2026-09-08 - Town Council

00:29I am Ed Grenelli, chair of the county

00:31council and uh I will call the um public

00:36open a public hearing. This is on item

00:3914A.

00:42Let me have my um

00:46Can we have uh

00:49is staff going to make a presentation?

00:54Is this on?

00:56>> Okay. Uh so we have tonight revisions to

00:58the uh winter operations ordinance that

01:01have been recommended by the ordinance

01:02subcommittee. Um, we are not changing

01:05anything with respect to the liability

01:08or responsibility of private citizens to

01:10clear the sidewalks within 24 hours of

01:12snow or ice being deposited. So, there's

01:14no changes being made to that. Uh, what

01:17we are doing is we're adding language

01:19that will support the town's messaging

01:21to the public around keeping the right

01:23of road of way clear during winter

01:26operations. So, right now we have some

01:28language in there. doesn't cover things

01:30that we encounter like people leaving

01:32their trash cans in the road right away,

01:34basketball hoops, and other things. So,

01:36putting that in an ordinance will allow

01:38us to first message around that in

01:41advance of a storm. It'll also allow uh

01:44the highway staff or police officers to

01:46go to the public and say, "Hey, you

01:48know, the ordinance doesn't allow that.

01:50Can you move that, please?" And then as

01:52a last resort, it does provide us the

01:54enforcement mechanism to address that.

01:56We have repeat offenders. The other

01:58thing it does is it limits the scope of

02:00our uh sidewalk snow clearing during the

02:04winter time. Currently, we're doing it

02:05townwide over certain storm events. So,

02:08if the storm event right now is over 10

02:09in, the town manager can require the the

02:12public works to go and clear the

02:13sidewalks. That's 25 miles of sidewalks

02:16to clear. We're going to reduce the

02:18scope to be the central business

02:21district in the Burough Danielson. um

02:23some of the sidewalks that connect to

02:25the schools and some of the areas in

02:26between those two that that connect

02:28them. So, it will reduce the amount of

02:31sidewalk clearing that we do and we'll

02:33change the threshold from 10 in of snow

02:35to 12 inches of snow when that could

02:37happen. It also suspends enforcement

02:39during the time that we are um deciding

02:42to clear the sidewalks in those high

02:43volume snow events and uh provides the

02:46the private citizens some relief from

02:48having to do it in those circumstances.

02:55That's all I have.

03:00>> So when you announce a a a ban on

03:04parking, this would go along with that

03:07at the same time.

03:09>> Yes, we would. We would uh when we make

03:12announcements about winter operations

03:14like we do often in advance of a storm

03:16that we can include things like this in

03:18the messaging and point to the ordinance

03:20if we need to.

03:23It didn't work before the old ordinance.

03:28>> Well, I think sometimes we encounter

03:30argument or resistance from people.

03:32We'll say, "Okay, where is that written

03:34down?" Right? Why do I have to move

03:37that? And so on.

03:39>> Thank you.

03:48We have any other you have any other

03:50staff or whatever you want to make any

03:53if you

03:55>> Okay.

03:59>> Does anybody have any comments from

04:01Matt?

04:02>> Did you feel like this met met all your

04:04needs as far as having uh it in in

04:07writing to uh back you up when you're

04:09looking to do the snow plowing? you have

04:12uh everything you needed in it.

04:13>> I believe this will and this will also

04:15kind of just set

04:22as well as it kind of figures out more

04:25of the

04:28>> more of a clear defined map.

04:30>> Okay.

04:35>> Okay. No other comments for town staff.

04:39Uh, I'll entertain public comment

04:43if anybody from the public wants to

04:46comment on the ordinance.

04:51Going once. Going twice.

04:55Going three times. Okay.

04:58No more public comment. If there's any

05:01any other questions from the council,

05:03for the town manager or from Matt,

05:05whatever.

05:10Okay,

05:11I guess we'll close the public hearing

05:14at 7:05

05:16and we'll move on to

05:19town council meeting.

05:24Um

05:31Um Oh, item two, we'll have a prayer.

05:35Okay. So

05:38take this on this month. Direct, O Lord,

05:42all our actions

05:44by thy holy inspirations and carry them

05:47on by thy gracious assistance so that

05:50every prayer and work of ours may begin

05:53from thee and by thee and happily ended

05:56through Christ our Lord. Amen. In the

06:00name of the Father and of the Son and of

06:02the Holy Spirit.

06:05Now, if you rise for the pledge of

06:07allegiance,

06:17>> I pledge allegiance

06:19of the United States of America and to

06:22the republic for which it stands, one

06:24nation under God, indivisible, with

06:27liberty and justice for all.

06:31Thank you.

06:39For roll call purposes, all council

06:41members are uh in attendance. I would

06:45entertain a motion to add item 15A and B

06:52directly after item number nine.

06:55>> So move.

06:59This will get so the auditors can don't

07:02have to be wait till the end of the

07:04meeting tonight.

07:07Any comment?

07:13All in favor?

07:14>> I.

07:15>> Any opposed? Any abstensions? The motion

07:19carries. Thank you.

07:22Adoption of minutes of a previous

07:24meeting.

07:27Can I have a motion? I'll make that

07:29motion.

07:30>> Second.

07:33>> Any comments,

07:39>> Mr. Mr. Chair? On the agenda, it says

07:42it's a special town meeting, but it was

07:43just the regular one. Correct? Because

07:45in August, we didn't have a special

07:50>> Um,

07:51you're right.

07:56>> Very good. [laughter]

07:59I've been hanging around with Laba Burge

08:00for a while if she picks up things like

08:02that. So,

08:05>> any other comments regarding the

08:07minutes?

08:12>> All in favor of accepting the minutes?

08:15>> I

08:16>> Any opposed? Any abstensions? The motion

08:20carries.

08:23um

08:24presentations, proclamations, and

08:27declarations.

08:28We have a we're going to presentation.

08:31We're going to have a plaque honoring Al

08:34Officer Alex Carrerity.

08:55Come on.

09:05in honor of Alec and officer Alex

09:07Carrerity

09:09DC8

09:11April 2024 to July 2026 for a dedication

09:15to duty commitment to public safety and

09:19service to our community having left a

09:22lasting impact with deepest appreciation

09:25and respect. Kanley Town Council

09:30made this [applause]

09:44I would like to make this presentation

09:48and we thank you for well we thank him

09:51for all the effort that he helped us

09:53with.

10:07If anybody wish to say say a few words,

10:10you're welcome to come up to the podium.

10:20Don't be afraid. It's it's fine, you

10:21know. I mean, if you if you don't feel

10:23comfortable, we're not going to force

10:24you, but it's it we like to give you

10:28offer you the opportunity.

10:33>> Okay. Thank you.

10:51>> [snorts]

10:52>> Unfinished business for Tom meeting

10:54action. None.

10:56Citizen statements and petitions.

10:59I'm not going to read the whole

11:01scenario. We're going to get to it. Um I

11:05have one comment, one public comment we

11:07received earlier from Diane Weber, uh

11:11238 Mash and Tuk Road. Hello, Mr.

11:14Chairman and council members. Diane

11:16Weber, 238 Mashtuk Road. Thank you for

11:19your time. I'd also like to wish

11:21Jonathan Blake every success and

11:23congratulations. So, as always, my

11:25concern is Husky. I see the court case

11:28has been moved to Hartford, which is

11:29good for them. And hopefully, as

11:31reported, we are fighting back. I would

11:34hope that we get some updates as time

11:36goes based on all the evidence and

11:38reports and lack thereof. I really do

11:41believe that we have the regulations

11:44to support a no with prejudice and since

11:48they've ch they've changes are minimal

11:52with this application hopefully we won't

11:54lose another year of our lives that we

11:57could just apply the regulations and see

12:00it for what it is. It's just the wrong

12:03project for that site and will change

12:07our lives and liberties health and

12:09finite resources forever. With that

12:12being said, I know the the agenda then

12:14busy for planning and zoning, but we got

12:17the moratorum so that we could have the

12:19workshop and change what's needs to be

12:22changing.

12:24So, we're into our second month now and

12:26I hope they will have a workshop soon.

12:29Thank you for the job you are doing and

12:31I'm sorry that Husky felt you pressured

12:34in the commission because truly just on

12:36the regulations facts and with their due

12:39diligence I hope that we can soon put

12:41this behind us and resume our lives.

12:44Regards Diana Weber.

12:47Is there any other public comment?

12:53Do we receive any other any other public

12:56Okay. Is there any other public comment?

12:59Going twice.

13:01Third time. Any other public comment?

13:03Oh, I will close the public comment

13:07period.

13:08Um,

13:10since we had no public comment, but is

13:12there any staff comments? I mean council

13:14comments.

13:18Okay.

13:19Oh,

13:22>> um my first comment is um I received

13:26several um messages um this uh weekend

13:30about um flock cameras

13:34and um its invasion of the privacy of

13:37the residents of Killingly. I don't know

13:39if we can um look at other

13:42municipalities. There's several

13:44throughout the country that have um

13:47ordinances um regulating the use of flot

13:50cameras.

13:53So that was one. And um the second is um

13:57I'd like to thank everyone who worked on

14:01uh Oillingly Pond um the fissurers. I

14:05know that um Justin and Kelly had many

14:08sleepless nights working on that.

14:10Um

14:13Al

14:15friends um

14:18who else there were um

14:22trying to think um Ida Baris

14:27her her son uh the legislaturator's

14:30And

14:32um

14:34May Flexer and uh anyone whose name I

14:38forgot and the outcrying of all the

14:42residents who came to help with the

14:44cleanup. Um,

14:47but I feel that I should have been um

14:50asked to attend the meeting with Deep.

14:52From the very beginning, I supported the

14:56restoration of Old Killingly Pond, not

14:58only for the residents,

15:00but for the protection of um

15:04clean water. I supported the

15:07reclassification of wetstone brook

15:09drainage basin which failed. I also um

15:13supported clean water for the town in

15:15action which also failed. So I would

15:17like to be given the opportunity at

15:19least be asked to attend future meetings

15:22if the chair and the vice chair are

15:24unable to attend. Thank you.

15:31>> Is there any other council comment?

15:38Okay. So we we moved 15 A and B to now

15:48[laughter]

15:52or

16:05All right. [clears throat] Good e good

16:06evening. Can everyone hear me?

16:08>> Yep.

16:11>> Sounds good.

16:15>> All good. Okay. Um well, good evening

16:18and uh I'd like to to thank you for

16:20accommodating us. I I do appreciate it.

16:23Um my name is Mike Van Deenterter. a

16:25partner at Mahoney Sable uh ultimately

16:28responsible for overseeing the audit

16:30work for the town and will be issuing

16:33the uh reports on behalf of the firm. Uh

16:36joining me this evening uh also remotely

16:38is Samantha Thomas. Uh Sam is a senior

16:42manager at the firm and was really

16:44responsible for the the day-to-day

16:46execution of our of our audit work. Um

16:48so again, happy to be here uh this

16:50evening to present the results of the

16:52town's fiscal year 2025 audit. Um

16:55everyone should have received draft

16:57copies of the audit. Uh we are

17:00substantially complete. Uh there are a

17:03few minor open items with respect to the

17:05financial statements. Uh we'll we'll

17:07plan on doing our final uh sign off

17:09shortly and uh certainly be able to

17:11issue our reports uh by the end of the

17:14month.

17:15Um so with that I'm going to share my

17:18screen um if I have that capability.

17:23Let's see.

17:33Okay. Can you just let me know if

17:34everyone can see the screen?

17:36>> We can.

17:38All right. Very good. All right. So you

17:40should have a uh also a uh printed copy

17:42of the presentation. Um, again, I'm

17:45going to cover the uh the scope of work,

17:48the audit reports that will be issued,

17:50provide some overall financial

17:52highlights. I'll make our required

17:53communications, uh, and certainly happy

17:55to answer any questions that the council

17:58members may have.

18:00Uh, so with respect to the scope of

18:02work, no changes from what's done been

18:04done in prior years for the town. We did

18:06do an audit of the town's financial

18:07statements. uh we perform that audit in

18:10accordance with both the auditing

18:11standards issued by the American

18:13Institute of Certified Public

18:15Accountants as well as the government

18:17auditing standards issued by the

18:19Government Accountability Office. Uh in

18:21addition, based on the level of of

18:23federal and state uh funding that was

18:25received and expended by the town, we

18:27did perform both federal and state

18:29single audits. Uh in addition, we also

18:32perform an agreed upon procedures on the

18:34end of school year reports uh that are

18:36filed by the school district with the

18:38state of Connecticut Department of

18:40Education.

18:42Uh in addition to those attest services,

18:44we do perform some non- audit services

18:46for the town. So again, we do assist in

18:48the preparation of the financial

18:50statements, the schedules of

18:51expenditures of federal awards and state

18:53financial assistance and related notes.

18:56Uh we also assist in converting the

18:58town's governmental fund financial

18:59statements to the governmentwide

19:01financial statements. And in order for

19:03our firm to be able to perform these

19:05non- audit services and remain

19:07independent of the town, uh management

19:09is required to oversee and accept

19:11responsibility for those services.

19:14Again, Jennifer Hawkins is the finance

19:16director uh will be accepting

19:18responsibility uh for those services.

19:23Uh in connection with the audit, we do

19:25issue a number of reports. Uh in terms

19:27of the report on the financial

19:28statements, we will be issuing

19:30unmodified clean opinions. Again, an

19:33unmodified opinion is expressed when

19:35we've concluded that the financial

19:36statements are presented fairly in all

19:39material respects in accordance with

19:41accounting principles generally accepted

19:43in the United States of America. I do

19:46want to point out this year uh if you

19:47read our opinion uh we do include an

19:50emphasis of a matter paragraph and

19:52that's just to draw attention to the

19:54implementation of Gazsby statement

19:56number 101 on compensated absences uh

19:59which represents a change in accounting

20:02principle. Um so again our opinion was

20:04not modified as a result of this matter.

20:07We're just drawing attention to the

20:09change from prior year financial

20:11statements.

20:12I do like to point out that our opinion

20:14does provide reasonable assurance that

20:16the financial statements are free from a

20:18material misstatement whether due to

20:20error or fraud. Um again we're not

20:23providing absolute assurance. Uh we do

20:25not test every transaction. We do

20:27utilize sampling in our audit

20:29methodology. Um the financial statements

20:32do include estimates and therefore uh we

20:34do not provide absolute assurance. Um

20:37but again reasonable asurances is is

20:39still the highest level of a test

20:41service um that you can have.

20:45Uh in addition to the report on the

20:46financial statements, we do issue a

20:48report on compliance and on internal

20:51control over financial reporting. Uh in

20:54this report, we don't actually express

20:55an opinion on the town's compliance uh

20:59and on in and on the town's internal

21:01controls over financial reporting.

21:03Essentially during the course of

21:05performing the audit, if we identify or

21:07become aware of a material

21:08non-compliance with laws and regulations

21:11or material weakness or significant

21:13deficiency in internal controls, uh we

21:16are required to include it in this

21:17report. Um so we did not report any

21:19instances of material non-compliance

21:21with laws and regulations and we did not

21:23report any material weaknesses in

21:25internal controls over financial

21:27reporting. However, this year we did

21:29report two significant deficiencies uh

21:32in internal control over financial

21:34reporting.

21:37Uh and just to to give a little bit of

21:39background, so there's three types of

21:41deficiencies that uh as auditors we can

21:44report. Uh the lowest level is just an

21:46ordinary deficiency and we can

21:49communicate those deficiencies to

21:51management verbally or via a a separate

21:54uh management letter. uh material

21:56weaknesses and significant deficiencies

21:58are required to be included in this uh

22:00report. Um again a material weakness is

22:03a deficiency uh such that there is a

22:06reasonable possibility that a material

22:08misstatement will not be prevented or

22:12detected and corrected by the town on a

22:14timely basis. Um and a significant

22:17deficiency is less severe than a

22:19material weakness uh yet important

22:21enough uh to communicate those to um

22:24those who are charged with government

22:26governance. And so in that case that is

22:28you as as council members. Um and so

22:31again I I just do want to highlight that

22:33our findings in the uh single audit

22:36reports do include some additional

22:39details. I've just kind of summarized

22:40them here. Um, so the first finding

22:43relates to a significant deficiency in

22:44the year- end closing process. Again,

22:47we've reported this in prior years as

22:49just an ordinary deficiency. Um, but I

22:52due to the delays uh in the current year

22:54audit process, we've elevated it to a a

22:56significant deficiency. Um, so again,

22:58there are certain year-end financial

23:00reporting and closing procedures that

23:02were not completed on a timely basis. Um

23:05there were delays in key account

23:07reconciliations in financial reporting

23:09activities and ultimately that resulted

23:11in the delays to uh completing the

23:13financial statements and the audit. Um

23:16so again as a recommendation uh you know

23:19the town should strengthen the year-end

23:21financial reporting and closing

23:22procedures. Uh should establish clear

23:25timelines, responsibilities and

23:27reconciliation processes. uh improve

23:30coordination among departments to

23:32support timely financial reporting. Um

23:35so again there was more than one

23:37department that resulted in some of the

23:39delays in completing the audit. Um and

23:42then evaluate staffing and resources to

23:44ensure that year-end reporting

23:45requirements can be completed uh

23:47efficiently.

23:49The second finding that we had related

23:52to um the tax receivable and CA cash

23:55reconciliation process. Um, so again,

23:57the town was unable to fully reconcile

23:59the year-end delinquent tax balances to

24:01the schedule of property taxes levied,

24:03collected, and outstanding uh, which is

24:05included in the financial statements.

24:07Uh, in addition, we noted that the town

24:10uh, tax collection bank account was not

24:12fully reconciled to the general ledger

24:14at year end. Um, again, none of these

24:17reconciliation issues were were

24:19considered to be material to the

24:21financial statements. Um but they were

24:23issues that we thought were important to

24:25uh communicate those to uh to the

24:27council. Um again auditor recommendation

24:30perform uh um formal monthly and

24:33year-end reconciliations of the tax

24:35receivable balances uh collection

24:37records and related bank accounts to the

24:39general ledger. Uh investigate and revol

24:42uh resolve differences identified

24:43through the reconciliation process and

24:45then document and independently review

24:48those reconciliations.

24:49Um so again there are additional details

24:51that are included in the single audit

24:54report. Um ultimately the town is going

24:57to be responsible for completing a

24:59corrective action plan and submitting

25:01that uh corrective action plan to the

25:04office of policy and management. Um

25:06again we want to make you aware of these

25:07findings. As council members you should

25:09monitor the status of the corrective

25:11actions uh ultimately to ensure that the

25:14findings are addressed in a timely

25:15manner.

25:18Um in addition to the report on internal

25:22control over financial reporting, we do

25:23issue uh a report on compliance and on

25:27internal control at the federal award

25:28level. Uh for fiscal year 2025, the

25:32total federal awards expended by the

25:33town was approximately 3.8 million. Uh

25:36the major programs that were tested were

25:38the education stabilization fund, the

25:41corona virus state and local fiscal

25:43recovery funds and the special education

25:46cluster funds. Um so we did issue

25:48unmodified clean opinions on compliance

25:50over those programs and we did not

25:52report any significant deficiencies or

25:54material weaknesses uh over grant

25:56compliance.

25:58Uh we issue a similar report in

26:01connection with the state single audit

26:03uh for fiscal year 2025. The total state

26:06financial assistance that was expended

26:07was about 21.6 million. Uh the majority

26:11of that consists of your education cost

26:12sharing funds uh and and is exempt from

26:16our uh audit testing. The portion that

26:18was not was about 4.7 million. And your

26:22major programs were the municipal grants

26:24and aid, the alliance district funding

26:27and the town a road grants. Again, we

26:29issued unmodified clean opinions on

26:31compliance over those programs and we

26:33did not report any significant

26:35deficiencies or material weaknesses over

26:38grant compliance.

26:43Uh next section goes over uh the

26:45financial highlights. Um this slide goes

26:47over the general fund on a budgetary

26:49basis. So again, your final budget

26:51provided for the use of fund balance in

26:53the amount of about 3.5 million to

26:55balance revenues and expenditures. your

26:58actual change in fund balance was a

27:00decrease of about 3.2 million. Uh so

27:02that resulted in an overall favorable

27:04budgetary variance of about 337,000.

27:08Uh your revenues and other financing

27:10sources were 943,000 less than the final

27:13budget and that was driven by favorable

27:16collections on investment income offset

27:18by a shortfall in property tax

27:20collections associated with the the Lake

27:23Road tax agreement. Um and again my

27:26understanding is that this is the last

27:28fiscal year um that that agreement will

27:30have an impact on uh on the budgetary

27:33revenues. Uh and then expenditures and

27:35transfers to other funds were

27:37approximately 1.2 million less than the

27:39final budget and that was really driven

27:41by favorable variances across all

27:43departments. Again, no budgetary

27:45compliance issues were identified as a

27:47result of the audit work.

27:50Uh next slide goes over your

27:52governmental fund financial highlights.

27:54Um so the town is reporting combined

27:56ending fund balances of approximately 26

28:00million. Um that was a decrease of about

28:0316 million from the prior year. Uh the

28:06in terms of your overall fund balance uh

28:0922 million was in your general fund.

28:12Again a decrease of about 4.5 million

28:14from the prior year. Of the 22 million

28:17about 14.6 was considered unassigned and

28:21that's sufficient to cover about 2.4 4

28:23months and represents about 20.3% of the

28:27town's fiscal year 2025 uh general fund

28:30budgetary expenditure appropriations. Um

28:33so again that threshold is is still

28:35above the GFOA recommended guidance uh

28:38where towns are uh recommended to

28:40maintain at least two months of reserves

28:43on hand. Um so again you're still above

28:45that that two-month threshold. Uh in

28:48terms of your capital improvement fund,

28:50uh that was reporting a deficit of about

28:5213 million. Um that was an increase in

28:55the deficit of about 12.2 million from

28:57the prior year. Um so that fund is

29:00reporting a $20.8 million unassigned

29:03deficit uh which is uh expected to be

29:06funded by future debt issuances and

29:08school construction grant

29:10reimbursements. Um, so again, the

29:12deficit in that fund is really caused by

29:14the use of short-term financing to

29:16temporarily finance your your capital

29:19projects. Uh, when that short-term

29:21financing is converted to long-term

29:23financing, uh, that deficit will uh, get

29:26resolved. And then in terms of all of

29:29your other funds, they had an ending

29:31fund balance of just over 17 million,

29:33uh, which was an increase of about

29:34560,000 from the prior year. And those

29:37amounts are either restricted or

29:39committed for specific programs or

29:41purposes. And again, there are details

29:44of all of the town's uh special revenue

29:46and capital project funds in the uh

29:49financial statements.

29:52Uh the town does report an internal

29:54service fund for self-insured uh medical

29:57insurance. Um the unrestricted net

29:59position of that fund was uh just over a

30:02million dollars. That was a decrease of

30:04about 1.5 million from the prior year.

30:07Um, again, that does represent a planned

30:09use of the unrestricted net position.

30:12Uh, your net position currently

30:13represents about 1.6 months of your

30:16claims expense. Um, generally that's a a

30:19reasonable reserve. Um, however, uh, uh,

30:23claims expense can fluctuate

30:25year-over-year, and so ongoing

30:27monitoring of of claims experience as

30:30well as the annual contribution, uh,

30:32rates um, is is very important when

30:35you're when you're monitoring these

30:37funds

30:39in terms of the governmentwide financial

30:41statements. So, the governmentwide

30:43financial statements consist of your

30:44governmental fund financial statements

30:46converted to a full acral basis of

30:48accounting. Um, so it does report all of

30:51your long-term assets and liabilities.

30:54Um, from a user perspective, there is a

30:56focus on the PO on the unrestricted net

30:58position of a municipality. Um, again,

31:01the town was reporting a positive unre

31:03unrestricted net position of

31:04approximately 33.9 million. And so that

31:08does reflect your your positive

31:10governmental fund reserves, low levels

31:12of non-c capital related debt, and uh

31:15your fully funded defined benefit

31:17pension plan.

31:19Uh in terms of your net pension plan, um

31:21you are reporting a net pension asset of

31:24about 1.8 million. Um so again, your

31:27your pension plan is currently uh

31:29overfunded at 123%.

31:32Um and that was up from about 112% in

31:35the prior year and that does reflect

31:37your favorable return on plan assets.

31:41Uh the town is also reporting a net oped

31:43liability of about 4.7 million. um that

31:46that plan is currently approximately 21%

31:50funded. Um the lower funded status of

31:52the OPED plan does reflect the

31:54establishment of the trust in fiscal

31:56year 2026 and then the subsequent

31:59partial funding of the annual actuarial

32:01determined employer contributions.

32:06All right, this next section just goes

32:07through our required communications. Um

32:11Whoops.

32:12Let's see here.

32:15Somehow I split the screen.

32:18All right, there we go.

32:21All right, the f the first section talks

32:23about our responsibility under our

32:25auditing standards. Um although we

32:27assist in the in the preparation of the

32:28financial statements, they are the

32:30responsibility of the town. Again, it's

32:32our responsibility to express our

32:33opinions on those financial statements.

32:36Uh in terms of the plan, scope and

32:38timing the audit, again, there were no

32:40changes in the overall scope of work

32:41that was originally agreed upon. Uh the

32:44final fieldwork and reporting were

32:46scheduled to be performed on extension.

32:48Um however again the deficiencies that

32:50we reported uh did contribute to

32:52additional delays in completing the

32:54audit process this year. Uh in terms of

32:57significant audit findings um the

33:00financial statements as I mentioned

33:02before did include a change in

33:04accounting principle related to the

33:05implementation of uh Gazsby statement

33:08number 101 on compensated absences. Uh

33:11so that did result in a decrease of

33:14about 1.3 million in the beginning net

33:17position of the town's governmental

33:19activities.

33:20Uh we do review the financial statements

33:22for significant estimates and judgments.

33:24Uh those consist of estimated useful

33:27lives that are assigned to capital

33:28assets as well as discount rates that

33:30are utilized to determine the net

33:32pension and OPED liabilities. Again, we

33:34did deem those estimates to be

33:36reasonable and consistent with industry

33:39practices.

33:42I'm happy to report that there were no

33:43significant difficulties encountered in

33:45dealing with town officials uh and

33:47employees. Uh we had no uncorrected

33:50misstatements. So again, any audit

33:52adjustments that were identified were

33:54proposed and were reflected in the

33:56financial statements. Um again, there

33:58were no disagreements with town

33:59administration regarding accounting,

34:01financial reporting or or audit matters.

34:04Uh we will be obtaining a management

34:06representation letter. Again, there will

34:08be no unusual representations that we

34:10will be requesting from management. Um,

34:13and we're not aware of any consultations

34:15uh by the town with other independent

34:17accountants regarding any accounting,

34:19financial reporting, or other matters.

34:22Um, again, if any of those matters came

34:23to our attention, uh we would have to

34:25communicate those issues uh to the

34:27council.

34:30All right. So, with that, I'm going to

34:32stop sharing. I know I went through a

34:33lot of information, but I'm happy to uh

34:35to go back and and answer any questions

34:37that uh any of the council members may

34:39have.

34:44>> Dave,

34:47>> from what I'm hearing, you did the audit

34:50last year

34:52for the town of Ky.

34:54>> Yes.

34:55>> And the year before that?

34:59>> Yes.

35:01So from year to year, you're looking at

35:04any changes that have happened.

35:08So you must have made suggestions in

35:11years past about things that need to be

35:13changed.

35:17>> Correct.

35:18>> And were they changed coming forward?

35:24>> No. So, the the primary one that we've

35:27uh made recommendations regarding is the

35:29year- end closing process. Um, and

35:32again, because of the issues that we ran

35:34into this year and the uh additional

35:37delays, um, we've elevated that to a

35:40significant deficiency. Um so again one

35:43of the changes that will result uh from

35:46us reporting it as a significant

35:48deficiency uh is that management must do

35:50a corrective action plan that gets filed

35:52with the office of policy and management

35:55at the state.

35:56>> So you really order what about 10% of

35:59the files

36:02that you actually pull records on.

36:06So we utilize um sampling in our audit

36:09methodology

36:10>> 10%.

36:12>> It's not a necessarily a percentage. Uh

36:15the sampling is really based on um our

36:18assessment of risk and then the overall

36:21uh percentage of the population in

36:23certain audit areas. So um in some areas

36:26we audit certainly more than 10%. Uh in

36:29other audit areas that may be less risky

36:31uh we're auditing you know maybe less

36:34than 10%. Is that based on problems that

36:37you saw in years past?

36:40>> Uh, no. I mean, we're the audit

36:43methodology or the audit approach is

36:45really driven by the audit standards.

36:47Um, again, if there's one one thing I do

36:50want to mention again, we reported these

36:53these findings as significant

36:55deficiencies. um because the information

36:58that ultimately was provided to us, we

37:00did not have material adjustments to

37:03that financial information. Um the

37:06deficiency really relates to the delay

37:08in getting that information as opposed

37:10to getting information that was was

37:13wrong.

37:15As far as the two months that you must

37:18keep a reserve on hand, didn't that used

37:21to be three months we had to keep a

37:23reserve

37:25in case you didn't pass a budget?

37:28>> Yeah, there's there's no statutory

37:30requirement. Um, again, the only

37:31guidance that's really out there is is

37:33the GFOA, which is the government

37:35finance uh association, officer

37:38association. Um and their recommendation

37:40is that municipalities should uh

37:43maintain at least two months of reserves

37:46on hand.

37:48>> Thank you.

37:51>> So was the uh significant deficiency

37:54does could you even suggest to us what

37:57department that didn't get you these? Um

38:03>> it's in the report.

38:05>> Yeah. So everything really funnels

38:07through the the the finance department.

38:10Um the issues that I think caused the

38:12the primary delays was the

38:14reconciliation

38:15uh with the board of education. Um the

38:18reconciliation of some of the tax system

38:21uh records. Um there was there's there's

38:24a schedule of of capital project

38:26appropriation and activity. Um so again

38:29some of these key audit schedules or key

38:30audit areas were just delayed. Um, and

38:33part of that is, you know, again, I

38:35don't think the finance department wants

38:37to provide us information until they've

38:39had a chance to go through uh and make

38:41sure it's accurate. So, again, we don't

38:42have necessarily audit adjustments or

38:45further deficiencies as a result of that

38:47information not being correct.

38:57But then we got we got multiple

39:01extensions

39:03to get this audit performed. Normally

39:05this should be done in January February

39:10but because of delay of the information

39:16that you didn't have

39:19so to get it to you that would that was

39:22the delay on our end. So that that's

39:24causing the delay that we're in

39:26September now when this should have been

39:27done quite a while ago.

39:29>> Yeah. That that that causes delays. Um,

39:32and then you know when we schedule

39:34fieldwork, yes, the time that we we look

39:36to to do the fieldwork is in January and

39:38February with with potentially a March

39:41issuance. Um, if you're not fully ready

39:45during that time frame, um, then you

39:49know, we may have to, uh, delay you a

39:51little bit further once we get the

39:53information uh, based on our schedules

39:55internally. Um so again there is some

39:59coordination that has to be done

40:00obviously between the audit firm and the

40:02town in terms of scheduling field work

40:05um for audit areas when when that

40:07information gets delayed.

40:11>> So we have to make sure that staff is

40:14doing the due diligence to get their

40:16work done in a timely manner.

40:20>> Correct.

40:22But it seems like we've this has been a

40:24longer delay than normal. Um, prior

40:28years we you know we have an extension

40:29but not not to this degree. But it's I

40:34guess somehow we have to light a fire

40:36somewhere to get it done.

40:39>> Yeah. Yeah, I mean again my

40:40recommendation is um also obviously you

40:43want to you know have this conversation

40:45with with town administration

40:47um in terms of um you know are there

40:50sufficient resources

40:53uh you know within the finance

40:54department um to to you know handle

40:58competing requirements. Um there are a

41:02lot of demands on finance departments

41:04these days in municipalities uh between

41:08um you know the the budgetary process uh

41:11grant compliance procurement

41:14um again there's you know especially

41:15when you have construction projects

41:16going on. So you know there are a lot of

41:19competing demands and obviously the

41:21audit is one of those. Well, that's why

41:23if it's nice if the audit is completed

41:25in January, February, we're not we're

41:28not into the budget cycle. Once we get

41:29into the budget cycle, it really puts a

41:31lot of stress on everybody. So, no, I am

41:34sure that's I think we have to get back

41:36to

41:37>> the fe January February scheme of things

41:40and then this less pressure overall.

41:43Um

41:45Tammy,

41:47>> so so recently the town voted to do it

41:50was a best practices audit. Is would

41:53that be like a good springboard for us

41:55to use to be able to try to bring

41:57everything back into

42:01where

42:02>> Sure. Oh yeah, absolutely. Yep.

42:07>> Yeah. So the benefit of those is again

42:09um you know from an audit perspective we

42:11we do look at you know your significant

42:13processes um we don't look at everything

42:17um and again so when you have an

42:19engagement that is tailored specific to

42:21to that um you know scope um they can

42:24typically provide some some better

42:27recommendations in terms of of those

42:30processes

42:35Dave,

42:38>> brother Tom man, this was a three-year

42:40contract.

42:44>> It was uh I believe it was originally a

42:47three-year contract that we extended for

42:49two years and now we are in the phase of

42:51extending it year by year.

42:56It doesn't. And in the past, I've always

42:58been told that you should change

43:00auditing firms every three or four years

43:03because sometimes they pick up different

43:05things. True.

43:06>> I think there is some benefit to

43:08changing the audit firm periodically.

43:10Usually the time frame is a little bit

43:12longer. Um it's something we can look

43:14at, but also when you change auditors,

43:16it it creates a lot of additional work

43:18in itself because the new audit firm has

43:21to come in. They may make different

43:23recommendations um but they may not pick

43:25up everything in the first year. It

43:27might take them a couple years to get

43:28acclimated. And um so there's a pro and

43:33a con to doing that. You if your

43:35relationship with your audit firm is

43:37good and you're making progress, there's

43:40some benefit to continuing. I've seen uh

43:42municipalities change auditors and the

43:44next auditor comes in, he looks at what

43:46the last auditor said and maybe he feels

43:49like, well, he needs to go in a

43:50different direction. So he starts um

43:53directing you to go in in direction

43:56opposite of the what the last auditor

43:58said, right? Just to differentiate

43:59themselves. So I think there's pros and

44:01cons to doing that. Um it's something we

44:03can talk about further if if you'd like.

44:06I think you've had this audit firm for

44:08several years now. So

44:10again, it's open for discussion.

44:14>> It's not nec you're not necessarily

44:16going to get a win just out of a change

44:18in the audit firm.

44:19>> Am I wrong? Is that the standard the two

44:22months uh contingency? Cuz I remember in

44:25the past where we had to borrow money

44:27from this retreatment plant in order to

44:30meet our bills.

44:31>> Well, I think that's the very least that

44:32you would like to have. Um if you're

44:34going out to bond, they're they're going

44:36to look for much healthier financial

44:38reserves than just having two months on

44:40hand. And that's that's like the bare

44:42minimum.

44:43>> I thought there was a percentage that we

44:45use

44:46>> and the percentage fluctuates over time.

44:48So during during harder economic times,

44:50they're going to look for you to be

44:52spending down the percentage of your

44:54reserve because that's what it's for.

44:56During good economic times, you'd want

44:57to build up the percentage of your

44:59reserve. So it's not something that your

45:02bond advisers or financial adviserss pen

45:04and say, okay, you always have to have

45:0610%.

45:07There are times when you want to

45:08accumulate more, and there are times

45:10where it's acceptable to to deplete that

45:12and go down.

45:13>> Right now, were we at 18?

45:16>> 20

45:1821.

45:20>> So that helps when you go out to borrow

45:23money, at what rate they're going to

45:25give you the money based on your

45:28financial report.

45:29>> It contributes to our over financial

45:31health and and the bond rating that we

45:33get and the interest rates we get as a

45:35result.

45:35>> Are we rated a double A right now?

45:38>> Uh I think we're better than that.

45:39>> A plus double A plus.

45:41>> Triple A. Thank you.

45:42>> Double A plus.

45:43>> Double A. Okay. the highest we can get

45:45in Connecticut.

45:47>> Thank you.

45:52>> Any other council comments? [snorts]

46:03Okay.

46:04Um

46:08I don't know if we need any more from

46:10our auditors. Um

46:13I

46:13>> no I'll if I could just add um I know

46:16this was a lot of information so

46:18certainly if you have questions um you

46:21know feel free to to reach out um again

46:23just if you would um you know filter

46:26those questions through the chair uh and

46:28uh the director of finance or the the

46:31town manager uh we would appreciate

46:33that.

46:35D.

46:37>> So when when can we expect the final

46:41report?

46:44>> So as I mentioned, there's a few things

46:46that we need to to finalize uh in our

46:48files and the financial statements. Um I

46:51would expect that we'll be able to do

46:52that uh shortly and um be able to kind

46:56of release our reports in the the next

46:58week or so.

46:59>> Thank you.

47:02Any

47:07other comments?

47:11>> Okay, thank you.

47:13>> Then I guess we may be in touch through

47:15the town manager if we have any issues.

47:18Thank you very much.

47:19>> All right. Thank you very much.

47:35Moving on to item 15B,

47:38resolution to accept the 2526 audit and

47:42appoint Mahoney and Sable certified

47:44public accountants as auditor for the

47:46fiscal year ending 2026 2027.

47:50>> I'll make that motion.

47:52>> I'll second

47:54>> discussion.

47:56Here's what you were Dave. You were

47:58talking about the

48:03That's what I've seen in other places

48:06and we've done here in the past three

48:08years

48:11>> three years with one auditing firm and

48:13you could do an extension but once you

48:16start to go four or five

48:18um

48:20you the auditing firm may not look at

48:23the same thing a new auditing firm looks

48:25at and I realize what you're saying it

48:28takes a lot more time and effort on the

48:31part of the town to be able to comply

48:33with what your new auditing firm may

48:36require.

48:38So, it's a tradeoff of more time versus

48:41looking at different aspects. Now,

48:44you're also allowed to indicate what

48:47portions of our economic situation they

48:52should look at or you're not allowed to.

48:59No.

49:00>> So, um they do consult with management

49:02about areas of concern and uh they I

49:06won't say they take direction, but to

49:08say, okay, you know, what concerns do

49:10you have as management? What things are

49:11you worried about or struggling with?

49:13And we might say, okay, well, here's a a

49:15list of things. These are areas where we

49:17haven't gotten compliance from certain

49:19departments during the year. And then

49:20they they take that into account when

49:22they're doing their their

49:24>> Are you recommending we go with them one

49:26more year? I would recommend we go with

49:28them one more year only because we have

49:30the best practice audit coming and we

49:32need to do some work to get uh that

49:35significant department to to close year

49:38end. And if we also change audit firms

49:40at the same time that we're trying to

49:42gain that compliance, it's going to make

49:43it more difficult for the new auditor to

49:45come in understand what's going on,

49:47understand the improvements that we're

49:48looking for. And also we I mean we would

49:51have to do a procurement for that. like

49:53we don't have a reservation with another

49:55audit firm right now to be lined up to

49:57do that field work. So that would again

50:00contribute to delay. I don't think it's

50:02going to be easy to get the compliance

50:04that we need to get the to get that year

50:07end closed so that we can carry on the

50:09rest of our work. I think that's going

50:11to that has been a struggle. You heard

50:13him say he's recommended that for the

50:15past three audit cycles and it hasn't

50:17happened. That's part of the reason it's

50:19being escalated to be a significant

50:22finding. Um, so if that could have

50:24happened easily, it already would have

50:26happened and it's going to take the

50:27cooperation of people that we don't

50:29necessarily control directly to get

50:31there.

50:32>> So you'll be updating on this together.

50:36Yeah, I think as we start the best

50:37practice audit, we'll be meeting with

50:39the officials um that control those

50:41financial statements and hopefully with

50:43the new administration, you'll get a

50:44different um culture and maybe you'll

50:47get more on time reporting, but I I

50:49don't think it's just going to happen

50:51overnight. We might make progress this

50:53year and get a little earlier.

50:55Hopefully, we can have the fieldwork

50:56done by January, February, maybe the

50:58audit report to you before town meeting.

51:01That would be fantastic. Um I don't

51:03think you're going to get it all in one

51:04go.

51:07two cents.

51:08>> Would you re be recommending additional

51:11staffing?

51:12>> Will I be recommending additional

51:14staffing?

51:16Um, I mean, part of what we added, we

51:19added a little some hours in the

51:20manager's budget this year. And that

51:22wasn't necessarily going to be in the

51:24manager's office, but it was looking at

51:26augmenting either existing staff that we

51:28have, maybe it's somebody that we share

51:30or share differently um to provide some

51:33relief. There are other things they that

51:36they want us to have that I think that

51:38we have but not not in the job title

51:41that we have it. We have staff that work

51:43on procurement. We have staff that work

51:45on grants. It's a little decentralized

51:46because we have the subject matter

51:48experts doing the work on the type of

51:51grant that we apply for or we have the

51:53person that

51:55you know has experience with

51:56construction handling the construction

51:58procurement.

52:00And as you see retirements over the next

52:02couple years, those are things that

52:03we're going to have to address anyway

52:04because we have a few people wearing a

52:07lot of hats. And as they go, you're not

52:09going to be able to find that same one

52:10person that's going to be able to do all

52:12that. So I think as you see retirements

52:16in the next couple years, we're

52:17unfortunately going to have to make a

52:19lot of changes in how this work gets

52:21performed.

52:22Um, I don't, you know, I'm not ready to

52:24say, "Yeah, we're going to add a

52:27full-time position in the finance office

52:28or so on and so forth." But I think

52:31we'll have to see some change and how

52:33things are divied up.

52:34>> What about the schools and their

52:36diligence of getting the uh material

52:40that they needed to look at?

52:43>> Well, as I alluded to, I can't I can't

52:45control uh

52:46>> I know you can't, but is that a

52:48suggestion that needs to be made? Well,

52:51I think it it has been made. It's been

52:53discussed with the with the finance

52:55staff there in the prior administration.

52:57Uh we put the interim superintendent on

52:59notice that we're doing the special uh

53:01excuse me, this best practice audit.

53:03We've told him why. You know, he he had

53:06to move on again because I hired

53:07somebody new. So, when we meet with the

53:08new superintendent, we'll go over this

53:11again. And hopefully when that best

53:14practice auditor starts, he can uh

53:16convince them that they need to do

53:19things a little more efficiently and

53:20we'll get cooperation. I know Jen is

53:22gonna I've asked Jen to issue a year-end

53:24closing memo to the school department to

53:26motivate them to set the expectation.

53:28Look, you have to get this wrapped up by

53:29a certain time because it's going to it

53:32has cascading consequences to the rest

53:34of the work cycle. when they're looking

53:36for budget information for us in January

53:38and February, we can't always drop what

53:40we're doing and provide it for them

53:42because we're still trying to close the

53:43year end and we can't fully transition

53:45to other work that needs to be done. So,

53:48it impacts everything else that we need

53:50to do in our financial cycle.

53:54>> What is the penalty of not getting it

53:56done in a timely manner?

53:57>> Well, we have meetings like this where

54:01>> you get a significant deficiency that

54:03sucks. uh we have to report to we get

54:05put on report with OPM we get put on

54:08report with other agencies that um are

54:11providing us grant money it undermines

54:13public confidence

54:15I mean it can if you don't address it it

54:17just gets worse

54:21>> yeah we I had an inquiry from a yes I

54:24had an inquiry from an investor that

54:26bought some of our bonds that was

54:28worried about what's going on here and

54:29I've never had that in my entire career

54:32have a bond holder actually reach out to

54:34me and say what's going on there. So,

54:38>> thank you.

54:41>> Is there any state statutes with some

54:43timelines that forces the issue?

54:47>> Well, you have to you have to have it

54:48filed with OPM by a certain date. I

54:51believe it's May or June. And when you

54:53don't have your audit report filed, they

54:54take notice and they start sending me

54:56notices and gen notices. You probably

54:59have gotten a couple notices unless

55:01>> Well, that Yeah. I mean it's

55:02>> unless they're being forwarded to Jason

55:04Anderson still. [laughter]

55:08No, but I mean sometimes it

55:13there's something out there other than

55:16outside entities or OPM if if they have

55:19their if they may have a set of

55:21guidelines that that's what we put out

55:24to

55:25>> our department people

55:27>> to board of ed so that it's not like

55:31someone individual is is telling them

55:33you better do this wait a minute state

55:35statute says

55:37this is your timeline and that maybe we

55:40use that a little bit more forcefully.

55:42>> I think there's a lot of financial

55:43guidance out there among like you know

55:45the government f government finance

55:47association that is already providing

55:50this guidance to financial

55:51professionals. Okay, that's

55:53>> so it's not necessarily all detailed and

55:55embedded in statute, but I think people

55:57that work in this industry know that

56:00they need to they should be getting the

56:02work done on time and earlier. And you

56:05know, it it happens in government

56:07organizations where somebody wants to

56:08hold the books open to manipulate

56:10certain things or allow certain expenses

56:12to come in, you know, after a certain

56:14date so they can charge it to the last

56:16fiscal year and so on. And that's what

56:19we're, you know, that's what we're

56:20trying to combat.

56:22So,

56:22>> but it's it's it's getting to be more

56:24like we're in September now and that

56:26this really is not good. I mean, there

56:28was when I was first on board, it was

56:31like uh in May or the end of April, and

56:35it was kind of like, well, it's it's

56:37there, but it's it should be in January,

56:40February, and we're never there. We're

56:43we're getting further out. And

56:46>> so somehow we we have to put the

56:48pressure on to get,

56:50>> you know,

56:51>> yeah,

56:51>> we need their help to say yes.

56:53>> We need their help. Jen needs to get the

56:55memo over to the the board of ed

56:57>> and then the superintendent needs to

56:59hold the finance staff over there. And

57:01they have a much bigger finance staff

57:03than we have accountable for doing their

57:05accounting and providing their

57:06reporting.

57:07>> So,

57:08>> and then, you know, we need your backup

57:10as well when that doesn't happen. Or

57:12again, maybe we throw it out there in

57:15January. What's the status of the audit,

57:17you know, and then and and get the ball

57:19rolling just so that everybody's aware,

57:22>> right?

57:22>> And uh or even December, what's the

57:26status of because

57:27>> Yeah. Well, I think we scheduled for

57:28them for field work already, right? So,

57:40>> schedule

57:44department.

58:05Go ahead, Oola.

58:07>> So, this has been a longstanding problem

58:09with the board of education. They did

58:12hire extra staff, which hasn't done

58:14anything. We don't even get our monthly

58:16financial statements anymore. Sometimes

58:19we don't get them for two months or

58:21three months with the additional staff.

58:23So, this is becoming more of a problem

58:25than previously.

58:29So as I say somehow maybe just an

58:32celebrityly during our meetings

58:35bring it forward. Hey budget is maybe

58:38it's way out but just a comment

58:42because this is this is totally

58:43unacceptable. This September stuff is

58:46just

58:48>> I don't like that either.

58:50>> No, I I but

58:53but sometime

58:55maybe it's a repetitious but just could

58:57go out there and in in January 1 just we

59:01have an issue an item on our agenda.

59:04>> What's the status of the audit?

59:06>> I will

59:08regular

59:15Okay.

59:18Just something we just

59:22>> we don't have to act or just something

59:23so that we can put it out there.

59:25>> I can provide you the status on that.

59:28>> Okay.

59:31>> The BOE is um providing the their

59:34year-end information 9 and 10 months

59:37after the fact.

59:38>> Yeah. This is that's we we've got to

59:42move on this.

59:43>> Mr. Chair, I seeing the the motion is

59:47about um uh picking Mahoney and Sable.

59:51My question is are there a lot of

59:53municipal

59:54CPAs available in the state?

1:00:00>> So

1:00:00>> there's a handful. There's a few more I

1:00:02think accounting firms than law firms.

1:00:05So there might be like two more. There's

1:00:07not a lot to choose from. So sticking

1:00:10with ones that already know our problem

1:00:12areas.

1:00:13>> I I recognize the benefit of changing

1:00:15the auditor, but I also recognize the

1:00:17amount of work that it creates. And I

1:00:19think given what we have going on and

1:00:21the need to try and move the needle back

1:00:23specifically on this issue to get

1:00:25corrective action, there would be some

1:00:26benefit in not changing horses right at

1:00:29this time.

1:00:30>> At least until the ship gets rided

1:00:32anyways.

1:00:33>> We're already well into the new fiscal

1:00:35year, too. This would have to go way

1:00:37before the fiscal year.

1:00:39>> You know, maybe you add to the

1:00:40resolution of the motion to have us do

1:00:42procurement for a new auditor for the

1:00:45next fiscal year, you know, for the

1:00:50for the following year to bid it back

1:00:52out

1:00:52>> or we discuss it when

1:00:54>> or we disc or discuss it when you get

1:00:55your audit.

1:01:03A motion.

1:01:05>> We have a motion in a second. But do

1:01:09do you want to wait until the audit is

1:01:11finished or do you want to you know we I

1:01:14I see some

1:01:18skepticism

1:01:20>> going with the same audit firm. But

1:01:22>> right but the town manager recommended

1:01:24that we stay with them for one more

1:01:25cycle. So,

1:01:26>> but he was suggesting maybe we wait

1:01:28another month until they finish.

1:01:33>> But then that month we've got we've got

1:01:35to get them in the time slot. So that's

1:01:39another problem. We're so far behind

1:01:41right now.

1:01:43If we were discussing this in May,

1:01:46>> but this is for another year.

1:01:49>> Yeah, but we're appointing them for

1:01:51another year. It doesn't have anything

1:01:52to do with it. But we also have to give

1:01:55them they have to have their time slot

1:01:57in January. We have to give them notice.

1:02:00So it would take us quite a bit of time

1:02:05and then we have to go out and look at

1:02:06if another audit is avail is is

1:02:09available. So I think what what Brian's

1:02:11trying to say is at this point if we use

1:02:14our best practice scenario

1:02:17stay with the group we have

1:02:21>> one more year

1:02:22>> for one more year and then maybe have

1:02:24this discussion a little bit even before

1:02:26the audit is coming forward we start

1:02:29having the discussion about should we

1:02:31proceed with a different auditing firm

1:02:34and I would suggest adopting it tonight

1:02:36and then having the fiscal subcommittee

1:02:39be the agents of change and getting them

1:02:42started early even within the next few

1:02:45months to start discussing a change for

1:02:47the next fiscal year. That would be my

1:02:49plan of action

1:02:50>> or at least identifying other firms.

1:02:52>> Exactly. I mean, it's going to take a

1:02:54lot of groundwork. It's not something

1:02:55that should be done with nine people in

1:02:56a room. You know, the fiscal

1:02:58subcommittee would be the greatest place

1:02:59to discuss it, look at firms, have the

1:03:02town manager bring forward um all the

1:03:04candidates and then, you know, pick one

1:03:06or two to present to the full full

1:03:07council. that what I just discussed will

1:03:09take 9 months or something like that.

1:03:11[laughter]

1:03:17>> Is there any other Okay, right now we're

1:03:19look we're voting on keeping Mahoney and

1:03:23Sable as our auditor for

1:03:27year ending 2627.

1:03:40No

1:03:41>> to accept the audit for 25 the audit.

1:03:44The 2526

1:03:45audit is

1:03:48>> and then appoint. Yeah,

1:03:51but Oh, okay. I was looking at

1:03:54appointing them as auditors for 2627.

1:03:59Oh,

1:04:05so this is a double whammy.

1:04:14Let me get

1:04:17Okay, let's get

1:04:28>> in the item on the cover sheet where it

1:04:30says at the beginning of

1:04:32>> Okay, let me get the cover sheet out.

1:04:34>> 2425

1:04:35should be 2526

1:04:40>> and then the end should be

1:04:4526 27

1:04:56>> So it's correct. Okay.

1:04:59>> Okay.

1:05:05>> So we're accepting an audit that's not

1:05:06complete.

1:05:09>> That's I'm having a little bit of a

1:05:10problem with that. It is complete.

1:05:12There's only

1:05:16the only

1:05:21numbers that are highlighted.

1:05:26>> They wouldn't be here doing their report

1:05:35and we've always we've always had this

1:05:36discussion in this way. We don't come to

1:05:40you report that way.

1:05:52Right. But this won't come a second time

1:05:54around for us to approve it when things

1:05:56can have the ability to get changed.

1:05:58Correct.

1:06:04>> I think we're talking about

1:06:09>> I'm not sure what else would change. Um,

1:06:12I we can wait on accepting the the audit

1:06:14until the final report is published

1:06:18if that's where you're going. But as far

1:06:20if we're talking about appointing the

1:06:21auditor for the next year, what we're

1:06:23what we want to appoint Mahoney for is

1:06:25to audit the fiscal year that just

1:06:27closed.

1:06:28>> And that's that's I think what we're

1:06:31trying to do.

1:06:31>> When we talk about changing audit firms,

1:06:33we're talking about changing audit firms

1:06:35for the fiscal year that will end on

1:06:37June 30th, 2027.

1:06:40But if we want to wait on accepting the

1:06:42audit report until you have the final

1:06:44printed draft that's all bound,

1:06:47>> we can do that. I mean, that's that's

1:06:49neither here nor there. It's not going

1:06:50to

1:06:52So, we have to amend the motion.

1:06:55I think that's what we're

1:07:00>> I think we we scheduled it to we were

1:07:03pushing to get them to present because

1:07:06we wanted you to have the findings about

1:07:09what needs to happen,

1:07:11>> right?

1:07:12>> The corrective action, right? Because we

1:07:14need to we want to issue them a memo

1:07:15saying you need to get your year end

1:07:17wrapped up and so on. And we so we

1:07:19really wanted to have this presentation

1:07:21and have you hear this stuff because

1:07:23we're going to be communicating it to

1:07:24other officials. So

1:07:28you don't have we have the draft audit

1:07:30they presented. They have a couple

1:07:31things to wrap up. Then they can bind

1:07:33and print it if you want to delay

1:07:36accepting it until you have the the

1:07:38final printed. That I don't have any

1:07:40objection to that. I think I think

1:07:42that's a would be if we delay accepting

1:07:45the audit, but we have to

1:07:49>> appoint.

1:07:49>> Yes,

1:07:50>> we do the appointment now. It gets the

1:07:53things going.

1:07:54>> Yes.

1:07:55>> So, we got to go back and amend the

1:07:57motion

1:07:59to

1:08:02I don't know. I don't exactly what the

1:08:04motion said.

1:08:07I think if we just had a motion

1:08:08appointing

1:08:10Mahoney Sabol and Company as a certified

1:08:13public auditors for the fiscal year

1:08:162526

1:08:18that would suffice.

1:08:21>> Let's second that.

1:08:23>> So what? Okay. So but we still got to

1:08:25get out of what the motion that's on the

1:08:27floor. We got to cancel those two.

1:08:30Cancel the motion and the second.

1:08:32>> Correct.

1:08:33>> Or Kevin. and and then we can make a new

1:08:36motion just to appoint the new

1:08:41>> or Kevin amends his motion. I

1:08:43>> well he can just withdraw the mo we if

1:08:45we withdraw the motion withdraw the

1:08:48second

1:08:49that goes away then we don't go through

1:08:51this and then we just have to have a

1:08:54motion to appoint Mahoney and Sable.

1:08:58>> Well, I'll withdraw the motion for

1:09:01agenda item 6A.

1:09:02>> Okay. And then we want to withdraw the

1:09:04second.

1:09:06>> Okay. Now we can make a motion to

1:09:08appoint.

1:09:10If you want to do that, Kevin,

1:09:11>> I'll make a motion with consideration

1:09:13and action on a resolution to accept the

1:09:152024 2025 audit.

1:09:18>> No,

1:09:18>> no. That's uh

1:09:19>> No, no.

1:09:20>> Yeah.

1:09:21>> Just the

1:09:22>> to perform the town's audit for the

1:09:23fiscal year 2025 2026 for Mahoney

1:09:28>> in Sable.

1:09:36because item agenda 6B has the

1:09:39acceptance of this past audit and and um

1:09:44appointing them to perform next year's

1:09:46budget.

1:09:46>> Well, see that's what we want to do. We

1:09:48want them to appoint them for the year

1:09:51ending 2020

1:09:53>> 2025 2026.

1:09:57>> That's right.

1:09:59>> Correct.

1:10:00>> Correct. We want to appoint them, but we

1:10:02weren't going to accept the audit

1:10:04because it's not final.

1:10:06So, we're basically splitting that

1:10:07motion in half

1:10:09>> and no one accepting.

1:10:10>> Yeah. So, year ending Well, that's where

1:10:13it gets to be funky because it's

1:10:14midyear. And if it said year ending June

1:10:1730th, 2027,

1:10:20it makes it, you know,

1:10:25>> Yes.

1:10:28Okay. So,

1:10:35can you re do you have the wording of

1:10:38what? Let's get it.

1:10:47Well, we know what we want, but let's

1:10:48let's

1:10:53>> You You want me to read what Kevin said,

1:10:55or you want me to suggest the motion?

1:10:59I [clears throat] think Kevin made the

1:11:00motion to appoint Mahoney Sabul and

1:11:02Company LLP certified public accountants

1:11:04as auditor for the fiscal year ending

1:11:062025 to 2026.

1:11:09>> But they're doing that now.

1:11:12>> Yeah.

1:11:13>> Yes. And they need to be they need to be

1:11:15appointed to do that work. They are

1:11:18scheduled to do that work and we need to

1:11:19appoint them to do that work.

1:11:22>> Okay.

1:11:26I'm trying to 20

1:11:29>> six

1:11:31You're two years behind.

1:11:33>> That's what I'm trying to I'm trying to

1:11:34get it.

1:11:35>> We're not accepting 2425. Appointing

1:11:37them for 256.

1:11:38>> Appointing them for 2526

1:11:41>> to do this.

1:11:42>> One that ended in June.

1:11:44>> The one that ended in June. That's what

1:11:46we ending June 30th.

1:11:48>> 2026.

1:11:49>> 2026.

1:11:51That's what we want. The

1:11:54>> then that makes it [laughter]

1:11:57>> is Are we all Is that

1:11:58>> first? We're good. You're good.

1:12:01>> Okay. All in favor?

1:12:02>> I

1:12:03>> Any opposed?

1:12:05Any extensions? Motion passes. Okay.

1:12:11Sorry about the nonsense, but Well,

1:12:16okay. Now we're going back up to

1:12:18appointments to But you said you'd like

1:12:21to separate it so that we're not

1:12:24approving it this time. The audit.

1:12:28>> Yeah, we didn't. We took that out.

1:12:31>> Yeah, we took the accepting the audit

1:12:33out and we're just using a pointing the

1:12:36>> for the and then we can Okay.

1:12:44All right. Now we're going item 10,

1:12:46appointments to boards and commissions.

1:12:49George Slope Jr. um he wants to be

1:12:53appointed as a regular member on a

1:12:56permanent building commission from

1:12:59alternate member. Can I have a motion?

1:13:01>> I'll make that motion.

1:13:03>> I'll second.

1:13:05>> Motion by Kevin and a second by Oola.

1:13:08Any discussion?

1:13:14his expertise is roofing and um we're

1:13:16going to need that for the intermediate

1:13:19school with all of their roofing

1:13:21problems.

1:13:22>> So I think he's a good well moving him

1:13:26up from alternate he's been there so

1:13:27which is he's already had some

1:13:29experience which is not a new member so

1:13:31I think that would be good. All in

1:13:32favor?

1:13:34>> Any opposed?

1:13:36>> Any abstensions?

1:13:38Okay, motion carries.

1:13:42Russell Daniels, appointment to the

1:13:44planning and zoning commission. Do I

1:13:47have a motion?

1:13:48>> I'll make that motion.

1:13:50>> Second.

1:13:53>> Any discussion?

1:13:55>> I wasn't here when you interviewed, but

1:13:57he does understand that

1:13:59>> Mike

1:14:00>> that we still have to follow the

1:14:03regulations

1:14:06that are on the books. Otherwise, you

1:14:08know, we're going to be in a difficult

1:14:11situation

1:14:12and maybe it's good to have some new

1:14:15blood if we look at changing our

1:14:18description of certain pieces of

1:14:20property.

1:14:24>> Any other comments?

1:14:27>> Uh I believe he um realizes that and he

1:14:30has been actively attending inland

1:14:32wetland water course and planning and

1:14:34zoning meetings. So he he does know that

1:14:36he needs to follow the regulations and

1:14:38we will be having um workshops on

1:14:41changing um uh regulations with uh the

1:14:45public welcome to make their um

1:14:47suggestions.

1:14:49>> Thank you.

1:14:52>> Any further discussion?

1:14:56>> Um

1:14:58I I won't vote for him into this

1:15:01position. I feel like he came in here

1:15:03with uh baiting prejudice uh towards a

1:15:07position. Um I would like to see someone

1:15:10that takes a position that's proactive,

1:15:11not reactive. He seemed very very uh

1:15:14looking to ask us questions to try to

1:15:18put council in a weird position. So, um

1:15:22I don't particularly think that's a good

1:15:25fit.

1:15:27>> Any other council comments?

1:15:37All in favor?

1:15:42>> Roll call.

1:15:43>> Roll call. Vote.

1:15:47>> Tony Gamatisa.

1:15:48>> No.

1:15:57>> All right, Tony. That was a no. That's a

1:16:00no.

1:16:00>> Okay.

1:16:02>> Um Tammy Wakefield,

1:16:05>> no.

1:16:06>> Kevin Cula,

1:16:07>> no.

1:16:08>> David Griffith,

1:16:10>> no.

1:16:12>> Uh Ulatique Barlay,

1:16:14>> yes.

1:16:16>> Jonathan Susselini,

1:16:17>> abain.

1:16:19>> Adam Reynolds,

1:16:20>> no.

1:16:22>> Jared Braun,

1:16:23>> no.

1:16:24>> Ed Granowski,

1:16:26>> abstain.

1:16:28Motion fails.

1:16:32>> Moving on. Uh

1:16:37Jeffrey

1:16:38Sonko, appointment to the conservation

1:16:41commission.

1:16:44Any uh do I have a motion?

1:16:46>> I'll make that motion.

1:16:48>> I'll second

1:16:54>> discussion.

1:16:56I think he was a really good candidate.

1:16:58I think his motivation's in the right

1:17:00place. I think he's got the uh time and

1:17:03ability to handle it and he's got a lot

1:17:05of uh uh he's he's got great experience

1:17:08for the role.

1:17:11>> I haven't been I guess he's been to some

1:17:13of the I haven't I've missed the

1:17:15conservation meetings the last few been

1:17:16due to other meetings that I've been to.

1:17:19So I don't have a on-site

1:17:22experience with him. So, um I wish I

1:17:26had, but you know, he's come forward and

1:17:29um it's a good group that they have.

1:17:31They're all they're all engaged. Any

1:17:34other comments?

1:17:38>> I agree with Jared that he has a lot of

1:17:40experience with the um core of engineers

1:17:43and

1:17:45so I believe he'll be good for the

1:17:46conservation commission.

1:17:52All in favor? I.

1:17:54>> Any opposed? Any abstensions?

1:17:59>> Okay, one abstension.

1:18:01John, motion carries.

1:18:05Tammy Wakefield, appointment as

1:18:08alternate member

1:18:10to the Department of Public Health.

1:18:14>> Second.

1:18:17>> Any discussion?

1:18:23All in favor? I.

1:18:25>> Any opposed?

1:18:27>> Any abstensions?

1:18:28>> I'm abstaining

1:18:30>> motion. Really? Really?

1:18:35>> Okay. Moving on. Reports from liaison.

1:18:38Board of education liaison.

1:18:41We have no one here. Um, burrow council

1:18:45liaison.

1:18:49All right. So, um we the Burrow of

1:18:52Danielson's been in the news a little

1:18:54bit lately. Um our August fire

1:18:58commissioners meeting um was a little

1:19:02got a lot of press. Um,

1:19:06we um had an emergency meeting last

1:19:11Thursday

1:19:13um

1:19:14where we appointed Ian Sullivan um as

1:19:18our burough attorney works with um I

1:19:21know I'm going to screw it up. St. Arard

1:19:25out of Putinham Woodstock area. Um he

1:19:30actually consults with um Bill Sean who

1:19:33used to be our longtime uh town

1:19:36attorney. Um so he he's he's got a good

1:19:40a good person backing him up there. Um

1:19:43so on the meeting last week um

1:19:49uh we voted on that and then we um had a

1:19:53significant discussion about gear and

1:19:55the need for gear. Um

1:19:58uh we ended up uh setting a date. Uh so

1:20:03our regular borrow meeting will be the

1:20:0516th, which is next Wednesday. Um I'm my

1:20:09I'm going to strongly urge that we uh do

1:20:13some work with our charter. Our charter

1:20:15hasn't been updated in a long long time.

1:20:19Um it needs needs some updating. Um I

1:20:22think that between that and the gear is

1:20:24is two of the big pressing issues. We've

1:20:27done a lot of work in the burrow and I

1:20:28think we need to catch some stuff up. Um

1:20:32but so our regular meeting is next

1:20:34Wednesday at second floor of the fire

1:20:36station 7 o'clock. Um a week later on

1:20:39the 23rd is when there is a special

1:20:42public hearing. All Burough residents

1:20:45are welcome to attend. It's at 7 p.m. Um

1:20:48we will be voting on the what was

1:20:50proposed last Thursday, which is a

1:20:53$64,000

1:20:55um aotment to purchase um 15 um sets of

1:21:00gear um and set aside $10,000 for rental

1:21:05equipment for um because presently we

1:21:08have four in the training academy. Um,

1:21:12so that that's um for $2,000 you get a

1:21:16set of gear that they the person can the

1:21:19trainee can actually use for a whole

1:21:22year. [clears throat] They take care of

1:21:23any damage and that. Um, but that way in

1:21:27you can make sure they get through the

1:21:28academy and they're committed to the

1:21:31department before you make the

1:21:32expenditure of of five $6,000 for for

1:21:37set of turnout gear. So, um,

1:21:41so that's, um, what's going to be

1:21:43included in that 64,000 and that's going

1:21:46to be September the 23rd at 7 p.m.

1:21:49second floor the fire station. Um, so

1:21:53um, we're continuing to do work. Um

1:21:57there's plans to um put a a historic

1:22:01mural up in the um upstairs area um that

1:22:06kind of depicts the Danielson Fire

1:22:08Department history. I believe that

1:22:11supposed to be um looked at and and

1:22:14approved on next Wednesday's meeting as

1:22:17well. Um so we're just moving along and

1:22:21and handling. I know I've been in a lot

1:22:25of contact with a lot of the

1:22:26firefighters and and the officers in the

1:22:30department. Um and uh they're they're

1:22:33still they still want to bring bring the

1:22:36fire department. They want to bring it

1:22:37back to where where it was historically

1:22:40and um they're working hard and they're

1:22:43training hard. So,

1:22:45um, we have had several,

1:22:48we've [sighs] had, well, including the

1:22:50one that was over in Fall Brook, that's

1:22:52that's the like the fourth major fire

1:22:54we've had in in the town in

1:22:58like three three months. So, it's

1:23:01there's definitely a need to make sure

1:23:03our first responders are are taken care

1:23:05of. So, um, I encourage all Burough

1:23:08residents to to attend. Our burrow

1:23:11meetings are always the third Wednesday,

1:23:147 pm at second floor at the fire

1:23:16station. So, um, get involved, get get

1:23:20motivated if if you want to help. I

1:23:22mean, we're going to definitely need

1:23:23citizens to volunteer for a charter

1:23:26revision. Um, because that's definitely

1:23:29something that needs to be addressed and

1:23:30taken care of. And, uh, just let's get

1:23:32active just like everything else. you

1:23:35know, if if you can't sit on the

1:23:38sidelines complaining if you're not

1:23:39willing to do something to do some of

1:23:41the work. So, um I encourage everybody

1:23:44to to come on and a lot of hands make

1:23:47for light work and maybe we can get this

1:23:49moving in the right direction.

1:23:52>> Dave,

1:23:54>> were there anything particular about

1:23:56these buildings? Were they vacant?

1:23:59>> Um well, I know the first one was a

1:24:01garage. Um

1:24:04there was the one that was on Mechanic

1:24:06Street that that was just I think some

1:24:09was a some like an accident kitchen fire

1:24:12or something. Um Hud Hawkins I don't

1:24:15know if they've ever fully determined

1:24:17what exactly I know the building was was

1:24:20quite dilapidated.

1:24:22um f one of the firefighters at last

1:24:24Thursday's meeting talked about how when

1:24:26he made entry trying to find to do a

1:24:29cursory look for any anybody that might

1:24:31be in the building he actually went

1:24:33through the floor. Um, so I don't think

1:24:35that the structure itself was very

1:24:38stable. And then of course, Fall Brook,

1:24:41it was a mobile was a mobile home. So

1:24:43those those

1:24:45are uh quite combustible and they burn

1:24:47really hot. So um but uh I I don't think

1:24:52there was anything in particular other

1:24:54than they just bad bad fires that made a

1:24:58lot of news.

1:25:00>> Thank you.

1:25:02Any other comments for Tammy?

1:25:08Thank you.

1:25:12Um,

1:25:13some report on general fund

1:25:15appropriations for town government. Can

1:25:17I have a motion?

1:25:20>> Second.

1:25:22>> Motion by Dave, second by Oola.

1:25:24Discussion.

1:25:29Hearing

1:25:37no comments. All in favor?

1:25:41>> Hold on.

1:25:42>> Oh,

1:25:43>> if you look at uh P&Z permits, then

1:25:47you've got to understand that we're

1:25:50really moving hot and heavy with new

1:25:52applications and they need all the help

1:25:55they can get. Thank you.

1:26:07No. Okay.

1:26:09Are the are the permit fees covering the

1:26:12expenses that we're incurring with

1:26:15staff? Is is there more cost or I I

1:26:19don't know what you're seeing if that's

1:26:20too quick to uh or if we need a little

1:26:23more time to

1:26:28um I think one of the things that's been

1:26:30discussed over the past couple years is

1:26:32whether the permit fees are reasonable

1:26:34and I can see uh where staff has made

1:26:37efforts that they started over the past

1:26:39couple years to look at the fees. Have

1:26:41they never completed a fee study? So, I

1:26:44think that our fees are probably lower

1:26:46than they could be. Not saying that we

1:26:49need to make the fees the highest

1:26:50around, but um we're probably not

1:26:52recovering the costs that we reasonably

1:26:54could for permit fees. In this category

1:26:56of service, we have a couple

1:26:58applications, as everybody knows, that

1:27:01are, you know, requiring extensive

1:27:02amounts of our time. And sometimes

1:27:04that's going to happen that one big

1:27:06application comes in and it sucks up all

1:27:09the energy of the department. and you

1:27:10know we can't just increase the fees for

1:27:13that particular application because it's

1:27:15requiring more time. So you're you're

1:27:17trying to set your fees at a reasonable

1:27:19level.

1:27:19>> But does the planning and zoning commit

1:27:21are they do they set the fees or is that

1:27:24more from your off your town manager's

1:27:26office that

1:27:27>> Yeah, I mean it's it's a joint effort.

1:27:30There are different fees that are set by

1:27:32different agencies in town. Some of them

1:27:33are set by ordinance. We certainly

1:27:35wouldn't go setting the fees for

1:27:36planning and zoning without their input.

1:27:39Um, so I think it's a it's an effort

1:27:42that would have multiple um stakeholders

1:27:44to suggest what they should be and uh we

1:27:47did start to look at it last fall when I

1:27:50started and then uh everybody got busy

1:27:53reviewing a certain application and

1:27:55[laughter]

1:27:56didn't get that work done before budget

1:27:57time.

1:28:08All in favor?

1:28:10>> I.

1:28:10>> Any opposed? Any abstensions? Hey,

1:28:14motion carries. Um, system object based

1:28:17on adjusted budget for board of

1:28:19education.

1:28:21Um, none. Okay. Town manager report.

1:28:28We're trying to move forward with the

1:28:30wastewater plant expansion effort. Um

1:28:33there was a draft flow and load memo

1:28:35that our consultant gave to WPCA a

1:28:37couple meetings ago that's been held up.

1:28:39Uh we're hoping that that can uh be

1:28:41discussed more fully at their next

1:28:42meeting. But tomorrow we're having a

1:28:45pretty detailed presentation from that

1:28:47consultant. He'll be putting forward

1:28:49some technical uh recommendations,

1:28:51alternatives, ideas for us to

1:28:52brainstorm. And uh we're also expecting

1:28:56that he'll have some suggestions

1:28:58um as to how we can improve our existing

1:29:01processes with what we have that will

1:29:03hopefully free up some capacity and um

1:29:06get into some alternative technologies.

1:29:09Uh so those are the some of the things

1:29:11I'm I'm hoping we'll hear about at

1:29:13tomorrow's meeting. Uh

1:29:14>> what time is that tomorrow?

1:29:15>> It's at 10 a.m. at the plant. I mean we

1:29:17can have up to four four of you attend

1:29:20if you're interested is a notice I put

1:29:22out last week about that. Um, I think Ed

1:29:24is going to attend as the liaison, but

1:29:26if anybody else wants to talk about poop

1:29:29for three hours, uh, come on [laughter]

1:29:31down to the plant.

1:29:35>> I can go to that meeting.

1:29:36>> Okay, awesome.

1:29:39Uh, on the PAS, uh, the Rogers end that

1:29:41that Deep is handling, I don't have an

1:29:43updated tally. I know they're still

1:29:45going, uh, forward with testing. They've

1:29:47been doing some door knocking on um

1:29:51I can't I'm gonna mess up the

1:29:53pronunciation. I'm not going to try. But

1:29:54Lake Road and um Upper Maple. They're

1:29:58starting on there's one other road that

1:30:00it's not coming to me right now, but

1:30:01they've expanded in that area. I know as

1:30:03of the end of July, there were 104 homes

1:30:05that have tested positive and uh they're

1:30:08just going to continue that effort. They

1:30:09did uh mention that as they've moved out

1:30:11from the epicenter where they tested,

1:30:13they're starting to see the

1:30:14concentrations fall off, although

1:30:16they're still over the desired level for

1:30:18compliance, but they're they're starting

1:30:20to get better. Um, as far as the water

1:30:23man extension, we did finally hear back

1:30:25from Connecticut Water. We have a

1:30:27meeting with them later this week to see

1:30:28if they're going to come forward with a

1:30:30match for the grant to extend the public

1:30:32water man over there on state achild a

1:30:35and tie some of those potentially tie

1:30:36some of those residents in. And then

1:30:39lastly on the DPH testing program which

1:30:42is more of a townwide program. There's

1:30:43going to be another public information

1:30:45meeting that they're putting on next

1:30:47Tuesday evening at the high school at 6

1:30:48pm. Uh I believe that residents will be

1:30:51able to sign up for well test kits at

1:30:53that meeting. if not receive one at that

1:30:55meeting. I know the last meeting there

1:30:57was an overwhelming attendance and they

1:30:59only had 50s something kits to give out.

1:31:01I'm hoping that they'll have more this

1:31:03time, but um after that meeting the kits

1:31:06will be distributed from Brooklyn Town

1:31:08Hall instead of Killingly Town Hall

1:31:10because they are including Brooklyn in

1:31:12this next round of testing.

1:31:14Um, as far as Old Killingly Pond Dam, I

1:31:17think everybody knows that Deep has

1:31:18issued a consent order, which is kind of

1:31:21like a leverage negotiation where

1:31:23they're trying to get the dam owner um

1:31:25to move forward with some repair

1:31:27efforts. I heard some back and forth

1:31:30that they're trying to get the owner

1:31:31into a meeting that might happen by the

1:31:32end of the month, though I claim he's

1:31:34claiming his application, something to

1:31:36that effect. So, um, that's what I know

1:31:39about that. The brickyard project is

1:31:43moving forward on schedule. Uh no no

1:31:46significant delays there yet. The skate

1:31:48park rehab that we had bid out at Owen

1:31:50Bell, we had gone to award it and the

1:31:52will bidder made um some unusual demands

1:31:55to be paid in advance to reschedule the

1:31:57work till spring and you know my read of

1:32:00it is he's looking at the next hired

1:32:02bidder which is significantly higher and

1:32:04you know he's looking for a creative way

1:32:06to withdraw from the project. So we

1:32:08agreed with him and didn't award the

1:32:10bid. Um, we're going to see if we can

1:32:12package that work to potentially do some

1:32:14of it ourselves or rebid it u early

1:32:18winter and line someone else up to do

1:32:20the work. Uh, the highway departments uh

1:32:24bid out the tree clearing and stomach

1:32:25for the emergency access road and that

1:32:27work is ongoing if not finished. I know

1:32:29they I saw a video.

1:32:32>> Yeah. So, uh, that's been cut through. I

1:32:35have some drone footage of the swath.

1:32:36It's kind of cool. I forward it to you

1:32:38guys if you want to take a look at it.

1:32:40Um we received

1:32:43about a year coming up on a year ago we

1:32:45were awarded some bridge um replacement

1:32:48grants through state DOT. They've been

1:32:50doing some design work on that. Those

1:32:52four bridges uh right road bridge is the

1:32:55first bridge that's kind of made it to

1:32:56the recommended uh option phase and

1:32:58they're going to be DOT is going to be

1:33:00coming out next Wednesday evening and

1:33:02presenting their recommendation on that

1:33:04which will be in this room at at 7 p.m.

1:33:06It's an opportunity for the public to

1:33:07come forward and see what the solution

1:33:08is. They'll have some plans and graphics

1:33:10for people to look at. Um so if you're

1:33:13interested in attending that, you can

1:33:14come out to the meeting. Our police

1:33:17department did receive uh its uh third

1:33:20tier training accreditation which is a

1:33:22step in the path to have an independent

1:33:24police department and that's the last

1:33:27sort of paperwork hurdle that we need to

1:33:29overcome. So going forward the the

1:33:32hurdle is financial in terms of adding

1:33:35staff and adding a command structure and

1:33:37the policies that that go with that. We

1:33:40have some of the policies but once we

1:33:42add rank and command structure um and

1:33:46budget money then we can eventually

1:33:48transition and be independent. I think

1:33:50some of you were on the council I think

1:33:52around COVID when you had a plan of

1:33:54going independent you were going to add

1:33:55an officer a year and of course that the

1:33:58finances never you know really work for

1:34:01those type of plans but um that's the

1:34:03type of work we need to do to move

1:34:05forward if that's still a goal and I I

1:34:07think it wasn't included in your goals

1:34:09for this year that you adopted. So I

1:34:12think we'll be talking more about that.

1:34:16Um, let's see what else have I got.

1:34:22The, uh, grant we got for the looking at

1:34:25reusing the former burough wastewater

1:34:27plant. Um, this was something we were

1:34:29awarded again late last fall and it it

1:34:31just kind of dragged after the award,

1:34:33but we finally got the green light to do

1:34:35the procurement work to hire the

1:34:37environmental consultants to do the

1:34:38environmental assessments. So, we're

1:34:40putting that out shortly. uh work on the

1:34:44um salt shed roof has been completed

1:34:46within budget and um there's some

1:34:49communication in your packet uh that I

1:34:51included regarding the Westfield project

1:34:53that you can look at and

1:34:56follow up with me if you like. So that's

1:34:59what I have.

1:35:03>> Any comments for the town manager Dave

1:35:08>> on the pass? You've got te some of the

1:35:11testing that's been done. Some people

1:35:13refuse to go in and be tested,

1:35:17but

1:35:19if you ever sell your home, you have to

1:35:22divulge everything. And if you're not

1:35:24doing testing, that's going to show up

1:35:27if you try to sell.

1:35:31I'm not a realtor.

1:35:36But that's the way I look at it. So, I

1:35:38just think that if somebody wants to

1:35:41test, it's in their best interest to be

1:35:44tested.

1:35:46If we run the water line,

1:35:50is there a cost to hook up to the water

1:35:52line?

1:35:54In our prior conversations with

1:35:56Connecticut Water, they've indicated

1:35:58that they will wave the connection fee

1:36:00if somebody commits to tie in before

1:36:02they start construction on project.

1:36:05Otherwise, under their current fee

1:36:07structure, if they waited till the end,

1:36:09there could be a $5,000 connection fee.

1:36:12>> But that is if the town participates at

1:36:1520% to help them run the line.

1:36:17>> Well, I was looking at it as that's if

1:36:20Connecticut Water participates to 20%.

1:36:23To run the line, we got the 80%.

1:36:29>> I'm good.

1:36:30>> But that's a if you I mean, if they say

1:36:32no, I guess that's a future

1:36:33conversation.

1:36:36Under old kiln, you weren't um asked to

1:36:40attend the meeting if they had one.

1:36:44>> I was asked

1:36:45>> I was asked to attend a meeting with

1:36:47deep officials.

1:36:48>> And you did?

1:36:49>> And I did.

1:36:51>> And

1:36:53>> well, they briefed us on the consent

1:36:55order that they were going to be issuing

1:36:57>> to restore the dam. And that includes

1:37:01fixing the spillway. It included fixing

1:37:05uh some piping in the lower level outlet

1:37:08that was a misaligned that was

1:37:10identified in the inspection report

1:37:13and restoring the pond level to they had

1:37:16pinpointed certain levels. I don't have

1:37:18the consent order.

1:37:19>> So not to the full level but to some

1:37:21level.

1:37:21>> Yes.

1:37:24>> But it's also draft. So it's a it was

1:37:28intended to be a confidential

1:37:30negotiation.

1:37:32Where is Where does the draft go?

1:37:35>> Well, uh it looks like it it looks like

1:37:38it got mailed to the owner and then uh I

1:37:41people have told me they saw it on

1:37:42Facebook. So, I guess it's uh I guess

1:37:45it's on Facebook.

1:37:51>> So, there's no input

1:37:54at this point in time from the council

1:37:57or anything. Um, no. They they said,

1:38:00"This is what we're doing,

1:38:03and here's your copy as a courtesy."

1:38:07>> And do you have an idea when that is

1:38:10going to happen?

1:38:12>> Um,

1:38:14I don't recall if there were I believe

1:38:16there were some dates for them to do

1:38:18that work, some time frames. I feel like

1:38:21there was, you know, said something like

1:38:22within 30 days do this and with within

1:38:25so many days do that, within 15 days

1:38:27respond to us that you got this and so

1:38:29on. Um, but again, that's a draft order.

1:38:33They need to meet with WISH and

1:38:35negotiate what the terms of that order

1:38:37are going to be.

1:38:38>> So, they will inform you when this is

1:38:41going on then?

1:38:43>> I believe that they will. I don't know

1:38:44to what extent. I'll be kept informed.

1:38:47>> Thank you.

1:38:51Uh just to follow up on that. So the

1:38:54you'd mentioned the wishes owner uh

1:38:57might be available later this month.

1:38:59Would you be in that meeting or would

1:39:01you get wind of that meeting?

1:39:03>> I don't know.

1:39:06I don't know if I'll be invited to that

1:39:07meeting or not.

1:39:13Is there any way that you're able to

1:39:15request an invite should they feel like

1:39:18inviting you?

1:39:20[laughter]

1:39:24>> Yeah, I mean

1:39:27I don't mind going to the meeting or or

1:39:29attending the meeting. I guess uh it

1:39:31becomes difficult because if uh they're

1:39:34expecting that this is a negotiation

1:39:35that's going to remain confidential and

1:39:37they invite me to the meeting and then

1:39:39people are asking me what's going on in

1:39:40the meeting, I can't say anything. It's

1:39:42not of much use for everybody else.

1:39:55I assume there was no NDAs for the last

1:39:57meeting.

1:40:00There was no NDA, but I was advised that

1:40:03the documents were uh classified as

1:40:06controverial as an enforcement action

1:40:08under state law. And I was told I would

1:40:11be provided the documentation to back

1:40:13that up, but I don't have that yet. But,

1:40:15you know, can follow up and get that. I

1:40:18mean, it's kind of moot. That part of it

1:40:20is kind of moot at this point as the

1:40:21documents is out in the public domain,

1:40:26but I wouldn't sign an NDA as a as a

1:40:29public official. I won't sign an NDA.

1:40:37>> Any other comments for the town manager

1:40:39and his report?

1:40:40>> I was just going to say, so there's

1:40:41things on paper, but there's still a

1:40:43huge, huge battle. This is just the

1:40:46beginning.

1:40:50draft.

1:40:54>> They're looking for him to agree to some

1:40:56terms that are reasonably like what

1:40:58they've put forward and get his

1:40:59cooperation and he can have that

1:41:02conversation with them or he can ignore

1:41:04them and let them impose the order and

1:41:06then he could appeal that order. So, I

1:41:09mean, I would imagine

1:41:11that he's going to cooperate to some

1:41:13degree because it wouldn't look good to

1:41:14not do so,

1:41:16but I'm not wish I'm not Wish's

1:41:20attorney. I don't know.

1:41:24>> On a different subject, um, we had our

1:41:28officers here today. Could we could

1:41:30probably say that that was probably our

1:41:33whole entire staff of officers that are

1:41:35currently active right now. Correct.

1:41:37>> Yeah. Okay. [laughter] So, I want to

1:41:39point that out that I feel like that is

1:41:40something that when you brought up

1:41:41having a police force of, you know, a

1:41:45town of 17,000 plus,

1:41:48that makes me extremely nervous.

1:41:52>> So, four,00

1:41:54>> there. Perfect. Even better. Um,

1:41:57[laughter] so that just gives me more a

1:41:58uh leverage on and saying that um I I

1:42:02would like to see what the numbers are

1:42:04to even just start the ability to have

1:42:06our own police force. Um because that is

1:42:09just an overwhelming number and uh as

1:42:15being downtown and as I brought up

1:42:17before, we need to bring more show of

1:42:20just presence everywhere

1:42:23as uh we are the uh hub of places that

1:42:28collect

1:42:30um

1:42:32how do I say this politely?

1:42:36undesirable.

1:42:40>> Um, so yeah, I'd like to see a followup

1:42:42on that.

1:42:44>> We al are still serviced by the state

1:42:46police too, by troop t

1:42:50to to make to at least speak where we

1:42:53have made progress. I mean, we used to

1:42:56run with I think there was four resident

1:42:58troopers or three three or four resident

1:43:01troopers and that was it. At least we've

1:43:03have what about double

1:43:06We have seven or eight I believe.

1:43:10>> Not active.

1:43:13>> We have four active for

1:43:15>> So you know the police staffing has

1:43:18suffered nationwide because of the

1:43:20national politics around it over the

1:43:21last decade.

1:43:22>> Yeah.

1:43:23>> If you look at troop D for instance,

1:43:25they're authorized to have 60 officers

1:43:27to cover all these towns and they

1:43:29probably have a little more than half of

1:43:31that.

1:43:34I mean, you have 10 people took the test

1:43:37to be police officers in Eastern

1:43:39Connecticut. Seven people passed. So,

1:43:42you have seven people to fill all the

1:43:44vacancies in the eastern half of the

1:43:47state,

1:43:52which you don't want to take the bottom

1:43:54of the barrel either when you're

1:43:59Any

1:44:06other comments for the town manager

1:44:08report?

1:44:15Okay, moving on to uh

1:44:20unfinished business for town council

1:44:22action.

1:44:23uh consideration and possible action on

1:44:25a revision to propose winter operation

1:44:28uh winter operation ordinance and

1:44:31possible revisions related to sidewalk

1:44:33snow clearing chapter 13 section 13-1

1:44:37highway department

1:44:40have a motion

1:44:49>> thank you

1:44:52[clears throat]

1:44:52>> yeah I'm still for passing

1:44:55>> [laughter]

1:44:57>> I'll second the motion.

1:45:01>> Somebody needs a second.

1:45:02>> Do we have a Yeah, if we have a motion.

1:45:04I'm looking for a second.

1:45:05>> Kevin, just

1:45:08>> Oh, okay.

1:45:10Okay. Discussion.

1:45:14All right.

1:45:18[clears throat]

1:45:22So,

1:45:23What's our pleasure?

1:45:29>> The town manager went over it at the

1:45:31beginning before the public hearing or

1:45:33during the public hearing.

1:45:38>> Yeah, I'm still for passing it. I mean,

1:45:39it's as presented.

1:45:42I have nothing else to really say. You

1:45:44know, I'm not longwinded, Dave.

1:45:45>> I think it's great. I think it's a long

1:45:48time in coming. It does put bigger

1:45:50burden on the town manager though to

1:45:54have to make

1:45:58>> it had to happen. You don't have enough

1:46:00staff or equipment to be able to do all

1:46:02the sidewalks in this town.

1:46:05>> Matt Dubie also primarily worked on it,

1:46:08so he approved of it also.

1:46:17No further discussion. All in favor?

1:46:19>> I.

1:46:20>> Any opposed? Any abstensions? Motion

1:46:24passes.

1:46:26Okay,

1:46:28moving on. We did 15 A, 15B,

1:46:3215 C, consideration

1:46:35consideration to proposed changes to the

1:46:37rules of procedure regarding addition of

1:46:39killing business association to the

1:46:42regular meeting agenda. Can I get a

1:46:44motion?

1:46:44>> So move.

1:46:45>> Make that second.

1:46:47Motion by Dave. Um

1:46:51second um Adam discussion.

1:46:55[clears throat]

1:46:56>> I think it's um pretty common pretty

1:46:58much common sense. Uh they're the kind

1:47:01of the beat of what's going on in the

1:47:02town. Are you looking at the vision

1:47:04committee where we're going? I think the

1:47:05KBA is a big part of that. So I'm in

1:47:08full support of it. I think if if we're

1:47:10trying to link everyone together, we're

1:47:11trying to have a better relationship

1:47:12with the board of ed. I think our

1:47:15business leaders are just another step

1:47:16in the right direction.

1:47:21>> Any other comments?

1:47:24>> It's going to be 11 C, right?

1:47:27>> This is

1:47:28>> it's going to be under burrow. It's

1:47:30going to be under the reports from

1:47:31leaison.

1:47:32>> Yes.

1:47:35>> Well, no, it's the whole it's the whole

1:47:36killing business association. And so I

1:47:38mean it has a bigger impact of the

1:47:40burrow but it is the whole

1:47:41>> I mean it's it's going to be located

1:47:43under reports from leaison.

1:47:45>> Oh okay. Where it is. Yeah. Yeah. Okay.

1:47:49>> It's where it goes. That's

1:47:52long as we

1:47:53>> see

1:47:53>> put it in there.

1:47:55All in favor?

1:47:57>> Any opposed?

1:47:59>> Any abstensions? Motion carries.

1:48:06Consideration to confirm appointment of

1:48:08planning director pursuant to charter

1:48:10sections 603, 901, and 903. Can I get a

1:48:14motion?

1:48:14>> So moved.

1:48:15>> Second.

1:48:16>> Motion by Dave, second by Kevin.

1:48:18Discussion.

1:48:33I think it's a great appointment. It's

1:48:36with the advice and consent of councel.

1:48:38Correct.

1:48:43>> You interviewed three.

1:48:45>> We interviewed two. There were three

1:48:47applicants who had some experience. Uh,

1:48:50one of them was from out of the area.

1:48:52There were two that were local.

1:48:56One was very out of the area.

1:48:58So, we interviewed two. There was an

1:49:00interview panel that included the chairs

1:49:02of the two commissions that the

1:49:03incumbent would work with and they

1:49:05recommended the incumbent or they

1:49:08recommended the uh person I'm appointing

1:49:10Jonathan Blake.

1:49:12>> I had a department head come to me many

1:49:15months ago when they were looking for a

1:49:18new town manager. He said, "What should

1:49:20I look for?" I said, "Look for somebody

1:49:23who really cares about the town." And I

1:49:26think as a planner, nobody that I know

1:49:29cares more about the town. So I really

1:49:33appreciate you interviewing and

1:49:35accepting the position.

1:49:42>> Any further discussion?

1:49:48>> All in favor?

1:49:49>> I.

1:49:50>> Any opposed? Any abstensions? Motion

1:49:53carries. Congratulations,

1:49:56John.

1:49:58>> Good. Thank you. [applause]

1:50:02>> It'll be all in your office tomorrow.

1:50:04[laughter]

1:50:06>> I'll be at

1:50:1215e. consideration and action on

1:50:14resolution to introduce and set a public

1:50:17hearing on a proposed ordinance to

1:50:18authorize acceptance from Michael and

1:50:21Sharon Dy of Apostle to be conveyed for

1:50:23highway purposes. Can I get a motion?

1:50:26>> So moved.

1:50:27>> Motion by Dave, second by Oola

1:50:31discussion.

1:50:33Brian, would you

1:50:34>> Yeah. So, this was a a two lot

1:50:36subdivision that was approved in the

1:50:38past and at the time it was approved,

1:50:40uh, the planning commission required

1:50:42them to enlarge the rightway so that the

1:50:44rightway of the public road along the

1:50:47frontage of the property would be in

1:50:49compliance with the town road standards.

1:50:51So, we're not accepting a new road.

1:50:53We're just accepting uh the piece of

1:50:55land that would bring this uh portion of

1:50:58the road into

1:51:00greater compliance with our road

1:51:02standards. And so in order to do that,

1:51:04we have to have a public hearing um to

1:51:07accept the land and um amend the

1:51:10ordinance. Because the land has a value

1:51:13of less than $5,000, it doesn't require

1:51:15at the normal acceptance at town

1:51:17meeting. Um it's an action that the

1:51:19council can take.

1:51:25So we have to set a date for the public

1:51:28hearing. We can do that at next month's

1:51:31meeting. That's what we're requesting.

1:51:33Uh October 13th at uh 7 p.m.

1:51:41Any further discussion?

1:51:45All in favor?

1:51:47>> I.

1:51:48>> Any opposed? Any abstensions? Motion

1:51:51carries.

1:51:54Council member reports.

1:51:57Um, Adam,

1:51:59>> uh, Corvette hasn't met yet and we just

1:52:03went over what the ordinance committee

1:52:04did with the, uh, stone removal. So,

1:52:07it's all I got. I I don't have anything

1:52:08right now.

1:52:09>> Okay. Tony,

1:52:11>> that uh, agricultural

1:52:14committee, which is always a great group

1:52:16of people. They talked about the

1:52:17upcoming newsletter. Uh, there's a

1:52:19fencing class coming up and, um, things

1:52:22for next year. So what's up Tammy?

1:52:26>> Um so um last last Tuesday was economic

1:52:30development. Um they discussed um uh the

1:52:35brickyard project, the three stages.

1:52:39Um the brownfield gave brownfield

1:52:42update. Um those are all moving along.

1:52:46The testing for Bailey Hill and

1:52:47Blueville um are essentially complete.

1:52:51Uh they're waiting for reports. Uh Broad

1:52:54Street should be able to go out for RFQS

1:52:57for um I guess actually they did go out

1:53:00for RFQS.

1:53:01Um

1:53:03and uh so that's that's moving along.

1:53:06Brian gave the update on the burrow um

1:53:09treatment plant. Um that's it's good. Um

1:53:14they're hoping RF RFPs will go out in

1:53:17October to award the contract. Um Jill

1:53:21estimated that that could take like

1:53:24eight months to get that all that stuff.

1:53:26Um they did uh appoint their officers

1:53:29for um economic development commission.

1:53:33Bill Chang as chair Todd Cooks the vice

1:53:37Mark Tillingast uh was secretary last

1:53:39week. We did give um they did award um

1:53:44awards to to Mark and to Dale um for

1:53:47their almost 30 years of service to to

1:53:50the business community. Um if I know in

1:53:55Brian's report is the economic um their

1:53:59their final year reports pretty we've

1:54:02gotten we've done a lot. We've been

1:54:04really busy. Um, one of the other things

1:54:07they worked on too at last Tuesday's

1:54:10meeting was um,

1:54:14uh, their, uh, POC goal setting for the

1:54:18next, uh, POC. That's and so they

1:54:22reviewed what the previous one was and

1:54:26um, came out that out of the 20 points

1:54:29that they had, 18 of them are being held

1:54:32up because of the sewer treatment plant.

1:54:35um we can't move forward economically.

1:54:38Um and I'm and after that meeting I'

1:54:41I've gotten some more information and

1:54:43and we we're really being taking a hit

1:54:47um with with that plant being the the

1:54:51slow movement of of that plant project.

1:54:53So, um, whatever whatever's slowing up

1:54:57moving that project along needs to that

1:55:00log jam needs to get moved because we're

1:55:02we're going to end up, um, financially

1:55:05hurting our hurting our town and which

1:55:07is going to impact our taxpayers and um,

1:55:11it's all just, you know, everything, you

1:55:14know, you impact your businesses, that

1:55:15impacts the people living here, too. So,

1:55:17because our our our local businesses are

1:55:21so so important. I can't I mean I'm glad

1:55:23the KBA is going to be able to give us a

1:55:26report. Um I tell people all the time

1:55:28that you know you know you might pay a

1:55:32lot for your property taxes but

1:55:33businesses get taxed on a whole lot more

1:55:36than you get taxed on and they don't use

1:55:38the services that you get to use. You

1:55:41know they're not using the library,

1:55:42they're not using the wreck programs.

1:55:44They're not, you know, sending kids to

1:55:46school. You know they what they expect

1:55:48are the roads to be cleared and that's

1:55:50what everybody wants. So, um, and then

1:55:53in turn they they give jobs to to local

1:55:56people and and, um, they sponsor

1:56:00private, you know, nonprofits in the

1:56:01area and different things that are going

1:56:03on. So, um, supporting our local

1:56:06businesses is so particularly important.

1:56:08And

1:56:10I mean, I I want I want Killian to keep

1:56:13moving forward and that moving our our

1:56:16capital, our grand list along is is

1:56:18really important to being able to keep

1:56:20the services that we we like. We've come

1:56:23to expect these great parks and that,

1:56:25but that takes money to to maintain

1:56:27them. So, um the the whole economic

1:56:31development goes hand inand with what

1:56:33the quality of life that we have. So, um

1:56:37I just hopefully hopefully that we can

1:56:39move things along. I know the WPCA

1:56:42meetings next is the same night as my

1:56:46burrow meeting, so I can't

1:56:47>> I can't make that one, but if if I

1:56:49could, I would, but uh it's um I

1:56:53encourage everybody to I mean, we've

1:56:55we've committed a lot of money and a lot

1:56:58of our businesses are are are chafing

1:57:00wanting to expand and they can't. So, um

1:57:03I know that's that that just that came

1:57:06up con constantly during during the the

1:57:09EDC meeting is is just you know that

1:57:13that growing pains are there and we just

1:57:15need to get that addressed.

1:57:18>> Yeah, I think we need to get some

1:57:19support or a lot of people to go down to

1:57:23the sewer meeting to support the

1:57:25expansion. It seems like they're not

1:57:27moving along. They don't, you know, the

1:57:29money part whatnot. They don't want to

1:57:31raise the rates, but the economic

1:57:33development overall, we're taking a hit.

1:57:35Businesses can't expand. Some are

1:57:37leaving town.

1:57:38>> Yeah.

1:57:39>> Completely.

1:57:39>> We've we've lost we've lost a lot of

1:57:42>> Yes. It's it's a serious uh scenario. I

1:57:46mean,

1:57:47we got we got money to start to design

1:57:50and get that going. So, we did a big

1:57:52thing. The coun previous council did all

1:57:54of that, but it's just not moving. It

1:57:57they're not moving to the next phase.

1:58:00um they're looking for a third-party

1:58:02review of the design. They're looking

1:58:04for another review of the attorneys that

1:58:07the the opinions that the attorneys

1:58:09made. So, I mean, if if anybody has uh

1:58:12some time to come down to the next

1:58:14meeting, it would be nice to express,

1:58:17you know, that we the delay is is really

1:58:20hurting us. Oh, and I know we didn't

1:58:23have a board of ed, but um I'm really

1:58:26I'm really into I call myself a Rabbard

1:58:29Killingly fan. Um the first home

1:58:32football game uh is next Friday at at

1:58:36six o'clock. It's youth night. So, if

1:58:39you really want to see see why Kinley

1:58:41has such a great great football team,

1:58:44come come to the all our our youth

1:58:46football and and cheerleaders. They

1:58:49basically fill half a football field.

1:58:51Um, which is the the next set of

1:58:54killingly athletes hopefully. Um, but

1:58:57it's it's a great night and the killing

1:58:59is playing Woodland. Another team that

1:59:02is always in the state finals. So, it'll

1:59:04be a good game. Um, their first game

1:59:07actually football game is tomorrow

1:59:11and they're playing Shien, but it's an

1:59:13away game, but the first home run is

1:59:15next Friday. So, uh, for five, I think

1:59:18it's $5 to get into a football game.

1:59:20It's it's probably the best five bucks

1:59:22you'll spend all week. Um, it's really

1:59:24great. Um, the the vibe is really great.

1:59:28Um, football football's starting, soccer

1:59:31starting, field hockey, cross country.

1:59:34You know, if you get a chance to go out

1:59:36to to see any of our our these student

1:59:38athletes representing us, um, I

1:59:41encourage you to do it. That we have

1:59:42some really talented um, students in our

1:59:45town. So, um, they they need people

1:59:48there to root them on and cheer them on.

1:59:50So,

1:59:52that's it.

1:59:53>> Thank you, Jared. I guess the we haven't

1:59:56had any meetings, you know, with the

1:59:57holiday kind of delayed things and

1:59:59whatnot, but we'll we'll get you there

2:00:01if you have any comments on

2:00:03>> I was on I was at the permanent building

2:00:05commission meeting last week and then

2:00:06I'm going to be at the um the inland

2:00:08wetlands and water course meeting next

2:00:10Monday.

2:00:12>> So, that that should be interesting

2:00:13because

2:00:14>> [laughter]

2:00:16>> Kevin,

2:00:18>> uh, had the permanent building committee

2:00:20last week and that was all in executive

2:00:22session. So, I really have nothing to

2:00:24report on that. Um, I know we added the

2:00:28KVA to the agenda, so they'll be on next

2:00:30month. But, uh, if Jen has anything to

2:00:33report, I'll yield my time and make a

2:00:34motion to suspend the rule. So, you

2:00:36could give a report since you've sat

2:00:37here all night.

2:00:39>> I'll second.

2:00:40>> Second.

2:00:40>> All in favor?

2:00:42>> I.

2:00:42>> Any opposed? Any extensions? We're

2:00:45suspending the rules. Come on up. You

2:00:48can you can practice. You can practice

2:00:50for your official role. [laughter]

2:00:53Thank you. That's That was a good I like

2:00:54that. That's

2:00:57>> I came prepared. I know you're shocked,

2:00:59right?

2:01:01Um, one of the things that I I kind of

2:01:03want to just kind of go over a little

2:01:05bit about what the KBA is. I didn't want

2:01:06to kind of, you know, uh, enthral with

2:01:09everything that's going on, but I did

2:01:10want to note that November 20th marks 30

2:01:13years that the KBA has been around. Um,

2:01:17so it started out as a main street

2:01:18organization and now we have spread out

2:01:20to we are just shy of 160 members. Um,

2:01:24and we uh have everybody from

2:01:27restaurants to retail to finance. We

2:01:30have farms, nonprofits, trades, uh, the

2:01:34schools and colleges. Um QV is is a

2:01:36member. Um entertainment, um our

2:01:39municipal offices, parks and wreck, you

2:01:41know, library, um historical society. We

2:01:43have a lot of religious entities, the

2:01:45radio station, artists, um pet

2:01:48suppliers, clothing, healthc care, um uh

2:01:52septic services, um the redemption

2:01:54center, we have attorneys, we have

2:01:55storage facilities, industrial

2:01:58organizations, um business services,

2:02:00event venues. We are made up of so many

2:02:03different entities um that it's it

2:02:07creates amazing networking opportunities

2:02:09and that's one of the things that we

2:02:10really want to do. We are here to

2:02:11promote our local businesses, make sure

2:02:13that folks know about them. We have a

2:02:15spot on Winnie every Thursday morning at

2:02:167 o'clock. Um Tammy's going to be on

2:02:20with uh with Patty for uh you know the

2:02:22Quiet Corner Veterans Coalition and

2:02:24Reese Across America. So she's going to

2:02:26be on on Thursday which is exciting. Um

2:02:29so um we do that. We have a business

2:02:31spotlight. We meet every month. Um we

2:02:34put on events for the town. We've done

2:02:36second Saturdays. We've done Bark

2:02:38Harvest. Um we do a lot of support for

2:02:41parks and wreck, you know, just for like

2:02:43uh the spooktacular that's happening for

2:02:44the whole month of October. Um Frosty's

2:02:47big night out, not to mention the little

2:02:48things that our businesses do themselves

2:02:50there. They put on trivia nights. They

2:02:52put on um different food events. They

2:02:54put on um all different kinds of

2:02:56entertainment. So, there's a lot of

2:02:58things that we we contribute to the town

2:03:00and we're looking forward to continuing

2:03:02that relationship. Brian has been great.

2:03:04He's been coming to our meetings. Really

2:03:06appreciate it. Bucky is is there um you

2:03:09know, and they fill us in on what's

2:03:11going on and what we can help out with

2:03:12and we want to keep that going. Um we

2:03:15also want to say thank you for

2:03:16recognizing the safety concerns that we

2:03:19talked about. Um we want to keep our

2:03:21patrons safe. We want to keep our

2:03:22businesses and our business owners safe

2:03:24and and everybody, you know, we want to

2:03:25keep the businesses here. We did lose a

2:03:27few businesses in the past um to some of

2:03:30those issues. So, we look forward to

2:03:31when the cameras are able to come about.

2:03:33We know that's on hold right now and

2:03:35probably will stay that way until

2:03:36elections are over. Um but we do, you

2:03:38know, appreciate the effort that you

2:03:40guys are putting forth and we want to

2:03:42show you that same effort. So, we will

2:03:44be coming here. Um I will be coming here

2:03:46now. So, thank you very much for that.

2:03:48Um hope you'll continue to support us.

2:03:50One of our biggest endeavors that we did

2:03:51this year is we do an event called tips

2:03:54for tools um for um Ellis Tech. We

2:03:57provide tools to freshmen. They complete

2:04:00um a scholarship application, tell us

2:04:02about some of the stuff that's going on

2:04:04in their lives and we pick 10 to 15

2:04:06students every year and we provide them

2:04:08um the tools that they will need to be

2:04:10able to do their career and their trade.

2:04:13And we just endowed a scholarship this

2:04:15year um for that. So we're really

2:04:17excited about that. So that'll start to

2:04:18be able to live on in perpetuity. Um,

2:04:20another way that we try to give back to

2:04:22the community. So, you know, Tammy has

2:04:24come to some meetings, Adam's come to

2:04:26some meetings. It's been great. You

2:04:27know, Dave came to a meeting. You're all

2:04:29welcome to come if you're able to. I

2:04:31know that there's, you know, time

2:04:32constraints and you all have jobs and

2:04:34whatnot, too. But just know that you're

2:04:35all welcome and I really appreciate you

2:04:36and I look forward to this.

2:04:40>> Yeah.

2:04:42>> Any other comment while she's here? I

2:04:44mean,

2:04:45>> I'll answer any questions.

2:04:46>> Put her on the spot.

2:04:47>> [laughter]

2:04:49>> No, appreciate you coming and I think

2:04:51this is good. We'll get a lot of a lot

2:04:53more information as to what's going on.

2:04:55>> Yeah, we'll get into

2:04:56>> missing in the past.

2:04:57>> Sure.

2:04:59>> Okay.

2:05:01Did the police car end up downtown?

2:05:09>> There we go. I saw the state resident

2:05:11trooper doing a walking beat last week.

2:05:14Did the car end up downtown?

2:05:17>> I don't know what you mean. We had to

2:05:19park the car to get out and walk.

2:05:21>> Well, we have an extra car or two.

2:05:23>> Oh, I see what you mean. You wanted

2:05:25>> And it was suggested when we're at the

2:05:27coffee house that we park an empty car

2:05:30downtown to give a little bit of

2:05:33presence.

2:05:35>> I'll take the police car home tonight.

2:05:37When I come in in the morning, I'll park

2:05:38it in front of them.

2:05:39>> Thank you. [laughter]

2:05:42in New London and Waterford. Do that all

2:05:44the time on 32.

2:05:47>> Park a dummy car.

2:05:54>> Okay, continuing. Are you Do you have

2:05:56anything else?

2:05:57>> No, I think that's great for my first

2:05:59night, but don't worry, I'll come back.

2:06:01[laughter]

2:06:02I said just wanted to give a brief

2:06:03overview for folks that didn't know, you

2:06:05know, who we are or what we do. um get

2:06:08you a little bit more familiar with us

2:06:10and and thank you for what you've done

2:06:11and I said look forward to partnership.

2:06:14>> Yeah. And if there's anything we can

2:06:16collaborate with, I think that would be

2:06:17a fantastic opportunity to show more

2:06:19united front um with the small

2:06:22businesses in town and the town

2:06:24together. So, um if there's any ideas

2:06:27that we can collaborate and and promote

2:06:29that collaboration, I think that'd be

2:06:30fantastic.

2:06:34>> Thank you.

2:06:34>> Thank you.

2:06:36So, continuing on with council reports,

2:06:39do you have anything, Dave?

2:06:41>> I know you're on vacation, but that's,

2:06:43you know, you may [snorts]

2:06:44>> and the health department later this

2:06:46week and then next week,

2:06:50>> Oola,

2:06:56um, housing authority, um, Carol Green

2:06:59continues to do a very good job with her

2:07:01limited resources. Um

2:07:04Pat Daly was appointed as the new chair.

2:07:08Um David Smith resigned.

2:07:11Um they have nine empty apartments

2:07:14because they're still waiting for the

2:07:16small cities grant to do the renovations

2:07:18and they're going to have to start um

2:07:20filling some of those apartments because

2:07:22it's um too much of a financial burden

2:07:24to keep them empty.

2:07:27And the other big thing is they were

2:07:28paying 200 a month for a kitchen

2:07:30dishwasher um rental plus they had to

2:07:33pay $200 in supplies. So now they're

2:07:36looking at a

2:07:38uh three another a different one that

2:07:39will cost them 300 a month. But that's

2:07:42that. Um

2:07:45I attended the um zoning board of

2:07:48appeal. There was one item on the

2:07:51agenda. 1121 Hartford Pike was looking

2:07:54for um a variance in the site set back

2:07:58from um

2:08:0125 to was it 13 feet um 20T to 13t

2:08:07because of this um conformity of the

2:08:11lot. So, um, for the addition, part of

2:08:14it would be too close to the border, but

2:08:16the, um, the neighbor didn't have any

2:08:18complaints and, um, the other part is

2:08:21too close to wetland, so that was

2:08:23approved.

2:08:25Um, I did go to the tax sale, which was

2:08:29very interesting. Of all the properties

2:08:31that were listed, there were only um,

2:08:33two that were left for um, for sale. um

2:08:37most of them either they paid their

2:08:38taxes off or they filed for bankruptcy.

2:08:42Um so one property was sold and the

2:08:47second one um which is landlock property

2:08:51adjacent to um current town owned

2:08:54property. If um the property owner

2:08:57doesn't pay their taxes within six

2:08:59months, the town may have some more open

2:09:01space.

2:09:04And not that it's killingly. I did

2:09:06attend the um special meeting in

2:09:09Planefield for the trash um to energy

2:09:12plant which was will be very detrimental

2:09:15to this area. Again, pollution of um the

2:09:18aquafer um pollution of the air, 50%

2:09:25more toxic than um carbon plants. And

2:09:29also a good um thing brought up of um

2:09:33rats being pro brought in in the trash

2:09:37and those are usually Norwegian rats

2:09:39which are very hard to

2:09:42very hard to um kill. But um that this

2:09:45will be very detrimental to the whole

2:09:48area. Um a lot of health concerns and um

2:09:51water and um pollution of the the

2:09:54atmosphere especially being in a in a

2:09:56valley. Um

2:10:00I attended the inland wetlands water

2:10:02course and um the planning and zoning.

2:10:06The biggest thing on the planning and

2:10:08zoning is um

2:10:11uh the uh new application for um Husky

2:10:16project um will be it's pre going to be

2:10:20um presented um this month. They just

2:10:22accepted it last month and I think

2:10:26that's

2:10:28Jonathan, do you have any?

2:10:31>> Okay.

2:10:36>> As far as the trash to energy plan is

2:10:39concerned, they were looking for other

2:10:41towns to sign on to oppose it.

2:10:45>> Um

2:10:47looking for other towns to to sign on to

2:10:50help with the legal costs

2:10:53because it's not just a playing field

2:10:55issue. It's an issue for even beyond the

2:10:59northeast corner because this um

2:11:02pollution is going to probably travel

2:11:05across the whole state and into Rhode

2:11:08Island and Massachusetts is quite

2:11:10devastating. It's the first plant of its

2:11:12its type in the United States. So, it's

2:11:15a prototype.

2:11:17And the other thing is uh the trash

2:11:19energy just like with Lake Road. Lake

2:11:21Road's power goes to Canada. Who's

2:11:23saying where this power is going to go?

2:11:25It's not slated to stay in this area,

2:11:28but um very um devastating.

2:11:31>> But the ash will stay in this area.

2:11:34>> Oh yeah, the ash will go to um Putinham

2:11:36so and fill up that ash um plant very

2:11:39quickly.

2:11:44I've already heard of some issues of ash

2:11:47um flying off of some of the trucks and

2:11:49um going to Alexander Lake.

2:11:52Any

2:11:58other council comments?

2:12:05>> Hearing none, I' and

2:12:08he has no report.

2:12:10>> No report. Yeah. I'll entertain a motion

2:12:13to adjurnn.

2:12:13>> I'll make a motion to adjurnn. Second.

2:12:17>> All in favor?

2:12:18>> I

2:12:18>> I.

2:12:19>> Any opposed?

2:12:21Why are you so

2:12:22>> There's none. None.

2:12:24>> Yeah, there was none. I I didn't

2:12:26acknowledge out here.

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