2026-07-14 - Town Council

00:02Okay.

00:08Okay. It is 6 o'clock p.m. We will have

00:10uh the the special meeting of the town

00:12council. Today is Monday, July 13, 2026.

00:15It is 6 o'clock p.m. Madame Clerk, would

00:18you please call the role?

00:20>> David Zony

00:21>> here.

00:22>> Jennifer Clark

00:22>> here.

00:23>> Michael Del Santo,

00:24>> present.

00:25>> Kristen Ga

00:26>> here.

00:26>> James Morelli

00:27>> here. Tony Morrison

00:29>> here.

00:30>> Christopher

00:31>> here.

00:31>> Joshua

00:33>> here.

00:33>> Paul Japlinsky

00:35>> here. It looks like we have everybody on

00:37the council. Can we please all stand for

00:40the prayer and flag salute.

00:45>> Heavenly Father, open our eyes this

00:48evening to the truth and reality of

00:50every situation that we encounter. Give

00:53us solutions that are the best for our

00:55community now and in the future. Keep

00:58your hand upon Southernington and

01:00continue to make her great. Amen.

01:02>> Amen.

01:05>> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

01:08United States of America and to the

01:10republic for which it stands, one nation

01:13under God, indivisible, with liberty and

01:16justice for all.

01:18>> Everybody can please stay standing. I'd

01:21like to um have a moment of silence for

01:25Mr. Ed PCO the uh the second and I think

01:29everybody here knows Mr. PCO uh is a

01:32long time a lifetime resident of

01:35Southernington and a longtime servant to

01:36our community serving both as a police

01:39officer for um about 37 years obtaining

01:43the length of the rank of lieutenant in

01:46our uh community here on the

01:48Southernington Police Department. After

01:50his retirement, he served many years

01:52recently, I believe since 2010 on the

01:54board of finance. Prior to that, he was

01:56on the library board planning and

01:58zoning. Um, and he served in many

02:01different capacities. He was an ardent

02:03supporter of the uh the calendar house

02:06and the dialeride program where a lot of

02:08people knew Mr. PCO and talked with him

02:10every single day and had the opportunity

02:13to uh to share pleasantries with him.

02:15Um, he's going to be sorely missed. He's

02:17one of those leaders in our community

02:18that uh stood on principles and um you

02:22know always had uh principles in mind

02:24and um we send our deepest condolences

02:27to his family um who also have given a

02:30lot to the community and uh and also his

02:33friends. So if everybody if we can

02:34please have a moment of silence.

02:53Thank you everybody.

03:01Okay, we're moving into item number two.

03:03A um Board of Finance, one member. We're

03:07looking for an appointment. Board of

03:09Finance, one member, two-year term,

03:11expiring November 2027.

03:13>> Uh, Mr. Chair, I would like to appoint

03:16Robert Britain. Robert Britain is a

03:19seasoned financial service executive

03:21with more than 25 years of banking and

03:23leadership experience, primarily in

03:26retail banking, commercial relationship

03:28management, sales leadership, and

03:30community and government banking. He

03:32currently serves as senior vice

03:34president and senior commercial

03:36relationship manager for Connecticut

03:39government banking at Mnt Bank where he

03:41focuses on developing banking

03:43relationships with municipal and state

03:45government organizations. During his

03:47market leadership tenure, Robert has is

03:50credited with fostering a strong

03:52business development culture, achieving

03:54top customer experience scores,

03:56maintaining low operational risk

03:57metrics, and developing high performing

03:59teams. Uh, Mr. Britain has a background

04:03in education as bachelor of science from

04:06Yukon and an MBA in finance in

04:09international business from University

04:11of Hartford.

04:13This person is highly qualified for this

04:15position. Something I I personally feel

04:17is extremely important for every

04:19candidate serving on our board of

04:21finance.

04:23>> Okay, we have a motion for Mr. Britain.

04:25>> I'd like to second the nomination.

04:28>> We have a second from Tony. Um, and do

04:31we do we need uh Mr. Britain is a

04:33sitting uh planning and zoning

04:36commissioner. So could we uh ensure that

04:39should just for legality sake should we

04:41just make sure that the motion is

04:42contingent upon receipt of a um receipt

04:46of a a letter of him resigning from the

04:49planning and zoning commission?

04:50>> I'll change my motion uh to be

04:52contingent on a letter of resignation

04:54from planning and zoning

04:55>> and I'll second that.

04:56>> Okay. Is that okay?

04:57>> I have that lettering on him being

05:00appointed.

05:01>> Okay. So, you have to clerk.

05:03>> Okay.

05:04>> Sounds good.

05:04>> A little offy thinking there.

05:06>> Okay. So, who's got uh we've heard from

05:09the vice chair on the motion. Did you

05:10have anything further that you wanted to

05:11say?

05:12>> Yep.

05:13>> Okay. Any other discussion?

05:16Okay. The motion is for Rob Britain. Any

05:19further discussion? Okay. Hearing none.

05:21Madam clerk, call the role, please.

05:23>> David Zone,

05:24>> yes.

05:24>> Jennifer Clack,

05:26>> yes.

05:26>> Michael Dos Santo,

05:28>> with honor. Yes. Christristen Ga,

05:30>> yes.

05:31>> James Morelli,

05:32>> yes.

05:33>> Tony Morrison,

05:34>> yes.

05:34>> Christopher Pome,

05:35>> yes.

05:36>> Joshua Saraphino,

05:37>> yes.

05:37>> Paul Chaplinsky,

05:39>> yes. The motion passes unanimously.

05:41Congratulations.

05:43Why don't you come on up here, Rob?

05:44We're going to have the clerk swear you

05:46in and have you sign some paperwork

05:47because you're going to be part of the

05:49executive session.

05:50>> You can hand your letter in.

05:52>> Tell us about stat.

05:59I want to come on this side.

06:01>> Speak into the microphone so it's caught

06:02on uh on the mic, please.

06:05>> Yes,

06:06>> we won't. He's gonna

06:17Okay, you raise your right hand, please.

06:19You slely swear you will support the

06:21Constitution of the United States and

06:23the Constitution of the State of

06:24Connecticut and you faithfully discharge

06:26according to law your duties with the

06:28board of educ board of finance to the

06:31best of your ability. So help you God.

06:34All right. Just need you to initial your

06:38disclosure and your social and then

06:41you're signing

06:44right here for being

06:50>> he's official. Congrats.

06:54>> Okay. So that means uh for the town

06:56manager there'll be an appointment uh on

06:58the planning and zoning uh the planning

07:00and zoning commission to um re to

07:03appoint uh Mr. Britain. A back fill for

07:05Mr. Britain. Correct.

07:07>> Correct.

07:07>> Excellent. Okay. Um we are going, if

07:10everybody will allow me, we're going to

07:11move into exe we're going to ask for a

07:13motion to move into executive session

07:15with uh board of finance members and um

07:19it's regarding pending litigation

07:20Connecticut general statutes 1-26B.

07:25Uh it includes it looks like we have

07:27John Liry here, Joe Leenick, and Rob

07:29Britain, newly sworn in Rob Britain. Um,

07:32Board of Finance member Katie Wade was

07:34here and she just left five minutes ago.

07:35So, I don't think she's um wants to be

07:38in the executive session. I'm not sure

07:39if she's going to come back or not.

07:41She's not coming back. Okay. And we

07:43received a late call a few minutes ago

07:45from Mr. Seno with the board of finance

07:47who um I guess is not going to attend.

07:49Is that correct?

07:50>> Uh Mr. Borne will not be here.

07:51>> Soleno. Mr. Soleno be here. But I will

07:53say I was going to ask that the board of

07:55finance call their role and start their

07:56meeting as well since they do have a

07:58special meeting. But since they don't um

08:00we can just they can just attend as a

08:02non-meating for them and we'll

08:03>> What's a quorum for your board? Is it is

08:05it three or is it four?

08:06>> It's four.

08:07>> It's four. So you don't have a quorum.

08:09>> But they can still call a meeting,

08:10right? It's just they can't take action.

08:12>> They can come to the meeting. It's been

08:13noticed, but there won't be a um any

08:16minutes.

08:17>> Okay.

08:17>> Dinner.

08:19>> Excellent. There is no planned uh you

08:22know as a result of this. I don't think

08:23there's any plan board of finance

08:25>> to go to executive session by impressing

08:26the public and including the sitting uh

08:31board of finance members and our

08:34attorneys

08:35>> and excluding the town clerk and

08:38>> excluding the town clerk and shut the

08:39videos off.

08:41>> Mr. Mr. staying or going?

08:43>> Staying.

08:43>> You're staying this time. Okay.

08:45>> All right.

08:46>> So, the town manager could stay. I guess

08:48>> the town manager staying. Yes. Okay. And

08:51we have the two attorneys uh here who

08:53are going to join us. Do we need to put

08:55the attorney's names into the record,

08:56Alex?

08:57>> Attorney Thomas Gerard and Lydia

08:59Mikkels.

09:00>> Okay. So, we have the motion from Mr.

09:03Delanto.

09:05>> Second.

09:05>> Second to go into executive session.

09:07Discussion on that.

09:10Okay. Hearing none. Any

09:12>> check. Check.

09:15>> Okay.

09:20Okay, we are now coming into uh regular

09:23session of our special meeting of the

09:26town council, Monday, July 13, 2026. The

09:29time is 7:41.

09:31And just for the record, um Mr. Morelli

09:35left executive session at 60:09

09:38and executive session ended at

09:41>> 7:36.

09:42>> 7:36.

09:45So, we are now back 7:42.

09:48Okay, we are moving on to um

09:54>> Oh yeah, we still have two members. M

09:56we're gonna just hold for a minute.

09:58Sorry, it was a long uh bio break.

10:07>> I had an MRI.

10:09>> Do you have anything here?

10:13>> This is four water.

10:17the town attorneys.

10:19>> Oh, do we have to call in?

10:20>> Yeah,

10:21>> I I disconnected the phone.

10:22>> You might want to use

10:23>> He said he just got disconnected. Yeah,

10:26>> seven is eight.

10:33>> Seven. This is eight.

10:46This came up here.

10:50>> Thanks, J.

10:56>> Sorry, Chris and Kristen. I actually

10:58reopened uh I opened uh the regular

11:01session. So, we are in regular session

11:02already and we are videotaping already.

11:04So, just to be cognizant, we're trying

11:06to get the town attorney who's calling

11:08in for the meeting. And I believe uh Lou

11:11III is absent, right? And the assistant

11:14town attorney um Lou II is going to be

11:18sitting in today to today's meeting.

11:23>> Is it working?

11:25>> Yeah. Takes 25 minutes to boot up.

11:37Once we get the phone system going,

11:38we'll get our meeting started.

12:05We're pleased to welcome you to today's

12:07call.

12:13Please enter your host and press the

12:18conference will begin when the next

12:20party joins.

12:39Hey Lou, is that you?

12:42>> Yes, sir.

12:42>> All right, Lou, you are on. I'm just

12:44going to block out

12:46>> the conference is now

12:48>> Lou, you're on the line. I'm gonna give

12:51Paul turn turn turn turn turn turn turn

12:51turn turn turn turn turn turn turn turn

12:51turn turn turn turn turn turn over to

12:52him for control.

12:55>> Hey Lou, good evening.

12:57>> Hey,

12:58>> thanks for joining us. We are live and

12:59recording and we are in session.

13:04>> We are uh okay, we are moving on to item

13:07number uh is it forward to the vice

13:10chair?

13:12>> Four. It's four. There's a revised

13:13agenda if you remember. So item four uh

13:16our motion for our minutes from our last

13:19uh regular meeting. I'll make a motion

13:20to approve the minutes from the last

13:22council meeting.

13:22>> I'll second

13:24>> from Kristen. Sorry, Mike.

13:25>> That's okay.

13:26>> All right. From Chris and Kristen. Uh,

13:28any discussion on the minutes?

13:31>> Okay. All in favor?

13:33>> I. Any opposed?

13:34>> Okay. Motion passes unanimously. Uh,

13:37item number five, council person

13:39communications. Yes to the vice chair.

13:42>> Okay, I have a few. Uh, I would like to

13:46add a motion to the agenda for an open

13:49space appointment. Can we add Can I make

13:52a motion to add that to 10 C2?

13:57>> Motion to add uh open space appointment

14:00from the board of finance.

14:01>> Second.

14:02>> Uh, seconded. Um, and that I believe is

14:05a any discussion on that.

14:07>> And Alex, I believe that's a chairperson

14:09uh motion. That's a that's a town

14:11council subcommittee from the chair.

14:12Okay. So, any discussion on that? Okay.

14:16All in favor to add the agenda item 10

14:18C2.

14:20>> I Any opposed? Okay. Thanks, Jen.

14:23>> Okay. Thank you. Um, few things. Okay.

14:26So, on June 23rd, uh, I as as well as

14:30Councilman Saraphino attended the

14:32celebration of life for technical

14:34sergeant Donald Arthur Dorman at the

14:37Aquaturf Club following his burial with

14:39full military honors here in

14:41Southernington. Um during the ceremony I

14:43had the privilege of presenting a

14:45proclamation to the German family on

14:48behalf of the town council in

14:50recognition of his extraordinary

14:52service, sacrifice and heroism during

14:55World War II. The event really brought

14:58together um family members and veterans,

15:01community leaders and residents to to

15:05honor um he who is a local hero who is

15:08finally laid to rest uh here in

15:10Southernington more than 80 years after

15:13making the ultimate sacrifice um of

15:16service to our nation. Um, and so I also

15:19want to recognize and extend uh sincere

15:22thanks to our town manager, uh, the

15:25Veterans Committee, Aquaturf Club,

15:27Plantsville Funeral Home, and numerous,

15:30many, too many to count, volunteers who

15:32worked tirelessly to make this a special

15:36homecoming. Did I forget anything, Josh?

15:41Um, uh, okay. 2nd. On June 26th, uh

15:46Southernington welcomed federal, state,

15:47and local leaders to Plantsville to

15:49celebrate ongoing downtown

15:51revitalization efforts uh and announce

15:54an increase in federal funding for the

15:57downtown flood mitigation study. So, the

16:00original grant award was $275,625,

16:04which was increased on site by way of

16:07marker on the check to $300,000 and will

16:11support engineering analysis and

16:13planning efforts uh to address the

16:15long-standing flooding concerns in

16:17downtown Plansville while positioning

16:20the town for future infrastructure

16:22investments. So attendees included

16:25myself, Councilman Zone was there as

16:28well, US Senators Richard Blumenthal and

16:30Chris Murphy, State Representative Chris

16:32Pulos, Connecticut DOT Commissioner

16:35Garrett Yucalo, our town manager Alex

16:38Rickardone, and many members of the

16:40community. I did want to recognize also

16:42Joanne Alfi, Don Meelli, and Mrs. Zmer,

16:45who also were longtime advocates of the

16:48pocket park initiative and whose

16:49dedication helped move the project

16:51forward. And Dave, was there anything

16:53you wanted to add?

16:54>> No, you did a great job.

16:55>> Thank you.

16:57>> We held that. We held that check.

16:59>> Yeah, holding the check.

17:01>> Yes, this is the best. Uh, also, okay,

17:04Southernington Police Department

17:06Citizens Police Academy. The

17:08Southernington Police uh department

17:10recently graduated the first class of

17:12its inaugural Citizens Police Academy, a

17:1610-week long program designed to

17:18strengthen relationships between our

17:19residents and law enforcement.

17:22So participants were provided a

17:23behind-the-scenes look at police

17:25operations including the patrol

17:27services, criminal investigations, the

17:29canine unit, drone unit, host hostage

17:32negotiation team, dispatch operations,

17:35and several partner agencies. The

17:38program also included hands-on learning

17:40experiences that provided our residents

17:42with a greater understanding of the

17:43challenges and responsibilities

17:46associated with uh modern policing and

17:49just what our um SPD is up against on a

17:52daily basis. And um the academy was

17:55coordinated by officer Jude Medina and

17:58reflects the department's ongoing

17:59commitment to transparency, community

18:01engagement, and most importantly

18:04building trust within our community. It

18:06was an outstanding effort by officer

18:09Medina, uh, Captain Armac, Chief Daly,

18:11and really the entire Southernington

18:13Police Department team. I just want to

18:16thank them for their leadership and

18:17support. I think that this is a really

18:19important initiative, and I look forward

18:21to seeing future classes and continue to

18:24continue with the success. That's all I

18:26have.

18:26>> Thank you.

18:28Anybody else?

18:32>> Can I go?

18:32>> Uh, yes, Kristen.

18:34>> So, July 4th, as you all we had that

18:36terrible, terrible storm here. I just

18:38want to say thank you to public works.

18:40Thank you to our uh fire and police um

18:44and town officials uh for their strong

18:47response in helping with the cleanup. It

18:49was a pretty precarious night with a lot

18:51of calls for service. So, um we

18:54appreciate all that they do.

18:57>> Echoed by the full council. Thank you,

18:58Kristen. Dave,

19:01>> I'd just like to take this opportunity

19:03to remind everybody that on July 24th,

19:06we'll be celebrating our annual

19:08Italian-American Festival on Center

19:10Street. Hope everybody can attend. It be

19:13good food, good entertainment, great

19:15time for everybody, whether you're

19:17Italian or not.

19:19>> Three days, right? It starts on the

19:2024th,

19:21>> July 24th, 25th, and 26th.

19:23>> Lower Center Street.

19:24>> Lower Center Street.

19:25>> Thank you.

19:28>> All right. Anybody else? Council person,

19:30communications, Chris.

19:32>> Yes, a couple um I want to say three or

19:35four meetings ago, um I had given an

19:37update a after talking to the town

19:39manager on Berlin Street, um just

19:41because a lot of residents have reached

19:43out about that. So, Alex forwarded an

19:45email to the full council from the water

19:47superintendent because that was a water

19:48department project um outlining just to

19:51share with the public that that project

19:53has now been moved back um and

19:56tentatively it will be completed Berlin

19:58Street and Lacy Lane um by Friday, July

20:0231st. And the reason it was given is um

20:06uh the patchwork required by the

20:08Connecticut DOT was slow going. So, I

20:10don't know if there's any other update

20:12related to that aside from what you sent

20:14to us. No. Okay. So, again, just to

20:16update our residents and make sure

20:17they're aware hopefully by the end of

20:19the month.

20:19>> And just for clarification, that is not

20:21final paving. That's only for the

20:23construction work and temporary

20:24patchwork.

20:25>> Right. And I explained that at that last

20:27meeting, but that's just patchwork. Next

20:29year, summer of 2027 will be the final

20:32paving.

20:32>> Thanks.

20:33>> Thank you for that. Yep. Um, second, in

20:36March of this year, 2026,Ratom

20:40was classified as a schedule one

20:41controlled substance. However, some of

20:44our smoke and vape shops still are

20:46advertising.

20:48I I'd like to ask our police department

20:50to tell them to remove those. Should

20:53have been removed within how many days,

20:56Alex, of of the adoption for at the

20:59state level?

21:00>> Uh, July 1st.

21:02>> Okay. So, if if we could um again, I'm

21:06just concerned that that's still being

21:08advertised and it is a schedule one

21:09controlled substance according to the

21:11state of Connecticut.

21:13Um the last item I just wanted to to

21:16again get clarification

21:19um with the budget process and I know

21:21the board of finance is trying to get

21:22some additional information as well but

21:24um I I'm concerned that the $833,000

21:28that came from the state after the fact

21:32uh well before we voted on the budget

21:34but um kind of in the 11th hour 833,000

21:38that was um added back in

21:42really related to educational funding.

21:45I'm concerned. I know the board of

21:46finance is talking about this that it's

21:48not accounted for in the mill rate. So,

21:50I I'm trying to understand how that

21:53happened and how um how are we going to

21:57make up that $833,000 if it's not

22:00factored in um in what we when we

22:03calculated the mill rate for our

22:04residents. So I don't know through the

22:06town manager if

22:09>> I can

22:11>> to the town manager.

22:12>> Great question. So I want to go back to

22:15the budget vote because I think it I

22:17think there's a little bit of

22:18miscommunication and possibly some

22:19misunderstanding on the 833 or the 834.

22:24When the motions were made, the motion

22:25was made to set the budget for the town

22:27of Sington general government and the

22:29board of education

22:31c at certain numbers. There's also

22:33discussion at the same time that there

22:35would be a transfer in the future of the

22:38state's 834 to the board of ed. It

22:42wasn't put in the budget. The board of

22:43ed wasn't budgeted that money. The town

22:45government wasn't budgeted. There's just

22:46a discussion how

22:50money may go there in the future. So

22:53that money was never put in the budget

22:54from day one. So the town council never

22:56budgeted for it. Now the question is

22:59what happens going forward? There was

23:02discussion about giving the board of ed

23:03an extra 834. It wasn't voted on. It

23:05wasn't approved. However, the town

23:07council, I believe, for watching the

23:09YouTube video 14 times, intends on

23:13getting them 834 at some point. So,

23:16there's three ways we can do it. It

23:18wasn't budgeted. So the the board of

23:20finance could have artificially

23:22increased the mill rate to overt tax the

23:24residents to create an artificial budget

23:27surplus and then transferred that money

23:30and draw drawn it down and give it to

23:33the board of education. That's one. They

23:35didn't. So the board of finance did not

23:37do that. They did not vote to

23:38artificially inflate the mill rate.

23:40Second thing they can do is they can

23:42take the board of finance can recommend

23:44taking out of the general fund or also

23:46known as the undesated um ready day

23:48fund. They haven't there's been no

23:50discussion on option two yet. That's for

23:52the board of finance. I assume they'll

23:54talk about that in the future. The third

23:57thing that they can do and this is what

23:59I've um spoken to the chair at the board

24:02of finance and I believe several members

24:04of the council is we have a $2.4 million

24:09carry.

24:10>> I'm not actually going to give you the

24:11real number because our audit our audit

24:13did just come out this past week. Um

24:16$2.45

24:18million

24:20budget surplus from the budget that

24:22ended July 1st of 2025.

24:25Um so my suggestion would be just to to

24:28harvest if the board of finance and town

24:30council want to give the 834 to the

24:32board of ed harvest that money through a

24:34onetime appropriation. That's my

24:36recommend that's my recommendation if

24:37that's what the will of the council is.

24:40>> Just let me add on to that though the

24:42just to be clear the the the

24:46budget vote that this t council took

24:50was calculated. So it was it was

24:53presented to us that budget number was

24:54calculated and that and and the way that

24:57it was discussed and structured here is

25:00the way it was passed to the board of

25:01finance. So, so nothing has changed from

25:04our vote to the board of finance. Um, I

25:06think some people are questioning about

25:08how we structured our vote because we

25:11vote on a town government budget and we

25:15vote on a board of education budget. In

25:17the town government budget, we went

25:18through line by line and then the board

25:20of education we voted as a whole. So,

25:22there's no error on our side and there's

25:25no shortfall really. Um, the the vote

25:28that we made is the vote that we made.

25:30So um you know some people have

25:32different perspectives about how they

25:33would like to have seen uh the mill rate

25:36set but there is no shortfall and there

25:40is no error. It's a matter of how people

25:43want to see the mill rate calculated.

25:45Now that's not a town council job.

25:46That's a board of finance job. So when

25:48when the budget leaves here the board of

25:50finance decides based on our actions how

25:53do they want to set the mill rate and

25:55they can set the mill rate as they wish.

25:57they can set the mill rate equal to

25:59lower or higher and um that's their

26:01that's their purview.

26:03>> So I I don't know I guess what I'm

26:05asking then is when we set when the mill

26:07rate was set and I when I say we I know

26:09it's the board of finance I mean the

26:10town of Southernington. Yes.

26:11>> When the mill rate was set was it

26:14$833,834,000

26:17short because of the way the money was

26:20calculated from the state? That's what

26:22I'm wondering because I've heard through

26:25the board of finance discussion of where

26:28are we going to make up that this 833

26:30and Alex you just yourself said we can

26:32take it from these three different areas

26:34and Paul you said

26:35>> at the last meeting I said that at the

26:37last meeting if if we go through this

26:39budget cycle which by the way this isn't

26:41a bad problem to have we're basically

26:43saying that we have a a year where we

26:45have to manage to our budget and instead

26:47of having an extra 833 in fluff we

26:51probably are going to be closer to on

26:52budget. So there's no there's no error.

26:55There's no shortfall until we get to the

26:58end of the year and we find out whether

27:00we have the funds or we need to transfer

27:02some of the carryover funds or not.

27:04That's so when you ask if there's a

27:06shortfall, I don't think that that's a

27:09>> I I don't think and I'm not I don't

27:11think that there was intention to it.

27:13What I'm saying though is was that $833

27:17$834,000

27:19accounted for properly when the mill

27:21rate was set because I'm told and Alex

27:24again I'm listening to what you just

27:26said that we've got to come up with this

27:28833 834,000 unless there's a surplus in

27:31the budget at the end of the year. But

27:33that means we didn't calculate it

27:35properly knowing that that should have

27:37been accounted for.

27:38>> So I disagree with you and I'm going to

27:40just go back one more if I could. The

27:42834 was never budgeted for. It was never

27:46given to the board of ed. It was never

27:48put in the town budget. And I assume I

27:50didn't do the budget. I assume the

27:51reason was the town council didn't want

27:54to create an artificially higher budget

27:56going forward next budget cycle because

27:58it was a one-time fund. So that 834 is

28:01off budget. It's been something that the

28:03town council said they would give, but

28:05it was never purposely put. It's my

28:07understanding. I didn't make the

28:08motions. I didn't vote on it. My

28:10understanding it was never put in the

28:11budget because you'd be creating an

28:12artificial um anti-fiscal cliff next

28:16year. So, it's an offbudget requisition

28:19that was

28:22I don't want to say promised, but um it

28:24was spoke about that it would be going

28:26over to the board of ed within the

28:27fiscal year. So,

28:30I don't want to I don't want to say

28:31there was a it wasn't a problem. It

28:33wasn't a mistake, but it was not put in

28:35the budget for what I believe to be

28:39proper reasons. If you wanted to have

28:41the budget be artificially higher, it

28:43could have been budgeted for, but then

28:44you'd be starting next year with

28:45$834,000

28:47higher than the last year.

28:50>> You could, like, for an example, we

28:51could have artificially budgeted for

28:53$834 more that maybe we didn't need, but

28:56then next year we'd be starting with

28:57that that artificially higher base

29:00budget. And so that's what what's what's

29:01saying what uh the town manager saying.

29:03So

29:04>> I I guess there's more. The board of

29:06finance is still reviewing it. I don't

29:08think they've come to a conclusion with

29:10this yet. Correct.

29:11>> They haven't. And their budget didn't

29:13include the 834. So the town council

29:15just made a statement that 834 extra

29:17would be going over at some point, but

29:20it was never put in the budget. So that

29:21night you voted, it was not put in the

29:23budget.

29:23>> That That's my point.

29:24>> So there's no there's no guarantee the

29:25board of vets going to get that money.

29:27>> It was never voted for. But but here's

29:29the thing Chris the it is a done issue.

29:32The board of finance is the one who sets

29:34the mill rate. They do the calculations.

29:36If the board of f so for example we all

29:39got a spreadsheet all of us got a

29:41spreadsheet and the board of finance got

29:42a spreadsheet a few days before the

29:44board of finance set the mill rate. That

29:46spreadsheet was a calculation that the

29:48finance director did and gave to the

29:50gave to the board of finance. If the

29:52board of finance didn't like the way it

29:54was calculated, they could have taken

29:55action at their meeting, but they

29:57didn't, which is not a problem, by the

29:59way. It's not an issue. It's it's the

30:02way the mill rate was calculated. So,

30:04there may be a disagreement amongst the

30:06board of finance members about how the

30:07mill rate's calculated, but it doesn't

30:09mean that there's an error. And it

30:10doesn't mean we're going to be short. It

30:12doesn't mean we're not going to be

30:13short. It's going to mean that we're

30:14going to have to manage our budget like

30:15we do every single year. And we'll if if

30:19uh we have a surplus, we have a surplus.

30:21If we don't, then we figure out how to

30:22how to make reductions throughout the

30:24year and manage to our budget like we

30:25always do.

30:25>> Mr. Chair, if I may,

30:26>> please.

30:27>> I will say that the board of finance

30:28there was discussion about raising the

30:29mill rate. The chairman actually brought

30:31up should we raise it a little bit for a

30:33cushion for unexpected other issues,

30:36receivables.

30:38Um, that was voted down 5-0 unanimous

30:41unanimous vote to not raise the mill

30:43rate. So, it there was a discussion of

30:46raising the mill rate.

30:47>> Dave, you were going to say something.

30:49Go ahead.

30:50You're going to have to refresh my

30:51memory a tad, but as I recall, we

30:54actually cut the board of education by

30:57$833,000.

30:59>> Correct.

30:59>> Knowing that we were going to get the

31:00$833,000

31:02from the state,

31:03>> but we didn't it it wasn't shown that

31:07way when the board of finance got the

31:09the paperwork to to set the mill rate

31:11when they saw the budget written out.

31:14The 833 was already taken out of the

31:16board of education budget. And as you

31:19know, next year by state statute, you

31:22can't lower what the board of education

31:24got the previous year. So they're going

31:27in short $833,000.

31:30Whether we'll get it later, of course,

31:32they'll it'll find its way to the board

31:34of ed, but that wasn't the problem. They

31:37calculated the mill rate on a number

31:39that was $833,000

31:42short. And that's the board of finances

31:44job. That's their job. Our job at this

31:47town council was to decide what the

31:49budget was for the town government and

31:51what it was for the board of education.

31:53We all sat here and we voted to reduce

31:56the board of education the 833 and we

31:59said in discuss so we lowered the budget

32:01and we set in discussion that the 833

32:03would go over through an appropriation

32:05process that the board of finance

32:06controls later on. They have full

32:07control over it. So, if the board of

32:09education makes a recommendation to the

32:11board of finance, like they do every

32:12single year for funds, the board of

32:14finance has an opportunity to to take a

32:16decision on that, just like they had an

32:18opportunity to take a decision on the

32:19mill rate.

32:21>> But that's not Chris. It's it's it's not

32:23our it's really a board of finance

32:25matter.

32:25>> But procedurally, Paul, the board of

32:27finance, after the council votes on it,

32:30we're we're the last vote except for

32:32setting the mill rate. The board of

32:34finance can't reverse

32:36>> what the council decides. You're saying

32:38they could have done that at that I

32:40don't think they could have. Yes. They

32:41only have a decision at that point of

32:45what to set for the mill rate.

32:47>> Correct. And I said last last time uh if

32:50you're talking about the 833,000 you're

32:52talking about 0.2 or 0.3 mills. It's

32:55it's it's it's a small number. So at

32:57that time if the board of educ if the

32:59board of finance when they set the mill

33:01rate felt as though the revenues were

33:03low the board of finance could have set

33:05the mill rate instead of setting the

33:06mill rate at 23 point uh what's the

33:09number 23 points they could have set it

33:112 mills higher and if had they done that

33:14the 833 would have come in as a as a

33:16surplus into the general fund and they

33:18could have used it to fund whatever they

33:20wanted to but they saw the calculation

33:22they got the calc the same calculation

33:24we all saw they all got it it's a public

33:26document and they could have looked at

33:29the calculations. I mean, our budget

33:31books are here. Simple math. It's it's

33:33literally addition and subtraction. They

33:35could have looked at the numbers and

33:36they could have said, "Oh, I want to

33:38have an extra 800,000." But they decided

33:40not to. And that's not saying that's an

33:42error or it's not. It's or it's not an

33:44error. It's just the decision they made.

33:47>> So that it's not a council decision for

33:48us to continue on here. I

33:50>> I don't know. I I view it as the buck

33:52stops here, not pointing the finger at

33:54the board of finance. And again, to me,

33:56the board of finance is their job at

33:58that point is to set the mill rate. That

34:00that's it. But like I said, I know

34:02they're getting more information. So,

34:04let's

34:06the the discussion is going to continue

34:07at the board of finance and then we'll

34:09have another opportunity to discuss it

34:10at the council level.

34:11>> And Chris, just remember the the the

34:14finance director sat right next to Mr.

34:16Zone during the town council meeting

34:18when we all talked about the numbers.

34:20This council could have asked the

34:21finance director any question about the

34:23budget, the way that it was going to be

34:24represented to the board of finance,

34:26what the total numbers were. We did

34:27that. We did what we thought was right

34:30and we voted on it.

34:30>> My understanding was the recommendation

34:32was for it to be counted as revenue only

34:34and it wasn't done that way at the

34:35council level even though that was the

34:36recommendation.

34:37>> No, we voted to lower the board of

34:38education budget. That was it was

34:40purposeful. Tony, go ahead. Sorry.

34:42>> Sorry. Just just a point of information

34:44what Dave said. I think it's important

34:45which is if if the 833 had been added as

34:49revenue to that budget for next year.

34:52Okay. What would have happened um you

34:55know the following year the following

34:56year the 833 would disappear because the

34:59money that that was that was uh attached

35:02to that was was provided by the state

35:03which goes away. It was a one-year

35:05thing. That was the issue and you don't

35:08want to set the board of education up

35:10for 833 in their budget that they're not

35:13essentially it's a fiscal cliff and

35:15we've heard about those things before.

35:17Right.

35:17>> I have been saying that we don't want

35:19money for you not suggesting that.

35:21>> Oh yeah. Yeah. Right. Right. Anyway,

35:24>> I haven't been saying that Tony.

35:25>> Uh oh yes you have.

35:26>> Oh okay.

35:27>> And sometimes you were wrong but but

35:29Dave Tony Oh no not me. But Dave, the

35:32point is that they would have had that

35:34833. They would have dropped off the

35:36cliff. There's money they didn't have in

35:38their budget.

35:38>> The board of ed budget was already cut

35:40by 1.6 million from the board of

35:42finance.

35:43>> And then we cut it another down to a

35:44lower level. We chose to cut it even

35:47more. Correct.

35:48>> Oh, no. We we voted to cut the increase.

35:52>> We voted to cut the increase,

35:54>> which was rather a lot.

35:56>> All right. As I said, I'll I'll let it

35:58go because I know it's continuing at the

36:00board of finance. We obviously are going

36:02to agree to disagree, but we'll see what

36:04information comes up from that review.

36:05>> Thanks, Chris.

36:06>> I think we're still in public

36:08communications, right?

36:09>> Council communications. Did you have

36:11anything else beyond that one?

36:12>> No.

36:12>> All right.

36:13>> Save the best for last.

36:15>> Go ahead, Tony.

36:16>> I got a quick one, very quick one, which

36:18is I went along to the um music on the

36:20green uh for the America 250 thing with

36:24John Cougar Melon Camp band. Uh it was

36:28real good. But that's what I wanted to

36:29say was I was interested to see that the

36:32the town had organized an event for

36:34their own employees uh to watch um uh

36:37the music on the town green. And it's my

36:39understanding they're going to have more

36:40events like that to give more of a uh a

36:44good feeling, you know, for for for the

36:46town workers. And so, uh I just wanted

36:49to point that out. It's it's a great

36:51thing to do and I hope to see more of

36:52that.

36:54>> Okay.

36:54>> Thank you, Tony. That was wonderful.

36:58Anybody else? Council person,

37:00communications, Jim.

37:01>> Yes. Thank you, Paul.

37:02>> You're welcome.

37:04>> As Paul had started stated earlier, last

37:07Wednesday, July 2nd, the town said

37:09goodbye to a lifelong dedicated servant,

37:11Edward J. Pullcott Jr., and I, as an

37:14attendee at this funeral, uh, need to

37:16say that it was so gratifying for me to

37:18see the outpour of support for Ed's last

37:21ride. I'd personally like to thank the

37:23following. The Sington Fire Department

37:25for the flag drops and attendance

37:27showing solidarity to solidarity to a

37:29great man. The Sington Police Honor

37:32Guard for standing watch over at

37:34attention for hours. To all other

37:36Sington Police Department members,

37:38present and past that took the time to

37:39show respect and honor to their brother.

37:42A solid honor from the motorcycle police

37:43from Cromwell, Waterberry, Bowlingford,

37:46Cheshure, and Southernington. Ed had a

37:49permanent smile when he was a motorcycle

37:50cop. and seeing the escort brought

37:52memories and tears to my eyes. I'm sure

37:54that I missed some as the funeral was

37:56for a lifetime volunteer to the town

37:58that Ed was so passionately and loved.

38:00My heartfelt thanks to everyone who

38:02came. In closing, I was asked to echo

38:04these same remarks on behalf of the

38:06family. They were humbled and in awe of

38:08the efforts to bring Ed PCO Jr. to his

38:11final resting place. They appreciate all

38:13the love, prayers, and huge show of

38:15support for his family. Sincerest thanks

38:17and appreciation from the PCOS.

38:21Thank you, Jim.

38:23Mr. PCO will certainly be missed.

38:27Any other

38:29comments?

38:32Okay, hearing none, we will move on to

38:35item number six, report of special

38:37committees. Item A, EMS.

38:42>> Uh EMS committee met on Thursday, June

38:4425th. Um, and we looked at the call

38:48volume. Uh, during January through May

38:50of 2026, the review period, there was a

38:53total of 2,852

38:56medical calls compared to 2,913

39:00medical calls during the same review

39:02period in calendar year 2025,

39:05representing a slight decrease in the

39:07overall call volume. The committee noted

39:10that fluctu fluctuations in call volume

39:13are typical and by themselves do not

39:15indicate a trend as demand for emergency

39:17medical services is inherently variable.

39:21During January through May 2026, uh the

39:24review period, there were a total of 136

39:26overloads uh with fire department

39:29assisting on 74 of those overloads. When

39:32comparing overloads to total call

39:34volume, the average overload percentage

39:36for this review period was 4.73%.

39:40For the same review period in calendar

39:42year 2025, there was a total of 146

39:46overloads with fire department assisting

39:48on approximately 64 of those. The

39:51overload percentage compared to the

39:52total call volume was 4.9. Overall, the

39:56data reflects a slight decrease in both

39:58total overloads and overload percentages

40:00during the January through May 2026

40:03review period when compared to the same

40:05time frame in 2025.

40:08Uh response time compliances. This is

40:10something that uh the committee looks

40:12at. AMR met or exceeded the 90% response

40:15time compliance uh standard for January

40:18through May. Uh the average compliance

40:21percentages for this period are priority

40:24one uh was met at 98.54%

40:27and priority 2 is 96.98.

40:31Um the EMS committee remains committed

40:33to ongoing oversight and collaboration

40:35with all stakeholders to ensure the

40:38continued delivery of consistent quality

40:41EMS services to the community. Uh we do

40:44have ongoing work. Um the EMS contract

40:47development remains in progress. Our

40:49continued analysis of call volume

40:51patterns to align with staffing uh with

40:54peak demand and the ongoing monitoring

40:56of response time performance and

40:59compliance.

41:00>> Thank you. Any questions on EMS?

41:04>> Okay, hearing none. Moving on to item B,

41:07America 250.

41:09We have Pastor Triano here, former

41:12council chairwoman Victoria Triano is

41:15going to give us a wonderful update. We

41:18had a lot of activity

41:19>> celebrating America's Independence Day,

41:23250th.

41:24>> Yeah. Yeah. So good to see everybody.

41:27And uh it's good to be here tonight. Uh

41:29June and July uh June especially June

41:32was very active and July is is getting

41:36active right now for the rest of the

41:38month of July. We're partnering with

41:39with our platinum sponsor which is

41:41Hartford Healthcare and they are doing

41:44tomorrow uh we are opening up the new

41:48Bradley Memorial campus for the hospital

41:51and uh so everybody's invited. It starts

41:54at 3:30 I believe some folks are 3:00

41:57and everybody's welcome to come. There's

41:59going to be a lot of giveaways and uh

42:01America 250 will be well represented.

42:04And the following day at it's National

42:06Hot Dog Day and the Orchards of

42:09Southernington is providing hot dogs for

42:10anybody who wants to come out at 11:30

42:12to 1:30 and we will also be there uh

42:15just thanking the public and it's going

42:16to be really exciting. The other we have

42:20a couple of other things going on that

42:21are still in the hoppers for July. uh we

42:24may very well be helping the um women's

42:27auxiliary uh to for their drive-in we've

42:30offered we're waiting to hear but there

42:32are many things that are coming up very

42:34quickly and then of course uh we use uh

42:37August to kind of prepare for Apple

42:40Harvest Festival and we'll certainly be

42:42a part of Apple Harvest Festival and so

42:44things are moving along and wellreceived

42:46it's just so great to be in

42:48Southernington and no matter what party

42:50we are no matter our affiliation people

42:52are coming up and enjoying themselves

42:54and that's really what we wanted to do.

42:56So, I'll take any other questions and uh

42:59uh if there's anything else you'd like

43:00to know very much, I'd love to tell you.

43:03>> Any questions for the chair, please?

43:05>> Madam Chair, can we get you on record

43:07now to be the chair of the 300th

43:09anniversary?

43:10>> So, I probably won't be the

43:13>> Why not?

43:14>> I've got a a gig going on in Vegas. So,

43:17but um if I have it be an honor.

43:21>> Thank you. a lot of great things. Stay

43:22tuned. Thank you so much. We appreciate

43:24it.

43:27>> Okay. Item C, open space. Jen.

43:30>> Yes. Okay. So, our open space committee

43:33for July was cancelled. Our next meeting

43:36is August 6. Uh just a few items though.

43:40As you're driving by on Pleasant Street,

43:43the Pleasant Street barn is beautiful.

43:45It's even got the lanterns. It's so it's

43:48amazing. So, um, and we'll have an

43:51update, uh, our next meeting. Um, Pete

43:54Romano will be there to give us an

43:55update. Do you have any

43:56>> I can give a little update.

43:57>> Yes, that would be great.

43:58>> The the barn itself is pretty much Thank

44:00you for reaching out today. The barn

44:02itself is pretty much complete. Um, one

44:05of the things that has to be done now is

44:07leveling the ground outside. There's

44:09there's a bit of a steep cut off outside

44:12the barn. So, um, we're actually working

44:16with the high school because there's

44:17extra fill up there to potentially move

44:19some of that fill, which is town fill,

44:22right? And move it down to the Pleasant

44:23Street property of two, so we avoid that

44:25expense. So, it's a good way to combine

44:29sources for both projects. And the

44:31projected end date for the whole thing

44:33is hopefully by the middle of August,

44:36even though the barn itself is pretty

44:37much complete. Yeah. Um, and then the

44:39last thing which I think will be

44:41helpful, I tried getting it for today,

44:43but the to find out where we're at with

44:45the grant funding because the a science

44:48does want to add some paddics that was

44:50in the master plan if we remember as

44:52well. It's just they may not be in the

44:53exact same locations and we need to make

44:55sure there's enough funds left for that.

44:58>> Perfect. Um, okay. The So, we'll have

45:03more information on the barn at our next

45:06meeting. Um and also talk a little bit

45:09about maintenance as well.

45:11>> Um

45:12>> school street property. Unfortunately,

45:15one of the open space signs located on

45:17the property was removed, but thanks to

45:19the quick response uh and assistance of

45:22town staff, that sign has been replaced.

45:24So, just thank you for those efforts to

45:27do that. Um and then I want to also

45:31thank the Yeti program who recently

45:34painted the grass ski barn. They're also

45:37going to be working with Dave Valley on

45:39um updating some boards and some

45:41additional paintings. So, the goats told

45:43me they're very happy.

45:46>> Um so, uh more to come on updates in

45:51August.

45:52>> Thank you. Any questions on open space?

45:55Okay. Item D, Apple Harvest Festival.

45:57Chris.

45:58>> All right. The committee met last week

45:59on Wednesday, July 8th. A couple things

46:01to share out with the community. Um

46:03we're still looking for arts and crafts

46:05vendors. So to date we have 24, but

46:07we're still looking for more. Remember

46:09the arts and crafts fair is for the

46:10second weekend only of the festival. Um

46:13so again, still plenty of spots

46:15available. Uh our booth fees on the

46:18other hand, the booths are at capacity

46:21unless we don't secure as many sponsors

46:24as we hope to receive. So we've

46:26collected about $80,000 in revenue so

46:28far for for the booth fees. Um and there

46:31is a wait list. There's three people on

46:33it at the moment just in case

46:35sponsorships don't come through and

46:36there does become availability for um a

46:38vendor. Um so we'll keep an eye on that.

46:41Um sponsorships to date we've collected

46:44$20,100

46:46um collected and we have an additional

46:49$15,500 pending uh meaning the

46:52commitment was given. We just haven't um

46:54deposited those funds yet. Um and and

46:57finally, our last uh RFP went out for

47:01our busing. Um and we awarded the bid to

47:04NBT. NBT has been a great partner to the

47:07festival um for many years. So, they'll

47:09provide um shuttle bus services um for

47:12the two weekends of the Apple Harvest

47:14Festival.

47:15>> Great. Any questions on the Apple

47:16Harvest?

47:18>> I just can you just reiterate, did you

47:19say that there's still three booth uh

47:21opportunities left?

47:22>> No. So, there's a wait list of three

47:24right now. They're full. We're backlog

47:25free. Okay.

47:26>> Yes. But if for some reason because we

47:28reserve spots for sponsors, if the

47:30sponsors don't take those spots, then

47:31we'll backfill them with vendors and

47:33there's a wait list of three.

47:34>> And there was a concern about uh

47:36representation from fire uh on Fridays.

47:38Can you just talk a little bit about

47:39that and what the decision of the

47:40committee was with that?

47:41>> Sure. The the the conversation not at

47:44this meeting but the last meeting was

47:46really about do we need to increase the

47:49amount of services. So we had some

47:51discussion with that. We decided um

47:54there's really nothing documented that

47:56we want to increase to services. So

47:58we're we're not cutting anything. We're

48:00just maintaining the same level of

48:02service that we've had in previous

48:03festivals.

48:04>> Okay. Any questions on

48:06>> No. And the conversation came up because

48:07we were talking about overtime like um

48:10uh salary increases with police, fire,

48:12and public works. So that's where the

48:14conversation originated.

48:16>> Okay.

48:18Okay. Any other questions on that? Okay.

48:21Hearing none. Item E, sewer. Tony.

48:25>> Yeah, thanks. Um,

48:27yeah, quickly. Uh, just uh two or three

48:30things. Uh, the first, this is the first

48:33meeting. It was the first meeting of,

48:35uh, for I27. So, we had a presentation

48:39for the finance director, Chrissy

48:40Marino, about our finances to kick off

48:43the year. Um what it sort of showed was

48:46over the last eight years um we've

48:50invested our reserves heavily in

48:52proactive maintenance and infrastructure

48:54projects designed to add efficiency to

48:56the sewer plant and its network of uh

48:58pipes and pump stations. Um it's over

49:01and above the $50 million investment in

49:04the creation of the brand new sewer

49:06plant with additional services which uh

49:09uh we opened just um a few years back.

49:12So the reserves at the beginning of

49:14those eight years were like 13 million.

49:16They're now about 7.1 million and most

49:19of that was spent on those those kind of

49:21projects. Um we still have a big project

49:24left to eradicate the PCBs at the plant

49:27that were uh discovered. Um we're

49:29working with deep on that. We don't know

49:31how much that will cost yet and we don't

49:33know how much uh some of that will be

49:35paid by General Electric too. Um but our

49:38rate of in invest in infrastructure uh

49:41can't be continued much longer without

49:44additional monies or without slowing

49:46down um you know the infrastructure

49:49investment. So we'll that's something

49:51that we'll have to balance throughout

49:53the rest of the year. Um but we've we've

49:57done uh so much um again the last few

50:01years um that we're in a very very very

50:03healthy state. Having said that, we did

50:06add a new infrastructure project which

50:08was uh methanol tank. Um we de uh we get

50:15rid of essentially nitrates that come

50:17into our water. Uh we had the first um

50:20capability in our sewer plant in

50:23actually in Connecticut or one of the

50:24first that enables us to do that. You

50:27get rid of nitrates out of the water.

50:28the nitrates don't flow into the river

50:30and don't flow down the coastal uh basin

50:33and they don't because um uh loads and

50:37loads of algae grow um and we've seen

50:40that in other places um which leads to

50:43dead spots and it you know it hurts the

50:45environment. So um we we have the plant

50:48methanol is the chemical agent that

50:50essentially attacks the nitrates and

50:52turns it into nitrogen and nitrogen you

50:54know goes into the atmosphere. So, uh,

50:57it's important to have one of those

50:59tanks. We only we had two. Uh, but

51:01methanol is also very costic. It eats

51:03away at things and, uh, it ate away at

51:06one of our tanks. So, we're looking into

51:09a stainless steel tank, which won't be

51:11as susceptible to that. Uh, that'll be

51:13125 grand, uh, or thereabouts. Uh

51:17finally um we all got a email from a

51:22town manager a few days ago about how we

51:25were able to grow a position um an

51:29employee in town into a deputy assessor

51:32assistant assessor which is wonderful

51:34and

51:35>> it the conversation kind of dropped off.

51:38Uh there were several requests and this

51:42is this was a long time period going so

51:44I'm trying to be as clear as I can.

51:47There was additional requests for

51:48reimbursement for these three three

51:50items. Again um I don't have

51:55authorization in my opinion for the

51:58plaques. I don't have authorization for

52:01um the I do have authorization for the

52:03party. Um the New York trip I was

52:06comfortable with supporting uh on my own

52:09uh through the town council budget. Um

52:11the only thing I will say is uh we are

52:13in the new budget fiscal year. This

52:15these are all things that happened the

52:16last fiscal year. So I have confirmed

52:18with the finance director this morning

52:21that we do have $3,400 in the program

52:25services account for the town council

52:26that I can use to to pay for some of

52:29these items if the town council

52:31instructs me to do so.

52:33in in last year's money that we could

52:36use before um it gets carried over.

52:41>> And that's that's that's I'm happy to

52:42answer any questions, but that's it in a

52:44nutshell.

52:45>> Thank you. So um just remember we're

52:46going to take action on this later, but

52:48please just ask questions and then we'll

52:50have a discussion later.

52:53>> Should I save my questions?

52:54>> If you have questions for the town

52:56manager, go ahead ask.

52:58>> Um I guess I'll address them later in

53:00the action. to save all of them.

53:03>> Okay. Does anyone else have uh questions

53:05for the town manager?

53:06>> Well, just just for the sake of the

53:08record, um so the reimbursement of the

53:12plaques was $3,500. Correct.

53:17>> 3500.

53:18>> I'm going to pull it up if it's

53:20$3,63.94.

53:22>> $1,63.

53:24Okay. Um the trip when was when was the

53:27trip, Alex? I thought it was two or

53:29three years ago. It was it was a few

53:31years ago. It was right at the start of

53:33the library building project.

53:34>> Okay. So, it'll be back then. And

53:37>> what was the purpose of that trip?

53:39>> Oh, I I can answer that. I'll let Alex

53:42answer. I

53:42>> I don't want to speak for Mr. Morelli,

53:44but um I can say that it's my

53:46understanding that it was a national or

53:49northeast library conference about just

53:51libraries of the future. Um and and just

53:54educ educating Mr. Morelli on best

53:57practices. what should what do we want

53:59in our next library etc. Again I don't

54:01want to speak for it but that's just my

54:02understanding of the the purpose.

54:04>> Hold on one I just want to Tony were you

54:06done?

54:06>> Oh yes I was

54:09related to the same thing though. So so

54:10just for transparency we already said

54:12the plaques was $3,63.94

54:15what was the total cost request for the

54:18reimbursement request for the trip?

54:21>> I I don't have those numbers ahead of

54:23me. What we do with any employee and I

54:26would treat the an elected or appointed

54:27official the same is I would use the GSA

54:30the federal government's daily podium.

54:32They'd get up to the maximum of whatever

54:35New York City zip code is and they get

54:38submit receipts and they would get paid

54:39on up to the maximum GSA dollar amount

54:42for those.

54:43>> So is it mileage or

54:45>> mileage meals and conference if there's

54:47a conference fee and conference fee as

54:49well?

54:49>> Okay.

54:50>> And you don't know what the conference

54:51fee was? it. I don't want to misspeak. I

54:54don't have it. I don't have a dollar

54:56amount in front of me. No.

54:57>> Okay. Ready. Go ahead.

55:00>> Um, so in our packet,

55:04um, you had you there's two letters

55:07here. Um, one to you and one to Chrissy.

55:12>> Yes. Um, how did you receive those

55:15letters?

55:17>> They were left in my office

55:20in paper.

55:22So us as town counselors can ask you to

55:27do things. Correct.

55:30>> The town council uh in of itself is a

55:32body of nine. Yes.

55:34>> Uh one council one counselor cannot. Uh

55:37they could ask but they can't order me

55:40to do anything.

55:41>> Can they order the finance director to

55:43generate a check for $336855?

55:47>> No.

55:48>> Okay. Any other questions for the town

55:51manager?

55:52>> For the plaques, I'm sorry, and you

55:55might have said it. I just didn't hear

55:57you. What was um the plaques for? They

56:00were for people who were participating

56:02on the library committee.

56:05>> That them and some others. There's in

56:08the packet there is a uh the proofs of

56:10all the the plaques that were made.

56:12There's one, two, three, four, five,

56:16six, seven, eight, just under 50 plaques

56:19from different people. Um, most folks on

56:22the town council. Um, some staff members

56:26ever been the library library building

56:28committee. Um, some folks from Whiting

56:30Turner who were on the project that our

56:32design build.

56:34>> Do you know if bids were gotten on those

56:36or did we just go with

56:39one? I can't find my stuff. I don't

56:41know.

56:42>> I have some notes. Actually, I was just

56:43going to bring this up later, but can I

56:45>> Yeah. Oh, yeah.

56:46>> That too.

56:47>> Um I'm just going to go through this

56:49now.

56:50>> So, we have a invoice estimate here, uh

56:5365140,

56:55um which I have a few concerns with. Um

56:58it was says it's prepared for the

57:00Southernington Republican Town

57:02Committee, which I don't believe had any

57:04role in the library. Um and then it says

57:07contact Jim Morelli. Um I do not believe

57:10that is Jim's phone number nor address.

57:13Um and this was generated 10:15 2025.

57:16Now I was not on the council then. Um

57:20and I was attending meetings in the

57:22audience but I don't remember anything

57:24about plaques. Was there anything

57:28brought up about plaques at that point?

57:31>> Not in front of the council as a whole

57:33though.

57:33>> Okay. Um it looks like they were and

57:37then following the chain of emails here.

57:40Um it looks like they were then created

57:42on 1252025 with a payment due of 12225.

57:47I would assume implying they were done

57:49also with the incorrect Southern T

57:52Republican Town Committee in the

57:53address. Um, it then looks like it was

57:56paid for in 320 20226

58:00um with a check of $3,63.94.

58:05Um, library is spelled wrong on 12 of

58:09them.

58:11Um, I don't know if they were printed

58:12that way. I'm just going through the

58:13packet here.

58:15Um, and then my concern going back to

58:18your point is on March 2nd, 2026,

58:24Jim sends an email to Paul and Chris and

58:27to Alex. Um, and I'm going to have this

58:31go into the minutes. Um, but it says, "I

58:35asked Alex to provide a check and found

58:37all the excess money was gone. And now

58:39the town budget, now it's a town budget

58:41issue. Over $1,000 requires a town

58:43council approval.

58:45I could split the invoice into three

58:46runs. That concerns me. Um,

58:51the company actually did a lot of work

58:53for me to not charge me anything for the

58:54back and forth of these creations. I

58:56would prefer not to go to bid since they

58:59are already made. There were extras

59:02made. I think this is a alarming

59:05statement from an elected official. uh

59:07purchasing limits exist to protect the

59:09public and the taxpayers not to be

59:11worked around by dividing them into

59:12smaller transactions.

59:15Um

59:17and then I believe that request was

59:20dismissed

59:22and

59:23you offered to pay for the pizza and I

59:25don't really have a problem with that.

59:28Um but in your email it says this is

59:32Jim. This is to Jim from Alex. Uh, you

59:35let me know you were paying for the

59:37party and the plaques

59:39off.

59:41>> The last library board meeting was May

59:437th, 2025. That's what I could find in

59:45the minutes. Um, there was a June one,

59:48but it was cancelled.

59:49>> Building committee meeting.

59:50>> Building committee. Sorry. Yes. Library

59:52board. Building committee. Thank you.

59:54Um, so I'm very confused why

59:57the last meeting of that board was May

59:597th. The estimate for this was October

1:00:0215th. It was printed the 31st of

1:00:05October. The plaques were ordered

1:00:07without anyone's authorization on

1:00:09December 5th. Um, and then three months

1:00:12go by before there's any communication

1:00:14to Alex or any I mean this is the first

1:00:18time we've heard about this on the dis.

1:00:21Um, splitting the invoices, having a

1:00:24party. Um, and then it was kind of done

1:00:28and then you get this request the other

1:00:30day. it just doesn't make a lot of sense

1:00:32to me. Um, and you probably don't have

1:00:34an answer for that. Um, and I get that,

1:00:37but

1:00:39it's it's concerning. Um, and I don't

1:00:42know if you necessarily have to go out

1:00:43to bid. Um, I think it's quotes probably

1:00:46if I'm correct, and that's just from

1:00:48other boards and committees. Um, were

1:00:51you provided any quotes for these other

1:00:53than the invoice that's here?

1:00:56>> I was not. And you are correct. Our

1:00:59purchasing policy that was signed by the

1:01:01previous town manager in 2022 says any

1:01:04purchase between 1,00 and $9,999

1:01:08required department has to get three

1:01:10quotes.

1:01:10>> Okay.

1:01:12>> I want to put that into the records if I

1:01:14don't. Kathy, thank you.

1:01:16>> Uh I guess well I'll also ask that uh we

1:01:19have several communications in our

1:01:21packet. Can we put those communications

1:01:23into the record as well?

1:01:25>> Any other questions for the town

1:01:26manager?

1:01:30Do you have anything else to report, Mr.

1:01:32County?

1:01:33>> I don't. I believe the documents that

1:01:35were provided to the town council give

1:01:38an accurate and fair um synopsis of the

1:01:41request.

1:01:44>> Can I just ask one more question before?

1:01:45Go ahead.

1:01:46>> Funds for the library building

1:01:48committee. Were there any fund because

1:01:50you mentioned the finance director and

1:01:52and the budgeting process, but what

1:01:54about funds from the library project

1:01:56itself? twister.

1:01:58There was even $500 left for

1:02:02>> the project closed out with uh minimal

1:02:05funds and it the project is closed off

1:02:07the books and then just gets it doesn't

1:02:08we didn't bond that money. It was less

1:02:10money we bonded.

1:02:11>> Okay. So, so like for example the the

1:02:14high school building committee, we're

1:02:15well under budget. So there was nothing

1:02:17like that to to pay for the um uh the

1:02:23thank you party for the volunteers to

1:02:25pay for the um professional development

1:02:28uh the the education session

1:02:32>> project was closed out prior um just

1:02:34like like the the school roof. So the

1:02:36school roofs are doing great. We're

1:02:37really under budget. We're only going to

1:02:39bond just because we authorized we're

1:02:41not going to use it. We bond we need 500

1:02:44but we authorize a thousand. We bond the

1:02:45500, the extra 500. We're not going to

1:02:48tax the taxpayers on money we don't we

1:02:50don't need.

1:02:50>> Okay. Okay.

1:02:54>> Okay. Thank you. We will uh

1:02:59Chair Jlinsky will come back. I will

1:03:01hand over the gavl.

1:03:06>> Thank you, J.

1:03:11Okay, moving on to

1:03:13item number eight, town attorney's

1:03:16report.

1:03:18Mr. Assistant Town attorney.

1:03:22>> Yes, sir. Good evening, Mr. Chairman.

1:03:23Um, I'm happily report. I do not have a

1:03:26report to provide to the council.

1:03:28There's nothing of any urgency to to

1:03:31provide an update on.

1:03:33>> Does anybody have any questions on the

1:03:35report of no report?

1:03:37>> Mr. Martio. Martachio, how long did you

1:03:40prepare for tonight's meeting? That's a

1:03:42joke. Thanks, Lou.

1:03:43>> Seven and a half hours.

1:03:45>> Now we're getting build for that. Nice

1:03:47job.

1:03:48>> Thanks, Lou.

1:03:50>> Okay. Uh,

1:03:51>> we're going to move on to item number

1:03:53eight, public communications. If there's

1:03:55any men and me of the public who would

1:03:56like to speak, come on up.

1:03:59Please state your name and address for

1:04:00the record.

1:04:03>> Hi, my name is Brian Tes. I'm at 362 Mil

1:04:07Street. Madam,

1:04:07>> Mr. Tesky.

1:04:09>> Um,

1:04:10like to continue on my conversation

1:04:12about the 12 firemen. Um, I foyer

1:04:16requested a

1:04:18um the incidents that the fire

1:04:21department reported to for the last 12

1:04:23months to try to see what's justifying

1:04:27$2 million for 12 more firemen.

1:04:31And

1:04:33I got to be honest with you, I really

1:04:35don't see it here. You may be thinking,

1:04:37who is this guy? Well, Sigma black belt,

1:04:40Dan her train, Toyota Japanese train. I

1:04:44know how to run projects. I know how to

1:04:46run capital appropriations. I worked for

1:04:47Danaher for over 20 years. Uh I have

1:04:51some knowledge in the industry and um

1:04:57yeah the yearly total looks like there

1:04:58were 550 false alarms that we responded

1:05:02to.

1:05:04There were 505 rescue EMS incidents

1:05:08which I now have a

1:05:12fire request in for I wondering what the

1:05:15contract is with AMR.

1:05:18I'm wondering why the fire department's

1:05:20reporting the EMS stuff. Um, I asked for

1:05:23their contract. I asked for any call

1:05:25reports that they supply the town with,

1:05:27which I'm sure they do because we pay

1:05:30them.

1:05:31Um, so there's there's a thousand calls

1:05:34right there that I'm not quite sure that

1:05:36we really do anything that warrants 12

1:05:39firemen. Um, hazardous responses, there

1:05:42were 235.

1:05:44Uh, not quite sure what those are. uh

1:05:47service cost of 155. There were actually

1:05:5179 fires um in the 12 months that I

1:05:54looked at. Uh good intent. I'm not sure

1:05:58what good intents are, but there were 25

1:06:00of those. Um

1:06:04false alarms clearly false clearly led

1:06:07the pack with 550 the rescue and the EMS

1:06:11which I thought we paid people to do

1:06:13EMS. Not quite sure why we're double

1:06:16paying for that.

1:06:19Um

1:06:21I I know they're looking for $2 million

1:06:23for these 12 firemen and I I just don't

1:06:26understand how he's justifying it. I

1:06:29don't see it in these numbers. I'll be

1:06:31back again as soon as I get the EMS

1:06:34numbers to try to understand why

1:06:38um our fire department has responded to

1:06:40EMS stuff if it's in conjunction with an

1:06:43accident. Okay, I get it. But if it's

1:06:46like somebody had a heart attack at

1:06:48their house or something happened at the

1:06:50house, I I I'm not quite sure why we

1:06:53would send any more than EMS.

1:06:56Um

1:06:59I I just don't understand it.

1:07:02So I will be back to add to this when I

1:07:04get to EMS stuff. On a side note, um,

1:07:09Councilman Pal, I if you could give my

1:07:12wife a call about whether you guys want

1:07:14the free color again water at the road

1:07:16race.

1:07:17>> Oh,

1:07:18>> did that word get to you?

1:07:20>> Yes. Yes. Thanks. I don't make the

1:07:22connection.

1:07:24>> They're not going to hold it forever.

1:07:26So, if you want the free water at the

1:07:27roadways before they give it away to

1:07:29somebody else and attend somebody else's

1:07:31event, if you could just give her a call

1:07:34and they'll work it all out and they'll

1:07:36come and give the free water away.

1:07:38>> Thank you.

1:07:39>> Thank you for your time.

1:07:40>> And uh Mr. Tesky, also once a month

1:07:42there is a fire commission meeting too

1:07:44that um you may be able to attend and

1:07:45actually ask some of those uh detailed

1:07:47questions and get some of the answers

1:07:48there too as well. happy to come back

1:07:50and hear uh what what the outcome of

1:07:52your

1:07:53>> if I go there. Will he answer some of my

1:07:55questions for me?

1:07:56>> Oh, the uh the chairman of the fire

1:07:58commission is sitting right here in the

1:07:59room with the white hat in the back. You

1:08:01can you can ask him. I'm sure

1:08:03>> I'm sure he'd be happy to help get some

1:08:04of the information that you're

1:08:05requesting.

1:08:07>> I have no problem doing that.

1:08:08>> Sounds good. Thanks. Thank you. Free

1:08:10free water. Good to see him.

1:08:12>> Anybody else would like to speak during

1:08:14public communications?

1:08:17Anybody

1:08:21else like to speak during public

1:08:22communications?

1:08:24>> No.

1:08:26>> Chairman Wilk, are you coming up to

1:08:27speak? You are.

1:08:28>> I get your name from

1:08:30>> Okay. Chairman of the fire commission,

1:08:33Tim Wilk.

1:08:35Please state your name and address for

1:08:37the record.

1:08:38>> Of course. Thank you. Tim Wilk, resident

1:08:40at 144 Scenic Drive. Thank you, Mr.

1:08:43Chair, members of the council. Alex, I'm

1:08:47uh in front of you today. I wanted to

1:08:48bring to your attention that um we had

1:08:50another firefighter step down and um I'm

1:08:54concerned about the trend. We obviously

1:08:56took a deep dive on this uh at the last

1:08:58meeting and um I thought it was very

1:09:01well articulated the need for the

1:09:02firefighters.

1:09:04Um but it's not enough to keep them in

1:09:07house here. Um, in fact, this

1:09:09firefighter has taken a $30,000 pay cut

1:09:13and um may come as no surprise to you,

1:09:14but he cited safety concerns.

1:09:18Additionally,

1:09:20um

1:09:24he actually um leveraged this in his

1:09:26argument for when he was um competing

1:09:28for the job. He said, "I'm currently

1:09:30doing the work of two and two and a half

1:09:32firefighters." So, seems like I'd be a

1:09:34reasonably good fit here at at his new

1:09:36uh at his new fire department.

1:09:39Also mentioned that there are many other

1:09:41limitations at his um new employer. It

1:09:44wasn't any more specific other than um

1:09:48there are specific things in the

1:09:49contract um flexibility in the contract,

1:09:52the pay, which I already mentioned. But

1:09:53so, I bring this to your attention

1:09:55because this is now the second one. We

1:09:56had a you might remember we had a

1:09:58captain step down a while back a very

1:10:00experienced firefighter. So we lost all

1:10:03that capability and um by all accounts

1:10:06in fact from three of this firefighter's

1:10:08superiors they said separately to me

1:10:11that he was gen generally regarded as

1:10:13one of the best firefighters and a

1:10:15fantastic paramedic. Um

1:10:18this firefighter told me himself that he

1:10:20agonized over the decision seven times.

1:10:23He tried to write his letter of

1:10:24resignation and just couldn't do it. you

1:10:26love the department that much, love the

1:10:28work environment, say for the safety

1:10:30concerns, but um it kind of speaks for

1:10:34itself. I'm concerned that this trend is

1:10:36only going to grow and we're going to

1:10:37continue to lose good experienced

1:10:39firefighters. So, I say these things to

1:10:42keep them fresh in head building on the

1:10:44conversation and the presentation that

1:10:46we had at the last meeting. So, um I'm

1:10:48hoping this is the last time, but thank

1:10:52you for your time.

1:10:54Thank you, Chair Wilk.

1:10:57Anybody else from the public who would

1:10:58like to speak during public

1:10:59communications?

1:11:03>> Anybody else for public communications?

1:11:05>> Jen, did you want to use it?

1:11:08>> Okay, public communications is closed.

1:11:12>> All right, we're going to move on to

1:11:14item number 10. Uh, old business. I will

1:11:17once again turn it over to the vice

1:11:19chair and step down.

1:11:22Madame vice chair, if I may, I just want

1:11:24to correct myself. I spoke with Mr.

1:11:26Morelli.

1:11:34>> Um, Mr. Merlli is not requesting the the

1:11:37New York trip. I just want to for the

1:11:39record, I'll correct u my statement. I

1:11:41read it differently than I believe it

1:11:44was intended to be written. So, um,

1:11:46that's that request is not there. Not

1:11:48the trip itself is not being requested.

1:11:50>> Correct.

1:11:50>> Yeah. Correct.

1:11:53Okay. So, uh, Chair Jlinsky has recused

1:11:56himself.

1:11:58Council person Morelli has recused

1:12:00himself. Uh, town manager has

1:12:04made a correction. So, this is, um,

1:12:07we're looking for an action on James

1:12:10Morelli request for reimbursement of

1:12:12plaques

1:12:15and library thank you party.

1:12:19So, we will um

1:12:21what is the pleasure of the council and

1:12:23then we will have a discussion.

1:12:26>> Yes.

1:12:27>> Can I suggest we separate these two

1:12:28items? I think they are too different

1:12:31and just by the conversations from the

1:12:33town manager, they are really distinct

1:12:36topics to discuss.

1:12:39>> Is that okay? Bring it up.

1:12:40>> Okay. So, I'll make a motion to separate

1:12:42the request and now it's only two. So,

1:12:45the plaques and then separate the thank

1:12:48you party for the volunteers. Okay. So,

1:12:52we have a motion. Okay.

1:12:53>> Separate those two.

1:12:54>> And I'll second that.

1:12:56>> Okay. A second. Okay. Uh we'll go into

1:12:58discussion.

1:13:01>> Motion.

1:13:03>> Oh, do we need a motion for each one?

1:13:05>> Yeah.

1:13:05>> Okay.

1:13:06>> Okay.

1:13:07>> Can I make a motion to approve the thank

1:13:10you party for the

1:13:11>> Well, we have to don't we have to vote

1:13:13on the motion to separate separate.

1:13:15>> Yeah.

1:13:15>> Okay. We have a motion to separate the

1:13:19two topics. We have a second

1:13:22uh

1:13:23>> discussion.

1:13:24>> We Yes, we're going to have a discussion

1:13:27on that. Is there any discussion on

1:13:29that? Well, I I don't see it's necessary

1:13:33because both,

1:13:35you know, as as as counselors,

1:13:39um, we have to be shown to be following

1:13:43procedures, you know, and not not just

1:13:46town procedures by the book, but how you

1:13:49fairly um, you know, put things through.

1:13:52Okay. And neither of these were, and I

1:13:55think they're both the same problem. the

1:13:57library party. Uh, you know, Alex said,

1:14:02Alex said he told him, uh, council

1:14:05Morelli told him that he was going to

1:14:06pay for that. Um, he was going to pay

1:14:09for the food there and then he changed

1:14:11his mind. That's, you know,

1:14:15no, no, I don't think we should approve

1:14:17that. And obviously the um reimbursement

1:14:21of the plaques, there were so many

1:14:23things wrong with that. You know,

1:14:25obviously uh town policies were, you

1:14:28know, um uh were ignored. Um but the

1:14:32fact of putting paperwork in that has no

1:14:35resemblance to reality as justification

1:14:38for payment, you know, really worries

1:14:40me. As counselors, we should be against

1:14:44people using their situation, their um,

1:14:49you know, the the fact they're elected

1:14:50official or, you know, we we should be

1:14:52against them using it to try and get

1:14:55around, you know, regular council

1:14:59procedures. Okay? We don't hopefully we

1:15:02don't do it with our developers and

1:15:04anybody else who's asking us to do

1:15:06things. Um, you know, we we don't do

1:15:08that. We we ask people to act, you know,

1:15:12in accordance with them and and and we

1:15:14treat them as such. We don't make

1:15:16exceptions for anybody. And town manager

1:15:19had a email to us recently where someone

1:15:22tried to do that. Okay, it wasn't

1:15:24obviously we're not an elected official.

1:15:27Um, you know, but it was somebody in

1:15:29town. Once you start doing this then you

1:15:34know then I'm sorry it's not a council

1:15:36that I would like to be part of to be

1:15:38perfectly honest. So I don't think they

1:15:40should be separated because I'm going to

1:15:42vote no on both anyway but go ahead.

1:15:45>> Go ahead.

1:15:46>> So the reason I said to separate them is

1:15:47Tony exactly for the reason you said the

1:15:49town manager said he did approve the

1:15:52thank you party. He said he could take

1:15:54it out of his own budget and there was

1:15:56discussion before it occurred.

1:15:59Conversely,

1:16:01you're right. These were not approved

1:16:03prior and they weren't wasn't a

1:16:04discussion. So, that's why I'm saying to

1:16:06separate them because they are

1:16:08different. One followed.

1:16:10Alex, correct me if I'm wrong. Did Did

1:16:12you not say that the conversation was

1:16:14had before the thank you party? You said

1:16:16you attended. You said you have you

1:16:18could spend the money yourself to

1:16:20authorize it yourself. I did I miss

1:16:22that?

1:16:22>> No, I I fully authorized um under my own

1:16:26authority the the pieces for the party.

1:16:28>> Okay. So that was authorized, Tony.

1:16:31That's why I said we should be talking

1:16:33about him separately because one was

1:16:35authorized, one was not. So

1:16:37>> I just I just want to read something

1:16:38from the the from the town manager too,

1:16:42Jim. Uh I offered to have the town pay

1:16:45for the food, the appreciation pizza

1:16:47party. It's an email that we've all

1:16:48received. You let me know you plan on

1:16:51paying for the party and the plaques. If

1:16:54if a counselor tells you that no, we

1:16:58don't want payment and then more than a

1:17:01year later asks for payment. You don't

1:17:04think there's anything wrong with that?

1:17:05You don't think that's outside of normal

1:17:07town procedures? I don't. But I mean, if

1:17:10if others don't, then that's fine.

1:17:14>> Again, I'm just asking.

1:17:15>> I know. Sorry. Was there a conversation

1:17:18that you, Alex, said that you have money

1:17:22to to thank the volunteers that

1:17:24volunteered their time for the project

1:17:26for that party?

1:17:28>> That That's correct. It was I did prior

1:17:30authorize it and then um

1:17:31>> before the money was spent.

1:17:33>> Before the money was spent. Yes.

1:17:35>> Thank you.

1:17:36>> Okay. Anyone else on uh discussion on

1:17:39separation?

1:17:40So, I agree with Tony's sentiment, but I

1:17:43also agree with Chris's. Um, I know

1:17:46that's a conflict there, but um

1:17:50Alex said he was going to pay for the

1:17:52pizza.

1:17:54>> Um,

1:17:57>> I'm okay in supporting that. I'm

1:17:59certainly not okay in supporting the

1:18:00plaques.

1:18:02>> Uh, any any more discussion on

1:18:04separation?

1:18:07I just have one um before we call a

1:18:09vote. Okay. So, you uh sorry, Mr. Town

1:18:13Manager, you

1:18:15and Jim just talked and he said that he

1:18:18was not submitting the New York City

1:18:21trip. However, I thought we had an email

1:18:24and in the email it was requesting

1:18:27that reimbursement.

1:18:29The email had suggested

1:18:32>> the way I read it, it was um because it

1:18:35said and I am volunteering my time, but

1:18:38Mr. Merelli has clarified to me that the

1:18:41entire trip he's donating time and

1:18:44expense.

1:18:45>> Okay. My understanding was that he had

1:18:48wanted the reimbursement, but Okay.

1:18:50Okay. Um Miss Town Clerk, will you

1:18:54please call the role?

1:18:56>> Zony.

1:18:57>> Yes.

1:19:00No.

1:19:01Del Santo

1:19:02>> abstain.

1:19:05>> Gaida,

1:19:06>> yes.

1:19:09>> Morrison,

1:19:09>> no.

1:19:12>> Yes.

1:19:13>> Saraphino,

1:19:14>> yes.

1:19:17>> All right. Motion passes. 4 to2.

1:19:23Hold on.

1:19:24>> 421.

1:19:28Okay. So, we now need a motion to

1:19:35we're looking for action to um either

1:19:38approve or deny each the uh plaques and

1:19:42the pizza.

1:19:44>> Can I now make a motion to approve the

1:19:47pizza party for the volunteers?

1:19:50>> Yes.

1:19:52>> Is there a second?

1:19:54>> Second.

1:19:55>> Okay. We have a motion in a second for

1:19:57the pizza for the volunteers. Any

1:19:59discussion? Yes, Mr. Sarino.

1:20:02>> I'll support this, but it is only

1:20:04because Alex said he was going to pay

1:20:06for it. Um otherwise and the volunteers.

1:20:10I I don't think a pizza party is outside

1:20:12of the uh realm of that um as a thank

1:20:15you. So um I'll be supporting the the

1:20:18pizza based on that.

1:20:21>> Thank you. Any other comments on the

1:20:24pizza for the volunteers?

1:20:25>> Is there any paperwork for this pizza

1:20:28party?

1:20:30>> I do have a copy of a receipt.

1:20:32>> That's just a receipt, right? That's all

1:20:34you've got, right?

1:20:35>> Yes.

1:20:35>> In terms of an authorization.

1:20:38>> Is there any paperwork in terms of an

1:20:40authorization?

1:20:41>> No, but I can state on the record I

1:20:43authorized.

1:20:45>> Okay.

1:20:47Uh, any more comments on the pizza

1:20:49party? Okay. I will just make a final

1:20:52comment. I um

1:20:55absolutely don't want to punish

1:20:56volunteers. We're all volunteers. We

1:20:58spend a lot of time, many hours.

1:21:00However, I cannot imagine being a chair

1:21:02of a committee and going about how this

1:21:06was went about. It's it's completely un

1:21:09informal

1:21:10um against the policy. There should have

1:21:14been a formal

1:21:15written request, formal approval, and so

1:21:19I will not support it. Miss Clerk, can

1:21:21you call the role?

1:21:23>> Zony,

1:21:24>> yes.

1:21:25>> Clack,

1:21:25>> no.

1:21:26>> Do Santo,

1:21:27>> abstain.

1:21:30>> Ga,

1:21:31>> yes.

1:21:32>> Morrison,

1:21:33>> no.

1:21:35>> Pomera,

1:21:35>> yes.

1:21:37>> Saraphino,

1:21:39>> yes.

1:21:41Okay, motion passes. Uh 421. I'm looking

1:21:45for action on approval for reimbursement

1:21:48of the plaques for the library building

1:21:50committee.

1:21:52>> Motion to deny.

1:21:54>> Motion to deny.

1:21:56>> Second.

1:21:57>> Uh second from

1:21:59uh Commissioner or sorry, Council Person

1:22:02Delinto. Any discussion?

1:22:04>> Yes. Just to reiterate Josh's points, I

1:22:07mean the re the

1:22:09um invoice is made out to the

1:22:11Southernington Republican Town

1:22:12Committee. Um didn't have any knowledge

1:22:16of that obviously. Um there weren't

1:22:19other quotes. Um I I don't remember

1:22:23talking about this. I don't remember it

1:22:25being in a discussion to the actual

1:22:27project itself. So again, I just want to

1:22:29reiterate a lot of the objections that

1:22:31Josh mentioned earlier.

1:22:33Thank you, Chris. Any other discussion?

1:22:40Um, I we didn't talk about one thing.

1:22:42There's a check. You had mentioned

1:22:44there's a check mentioned.

1:22:46>> Yeah.

1:22:46>> That there was payment. Does that Did we

1:22:49ever get a copy of that check?

1:22:52>> It just says So, in the packet, I did

1:22:55not see that. Um, and it was just listed

1:22:58on the invoice.

1:23:01um

1:23:03that was dated uh the 125 number.

1:23:07>> Okay.

1:23:08>> Um it has a check number. I think it was

1:23:11125 and an amount, but I don't believe

1:23:13there's a copy that I saw.

1:23:15>> I don't have one. I can triple check,

1:23:17but it's it's my understanding no checks

1:23:20been presented.

1:23:21>> Okay.

1:23:23So, we're being asked to reimburse money

1:23:27to council person Morelli.

1:23:31>> Correct.

1:23:32>> That's correct.

1:23:33>> Okay. And we don't actually know if he

1:23:35has we have no record of actually

1:23:38payment to the vendor.

1:23:42>> We don't have a paper documentation

1:23:44trail. Correct.

1:23:45>> Okay. Thank you. Any other discussion on

1:23:48this topic?

1:23:53Okay. So, we're it's a motion to deny,

1:23:56which means a vote yes is to deny it and

1:23:59a vote and a vote no is to support it.

1:24:04Uh,

1:24:06Miss Clerk, can you call the role?

1:24:08>> Zone,

1:24:09>> yes.

1:24:10>> Clanto,

1:24:14>> abstain.

1:24:17GA.

1:24:22>> I know.

1:24:24>> Yes.

1:24:27>> Morrison.

1:24:28>> Yes.

1:24:29>> Pomera.

1:24:30>> Yes.

1:24:31>> Saraphino.

1:24:32>> Yes.

1:24:36>> Motion passes.

1:24:38621.

1:24:40>> 61.

1:24:42>> 61.

1:24:42>> 61. Sorry. Thank you.

1:24:45>> Okay.

1:24:48Chair uh Chaplinsky will take back the

1:24:50gavl.

1:24:53>> Thank you, Madam Vice Chair, and to the

1:24:55to the clerk. Everything that we have in

1:24:57our packet uh to prepare for today's

1:24:59meeting, can you please make sure it's

1:25:00in the meeting minutes?

1:25:02>> The entire packet.

1:25:03>> The entire packet. Thank you.

1:25:07>> Okay. Um we are going to move on to item

1:25:11number

1:25:12uh

1:25:19This is uh this is you want to put that

1:25:22in even though you abstained. You sure?

1:25:24>> It's it's a the vice chair was asking if

1:25:27there was a check. There's a check.

1:25:29>> Yeah, I understand. You want to pass it

1:25:30in?

1:25:31>> Yes.

1:25:31>> Okay, that's for you, madam clerk. Uh

1:25:33okay. Item B, old business number 10B,

1:25:37tax refunds.

1:25:38>> I would like to make a motion to approve

1:25:40the tax refunds as presented in our

1:25:43packet. We have a motion from uh Mrs.

1:25:45Gaida.

1:25:47>> Second.

1:25:47>> Second from Mr. Delanto. Any discussion

1:25:49on the tax refunds?

1:25:51>> All in favor?

1:25:53>> I. Any opposed? Okay. Motion passes

1:25:56unanimously. Uh item C, appointments, uh

1:25:59cable advisory committee, four members,

1:26:01two-year term, expiring July 2028. I

1:26:04think we're looking for a motion to

1:26:06reappoint everybody to that uh to that

1:26:07board.

1:26:08>> Can I table one of our two appointments?

1:26:11Sure. of re I'd like to suggest we

1:26:13reappoint Mr. Derowski. I received

1:26:15confirmation that he's willing. I'm

1:26:16still waiting to hear back from Mr.

1:26:17Bernoli. So I I'd like to table that

1:26:19one.

1:26:20>> So we'll I'm looking for a motion to

1:26:22reappoint everybody to that board with

1:26:24the exception of Miss Bernoli. Table

1:26:26Miot, Mr. Chair.

1:26:27>> Okay. Second.

1:26:29>> All in favor for that?

1:26:31>> I Any opposed?

1:26:32>> Okay. So we'll put up Miss Bernoli's uh

1:26:34reappointment or a Democrat appointment

1:26:37uh to cable advisory at the next

1:26:39meeting.

1:26:39>> Perfect. And then we've added an agenda

1:26:41item number two, open space. We're

1:26:43looking for a board of finance member

1:26:45for open uh for open space. I'm sorry,

1:26:48an a planning and zoning commission

1:26:51member for open space uh to fill a

1:26:54vacancy. And I received the name of Mike

1:26:56Goodrich. I believe it's a council

1:26:58chair. Uh is that correct? A chairman's

1:27:01uh appointment. So Mike Goodrich from

1:27:03planning and zoning to uh open space.

1:27:08Anybody have issue with that? Good.

1:27:10Okay. All right. Then

1:27:13>> we're looking for a motion to adjurnn.

1:27:15Second was Josh. All in favor? Any

1:27:18discussion on journey? I

1:27:20>> Okay. All in favor? I. Thanks everyone.

1:27:23916.

```*