Legislative Council

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 3 PRIMROSE STREET, NEWTOWN, CT WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2024 MINUTES PRESENT: Keith Alexander, Ben Ruben, Derek Pisani, Jennifer Nicoletti, John Zachos, Tom Long, Chris Gardner, Laura Miller, Heather Dean, Jill Soderholm, Eric Paradis ABSENT: Jordana Bloom ALSO PRESENT: First Selectman Jeff Capeci, Finance Director Glenys Salas, Director of Public Works Fred Hurley, Assistant Director of Parks Carl Samuelson, Community Center Director Matt Arienello and Kinga Walsh from the Community Center, Tim Whelan and Pat Reilly from the Board of Fire and Anthony Sartori from Edmond Town Hall CALL TO ORDER: K. Alexander called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:35pm. VOTER COMMENT: K. Walsh, 21 Horseshoe Ridge Road – Thanked the Council for listening to the Community Center CIP items and hoped that they were able to review everything. MINUTES: J. Zachos moved to approve the minutes of the 11/20/24 meeting. B. Ruben seconded, motion passes with one abstain (Alexander). COMMUNICATIONS: None COMMITTEE REPORTS – J. Nicolletti reported that the Public Safety Committee met. There was an increase in inmates and incidents and a slight downtick in staffing. FIRST SELECTMAN’S REPORT – First Selectman Capeci reported that two buildings slated for redevelopment are scheduled for appraisal by the end of January, with a sale and purchase agreement under development, including the leasing of surrounding property. At Kent House, Public Works has trimmed back vegetation, improving accessibility, and developers have requested securing rooftop hatches to deter unauthorized access. The high school auditorium roof, now 28 years old, is in critical condition and unlikely to survive the winter. A $600,000 appropriation request will be presented at Monday’s tri-board meeting. Newtown received a $610,000 grant for hazardous material abatement, including asbestos removal, at Fairfield Hills, supporting the reuse and economic development of these buildings. This project is included in the first year of the CIP FINANCE DIRECTOR’S REPORT – The budget process continues to progress, with updates from meetings with various governmental agencies regarding the first year of implementing the strategic plan for the medical self-insurance fund. Preliminary estimates for employee medical insurance costs were shared with agencies, and a meeting with non-union employees is scheduled for Monday to present the changes and answer questions. Meanwhile, the Finance Department is in the final stages of reviewing annual financial statements with auditors, aiming for release by December 31st. For 2024, the lead auditor will present these financial statements to the Legislative Council, with an opportunity for Q&A on significant changes, including updates to the calculation of unassigned fund balances. Additionally, the Finance team has prepared for its first year-end process with ADP, conducting training sessions and creating a detailed plan to ensure timely W-2 issuance. NEW BUSINESS Water Benefit Assessment/Fairfield Hills – H. Dean moved to set a benefit assessment on the users of the Fairfield Hills Water System for capital improvement to the water system based on operation under Chapter 102, Sections 7-234 thru Section 7-244a an chapter 103 of the CT General Statutes, the Town of Newtown Ordinance chapter 690, Part 2 and the 2004 State Transfer Act. The proposed project costs of $1,291,436 will be assessed based on average metered usage at an annual interest rate of 4.5% paid in equal installments over 20 years. J. Zachos seconded, all in favor. Board of Finance 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Plan – Parks & Rec - Land for the pickball courts has already been identified on the FFH campus. New control systems for irrigation were discussed, with questions about their cost, useful life, and potential electronic interface. On the waterfront improvements project, $500,000 was removed from the original $1 million request, leaving $500,000 funded by the special order fund. Public Works – The boiler at Public Works is the original equipment from 1977, posing efficiency and reliability challenges. The current sweeper suffers significant wear due to the abrasive materials it handles and requires frequent maintenance, raising operational costs. The Salt Storage expansion project includes addressing existing structural concerns and potentially repaving the Public Works parking areas. Engineering assessments are underway to refine cost estimates and determine whether the storage and parking lot upgrades can be managed as separate projects. There are four bridges programmed for replacement with two already approved for state funding. Board of Fire commission members explained that the cost of fire trucks has increased significantly due to supply chain issues, labor shortages, and inflation. A basic pumper truck now costs between $1.2 and $1.3 million, with manufacturers implementing quarterly price adjustments. This pricing surge is expected to continue, particularly as COVID-related funding diminishes and demand remains high. To manage costs, the town is opting for standard truck configurations without premium features, like full LED lighting setups. Historically, trucks were refurbished at 20 years, but due to high costs—ranging from $300,000 to $400,000—this practice has become impractical. The current replacement age is now 25 to 30 years. Collaboration between fire districts has been key to managing current operational challenges. Paid firefighters from one district assist neighboring districts during daytime shifts, while mutual aid agreements provide redundancy for calls. However, there is growing interest in evaluating the feasibility of consolidating apparatus to reduce the total number of engines. While consolidation could save costs, it also presents challenges in maintaining adequate coverage, especially in a predominantly volunteer system. Community Center - The pool deck project presents significant challenges, including structural issues, budget constraints, and community concerns. Engineering studies, estimated at $40,000, are critical to determine the scope and cost of repairs. The project’s timeline may require closing the pool during the summer, impacting both revenue and community access, further underscoring the need for strategic planning. Transparent communication is essential to dispel misconceptions, such as rumors about the pool sinking, and to build public trust. A storage facility to house pool chemicals was also discussed. Edmond Town Hall – They generate some revenue, though not a significant amount, and consistently contributes around $50,000 annually from its fund balance to offset costs. There’s a focus on maintaining infrastructure, with specific mention of the air conditioning in the theater, which is nearing the end of its 17-year lifespan. The organization has spent about $7,000 in repairs over the last four years, and additional costs of $12,000 for future repairs are anticipated. There is $715,000 for securing the buildings in FFH. With the grant that was just received, it was suggested to amend that amount to $200,000. Finance Director Salas reviewed the meeting schedules. The LC can act of the CIP at their January 8, 2025 meeting and it can go back to the Board of Finance on January 13, 2025 if needed. 2025 Meeting Schedule – B. Ruben moved to approve the 2025 Meeting Schedule (att). C. Gardner seconded, all in favor. Voter Comment – None Announcements – None Having no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:38pm. Respectfully submitted, Arlene Miles, Clerk Attachment: 2025 Meeting Schedule 3 Primrose Street Newtown, CT 06470 TEL. (203)270-4201 FAX (203)270-4205 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 2025 CALENDAR The Newtown Legislative Council will hold meetings at 7:30pm in the Council Chamber at the Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street, Newtown, CT as follows: Wednesday January 8 – 2nd Wednesday Wednesday January 22 – 4th Wednesday Wednesday February 5 Wednesday February 19 Wednesday March 5 Budget Presentation Wednesday March 19 Budget Public Hearing Wednesday March 26 Additional Budget Meeting Wednesday April 2 Wednesday April 16 Wednesday May 7 Wednesday May 21 Wednesday June 4 Wednesday June 18 Wednesday July 2 Wednesday July 16 Wednesday August 6 Wednesday August 20 Wednesday September 3 Wednesday September 17 Wednesday October 1 Wednesday October 15 Wednesday November 5 Wednesday November 19 Wednesday December 3 Wednesday December 17 Wednesday January 7, 2026 Wednesday January 21, 2026