Common Council

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COMMON COUNCIL MIDDLETOWN CONNECTICUT MAY 12, 2015 The Special meeting of the Common Council of the City of Middletown was held in the Council Chamber of the Municipal Building on Tuesday, May 12, 2015 at 7 p.m. Present Mayor Daniel T. Drew, Corporation Counsel Daniel B. Ryan, Councilman Thomas J. Serra, Councilwoman Mary A. Bartolotta, Councilwoman Hope P. Kasper, Councilman Robert P. Santangelo, Councilman Grady L. Faulkner, Jr., Councilman Carl R. Chisem, Councilman Gerald E. Daley, Councilman James B. Streeto, Councilman Sebastian N. Giuliano, Councilwoman Sandra Russo Driska, Councilwoman Deborah Kleckowski, Councilman David Bauer; Sergeant-at-arms Officer Haddad; and Council Clerk Marie O Norwood. Also Present Forty members of the public. 1. MAYOR CALLS MEETING TO ORDER AT 7 P.M. A. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Chair leads the public in the Pledge of Allegiance. He welcomes the public to the budget adoption meeting. B. COUNCIL CLERK READS CALL OF MEETING AND MAYOR DECLARES CALL A LEGAL CALL AND MEETING A LEGAL MEETING. The Chair declares the call a legal call and the meeting a legal meeting. 2. PUBLIC HEARING OPENED ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. The Chair opens the public hearing stating anyone who wishes to address the Council may do so after stating their name and address for the record and to limit comments to five minutes. Dr. Gene Nocera, Chair of Board of Education, thought it was important to speak so we delayed our Board of Education meeting so we could say a few words. They encourage the Council to move forward on Mayor Drew's recommendations. We understand there has been considerable and thorough discussions on the proposed budget by this Council and the Board thanks you for that discussion and they appreciate the past bonding initiatives that were passed by the Council. They have resulted in real and tangible improvements. They are common Goals and we share them together and we must work together to ensure excellence in our schools. Dr. Patricia Charles, Superintendent of Schools, addresses the council and speaks to the budget. The Mayor's recommended increase will prevent the elimination of important positions and programs. She elaborates the positions they will add. As you are aware the City and Board have worked closely to identify savings. The insurance numbers came in favorably. She understands there are additional insurance savings and understand they are due to positive experience on the part of the Board of Education. We are currently addressing overcrowding at Farm Hill School. No matter the solution, there will be costs incurred from the Boards budget. We work hard to spend the money wisely and asks they not cut the budget any further. The Chair asks for other speakers. Jason Segal addresses the budget for the Board of Education. In his experience he was trying to learn what the budget looked like and this group can inspire us. He heard it was full funding in the Mayor’s budget and hopes the Council will give at least that much. When he looks at the budget, he still sees plenty of opportunity to look for areas to cut. He offers some cuts to the regular budget. He is an educational advocate. He would like more than full funding of the Board's budget. Monica Bealyea is back to let you know that she is in support of funding for our schools. She wants to make sure that you know what our voices are 3. PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED. The Chair closes the public hearing. 4. RESOLUTIONS: May 12, 2015 SPECIAL COMMON COUNCIL MEETING PAGE 2 A. ADOPTING THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET. Resolution No. 53-15 File Name 15-16genfundadjustments (Approved) BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MIDDLETOWN: That the City of Middletown General Fund Budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016 as prepared by the Mayor and advertised in the Hartford Courant on April 24, 2015, is hereby approved and adopted with the following amendments: CITY OF MIDDLETOWN - EXPENDITURES COUNCIL ADJUSTMENTS TO BUDGET FOR YEAR ENDING 2016 01000 MAYOR 51110 SALARIES & WAGES, FT PERM 1000-01000-51110-0010-00000-0000-000 MAYOR: SALARIES & WAGES, FT PER 1 MAYOR ...................................................... 5,000 NET INCREASE - SALARIES & WAGES, FT PERM 5,000 NET INCREASE - MAYOR 5,000 06000 YOUTH SERVICES 51550 FICA 1000-06000-51550-0000-00000-0000-000 YOUTH: FICA 1 FICA PAYMENT FOR PT CLERICAL ............................... -1,030 NET DECREASE - FICA -1,030 51960 UNUSED SICK PAY 1000-06000-51960-0000-00000-0000-000 YOUTH: UNUSED SICK PAY 1 UNUSED SICK PAY - 2 EMPLOYEES .............................. -2,342 NET DECREASE - UNUSED SICK PAY -2,342 NET DECREASE - YOUTH SERVICES -3,372 07000 RUSSELL LIBRARY 55190 EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 1000-07000-55190-0000-00000-0000-000 LIBR: EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGR 1 EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ................................ 5,000 NET INCREASE - EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 5,000 NET INCREASE - RUSSELL LIBRARY 5,000 12000 COMMON COUNCIL 51220 SALARIES & WAGES, PT TEMP 1000-12000-51220-0000-00000-0000-000 COMMON: SALARIES & WAGES, PT TE 1 COMMON COUNCIL ............................................. 14,400 NET INCREASE - SALARIES & WAGES, PT TEMP 14,400 NET INCREASE - COMMON COUNCIL 14,400 18000 POLICE 51110 SALARIES & WAGES, FT PERM 1000-18000-51110-0182-00000-0000-000 ANIMAL: SALARIES & WAGES, FT PE 3 **PROPOSED FT ACO .......................................... -38,202 NET DECREASE - SALARIES & WAGES, FT PERM -38,202 51215 SALARIES & WAGES, PT PERM 1000-18000-51215-0182-00000-0000-000 ANIMAL: SALARIES & WAGES, PT PE 2 19 HOUR PART-TIME ACO ...................................... 21,765 NET INCREASE - SALARIES & WAGES, PT PERM 21,765 51365 SPECIAL EVENT OVERTIME 1000-18000-51365-0180-00000-0000-000 POLICE: SPECIAL EVENTS OVERTIME 13 PENGUIN PLUNGE ............................................. -1,530 14 MEMORIAL DAY PARADE (MAIN ST) .............................. -2,545 15 SOUTH DISTRICT OPEN HOUSE .................................. -1,245 16 RUN FOR THE FALLEN ......................................... -1,480 17 SPECIAL OLYMPICS TORCH RUN ................................. -300 NET DECREASE - SPECIAL EVENT OVERTIME -7,100 52110 GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE 1000-18000-52110-0180-00000-0000-000 POLICE: GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE 1 ACCREDITATION, RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT ...................... -2,500 NET DECREASE - GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE -2,500 53140 LETHAL & LESS LETHAL EQUIP & S 1000-18000-53140-0180-00000-0000-000 POLICE: LETHAL/LESS LETHAL EQUI May 12, 2015 SPECIAL COMMON COUNCIL MEETING PAGE 3 1 AMMUNITION ................................................. 10,000 NET INCREASE - LETHAL & LESS LETHAL EQUIP & 10,000 53510 GENERAL VEHICLE SERVICES 1000-18000-53510-0180-00000-0000-000 POLICE: GENERAL VEHICLE SERVICE 5 MAJOR REPAIRS .............................................. -5,000 8 REPAIRS, PARTS, OIL ETC .................................... -10,000 NET DECREASE - GENERAL VEHICLE SERVICES -15,000 53530 TIRES 1000-18000-53530-0180-00000-0000-000 POLICE: TIRES 1 TIRES ...................................................... -5,000 NET DECREASE - TIRES -5,000 NET DECREASE - POLICE -36,037 27000 SPECIAL ACCOUNTS 55185 CONTRACTUAL SERVICES 1000-27000-55185-0030-00000-0000-000 SPEC: EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES 1 ............................................................ 5,000 NET INCREASE - CONTRACTUAL SERVICES 5,000 55400 OTHER SERVICES 1000-27000-55400-0000-00000-0000-000 PCD: OTHER SERVICES-ECON DEVELO 3 CHAMBER STUDENT WORK PROGRAM ............................... 10,000 NET INCREASE - OTHER SERVICES 10,000 57030 MISC EXPENSE 1000-27000-57030-0708-00000-0000-000 COMMTY: MISC EXPENSE 13 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS ...................................... 10,000 NET INCREASE - MISC EXPENSE 10,000 NET INCREASE - SPECIAL ACCOUNTS 25,000 33000 EDUCATION 57010 EDUCATION CONTRIBUTION 1000-33000-57010-0000-00000-0000-000 EDUCATION CONTRIBUTION 1 ............................................................ -386,400 NET DECREASE - EDUCATION CONTRIBUTION -386,400 NET DECREASE - EDUCATION -386,400 35100 CAPITAL EXPENSE 59500 CNR CONTRIBUTION 1000-35100-59500-0000-00000-0000-000 CAP EXP: CNR CONTRIBUTION 1 CAPITAL PURCHASES .......................................... 150,000 2 BOARD OF EDUCATION CAPITAL PURCHASES ....................... 250,000 3 BAND UNIFORMS .............................................. 30,000 4 BOAT PAYDOWN ............................................... 70,000 NET INCREASE - CNR CONTRIBUTION 500,000 NET INCREASE - CAPITAL EXPENSE 500,000 35500 RESERVE FOR SALARIES 51120 SALARY RESERVE 1000-35500-51120-0000-00000-0000-000 RES SAL: SALARY RESERVE 1 SALARY RESERVE BASE ........................................ -115,000 NET DECREASE - SALARY RESERVE -115,000 NET DECREASE - RESERVE FOR SALARIES -115,000 TOTAL NET INCREASE IN FUND 1000 GENERAL FUND 8,591 CITY OF MIDDLETOWN - REVENUES COUNCIL ADJUSTMENTS TO BUDGET FOR YEAR ENDING 2016 1000-03000-41110-0033-00000-0000-000 COLL: TAXES-REAL ESTATE/MOTOR VEH -291,409 1000-18000-44560-0180-00000-0000-000 POLICE: PRIVATE DUTY 300,000 TOTAL NET DECREASE IN FUND 1000 GENERAL FUND 8,591 May 12, 2015 SPECIAL COMMON COUNCIL MEETING PAGE 4 Be it further resolved: That the mill rate be set as 32.6 to cover this budget, and said rate shall be due and payable in two equal installments on July 1, 2015 and January 1, 2016, in accordance with the Charter of the City of Middletown, Chapter VI; and Be it further resolved: That the Tax Collector be and is hereby authorized to collect said taxes Councilwoman Hope P. Kasper reads and moves for approval THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET. Councilman James B. Streeto seconds the motion. Councilwoman Kasper and Councilwoman Bartolotta read the amendments to the General Fund budget; Councilwoman Bartolotta moves the amendments for approval and Councilman Serra seconds that motion. Councilman Serra states you need to understand we can decrease the mill rate by 1/10th mill because we received a $5 million premium and because of the way former Councils’ and Mayors’ have done business, as well as efforts of the Finance Department, Carl Erlacher and Diana Doyle and PILOT is being held up at the State level due to Roger Palmer, Assistant Tax Assessor. We have a $9.1 million increase in revenue. The budget provides efficiencies and efficient services and it has to go all around. He addresses the education budget. A little history for education budgets, the City of Middletown tax dollars over ten years to education was over $18 million and from the state and federal government another $13 million. In essence, $31 million or an average of $3 million a year. This Council treated the Board of Education fairly to run an efficient program for our students. This excludes the AUC program we will be doing, excluding the $335,000 loan and the debt service which is $4.2 million and other grants in the audit and the resource officers at $450,000 and the savings from the cooperative self-insurance. You can see the $386,400, this Council put in an amendment that the Board of Education will have capital purchases to do their improvements at $250,000 with a plan of action; the plan will go to Finance and Government Operations and the Council and when approved, it can be spent. We also put in for the band uniforms and the boat for the crew team for $70,000. With all this, they have been very fair to the Board of Education. Because of the Council and financial responsibility, the Director of Finance made us aware that we have a healthy fund balance, the best since to 2008 which bodes well for the future for other services we have to provide. I support this amendment relative to what we have done. Capital purchase for Board of Education $250,000. They need to make a plan. We will pay for band uniforms and the Crew Team Boat. Councilman Giuliano will support the amendment with the breakout as proposed by the budget. It is a big step for the future. Councilwoman Kleckowski states she will support this and they have come up to say we don't spend on education and Middletown spends more than many towns around here and she lists the towns. Middletown spends at least 53% of the budget on education. As an educator it is important to understand; we worked hard so that all the students have a good education and they provide services to the town. She believes there will be more cooperation like the AUC system. Councilman Daley states first he acknowledges Chairman Nocera's comments and they went a long way about calming him down on the budget process and it is important to recognize the efforts made to fund education. He was pleased to hear the comments. He noticed several people and board members holding signs that we are all in this together and we are and he has always supported the Board of Education budget. If the funds go into the classroom, he will support it and when we don't know where the funding is going, you can't ask us to fund it. Dr. Charles asked that the insurance could be returned. You have existing Union contracts and he doesn't understand what that was about. When he doesn't get answers like why the bus contract has not been put out in 20 years or the funding for Sodexo and after the budget process they heard about 20,000 health individual and for every parent here, don't look at the total amount because Middletown gets a lot of money, be more concerned about where it is going and where it is being spent. The AUC will be a great tool for that. There is a lot of misinformation out there. There was information about the Council not supporting the new system and the Council put up $750,000. We are proud we funded this at this level. We want to fund the Capital side, the band uniforms and the boat and we want to make sure that is where the dollars are being spent. We want those assurances. The Chair asks if there are further comments on the amendments to the General Fund budget; hearing none, he calls for the vote. It is unanimous to approve the amendments with twelve aye votes. The chair asks if there is discussion on the underlying amended resolution. Councilwoman Russo Driska states on the underlying resolution, the changes are good and agrees with the CNR and are she will accept the budget because it is a slight reduction. I do think it is important to realize how we came to it. The reason was a good bond premium because of the rating and it has taken 11 years to get there and former council's and mayors allowed it to happen this year. The general fund has increased and the Council has been good about bringing in economic development and raising the grand list and the PILOT funding. Future budgets concern her as the grand list is relatively stagnant. She would like to see taking more responsibility with CNR and capital improvements. We have to plan better. The Board of Education is funded and they will need capital improvements with their buildings and the City side has major projects. We need park improvement and we are already at $90 million in bonding debt. City government needs to do better in planning. We should have a history in budgets and a 5 year CNR and 7 year Capital improvement plan. She would like to go back to that to stabilize expenditures. I grew up here and will be here for the long haul. We have a bigger obligation to plan better and be responsible for future years. May 12, 2015 SPECIAL COMMON COUNCIL MEETING PAGE 5 Councilman Giuliano states he agrees with comments of Councilwoman Driska; the budgets are all a mixed bag. Some things you like, some you don't. There is more to like in this budget than not to like especially the tax reduction and fine tuning with the amendments adopted. We are still spending $5 million more and can do that by facts and circumstances beyond our control and they are not likely to repeat themselves. The next Council and Administration will have to face those realities and planning and the impact of today's decision on the future should be considered. Unless we are prepared to face that, we can give an awful burden to future generations. Councilman Bauer asks for a roll call vote; the Chair responds you have it. Councilman Bauer states enough has been said about where we came and where we are going. I have a slight tinge of disappointment that the Arts grants were not increased, and the most important thing is the challenges going forward are scary enough that we will look at this budget as the good old days and the most important thing is to try to work together on the next budget. There are budgets that will happen after this fiscal year and what he foresees and what was explained are rather daunting. There are revenue challenges in the next year. He has never seen as big a contribution from the general fund to balance the budget. If we hand this to the next term, a 4-year term, we have a lot of work to do before Election Day. With that in mind and I am going to break a seven year streak and vote yes for this budget. I found it more rewarding to work with people on the Council that I opposed in the past and he hopes that is a signal to give the council the tools they need to face the challenge. Councilman Serra states he yields to Councilman Streeto. Councilman Streeto states this is one of the friendlier budgets he has seen negotiated. There has been a lot less acrimony than in past years. He hopes the Board of Education and Council will take a page from this year and work together after election. During the budget process there were concrete items like band uniforms and crew boats and they are in the budget and he hopes they would do that in the future. A common complaint is not enough information when dealing with the Board’s budget. The work is far from done. My grandchildren go to a charter school with class size of 14; he has heard that class size here is 25. Next year's council he hopes will be generous to the Board. For this year, he knows the Chair and Superintendent seem to be content with the budget. He notes for those speaking for a larger budget to continue to do so. Councilman Serra states all points are well taken. They did not reduce the Board budget from the Mayor's; they moved the money to the City side and designated it to the Board. He reads the amendments again. Councilman Streeto was the advocate for the band uniforms. He thanks the Chair Nocera and Superintendent Charles for their cooperation. You don't see that today. He thanks Councilwoman Kasper and Councilman Faulkner, the budget chairs for the caucus. He thanks Carl Erlacher, Diana Doyle, Tina Gomes and Marie Norwood for their help. To Councilman Giuliano there is interest to putting capital improvements on the City side. We will be moving like that. It is important to note that this Council, if they did not get $9.1 million, it would have been extremely difficult to do a 0 budget and after a 5 mill increase last year; this was a Godsend for the revenue. We have to watch our spending and new appropriations. Our fund balance is healthy and that is our assignment for the new council. Hopefully you understand the difficulties and all points are well taken. Councilman Daley states based on Councilwoman Driska's comments, I understand the caution and diligence we need to show and I for one am optimistic of the future. My years in City government I can honestly say that all the Mayor's and Council's I worked with and the Finance Departments have always demonstrated a solid commitment for solid financial stewardship. The city directors, too. They do amazing things with their budgets. We will see growth in the Grand List. The EDC is working to grow the grand list and create jobs. The economy is finally improving and he hopes to see it in the Grand List. This is not the toughest budget and it is a credit to Mayor Drew and his team. Looking to the future, we are going to have to find ways to build trust to work together with the Board of Education. Public Works and Police are going to need increases and we are seeing diminishing enrollment in the Schools. That doesn't mean curtailing growing education, but they need to look at cost reductions and cost savings. The State House is looking at minimum funding. We have to work towards ensuring it has a hard look and how we spend our dollars in education. Over 53% of the city budget without the debt service which is on the City side is for education. If 55% is going toward education and their customer base is shrinking, then we should commit to find ways to gain efficiencies. Nothing we do is more important than educating children. He gets and understands that, but we have to ensure the dollars are well spent. He will support the budget and thanks everyone who worked on this The chair calls for the vote on the amended budget by roll call. Councilwoman Bartolotta Aye Councilman Bauer Aye Councilman Chisem Aye Councilman Daley Aye Councilman Giuliano Aye Councilman Faulkner Aye Councilwoman Kasper Aye Councilwoman Kleckowski Aye Councilwoman Russo Driska Aye Councilman Santangelo Aye Councilman Serra Aye Councilman Streeto Aye May 12, 2015 SPECIAL COMMON COUNCIL MEETING PAGE 6 It is unanimous to approve with 12 aye votes. The chair states the matter passes unanimously with 12 affirmative votes. B. ADOPTING MIDDLETOWN FIRE DISTRICT BUDGET. Resolution No. 54-15 File Name 15-16firebudgetadjustments (Approved) Be it resolved by the Common Council of the City of Middletown: That the Middletown Fire District Budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016, as presented by the Mayor and advertised in the Hartford Courant on April 24, 2015, is hereby approved and adopted with the following amendments: CITY OF MIDDLETOWN - EXPENDITURES COUNCIL ADJUSTMENTS TO BUDGET FOR YEAR ENDING 2016 50000 FIRE 51340 OVERTIME 2010-50000-51340-0500-00000-0000-000 FIRE: OVERTIME 1 THIS LINE AVERAGED $176K OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS ....... -34,000 NET DECREASE - OVERTIME -34,000 51930 PROF DEVELOP/TRAINING 2010-50000-51930-0500-00000-0000-000 FIRE: PROF DEVELOP/TRAINING 4 PROFESSIONAL TRAINING - INCREASE TO COVER THE COST OF RECRUI -6,450 NET DECREASE - PROF DEVELOP/TRAINING -6,450 51950 UNIFORM ALLOWANCE 2010-50000-51950-0500-00000-0000-000 FIRE: UNIFORM ALLOWANCE 1 DRESS AND WORK UNIFORMS-$42,650 IS REQUIRED BY CONTRACT .... -10,000 NET DECREASE – UNIFORM ALLOWANCE -10,000 51971 FILL-INS 2010-50000-51971-0500-00000-0000-000 FIRE: FILL-INS 1 $260,000 ANNUAL AVERAGE .................................... -30,000 NET DECREASE - FILL-INS -30,000 54130 NATURAL GAS 2010-50000-54130-0500-00000-0000-000 FIRE: NATURAL GAS/PROPANE 1 NATURAL GAS FOR MAIN ST. STATION ........................... -3,000 NET DECREASE - NATURAL GAS -3,000 NET DECREASE - FIRE -83,450 TOTAL NET DECREASE IN FUND 2010 FIRE -83,450 CITY OF MIDDLETOWN - REVENUES COUNCIL ADJUSTMENTS TO BUDGET FOR YEAR ENDING 2016 2010-50000-41110-0500-00000-0000-000 FIRE: TAXES-REAL ESTATE/MOTOR VEH -123,950 2010-50000-43206-0500-00000-0000-000 FIRE: FEMA REIMBURSEMENT FIRE 1 2010-50000-49030-0500-00000-0000-000 FIRE: FUND BALANCE CONTRIBUTION 40,499 TOTAL NET DECREASE IN FUND 2010 FIRE -83,450 Be it further resolved: That a tax rate of 7 mills be approved to cover this budget, and said rate shall be due and payable in two equal installments on July 1, 2015, and January 1, 2016, in accordance with the Charter of the City of Middletown, Chapter VI; and Be it further resolved: That the Tax Collector be and she is hereby authorized to collect said taxes. Councilman Robert P. Santangelo reads and moves for approval ADOPTING MIDDLETOWN FIRE DISTRICT BUDGET. Councilman James B. Streeto seconds the motion. Councilman Thomas J. Serra reads and moves for approval the MIDDLETOWN FIRE DISTRICT BUDGET. Councilwoman Hope P. Kasper seconds the motion. The chair calls for the vote on the amendments as read. It is unanimous to amend with 12 aye votes. The chair states the amendments pass unanimously with 12 affirmative votes. Hearing no further discussion, the chair calls for the vote. Councilwoman Bartolotta Aye Councilman Bauer Aye May 12, 2015 SPECIAL COMMON COUNCIL MEETING PAGE 7 Councilman Chisem Aye Councilman Daley Aye Councilman Giuliano Aye Councilman Faulkner Aye Councilwoman Kasper Aye Councilwoman Kleckowski Aye Councilwoman Russo Driska Aye Councilman Santangelo Aye Councilman Serra Aye Councilman Streeto Aye It is unanimous to approve with 12 aye votes. The chair states the matter passes unanimously with 12 affirmative votes. C. ADOPTING SANITATION COLLECTION DISTRICT BUDGET. Resolution No. 55-15 File Name 15-16sanitationbudgetgeneralresolution (Approved) Be it Resolved by the Common Council of the City of Middletown: That the budget of the Sanitation Collection district for the fiscal year July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016 as presented by the mayor and advertised in the Hartford Courant on April 24, 2015 is hereby approved and adopted. Councilman Carl R. Chisem reads and moves for approval ADOPTING SANITATION COLLECTION DISTRICT BUDGET. Councilman James B. Streeto seconds the motion. The chair calls for the vote by roll call. Councilwoman Bartolotta Aye Councilman Bauer Nay Councilman Chisem Aye Councilman Daley Aye Councilman Giuliano Aye Councilman Faulkner Aye Councilwoman Kasper Aye Councilwoman Kleckowski Aye Councilwoman Russo Driska Aye Councilman Santangelo Aye Councilman Serra Aye Councilman Streeto Aye It is 11 aye votes 1 nay vote by Councilman David Bauer and 0 absent. The Chair states the matter carried with 11 affirmative votes, 1 in opposition and 0 absent. D. ADOPTING WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY BUDGET FOR THE SEWER DEPARTMENT. Resolution No. 56-15 File Name 15-16sewerbudget (Approved) Be it Resolved by the Common Council of the City of Middletown: That the budget prepared and adopted by the Water Pollution Control Authority for the Sewer Department of the City of Middletown for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2015 and ending June 30, 2016 as advertised in the Hartford Courant on April 24, 2015 is hereby approved and adopted; and Be It Further Resolved: That the rate of sewer use charges as adopted by the Water Pollution Control shall be due and payable effective May 1, 2015; and Be It Further Resolved: that the Tax Collector, be, and she is hereby authorized to collect said water charges. Councilman Gerald E. Daley reads and moves for approval ADOPTING WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY BUDGET FOR THE SEWER DEPARTMENT. Councilman Grady L. Faulkner, Jr. seconds the motion. The chair calls for the vote. Councilwoman Bartolotta Aye Councilman Bauer Aye Councilman Chisem Aye Councilman Daley Aye Councilman Giuliano Aye Councilman Faulkner Aye Councilwoman Kasper Aye Councilwoman Kleckowski Aye Councilwoman Russo Driska Aye Councilman Santangelo Aye Councilman Serra Aye Councilman Streeto Aye May 12, 2015 SPECIAL COMMON COUNCIL MEETING PAGE 8 It is unanimous to approve with 12 aye votes. The chair states the matter passes unanimously with 12 affirmative votes. E. ADOPTING WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY BUDGET FOR THE WATER DEPARTMENT. Resolution No. 57-15 File Name 15-16waterbudget (Approved) Be it Resolved by the Common Council of the City of Middletown: That the budget prepared and adopted by the Water Pollution Control Authority for the Water Department of the City of Middletown for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2015 and ending June 30, 2016 as advertised in the Hartford Courant on April 24, 2015 is hereby approved and adopted; and Be It Further Resolved: That the rate of water use charges as adopted by the Water Pollution Control Authority and approved by the Common Council shall be due and payable effective May 1, 2015; and Be It Further Resolved: that the Tax Collector, be, and she is hereby authorized to collect said water charges. Councilman James B. Streeto reads and moves for approval ADOPTING WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY BUDGET FOR THE WATER DEPARTMENT. Councilman Robert P. Santangelo seconds the motion. The chair calls for the vote. Councilwoman Bartolotta Aye Councilman Bauer Aye Councilman Chisem Aye Councilman Daley Aye Councilman Giuliano Aye Councilman Faulkner Aye Councilwoman Kasper Aye Councilwoman Kleckowski Aye Councilwoman Russo Driska Aye Councilman Santangelo Aye Councilman Serra Aye Councilman Streeto Aye It is unanimous to approve with 12 aye votes. The chair states the matter passes unanimously with 12 affirmative votes. F. ADOPTING THE SPECIAL BUSINESS DISTRICT BUDGET. Resolution No. 58-15 File Name 15-165BusinessDistrictBudget (Approved) Whereas, the Business Improvement District Board of Commissioners has met and in accordance with the ordinance, Sec. 272-14, Subparagraph G, has set the budget and proposed a mill rate on the assessed value of taxable real estate property within the district for fiscal year 2015 - 2016. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Common Council of the City of Middletown: That the mill rate be set as 2.41 mills to cover this budget, and said rate shall be due and payable in two equal installments on July 1, 2015, and January 1, 2016, in accordance with the Ordinance Section 272-14 Subparagraph G, 2 (a) of the City of Middletown; and Be it further resolved: That the Tax Collector, be and she is hereby authorized to collect said taxes. Councilman Grady L. Faulkner, Jr. reads and moves for approval ADOPTING THE SPECIAL BUSINESS DISTRICT BUDGET. Councilman James B. Streeto seconds the motion. The chair calls for the vote. It is unanimous to approve with 12 aye votes. The chair states the matter passes unanimously with 12 affirmative votes. Councilman Serra states he would like to congratulate this Council, the Departments and the Finance Department. We have done our due diligence on our $175,000,000 budget. 5. MEETING ADJOURNED. Councilman Thomas J. Serra reads and moves for approval the meeting. Councilman David Bauer seconds the motion. The chair calls for the vote. It is unanimous to adjourn with 12 aye votes. The chair states the matter passes unanimously with 12 affirmative votes. The Chair adjourns the meeting at 8 p.m. ATTEST: MARIE O. NORWOOD COMMON COUNCIL CLERK May 12, 2015 SPECIAL COMMON COUNCIL MEETING PAGE 9