[0:42] Welcome to the town council regular meeting, September 16th, 2026, 7 p.m.

[0:48] Town of Clinton, we're in the town hall green room.

[0:51] Dennis, would you please lead us in the pledge?

[0:54] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America

[0:59] and to the Republic for which it stands,

[1:02] one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

[1:08] Thanks, Dennis.

[1:09] You're welcome.

[1:13] Item number two on the agenda, visitors.

[1:15] Do we have any visitors that would like to participate?

[1:19] Carol, please, Carol.

[1:22] Do I have to come up there?

[1:23] Yeah, please.

[1:24] And unfortunately, state your name.

[1:26] Oh, unfortunately.

[1:29] Sorry to trouble you.

[1:33] All right.

[1:34] This is a totally different topic.

[1:35] You're a live mic in front of you.

[1:37] Yeah.

[1:37] Who am I?

[1:38] Pete and I?

[1:39] Yeah.

[1:40] I have a little thing that I say before public speaking.

[1:44] And that is that the council will not interact with you during a regular town council meeting.

[1:50] We'll listen. We appreciate your contribution and we'll listen carefully.

[1:55] If there's action to be taken based on what you submit, the town council will put it on agenda for a later meeting.

[2:01] Or the town manager, you can reach out to the town manager to take care of something with that.

[2:06] I like the good old days when there was banter back and forth.

[2:10] When we got things done the same night that they came up.

[2:12] But anyway, Carol Walter, five-year-old court, and I am here riding on the coattails of dock days,

[2:20] which, if you were there, it was a great day for Clinton. Everybody had a wonderful time,

[2:27] and it was just a big wonderful accomplishment for all of us. I had two comments afterwards

[2:38] words outside of how much everybody loved it. One was don't ever let anyone throw their

[2:42] dog in the water again. So that will be rule number one. And number two was people wondered

[2:48] where the beach was. And I, before this all came to be, I had talks with Todd Hagek and

[2:59] Rob Derry about the condition of the beach. And primarily what it came down to, the

[3:06] the condition of the beach being that there's no sand there anymore. It's

[3:10] probably 80% grass and 20% sand and the grass that is there is crab grass. The

[3:18] same is what grows in my yard if I don't dig it out. It's not some protected

[3:23] species of grass. It's just something that needs to, you know, if you had a

[3:27] claw down there you could dig it out. So I'm here asking that maybe going

[3:34] forward into next year's budget, you could put in some funds to recreate that

[3:43] beach the way it was meant to be. I looked up the deed for that property and it

[3:48] was gifted to the town with the provision that it always remain a

[3:53] beach. And that the people from Maplewood Drive would always be allowed

[3:58] to swim at that beach. So I would think that, I mean, there is a moral

[4:03] obligation to maintain it with the sandy surface that it had when my kids were

[4:09] growing up we were over there would be I mean there were families over there all

[4:12] the time playing at the beach with nobody would go in the water because it was

[4:16] awful now the water is great but you can't you can't get in there because

[4:20] I mean you won't go there because there isn't sand I also have spoken with the

[4:28] Shapiro's at Cedar Island Marina and they say that that area is a half

[4:32] step from becoming declared a wetlands because of the condition it's in. And if that were

[4:37] to happen, that would be the end of any use of that. I mean, wetlands are more protected

[4:42] than anything we see around town. So I'm, the problem that I had with Rob Derry and

[4:50] Todd Hagek was nobody had money in their budget to, to do, to bring in the sand,

[4:56] this approved sand you have to put on a beach. So I'm hoping that, you know, somehow

[5:02] Now somewhere, something can be built in to scrape the craft grass out of the beach and

[5:07] bring some sand in and maintain it the way the deed asked that it be maintained.

[5:14] Okay.

[5:15] Thank you.

[5:15] Thank you very much.

[5:17] So were you talking about the Zecarro Beach or the Espezo?

[5:21] Espezo Beach.

[5:21] The one near the town dock?

[5:22] Yes.

[5:23] Any other persons were?

[5:26] Yes please.

[5:27] Please come to the table, state your name and address.

[5:33] Good evening.

[5:33] My name is Dean Kugin and for the past 10 years I've resided at 65 Waterside Lane.

[5:39] I want to start out with a shout out to the Clinton Police Department for the job they

[5:44] did during the fireworks show.

[5:46] We're on the front row of everything that's happening down there at 65 Waterside Lane

[5:50] and can't imagine how that could have been done any better and more safely.

[5:55] For the record, the following narrative is my own and was not authored by AI.

[6:01] Thank you for this opportunity to speak with you about the January 2025 flock license plate

[6:08] cameras activation in seven locations by the Clinton Police Department. I'm not here to be

[6:14] presumptive about the Clinton Police Department's intent nor its use of its flock system. I defer

[6:20] instead to Connecticut's most watched news organization WFSB and their investigative

[6:27] report concerning the Clinton Police Department's use of the Flock system.

[6:33] According to WFSB, the Clinton Police Department had shared its Flock

[6:38] immigration related data with other nearby states and agencies for 11

[6:43] months. The police department acquired the Flock system aware that it tracked

[6:49] individuals having immigration interest. The police department only suspended

[6:54] it its flock immigration data sharing at about the same time our state of Connecticut was

[6:59] passing legislation signed into law this past May outlawing continued sharing of such immigration

[7:06] flock data. When asked, FWSB was denied access to the Clinton Police Department's raw actual

[7:15] data thus preventing a closer look at how the Clinton Police Department had been using

[7:20] their flock system since its startup, I would surmise that my fellow Clinton residents would

[7:27] find such uncooperative behavior by the Clinton police department to not be a model of transparency.

[7:34] I quote, the Fourth Amendment of our Constitution seeks to secure the privacy of life against

[7:41] arbitrary power and that a central aim of the framers was to place obstacles in the

[7:47] way of a too permeating police surveillance as an individual maintains a legitimate expectation

[7:56] of privacy in the record of his physical movements.

[8:01] When reviewing the Clinton police department's flock policy and procedures, section K, for

[8:08] prohibited uses, it states, quote, any use that violates a person's constitutional

[8:13] rights is prohibited. As presently deployed, its use of the Flock's camera is such a violation.

[8:22] Our protected privacy is a public safety issue. What happens to each of us when our protected

[8:28] privacy rights become further diminished, especially with our present democracy teetering

[8:33] and our individual freedoms threatened at the very same time of our 25th-250th anniversary?

[8:40] flak surveillance cameras degrade our protected privacy as the cameras are

[8:45] always on, continuously track and store everyone's detail to travel histories

[8:51] today. Over 250 towns and cities across the nation are suspending or removing

[8:57] their flak surveillance cameras. At least three Connecticut towns have recently

[9:02] suspended or begun to have their flaks surveillance cameras removed. Two of

[9:07] our nation's largest bedrock law enforcement states, Florida and Texas, have very recently

[9:14] ordered a halt to their state funding, revoked permits, and or ordered the flock cameras

[9:21] removal within 30 days.

[9:24] I urge our Clinton Town Council and Town Manager to follow the same course of action

[9:28] to immediately call for independent oversight of the flock cameras in data use, turning

[9:34] off the flock surveillance cameras, not funding the flock surveillance system when the present

[9:40] contract expires, and to order the flock surveillance cameras be removed as soon as possible.

[9:47] Thank you.

[9:48] Thank you.

[9:49] I do want to just address that.

[9:51] I just want to let residents and encourage residents to know that the police commission

[9:55] would be the proper form to go and bring that concern.

[9:58] They're the ones that oversee it.

[9:59] they meet the second Monday at five o'clock at the police

[10:03] commission at the police department's community room.

[10:07] Thanks. Michelle, we don't hear you very well.

[10:11] And this is for any other public comment.

[10:22] So 20 James Lane, I'll be quick.

[10:25] I told you guys that I was going to file a lawsuit to have her removed.

[10:29] We're going to look to do it by mid October.

[10:31] Anybody who is in town and wants to sign on to it.

[10:34] You can find me on Facebook and sub-wall.

[10:41] Any other public comment?

[10:45] Mary Nunn, do you mind turning off that microphone

[10:47] just so we don't pick up anything?

[10:49] Thank you.

[10:54] Item number three on the agenda, approval of minutes.

[10:57] So I hear a motion to approve the minutes

[10:59] for the August 19th, 2026 meeting.

[11:04] Second?

[11:05] Second.

[11:08] Discussion?

[11:10] All in favor?

[11:11] Aye.

[11:12] Opposed?

[11:13] Abstain.

[11:13] Motion carries.

[11:16] Thank you.

[11:17] Next is appointments and reappointments.

[11:20] Item number four on the agenda,

[11:23] Amity Vies, Human Services Advisory Board

[11:27] for term until June 30th, 2029.

[11:30] Is Amity here?

[11:31] Yes.

[11:31] Yes, please.

[11:32] Thank you.

[11:37] I guess we are going to use the microphone.

[11:41] Amity Vies, I live at 13 Wildwood Park Road.

[11:46] Just looking to be appointed to the Human Services Advisory Board.

[11:53] Do you have any questions?

[11:54] Yeah, well if you could tell us a little more about yourself, your interest there or your

[11:58] qualification.

[11:58] Yeah, I'm naturally drawn to roles where I can be helpful to people and I have a lot

[12:05] of work and volunteer experience working with the various populations that human

[12:10] services help support.

[12:11] I've worked as in various roles with children and I've been a domestic violence advocate,

[12:18] a sexual assault crisis counselor, and I've worked in a few different roles with senior

[12:23] citizens in the community as well.

[12:26] Any questions from the council?

[12:30] Do I hear a motion to appoint MDVs to the Human Services Advisory Board for term until

[12:34] June 30th, 2029?

[12:36] Carrie Allen.

[12:37] Second?

[12:38] Second.

[12:39] Chris Ineskovich.

[12:40] No.

[12:41] I'm sorry.

[12:41] Oh, Brian. Sorry.

[12:45] Discussion? All in favor?

[12:48] Aye.

[12:49] Opposed? Staying? Motion carries. Thank you.

[12:55] Next is an appointment.

[12:56] Excuse me. Tell them to get sworn in.

[12:58] Oh, yeah. If you could go to the town clerk's office to be sworn in. Thank you.

[13:03] Not now.

[13:04] Not now. Yeah, they're not open now.

[13:07] They're not open tonight.

[13:08] John Vassallo for the zoning Board of Appeals alternate seat for term until November 2027.

[13:17] Tell us a little about yourself, your interest and your qualifications.

[13:21] Well I've been in the construction industry for about 45 years now.

[13:28] I live in town.

[13:32] I deal a lot with the different towns throughout the state as far as permitting, zoning

[13:37] and health department. My background is mainly in home improvements, residential

[13:46] construction, at one point held a building official license, it's expired now,

[13:54] also a letter-abatement license for the state of Connecticut as far

[14:00] as

[14:12] a

[14:12] Anybody on the council have any questions?

[14:22] Briefly, I did speak to Lori before I spoke to anyone else.

[14:26] I have a good idea. I'd like to know more.

[14:32] Do I hear a motion for John Vassallo to be appointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals Alternate Seat for term until November 2027?

[14:42] Second.

[14:43] Second.

[14:44] Chris Basanti.

[14:45] Discussion.

[14:47] All in favor?

[14:48] Aye.

[14:49] Opposed?

[14:50] Abstain.

[14:51] Motion carries.

[14:53] Thank you, John.

[14:53] Again, go to the town clerk to be sworn in.

[14:56] Thank you.

[14:57] Thank you.

[14:58] Thank you.

[15:01] Next, appointments is park and rec commission, and we have four candidates for one vacancy.

[15:06] And we have a process that's a little different for us this time in that we, with four candidates

[15:11] under Connecticut state law, the candidates have the option to be interviewed in public

[15:14] or in executive session. And we have one candidate that's opted to be interviewed in

[15:18] public, and we'll do that. And then later in the meeting, we'll have executive session

[15:23] and we'll conduct the interviews with the other candidates at that time.

[15:27] Okay, so Patrick Shea, if you've come up, please.

[15:36] Yeah, yeah, we've passed them up, yep, yep.

[15:39] So we have, hey Patrick, welcome.

[15:43] Hello, how are you?

[15:45] For the Board of Park and Recreation Commission.

[15:49] And we have four candidates and we have standard questions that we ask

[15:53] or questions that we've often asked

[15:55] and we're going to ask the same questions of all candidates.

[15:57] And so we can, I guess I could say I'm on behalf of the council.

[16:03] These are questions from the council, but I'll say them out loud.

[16:06] The first question is what interests you in serving on this board or commission?

[16:12] What interests you in serving on this board or commission?

[16:15] This is Parker.

[16:17] Sure.

[16:19] What initially interested me was the quality of the facilities.

[16:26] and as I grew interested in the town and grew to watch town council meetings I

[16:30] started to get to know council members and the town and how it works and

[16:37] operates and that specific commission surprisingly post or when ARPA funds

[16:45] existed they there's a lot that could have been done and I know Chris is the

[16:51] liaison to the Parks and Rec Commission and I've listened to, I listened to this

[16:57] council at the end of the day and I see what you need from various boards and

[17:02] commissions and I'm a sports lover, I grew up playing sports, I grew up

[17:08] watching sports and I don't love the way youth sports is going in terms of

[17:14] private equity and the expensive side of things. And to me, sports should be fun, and

[17:25] the kids should have fun, and it should be affordable. And I think that all starts with

[17:30] the Parks and Rec Commission.

[17:34] Do you have any prior experience serving on a board or commission, any board or commission?

[17:38] No, I love that. This is the beginning for me. I want to get involved and I want to help

[17:46] serve my town.

[17:49] Are you able to commit to the regular meeting schedule and any additional responsibilities?

[17:53] Yes. I believe so. They're Tuesday nights, right? Or there are, that might conflict

[17:59] with the, I don't know, the EDC that I'm going for. I don't, the timing, I don't,

[18:06] So maybe not and how do you see the board of park and rec contributing to the

[18:13] overall well-being of the town I think when I look at kids these days and

[18:21] screens I think it's like incredibly important like to be outside and playing

[18:27] and I have a one-year-old myself and I he loves to play and that's like I

[18:33] I feel like that's what separates kids from screens,

[18:37] not to say screens are evil,

[18:39] but like playing and competition

[18:41] and that sort of,

[18:43] that's something I wanna be a part of facilitating.

[18:45] And my background is in communications

[18:47] and I think whether that's something that the board needs,

[18:53] it's something I'm good at,

[18:54] is outreach and getting people to join in

[19:00] and spread the word and participate.

[19:05] Great.

[19:07] Thank you.

[19:07] So those are the questions for Park and Rec.

[19:11] Can I quickly get confirmation, though, on the conflict,

[19:16] because I don't, from the timing of the meetings,

[19:17] if it's, I know that EDC is the second Tuesday of every month.

[19:21] When's Park and Rec?

[19:24] First.

[19:25] Okay.

[19:25] So it's achievable.

[19:27] Okay.

[19:29] All right, so as I said, for Park and Rec, we have three other candidates that are going

[19:33] to be in executive session later, and you're also a candidate for the one vacancy on economic

[19:39] development commission.

[19:40] And again, you've opted to have open session interview.

[19:44] There's another candidate for that one, and that person is also an executive session.

[19:48] So while you're here, why don't we do that one too?

[19:50] And the questions are the same.

[19:52] So if the town council feels this is the proper way to flow this, we'll ask

[19:56] you the questions again now for Economic Development Commission. So what

[20:00] interests you to serve on the Economic Development Commission?

[20:06] Ironically it it all started a little bit with my property taxes and

[20:13] understanding how the town works and and getting to know town various town

[20:19] council members and and trying to understand procedure and I guess the

[20:26] optics of everything and over time I started to review the POCD from early

[20:35] 2000s and then I read the one in 2015 and again in 2025 and I after a lot of

[20:43] the goals as it as it pertains to economic development carry across all

[20:49] three POCDs but for the first time ever we have an incredible town planner

[20:54] and the real capacity to move it forward.

[21:05] And sometimes I feel like there's various gaps

[21:09] between communication between different boards and commissions, and I think I could be a

[21:14] a great asset to that communication crossover.

[21:21] I got very interested in, when it came to the EDC,

[21:26] a lot of it was about, and I've gone to the meetings

[21:29] as a member of the community since May.

[21:33] And I think when I looked at what they were doing

[21:38] and business outreach and getting business inventory

[21:41] and I would watch the town council meetings

[21:43] and I would see this request going back to even before our last town manager, this inventory

[21:50] has been requested. And I, although I'm not on the commission, I made strives to just put

[21:58] it together. And that took me to another level where I started thinking about, well, if

[22:04] we want more businesses downtown and we want more walkability, and this is the goal,

[22:08] Well, this is what the people want.

[22:09] Like, it's very much clear that the POCD let the people speak,

[22:15] and this is what they are asking for,

[22:18] and everyone signed off on it.

[22:20] So if that's the goal, I realize, well,

[22:24] if we want more businesses downtown,

[22:25] how can we do that unless we understand planning and zoning

[22:31] and what's possible?

[22:33] We can't do it if we don't know what's possible.

[22:36] We can't have a real fluid conversation if we don't know what's possible.

[22:40] So that's where I decided, and it took a lot of work to create sort of a prototype that

[22:49] allowed for the means of understanding what's possible.

[22:53] And I had it presented through the EDC to Council.

[22:56] And whether that's ultimately adopted or not, that's in the hands, I guess, of

[23:03] the town manager in the town and really the town planner too.

[23:11] But whether it is adopted or not, that's fine.

[23:14] I just want to participate.

[23:15] And I think I could be a great asset to the EDC.

[23:18] I've grown to meet and learn from some of them

[23:21] and understand the group and the people.

[23:25] I also understand there's alternates.

[23:27] So if any alternates want to step up and have

[23:30] the voting power and I would gladly give them that opportunity over me and I would be an

[23:36] alternate.

[23:38] Thank you.

[23:38] And yeah, that's all I need.

[23:40] Next question, we already know the answer to, do you have any prior experience serving

[23:43] on boards and commissions?

[23:44] You answered it, no, right?

[23:47] The item number three, are you able to commit to the regular meeting schedule?

[23:50] I think we just determined that, the answer is yes.

[23:53] And number four, how do you see this board commission contributing to the overall well-being

[23:57] of the town?

[23:58] You partially answered that in the first part, but if you have anything to add I think that

[24:04] Economic development means different things to a lot of different people and in some ways that

[24:11] People think that means we're looking for big box stores as for some people

[24:15] It means we just want economic vitality downtown. Well, we don't own any buildings

[24:20] So we can't dictate there's that side of it, too

[24:23] We can't take tell tell storefronts to update their properties and all that

[24:28] But we can do things like leverage the Andrews Memorial Theater and see if there's ways to

[24:36] bring in, not be the Kate, but bring in sort of utilize that facility in such a way that

[24:44] it was meant to be utilized.

[24:46] And there's ways to understand what business owners need downtown in order to be fruitful

[24:54] and successful.

[24:55] There's ways to connect our social presence and our communication system with the businesses

[25:04] and give them, where's the live music tonight?

[25:08] Nobody can answer that question and it shouldn't be on one business to promote only their

[25:16] live music.

[25:16] I think there's ways to get creative, leverage AI, leverage resources and really connect

[25:23] with our business downtown and the EDC is I know going back to even John Allen

[25:28] I've watched some of these videos and where the EDC's had ebbs and flows I

[25:32] know you hang grow on it for a while and I think especially with the coordinator

[25:38] now I think that it's a really poised committee to put forward some of these

[25:44] actions within the POCD. Thank you. That's that's the four questions just

[25:49] one other item to know for the council I think everybody on the

[25:52] Council received a letter from the chair of the Economic Development Commission recommending

[25:56] Patrick Shave for the position.

[25:59] That's all our questions.

[26:00] Thanks, Patrick.

[26:07] And back to the agenda.

[26:12] So the other candidates will be interviewed in executive session when we get to that

[26:18] item number.

[26:21] So we're on to item number five, Board of Education non-lapsing account.

[26:34] To use this, sir?

[26:35] if you if you hold it just for like two seconds or three seconds it goes on so

[26:41] you want me to use it there we go okay good evening thank you for allowing me

[26:46] to be here tonight at the August 17th Board of Education meeting as we closed

[26:53] out the year the board made a motion to authorize me to come and make a

[26:59] request to transfer $250,000 to a maximum of the total

[27:05] unexpended amount from the 2526 Board of Ed operating budget

[27:11] into the existing Board of Ed non-lapsing account

[27:13] established by the town.

[27:16] The board talked a lot about this.

[27:19] It does appear, as we're closing out our funds,

[27:22] that we have approximately $500,000 of unexpended funds.

[27:27] And there was a lot of discussion.

[27:28] The request was put that way out of respect for the town and the need for

[27:35] the council to make determinations as to best how to allocate that money.

[27:41] As you know, I was here in June.

[27:42] We had an unexpected capital project of the Joel Voila replacement,

[27:47] which was granted from the non-lapsing fund,

[27:51] which brought our fund balance down to 321,679.

[27:56] So the board is asking for a minimum of 250 to bring that back to a reasonable amount that would protect us,

[28:05] hopefully against an unexpected capital expenditure, or that fluctuation in special ed costs,

[28:12] which is the other policy reason for using the non-lapsing.

[28:17] So they worded that motion for the town council's consideration and out of respect for the fact that you have many other needs

[28:25] and can make that determination of the amount.

[28:30] Any questions from any council members?

[28:32] I just want to make clear.

[28:33] So you had a $500 surplus?

[28:35] $500,000. I believe it's unordinated.

[28:38] $506.

[28:39] Okay, roughly.

[28:40] And you're requesting to take half and put it in the last five?

[28:44] Yes.

[28:45] Okay, thank you.

[28:46] So I have a question related to the same, but I think it's the Bob.

[28:49] So there's a second motion here to transfer the final.

[28:52] That would be the residual.

[28:53] So if it's $500,000 and we're doing $250,000 to the non-lapsing fund, that means the rest,

[28:57] the other $250,000 would go to the Roads and Sidewalks Fund 66.

[29:03] How much goes there?

[29:04] Yes.

[29:05] It would be nice if, you know, there were any available funds in the budget that if

[29:11] this was approved, there would be another $250,000 available that we would get permission

[29:17] to transfer that $250,000 to the Roads Fund.

[29:20] So, under your agenda, item number five, there's two motions.

[29:25] One would be for the request of a minimum transfer of $250,000 to the maximum of the total

[29:31] unexpended amount for the 2025-2026 Board of Education operating budget into the existing

[29:37] Board of Education non-lapsing account established by the town.

[29:41] So the residual from last year, $250,000 into the non-lapsing fund.

[29:45] Right.

[29:46] Do I have a motion for that?

[29:47] So moved.

[29:48] Second?

[29:48] Second.

[29:49] Discussion?

[29:51] All in favor?

[29:52] Aye.

[29:53] Opposed?

[29:54] Motion carries unanimously.

[29:57] And now there's another motion to transfer from the

[30:00] Final BOE 2025-26, you're in available funds to the Road and Sidewalk Fund, Fund 66.

[30:08] So the excess funds that we didn't just put in the non-lapsing fund, whatever is left,

[30:13] that fund that we created for…

[30:16] Hang on the fund we created.

[30:17] So you're trying to say we're going to put it directly into that fund?

[30:20] Yes.

[30:21] I believe it has to go through the general fund first, possibly, because it's money

[30:25] coming from the Board of Education.

[30:26] Correct.

[30:27] It's got to go through probably the general fund before we distribute it out and wrap up

[30:33] General funds comprised of all the departments including the education department

[30:39] You should be able to

[30:41] Create a line item in the board of a budget court transfer out to other funds and I'm not denying that what I'm saying is

[30:48] Originally the motion shouldn't be made to go to to roads and motion should be made to go to general fund

[30:52] Okay, and then if we want to put it into that extra place wherever we want to land it we can land it

[30:56] But we their motion should not be to put it into a row

[30:59] I shouldn't take their money and put it into anything other than general fund

[31:03] That's a proper way to do it both those tonight

[31:07] So let's let's do that. So do we have a motion at them move it to from general fund to

[31:12] So do we have a motion to transfer from the final board of education 2025 2026 your end available funds to the general fund

[31:19] So moved

[31:21] Second? Second.

[31:24] Discussion? All in favor? Aye.

[31:29] Motion carries.

[31:34] So then at another meeting, we would do the other transfer.

[31:37] Okay. Because it's not on the agenda.

[31:39] So that's it for item number five.

[31:42] We're on to item number six on the agenda, landfill capping update.

[31:45] This is an update only, no actions.

[31:49] Hey Abby. Hello.

[31:52] So, just to bring everybody up to speed on where we are with the landfill, the Planning

[31:57] and Zoning Commission held a continued public hearing on Monday night of this week, and

[32:00] we'll be holding a special meeting on Monday, September 28th, potentially to close the

[32:06] public hearing and potentially act on the landfill application.

[32:10] So the anticipated potential conditional approval could happen on Monday.

[32:16] It seems so far that most members are favorable.

[32:19] Again, they will vote.

[32:20] that will be their decision, but I have been asked to start drafting a motion to that effect.

[32:24] In that motion, you know, one of the things that would potentially be considered would

[32:29] be the question of third party review, which we've already discussed with the town council.

[32:33] We have received two additional quotes and we're in the process right now. We received

[32:37] the last one today. They range from I believe $68,000 to $147,000. So the task right

[32:46] now is to make sure that we are comparing apples to apples in terms of the hours

[32:49] because there is such a wide span, we want to make sure that we're comparing apples to

[32:52] apples as that final decision of third-party review gets made, but we do have those quotes

[32:58] and we did go back and get that. So we'll keep you posted on what the best potential solution

[33:03] is for that. The commission could potentially just add a condition into a potential approval

[33:09] to say that third-party review will be required and the decision on that form would be

[33:13] deferred to Michelle in this group. So that's under review right now. The other

[33:18] Another piece that is also under review is one of their requests that LaRero has made

[33:22] of the Planning and Zoning Commission is to consider permitting the stoppiling of material

[33:27] according to their material acceptability protocol and the permissions that DEEP has

[33:32] already granted to enable up to 50,000 cubic yards of material to be brought onto the

[33:37] site before the individual closure permit, the actual large permit, is issued from

[33:43] DEEP.

[33:43] So that's something that is, it's under review,

[33:46] LaRero has submitted a separate correspondence

[33:49] to the town essentially asking for that permission

[33:54] and identifying their assumption of liability

[33:58] so if there's any problem with those individual closure

[34:00] pieces they would remove that material.

[34:02] For some reason there was a problem in the future

[34:04] which no one anticipates happening

[34:05] but they would certainly take that on.

[34:08] That proposal from LaRero is under review

[34:12] by the town's consulting environmental attorney.

[34:14] So I don't have an update from that attorney

[34:16] that Memo just came in this Monday afternoon.

[34:19] So it's all recent developments, all of them moving

[34:23] the project forward but I just wanted to let you know

[34:25] that there's a potential decision on the horizon

[34:29] and additional attorney review,

[34:31] the third party stuff is in

[34:32] and we'll keep you posted as we go.

[34:36] Any questions?

[34:37] So do you need to get another permit from Deep

[34:38] to bring additional?

[34:40] Correct.

[34:40] All right, so the permitting that's been done by DEAP,

[34:42] there's the stormwater construction permit,

[34:44] so the sediment and erosion controls is in place,

[34:46] and the other piece that they've done

[34:47] is they've approved the material acceptability protocol,

[34:49] which says we agree with the standards of testing

[34:52] that you have identified for the material

[34:54] and the thresholds of what chemical

[34:56] or what components might be in that fill

[34:58] when it comes on to site.

[34:59] So that part is approved,

[35:01] and as part of that,

[35:03] DEAP issued an authorization to say,

[35:05] we understand that you're proposing

[35:06] around 132,000 cubic yards of material

[35:09] material to be graded and placed in specific locations according to your grading plan,

[35:13] we're still reviewing that part. That's that closure permit, that final ability to place

[35:17] the material where they want to place it. What they've given permission for is to say,

[35:22] while we're in that review period, you could bring on up to 50,000 cubic yards of material.

[35:28] That work hasn't started because they haven't gone through the full local permitting process

[35:31] yet, so they don't have P&Z approval. They do have wetlands approval, but not

[35:34] not P&Z.

[35:35] So what their request is would be for P&Z to essentially make a finding that it would

[35:40] be acceptable subject to town attorney review of their proposal for liability purposes to

[35:46] say, look, we'll let you bring that material on.

[35:49] We all anticipate this is coming in terms of a final closure and grading permit.

[35:53] But again, until that time comes, the town doesn't want to accept material that we

[35:56] don't have a final permit for.

[35:58] So the question for the attorney is, are we okay in that interim space?

[36:01] So we just notify deep that it's been approved by the town and then deep fine like they don't have to do another review

[36:06] Deep is in the process of reviewing the actual individual closure like the grading plan and their order of operations

[36:12] Where and how they're going to track material on site

[36:14] They're doing their final review of this deep has been in this process with them for as you know multiple years

[36:19] And so pearl or arrow

[36:21] They believe that they will be receiving approval within the next several weeks for this individual closure permit

[36:26] So that it's not far off

[36:27] But the Planning and Zoning Commission is likely to be asked to vote before that permit is in hand.

[36:33] And so I think Gloria was trying to say, listen, if that permit from deep is delayed to four weeks, six weeks,

[36:38] but we know it's coming, would the town be okay with material coming onto site?

[36:42] Not to exceed the 50,000 that deep has already permitted, but would we be okay with that?

[36:46] And so that's the question being asked of the Planning and Zoning Commission.

[36:48] So there's no oversight by deep on that process?

[36:51] So the field that's coming in prior to any of the final approvals, so deep is fine with that?

[36:56] Deep is fine with that 15,000 cubic yards, yes.

[37:02] Any other questions?

[37:04] Thanks, Abby.

[37:07] She can stay there because she's going to talk about the ship.

[37:09] Okay.

[37:10] Thanks.

[37:10] So we have item 789, I think, 789 might be used.

[37:16] 789, Abby.

[37:17] Okay.

[37:18] So tell us more about the, well, you've told us already about the ship grant application.

[37:22] Yep, so this is just a request to formalize authorizing Michelle to apply on behalf of

[37:27] the town for the $400,000 ship grant for the dredging project of the town Marina Basin

[37:33] with the town's $600,000 match in funds that already exist.

[37:37] And I think we've given you a line number here.

[37:39] And essentially the $400,000 would go to cover two things in the way that we're

[37:45] drafting this grant.

[37:45] One is biological testing of the sediment material that's in the basin today to

[37:50] make sure that we understand what the disposal path will be for it whether

[37:53] that is open water disposal or land-based disposal so there's some

[37:56] additional testing that the Army Corps will require for that which is an

[37:59] eligible covered cost in this grant which is lovely because that was I think we

[38:03] didn't anticipate that we would have to do that extra testing so this is a

[38:05] great opportunity that the ship grant is coming forward when it is and the

[38:09] rest of it would go to the direct cost of judging the mechanical removal of

[38:12] the sentiment. Any questions? Do I hear a motion to authorize the town

[38:18] manager to apply for the Connecticut Port Authority for a small harbor improvements

[38:22] project program, round six grant to support dredging of the town marina in the amount

[38:28] of $400,000 and authorized use of $600,000 committed in line 604.165-59.865 dredging

[38:36] to fund the town's matching portion of the project.

[38:43] So a motion by Kerry, second by, do I hear a second?

[38:46] Second.

[38:47] Thanks.

[38:48] Thanks.

[38:48] Discussion?

[38:49] All in favor?

[38:51] Opposed?

[38:53] Abstain?

[38:54] Motion carries.

[38:56] Thank you.

[38:57] Item 8, protect grant application.

[39:01] So this is an opportunity that is one of those grants that comes out and we have a very,

[39:05] very short time to consider responding to it and determine whether or not the town

[39:09] is going to put in a potential application.

[39:11] So the protect grant is a funding stream through the U.S. Department of Transportation

[39:16] transportation and the Federal Highway Administration called Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative,

[39:21] Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation Projects. So surface transportation roads and trying to look at the resiliency

[39:29] and sort of long-term provision of service of those roads relative to things like flooding, excessive rainfall,

[39:36] all of those things that could potentially interrupt. What we've done is we went through our four-shore coastal resiliency plan,

[39:43] plan, the plan of conservation and development, and a hazard mitigation plan, Michelle, Todd,

[39:47] Mike Neff and I sat down and said, okay, what potential projects might we have that could

[39:51] be a match for this, and we should at least have the conversation of whether or not we'd

[39:55] like to apply for funds.

[39:56] So when we went through the most potentially competitive project would be to assess the

[40:04] condition and vulnerability of Causeway, Shore Road, and Hammock Road, so looking

[40:10] looking at that coastal stretch from a perspective of neighborhood access, viability of evacuation

[40:17] routes, making sure that we understand sort of what the modeling and threats to those

[40:23] facilities are in greater detail and talk about pre-planning, pre-engineering, and

[40:29] cost-benefit analysis for potential future construction projects.

[40:33] So I want to make it clear, this is a planning grant.

[40:34] It is a 100% reimbursable grant that we would be going for to go through activities like

[40:41] the existing conditions assessment, climate modeling and vulnerability analysis that takes

[40:45] us beyond what the foreshore plan did, 3D visualization models to help people understand

[40:49] where the flooding might be and how it may affect into the future, engineering feasibility

[40:54] conceptual designs, some environmental review, preliminary cost estimates, cost benefit

[40:58] analysis, stakeholder engagement and final reporting.

[41:01] And the goal here is to move some of the projects out of this adopted foreshore plan and hazard

[41:08] mitigation and POCD to shovel ready because we talk about this a lot where we need to be able

[41:13] to find ways to advance projects. This is not committing the town to any one particular fix.

[41:19] We're not saying we're elevating causeway by 10 feet. That is not what this is for.

[41:23] This is to say what are the most reasonable cost-effective methods that now and into

[41:28] the future, looking at the next 50 years of anticipated impacts, might we want to plan

[41:32] for, fund, look for construction dollars, and prioritize our projects going forward.

[41:38] We are not currently eligible for the actual construction funds anyway because we don't

[41:43] have these pieces in place and also we need some regional planning around this as well.

[41:46] But this would position us for this future funding from other protect money or other

[41:52] grant sources that may become available.

[41:54] So the ask would be up to $600,000 for that sort of scope of work.

[41:59] Again, it's a pretty decent stretch of our coastline to sort of say how does this function

[42:03] and what can we do to, whether it's through nature-based solutions, drainage improvements,

[42:09] limited road raising, those kinds of things would be the types of things we would be analyzing.

[42:14] So it's an opportunity.

[42:15] We wanted to run it by you and see whether or not there are questions, concerns.

[42:19] If there's interest, it's due October 9th.

[42:22] So it's a really fast turnaround,

[42:24] which is why you're being asked to think about something

[42:26] the same night we're bringing it up for the first time.

[42:28] And a lot of times these grants just,

[42:29] they move that quickly.

[42:30] And so we just didn't wanna miss an opportunity

[42:32] if you were amenable.

[42:33] So you said it was 100% reimbursable,

[42:36] so we would have to put the money up front?

[42:39] We would put the money out

[42:40] and get the money reimbursed.

[42:41] And how quickly has that reimbursement happened?

[42:44] Maybe Bob?

[42:44] So yeah, for federal dollars coming back in,

[42:47] I mean the ones,

[42:48] the state federal partnership programs have been very quick.

[42:51] I don't have familiarity. I've not done a protect grant before so I'm not sure how you know

[42:55] If we're talking weeks or a month or what that looks like

[42:59] Any other questions from the council? I mean to look into something like that. Where would we be coming up with the money?

[43:07] You mean other than from this grant or I mean you have to put the money out in order to get the grant

[43:10] So I mean where are we coming up with four hundred thousand six six hundred thousand. I mean that's the biggest question

[43:18] Depends on the the amount of the grant

[43:21] We're talking about $1 million, $2 million,

[43:24] so we're talking about $10 million, up to $600, I guess?

[43:27] Yeah, so the preliminary budget that I started putting together

[43:29] and I'm working with the town engineer before, you know,

[43:32] if we were going to go forward is around $585,

[43:34] but there could be other costs associated with that.

[43:36] These aren't inexpensive things to do.

[43:38] And we could certainly scale back a scope,

[43:41] but we wanted to, if we were going to put something out,

[43:42] wanted to be competitive under their budget.

[43:44] So the question is, our budget is fixed until June 30th,

[43:47] 2027, would if we were going to get this money, would it happen before then or could we then

[43:54] go put it in our budget and our next, we would do it in the future?

[43:56] If it was a $500,000 grant, it would be funded by borrowing from fund balance.

[44:04] When the grant comes in, it goes right back into fund balance.

[44:07] So we're not using fund balance, we're borrowing from fund balance.

[44:10] $500,000, it would be good.

[44:11] So when you have the receivable, if you are awarded the grant from the federal

[44:15] government and you have a contractual obligation from them to pay us, then would you count that

[44:19] money in your fund balance so you wouldn't fall below the 20%?

[44:23] No.

[44:24] No, because the fund balance isn't actually decreased.

[44:27] It's the catch that's being used and you're just barring it.

[44:30] So we wouldn't fall below the 20%?

[44:32] You wouldn't.

[44:33] But a question with that, following that, designated or undesignated, does it need

[44:38] to be designated outside of unassigned fund balance in order to be eligible for a

[44:44] shovel ready project if awarded I mean shovel ready project means shovel

[44:48] ready we're ready to go with that money would money is authorized it's a sign

[44:52] not unassigned fund balance so I try to understand how he wouldn't count it

[44:56] against the 20% or you know wherever we're gonna get

[45:00] It's just, it's an accounting entry. We use it every day. It's basically due-to-do from,

[45:07] it's borrowing from a grant fund, borrowing from the general fund. Fund bounce itself in

[45:13] the accounting entries is not reduced. It's just borrowing. So fund bounce is not debited

[45:21] or credited.

[45:23] In order to apply for the grant, you don't need authorization or appropriating the money

[45:27] in order to apply for it.

[45:29] But awarded.

[45:30] That's a question.

[45:31] But we have to come back to you to accept it anyway.

[45:34] So we don't know if we're even going to get it.

[45:37] So to approve us to at least go for it, then it has to come back to you if we get approved.

[45:41] And then the conversation can be, are we comfortable doing it the way that Bob's explaining

[45:46] to do it?

[45:47] The problem is that if we don't do it this way, we're never going to be applying

[45:52] for grants because we're always going to need to put something out and we don't

[45:55] have a fund established where every year you're putting a set amount of money away to build

[46:01] it up that we can use on a rotation to apply for opportunities like this.

[46:06] Well, that's us.

[46:06] This question, then, if we do get the grant, if it's awarded to us, and then we find ourselves

[46:11] in a pickle that we're not going to get reimbursed for two years and we have to

[46:15] come up with $500,000 and we decide we don't want to do that, can we reject the grant

[46:19] after it's been awarded to us?

[46:21] You could not after you accept it, though.

[46:23] I mean.

[46:24] Right, we have to have the conversation about once it's

[46:28] once if we get approved for it then it comes back and we have a

[46:32] conversation and Bob identifies a plan for this is a pool of money

[46:36] that we could use that is not going to be used for a few years

[46:41] or can sit there and we can reverse it.

[46:45] I have a question.

[46:46] What percentage are we above an unassigned fund balance?

[46:50] 21%.

[46:51] And that 1%, what does that give us to our item, obviously our policy?

[46:55] About a million.

[46:56] So if we're there in that piece, then ultimately we could reallocate that and assign that towards this grant, that amount.

[47:03] I don't know, what's the amount?

[47:04] How many dollars is that 1%?

[47:07] You got a million, you're packaging it.

[47:09] It's about a million.

[47:09] Oh, is it that much?

[47:10] I mean, we should probably have exact numbers if we're going to, I mean.

[47:12] Yeah, but ultimately we can authorize based on that because we're not going below the 20%.

[47:16] I'm admitted it's showing at 1.260, unassigned 14221, 21%, but I mean, there's no, you know.

[47:25] I mean, at some point we've got to realize that we're in a position to go for these grants.

[47:28] I understand that if we don't get them, we'll never get them.

[47:30] I'm all about it, because the money's there.

[47:32] But I mean, we also have to be in a strong position financially as a town to make sure

[47:36] that the money's there so that, let's just say we take money out of the undesignated

[47:39] fund balance, okay?

[47:41] And then, I don't know, something happens in town, right?

[47:44] right, whether something happens in the town has to pay for that, then we're dead, because

[47:49] we're going well under 20% because we have to pay for that up front before we get refunded

[47:52] from FEMA.

[47:53] So, I mean, I understand the concept of doing this and getting this, but the fact is that

[47:58] you still have to be in a financial position in order to make sure that if something

[48:03] else does happen in town that we're still covering ourselves.

[48:06] And the closer we get to that 20 threshold and we have a policy, I mean, what do

[48:11] we do?

[48:11] And the other thing to think about is that's a large grant that we have to put money out

[48:21] for 100% reimbursable.

[48:23] Are there better grants or grants that are more worthwhile for this town to meet a greater

[48:33] need than that?

[48:34] And I'm not trying to put down what you said, but from what you described to me, sounds

[48:40] like a nice to have rather than you know some of the other stuff that I've heard come down

[48:46] the pike so just something else to think about.

[48:49] Another way we could look at it is that is a tremendous part of our grand list that area.

[48:55] It's a very important part of real estate to our town.

[49:00] They pay a lot of our taxes and we need to probably work on sustainability in that

[49:07] area, water rise, we don't want to lose that. We have to think about it. We got a grant with

[49:16] Old Saybrook and Westbrook and spent a year and a half working on how it is that we're

[49:21] going to save ourselves from the water and then we don't try. That doesn't look good.

[49:26] It's fully reimbursable. I don't think nobody's arguing that. I think the biggest piece

[49:33] to me, and we do a ton of federal grant work, is once you apply, and if you get it, if you

[49:39] ever give it back, that's bad for grants for the federal side.

[49:42] I would never suggest that.

[49:43] So my point is, and it comes right back to money, right, like if we don't have the

[49:47] match or our cost to put up front assigned and saying, hey, we're comfortable with

[49:51] this with an existing funding, then I agree, this is the first time we've ever heard

[49:57] about this grant, is this the right grant, right, or maybe we should look at grants

[50:01] grants as a whole, what are we setting aside? Because there's a ton of grants out there.

[50:05] But which grants are the ones that we're most interested in? I think, you know, having

[50:10] a limited time to look at this, it'd be tough to make a decision to commit funding behind

[50:14] those things. I'm just, that's me, but...

[50:16] We just don't have a lot of time, so I guess...

[50:19] Well, let's always...

[50:20] The problem...

[50:20] Go ahead.

[50:21] I'm sorry, I didn't want to interrupt you.

[50:22] Go right ahead.

[50:24] I mean, that seems to be always our problem. We're always given these things at the

[50:29] deadlines.

[50:30] We don't get a chance to think about it. So when do you have to send it in by?

[50:36] So October 9th.

[50:38] That goes by our next meeting because I was going to suggest at least we table it to the next meeting and we think about it.

[50:45] We can't talk about it for a week or two and then come back, but we don't have that time.

[50:50] We're always, I don't know why we're always under the gun.

[50:53] Well, when do we get the brand?

[50:54] Every single time.

[50:56] Last week. It came in the email.

[50:58] No, I mean, it's not that we're not looking and just seems these things drop

[51:03] out of the sky and we have to make a decision like Mike says right now you

[51:09] don't know all the facts you know you're not prepared with your mind

[51:14] mentally to but okay no it's a lot and I trust I do not like coming before

[51:19] this body without you know plenty of time to give you a chance to think

[51:22] about it at one meeting and ask again at the next but we didn't want the

[51:24] opportunity to pass by without you having the chance to talk about it

[51:27] But the question I would have is if there is a more limited scope or if there is a budget

[51:33] number in your minds that would be more palatable that we build a scope around, or is this just

[51:39] too much of an ask without the financial?

[51:42] So that's another dimension that you said.

[51:44] It doesn't have to be 600,000.

[51:45] It could be something else.

[51:46] That's sort of the saying, look, this is what's in the plans, this whole sort

[51:49] of stretch of road, but do we talk about the low sort of saying we're going to

[51:54] we're going to limit this to either the low points of shore or we're going to limit this

[51:57] to causeway or something smaller scope and take out, you know, two-thirds of the ask.

[52:01] That's one element. I'm not sure how competitive it would be, but it is an opportunity to think

[52:06] about. But again, I understand we're asking this on the fly and that's a tough place

[52:11] to put people.

[52:14] Or do you think that this is not an area that you want? Again, we get opportunities

[52:20] for grants. When we get them, we huddle, we try to brainstorm and see what we can do.

[52:26] This is a quick turnaround and it's a lot to ask because we also need a consultant to give

[52:32] us ballpark figures on prices. So it's not just us turning it around. We have to wait

[52:38] for outside help. With that being said, is this an area that the council feels we

[52:44] should be doing we should be putting some grant money towards or to Chris's

[52:49] point should we not and just be focusing on something else I don't know I would

[52:56] say that we should be pursuing grants and bringing them to the table for us to

[53:00] discuss just like we are now okay the only issue is the time compressed time

[53:06] the press timetable and that's just by the nature of this particular grant yes

[53:11] I think this is in line with the town council's strategic objectives that we talked about.

[53:16] It's in line with the POCD.

[53:17] It's in line with the foreshore plan.

[53:19] My question was going to be, do you believe that going in at that level makes us the

[53:24] most competitive going in for this grant?

[53:26] I think we will be competing against regional projects that have perhaps higher priorities

[53:31] for planning dollars.

[53:32] So I think we are probably in the mid-range of competition from the conversations that

[53:35] I've had with our consultant for the POCD who deals with these grants routinely.

[53:43] I have not heard of any other immediately like very hyper-local regional stuff.

[53:47] So I'm not aware of another town going for similar projects right now or any of the towns

[53:51] that we've been participating with and other planning efforts.

[53:54] I don't believe COG is at this point submitting anything in particular.

[53:57] So for our sort of micro region in the lower Connecticut River Valley, I think

[54:02] that would make us a little bit more competitive.

[54:03] But you know, but again, it's I think the I think it's a hundred thousand dollars to ten million dollars

[54:09] It's sort of the range of planning grant money that where they allocate

[54:12] So we're on the lower end of the things that they allocate for but they these are also

[54:16] You know there's there's millions and millions of dollars at stake here and a lot of those projects will take up millions and millions of dollars

[54:22] That's how we're asking for we're on the smaller side anyway, so

[54:26] You know if we were to cut it in half or or two-thirds there may make it

[54:30] easier to fund because it is smaller but the reach will not be as far so it's

[54:34] just done Mike is this an annual grant it comes around I don't know if it comes

[54:38] around every single year but it has it has been I don't know if it came out

[54:42] last year I think it was the year before but I will so if it's an annual

[54:45] grant and we target October or its target data release next year for 26

[54:49] or 27 money it might be a good idea to take that whatever we planned on

[54:54] planning on look at the full 10th content of what the grants for and

[54:58] and then maybe bridge those gaps or talk about what gaps it's going to bridge for us as a town.

[55:02] I mean, and then that way it gives us time in the planning side to make sure that it's in the budget

[55:06] for the monies there based on what you see as a need.

[55:09] That sounds good.

[55:11] We're telling you what we could do for all grants and sort of have a sort of a rolling list.

[55:15] Chris, I mean that's exactly that.

[55:18] That's a plan in place that we have going forward. We have something in place.

[55:21] I don't think anybody's denying that this is an area that needs to be worked on.

[55:24] I think we all, anybody who lives here, understands where we have these issues

[55:27] and we need to do something to help these issues.

[55:29] The issue is that we're making a decision

[55:31] without any rhyme or reason to where the money's coming from.

[55:35] Like, oh, we have it, it's here, we have it, it's there,

[55:37] we'll borrow from here, we'll borrow from there.

[55:38] For me personally, I wanna know exactly where it's coming from

[55:41] and where the money's coming from to cover.

[55:42] We have a budget in place right now that we've passed

[55:44] and so now it's just like, well, if we go to here

[55:47] and we borrow from here, we take from there.

[55:49] You know, that's not my kind of thing to agree with.

[55:52] That's not, I think, fiscally responsible

[55:53] in order to do those types of things.

[55:56] I think it needs to be something that there's a plan in place and I think this is a I mean if it's an annual project that we have these

[56:01] Things in place. I mean we're sitting at a meeting. We're talking about it is a great idea

[56:04] It's great idea, but we're not talking about everything else

[56:07] They're still four to six hundred thousand dollars that the town needs to come up with and if we're going to keep tapping that on

[56:12] Undesignated fund balance without knowing exactly how much is available to us and something does happen in this town

[56:17] Well, then we're in a big problem

[56:19] We go under 20%

[56:20] Then we have issues with the auditors because they're going to come back and they're going to lower our

[56:23] bond rating because that's what they've agreed to that's what we've agreed to so

[56:27] it's a bigger picture I mean understand the grants we talk about it a lot

[56:30] they're available and they always available I mean it's just a matter of

[56:33] do they come at the right time for us to be able to grab them sometimes it's

[56:36] not so it's not always the opportune time

[56:39] thanks Brian at the 21% are designated fund balance right now we do have that

[56:45] amount of money to be able to still stay above 20% which is a goal that we

[56:49] set for ourselves, not that the bond rate that was 50%.

[56:53] But that's the reason why we set that,

[56:55] because they came to us and they said

[56:57] they would have a stronger bond rating if we went to 20%.

[57:00] If I have the floor, can I hold this?

[57:02] We set that goal for ourselves, because if something happens,

[57:07] then we have that extra 5% to pay

[57:09] for that catastrophic storm that happens.

[57:11] Because we were afraid with the current uncertainty

[57:14] in the federal government that it would take a long time

[57:16] to get reimbursed for FEMA.

[57:17] If we ever got FEMA reassistance,

[57:19] We would still have that there in the 20 percent.

[57:23] Thank you.

[57:24] Anybody else have any other comments?

[57:28] I have one comment to add.

[57:30] As Brian mentioned, we've asked specifically through the POCD

[57:35] and now through our goals and our mission statement

[57:36] and our mission statement to pursue grants

[57:38] and you guys are doing that.

[57:40] And that's what we asked you to do.

[57:41] And that's now it's before us to decide

[57:43] whether or not we want to take it or not.

[57:45] That's a different issue.

[57:46] You guys did your job.

[57:46] Thank you for doing what you did.

[57:49] So with that, if there's no other further comments on this, I'll ask, is there a motion

[57:54] to authorize a town manager to apply for a U.S. Department of Transportation slash

[57:58] Federal Highway Administration, promoting resilience operations for transformative,

[58:03] efficient, and cost-saving transportation, reimbursable planning grant in the amount

[58:07] of $600,000 for planning, vulnerability assets, and the pre-design activities to

[58:12] increase resiliency for the Causeway, Shore Road, and Hammock Road. Do I hear a

[58:17] motion? Second? Second. All in favor? Discussion? I'm sorry, discussion. Yeah. I

[58:25] would just make one comment. If you're gonna do it, I would have hoped that you

[58:31] would have reduced it down to about maybe $200,000 or maybe even $100,000. I

[58:36] agree with Kerry we have to get started to show good faith with other towns that

[58:43] we're involved with but I can't see going the whole 600 that's just my my

[58:49] two cents so the motion is for this 600,000 so to reduce what you've got a

[59:00] motion on the floor mr. Chairman you're right thanks yes Mike I would ask to

[59:06] potentially amend the motion to also include the funding mechanism of where it's going

[59:10] to be funded within the budget. And the same thing, considering this is our first year

[59:14] and we first found out about it now, and we won't have another meeting for us to really

[59:19] do some research and ask some more questions, I would be a little bit more conservative

[59:25] about, you know, putting out the whole amount and then also to ask that the amount

[59:29] and where it's going to come from within the existing budget.

[59:31] So we have a motion to amend the motion to a dollar amount different than $600,000?

[59:37] What dollar amount are you saying?

[59:40] No, my recommendation is the motion's amended to amend it.

[59:44] I didn't make the motion.

[59:45] I'm recommending the motion be amended.

[59:48] The discussion for me is that this is the first year that we're applying for it

[59:51] or looking to apply for it or seeking it, which is great, right?

[59:55] We're asking grants, grants, grants, but I think it needs to be identified in the budget

[59:58] where the money is going to be out.

[1:00:15] So let me see if I got you now. You said you want to amend the motion.

[1:00:19] I'm making a recommendation to amend the motion.

[1:00:21] And that would say to designate where the money is coming from during the period of time that we're not reimbursed yet.

[1:00:28] Correct, which we've already allocated that money that we've now taken that money off the table or saying, hey, we're going to take whatever money we agree to tonight, put it aside, knowing that that's what you're going to apply for, because you're going to need that in the application, knowing on the scope of the work and the plan and what things you're going to look for in the grant.

[1:00:45] Instead of you doing 600,000, you're going to do whatever money we would recommend or we approve to do that, because that's going to be the scope of your project.

[1:00:54] So you would like to amend the motion to designate where the money is going to come from during

[1:01:01] the period of time that we're not reimbursed yet?

[1:01:03] Sure.

[1:01:03] And I think it's been stated, but maybe we can ask the finance director that is going

[1:01:07] to come from the undesignated fund balance, or is there some other place that money could

[1:01:10] come from?

[1:01:11] I mean, Bob, what is your opinion?

[1:01:14] I mean, even though some people don't agree with it, you're the finance director.

[1:01:18] What are your thoughts?

[1:01:19] Yeah, funds are identified in the budget process.

[1:01:21] This is a grant fund.

[1:01:25] When you authorize a grant and the grant is approved,

[1:01:29] I go to the grant fund, I have a revenue line item called Grants,

[1:01:33] and I put an estimated revenue. I have an exponential line item

[1:01:37] called whatever grant project it is, and I have a budget.

[1:01:41] So now we have a balanced budget in the grant fund.

[1:01:46] We can start spending that grant

[1:01:49] And in anticipation of that federal grant coming in one month, two months, three months.

[1:01:54] And how are we spending it?

[1:01:56] We're using the $15 million we have in the bank in investments.

[1:02:02] And it's just borrowing from the general fund.

[1:02:06] It doesn't reduce fund balance on the accounting books.

[1:02:09] Fund balance is not reduced.

[1:02:11] You're replacing cash with a receivable.

[1:02:14] So in other words, in the general fund, you're going to have do-from-grants

[1:02:17] $100,000 because the grants just spend $100,000.

[1:02:20] One month later you get $100,000 from the FEDs, it goes back into the general fund cash

[1:02:26] accounts.

[1:02:26] So if I could say back to you what you just said, I think, so our balance is 21%.

[1:02:30] If we start to spend, and that 21% in our undisputed fund balance is a combination

[1:02:35] of things.

[1:02:35] There's some cash, there's some bonds, there's different things.

[1:02:38] One of them will be a receivable pledge from this grant.

[1:02:41] So if he spends the $600,000 in cash, but he also has a receivable on the books of $600,000,

[1:02:49] the fund balance stays at 21%.

[1:02:51] It will not go down.

[1:02:52] Is that what you said?

[1:02:52] Right.

[1:02:53] I would never do this for $2 million, $3 million, $500,000, $600,000, $2 million, but fine.

[1:02:59] By that method of accounting.

[1:03:01] So that risk is not real.

[1:03:04] One of the things we didn't know is how long it takes to get a federal grant reimbursed.

[1:03:10] That's a good question.

[1:03:10] So the conversion from the receivable to cash, because the cash is going to be gone, you'll

[1:03:15] still have the receivable.

[1:03:17] How long is short the cash?

[1:03:18] Do you have an idea of how long that reimbursement takes?

[1:03:21] No, we'll have to find out, but I mean, you know, the state takes two or three, four weeks

[1:03:27] of fence could take a month.

[1:03:29] But I'd ask the question, who cares on your balance sheet, whether it's a receivable

[1:03:32] from the federal government or cash?

[1:03:33] It's like a bond.

[1:03:34] In short term.

[1:03:35] It's a marketable security.

[1:03:37] You could actually factor it or sell it.

[1:03:41] If you fund it, then it will come off your un-designated fund balance before we get the

[1:03:46] – I mean, at some point it's going to come down because you have to – when you

[1:03:50] apply for the grant, you're committing that money.

[1:03:53] So if they approve the grant, correct?

[1:03:55] So they have to put the money out.

[1:03:57] So there's going to be a period of time where it's reduced while we give the money

[1:04:00] for the grant and when we get the money back.

[1:04:03] Cash.

[1:04:04] You can call it whatever you'd like to call it.

[1:04:06] Assigned versus unassigned.

[1:04:08] That's the question.

[1:04:09] Yeah, right and when it's assigned to a grant tied up tied up meaning it's assigned to I get it sitting in the account

[1:04:17] Not such in it and when we get the money, but the point is it's a sign. I think that's the question. I'm asking

[1:04:24] When you assign something in fund balance means you're going to actually use it we're never going to use it's always going to stay at 21

[1:04:32] So if there's a three-year delay and we have to pay for the cash

[1:04:37] Yeah, but you're 21% doesn't go down because you have receivable. It's like if you went in what stock would say

[1:04:42] So if we made a decision of the balance in the 21% what what's the dollars at that 21%?

[1:04:49] 50 million dollars or something like that

[1:04:51] So we could say I'm gonna buy some IBM stock. I'm gonna buy some treasury bonds that pay 5%

[1:04:56] There's a host of assets that are in that undesirable balance one of them will be this pledge

[1:05:01] And so it's cash, but it is an asset that counts in the 21%

[1:05:07] So you've won that under accounting rules,

[1:05:09] whether it's committed city, you have 21%, the answer is yes.

[1:05:13] Are we only voting on giving her the right to apply?

[1:05:18] We're not voting on accepting it and giving the money.

[1:05:23] But one ties to the other, because it's accepting in the federal.

[1:05:28] If we got, we were awarded the grant, right?

[1:05:31] And if we don't accept it, what are the ramifications

[1:05:34] for not accepting the federal grant that they just

[1:05:36] go back. It's yeah. So one is attached to the other. Yeah. Okay. Good point. All right.

[1:05:44] So there's discussion. Any more discussion? Yeah, I wanted to ask Mike. Well, I mean,

[1:05:52] okay, so you said so we have a motion to amend. No, I'm in discussion. I made a recommendation

[1:05:59] to men, but it's who made it right. It's either a friendly amendment or it's not

[1:06:05] friendly amendment. Okay. So can I ask about the amendment? Did you also mention that you wanted to

[1:06:10] think about spending less than six hundred and fifty? Reduce the dollar amount. Reduce the dollar

[1:06:14] amount. So is that would that be a real thing Abby to reduce the dollar amount and have anything

[1:06:19] left? We could we could build a scope around if you were if you wanted to go for the grand at

[1:06:24] a lower amount we would build the scope and do as much as we could for that amount and it

[1:06:27] will involve making decisions about which roads are included and how much modeling or you

[1:06:33] or how far we can get in that pre-planning process.

[1:06:35] That's, we would just modify the scope.

[1:06:38] Let me ask you another question.

[1:06:40] How did Mike Neff feel about this?

[1:06:43] He was supportive.

[1:06:45] That's our emergency manager.

[1:06:49] So now, so it's still before the council

[1:06:52] is the question of whether we're gonna amend

[1:06:54] the motion that we've described for two things,

[1:06:57] the dollar amount, and to designate

[1:06:59] where the money's gonna come from.

[1:07:00] But I think we've just said

[1:07:01] it's gonna come from the undesignated fund balance.

[1:07:06] Does anybody want to recommend a dollar amount to change it to, or are we going to leave the

[1:07:10] motion with the $600,000?

[1:07:13] You'd have to do it.

[1:07:13] Kerry made the motion.

[1:07:14] I second it.

[1:07:15] I know, no.

[1:07:16] I'm saying Mike would have to if he wants to put a number in there.

[1:07:19] Because in order to do an amendment, you'd have to put in a number.

[1:07:21] It's on the floor at $600,000.

[1:07:24] I mean, I'd feel better if we split it in half for this year, if that's manageable

[1:07:29] by you, if you think that that, you know, because it's our year one, we limited

[1:07:32] and information tonight to respond to it, 300,000.

[1:07:38] I'd feel better at 200.

[1:07:41] Well, let's not.

[1:07:43] Or look, you said your group's on the one third.

[1:07:46] I thought you might ask to pin it.

[1:07:47] We rely on you attitude because you don't have much.

[1:07:50] The work is for consulting.

[1:07:52] This is your lane, so.

[1:07:53] I mean, the things that I would probably take out,

[1:07:55] so I had $25,000 in for 3D flood visualization,

[1:07:58] so there's that off the top.

[1:08:00] We could cut some stakeholder engagement and do more of that in-house.

[1:08:04] So, you know, if we don't do a story map and we say we're going to bring this thing back down

[1:08:08] from $30,000 to $15,000.

[1:08:11] The engineering feasibility and conceptual design, I have 175.

[1:08:15] We could potentially knock 50 off of that and just don't go as far, right?

[1:08:20] Don't go as in-depth.

[1:08:22] So there are places we could probably cut and simply we just don't model to, you know,

[1:08:27] We may not get every rainfall analysis we want.

[1:08:30] We may only pick one flood scenario instead of multiples.

[1:08:33] Those are the kinds of things we would start to pull back.

[1:08:36] And again, these cost numbers are sort of coming from a best

[1:08:40] guess right now.

[1:08:41] They're out with the town engineer for sort of

[1:08:43] round true thing and making sure that they make sense with

[1:08:45] similar projects and those kinds of things.

[1:08:47] I wish I had his answers for you tonight.

[1:08:49] It's just the turnaround was so fast.

[1:08:53] OK, so I have a parliamentary process question now.

[1:08:56] So I have a motion for the $600,000 as it was read originally.

[1:09:00] And then I have a proposal to a recommendation of an amended motion.

[1:09:05] So I could, we can continue with the first motion and then see if it passes and then go with the amended motion or do we just want to.

[1:09:14] Do you have to do an amended motion before you do the actual motion?

[1:09:18] You have to act here. He made it. You have to do the amended motion first.

[1:09:22] Okay. You'd have to have a second.

[1:09:23] So do you have a second on the amendment?

[1:09:26] What is the amendment?

[1:09:28] I'll read it now.

[1:09:29] Do you have an amount for us?

[1:09:31] We'll do 300.

[1:09:33] So this would be the amended motion.

[1:09:36] To authorize the town manager to apply for

[1:09:37] Connecticut Port Authority and a small

[1:09:39] Harbor Improvement Projects program,

[1:09:40] round six grant to support dredging the town

[1:09:43] and bringing it in the amount of

[1:09:47] $400,000 in authorized use of

[1:09:48] $300,000

[1:09:51] committed in line

[1:09:52] 604-165, I'm sorry, I'm reading the wrong one.

[1:09:57] Yeah, you are.

[1:09:57] I'm reading the shift.

[1:09:58] I'm sorry.

[1:09:59] Okay, let's go back.

[1:10:01] It's a protect grant application to authorize the town manager to reply for a U.S. Department

[1:10:06] of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, promoting resilient operations for transformative

[1:10:11] efficiency and cost savings transportation, reimbursable planning grant in the amount

[1:10:16] of $300,000 for planning, vulnerability assessments, and pre-design activities

[1:10:21] to increase resiliency for the causeway shore road and hammock road with the designation

[1:10:26] that the money is to come from the undetermined fund balance.

[1:10:29] No, he can do it as a friendly amendment and if he would accept it as a friendly amendment

[1:10:33] then we move forward.

[1:10:34] If not, we have to vote on his, get a second and vote on his.

[1:10:38] Thank you for that.

[1:10:39] So there we go.

[1:10:40] So who made the motion?

[1:10:41] Was it Kerry or was it Kerry?

[1:10:43] He was amended.

[1:10:44] So do you take the friendly amendment?

[1:10:46] I will take the friendly amendment.

[1:10:47] Okay. So now we'll vote on the amended motion. So that's now the motion. So the amended motion

[1:10:54] is now the motion that is before the council. Do I hear a second? So do I hear a second?

[1:11:01] Discussion.

[1:11:06] Let's say it again. You want to hear it again 300 grand and we're clarifying that it's coming

[1:11:13] from the Addison and Fund Balance.

[1:11:15] Yeah, whatever to get it going.

[1:11:17] You don't hear that often from Dennis.

[1:11:20] Approved.

[1:11:22] It's to go home.

[1:11:23] All in favor.

[1:11:25] You're going around with a close abstain.

[1:11:29] Motion carries as amended for $300,000.

[1:11:31] There you go.

[1:11:32] Thank you.

[1:11:34] Thank you, Abby.

[1:11:39] Much confusion tonight.

[1:11:42] Okay, next is the library grant, item number nine.

[1:11:48] We're just asking

[1:11:53] state library construction

[1:11:57] because the town owns the building and the town.

[1:12:03] So moved.

[1:12:04] Second.

[1:12:05] Discussion?

[1:12:07] Hang on.

[1:12:08] Let me talk about all these grants and stuff.

[1:12:10] Do we have to put a million dollars up for this first?

[1:12:14] No.

[1:12:14] It's a matching

[1:12:19] project.

[1:12:21] So it's not a reimbursable grant.

[1:12:23] It's a matching grant.

[1:12:24] And if you get the money as you spend it,

[1:12:29] there's no delay.

[1:12:31] OK.

[1:12:33] I just want to know, yeah?

[1:12:35] Right, in which we deal with the resolution.

[1:12:37] Any other discussion?

[1:12:41] Good.

[1:12:43] Approved?

[1:12:44] All in favor?

[1:12:45] Yeah.

[1:12:46] Opposed?

[1:12:48] Staying?

[1:12:49] Motion carries.

[1:12:50] Thank you.

[1:12:53] Financial report.

[1:12:58] That was exhausting.

[1:13:00] Good evening.

[1:13:01] Good evening.

[1:13:02] You have the report in front of you.

[1:13:05] It's report dated September 16th, 2026.

[1:13:09] I decided to include the 2025-26

[1:13:14] Revenue Budget Report and Expansion Budget Report

[1:13:17] after all those transfers that we did last meeting.

[1:13:20] So if you go on page two, which is the last page of the Revenue Report

[1:13:25] for the last budget year, you'll see

[1:13:28] The balance is $2.6 million under, which is fine because we planned $2.6 million out

[1:13:36] of fund balance.

[1:13:37] So the revenue statement for last year is basically even just as planned.

[1:13:44] If you go to the next page three, that's the budget for the prior year after all the

[1:13:53] transfers that we did.

[1:13:54] And as you can see, the account balances are actually quite nice, obviously no negatives.

[1:14:02] If you go to page last page of that report, you'll see that we had $55,000 left,

[1:14:12] which would be falling into fund balance once we close the books.

[1:14:19] The next page 12 starts the new year, we're two months into it.

[1:14:23] Really nothing to report there. I don't see any thing popping out right now.

[1:14:30] I did include on page 14 the current year tax receipts history.

[1:14:38] First two months are always interesting. We collect 54.5%.

[1:14:44] And I've highlighted the fiscal years that match that.

[1:14:48] So 22, 21, 20, 19, they're all 54.6, 54.5.

[1:14:56] We have some years, 55.5.

[1:15:00] Typically, September will be a little bit larger, so it's pretty interesting how those percentages

[1:15:08] are consistent over 10 years. If that started to change and it got reduced, then there will

[1:15:15] be some concern, so it's a nice report to look at.

[1:15:21] Then you have the expenditure report,

[1:15:23] really nothing to report there. If you remember, we're starting off with a pretty low contingency

[1:15:29] this year because there are no contracts. Basically, that contingency will be for winter

[1:15:37] maintenance expenditures and we're hoping they're low this year.

[1:15:46] Then investments. Investments

[1:15:48] are staying stable as the last three, four, five months. I expect them now after today's

[1:15:55] news that they're going to increase slightly as the months go by.

[1:16:01] General fund balance forecast to June 30th, 2027 will still, forecasting will still maintain

[1:16:11] our 21% fund balance to total budget, which would give us some slight leeway when we start

[1:16:22] the next budget process on using a small amount of fund balance as we did this year.

[1:16:32] Board of Edna and Lapsing fund that was reported on by the superintendent tonight.

[1:16:38] After tonight's transfer from their budget of $250,000,

[1:16:43] they'll have a little bit above $571,000,

[1:16:47] which provides a cushion to their budget, mainly special education expenses.

[1:16:53] On page 27, I've been including other funds as we move along just to make sure we're all

[1:17:02] familiar with all those other funds that are out there.

[1:17:05] All the funds were actually reviewed when I did the financial statements, but we'll

[1:17:11] look at the current balances as we move along in the months.

[1:17:14] Page 27 is Fund 69, Open Space Acquisition, created to put monies in there for any open

[1:17:25] space acquisitions. Currently we have a fund bounce of $34,000. You'll see a note down

[1:17:32] there in the Fund 60, the CIP Fund 60, the town council has appropriated some monies

[1:17:38] for open spaces, 75,000 there. So it's there, we may as well transfer it into this

[1:17:44] open space acquisition funds so we can see all our open space acquisition funds together.

[1:17:49] So it's not in one fund, it's not in another fund. So I can transfer 75,000 out of fund

[1:17:54] 60 into this fund and we'll have everything together.

[1:17:58] Starting on page 28 is fund 60, which is our CIP projects, which is planned for in

[1:18:05] the CIP document, and it's also budgeted for each year.

[1:18:13] You'll see some small available

[1:18:15] balances. I'll be reviewing them with the departments. Most likely, most of them will

[1:18:21] be closed with smaller balances. But I have highlighted some of the larger ones. As you

[1:18:27] can see, there's a landfill closure account there, which the town council approved

[1:18:33] from that designated fund balance the last meeting so that's 301,000. We have a

[1:18:39] residual amount left in the sidewalk which is a town match of 275,000. The

[1:18:46] next highlight is land acquisition the 75,000 they talked to you about we can

[1:18:50] transfer that to the open space fund. Below that you can see the

[1:18:54] dredging amount that the town council approved a million 35 it was done in

[1:19:00] two approvals, there was a small amount for professional services and then a million for

[1:19:06] the actual dredging. In the police, I didn't highlight that, but in the police you see some

[1:19:11] balances and that's for their police vehicle leasing. And as run the subject, it will

[1:19:20] be kind of nice, I think, in the future to give the town council a report on that

[1:19:23] because I remember I think it was a year ago that you approved that program. I'll

[1:19:29] speak to the police chief, it will be kind of nice to report on the results of that,

[1:19:33] you know, a number of new police vehicles, balances, and maybe in the future, because

[1:19:39] of these reservations that we have here, maybe the amount in the budget gets reduced.

[1:19:44] So we'll report on that probably in the next town council night meeting.

[1:19:50] In the fire department line items, most of that is our reservation for future

[1:19:56] a fire apparatus and that's planned in the CIP. Don't recall when the next one is, but

[1:20:04] we've planned that when that time does come that we'll have enough money in here to purchase

[1:20:08] a fire truck. So that's one example where, you know, a fire truck is a perfect item

[1:20:13] to bond because it lasts more than 20 years, but if you can not bond, if you have the

[1:20:20] money in the budget, obviously that's what you do. There are some items in the CIP

[1:20:25] when we plan it that we can't put it in the budget because we're always thinking about

[1:20:31] tax increase mill rates so we don't, that's when you do bond.

[1:20:35] But anyway, this is a nice example of the town planning ahead with tax money putting

[1:20:44] into this account.

[1:20:45] We're able to buy fire apparatus which is very expensive.

[1:20:48] Public works, you do see a negative amount, that's only because that's the public works

[1:20:54] storage building, that's going to be offset by a $500,000 grant.

[1:21:01] There's 281,000 in general

[1:21:05] roads. That was not spent because Todd has planned for a road project typically over 500,000,

[1:21:13] so we're waiting for more funds. I think what I'm going to do is transfer that amount

[1:21:18] to our new roads funds so, again, everything is together and we know exactly how much

[1:21:23] we have for roads.

[1:21:24] Where is that new roads fund?

[1:21:26] Fund 66.

[1:21:28] So once these transfers are made, I can report on Fund 66 at the next other fund.

[1:21:33] We put 100.

[1:21:34] Report.

[1:21:35] Right now, there's 100,000.

[1:21:36] So this 281 would read 381.

[1:21:38] That's correct.

[1:21:40] And you think about it, we're going to bond, if everything is approved, we're going to

[1:21:44] bond in February.

[1:21:44] Funds won't be available until next paving season.

[1:21:47] We've missed the paving season.

[1:21:48] And we should have enough funds in that fund to catch up.

[1:21:56] Parks and Recreation, they have residual amounts.

[1:22:00] The new recreation directions review them.

[1:22:04] He's also reported on items that he's seen going around the

[1:22:09] Parks and Rec area that need paying attention.

[1:22:13] And at a soon date, he'll be coming to you.

[1:22:17] And we'll be reporting on those items, you know, transfers from here to another line

[1:22:23] so we can fix some things like, for instance, playgrounds.

[1:22:29] And then education, I'll be talking to the business manager on the items that are left over

[1:22:36] from later years to see if we can close those out.

[1:22:41] But there are items from 26, I know they're going to spend,

[1:22:44] and obviously 27, those amounts are still available.

[1:22:52] The last item is just interesting. It's just when we're in the process of an audit and we're communicating with the auditors, we have a software program.

[1:23:06] We have a to-do list, so we keep on track. And I thought it would just be interesting to include that at the back of the report just to give you an idea of the items that we give the auditors and the timing.

[1:23:18] there's a due date on it. When I submit it, they either accept it or deny it, and we do

[1:23:26] get some denials, and you go back and do what you have to do. But if you look at the due

[1:23:32] dates, they range from May where they do interim samples of our expenses and revenues,

[1:23:38] and basically it goes up to September 30th, and lastly, there's some October items

[1:23:44] at the very end. But it's a quite extensive list, and it keeps us busy, and I thought I'd

[1:23:50] just present that for informational purposes.

[1:23:56] That's my report, if you have any questions.

[1:23:58] So what are you saying here that this is reports that you're doing, your trial balance sheet,

[1:24:05] your revenue detail, and it was accepted, and that was the due date it was due, accepted

[1:24:10] by who? The audience, because sometimes you could

[1:24:14] submit a report and I'm not saying it's wrong but it wouldn't be in the same format that

[1:24:19] they're requesting and they would deny it and they'll tell you why and you'd resubmit

[1:24:24] it.

[1:24:26] Thank you.

[1:24:27] Any questions?

[1:24:30] Thanks Bob.

[1:24:31] Okay.

[1:24:31] Thank you.

[1:24:32] Thank you.

[1:24:34] Next item number 11, town manager's report.

[1:24:37] Okay.

[1:24:38] So everyone got a copy of the report so I'm going to just go through it.

[1:24:42] Some I'll spend a little more time on.

[1:24:43] The first one is that the town has received formal notification from the Connecticut Division

[1:24:49] of Emergency Management and Homeland Security that Clinton's 2026 local emergency operations

[1:24:54] plan has been received and approved.

[1:24:56] You all have copied the letter.

[1:24:58] I'd like to thank and recognize Mike Neff, our emergency management director, as well

[1:25:03] as everyone else who contributed to the preparation and updating this plan.

[1:25:06] So that is that.

[1:25:08] I wanted to give everyone an update on the DPW building.

[1:25:14] That was, there's a breakdown there of the steep funding which was 543, the Towns Fund

[1:25:19] 179.5, so the total cost to build this structure is $723,100.

[1:25:26] The footings have been poured and it's continuing and it's anticipated to be completed

[1:25:30] in October.

[1:25:34] Andrew's Memorial Theater.

[1:25:36] I know that we've been talking about the use of that and we had an inventory done of the

[1:25:43] equipment in the theater and a master were in the final stages of creating a comprehensive

[1:25:49] master equipment list so that when people do inquire about the theater we can send

[1:25:54] out this list to them with actually the projector's model number, the types of speakers we

[1:26:00] We have everything the size of the screen so that if people are thinking of utilizing

[1:26:05] our theater for a film festival or something along those lines, they know the equipment

[1:26:09] we have.

[1:26:10] But with all events, they are welcome to rent and have an outside company come in and set

[1:26:16] up.

[1:26:17] So there is a lot of opportunity there, which we are working on, you know, again

[1:26:23] and making it easier and more accessible for people

[1:26:28] to utilize this space.

[1:26:30] One other topic is, and I have copies of the emails.

[1:26:35] So the council has had conversations in the past

[1:26:40] about using or having liquor in the building.

[1:26:46] And tis the season, we are now starting

[1:26:48] to get holiday requests.

[1:26:50] So as you're aware, over the summer

[1:26:53] We went with a new broker for our insurance.

[1:26:55] We did a deep dive into all of our policies and the overall takeaway here is that we do

[1:27:06] have liability liquor coverage.

[1:27:10] However, it is still best practice and would increase the town's potential liability and

[1:27:16] exposure if we do offer, allow the liquor and do the waiver.

[1:27:21] So, I didn't want to mix words.

[1:27:24] This is a copy of the email thread between myself and the insurance company or a broker

[1:27:30] explaining the coverage we have, the liability potential, so you obviously can still do some

[1:27:38] waivers if that's something you'd like to do, but this is just summarizing the potential

[1:27:44] liability.

[1:27:45] And then you had asked about the number of activities we've had in the past.

[1:27:50] So in 2025 we had six events that requested a waiver and in 2026 so far we've had two.

[1:28:04] Well Henry's exemption was the library which was over at the library it wasn't in this building

[1:28:09] so I don't know if that really counts because they had their own additional insurance but

[1:28:14] those are the numbers of events that we had.

[1:28:17] So this is food for thought.

[1:28:19] We can add it to an agenda in the future to have a more thorough discussion, or you can

[1:28:28] just have this information, and as waivers come in front of you, you can make a decision

[1:28:33] if this is something you want to do, but you'll have all the facts.

[1:28:39] So I hope that's helpful.

[1:28:40] Any questions on that?

[1:28:41] Because I know that's-

[1:28:42] I just wonder what the implications are of that

[1:28:45] on our future use of the Andrews and our auditorium,

[1:28:51] because all of these surrounding people who have events,

[1:28:56] whether it's a Cate or whatnot, they have alcohol.

[1:28:59] So it's something to...

[1:29:02] My thought on that would be the significance

[1:29:04] or the amount of degree to the extent

[1:29:06] that function benefits economically or cultural or arts

[1:29:10] as we have our goals or strategic directives, and we say, hey, we want to use the Injuries

[1:29:14] Memorial Theater, and it's going to be a big show, and it's going to raise tens of thousands

[1:29:18] of dollars.

[1:29:19] You think differently, or you think harder about your requirement on alcohol than you

[1:29:24] would if it was just, you know, donuts on a Saturday morning and somebody wants

[1:29:28] to have Irish coffee.

[1:29:31] Again, so this is your information.

[1:29:33] You have a complete email thread.

[1:29:35] The waivers still are required to come to you, so you can refer to this, keep

[1:29:40] it in your packet and as you have to make decisions refer to what the insurance brokers

[1:29:47] are saying.

[1:29:51] So the last, so a civic plus notification, we have been talking about increasing notifications

[1:29:58] with

[1:30:00] Residents, and there was, I shared with you in a couple of meetings ago that we do have

[1:30:05] a notification system as part of our website. And we took a deeper dive and had a couple

[1:30:13] of workshops. I want to thank Mary for her efforts on this part. We have had numerous

[1:30:19] meetings with Civic Plus who oversees our website. And there is a feature that we are

[1:30:26] paying for that we weren't utilizing to its fullest potential which is civic

[1:30:29] send so the town is in the process of working with the vendor to understand

[1:30:35] exactly how we can utilize this more get it out to the public and we don't have

[1:30:41] to start with a new system we already have it we're already paying for it

[1:30:44] it's just a matter of on our end figuring out how to make it more

[1:30:49] seamless for the residents and because there's like all that back end

[1:30:53] configuring that has to get done and then we'll do a big push out to our

[1:30:57] residents to sign up for text notifications and then on our end we'll

[1:31:01] do more pushing out of stuff via this system. So we do have it. So that should

[1:31:08] address those concerns. And that is my report for now. Any question?

[1:31:16] I have one. Yes. On the Ingers Memorial Theater. Our overall goal is to

[1:31:23] increased utilization of the theater

[1:31:24] and attract additional events and rentals.

[1:31:27] I was hoping the report would be a little more specific

[1:31:29] than that.

[1:31:30] About.

[1:31:30] Like what kinds of ideas, like utilization of the theater,

[1:31:34] like in what ways or attract additional events,

[1:31:37] like what kind of events and what kind of rentals?

[1:31:39] Film festivals.

[1:31:40] We had the seniors use it for a musical, which

[1:31:44] was greatly received.

[1:31:45] And they're going to be planning

[1:31:46] on doing more of those.

[1:31:50] You know, we don't market it.

[1:31:53] We just at this point don't have the means to actually market it.

[1:31:57] But right now it's a good balance of local community groups using it and outside vendors.

[1:32:05] So my thought on it is that we've ramped that up significantly.

[1:32:10] And we have an opportunity in the year 2027.

[1:32:13] We'll see what happens on September 29th in Old Sabra.

[1:32:15] But it looks like they're going to close the Cape for a year while they renovate, which

[1:32:20] might be an opportune time for us to have more stuff here.

[1:32:24] If we're going to enter that market or try to do more, that's a window of opportunity.

[1:32:29] I have a question for you.

[1:32:32] Yes.

[1:32:32] Good idea.

[1:32:34] How Sally Kaepernan doing her film?

[1:32:39] Is it the one day historical?

[1:32:41] It's the one she is with, I am community trust.

[1:32:48] Yes, I believe so, yes, it was a one-day film event, I believe it was.

[1:32:54] Now, alcohol is involved with them, Sierra?

[1:32:58] They would have to, I don't know, I mean as part of the room rental process, as part of the room rental process and the application,

[1:33:06] It explains all of that, if that's something that they need to be considered for and the timeline, there will be someone coming to the council, I believe, at the next meeting, asking for a waiver for an event.

[1:33:16] So that's what made me, you know, make sure I get all this to you in time, so we have the information. Yes.

[1:33:21] Just one comment. So you're, I'm a little, I don't get over to the CATE. All those functions over at the CATE, they're allowed to bring alcohol?

[1:33:33] They are?

[1:33:33] Well, they serve, not embryo, I'm sorry, they serve it.

[1:33:37] We explicitly cannot serve alcohol for our insurance.

[1:33:42] We cannot serve alcohol.

[1:33:43] The CATE is a town-owned building, but the inside is completely leased

[1:33:49] and operated by an outside organization.

[1:33:52] We are very different here. We are a shared space.

[1:33:55] If we had plays and stuff here, there would be no alcohol involved, right?

[1:34:00] They would need to come to the council and have a waiver and then if it's an outside organization running it

[1:34:05] It's just like when the opera used to do it or or they can sell it. We can't

[1:34:10] I guess I'm when I'm trying to say that we always have to have alcohol. No, I'm not a key tolar as everybody knows

[1:34:17] but I just want to say that

[1:34:22] Iverton and other and the the other Chester Playhouse

[1:34:27] They run these plays and everything they don't have alcohol there

[1:34:31] They have water, and that's about it.

[1:34:33] Oh, the Everton High School.

[1:34:33] I think we should be...

[1:34:35] They have alcohol.

[1:34:37] Where?

[1:34:37] Outside.

[1:34:38] They have that little tent.

[1:34:39] Who?

[1:34:40] Everton Playhouse.

[1:34:41] Not at the place I go to.

[1:34:42] But that's okay.

[1:34:44] Maybe they do.

[1:34:45] I'm not trying to...

[1:34:46] What I'm trying to say is I would like to push for a lot more use maybe for plays

[1:34:53] and stuff, you know, and as the manager said, you know, film festivals or whatever,

[1:34:59] But we certainly should take advantage of, like you said, to Kate not being around.

[1:35:07] I think more plays upstairs would be nice instead of me traveling up to Iventon.

[1:35:12] So these are major strategic directives of the council, right?

[1:35:17] Risk management is very high on our priorities and cultural and economic development

[1:35:22] and using the theater to get downtown very high.

[1:35:25] So both of those are you know somewhat competing interests and the goal is to navigate that that we optimize or maximize both

[1:35:32] And I think we can okay. This is a problem

[1:35:35] I mean one of the biggest complainers when we first started to

[1:35:40] Quibble over the alcohol was historical society because they would hold their annual meeting here

[1:35:45] Well historical society ran up against the same wall you did and they can no longer serve alcohol

[1:35:51] festival. So in this upcoming oyster festival, they're doing a non-alcoholic beer because

[1:35:57] I guess that's becoming all the rage for the wine.

[1:35:58] That's very popular, too. So that's what they're doing. We have to pivot.

[1:36:04] All right. Anything else on the town manager's report?

[1:36:08] Good.

[1:36:09] I have good news to report on item number 12. The chairman doesn't have anything to

[1:36:12] report.

[1:36:13] Thank you, Kevin.

[1:36:15] And now item number 13 on the agenda, council discussion. We got anything on their mind

[1:36:20] that they would like to discuss.

[1:36:32] Nothing?

[1:36:33] Keep it going.

[1:36:33] I think we discussed everything we possibly could.

[1:36:37] All right.

[1:36:39] So then I guess we'll move on to item number 14, which

[1:36:45] is a town council committee liaison reports.

[1:36:51] Well, I'll start off with the police.

[1:36:53] I attended that last Monday night.

[1:36:55] Everything seems to be going very well there.

[1:36:58] I'm happy to report that they have done a lot of interviews and stuff and they

[1:37:04] think they have a couple of good solid candidates to go to the Academy and if I

[1:37:10] didn't maybe I miss heard the right Friday but the Academy's either starting

[1:37:15] this Friday this Friday morning and from what the chief was saying they

[1:37:20] they're hopeful that they'll have two people getting in for the Academy Friday

[1:37:24] So that'll be good news because of the two vacancies that we presently have.

[1:37:29] And that's it.

[1:37:35] Park and Rec?

[1:37:37] I was just looking. I didn't go to the meeting because they were prioritizing the projects

[1:37:45] and I didn't want to influence that at all, but I did look through it.

[1:37:51] they did go through and prioritize a bunch of projects, so hopefully they can bring those

[1:38:00] and talk to Michelle and have Dustin come in here and talk about that.

[1:38:06] And that's it.

[1:38:07] I could look it up if someone else wants to go first.

[1:38:12] All right.

[1:38:13] Brian.

[1:38:14] Have you hit the high point with the landfill capping and they're going to continue their

[1:38:18] work on the POCD implementation, starting with inviting groups

[1:38:20] into their meetings, starting with Harbor Management and EDC.

[1:38:25] Other quirks?

[1:38:26] I didn't make the meeting last night,

[1:38:27] but I spoke to Todd today.

[1:38:29] In the meeting last night in the director's report,

[1:38:31] they did a capital needs and infrastructure priorities.

[1:38:34] Talked a lot about the roads, and I

[1:38:35] believe that's going to be in the minutes.

[1:38:37] So I know there's some questions before about road

[1:38:40] paving, status of road stuff.

[1:38:42] Todd did a nice PowerPoint presentation,

[1:38:44] kind of outlining where things are at.

[1:38:45] So it's in the, it'll be in the minutes for review.

[1:38:49] And then economic development, I went to the meeting.

[1:38:54] Dale Croupe did a presentation,

[1:38:55] which was Carl Rose's presentation

[1:38:57] on Connecticut Main Street that we saw.

[1:38:59] They did that to the EDC.

[1:39:01] Rebecca Mead was there and was introduced to the,

[1:39:04] and began to work with the EDC,

[1:39:06] so that's good that that relationship has developed.

[1:39:08] And then the only other thing is

[1:39:09] somebody mentioned in the meeting

[1:39:11] something maybe you could follow up on.

[1:39:13] in our kayak rack here at the town hall,

[1:39:15] that it's hard to access when it's low tide

[1:39:19] and to look at whether or not that's safe.

[1:39:21] There's something we ought to do to make that safe.

[1:39:24] That's it for EDC.

[1:39:27] There was one other, I'm gonna go backwards

[1:39:29] to Chairman's report.

[1:39:30] There was news in the Harvard News

[1:39:34] that old Saberook looked at the public comment portion

[1:39:37] of the town council meeting

[1:39:38] where you can narrow the scope and the minutes.

[1:39:41] We have very long meetings.

[1:39:43] We're covering a lot of work these days and that visitors, when they speak, we can narrow

[1:39:49] the scope of what they do first the amount of time.

[1:39:51] I keep track of the time and I keep track of about four minutes or five minutes and

[1:39:55] I try to move along if it's longer than that.

[1:39:57] The Board of Education or Old Saber made it three minutes and also narrowed the scope

[1:40:02] of the topics that could be discussed to be what's on the agenda for the evening.

[1:40:07] So you just can't go talk about anything.

[1:40:09] You have to talk about what's on the agenda.

[1:40:10] And we could adopt a resolution to have the same type of rules

[1:40:14] on our public comments in the beginning of the meeting.

[1:40:17] So I put it out there for consideration.

[1:40:20] Be a good future agenda item to talk about.

[1:40:23] Sorry?

[1:40:24] I think it'd be a good future agenda item to talk about.

[1:40:26] Just hearing about it right now.

[1:40:27] Yeah.

[1:40:29] Sometimes to sit with it for all of us.

[1:40:30] OK.

[1:40:31] All right.

[1:40:32] And with that, do I hear a motion to go to item number

[1:40:35] 59 on the agenda?

[1:40:36] Do I hear a motion to go to an executive session,

[1:40:37] pursuant to Connecticut General Statute section 1-206A for purposes of interviewing candidates for the Park and Rec Commission and for the Economic Development Commission.

[1:40:46] You have to invite...

[1:40:47] And I will invite Mary and...

[1:40:49] And the candidates.

[1:40:51] And the candidates.

[1:40:52] So we'll go back to the list of names.

[1:40:55] Clint Haverkamp, Dan Wilson and Ellen Bailey for Park and Rec, and Richard Brochler for EDC.

[1:41:03] So this one's...

[1:41:05] So moved.

[1:41:07] Second? Second. All in favor? Opposed? Abstain? Motion carries. Thank you.

[1:41:20] Welcome

[1:41:20] back. Thank you for your patience. Thank you for staying for such a long night.

[1:41:26] Again, I'll repeat what I said to each one of you that we appreciate very much

[1:41:29] the volunteerism and you are what makes this community great. Please keep up

[1:41:32] doing what you're doing. Do I hear a motion to appoint Ellen Bailey to the

[1:41:40] Board of Park and Rec Commission for the vacant seat.

[1:41:44] Second?

[1:41:47] Discussion?

[1:41:48] All in favor?

[1:41:50] Aye.

[1:41:51] Opposed?

[1:41:52] I'm staying.

[1:41:53] Motion carries.

[1:41:55] Next, do I hear a motion to add Patrick Shea to the open seat

[1:42:00] or the vacant seat on the Economic Development Commission?

[1:42:04] So moved.

[1:42:05] Second.

[1:42:06] Discussion?

[1:42:07] All in favor?

[1:42:08] Aye.

[1:42:09] All right, opposed?

[1:42:10] Stay.

[1:42:11] Motion carries.

[1:42:13] Thank you.

[1:42:14] Dennis.

[1:42:15] Tell them to get them.

[1:42:15] Those go for that microphone.

[1:42:18] What's that?

[1:42:19] Oh, you look like you were trying to turn it on.

[1:42:20] This isn't for those speakers.

[1:42:21] No, I know it's for that mic.

[1:42:22] Oh, OK.

[1:42:24] Most of the time, it's off.

[1:42:25] I don't know what to warn in at your earliest convenience.

[1:42:28] Again, thank you, everybody, for your patience.

[1:42:29] Don't forget to get them sworn in.

[1:42:31] Just tell them.

[1:42:32] Just thank you.

[1:42:34] Please get sworn in, whatever you do, get sworn in.

[1:42:36] Also get sworn in.

[1:42:37] make a motion to adjourn. No, we have another executive session. Thank you. Second. A motion

[1:42:48] for executive session. Who's first? Do I hear motion? Second. We're already adjourned.

[1:42:55] All in favor? You're inviting Amy Jennings. And we shall go back into the executive session.

[1:43:10] You're a motion to adjourn.

[1:43:12] Second.

[1:43:13] All in favor?

[1:43:14] Aye.

[1:43:14] Opposed?

[1:43:15] Staying.

[1:43:16] Motion carries.

[1:43:17] Thank you.

[1:43:18] Meeting adjourned.

Clinton Town Council - September 16 2026

Transcript