MINUTES TOWNCOUNCILMEETING TUESDAY,NOVEMBER25,2008AT7:15PM RICHARDE.MASTRANGELOCHAMBER ADMINISTRATIONBUILDING 1.ROLLCALL:AregularmeetingoftheTownCouncilwascalledtoorderat7:15pm,intheRichardE. MastrangeloChamber,AdministrationBuilding.PresentforthemeetingwereCouncilorsStephenE.Corbett, MarilynM.PetittoDevaney,SusanG.Falkoff,JonathanHecht,AngelineB.Kounelis,VincentJ.Piccirilli,Jr.,JohnJ. Lawn,Jr.,VicePresidentMarkS.SiderisandCouncilPresidentClydeL.Younger.AlsopresentweretheTown ManagerMichaelJ.Driscoll,TownAttorneyJoeFairandCouncilClerkValeriePapas. 2.

PLEDGEOFALLEGIANCE
th 3.ACCEPTANCEOFMINUTES:November12 .CouncilorSiderismovedtheminutesaswritten,secondedby CouncilorPiccirilliandadoptedbyvoicevote.

4.PUBLICFORUM:Nocommentsnoted.

5.

PUBLIC HEARING AND VOTE:

A.PublichearingandvoteonaproposedOrderallocatingthepropertytaxlevyamongandbetween propertyclassesforFiscalYear2009. B.PublichearingandvoteonaproposedOrdersettingoptionaltaxexemptionsforFiscalYear2009. TheChairrecognizedtheTownManagerwhoprovidedabriefoverviewofthevarioustaxshiftsandrecognized AssistantAssessor,JosephMalay.Mr.MalaywalkedtheCouncilthroughanelevenpagepowerpointpresentation entitledFiscalYear2009TaxClassification(attached).Mr.MalayintroducedBoardofAssessormember,Richard Moynihanwhowaspresentintheaudience.

 Followingthepowerpointpresentation,Mr.MalayreiteratedthattheBoardofAssessorshaverecommendedthat theCouncildecreasetheshiftfrom175%to170%whichwouldresultinamoreequalpercentagechangeintax billsforcommercialandresidentialpropertyowners. TheChairsteppedoutoftheCouncilChambermomentarilyandVicePresidentSiderisopenedthehearingtothe public.Therebeingnocomments,thehearingwasclosed. VicePresidentSiderisopenedthematteruptothelegislativemodeandtheChairreturnedtotheChamber. CouncilorCorbettstatedthatwithrespecttoChartB,ataxcreditof$1,101wouldbeallowedfortheowner occupiedproperty.CouncilorCorbettnotedthatthestatedtaxcreditismisleadingbecausewithoutthe exemption/shift,thedifferencewouldbeonly$383.00more. CouncilorHecht,followinguponthestatedgoaloftheBoardofAssessors,whichwastoequalizethetaxincrease acrossthetaxclasses,statedthattheargumentiscompellingbutthatifyoulookoverthetimeperiodfrom2002 topresent,overallpropertytaxesonthecommercialclasshasgoneup35%versus40%forresidential.Therateof increasehasbeenlessforthecommercialclass.CouncilorHechtaskedifweshouldntwebelookingoveralonger periodoftimeratherthanlookingatonesingleyear. CouncilorHechtalsoaskediftheAssessorshaveanyevidencethatwehavebecomelesscompetitiveinthe commercialareacomparedtoothertowns. Mr.Malaystatedthatwhatthe170%doesisitallowsroominthefuturetoraisethepercentageagain. CouncilorKounelis,withrespecttothePilotProgram,statedthattheTuftspropertyin2008wasthesecond highestpayingpropertyandisnowtaxexempt.ShenotedthatinFY08thethenowner,Perspectus,waspaying 1.2milliondollarsuntilTuftspurchasedthepropertyandisnowpaying$500,000.Shestatedthatthisiswhywe arelookingatthesechangesandbasedoncomparisons,commercialpropertywillalsopay$1,1000lessatthe 170/20shift.

CouncilorSiderisaskediftherecommendedshiftof170%wasmoreofareflectionofwhatalltheother communitiesweredoing. Mr.MalayreiteratedtheBoardsdesiretoachieveanequalrateforalltheclasses. CouncilorLongaskedifa25%shiftwasconsidered. Mr.Malaystatedthatthatwouldbeadramaticincreaseforthenonowneroccupied. TheCouncilPresident,regardingthesunsetclause,askedthatifwekeeptocurrent175%willwehavetogoback to170%. Mr.Malaystated,no. TheCouncilPresidentclarifiedthatwecankeepthe175%asaconstantifwewanttowithnoadversebearingin thefuture.Thenwhymovedownto170%. CouncilorLongconcurredandstatedthataswehavenevergoneabove175%,wearenotmandatedtogodownto 170%. CouncilorDevaneystatedthatsherespectstheBoardofAssessorsbutfeelsverystronglythatthis recommendationisnotequitable. CouncilorSiderisstatedthatthisishurtingeveryonesoitisnotaneasydecisiontomake.Heaskedfora compromiseintherecommendedpercentages. CouncilorPiccirillistatedthatthechoicesofwhatarebeforeus;therecommended170/20%isa$67.00increase foroccupiedhomeownersversusgivingataxbreakof$1,100toacommercialpropertyowner.Therealissueis thatitishardtoaskpeopletopaymoretaxesontheirhomes.Henotedthatwearetryingtoreducethetax

burdenthrougheconomicdevelopmentandwearestrugglingwiththelongtermview;sohenoted,itishard;a toughcall.HeaskedtheCounciltothinkaboutthelongtermandwherewewanttogointhefuture. CouncilorDevaneyreadapreparedstatementagainstanincreaseintheresidentialtaxrate(attached). CouncilorHechtstatedthatthecrisisisinresidentialhomevaluesandweshouldbedoingwhatwecantolessen theburdenonthem.While,henoted,heisnotgladtoputtheburdenonbusinesses;ifyoulookoverthewhole periodsince2002,ifwekeeptheshiftat175%/20%theincreasewillbeequalovertime. CouncilorFalkoffnotedhowtheBoardofAssessorsgrappledwithhowtoachieveequity;andnotedthatsheis somewhatskepticalwiththestatisticsasnotedbyCouncilorHecht. CouncilorCorbettnotedthattherecommendationof170%makesagreatdealofsense;andheunderstands mathematicallytheargumentputforthbyCouncilorHecht,butstatedthatmostpeopleincurcostsdaytoday, monthtomonthnotoverthelongterm. CouncilorKounelisstatedthatshecannotsupportataxincreaseonresidentialproperties. TheTownManagerstatedthatthisisadifficultpolicydecisionandiftheCouncilwishes,themattercanbe continuedtothenextmeetingtoclarifyanyissuesandinquireaboutotherrecommendations. TheCouncilPresidentstatedthatheseesnocompellingreasontochangetheshiftandspokeinsupportofavote tomaintainthecurrentshift. CouncilorDevaneystatedthatsheneedsnofurtherinformationandisreadytotakeavotetomaintainthestatus quo. CouncilorDevaneymovedtomaintainthecurrenttaxshiftof175%/20%,secondedbyCouncilorKounelis. CouncilorLongstatedthatmaintainingthecurrentrateisstillincreasingthetaxbaseforresidents.

 CouncilorDevaneystatedthatshewantstoamendthemotiontovoteagainsttherecommendationoftheBoard ofAssessors. TheChairstatedthatthatisnotthemotiononthefloor. Uponarollcallvotethemotiontomaintainthecurrenttaxshiftof175%/20%wasadoptedbyavoteof6for,2 againstand1abstainingwithCouncilorsCorbettandFalkoffvotingnoandCouncilorDevaneynotvoting. CouncilorDevaneyaskedwhattheincreaseisforresidentsinmaintainingthecurrentrate.Itwasstatedthatthe increaseis$92.00basedonanaveragepropertyassessment. TheTownManagerprovidedabriefoverviewoftheproposedTaxExemptionOrder. CouncilorKounelisstatedthatshewillberecusingherselffromthediscussionandvote. TheChairopenedupthehearingtothepublic.Therebeingnocomments,thehearingwasclosed. CouncilorSiderismovedtheapprovetheTaxExemptionOrder,secondedbyCouncilorLawnandadoptedby unanimousrollcallvote,withCouncilorKounelisrecusingherself. 6.COMMITTEEREPORT: A.CommitteeonBudgetandFiscalOversightreport/updateonFY2010policyguidelinesMarkS. Sideris,Chair.TheChairrecognizedCouncilorSideriswhoreadtheCommitteereport(attached).CouncilorSideris movedtoallowtheCommitteetoconductinterviewswithrespecttothetwoauditproposalsandmakea recommendationtofullCouncil,secondedbyCouncilorFalkoffandadoptedbyvoicevote.

 B.CommitteeonPersonnelandTownOrganizationreportontheTownsManagers evaluation/goals/compensationandcompensationofCouncilemployees.TheChairrecognizedCouncilorCorbett whoreadtheCommitteereport(attached).CouncilorSiderismovedtoacceptthereport,secondedbyCouncilor Falkoffandadoptedbyvoicevote. CouncilorHechtthankedtheCommitteefortheirhardworkontheseimportantmatters.Heindicatedthathe wouldliketoseethePersonnelCommitteeassumetheleadonthesuccessorcontractwiththeTownManagerbut thattheCouncilhowevershouldmeetfirsttodiscusstheirviews. CouncilorFalkoffcommentedthattheManagerhadlegalrepresentationthelasttimetheCouncildiscussedthis matterandwonderedwhattheoptionsarefortheCounciltohaverepresentation,ifitisdeemednecessary. TherewasdiscussionontheTownManagerscontractandonthePersonnelCommitteesrecommendationnotto developapolicyregardingwhentheManagershouldcommunicateinformationtotheCouncil,inordertoallow theManagerflexibilityinexercisinghisjudgmentonthismatter. TheChairdisagreedwiththeCommitteesrecommendationonthematterrelatedtocommunicationandstated thatcommunicationisessentialandiftherecommendationisnotamended,hewillnotsupportthereport.He askedthatthereportbesentbacktoCommitteetofleshoutmoredetailsonthefirstparagraph. RegardingsendingthereportbacktoCommittee,CouncilorSiderisstatedthatthereisatimingissueastheCouncil st mustgivetheManagernoticeonretaininghisservicesbyDecember31 . CouncilorLawnstatedthattheCouncilpreviouslyagreedtonotifytheManager6monthsinadvanceonretaining hisservices;secondly,CouncilorLawnindicatedthatthereissuchabroadlistofcircumstancesthatconstitutes communicationthatitisimpossibletoprovidesuchalistwhichissubjectivetoeachCouncilor. CouncilorFalkoffnotedthatweonlyhavetolettheManagerknowbyDecember31stifwewillretainhimandthat theCouncilwillhave6monthstonegotiateanewcontract. CouncilorCorbettstateditishisunderstandingthatwithrespecttohonoringthe6monthperiod,itprotectsthe Councilregardingtheterminationpolicy.Withrespecttothecommunicationmatter,henotedthatvarious

instancesoccurregardingmattersthathappenwithinthetownandexpectationsofcommunicationvarybetween councilors. TheChairstatedthatthereshouldbeathreshholdthatconstitutescommunicationfromtheManagertothe Council.HenotedthatwespecificallyaskedtheCommitteetoreportbackonwhatthatthreshholdis. CouncilorDevaneystatedthatthewordsshouldnotbedevelopedshouldbeamendedastherewasno consensusonthatinCommittee.ShestatedthatitshouldbeopeneduptothefullCouncilfortheiropinionto determine. TheChairaskedthatthereportbeseparatedbyeachitem. CouncilorLawnconcurredwithCouncilorDevaneyandstatedthatitwouldtake9Councilorstocomeupwithsuch alistofwhatconstitutescommunication.HeofferedthatthisshouldbepartoftheManagersperformance evaluationratherthantryingtowriteapolicywithnineviewpoints. CouncilorHechtreiteratedthattheCommitteesapproachisgoodandshouldbeadoptedandresolvedquickly withameetingoftheCouncil.Thematteroftheattorneyisreallygoingtodependontheissuesthatcomeup,he noted. CouncilorLawnconcurredwithameetingoftheCouncil. CouncilorFalkoffsupportedthereportwithrespecttothecommunicationissue,andnotedthatpoliciesthatare putinwritingshouldbeclearandconciseandthatthecommunicationissueismoreofajudgmentcall. CouncilorFalkoffalsostatedthattheMinutesofthemeetingareareflectionofwhatdiscussionstookplaceand thatwhetheryoudisagreewiththereportreallyhasnobearingontheminutesofthemeeting.Shenotedthat theminutesshouldnotbechangedbecausesomeonedisagreeswiththereport. Uponrollcallvotetoacceptthereport,itwasadoptedbyavoteof8for,1against,withtheChairvotingno.

CouncilorSiderismovedtogoonrecordthattheCouncilwouldliketorenewtheManagersservices,secondedby CouncilorFalkoffandadoptedbyunanimousrollcallvote. CouncilorKounelisstatedthatwithrespecttocommunication,shehasbeenquitevocalaboutit.Theword exercisingjudgmentdoesnotalwayscomeintoplay.Athreshholdishardtoputinwords.Shenotedthatthe Managercantryhardertocommunicate. TheChairaskedtheCommitteetofleshoutthatparagraph. TheManagerstatedthatheappreciatesthevotetoretainhisservices.Healsoindicatedthatonhisevaluation form,7of9Councilorsindicatedthathemetorexceededexpectationsoncommunication.Hefurthernotedthat sometimesitemscomeuparoundtownthatevenhemaynotknowabout. Lookingforexcellence,theChairstated,itsnottoomuchtoaskthatthismatterbefleshedout. CouncilorSiderismovedtoreferthematterbacktoCommitteeandhavethemarticulatealittlebetteronwhy theytooktheirposition.Nosecond. CouncilorHechtindicatedthathesupportstheCommitteesrecommendationandthatperhapsifaparticular eventcomesalongregardingacommunicationmatter,theyshouldraisethatpointthenandthereandhavethe Councilweighinonitratherthancreatealist. TheChairstatedthatthatisreactivenotproactive. CouncilorFalkoffmovedtorequestCouncilorstowritefurthercommentsonthisissueintheirevaluationofthe managerthisyear.Nosecond. CouncilorKounelisstatedthatsituationsoccurbutwhentheyarerepeated,itisembarrassing. CouncilorSiderisrequestedthattheCouncilmoveonatthispoint.

 7.MOTIONS,ORDERSANDRESOLUTIONS: A.Resolutionauthorizingatransferof$35,000fromtheFiscalYear2009CouncilReservetotheFiscal Year2009FireDepartmentIndemnificationAccount.TheManagerprovidedabriefoverviewofthetransfer. CouncilorDevaneymovedtoapprovethetransferoffunds,secondedbyCouncilorSiderisandadoptedby unanimousvoicevote. 8.REPORTSFROMTHECOUNCILPRESIDENT TheChairindicatedthatheislookingforaconsensusonmovingtheHolidayReceptiontoMonday,December15th attheCommandersMansion.SomovedbyCouncilorSideris,secondedbyCouncilorFalkoffandadoptedbyvoice vote. TheChairindicatedthatitishisunderstandingthatnoworkwasdonethisFallonsidewalksandstreetsandthat theprojecthasbeenpostponedtotheSpring.Heaskedwherethemoniesareatthispointandaskedthatthe moniesbemovedbackintoCouncilReserve. TheManagerindicatedthatfollowingtheloanappropriation,theCouncilmetanddiscussedapolicyonsidewalks andcurbs.TheManagernotedthattheCouncilvotedtoestablishaWorkingGrouponthisissueandthathe supportsnotspendingtaxmonieswithouthavingapolicyonsidewalks/curbsandplantingstrips. CouncilorKounelisstatedthatitwasnevercommunicatedthatallofthestreetsonthelistforthisseasonwere placedonhold.Shenotedthatoverlaysdontincludesidewalksandstrips. TheManagerstatedthatatthelastmeetinginJune,itwascommunicatedthatnotallthestreetsonthelistwere goingtobedoneincalendaryear2008.Heacknowledgedthepastpracticewithoverlays,butnotedthatpast practicemaynotbethecaseinthefutureortherecommendationthatcomesoutoftheWorkingGroupand ultimately,voteofthefullCouncil. TheChairstatedthatwehadapolicythatdepartmentalauditsweregoingtobeperformedquarterly.Henoted thatsincetheAuditorhasleftthemeeting,hewillfollowuponthematterinwritingthroughtheManageror CouncilClerk.

 9.COMMUNICATIONSFROMTHETOWNMANAGER: LastcurbsidepickupDecember5th;parkingbanwillcommenceonNovember30th. TheManageraskedthatalateagendaitembeconsideredonanEnvironmentalEnergyitem.Somovedthe CouncilorSideris,secondedbyCouncilorFalkoffandadoptedbyvoicevote. RegardingthecompositionoftheCommittee,herequestedanamendmenttothelanguageinResolution#138that onememberbefromDPWandaddbyamendmentoronememberfromPurchasing.SomovedbyCouncilor Sideris,secondedbyCouncilorPiccirilliandadoptedbyvoicevote. A. RequestforconfirmationofanappointmenttotheBoardofHealth.Unanimouslyreferredtothe CommitteeonHumanServices. B. RequestforconfirmationofreappointmentandappointmenttotheCableAccessCorporationBoardof Directors.UnanimouslyreferredtotheCommitteeonEducation&SchoolSystemMatters. TheManagernotedthatnoticesweresenttovariousboards/commissionsthattheirappointmentshaveexpired andwillawaitingwordonwhetherornottheywanttocontinuetoserve. FollowinguponarequestbyaCouncilor,theManagerindicatedthataletterwassenttoMs.MichelleTassinari askingforanupdateonthepreviouselectionrecountmatter. TheManagerprovidedanupdateregardingVerizonFIOS.

10.REQUESTSFORINFORMATION CouncilorDevaneyaskedforanupdateonRecyclingservices. CouncilorDevaneyaskedforanupdateregardingvariouscontractorsregardingRecyclingservices. CouncilorKounelis,inafollowup,thankedSuperintendentMeeforhiscommunicationsregardingsaltsheds.She notedthatshecalledvariousstatedepartmentsonsaltshedsbutisnotadvocatingfororagainstdoorsonsalt sheds. CouncilorSiderisaskedthattheManagerprovideinwritingareportregardingthedispositionoftheinstallationof artificialturf. 11.ANNOUNCEMENTSnonenoted. 12.PUBLICFORUMnonenoted. EXECUTIVESESSION:CouncilorSiderismovedtogointoexecutivesessionforthepurposeofnegotiating 13. collectivebargainingandwillnotreturntoopensessionfollowingitsadjournment,secondedbyCouncilorPiccirilli andadoptedbyunanimousrollcallvote. IherebycertifythatataregularmeetingoftheTownCouncilforwhichaquorumwaspresent,theaboveminutes wereadoptedwithattachmentonJanuary13,2009.