
TOWN OF SIMSBURY
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 27, 2004
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SUB-COMMITTEE REPORTS
There were no sub-committee reports at this time.
LIAISON REPORTS
There were no liaison reports at this time.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Mandell made motion to approve the minutes of the September 13, 2004 regular minutes. Mr. Hampton seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Romano made motion to adjourn at 8:53 p.m. Mr. Hampton seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathi Radocchio
Clerk
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