[0:00] Good evening.
[0:02] Welcome to the WPCA and town council
[0:05] meeting of Tuesday, June 16th. It is
[0:10] 6:31. Please join me in a salute to the
[0:13] flag.
[0:15] >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the
[0:18] United States of America and to the
[0:20] republic for which it stands, one nation
[0:23] under God, indivisible, with liberty and
[0:26] justice for all.
[0:31] Roll call.
[0:32] >> Mayor Angelone
[0:33] >> here.
[0:33] >> Deputy Mayor McMillan
[0:35] >> present.
[0:35] >> Councelor Diamond
[0:36] >> here.
[0:37] >> Councelor Go
[0:38] >> here.
[0:38] >> Councelor Mace
[0:39] >> here.
[0:40] >> Councelor Miller
[0:41] >> here.
[0:41] >> Councelor Witworth
[0:42] >> here.
[0:43] >> Councelor Zampano
[0:44] >> here.
[0:46] >> Okay. Next item is minutes of approval
[0:51] of the minutes from our last meeting.
[0:53] Uh, do I have a motion to approve the
[0:55] May 19th, 2026 WPCA and town council
[0:58] minutes?
[0:59] >> Make that motion.
[1:00] >> Second.
[1:01] >> Motion was made by Deputy Mayor
[1:02] McMillan, seconded by Councelor Diamond.
[1:06] Discussion.
[1:08] All in favor?
[1:09] >> I opposed. Abstain. Motion carries.
[1:14] Next is community events and
[1:16] presentations.
[1:19] Seeing none, we will continue on to WPCA
[1:23] agenda.
[1:25] Um, any citizen statements regarding the
[1:29] WPCA?
[1:32] There's no unfinished business. Next
[1:35] item is discussion and action on the
[1:38] viola agreement.
[1:45] Uh, good evening. Uh tonight I'm uh
[1:48] would like to speak on the proposed
[1:49] agreement for the operations,
[1:51] maintenance, and management services for
[1:53] the town sanitary sewer collection
[1:55] system with Violia Water North America.
[1:58] We're requesting a bid waiver to be
[2:01] granted uh for this project. Violia
[2:05] project manager Shane McCannan, who's
[2:07] been really great to work with, is our
[2:09] liaison. Uh, Violia has been performing
[2:11] the town's tour operations work for the
[2:14] past 21 years since 2005. They've worked
[2:17] under the current agreement for the past
[2:19] 12 years. They were the only bidder at
[2:22] the time.
[2:24] Julia has been doing a great job. The
[2:25] town has developed a comfort level with
[2:27] their qualifications and overall
[2:29] performance. They always respond in a
[2:31] timely manner.
[2:33] The initial term of that agreement was
[2:35] for four years with two four-year
[2:36] extensions.
[2:38] The second four-year extension started
[2:40] in September 2022 and include mutually
[2:42] agreed upon annual price increases of
[2:45] three and a half% for the first year and
[2:47] at 3% for years three two through four.
[2:51] The current annual fee is 211,363.
[2:56] That includes the annual facility
[2:59] operations and maintenance program,
[3:02] video inspection of 10% of the system
[3:04] each year, jetting of 20% of the system
[3:07] each year, and a $25,000 allowance for
[3:10] maintenance and equipment improvements
[3:13] uh over the year.
[3:15] In the current agreement, current
[3:17] proposed agreement, there's no changes
[3:20] to the services provided for the 5-year
[3:22] contract.
[3:24] And Felia is proposing in annual price
[3:26] increases of 0% for year 1, 1.5% for
[3:31] year two, 2.75% for years three and
[3:34] four, and then the CPA for year five.
[3:39] But they're [clears throat] willing to
[3:40] uh make a uh concession of anywhere
[3:44] between 2.75 and 3.5%
[3:47] depending upon the CPA CPI.
[3:51] The services that Violia provides,
[3:53] they're on 24hour call for any
[3:56] emergencies. They monitor and maintain
[3:58] five pump stations and four metering
[4:01] stations.
[4:02] They responds to they respond to all
[4:04] alarms and emergency situations
[4:06] associated with the collection system,
[4:08] pump stations, and metering stations.
[4:11] They provide monthly activity reports.
[4:14] They purchase and maintain vehicles and
[4:16] equipment necessary to operate the
[4:18] system which is very expensive.
[4:21] They complete an annual review of our
[4:23] system and provide us with any capital
[4:25] improvements that we may need to uh
[4:27] budget for the next year.
[4:30] They maintain spare parts for the system
[4:35] and they have also developed along with
[4:37] the town uh hotspots so that there's
[4:39] areas where we know that we have
[4:41] concerns uh that we have backups or we
[4:44] have uh potential backups. So we make
[4:46] sure that we uh address those areas more
[4:48] frequently uh than the rest of the
[4:50] system to make sure that that we don't
[4:52] have any uh issues. They calibrate our
[4:55] meters every six months and provide us
[4:57] the detail
[4:59] and they also provide CBID markouts uh
[5:03] for emergencies after hours and the
[5:05] cover vacations and holidays.
[5:08] Biolia is able to provide this
[5:10] competitive pricing because it also
[5:12] provides services to the towns of North
[5:14] Haven, Orange, Seymour, Derby, Norwok,
[5:18] New Town, and Stonington.
[5:21] To summarize, I feel that based upon the
[5:23] limited available contractors, their
[5:25] performance, and proposed fees for the
[5:27] 5-year period, it would be best to
[5:29] provide a bid waiver for Violia.
[5:32] I can take any questions if you have
[5:34] any.
[5:38] » Does anyone have any questions in
[5:40] regards to this contract? I will say
[5:42] that this did come before the finance
[5:44] committee at our meeting um last week.
[5:47] Um and it was discussed there and Fran
[5:50] Morola um the director of public works
[5:53] was also there and he also spoke about
[5:57] how well Viola has been for the town um
[6:01] and the work that they have done for us
[6:03] in the last contract and he was very
[6:06] supportive of us moving forward with the contract. Um,
[6:11] >> I have some some figures here. Um, one
[6:14] of my concerns is the maintenance and
[6:16] repair. It's $25,000.
[6:19] No variables. That fixed. Is it a use it
[6:22] or lose it? They get 25,000. If it's
[6:24] less, but if it's more, they don't get
[6:27] more. They only get 25,000.
[6:29] >> Uh, nope. So, what we do is we based
[6:31] upon the repairs and what the
[6:33] recommendations are, what needs to be
[6:34] done is based upon 25,000. It's not use
[6:38] or lose it. So if we don't use it all
[6:39] then it rolls over to the next year um
[6:42] so that we can uh utilize it uh at that
[6:44] time. It's would be a capital expense.
[6:47] >> So if any during any one year it's more
[6:49] than 25,000 what happens? We only pay
[6:51] the 25,000
[6:53] >> we would only make the repairs that we
[6:54] can within that $25,000 uh allowance.
[6:58] Otherwise we do provide for capital
[7:01] improvements to the system. Like this
[7:03] past year we bought a uh what's called
[7:04] the Muffin Monster. It's a grinding
[7:06] machine uh that helps uh grind up any uh
[7:09] rags or what have you that get into the
[7:11] system. Uh we also uh work on replacing
[7:14] pumps as necessary. Okay. So that I have
[7:17] a clear understanding you can agree or
[7:19] not agree [clears throat]
[7:22] is that over the four years there's a 10
[7:27] and a half% raise from the beginning of
[7:32] 168,000
[7:33] to the
[7:37] $231,694.
[7:40] So each year, the first year is one and
[7:42] a half% which
[7:43] >> 0%. Sorry, the first year is 0%.
[7:46] >> They're keeping their price consistent
[7:48] for the first year.
[7:50] >> I I said the first year is okay. So, but
[7:52] in the next year it's 1 and a.5% which
[7:54] gives an increase of 2523.
[7:57] Then at 2.75% that's 4,000 change. And
[8:01] then at 2.75 it's 4,800 addition. And
[8:05] then in the last year three and a half%
[8:07] it's a 6,300.
[8:09] So each year they're capitalizing and
[8:11] compounding their interests every year.
[8:15] Are you aware of that?
[8:16] >> Uh yep. Yes. Yeah.
[8:17] >> So those are my concerns. I wanted
[8:19] people to understand it's not without
[8:23] its costs. So it's costing a hefty bill
[8:27] especially if the rate of inflation in
[8:29] the country in the economy is only four
[8:30] or 5%. And they're already at 10 and a
[8:32] half guaranteed 10 and a half%. Okay.
[8:34] >> Well that's over five years though. That
[8:36] 10 and a half years one two fiveyear
[8:39] contract.
[8:40] >> The first year was free. I see that.
[8:41] >> Yeah. But it's still a 5year contract.
[8:43] So it's 10 and a half over a 10 over a
[8:47] 5year which is still the these rates of
[8:51] increase are still cheaper than the last
[8:54] 5 years that we had that he just read
[8:56] off how much they went up each year in
[8:58] our current contract that is expiring.
[9:01] So, so finance committee felt this was a
[9:05] fair deal and to bring it forward for 5
[9:08] years uh this percentage increase.
[9:11] >> They do a great job too. Very committed.
[9:13] Um as we stated they're there when they
[9:16] you know the need to be on call 24
[9:18] hours.
[9:19] >> There aren't that many biders, right?
[9:21] >> We're not there's only one last time.
[9:23] >> There was only one bidder last time when
[9:25] they went out to goodbying
[9:28] that as you said they do a good job. No,
[9:30] we don't because it's in the motion to
[9:32] >> I have to say that there's been a couple
[9:34] of times where we had reported backups
[9:36] into basements or what have you and they
[9:38] were there within half an hour with all
[9:40] their equipment ready toh solve the
[9:42] problem and you know been very happy
[9:45] with their uh resources and response.
[9:49] >> Okay.
[9:51] So there is a suggested motion on page
[9:53] 25 of our packet.
[9:55] >> I'll read that motion. Be it resolved
[9:57] that North Brford Water Pollution
[9:58] Control Authority approve waving the bid
[10:01] requirement and authorize the town
[10:02] manager to enter into an agreement with
[10:04] Viola Water North America viola to
[10:06] provide operations, maintenance,
[10:08] management services for the town century
[10:10] sewer system for a 5-year term in
[10:12] accordance with uh the submitted prices
[10:15] and subject to the review and approval
[10:16] by the town attorney. This includes the
[10:18] option to extend the contract for two
[10:20] subsequent five-year terms subject to
[10:23] town council approval. Second.
[10:25] >> Motion was made by Deputy Mayor
[10:27] McMillan, seconded by Councelor Diamond.
[10:31] >> Any further discussion?
[10:32] >> A question about the motion, if I may.
[10:34] >> Mhm.
[10:35] >> All right. As it's uh as it was read, it
[10:37] says that it's in accordance with the
[10:39] submitted prices and subject to review
[10:40] and approval by the town attorney. I
[10:43] mean, in reality,
[10:45] the the town attorney is not really
[10:46] approving it. It's reviewing and
[10:49] concurring with. Is that more accurate
[10:51] to say that? Well, he's he's approving
[10:54] he's not approving the motion. He's
[10:56] approving the contract. The contract,
[10:59] the language in the contract is what
[11:00] he's he's reviewing and approving the
[11:04] contract, not the actual motion of
[11:07] accepting the contract.
[11:08] >> All right. Very good. Thank you.
[11:12] >> Any other questions?
[11:15] >> All in favor?
[11:16] >> I
[11:18] >> opposed. Abstain. Motion carries. Thank
[11:21] you.
[11:24] >> Okay.
[11:27] Um, citizen statements in regards to uh,
[11:31] water pollution control authority.
[11:34] Seeing none, we will go to the regular
[11:36] town council meeting.
[11:39] Okay. Our first item on the agenda under
[11:43] regular town council is the appointment
[11:47] of our town man of a town manager. Um so
[11:51] the town council has um been busy. We
[11:56] had a number of applicants. Uh the job
[11:58] has been posted since February. Um we
[12:01] went through budget season and then we
[12:04] took up the role of u being the search
[12:07] committee for the town manager. Um, we
[12:10] interviewed a number of candidates and
[12:12] we are happy tonight to be able to
[12:15] appoint the new town manager for North
[12:17] Brford and Deputy Mayor McMillan will
[12:20] read that motion.
[12:20] >> Yes, we are going to uh enter an item
[12:23] eight motion. Uh, Madame Mayor, I move
[12:25] that Scott Nichols be appointed as town
[12:27] manager effective July 1st, 2026. The
[12:30] annual salary of 160,000 and upon terms
[12:33] is set forth in a written agreement
[12:34] between the town and Mr.
[12:36] in the in such form as an approved by
[12:38] the town attorney and I further move
[12:40] that the residency requirement for the
[12:41] town manager as set forth in the charter
[12:43] be waved.
[12:44] >> Second.
[12:46] >> Motion was made by Deputy Mayor
[12:47] McMillan, seconded by councelor Mace.
[12:52] Discussion.
[12:54] All in favor?
[12:56] >> I opposed.
[12:58] Abstain.
[13:00] And Scott Nickel is in the audience
[13:02] tonight. And Scott, would you like to
[13:04] say a few words? First, congratulations.
[13:13] » Thank you, mayor. Very much appreciate
[13:14] it, town council, um, for the unanimous
[13:17] appointment. Um, I wanted to thank you
[13:20] for this is just a tremendous
[13:22] opportunity in a great town, uh, to be
[13:25] able to be in service. I want to thank
[13:28] you for an outstanding process. Uh, the
[13:30] interviews were great, very thorough.
[13:32] you did your due diligence um and uh
[13:35] that is only always a good sign u for a
[13:38] good partnership moving forward and uh
[13:39] my job as town manager will be to serve
[13:42] at uh your pleasure. Um I I wanted to
[13:45] acknowledge uh Rory Burke who has been
[13:47] the acting uh town manager since January
[13:50] um and has done a fine job and I I just
[13:53] wanted to publicly extend uh my thanks
[13:55] and looking forward to a great
[13:57] partnership with Rory. I know it will be
[13:58] uh we're going to have a lot of fun and
[13:59] do a lot of great work for the town.
[14:01] >> [applause]
[14:07] » Um, I want to take a moment just to uh,
[14:09] you know, when we think about uh,
[14:10] service to the community uh, and just
[14:12] enriching the lives of North Brford
[14:14] residents, it all comes from a
[14:16] foundation of family. I just want to
[14:18] take a a brief moment to introduce uh,
[14:21] um, some members of my family. Um, both
[14:23] of my sons. Um, this is Reese Reese
[14:25] Nickel. He's a going to be a junior at
[14:27] Ellington High School.
[14:30] um Carson Nickel who is going to go into
[14:32] his junior year at the University of
[14:34] Connecticut and uh the love of my life
[14:38] um Heather Nickel uh my wife who is a
[14:40] she is a principal in elementary school
[14:42] in New Britain. So I just wanted to
[14:45] thank them for all of their support.
[14:52] Um, I wanted to close with um, you know,
[14:56] the town manager serves at the pleasure
[14:58] of the town council who represents the
[15:00] constituents of uh, all the residents of
[15:03] North Brford. And so all the work that we do is about enriching their
[15:08] lives, allowing them the big best
[15:09] freedom they can for their pursuit of
[15:11] happiness. Um, that's that's our job.
[15:14] That's that's it. It's a it's a it's the
[15:15] north star. And um I I'm well aware that
[15:19] there is a lot of great boards and
[15:21] commissions uh department heads and town
[15:24] employees that feel the same way. And so
[15:26] I greatly look forward to um
[15:29] establishing great relationships uh
[15:31] really diving into the work, enjoying it
[15:33] and um just having a great experience
[15:35] here and um you know it's it it is truly
[15:39] is an honor. So I just want to thank you
[15:40] and uh look forward to the opportunity.
[15:42] >> Thank you. Welcome.
[15:44] >> Welcome. [applause]
[15:54] Okay, our next item on the agenda is
[15:57] reports of committees, boards, and
[15:59] commission. Uh first one is economic
[16:02] development.
[16:03] >> I have nothing.
[16:04] >> Okay.
[16:05] uh park and recreation uh met last month
[16:10] and um just went over all of their
[16:14] activities. They are getting ready for
[16:16] their summer camp program uh which is
[16:19] always very successful and is generally
[16:22] full um up at Park and Wreck. And also a
[16:27] new thing that they have started is that
[16:29] they now take reservations for pickle
[16:32] ball. Um from between 5:00 p.m. and I
[16:37] think 1000 p.m. you can go online and
[16:40] make reservations. There are five courts
[16:43] that take reservations and then five
[16:46] courts that are just open play. Um so
[16:48] that's a new feature that is run through
[16:51] um park and wreck. You just go to their
[16:53] website and you can make your
[16:54] reservations there. And that's all I
[16:57] have. Police commission.
[17:00] >> Okay. The police commission met on June
[17:01] 8th. Um, councelor God and I were very
[17:05] pleased at the beginning of the meeting
[17:07] which began with a unit citation by
[17:10] Chief Lovely. He recognized um both
[17:15] North Brford PD and fire department and
[17:18] Guilford. There were members of the
[17:20] Guilford fire department there as well.
[17:21] They all received a a citation for the
[17:24] work they did for an incident in May on
[17:28] the report of a missing juvenile. It was a really lovely thing for them to
[17:31] do and they all got a beautiful citation
[17:33] from the chief. Um the chief also
[17:36] mentioned that um there's been they've
[17:38] had a quite a heavy uh workload lately
[17:41] that they're doing very well, but
[17:42] they've been very very busy in town. Um
[17:45] he talked about one of the officers is
[17:48] developing a citizen police academy
[17:51] which I I guess will probably start in
[17:53] the fall for about 15 to 20 residents.
[17:57] Um they're going to be erecting a a
[17:59] fence around the impound lot and
[18:02] dumpster. Um and they I'll tell you we
[18:06] had a lot of continuing discussion about
[18:08] that whole project at Twin Lakes Road.
[18:10] That's going to be a big project for a
[18:12] long time. people are coming and talking
[18:14] about it and concerns and I think
[18:15] there's going to be a lot of involvement
[18:17] on that one and that's that's my report.
[18:19] >> Okay, great. Thank you.
[18:21] >> Fire commission
[18:22] >> uh fire commission met on June 4th. Um
[18:26] and they had the the calls for May were
[18:28] a total of 217 [clears throat] of
[18:31] various majority being emergency
[18:33] medical. Um then also um there was a letter from assistant
[18:40] chief Espazito
[18:42] um moving to uh active retired as of
[18:47] July 1st, 2026.
[18:49] And uh I'd like to thank
[18:52] uh Anthony for his uh dedication to the
[18:55] town. It's been about what 45 years
[18:59] in the plan. Yeah.
[18:59] >> Yeah. Wow.
[19:02] >> [applause]
[19:05] » I'm not quite sure what active retire
[19:07] is.
[19:08] >> Active retire means at 65 you can stay
[19:10] active but you can start collecting your
[19:11] pension.
[19:12] >> Okay. All right. Thanks.
[19:13] >> And then um
[19:15] >> yes there'll be [laughter]
[19:17] >> there was uh three other um members
[19:21] acknowledged
[19:22] um for going above and beyond. Jimmy
[19:24] Gleason, Bob Norio, Bob Odell uh for
[19:28] their assistance in regards with um
[19:31] a gentleman needing fuel oil in his
[19:33] driveway cleared um an elderly man and
[19:37] they and they took good care of him and
[19:38] got him his oil um and also bringing a
[19:41] woman to a doctor's appointment and then
[19:44] back home. So that was it.
[19:46] >> Okay, thank you. Uh planning and zoning.
[19:50] >> Uh planning and zoning. I missed that
[19:52] meeting. I was on vacation. U looking
[19:54] for the minutes can report back.
[19:56] >> No problem. Finance subcommittee. Uh we
[20:00] met last week. There are a number of
[20:03] items on our agenda tonight um later on
[20:07] regarding things that we had talked
[20:08] about at um finance committee. Um
[20:14] so the things that uh Eshore Health is
[20:16] here which will be giving a um
[20:19] presentation uh a little bit in regards
[20:22] to a request um for some water water
[20:25] quality um a replacement of a truck in
[20:28] public works. They had a very rough
[20:30] winter as we found out during budget
[20:33] season. They were down they lost three
[20:36] trucks this season and now they've lost
[20:38] a fourth truck. Um so um they're coming
[20:42] forward with some um with a request uh
[20:46] for that. Um and then we we'll have just
[20:50] the regular an um financial reports also
[20:54] on here that's off that I have uh public
[20:58] safety communications subcommittee.
[21:00] >> Public safety met on June 10th and Mayor
[21:04] Angelone joined us for that meeting. We
[21:06] received an update on the testing of the
[21:09] new channel lineup that was done by the
[21:11] department. I have to give a lot of
[21:12] kudos again. I probably did it last week
[21:14] or last month. Um I have Deputy Chief
[21:17] Colangelo has really done an outstanding
[21:20] job in coming up with a new system. It's
[21:22] working so far and it's interesting that
[21:26] um we have found out that there are
[21:28] other towns that are having problems
[21:30] with the repeaters from Motorola.
[21:33] We want Motorola to come for a meeting
[21:36] in September, but before that on
[21:37] September 9th, I the committee would
[21:41] like to have an executive session
[21:43] hopefully with the town attorney. And
[21:45] what we would also like to do is have
[21:47] the people on council who are leazone to
[21:50] the fire department and police
[21:51] department. We'd like the mayor and the
[21:53] deputy mayor to be there. I know I sound
[21:55] like a broken record, but I think this
[21:57] whole issue with Motorola has gotten out
[22:00] of control and we need to do something.
[22:02] So, what we'd like to do, and I'm going
[22:04] to be emailing the town attorney to have
[22:06] this meeting on September 9th, and if
[22:08] you guys can all come that are part of
[22:10] those commissions, I think it's
[22:11] important. I think it's time to make a
[22:13] decision what what what's happening with
[22:15] Motorola. Now, they claim they're going to fix it, but we don't no
[22:18] one's here heard from them. So, that's my report.
[22:23] [clears throat]
[22:23] >> Thank you. Uh, Inland Wetlands,
[22:26] >> uh, no report. I don't believe that I
[22:28] met for a couple months.
[22:30] >> Okay.
[22:31] Um that usually means they don't have
[22:33] anything on their agenda. It's just
[22:35] they're not putting things [snorts] off
[22:36] it. They just Inland Wetlands doesn't
[22:38] have anything right now. So that's fine.
[22:40] Um blueprint committee no meeting. Okay.
[22:45] >> All right. That concludes uh reports
[22:49] from committees, boards, and
[22:50] commissions. We are on to [snorts] the
[22:53] town manager report.
[22:56] Um,
[22:58] tonight I'll be speaking about the
[23:00] incident that occurred at 21 David Lane
[23:02] on June 5th. Uh, all of the
[23:06] investigations remain ongoing. Once
[23:09] they're completed, the investigating
[23:10] agencies will release them to the
[23:12] public. The Department of Energy and
[23:15] Environmental Protection completed their
[23:16] site cleanup. They removed all the
[23:19] improperly stored materials. They also
[23:22] conducted well testing on all the
[23:24] adjacent properties which came back
[23:26] negative for any contamination.
[23:28] Regarding the town's actions to date,
[23:31] enforcement efforts go back to at least
[23:33] 2010 with subsequent enforcement actions
[23:35] in 2014 and 2017.
[23:38] Our files indicate that the property was
[23:40] cleaned as of May 2019.
[23:43] In these complaints, I could not find
[23:45] any indication that hazards existed
[23:47] beyond the blighted conditions
[23:49] themselves. Prior enforcement efforts
[23:51] focused on unregistered vehicles and
[23:54] operating an illegal junkyard as the
[23:56] town's blight ordinance was not passed
[23:58] until 2024.
[24:00] In recent years, a zoning violation
[24:02] letter was issued in January of 2024.
[24:06] After the passage of the blight
[24:07] ordinance in July of 2024, a blight
[24:10] complaint was received and a violation
[24:12] letter was issued shortly thereafter.
[24:14] Our files indicate that the blight
[24:16] enforcement officer has been in frequent
[24:18] communication with the property owner.
[24:21] Generally, the town works with the
[24:22] property owner on a blight issue. Our
[24:24] goal is never to collect fines, but
[24:26] rather to ensure that the blight issue
[24:28] is remediated.
[24:29] Typically, fines are not imposed if the
[24:32] property owner is demonstrating
[24:33] compliance.
[24:35] The communications in the file
[24:36] demonstrate that each time fines were
[24:38] about to be imposed, the property owner
[24:40] would move forward with remediation
[24:42] efforts that forestal the issuance of
[24:44] fines. As [snorts] recently as March of
[24:46] this year, we again began communicating
[24:48] with the property owner, indicating that
[24:50] as unless substantial progress was made,
[24:53] fines would be issued. Following the
[24:55] incident on June 5th, another violation
[24:57] notice was issued. The property owner
[24:59] currently has until June 22nd to
[25:01] demonstrate significant compliance or
[25:04] fines will begin acrewing. Additionally,
[25:06] following the incident, the building
[25:08] official also issued a building code
[25:10] violation
[25:11] uh which the owner will have 45 days to
[25:13] remediate.
[25:16] Uh the town is committed to remediating
[25:18] the issues on the property and ensuring
[25:19] that the conditions that led to the fire
[25:22] on June 5th are remediated.
[25:25] Uh we've also begun reviewing the blight
[25:28] complaint procedure and the current
[25:29] blight ordinance to ensure that similar
[25:31] incidents do not occur going forward.
[25:33] We'll bring forward recommendations to
[25:35] the council when the review is complete.
[25:38] Um and then additionally, I just would
[25:40] like to thank the council uh for
[25:42] entrusting me as the acting town manager
[25:45] for the past six months. Um, it was an
[25:48] immense pleasure to work with the
[25:49] department heads and and serve the
[25:51] residents of the town and I look forward
[25:52] to working with uh the new town manager
[25:54] going forward.
[25:55] >> Thank you.
[25:57] >> That's my report.
[25:59] >> Rory, what is being done right now as
[26:01] far as the cleanup? Is there a cleanup
[26:04] going on there right now?
[26:07] um from the emails back and forth with
[26:11] the property owner. Um
[26:15] you know, part part of the issue
[26:18] is there's unregistered vehicles on the
[26:20] property. Um and then there is there's a
[26:24] lot of other material of of all types.
[26:28] Um
[26:29] he's indicated that he is getting a
[26:32] dumpster. He's aware of the timeline. it
[26:34] was included in the notice that went out
[26:36] to him. Um I think given the
[26:41] circumstances, uh he's been given a lot
[26:44] of leeway in the past. Um and
[26:47] [clears throat] I think going forward
[26:49] the the leash will be much shorter. Um
[26:51] our our primary concern is getting the
[26:54] property cleaned up. Um fines do not
[26:57] necessarily achieve that. Um and so as
[27:01] long as he continues to demonstrate
[27:03] compliance, the town will continue to
[27:05] work with him. Um but if if he is not
[27:09] making consistent progress, um we will
[27:12] move to enforce the fines.
[27:14] >> So we're inspecting like is how is it up
[27:18] to him? If he decides, well, maybe I'll
[27:19] clean up today, maybe I won't clean
[27:21] today, maybe I'll clean next week. It's
[27:23] up to him. Is it up to him? Mhm.
[27:26] >> Uh it is up to the town in terms of when
[27:30] the fines are issued. Um similar to
[27:34] other enforcement
[27:36] uh issues that we have going on in town.
[27:39] Um
[27:41] you know finding the property owner
[27:45] doesn't necessarily lead to cleanup.
[27:49] Um
[27:52] it it is not black and white in the
[27:54] ordinance as to where the line is. It is
[27:57] largely at the discretion of the
[27:58] enforcement official. But it has been
[28:00] made clear to the enforcement official
[28:02] that uh you know the property owner has
[28:05] been given enough leeway.
[28:08] So there are going to be definitive
[28:09] dates of which we are expecting progress
[28:11] and we'll we will
[28:13] >> correct
[28:14] >> under the the guidelines that we have we
[28:16] will enforce on he was given 10 business
[28:19] days in in the notice that went out on
[28:21] the 9th that
[28:22] >> understandably there's a process and a
[28:23] process has to be met you know we're a
[28:25] town we're not
[28:26] >> he has to be given due process he has to
[28:27] be given an opportunity to remediate
[28:30] >> um but again if
[28:34] >> he said that a dumpster is coming if a
[28:35] dumpster does not come then there's no
[28:38] leeway.
[28:39] >> Okay. Yeah.
[28:40] >> And if things do not begin to fill the
[28:42] dumpster, there will be no leeway.
[28:46] >> Yeah. There's there's another um house
[28:49] over on Beach Street where there's a lot
[28:50] been a lot of complaints about the same
[28:52] issue about blight. And what's funny on
[28:54] the way here cuz I live right near
[28:55] there. On the way here today, the fire
[28:58] department was going to that house. So I
[29:01] was driving here, the fire department's
[29:03] going to the other house in town, which
[29:05] is the same way. So, put the fire
[29:07] department's there right now.
[29:08] [clears throat]
[29:09] >> Yes, the ambulance is there.
[29:10] >> The ambulance.
[29:15] » Thank you.
[29:21] » Do you have any other general updates?
[29:23] >> Okay. Um,
[29:24] >> thanks.
[29:25] >> Permanent project building committee. Do
[29:27] you have any updates?
[29:28] >> Um, largely the same. Uh, driveway
[29:32] cracks remain under review at the police
[29:34] department. Um the repair of the green
[29:38] roof at the high school is ongoing. Uh
[29:41] entryway tile cracks are being reviewed
[29:43] for repair and replacement and the
[29:45] warranty and closeout process uh remains
[29:49] underway.
[29:50] Edward Smith construction is uh
[29:53] progressing. It's currently on schedule
[29:55] for its July 31st completion.
[29:59] Uh this the storage building, no
[30:01] significant progress. uh and Stanley T.
[30:05] Um they are working on replacing uh the
[30:08] awning that leads to the side entrance.
[30:10] Uh and then new signage uh was installed
[30:13] on the front of the building.
[30:15] >> Okay. All right. Thank you.
[30:20] Next item is citizen statements,
[30:22] petitions, and correspondence.
[30:25] Um so just a reminder, um I see a number
[30:29] of new faces here. Um, if you come up to
[30:32] make comments, it's you're limited to
[30:34] three minutes and you need to state your
[30:36] name and address for the record. Also,
[30:39] if there's anyone that is coming up um
[30:42] to speak about David Lane,
[30:44] unfortunately, the council cannot um say
[30:47] anything in regards to that because it
[30:48] still is an open investigation. We will
[30:51] take your comments and they'll go into
[30:52] the record um from there. Um but we
[30:55] cannot comment on the situation.
[30:59] Any
[31:01] comments at this time?
[31:05] [clears throat]
[31:08] » My name is Robert Spano and I live on
[31:10] Nine David Lane. Um, this incident has
[31:14] been going on over 10 years and everyone
[31:17] knows this. Um,
[31:20] it should never have happened to begin
[31:22] with. The blight wall was in effect
[31:25] since for 11 months. This has been
[31:28] reported.
[31:29] Um they sent a sanitarian who has no
[31:32] background in explosives, leeching
[31:34] chemicals or explosions or um scrap
[31:38] metal uh scrap um metal that's been
[31:41] exploding around and almost hit children
[31:43] and stuff of this nature.
[31:45] the town and that area, I'm sorry, the
[31:47] area there is very, very upset about why
[31:50] this is allowed to happen at this point
[31:52] and gone this far. All right.
[31:56] And we're not going to let this go until
[31:58] it's completed to not only the town, but
[32:01] to our satisfaction, that house, just
[32:04] for the public record, is rotting on the
[32:07] outside with holes on the end coming
[32:09] through, leaking into the house. He's
[32:13] the owner of the house has showed me
[32:15] snakes that he's been bringing out rat
[32:18] snakes and this kind of stuff. This
[32:20] again
[32:22] on behalf of the people behind me, their
[32:25] children. One of them right now is going
[32:27] to counseling because of the explosions
[32:30] and fire and at some point the town may
[32:33] be held responsible for it legally.
[32:37] That's my statement. Thank you.
[32:39] >> Thank you.
[32:46] Are are are there any other public
[32:48] comments,
[32:57] Bill Sando, Sunnyside Drive,
[33:01] I'm here to support the Veterans Council
[33:04] that's coming up on your agenda tonight.
[33:07] Uh the veterans council has been formed
[33:10] for two years now. They're uh got a few
[33:13] items they've been working on. This hall
[33:16] of honor uh they're presenting is a is a
[33:20] good thing. So
[33:22] uh I'm here to support them.
[33:25] Um, in the past I've talked about a tax
[33:29] freeze for senior senior seniors and I
[33:32] keep talking about it and till I get
[33:34] some answers. I know we're way over the
[33:37] budget season. Nothing we can do now.
[33:40] But we got to we got to look at it in
[33:42] the fall, next budget season. Uh I can
[33:46] only remind you that our neighbors in
[33:49] Brford
[33:50] are uh the first elect
[33:53] of a campaign promise to get a tax
[33:56] freeze for seniors and they talk about
[33:59] it for 6 months on the rules and
[34:02] ordinance committee which is on BCTV on
[34:06] demand. So if you want to get a little
[34:08] information you could they don't say
[34:11] much but they're working on it.
[34:15] the blight situation. This is very I
[34:18] mean the worst nightmare has happened.
[34:21] Uh you know I've been involved with
[34:24] blight going back in a few years and I
[34:27] was part of couple of people that was
[34:31] helped to get that audience passed and
[34:33] uh I can see there's people here that
[34:36] are very very concerned and believe me I
[34:40] appreciate that.
[34:43] Taka TV. I'm not sure how you uh how I
[34:47] know how you we ended up giving them an
[34:50] extra couple of thousand, but uh I don't
[34:55] know on their end how they felt about
[34:56] it, too.
[34:59] But uh we're going back to the blight a
[35:01] minute. Uh you know, again, we've been
[35:06] talking about it very infrequently
[35:08] at council chambers here, but uh we had
[35:12] good luck going back several years when
[35:15] Tom Hogy was here. He was a part- timerr
[35:19] working with the town planner.
[35:22] uh and actually through co
[35:25] uh he was out and of course CO happened
[35:30] and he left after that but Tom was doing
[35:33] reports every 6 months I think he was
[35:36] actually doing it on his own not that he
[35:39] necessarily had to do it and that's when
[35:42] you know you could if you could realize
[35:45] what was going on in different areas and
[35:48] all forms of blight meaning serious just
[35:53] serious ordinances and just some minor
[35:56] violations. But uh so I don't know if we
[36:00] got a new town planner yet, but I hope
[36:03] he's pretty strong in this and maybe in
[36:06] the next budget season we can get that
[36:09] part-time back. I think the Tom Hogy was
[36:12] an ex state policeman. It's a my own
[36:16] opinion is it's a good good place to
[36:18] start. person's got experience in
[36:21] handling people.
[36:24] And the last thing in reference to that
[36:26] right here in town now you have the BH
[36:29] care.
[36:31] They are behavioral people.
[36:34] Maybe if we got a situation like you
[36:36] have on David Lane, we can get a
[36:39] behavioral person in there
[36:42] or try to get him in there.
[36:46] >> That's all. Thank you.
[36:47] >> Thank you.
[36:55] » [clears throat]
[36:56] >> How you doing, folks? My name is Hank
[36:57] Townsen. Uh 15 David Lane, immediate
[37:00] neighbor to 21 David Lane. Um I've lived
[37:03] there for the past five or so years and
[37:05] my in-laws have lived across the street
[37:07] for much longer than that. Um this has
[37:10] been going on for almost two decades now
[37:12] since the property was bought. uh you
[37:15] know, even when it was cleaned up, it
[37:17] seems as though all the stuff was pushed
[37:18] into the back of the yard and covered
[37:20] over the tarps. Uh the night of the
[37:23] fire, the homeowner was allowed to stay
[37:26] behind the yellow line overnight for 6
[37:29] hours until the investigation occurred.
[37:32] Um [snorts] we personally have pictures
[37:35] of him dumping bottles of acetone and
[37:38] other combustible chemicals into spray
[37:40] bottles. What the intention was with
[37:41] that was, I don't know. But nonetheless,
[37:44] I don't know if it was to hide it, to
[37:46] use it for other things. I don't know.
[37:48] Um there's if there's not a 100 plus
[37:52] buckets, there's not one. Every single
[37:53] year, my house is riddled with
[37:55] mosquitoes. There's I see cockroaches in
[37:59] the yard that were if I get rid of them
[38:02] and [snorts] then spray the property
[38:03] line, they never come back on that side.
[38:06] So clearly there's an issue here that's
[38:09] much much deeper than just the outside
[38:11] horde.
[38:13] It's the house is dilapitated in my
[38:16] opinion. I'm no expert but there's no
[38:18] way that house is liveable. There's two
[38:20] almost basketballized holes in the roof.
[38:23] I mean it it's something's got to give
[38:27] here. you know, we uh
[38:31] I mean, obviously all you guys could
[38:33] understand that, you know, you'd be
[38:34] equally as upset with this and I'm not
[38:36] trying to drag anybody through the mud,
[38:38] but obviously this man needs help and
[38:41] obviously it's not going to get done as
[38:43] on his own. I also worked with Mr. Anrio
[38:47] and this hoarding tendency also carried
[38:50] over to work and it was also going on
[38:53] there as well. And then when he was
[38:54] forced to take it all home, it all got
[38:56] hoarded into his yard as well. So this
[38:59] is not an issue that is just going to go
[39:00] away and he's not just going to clean
[39:02] up. A couple people I know offered to
[39:05] supply him dumpsters free of charge if
[39:09] he just picked it up and threw it out.
[39:10] He refuses to do that. He wants to
[39:12] separate it all into scrap. So he's
[39:14] clearly operating a illegal scrap
[39:16] business out of his yard, which if I
[39:20] remember correctly, Beach Street is
[39:22] under investigation for the same thing.
[39:24] Why is this not under investigation?
[39:28] I think he's been shown bias because
[39:30] he's a volunteer firefighter. While I do
[39:31] appreciate that about him, it doesn't
[39:34] make you exempt from this. And I'll
[39:36] leave with that. Thank you.
[39:38] >> Thank you.
[39:46] My name is Nicole Trobridge. I live at
[39:48] 27 David Lane adjacent on the other side
[39:50] of the house that um had the explosion.
[39:53] I'd like to read on behalf of a neighbor
[39:55] who couldn't be here today. I think he
[39:56] summarized our experience well. I want
[39:59] to begin by saying that this is not
[40:00] personal. I have never had a negative
[40:02] interaction with my neighbor. I do not
[40:04] wish him harm. However, the condition of
[40:06] this property has been a serious concern
[40:08] for many years, and the recent fire
[40:10] demonstrated exactly why. I have lived
[40:12] in the neighborhood for approximately um
[40:14] nearly 10 years. During that entire
[40:17] time, the property has contained large
[40:18] amounts of accumulated materials,
[40:20] including including vehicle parts,
[40:21] tires, fuel containers, propane tanks,
[40:24] scrap materials, and other debris. The
[40:25] condition of the property is visible to
[40:27] anyone who drives by. At approximately
[40:30] 2:00 in the morning, um our neighborhood
[40:32] was awakened by a massive fire. There
[40:34] were explosions, flying debris, and
[40:35] significant emergency response activity.
[40:38] Children were outside their homes
[40:39] watching the fire. I was concerned
[40:41] enough about the possibility of a larger
[40:43] explosion that I directed some of those
[40:45] children to come inside and stay away
[40:46] from the scene. Thankfully, nobody was
[40:49] seriously injured, but I believe we were
[40:50] fortunate. The outcome could have been
[40:52] much worse. What concerns me most is
[40:54] that this was not an unforeseeable
[40:56] event. Many residents [snorts] have
[40:57] raised concerns about the property over
[40:59] the years. Those concerns were not
[41:00] simply about appearances. There were
[41:02] concerns about safety. The day after the
[41:05] fire, numerous agencies responded to
[41:06] investigate the site. Environmental
[41:08] testing was conducted. The Department of
[41:11] Energy and Environmental Protection um
[41:13] even tested nearby wells because of the
[41:15] concerns about the possible
[41:16] contamination. That alone demonstrates
[41:19] the seriousness of what occurred. I'm
[41:21] asking the town to take whatever actions
[41:23] they are are necessary to ensure this
[41:25] property no longer presents a danger to
[41:26] the neighborhood. Whether that means
[41:28] inspections, code enforcement,
[41:30] remediation, cleanup requirements, or
[41:32] other legal measures is for the
[41:33] appropriate officials to determine. What
[41:35] [snorts] I am asking for is simple. A
[41:37] thorough inspection, transparency about
[41:39] the findings, and meaningful action so
[41:41] that the residents can feel confident
[41:42] that this will not happen again. The
[41:44] families who live nearby should not have
[41:46] to wonder whether the next fire,
[41:47] explosion, or environmental hazard will
[41:49] be worse than the last one. We pay
[41:52] taxes, we maintain our homes, and we
[41:53] care about our community. We are simply
[41:55] asking the town to protect the safety of
[41:57] the people who live here. I'd also like
[41:59] to bring up a few separate concerns to
[42:02] um kind of go on the back of what Hank
[42:04] had mentioned about while we do
[42:06] appreciate this person's um commitment
[42:09] to the community as a volunteer
[42:10] firefighter in a past one. We do think
[42:12] that there was some bias shown.
[42:14] [clears throat] Upon arriving to the
[42:16] scene, some firefighters indicated that
[42:18] Mr. Anafhrio was there with a garden
[42:19] hose, was asked to leave several times
[42:21] and to get out of the way. He had not.
[42:23] Some firefighters were injured, although
[42:25] those reports have been pretty quiet. I
[42:28] had also talked to a police officer
[42:29] about the possibility of substance
[42:31] abuse, as there is a history of that for
[42:33] Mr. Anrio. I often find him sleeping in
[42:35] his truck down the street. And that
[42:37] evening when I went outside at 2 a.m., I
[42:39] did see the headlights on, which I
[42:41] initially thought he was just coming
[42:42] home. I was told by the police officer
[42:45] was not their scope, and to talk to the
[42:47] fire marshal. The fire marshal told me
[42:48] it was not his responsibility to speak
[42:50] to the police. Hours had gone by, no
[42:52] tests, no answers. We were told an
[42:55] original idea of why the fire may have
[42:57] started and the story changed later on.
[42:59] I also um did not get much more
[43:02] information beyond that from the fire
[43:03] marshall, although I did hear about the
[43:05] award that Mr. Anrio was presented that
[43:07] evening.
[43:09] I have not seen much of an apology from
[43:12] that man at all, which to be expected
[43:14] with someone who has not taken any
[43:15] responsibility from this. I would just
[43:18] like some accountability.
[43:20] That night at 2:00 a.m. when I went
[43:22] outside and brought my children to the
[43:24] edge of our yard, two metal pieces
[43:29] went flying by their heads.
[43:34] Age seven and nine. If it wasn't up the
[43:36] explosion, it could have been anything
[43:38] else.
[43:40] I'm sorry, but you have to wrap it up
[43:41] cuz you're over the
[43:43] >> Okay, that's fine. But, you know, to
[43:44] hear that we are a town, not the
[43:46] Gustapo, doesn't feel very promising for
[43:48] change or a solution. I'd like you to
[43:50] consider the seriousness if this was
[43:52] your family involved.
[43:53] >> We understand the seriousness.
[43:54] >> Thank you.
[44:09] My name is Roxan Blancefield. I live at
[44:11] 10 David Lane. My grandchildren live
[44:14] right next door to that house. My
[44:16] concern with him is mental health issues
[44:18] and he has firearms in that house.
[44:22] When he's been contacted about the
[44:24] blight, has anybody gone in that house
[44:28] or actually walked through that
[44:29] backyard?
[44:31] I know there have been people in the
[44:33] front of the yard and talking to him.
[44:37] I've got some serious concerns about his
[44:39] mental health issues and when push comes
[44:42] to shove and he's forced to clean up
[44:43] that mess. I'm afraid he's going to go
[44:46] after people as he's already gone after
[44:48] them verbally because he's angry about
[44:50] what's happened.
[44:52] We are angry and we would really like
[44:55] his guys to step up and force him to
[44:58] take care of that or step in and take
[45:01] care of it yourselves.
[45:10] I would also like to add thank you to
[45:12] the fire department. They did a
[45:13] phenomenal job on making sure the fire
[45:15] did not reach either of our houses. I
[45:16] was amazed because there was explosion
[45:20] that I saw that I I basically wrote my
[45:22] house off and the fire department did a
[45:25] phenomenal job on taking care of the
[45:27] fire. Just want to end on a good note.
[45:29] >> Thank you.
[45:35] Are there any other public comments?
[45:38] >> Yes. [snorts]
[45:43] » Dave Tracel, 22 David Lane. I live
[45:45] across the street and I've been dealing
[45:47] with this for 10 years and I waited for
[45:49] 10 years to say anything because we were
[45:51] pretty friendly in the beginning and at
[45:53] one time I tried to actually help him
[45:54] sell stuff, that sort of thing. It got
[45:57] to the point I couldn't sit on my front
[45:58] porch anymore. Whatever. Don't care. I
[46:01] don't don't really care too much about
[46:02] that. Next thing you know, there's trash
[46:05] blowing in my yard, all that stuff. Next
[46:08] thing you know, I'm like, you know what?
[46:08] I'm done with this. File a complaint,
[46:11] follow the procedure, called the health
[46:13] department because I had my doubts that
[46:14] anything was going to happen. That was a
[46:16] year ago. Nothing happened. This is well
[46:21] documented,
[46:23] very well documented, and it looks very
[46:25] bad for the town.
[46:27] I've also noticed since I live across
[46:29] the street, every single day when I get
[46:30] up at 5:00 in the morning, I take a
[46:32] picture of the house because I'm the one
[46:35] that has to see it. My son, who now has
[46:38] to go to therapy because of all the
[46:40] explosions and gunshots and stuff that
[46:42] Nicole presented, has having a hard time
[46:44] sleeping at night. He wants to move. My
[46:46] kid wants to move. That's not an option.
[46:48] I'm not moving. He is.
[46:52] You following me here? This is not This
[46:54] situation is not sustainable for anyone.
[46:57] and I'm not having it. So, I'm going to
[47:00] continue taking pictures every single
[47:02] day and I'm going to probably start
[47:03] sending them to you because we're going
[47:04] to type pretty soon and I'm going to
[47:07] help you guys monitor the situation. I
[47:09] highly recommend you send someone down
[47:10] there at least twice a day cuz there's
[47:12] no dumpster there. There's no dumpster
[47:13] coming. He thinks he's going to get away
[47:16] with it.
[47:18] Don't let him.
[47:32] Hello, I'm Richard Zender. I live at 33
[47:34] David Lane. And like my neighbors, uh,
[47:37] we've lived at that address for 37
[47:40] years. Uh, I don't really want to
[47:43] editorialize about Bob at all. I can't
[47:45] say I haven't been his friend. Evening
[47:48] walks, stop, talk to him while he's out
[47:49] in the driveway. But if there was any
[47:52] wind that evening or if we didn't have
[47:54] rains, heavy rains just prior to there's
[47:57] a water company property right behind
[47:59] everyone's house. The whole thing, it
[48:01] could have been a huge conflictration
[48:03] into the woods and everybody else, all
[48:04] the neighbors homes, at least on that
[48:06] side of the street. So, I've lived there
[48:09] too long to just sit there and not say
[48:11] anything. I tried to be quiet, but my
[48:13] neighbors are standing up, so I had to
[48:15] come up here and say something. Thank
[48:17] you.
[48:25] Are there any other public comments at
[48:28] this time? Okay. We also received a um
[48:32] email for public comments to be entered
[48:35] into the record. It is I'm not going to
[48:37] read the whole thing. I'll just It's
[48:39] from Cara Papa and her email uh we all
[48:42] have a copy at our desks and um our
[48:45] clerk will enter it into the record. But
[48:48] it is in regards to
[48:51] um right now that they there's a group
[48:54] of people that are collecting signatures
[48:57] um for a petition to request a charter
[49:00] revision commission. So that is actively
[49:03] going on in town right now. Um and the
[49:06] whole letter the email will be as part
[49:09] of the minutes that everyone can read.
[49:11] Also, we also received an email from
[49:14] Bill Savastano, but he happens to be
[49:16] here tonight, and so he touched on his,
[49:18] but we will also enter his comments um
[49:21] written comments into the record uh that
[49:24] was submitted.
[49:26] Um
[49:28] and in our packet, there's also
[49:31] correspondence from a resident. This um
[49:34] because it's an anonymous letter, just
[49:36] to let people know, this will not become
[49:38] part of the minutes. Anonymous letters
[49:40] will not appear in our minutes at all.
[49:44] Um the the protocol is for any comments
[49:48] to come into our records. Um we need
[49:50] name and address. Um and so since it was
[49:52] anonymous, it will not be part of the
[49:55] record at all.
[49:59] Okay. Going on to resignations and
[50:02] appointments.
[50:04] Do I hear an appointment for Alexander
[50:06] Lenduli to the Veteran Service
[50:08] Commission as an alternate to replace
[50:10] Victoria Caroline term to expire
[50:13] 1231208?
[50:16] >> I'll make the motion.
[50:17] >> Second.
[50:18] >> Motion was made by Deputy Mayor
[50:20] McMillan, seconded by Councelor Diamond.
[50:23] All in favor? I
[50:24] >> I
[50:25] >> opposed. Abstain. Motion carries.
[50:30] Um, next item, unfinished business.
[50:33] discussion and action tractor pull
[50:35] events.
[50:39] » Uh this was an item that was discussed
[50:41] at the May 19th town council meeting. Um
[50:45] the agriculture commission uh if you
[50:48] recall is looking to take over the
[50:50] tractor pull events. Um
[50:54] the issue revolved around liability
[50:56] insurance for the town. Um
[51:01] at that time we were awaiting
[51:03] um some additional quotes for the
[51:07] insurance. Um it depended on a number of
[51:10] factors. So I touched base with Cliff
[51:12] Potter uh after the last meeting uh with
[51:15] the information that he provided. We got
[51:17] updated quotes. The total uh for the two
[51:20] events would be $658
[51:24] per per year. Um so in addition to that
[51:28] uh
[51:30] our insurance broker
[51:33] um had recommended some changes with our
[51:34] auto liability policies. As a result we
[51:37] have um a savings of approximately
[51:40] $7,000 in that line item in the next
[51:43] fiscal year. Um and so there's
[51:46] sufficient funds available to cover that
[51:48] expense. Um and so you know the council
[51:51] had indicated that they wanted to pursue
[51:53] this if that uh amount is acceptable to
[51:57] you. Uh no further action is taken and
[51:59] we can provide the insurance coverage
[52:01] for the events.
[52:04] Does anyone have any questions in
[52:06] regards to this Rori? Okay. Move ahead.
[52:13] All right. Um the next item under
[52:15] unfinished business is use of opioid
[52:18] funds for the life pack 15. Uh this was
[52:22] approved at last month's meeting. Um
[52:25] unfortunately it was an incomplete um
[52:27] motion. Um on there uh because it it the
[52:33] cost of the this is exceeds our bid
[52:36] threshold. Um we need to wave the
[52:41] purchase requirement or the bid
[52:43] requirement for this um because this is
[52:47] uh these if I remember correct are
[52:50] refurbished life packs. Correct. Right.
[52:53] So on the refurbished there would only
[52:54] be one source the person that is doing
[52:57] them and this is at quite a savings um
[53:00] if you had to buy them new. So we
[53:02] approve the purchase and where the funds
[53:04] would come from. So, there is a motion
[53:07] on page 30 of our packet that we have to
[53:10] do to finish this one.
[53:12] >> I'll make that motion. Uh, that town
[53:14] council wave the bid requirement for the
[53:16] purchase of two life pack 15 monitors to
[53:18] the town's opioid fund in an amount not
[53:21] to exceed $53,500.
[53:23] Second that
[53:25] >> motion was made by Deputy Mayor
[53:27] McMillan, seconded by Councelor Miller.
[53:30] Discussion.
[53:32] >> All in favor? I
[53:34] >> I
[53:34] >> opposed. Abstain. Motion carries.
[53:39] Okay. Now we are on to new business
[53:42] discussion and action. First item is
[53:45] Hall of Honor Veteran Service
[53:47] Commission.
[53:49] And I see Hamlet Hernandez is up.
[53:53] >> My name is Hamlet Hernandez. I reside at
[53:55] 63 Ledgewood Drive in North Brford.
[53:59] >> Good evening. I'm here on behalf of the
[54:01] Veteran Service Commission. First of
[54:02] all, I just want to thank the council
[54:04] for their support of the commission. It
[54:06] was established by this council tonight.
[54:08] Really, we are here to really get
[54:10] clarification uh and a decision relative
[54:13] to the hall of honor. We envision we've
[54:16] been working on the hall of honor to
[54:17] honor our veterans in town that are
[54:20] distinguished. And we had spoken to Mr.
[54:23] DS the predecessor to Rory and now to
[54:27] Todd
[54:29] around getting this hallway by the town
[54:32] assessors as dedicated area for the hall
[54:35] of honor. Uh we are working on the
[54:37] nomination form. We have just completed
[54:40] that with the IT department. So, we have
[54:42] a nomination form that we will pair a
[54:45] communication to the community uh
[54:47] working with our town manager and
[54:49] through the uh the chairman which is not
[54:52] able who's not able to be here this
[54:54] evening, Zach Poston. He's out of town.
[54:56] That's why I got chose to do this. And
[54:58] uh but we are very excited about this.
[55:02] It's a fantastic opportunity for us to
[55:04] recognize our distinguished veterans. We
[55:07] are our first class really. We are going
[55:10] to focus on historical figures in town.
[55:13] We have a really, really rich history in
[55:15] this town of veterans that have
[55:17] contributed substantially and
[55:19] significantly going way back in town,
[55:21] way back in time. So that is what we
[55:23] envision for the first class. We hope to
[55:26] induct that first class in this calendar
[55:28] year right around Veterans Day. That's
[55:31] our goal. So we're working on that.
[55:34] The current work that we are doing is
[55:37] hopefully reaching out to the historical
[55:38] society um and partnering with them to
[55:42] find who these individuals are. Uh just
[55:45] walking through our cemeteries in town
[55:48] is there's a tremendous history there.
[55:50] >> [clears throat]
[55:50] >> So really the ask for us this evening is
[55:53] will you approve the hall of honor in
[55:55] this hallway and what we can do is we
[55:58] can go come back to you with some
[55:59] mockups so that you can see conceptually
[56:02] uh what it will look like but what we
[56:04] envision is just plaques with a picture
[56:07] of the veteran if it's available with a
[56:10] brief uh summary of their work uh and
[56:13] their contributions both in the military
[56:15] as well in their civilian life. Um and
[56:18] the wall will be really um on the left
[56:21] side and on the right side will just
[56:23] start by class. Originally we had
[56:26] thought perhaps big plaques with little
[56:28] placards but we really wanted to do
[56:30] justice to the veterans. So we thought
[56:32] we would just have a 8 by I think it's 8
[56:35] by1. Is that right Victoria?
[56:36] >> Yes it is.
[56:36] >> Okay. An 8 by11 plaque. Uh we do have
[56:40] some purchase orders uh that we're
[56:41] working with the town manager right now.
[56:43] hopefully that we can start uh
[56:46] purchasing them because we need some
[56:47] lead time to prepare these and to get
[56:49] the citations in November is right
[56:51] around the corner. So that is the ask
[56:54] and uh and again I just want to thank
[56:56] everybody and I want to acknowledge
[56:58] Chuck Larkin and Victoria Caroline uh
[57:01] two members that work with us on the
[57:04] Veterans Commission.
[57:06] >> Can I make the motion for the wall of
[57:07] honor?
[57:08] >> You certainly may. Go right ahead. I'd
[57:10] like to make a motion for the wall of
[57:12] honor between the
[57:15] >> town the this hallway and by where the
[57:16] countessor is. Sir,
[57:19] >> what's the official name of that
[57:21] hallway?
[57:22] >> It's north hallway.
[57:24] >> Northway.
[57:25] >> The north wall on the north hallway.
[57:27] [laughter]
[57:28] >> Second.
[57:32] » Okay. The motion was made by councelor
[57:34] Go, seconded by councelor Mace. Um,
[57:38] Milink, you guys have a budget. So,
[57:41] that's what you're working out of to
[57:44] purchase these plaques.
[57:45] >> That is correct. We're staying within
[57:46] our budget.
[57:47] >> Okay.
[57:48] >> And we thank you for that financial
[57:49] support because we couldn't do it
[57:50] without that.
[57:51] >> Okay. So,
[57:52] >> going to go on top of the school kids
[57:54] work.
[57:55] >> Um, I I'm not sure if they're removing
[57:59] those bulletin boards and putting them
[58:01] in a different spot. I don't know
[58:03] exactly
[58:03] >> the logistics of that. That That's a
[58:05] great question. the logistics of that.
[58:07] We were we were working with Mr. DS at
[58:09] the time and he had indicated to us that could be relocated. We still wanted
[58:12] to honor the work of the students and it
[58:15] was just a matter of relocating that.
[58:17] That's all.
[58:20] >> Any other questions?
[58:21] >> Thank you for doing this.
[58:22] >> Okay. You're Well, you're most welcome.
[58:24] Thank you.
[58:24] >> All right. Thank all in favor.
[58:27] >> I opposed abstain. Motion carries. So
[58:32] you can continue on with your work.
[58:34] Thank you very much. Thank you.
[58:37] >> Okay. The next item is Eastshore
[58:39] District Health Department Water Quality
[58:42] Report.
[58:44] And I believe the director is here from
[58:46] East Shore. Mike, if you would like to
[58:49] come up.
[58:50] >> Sure.
[59:04] Good evening. Um, Michael Pascilla,
[59:07] director of public health. Uh, with me
[59:10] tonight, uh, is Amy Schultz, who is the
[59:14] deputy director of health, and Sarah
[59:16] Eder, who is one of our employees who's
[59:18] leading this water quality project. Uh,
[59:21] so, mayor, deputy mayor, and council,
[59:23] thank you for giving us the opportunity
[59:24] to present this um, water quality
[59:28] presentation and talk a little bit about
[59:30] our funding request. Um, we're going to
[59:32] split it in two. Um, I'm going to have
[59:34] Sarah, who's leading the project, go
[59:36] over the research um, very quickly and
[59:39] then I'll talk about the implications in
[59:42] the funding.
[59:48] It takes a second
[59:51] minute.
[1:00:36] Is it working any?
[1:00:38] >> Yeah, it's not [laughter] appearing.
[1:00:41] >> I see the countdown went down. Oh,
[1:00:43] there's no signal.
[1:00:44] >> That's a video of the waterme.
[1:00:46] [laughter]
[1:00:48] » It's a beautiful waterfall.
[1:00:50] >> Very blue.
[1:00:58] » [clears throat]
[1:01:01] [snorts]
[1:01:02] >> Is any of this information in our packet
[1:01:06] >> or not?
[1:01:07] >> No, I just got the presentation earlier
[1:01:09] today.
[1:01:09] >> Um
[1:01:20] HTML.
[1:01:32] >> There we go.
[1:01:36] >> All right.
[1:01:40] So, as
[1:01:42] um as Mike said, my name is Sarah Essen.
[1:01:44] I'm the water quality coordinator for
[1:01:46] Eastshore. um been there since 2019 and
[1:01:49] the work in the Farm River has been uh a
[1:01:53] mainstay of my work since I've started
[1:01:54] there. So I'm looking forward to showing
[1:01:56] you a little bit of what we've done and
[1:01:58] what we're hoping to do there.
[1:02:01] So you can go to this.
[1:02:03] Yeah. So the farm the Farm River has a
[1:02:06] long history of high bacteria and
[1:02:07] there's a lot of people and
[1:02:08] organizations who have been doing
[1:02:10] research on it. Um, since the 1990s, not
[1:02:14] only East Shore and Yale, but the
[1:02:15] regional water authority and Connecticut
[1:02:17] deep um have had some concerns about
[1:02:20] bacteria in the water and have been
[1:02:21] doing testing in different areas. Um,
[1:02:24] further down the river uh in East Haven
[1:02:26] and Brford, there have been concerns
[1:02:28] especially over beach closures and
[1:02:30] shellfish bed closures. This was the
[1:02:32] reason that I got involved with the farm
[1:02:34] river water quality starting in 2019.
[1:02:37] uh sampling was expanded starting to use
[1:02:40] microbial source tracking. We found high
[1:02:42] bacteria counts along the river and so
[1:02:44] we started using this new technology
[1:02:45] that let us see what animal species was
[1:02:47] associated with it starting in 2023.
[1:02:51] Um this work if you go to the next slide
[1:02:55] this work has been done along the length
[1:02:57] of the farm river um in East Haven and
[1:03:00] Brford and then all the way up through
[1:03:01] North Brford [clears throat] um all the
[1:03:03] way up to Augur Park. Right now we're
[1:03:05] testing water quality at three locations
[1:03:07] in North Brford on the Farm River. At
[1:03:09] the Route 80 bridge, at Pages Mil Pond,
[1:03:11] and at Auger Park. Um we're also doing a
[1:03:13] water quality project at Cedar Lake,
[1:03:15] which Mike will talk to you a little bit
[1:03:16] more about later.
[1:03:19] Along the Farm River, we're continuing
[1:03:20] to see very high E.coli levels. Um,
[1:03:23] we've seen we started studying the lower
[1:03:26] farm river because of the concerns of
[1:03:27] East Haven and Brford, but our water
[1:03:29] quality led us further and further north
[1:03:31] up the river, and we're seeing the
[1:03:32] highest ecoli counts above the marsh and
[1:03:34] particularly in North Brford. Now, in
[1:03:37] 2024 and 2025, um, this was pretty
[1:03:40] consistent. Starting in 2026, we're
[1:03:42] seeing these high ecoli ecoli counts
[1:03:45] even earlier in the year. Um, normally
[1:03:47] as the water gets warmer, we get higher
[1:03:48] bacterial counts, but this year we are
[1:03:50] starting to see high E.coli counts at
[1:03:52] all locations in May, um, even earlier
[1:03:54] at some places. So, you can see the map
[1:03:57] here, these are the three locations
[1:03:58] we've tested. Um, all of them have had
[1:04:01] high E.coli counts um, in 2026 and in
[1:04:04] May in the last sampling. Um, if you go
[1:04:07] to the next one,
[1:04:09] uh, we've had a limited budget for
[1:04:10] preliminary studies with the species
[1:04:13] testing. Um but both of the sites that
[1:04:15] we've tested for human waste, the two
[1:04:16] lower ones at Pages Mil Pond and the
[1:04:18] Route 80 Bridge, um we have detected
[1:04:20] human waste. So this is an issue that's
[1:04:23] very much of interest to the health
[1:04:24] department. We do have some samples for
[1:04:26] Augur Park and we have other samples
[1:04:28] from Pages Mil Pond and the Route 80
[1:04:30] bridge um that we would need more
[1:04:31] funding to be able to test to get a a
[1:04:33] more full picture. Um but because human
[1:04:35] waste has been detected, this is an
[1:04:36] important issue for us.
[1:04:41] I'll turn this over to Mike now.
[1:04:44] All right. So, on the water quality
[1:04:46] implications, whenever we find human
[1:04:49] waste in [clears throat] detectable
[1:04:50] levels, we're obligated from a public
[1:04:53] health standpoint to investigate and do
[1:04:55] some remediation.
[1:04:56] Um, the ecoli levels do impact North
[1:05:01] Brford residents. The river is used um
[1:05:04] for many different activities. Um, and
[1:05:07] so there's a direct relationship to
[1:05:11] North Brford residents. Also, if we go
[1:05:13] down to the river and into Long Island
[1:05:17] Sound, North Bford residents enjoy the
[1:05:19] coastal activities. And as we when we
[1:05:23] started this study, we started Long
[1:05:26] Island Sound in a lower river and now
[1:05:28] the sampling is leading us up the river,
[1:05:31] which impacts obviously Long Island
[1:05:34] Sound. talking to North Brford, I'm
[1:05:37] sorry, Brford and East Haven. One of the
[1:05:40] questions that has come up because
[1:05:42] they've been funding the project. Um, is
[1:05:45] North Brford contributing to the
[1:05:47] project? And that's one of the reasons
[1:05:48] why I'm here and I'll talk a little bit
[1:05:50] more about that. Go to the next slide.
[1:05:53] Um, Cedar Lake. Um so in 20 um
[1:06:00] 2004 and in recently we've have had some
[1:06:06] issues with closing the lake. Um there's
[1:06:10] been allergy blooms. So in based on
[1:06:13] hearing from residents in the fall of
[1:06:16] 2025
[1:06:18] u we did a sanitary survey. We did some
[1:06:20] sampling. We um walked around the lake.
[1:06:24] We looked at maps, looked at the
[1:06:26] elevation, and the preliminary work is
[1:06:28] continuing now in 2026.
[1:06:31] Um this is very preliminary. We have
[1:06:33] been meeting with Connecticut Deep. Um
[1:06:36] we're sharing information between the
[1:06:38] two agencies and at some point we're
[1:06:41] going to bring in Tilcon officials just
[1:06:42] to talk a little bit about um the
[1:06:46] quality of the water at Cedar Lake.
[1:06:48] Again, it's very preliminary and some of
[1:06:50] the funding is to just do a deeper dive
[1:06:53] um into Cedar Lake. Next slide.
[1:06:57] And then I just want to just quickly
[1:06:59] talk about the funding just so you
[1:07:01] understand how we got to this place. Um
[1:07:06] I don't I I don't take it lightly to
[1:07:08] come here given the financial situation
[1:07:11] and asking for funding. And typically
[1:07:12] what we have done is we have exhausted
[1:07:15] grant money as as much as we can our own
[1:07:18] funds. And so in 2011
[1:07:22] uh we received a state grant for a
[1:07:24] little over $41,000.
[1:07:27] In 2017 we received $50,000 but it was
[1:07:31] three three watersheds. We received a
[1:07:33] third of that funding. And then if we
[1:07:35] fast forward to um and I'll go through
[1:07:38] the the
[1:07:40] um different funds in the town. So the
[1:07:42] town of East Haven um was giving some
[1:07:44] inind resources and in 2024 they
[1:07:48] contributed $20,000 to the project um
[1:07:52] into 2025 and and this year 2026 they
[1:07:56] committed another $15,000.
[1:07:59] uh New England Green or New Haven Green
[1:08:02] Foundation has given $8,000.
[1:08:04] Uh Brford town of Brford has given
[1:08:07] $20,000 and again $15,000. So both towns
[1:08:11] gave us funding twice. Um
[1:08:15] Brford Community Foundation has given us
[1:08:18] $2500
[1:08:19] uh for the study um along Long Island
[1:08:22] Sound, Short Beach area, and up to Farm
[1:08:24] River. state of connect Connecticut gave
[1:08:26] us $10,000.
[1:08:29] Um and then the Brford Short Beach
[1:08:31] Association has given us $17,000 for the
[1:08:36] testing and the study along with inind
[1:08:38] services. East Shore um is is donating
[1:08:44] about $100,000 plus a year. Um, and
[1:08:48] we've lobbied for paid internships. Um,
[1:08:53] and
[1:08:55] as we've gone up the river, the
[1:08:57] microbial source tracking that we need
[1:08:59] to do is basically DNA analysis is very
[1:09:03] expensive sampling, somewhere around
[1:09:04] $800 a sample. And so,
[1:09:08] East Haven in Brford has paid for some
[1:09:12] of the the uh sampling results. It's a
[1:09:16] private lab that we're using. And so,
[1:09:18] um, we're here tonight to ask the town
[1:09:21] of North Brford to contribute $10,000,
[1:09:24] uh, towards, um, towards this study.
[1:09:31] » Next slide.
[1:09:34] >> All right. So, uh, with that, um, that's
[1:09:36] we wanted to keep it short, sweet
[1:09:38] because we know you have a a busy agenda
[1:09:40] and so we're asking for $10,000 and we
[1:09:44] hope you'll consider, um, the funding
[1:09:45] for this project.
[1:09:47] >> What initiated this project?
[1:09:50] >> Um, so in Long So, in Long Island Sound,
[1:09:54] um, we have multi-million dollar
[1:09:56] shellfish beds. We've had beaches that
[1:09:58] we have had to close on a regular basis
[1:10:01] outside the Farm River watershed. And so
[1:10:04] we started in that area and then we
[1:10:06] started going up the river and as we
[1:10:09] went up the river um we have identified
[1:10:12] some sources and doing some remediation
[1:10:14] again with Brford and East Haven and and
[1:10:18] any good study you also have to look
[1:10:20] upstream. So we took some samples
[1:10:22] upstream and we started getting some
[1:10:24] high bacteria levels. So we took some
[1:10:26] more samples and again high bacteria
[1:10:29] levels. So initially we did and use some
[1:10:32] of our funding to uh do the microbial
[1:10:35] source tracking and we we did find is u
[1:10:38] detectable human levels and so now we
[1:10:40] need to um now that we know that's an
[1:10:43] area of concern we're going to go in and
[1:10:46] just do some more sampling and see if we
[1:10:48] can identify the source.
[1:10:49] >> Sir from the North Bampford perspective
[1:10:51] the sources that you took from was that
[1:10:54] aven bacteria from what I understood
[1:10:57] that might have been brought to our
[1:10:58] attention during another committee
[1:10:59] meeting.
[1:10:59] >> Yes. So we we have found different types
[1:11:02] of contamination. So there's typically
[1:11:04] aven canine um there's also ruminant
[1:11:08] which is farm animals and then human
[1:11:11] where right now we're looking at the
[1:11:13] human contamination
[1:11:15] because that is at the top of our list
[1:11:16] but we're going to look at those other
[1:11:17] sources and through the microbial source
[1:11:20] tracking um we'll have a a better idea
[1:11:23] once we get more sampling results to see
[1:11:27] where they are. um how high the levels
[1:11:30] are and then from there we can start to
[1:11:34] do some remediation.
[1:11:36] >> Is there a concern that um there's
[1:11:38] enough contamination that we need to be
[1:11:41] making our citizens aware of this
[1:11:43] contamination when people fish the river
[1:11:45] people go in for recreation or is that
[1:11:47] at a level where recreation needs to be
[1:11:50] considered? So not not at this time. And
[1:11:52] the reason why is just because it's
[1:11:54] identified doesn't mean it's pathogenic.
[1:11:56] And so through this testing, we'll have
[1:11:58] a better idea. So if I test water
[1:12:00] anywhere, I'm going to find some level
[1:12:02] of human contamination. We're going to
[1:12:04] find birds and canine. What we need to
[1:12:07] do is to do some more sample sampling
[1:12:10] and quantify it and see where that
[1:12:12] threshold is. Just a few samples is not
[1:12:14] enough.
[1:12:16] >> Okay.
[1:12:17] >> Yeah. Yeah, we don't want to scare
[1:12:18] folks, but you know, right
[1:12:19] [clears throat] now we we have
[1:12:20] identified it and now we have an
[1:12:22] obligation to take it to the next step.
[1:12:24] >> Okay.
[1:12:24] >> How does deep fit into this? You know,
[1:12:27] how does the different organizations
[1:12:30] work on?
[1:12:30] >> Yeah. So, o over the years, um there's
[1:12:33] been many studies on the farm river
[1:12:35] watershed. In fact, there's a group
[1:12:37] friends of the farm river that regularly
[1:12:39] go out and do some sampling. There's
[1:12:40] been some private sampling that's done.
[1:12:42] And what we have done specifically SAR
[1:12:45] is we getting our arms around all that
[1:12:48] research um because not all the
[1:12:51] organizations are communicating. There's
[1:12:53] been some studies that no one ever
[1:12:55] contacted us. And so that's like one of
[1:12:57] the projects that we're doing is
[1:12:59] wrapping our arms around all the
[1:13:00] research. Um we have consulted with uh
[1:13:04] with deep. Um but on deep side it's
[1:13:07] really more of a local matter. um you
[1:13:10] know so if we find other sources
[1:13:11] [snorts] we can certainly consult with
[1:13:13] them and we have consulted with them but
[1:13:16] typically rivers are and for finding
[1:13:19] human waste um
[1:13:22] we as a agency as a local agency in
[1:13:25] towns have to conduct the research um we
[1:13:28] have applied for some of the grant money
[1:13:30] and I I you know I've looked at lots of
[1:13:33] grants we applied for several we haven't
[1:13:35] gotten them right now in the world of
[1:13:38] environmental health grants grants.
[1:13:39] They're just not a lot. Um so the feds
[1:13:42] and the state have done some cutting.
[1:13:44] We've looked at community foundation
[1:13:46] grants and unfortunately there, as I'm
[1:13:49] aware of, there's no um local North
[1:13:52] Brford community foundation grants we
[1:13:54] can we can apply for. And um we have
[1:13:58] exhausted every grant that we could, you
[1:14:02] know, those are the ones we got. There's
[1:14:03] a whole number of ones that we didn't
[1:14:05] receive. Um, we've gone to the towns of
[1:14:08] Brford and East Haven and now we're
[1:14:11] going up the river and we we're
[1:14:14] concerned with some of the results that
[1:14:16] we're getting. Again, it's preliminary.
[1:14:18] Um, and so next steps for us is we're
[1:14:21] going to take some more samples. We're
[1:14:22] hoping for this funding and then we will
[1:14:24] come back and report out um once we get
[1:14:26] the results.
[1:14:28] >> Anthony, would we have room in
[1:14:29] contingency to help with the funding on
[1:14:31] this?
[1:14:31] >> Certainly. Is it the contingency? This
[1:14:33] year's current contingency.
[1:14:37] >> I have a couple questions.
[1:14:39] [clears throat] How'd you come up with
[1:14:40] the figure of $10,000 for North Mar?
[1:14:43] [snorts]
[1:14:44] >> So, when we look at the farm river, um
[1:14:48] lower river is actually wider. Um
[1:14:51] there's more area to um to test. There's
[1:14:55] it's more um more houses, more
[1:14:58] subdivisions. where as we go up the
[1:14:59] river, it narrows and there's not as
[1:15:02] much. Um, we were thinking about um
[1:15:05] asking for the 15 or $20,000. But what
[1:15:09] we wanted to do is we wanted to be fair.
[1:15:11] Um, the next phase of the study, $10,000
[1:15:14] will cover the next phase of the study.
[1:15:16] When we get the results,
[1:15:18] depending on what that is,
[1:15:21] there may be more testing that's needed.
[1:15:24] We may have to come back here or look
[1:15:25] for other grants. But we we wanted to be
[1:15:27] fair as a start like we did in Brford
[1:15:31] and East Haven. So this is a start.
[1:15:33] >> How do we know when the $10,000 has
[1:15:35] expired? I mean, is there a time frame
[1:15:37] for this?
[1:15:37] >> Um, well, I put together a report and it it outlines a budget.
[1:15:43] >> So, you should have gotten that.
[1:15:44] >> It's in our packet. That the budget's in
[1:15:46] our packet.
[1:15:47] >> All right. So, I'm not a fisherman.
[1:15:50] I can't ever remember going fishing, but
[1:15:52] I do see people fishing in the Farm
[1:15:54] River. Is the farm up in North Branford?
[1:15:56] Is it stocked? And if they catch the
[1:15:58] fish, are the fish edible or we have to
[1:16:01] worry about this bacteria?
[1:16:02] >> So, as of right now, we're not doing
[1:16:04] shell fishing. Shell fishing is
[1:16:06] different. You know, [snorts] that's
[1:16:07] more in the saltwater bodies. Freshwater
[1:16:10] fish, even if there's some level of
[1:16:12] human waste. It's not going to it should
[1:16:16] not contaminate the fish, at least not
[1:16:17] at the preliminary levels that we have
[1:16:19] seen.
[1:16:21] >> All right. Thank you.
[1:16:22] >> You're welcome. I always wonder if they
[1:16:24] caught the fish if they ate them.
[1:16:26] >> You're you're eating the meat of the
[1:16:28] fish. So, it's not um it's not
[1:16:31] >> as um dangerous. And again, the levels
[1:16:34] we're seeing are high enough that we
[1:16:38] need to do an investigation, but they're
[1:16:40] not so high that we are sounding any
[1:16:43] alarms. We need to just investigate a
[1:16:45] bit further.
[1:16:45] >> But I always thought when you were
[1:16:46] fishing, the water had to be moving,
[1:16:48] running somewhere. So, the water was
[1:16:50] still was not a good sign.
[1:16:52] water as well. Is it is the farm river
[1:16:55] stock by the state?
[1:16:56] >> Yes.
[1:16:57] it is.
[1:16:57] >> It is. Okay. I didn't tell you.
[1:16:59] >> And this is um running river water.
[1:17:01] We're finding it.
[1:17:02] >> Um so, you know, that that's another
[1:17:05] area of concern when we see any kind of
[1:17:07] contamination in running water. Um
[1:17:10] especially over time.
[1:17:13] >> So, with your testing, you'd be trying
[1:17:15] to narrow it down to find out if there's
[1:17:17] failed septic system somewhere or where
[1:17:19] the sources. Is that
[1:17:20] >> correct? Yes. Yeah. So, next steps is
[1:17:23] we'll we'll
[1:17:26] take some more sampling. We're looking
[1:17:28] at maps and trying to see where um and
[1:17:31] as we walk the river, we're looking for
[1:17:33] pipes or any areas of direct discharge.
[1:17:36] Um and when we do the testing in
[1:17:40] different areas, the levels are going to
[1:17:43] go up or down. And as they go up, we
[1:17:45] kind of home in on those areas. And then
[1:17:47] if you know there are some failing
[1:17:49] septic systems, we would have to
[1:17:51] >> yeah,
[1:17:51] >> we would have to address that.
[1:17:52] Obviously, we'd be working with
[1:17:55] different town officials and we've been
[1:17:56] talking to the town officials about
[1:17:58] this.
[1:17:58] >> But the northern end of the almost
[1:18:00] origin of the Farm River is in a zone
[1:18:02] that has primarily sept or sewer it if
[1:18:06] you know in that general watershed area.
[1:18:08] So there's not as much septic in there
[1:18:10] or homes around it. So hopefully not up
[1:18:12] that far. But
[1:18:13] >> yeah, it's a it's a mixed bag. Um but you know and it could be a broken uh
[1:18:18] public sewer line somewhere.
[1:18:20] >> Yeah.
[1:18:20] >> It could be leaking. So again, this is
[1:18:21] where we need to
[1:18:23] >> go a little deeper
[1:18:24] >> to look into it. Sure.
[1:18:25] >> So you've been doing this for several
[1:18:26] years,
[1:18:28] >> this testing.
[1:18:30] >> So why wouldn't it why wouldn't it be in
[1:18:32] your budget?
[1:18:35] >> Why wouldn't the testing be in our
[1:18:36] budget?
[1:18:37] >> You did it last year.
[1:18:38] >> So actually it has been in our budget in
[1:18:41] the sense that we've been doing this
[1:18:42] since 2012. I mean, if you go back to
[1:18:45] about the 1990s, there was some testing
[1:18:48] done, but technology has changed. Um,
[1:18:51] and we started at the lower Farm River
[1:18:54] in Long Island Sound because that was
[1:18:56] the biggest area of concern because we
[1:18:58] were seeing beach closures. We were
[1:19:00] seeing high bacteria levels that
[1:19:02] impacted shellfish beds. And so that's
[1:19:04] where we started and then we started
[1:19:07] moving up. And as we moved up, we
[1:19:10] identified some other areas of concern.
[1:19:12] [snorts]
[1:19:12] And the only source of that those shell
[1:19:15] beds get contaminated was right above
[1:19:17] from the farm river just in that area.
[1:19:19] >> That's one of the areas. Yes. I mean,
[1:19:21] but it also could be from Long Island
[1:19:23] Sound, but but coming from the river was
[1:19:25] the main source. In fact, the Department
[1:19:27] [snorts] of Aquaculture downgraded some
[1:19:29] of the shellfish beds in a farm river
[1:19:32] because of some of the high bacterial
[1:19:34] levels.
[1:19:36] >> Yeah.
[1:19:38] >> How does Cedar Lake tie into this? Cedar
[1:19:41] Lake. How does that tie into that?
[1:19:43] >> Um so when we when we were looking at
[1:19:48] Farm River Cedar Lake a couple years
[1:19:50] ago, um we again we we're seeing um
[1:19:54] residents came to us. We we had to close
[1:19:56] the beach. Uh 2024 also [snorts] we saw
[1:20:00] some um allergy blooms. Um and we
[1:20:04] recommended no more swimming. And so
[1:20:06] then we started sampling
[1:20:08] at about the same time as we were going
[1:20:10] up the farm river. So what we decided to
[1:20:13] do is roll these two projects into one
[1:20:16] >> um because we have a number of uh
[1:20:17] interns right now that are working for
[1:20:19] us taking water samples and so we
[1:20:23] extended the farm river and added um
[1:20:26] Cedar Lake to it because Sar's working
[1:20:29] on a water water quality project.
[1:20:32] >> Okay. So I didn't quite understand the
[1:20:34] re the the answer on so so you you're
[1:20:37] looking for $40,000 15 [snorts]
[1:20:40] and 10.
[1:20:41] >> So all three wasn't that in your budget.
[1:20:44] >> We just came through the budget period.
[1:20:46] So why don't you just put that money
[1:20:48] that you need for this water testing in
[1:20:50] your budget?
[1:20:51] >> You mean in the U per capita fund
[1:20:54] budget? So
[1:20:56] >> your budget we we just we just approved
[1:20:59] our share of East Shore Health. So what
[1:21:01] I'm saying if you put that 40,000 in and
[1:21:04] divided it by the three towns
[1:21:08] » that's minuscule coming to us after the
[1:21:10] fact.
[1:21:11] >> So we didn't we wanted to keep the per
[1:21:14] >> we wanted to keep the per capita budget
[1:21:18] um which [clears throat and snorts] for
[1:21:19] our normal
[1:21:22] programs as low as possible. So we
[1:21:24] didn't want to increase the per capita
[1:21:26] budget for a water quality study because
[1:21:29] at some point this is going to end. So
[1:21:31] it would not be fair to the towns if I
[1:21:34] raise the per capita significantly
[1:21:38] every year for a single project. And so
[1:21:42] what we did is we separated it out.
[1:21:45] So that that's why because because if I
[1:21:48] raised the per capita [snorts] to 1617
[1:21:51] we would be having a different kind of
[1:21:52] conversation. Um, also it wouldn't be
[1:21:56] fair to the towns across the board
[1:21:57] because the lower farm river would get
[1:22:01] more resources than the upper farm
[1:22:03] river. So that's, you know, that that's
[1:22:06] one of the reasons why we kept this,
[1:22:08] >> but also for like Brford and East Haven.
[1:22:10] So, you know, they own the beaches that
[1:22:13] get closed.
[1:22:15] >> They have some of it's public, some of
[1:22:17] it's private. My son-in-law owns it
[1:22:19] shellfish and bed. um the
[1:22:24] you know those those properties in
[1:22:26] Brford and East Haven. I mean it's a lot
[1:22:28] easier for them to come up with 15,000
[1:22:30] [clears throat] when they're getting
[1:22:31] have house after house after house on
[1:22:34] the shoreline on the beach paying well
[1:22:36] over a h 100,000 in town taxes in North
[1:22:39] Frankfurt. We don't have a right to go
[1:22:41] to one of those beaches and we don't own
[1:22:44] the beach. though, you know, it's it's
[1:22:47] different for us to come up with to to
[1:22:51] fund the money. You know, it's a lot
[1:22:52] easier for them.
[1:22:54] >> I acknowledge what you're saying, Al,
[1:22:56] and I I and I understand. However, um if
[1:23:02] you're a resident in those towns or
[1:23:04] those towns, and you're finding upstream
[1:23:07] human contamination and running river
[1:23:09] water in North Brford, um then it's that
[1:23:13] town's obligation, right? So, so that so
[1:23:16] I know I know what you're saying, but
[1:23:17] it's like, you know, I mean,
[1:23:18] >> two things. It's either a failed septic
[1:23:21] >> or a breach in the sewer line.
[1:23:23] >> Yeah. I mean, one of the reason one of
[1:23:25] the reasons why, you know, again, with
[1:23:27] the funding increase, not only has it
[1:23:29] come, but the other towns have asked,
[1:23:32] >> um, what's going on in North Brford? Um,
[1:23:35] we're contributing and we have
[1:23:37] contributed over time for years. Um, and
[1:23:40] if you're finding contamination in the
[1:23:43] upper Farm River, then they need to take
[1:23:46] care of it. So, you know, we're kind of,
[1:23:51] you know, in the middle here.
[1:23:52] >> And then one more question. I'm sure
[1:23:54] probably you don't know the answer. Does
[1:23:55] anybody in the room know the answer? Who
[1:23:57] owns Cedar Lake?
[1:23:59] >> Is that association?
[1:24:01] >> No.
[1:24:02] >> That owns its association.
[1:24:04] So
[1:24:05] >> my money and association should be
[1:24:07] paying to clean their own.
[1:24:09] >> My understanding um and again we started
[1:24:12] to look my understanding and we started
[1:24:14] to look into this um is that the town
[1:24:17] owns it and the association only has
[1:24:19] rights to it
[1:24:22] >> because only the beach anyway.
[1:24:24] >> Yeah. It's only not it's only that one.
[1:24:28] >> Somebody owns the lake,
[1:24:29] >> right?
[1:24:30] >> Okay. There's no
[1:24:32] >> Someone owns the lake. Yeah, as I
[1:24:34] understand, the town owns the lake. The
[1:24:36] town has significant property around the
[1:24:39] lake and the association, like most
[1:24:41] associations, don't own the water. They
[1:24:43] own the rights at that beach to access
[1:24:46] the water
[1:24:48] >> and I believe it's in their deeds.
[1:24:52] >> Okay. Not to prolong the conversation,
[1:24:54] but what what would you do to clean the
[1:24:56] lake up?
[1:24:56] >> Have the answer tomorrow.
[1:24:58] >> What would be [snorts] the process of
[1:24:59] cleaning that lake? So, right now, um,
[1:25:03] phosphorus seems to be the leading cause
[1:25:06] of the allergy blooms. And so, we're
[1:25:08] working with deep and looking at the
[1:25:10] permits. Um, and then we're going to
[1:25:13] consult with Tilcon. Um, they have
[1:25:16] permits to discharge up to 2 million
[1:25:18] gallons a day into the lake. And so
[1:25:21] we're gonna, you know, talk to them and
[1:25:23] see what can be done to um maybe soften
[1:25:27] or remediate some of the nutrients that
[1:25:29] are going into the lake.
[1:25:35] » I'm sorry, I didn't know that. So Tilcon
[1:25:37] dumps all that water into there.
[1:25:39] >> Um they have they have permits that. So
[1:25:42] we are not the lead agency. Tilcon is
[1:25:44] the lead agency and Tilcon has permits
[1:25:47] from Connecticut Deep to discharge from
[1:25:51] the quarry from their holding ponds um
[1:25:54] up to 2 million gallons per day.
[1:26:00] » That'll do a job on a lake.
[1:26:07] » Bob, did you have some questions?
[1:26:09] >> Well, a few things. Um,
[1:26:12] yes. And thank you for the presentation.
[1:26:14] >> You're welcome.
[1:26:15] >> I'm I'm a little bit skeptical about the
[1:26:18] request. I understand you want the
[1:26:19] 10,000.
[1:26:21] I'm just curious why didn't you come
[1:26:23] here with a request for 20,000 or
[1:26:25] 25,000? Are you trying to moderate what
[1:26:27] you really need or you felt that this
[1:26:30] was enough? I mean, if you're going to
[1:26:31] do 17 samples, why not do 158 samples?
[1:26:35] Where did this [clears throat] magic
[1:26:35] number come from? Enlighten us on that a
[1:26:37] little bit.
[1:26:38] >> Sure. So
[1:26:40] when we started the sampling in um
[1:26:45] Brford and East Haven, the first request
[1:26:47] was after we exhausted all the other
[1:26:49] grant money and some of the funding and
[1:26:51] our own resources was $20,000. Um again,
[1:26:55] watershed's bigger, more development.
[1:26:58] um at the lower lake. Um we have some
[1:27:02] preliminary samples and so the next
[1:27:06] step is to take more samples and that's
[1:27:09] going to cost somewhere around
[1:27:11] $10,000ish.
[1:27:13] Um and we're hoping that's going to give
[1:27:15] us enough information to make some
[1:27:18] recommendations on what needs to be done
[1:27:20] next. Um and so if I came with a 20 or
[1:27:23] $30,000 request, we would be having a
[1:27:26] conversation. What are you going to do
[1:27:27] with 20 or $30,000? So, I'm I'm trying
[1:27:30] to be fair, you know, and I'm looking at
[1:27:32] this right now over the next year,
[1:27:36] this sampling phase, and then we'll see
[1:27:39] we'll get the samples, we'll see where
[1:27:41] it takes us, and we'll work with town
[1:27:44] officials and
[1:27:46] talk about the next phase.
[1:27:48] >> So, did somebody ask Anthony already,
[1:27:50] would that be from it now? this year's
[1:27:55] we do have the money.
[1:27:56] >> We have the money.
[1:27:57] >> Okay. And another question for my
[1:28:00] >> um let's do it.
[1:28:01] >> I've never heard this come up in inland
[1:28:03] wetlands and water courses agency
[1:28:05] meetings. Uh I used to be a member of
[1:28:07] that for a while. Now I attend the
[1:28:09] meetings when I actually hold them. Uh
[1:28:11] Dr. Bano is on that committee. As I've
[1:28:14] joked with some of my colleagues here,
[1:28:16] he doesn't [snorts] want anybody even
[1:28:17] looking at the Farm River. And we're the
[1:28:19] water courses agency is very keen on the
[1:28:21] fact that North Brford our rules is is
[1:28:24] anything within 200 feet of the water
[1:28:27] course you got to go through the water
[1:28:29] courses agency it's not 100 ft but state
[1:28:31] law it's 200 ft. So we've gone above and
[1:28:33] beyond what the state requires for that.
[1:28:36] >> So I mean I I think that they've been
[1:28:38] very good about overseeing that being
[1:28:39] very be very careful what you're doing
[1:28:42] or having anything to do with the farm
[1:28:44] river. [snorts]
[1:28:45] They're they're very protective of the
[1:28:48] farm river.
[1:28:49] >> All that being said,
[1:28:51] >> I mean, you identified it's largely
[1:28:54] aven, right? And some human waste,
[1:28:58] >> but I mean, waste is waste. I mean, this
[1:29:02] being North Brford with the farms and
[1:29:04] the forest we have around here,
[1:29:06] some open space, it's not just humans. I
[1:29:09] mean, you've got you name it. Deer,
[1:29:12] bobcat, coyotes, groundhogs, rats, mice,
[1:29:17] squirrels, you name it. So, what makes
[1:29:19] this waste better than that waste is my
[1:29:21] question. That sounds like a silly
[1:29:22] question, but I really want to know why the focus on this waste is waste.
[1:29:26] >> Yeah. Um,
[1:29:28] >> Robert, that's a great question. The
[1:29:30] sampling, what it will do for us is
[1:29:32] quantify. Again, just because it's
[1:29:34] present doesn't mean it's pathogenic.
[1:29:37] um you test water anywhere, you're going
[1:29:39] to find some levels of contamination um
[1:29:42] in any surface water. And so what we
[1:29:45] want to do is we want to quantify and
[1:29:46] see if it rises to the action levels
[1:29:49] that are set by EPA um and state
[1:29:52] regulations that is going to impact
[1:29:55] human health. When we talk about
[1:29:56] watersheds, there are many agencies that
[1:29:59] are involved. We as a local health
[1:30:02] department are looking at human health.
[1:30:04] That's what we're looking at. That's our
[1:30:05] lens. If there are other contaminants in
[1:30:10] there that impact wildlife, that is not
[1:30:13] necessarily our role. We will work with
[1:30:15] other agencies on that. And so the
[1:30:18] funding is to take a step back, look at from 30,000 ft,
[1:30:25] do some more testing and quantify it.
[1:30:27] Will it impact human health and is it
[1:30:30] going to impact
[1:30:32] not just the North Brford residents,
[1:30:36] East Haven, and also Long Island Sound
[1:30:37] because everything goes into Long Island
[1:30:39] Sound and everyone enjoys Long Island
[1:30:41] Sound in some way, shape or form. Um,
[1:30:44] and again, it's multi-million dollars in
[1:30:46] shellfish beds and sea farming. Um, and
[1:30:50] some of the stuff that we're doing is
[1:30:52] being done in other areas of
[1:30:54] Connecticut.
[1:30:56] So, the funding is just to quantify it
[1:30:58] to come back
[1:31:01] with our data and to give you a better
[1:31:04] idea of what's going on and what we can
[1:31:08] do. If we're talking about aven waste,
[1:31:10] we're always going to find aven waste.
[1:31:12] It's like that's okay, but is it in
[1:31:15] balance with the ecosystem and is it
[1:31:18] rise to the level that it's going to
[1:31:20] impact human health?
[1:31:25] » I'd like to make a motion that the town
[1:31:27] council allocate $10,000 from this
[1:31:29] year's contingency to fund the East
[1:31:31] Shore District Health Department.
[1:31:37] » Motion was made by councelor Diamond,
[1:31:38] seconded by councelor Rose.
[1:31:41] Um, any further discussion?
[1:31:43] >> Yes. Um,
[1:31:46] you know, in the short time I've been on
[1:31:48] the council, I I've seen what I already
[1:31:50] have read about and suspected.
[1:31:53] You know, money, it's just not there. I
[1:31:56] mean, we're saying the money is here
[1:31:57] over in this pot, but trust me, there's
[1:31:59] every other agency in town that wants
[1:32:01] piece of that action. Everybody's got
[1:32:04] their hand up. I need this. I want tax
[1:32:06] abatement. I want more books for the
[1:32:07] school. I want payraises. I want it's
[1:32:10] non-stop. If you've never been on town
[1:32:12] council, I encourage anybody here to
[1:32:14] run. But I mean, it's the the demands on
[1:32:18] city services are overwhelming.
[1:32:21] And nobody seems to be able to say no at
[1:32:23] any point because you want to you want
[1:32:25] to make you happy, you want to make him
[1:32:27] happy, you want to make her happy, you
[1:32:28] want to make him happy.
[1:32:31] I mean, I I got to tell you uh and and
[1:32:34] this is for discussion here. My question
[1:32:38] is, you know, is it possible that we can
[1:32:40] get bang for the buck at a reduced rate?
[1:32:42] In other words, if you're going to make
[1:32:44] X number of um uh I guess inspections or
[1:32:48] samples at $10,000, can you get the same
[1:32:51] job done at $7,500 or at $5,000?
[1:32:55] Because if we're going to resist that,
[1:32:57] then well, heck, why not go the opposite
[1:32:59] way and say, "Oh, $30,000. We'll test
[1:33:01] away and we'll get a lot more valuable
[1:33:03] information." So, what is the right
[1:33:05] number? They've come to us and said
[1:33:07] 10,000
[1:33:08] and you're saying that we can afford it.
[1:33:11] Okay, that money comes from somewhere.
[1:33:13] That's 10,000 we can't spend on the
[1:33:14] police department. That's 10,000 we
[1:33:16] can't spend on the board of ed, you
[1:33:17] know. So, I mean, it's our job to figure
[1:33:19] that out. I just wonder if 10,000 is the
[1:33:22] right number.
[1:33:24] >> If if I may.
[1:33:26] >> Yep.
[1:33:27] >> Um this is a negotiated rate. Um and so
[1:33:31] we are getting a discount and we're
[1:33:32] using the economy of scale because we're
[1:33:35] testing Brford and um East Haven and so
[1:33:39] we're already negotiated a rate. We also
[1:33:41] talked to the state department of public
[1:33:43] health. They're preparing the samples
[1:33:45] for us free of charge. There's a
[1:33:47] preparation of samples to do DNA
[1:33:49] sampling. Um and so that is already
[1:33:53] negotiated. So we are from our end we
[1:33:56] are doing it at the lowest possible
[1:33:59] including funds that we're putting in
[1:34:04] as a leader of a regional health agency.
[1:34:08] I'm dealing with the same things with
[1:34:09] our with with budget cuts. Um every one
[1:34:13] of our bills are going up. I've had to
[1:34:14] lay off staff. The money that we
[1:34:17] normally get for grants has all dried
[1:34:20] up. I need to diversify and cut. We're
[1:34:22] going through every single contract and
[1:34:25] renegotiating the contract um and making
[1:34:28] some very hard decisions. And so I
[1:34:32] started off by saying when I came here I mean I read the paper and I know
[1:34:36] what's going on with the budget
[1:34:37] referendum and everything. Um I live in
[1:34:40] a town that still can't pass a budget.
[1:34:42] Tonight is the referendum. Hopefully it
[1:34:44] will pass. Um, and so I hear you loud
[1:34:47] and clear. And that's why it's a oneoff
[1:34:51] $10,000 and I didn't put in my per
[1:34:53] capita because if I put it in my per
[1:34:55] capita and I came here,
[1:34:57] we would be having a very hard
[1:35:00] conversation and it wouldn't be fair
[1:35:01] because I would be getting questions
[1:35:03] about East Haven and Brford are using up
[1:35:07] more resources in North Brford. So why
[1:35:09] should we pay more? So I've tried as
[1:35:12] best as I can. I think I've done it to
[1:35:14] give you a fair
[1:35:18] lowest possible price that we've
[1:35:20] negotiated out.
[1:35:22] Um, I'm in favor of the $10,000 and I
[1:35:25] listened to Bob's argument. But I
[1:35:27] listened to the gentleman, he was very
[1:35:28] well knowledgeable, and when I asked him
[1:35:30] how he came up with$10,000, he described
[1:35:33] that our share in the Farm River isn't
[1:35:35] as big as the other shears. And he
[1:35:37] showed how narrow it was, and he was
[1:35:39] being fair. Whenever he was asked about
[1:35:41] the different ways, he was responsive,
[1:35:43] very knowledgeable, and I trusted me and
[1:35:45] absolutely knows his job. And I support
[1:35:47] the $10,000 at least this year. And if
[1:35:50] he comes back next year, then we'll have
[1:35:52] more questions. How we what do we get
[1:35:54] for our buck? What bang do we get for
[1:35:56] our buck? Then we can answer that. Is
[1:35:57] that okay with you, sir?
[1:35:58] >> Yes.
[1:35:59] >> I support the $10,000.
[1:36:01] >> So, I'd just like to say that when I
[1:36:03] first read this tonight, I was a hard
[1:36:06] nut and he convinced me. Okay. So,
[1:36:11] >> and stuff.
[1:36:11] >> So, we're on the same page, Al.
[1:36:13] [laughter]
[1:36:14] >> Yeah. Thank you for explaining
[1:36:15] everything.
[1:36:17] >> I was on the same page.
[1:36:17] >> You did well.
[1:36:18] >> Well, that's why we asked questions.
[1:36:21] >> Yeah. Well,
[1:36:21] >> so that we No, I think I think we asked
[1:36:23] all Bob has a very good point and Bob
[1:36:26] has a strong point.
[1:36:27] >> But I also know that the gentleman did
[1:36:29] not run away from the questions. He
[1:36:31] stood there rapid fire at the questions.
[1:36:34] work
[1:36:35] >> the the the human waste does it for me.
[1:36:39] >> Well, if I caught a fish with human
[1:36:40] waste, I'm throwing the fish back. I can
[1:36:42] tell you. [laughter]
[1:36:43] >> Okay.
[1:36:47] >> So, we're going to take a vote. Um all
[1:36:49] in favor?
[1:36:50] >> I opposed. Abstain. Motion passes.
[1:36:55] >> Thank you. And um when we finish our
[1:36:58] testing and quantify data, I'll be back
[1:37:00] to report out.
[1:37:01] >> Thank you so much. Thank you.
[1:37:04] >> The largest of butter of the lake is the
[1:37:06] Brford Steam Railroad.
[1:37:09] >> Steam Railroad. It goes from Route 80
[1:37:11] right down. Then the town has a piece
[1:37:13] that's behind Cedar Lake School. And
[1:37:16] then on the southern side, as Tom
[1:37:17] mentioned, it's the association and the
[1:37:19] rest of it is all private owners.
[1:37:21] >> Is that the T?
[1:37:22] >> So the Braver Steam Railroad, isn't that
[1:37:25] Tilcon?
[1:37:26] >> Yeah.
[1:37:28] So I would think that they would be the
[1:37:30] biggest share of cleaning up the lake.
[1:37:33] >> Well, that's why they're going to have
[1:37:34] the meeting with
[1:37:36] >> responsible. You promised me a ride on
[1:37:37] the caboose that's supposed to be on
[1:37:39] there. Supposed to be on there.
[1:37:40] >> I remember.
[1:37:41] >> Okay, we're going to move on. Next item
[1:37:44] on the agenda is the 2001 Mac truck
[1:37:48] replacement. And our assistant public
[1:37:51] works director Dan Santano is here to
[1:37:54] present. Right.
[1:37:57] Get the lights.
[1:37:58] >> Oh, sorry.
[1:38:01] >> Good evening. Um, I have a hard time one
[1:38:04] uping Mike here,
[1:38:05] >> but uh, [laughter]
[1:38:07] so, um, 2001,
[1:38:08] >> your request is a little bit higher than
[1:38:10] Mike.
[1:38:10] >> Yeah, just a little bit, Mike.
[1:38:11] [laughter] Yeah. Um, 2001 Mac truck
[1:38:15] replacement. Um, so there's a memo in
[1:38:18] your packet. We, uh, brought this to the
[1:38:20] town manager and then to finance
[1:38:22] subcommittee last week. now forwarded to
[1:38:25] here. Um we have a 2001 Mac truck that's
[1:38:29] undergoing a transmission repair now. Um
[1:38:31] pretty hefty repair. We have um three of
[1:38:35] these 2001 trucks that we purchased 26
[1:38:38] years ago. So during the repair, they're
[1:38:41] noticing extensive rust um issues. We've
[1:38:44] had a couple frame repairs on the truck
[1:38:46] already these last two years. So most
[1:38:48] likely in the next couple of years, it's
[1:38:51] going to go. Um, that being said, it's
[1:38:54] not like we just go to the store and buy
[1:38:56] a truck off the shelf. It's it's a
[1:38:59] couple couple years between buying the
[1:39:01] cabin chassis, sending it to the truck
[1:39:02] builder, building the body, plow,
[1:39:04] lights, um, sourcing materials from
[1:39:07] multiple different vendors. So, what
[1:39:10] we're looking to do is kind of start the
[1:39:13] process on replacing this truck. Um what
[1:39:16] we're proposing in the memo is to buy
[1:39:18] the cabin chassis right now outright and
[1:39:22] then um this upcoming or July 2027
[1:39:27] we will seek funding to build the truck.
[1:39:30] What this will do is
[1:39:33] allow there's already a truck on the
[1:39:34] line coming in that they can put our
[1:39:36] name on. Um if we purchase it, it it expedites the process for us.
[1:39:44] So, if we do this, we'll have the truck
[1:39:46] in a year and a half built. Um, if we
[1:39:49] wait, then it's going to be longer than
[1:39:50] that. Um, what we presented to the
[1:39:53] finance subcommittee was,
[1:39:56] um, as of right now, there's an
[1:39:58] estimated $20,000 increase coming next
[1:40:01] year on these trucks. Um, due to
[1:40:04] emissions,
[1:40:05] they're implementing something with the
[1:40:07] emissions. um something along the lines
[1:40:09] of keeping the exhaust heated so that
[1:40:11] when you fire the truck up, you don't
[1:40:12] get that cold puff of smoke. Um that's a
[1:40:15] $20,000 hike. Um in addition to that, we
[1:40:18] are um by purchasing it outright versus
[1:40:21] the typical three lease payment to buy,
[1:40:24] we save $12,000 in floor plan. Um,
[1:40:30] pretty much when you buy the truck and
[1:40:31] it takes a year and a half to build, we
[1:40:33] have to pay a floor plan they call it
[1:40:36] because the truck is kind of in in
[1:40:37] process. So, it's a total of $32,000
[1:40:41] savings we're looking to do. Um, if we
[1:40:44] don't do this, we're going to be
[1:40:46] >> coming here in July with a number
[1:40:48] $32,000 higher and a year longer.
[1:40:52] >> So, and in the package is is our lineup.
[1:40:55] 11 trucks to cover 10 roots, leaving us
[1:40:57] one spare. Um, [snorts] you can see we
[1:40:59] got out of the 80s and 90s here the last
[1:41:02] couple of years. So, we're
[1:41:05] this that's where we're at. I'd be happy
[1:41:07] to take any questions or
[1:41:08] >> two questions,
[1:41:09] >> comments. Go ahead. Go ahead.
[1:41:11] >> So, two questions.
[1:41:12] >> Yes.
[1:41:12] >> Why don't just like bypass the so-called
[1:41:14] new truck and bypass the $20,000 of
[1:41:17] emission regulations and buy something
[1:41:19] that's two years old or three years old?
[1:41:21] >> Is there anything on the market out
[1:41:22] there that would would cover this? So,
[1:41:24] yeah, good question there. Um, there are
[1:41:26] used trucks out there. Um, we actually
[1:41:31] tried that with the state. You'll see on
[1:41:32] the list there's a 2005 going out and um
[1:41:36] we paid $6,000 for it. We got a year and
[1:41:40] a half of headaches and the truck um it
[1:41:43] blew the engine, leaked oil over the and
[1:41:45] it's no good. So, we did try going that
[1:41:48] used route a couple years ago. So, no
[1:41:51] one's selling trucks two or three years
[1:41:53] old. They're selling trucks that might
[1:41:55] be 20 years old.
[1:41:56] >> Yeah. I mean, two or three years, that's
[1:41:58] pretty tough to find.
[1:42:00] >> Um, another thing, all of our trucks are
[1:42:02] set up with the same plow controls,
[1:42:04] sander controls, so anyone could hop in
[1:42:07] any truck
[1:42:09] as things change and they're all
[1:42:11] unified.
[1:42:13] >> The question that I had, and you're in
[1:42:15] the business, so you would know this,
[1:42:16] the MAC is pretty much the state of the
[1:42:19] like a Freight Liner. Yes. It's like a
[1:42:21] line kind of thing, right?
[1:42:22] >> Yep.
[1:42:23] >> And I think they're made in
[1:42:24] Pennsylvania, right?
[1:42:25] >> I believe so.
[1:42:27] >> Okay.
[1:42:27] >> So, yeah. And and to that point, a Mac
[1:42:30] truck, it's it's really better than a
[1:42:33] Freight Liner. Um we've been buying them
[1:42:36] for we're going on four decades here. We
[1:42:38] just got rid of a 38-y old truck. If you
[1:42:41] look at bigger cities and the state,
[1:42:44] they buy freight liners because they're
[1:42:45] a hair cheaper, but they get rid of them
[1:42:47] between 10 and 15 years old.
[1:42:49] Right.
[1:42:50] >> We're getting 38 years out of a truck. I
[1:42:52] don't Now you're seeing we're getting 26
[1:42:55] years out of a truck because the first
[1:42:57] 20 years of their life they were using
[1:42:59] sand and it didn't rot the trucks out.
[1:43:02] >> Now we're in this salt phase and
[1:43:04] >> Okay. [snorts]
[1:43:08] » So this truck won't be active for a year
[1:43:11] and a half though. You're saying
[1:43:12] >> year and a half. Yeah. We're just buying
[1:43:13] the cab and chassis right now.
[1:43:17] Yeah. But we're trying to phase in the
[1:43:20] trying to phase it. Instead of coming
[1:43:21] here and asking for over $300,000,
[1:43:25] >> get get the savings, expedate the
[1:43:26] process.
[1:43:27] >> The finance committee pushed it into
[1:43:29] today's meeting because we understood
[1:43:31] the the increased cost and the fact that
[1:43:34] we're down how many trucks is it now?
[1:43:36] >> Four.
[1:43:37] >> We we are down four. If you look at the
[1:43:39] list, we have Yeah. three in production.
[1:43:41] This would be
[1:43:42] >> Yeah.
[1:43:42] >> This would be number four. I thought
[1:43:45] >> it's not outfitted yet to be used.
[1:43:47] >> At least you get the cab and the chassis
[1:43:48] and then you figure out what the box is
[1:43:50] going to look like and if it's a dump or
[1:43:52] if it's whatever.
[1:43:53] >> It's going to m match our other trucks
[1:43:55] which is
[1:43:58] >> And we have the money in our vehicle
[1:44:00] reserved.
[1:44:01] >> We we do. Yes. We put
[1:44:04] >> we started we restarted that fund two
[1:44:07] budget years ago. So the first year we
[1:44:09] put $200,000 in it and this last budget
[1:44:13] year we put $50,000 in as of July 1st.
[1:44:16] So we have $250,000
[1:44:19] [snorts] in it and this is exactly what
[1:44:22] it was meant for.
[1:44:23] >> Yeah.
[1:44:23] >> And we save 32,000 or whatever he said
[1:44:26] by doing it. So
[1:44:28] >> we have to keep on doing the trues so
[1:44:30] that we don't get surprised every time
[1:44:31] we need a truck cuz trucks,
[1:44:33] >> you know, one of them was an accident
[1:44:35] and it was not North Brford's vault. was
[1:44:37] the other party. And the truck is worth
[1:44:40] a lot more to us, but to the insurance
[1:44:42] company, it's three grand. You're not
[1:44:44] replacing heavy machinery for three
[1:44:47] grand, but the insurance company doesn't
[1:44:48] care.
[1:44:48] >> Nope.
[1:44:49] >> So, it's a loss
[1:44:50] >> and it's a big loss to us. Um, so it's
[1:44:53] just one of those scenarios where we
[1:44:54] have to continue to think ahead of the
[1:44:56] curve and put money into these accounts.
[1:44:59] >> So, I have a question.
[1:45:00] >> Yes.
[1:45:01] >> So, the 172 change, that's for the cabin
[1:45:04] chassis, right? But that's for the truck
[1:45:07] completely built.
[1:45:08] >> Nope. That's just the truck,
[1:45:10] >> cabin, chassis, truck, and frame. And
[1:45:12] then the other 155 in the memo is to
[1:45:14] will be to build it. We'll request that.
[1:45:16] >> So it's 172 plus 155.
[1:45:19] >> Yep. That's the whole entire truck.
[1:45:21] >> Oh boy.
[1:45:21] >> They're not cheap.
[1:45:22] >> But we're only doing the 172 right now
[1:45:25] to get the cabin chassis.
[1:45:28] And then next budget year, [snorts]
[1:45:30] they're coming in for the body.
[1:45:31] >> There's $275,000,
[1:45:34] >> right? fire truck.
[1:45:37] [laughter]
[1:45:38] >> Yeah, they've they've gone up in price.
[1:45:42] 12 years ago when I started they were
[1:45:44] two change. When France started they
[1:45:46] were $80,000,
[1:45:47] >> right?
[1:45:48] >> It's
[1:45:51] now you're saying $155,000, but that's
[1:45:55] now that price could change when they
[1:45:58] start ordering the parts and everything
[1:46:00] else. If there's an increase in them
[1:46:02] getting the parts that 155,000 can go
[1:46:04] higher.
[1:46:05] >> Yeah, we we did have that conversation
[1:46:07] with the vendor. I think currently
[1:46:08] they're around 150 and he had us budget
[1:46:11] 155 assuming that increase.
[1:46:13] >> So if we signed a contract with them,
[1:46:16] would they be locked in that they can't
[1:46:17] go up on their price? I mean that's it.
[1:46:19] >> Yeah. No, they would have to be locked
[1:46:21] in because this is through a Sourcewell
[1:46:23] contract. So
[1:46:24] >> Sourcewell is a national company
[1:46:27] >> that we can piggyback on. [snorts]
[1:46:29] That's why we don't have to go out to
[1:46:30] bid for
[1:46:33] >> But but are we doing right by not going
[1:46:36] out to bid? We're spending hundreds of
[1:46:38] thousands of dollars.
[1:46:42] >> And we're not we're not we don't look at
[1:46:43] comparable.
[1:46:44] >> Yeah.
[1:46:45] >> We're not looking at,
[1:46:47] you know, item A, item B, item C.
[1:46:51] Um, I believe when I've talked to Fran,
[1:46:54] I know he couldn't be here tonight, but
[1:46:56] he does do that with and and will talk
[1:47:00] to different vendors. It's not so much
[1:47:02] that he's going out to bid, but he will
[1:47:05] get those prices and on other trucks. It
[1:47:10] might not necessarily be a Mac. Mac is
[1:47:13] their favorite is what he's told only
[1:47:15] because it's interchangeable. like the
[1:47:17] Mac that they're putting the um
[1:47:21] >> the transmission in right now. If they
[1:47:23] if something happens because it's
[1:47:25] already noted that there's rust on the
[1:47:27] frame and if that truck goes down and
[1:47:28] the frame cracks and they can't use it,
[1:47:31] they can take that transmission out and
[1:47:33] put it into another truck. So, we're not
[1:47:35] losing the transmission. We can reuse it
[1:47:37] in another truck. M
[1:47:39] >> um that's one of the reasons they tend
[1:47:41] to keep the same type of trucks in their
[1:47:45] but he he doesn't just go to source well
[1:47:49] um and he does get prices on other
[1:47:53] trucks.
[1:47:53] >> Yeah. But we don't have the advantage of
[1:47:55] having those before us tonight. Okay. We
[1:47:57] just have just this one Mac truck
[1:47:59] without and Tommy brings up a good
[1:48:01] point. We're not going out to bid and
[1:48:03] we're just relying on these figures and
[1:48:06] are we doing the right service to the
[1:48:09] taxpayers of the town by not getting
[1:48:11] other prices from other I don't know I
[1:48:13] don't know the name of the different
[1:48:14] truck companies but uh I don't know but
[1:48:17] Ford or Dodge or somebody else makes
[1:48:18] these big trucks. Why don't we have
[1:48:21] information about those and so we can
[1:48:23] make a more educated decision as opposed
[1:48:25] to saying well we were gonna lie on this
[1:48:28] because it's a Mac truck and it's
[1:48:29] interchangeable with all the other
[1:48:30] stuff. But the bottom line is we're
[1:48:32] weakening our position by saying we're
[1:48:34] only going to do it back in this one
[1:48:36] company.
[1:48:37] >> So
[1:48:38] >> Dan, Dan, I want to take this.
[1:48:40] >> Okay.
[1:48:40] >> Cuz I'm going to throw myself under the
[1:48:42] bus.
[1:48:44] [laughter]
[1:48:46] >> What did he say?
[1:48:47] >> He's going to throw himself under the
[1:48:48] bus.
[1:48:49] >> I'm going to get out of the way.
[1:48:51] >> Go ahead.
[1:48:51] >> So
[1:48:53] >> I had all the concerns that everybody
[1:48:55] had, you know, for [clears throat]
[1:48:57] years. And it used to bother me that
[1:48:59] you'd see the state highway was was
[1:49:02] plowing with Ford trucks and Vermont was
[1:49:04] plowing with international trucks and
[1:49:06] North Brford had Mac trucks.
[1:49:08] And so I pushed on the council years ago
[1:49:14] for them for Franny to go out to bid and
[1:49:18] take the lowest bid snowplow truck. So
[1:49:21] they had put the specs out there. We
[1:49:22] need a truck. It has to be this gross
[1:49:24] weight and it has to have a 12T plow and
[1:49:28] carry a sander. So he bought a freight
[1:49:30] liner
[1:49:31] >> truck 55.
[1:49:33] >> And I just asked Franny, how long did
[1:49:35] that freight liner last? Cuz believe me,
[1:49:37] I got egg on my face. Six and a half
[1:49:40] years.
[1:49:42] The max lasts
[1:49:44] 26 years.
[1:49:46] >> It was the oddball. in owning big
[1:49:47] trucks, you know, the rear ends and the
[1:49:50] transmissions and the the frames are
[1:49:53] heavier on a Mac. You go across the
[1:49:55] scale with an empty Mac truck and go
[1:49:57] across with a freight liner, an
[1:50:00] international, and you got, you know,
[1:50:02] pounds of steel difference in what it
[1:50:05] is. So,
[1:50:05] >> you pay for. So, I I tend to agree that
[1:50:09] we we we we asked the question, which is
[1:50:12] smart, but for me, you know, we we're kind of stuck with these Mac
[1:50:17] trucks and we have interchangeable parts
[1:50:19] on them and like the new transmission
[1:50:21] they're putting in will be saved to go
[1:50:23] in the next Mac truck when this frame is
[1:50:26] shot or whatever. So, so I think that I
[1:50:29] think that this makes sense, but that's
[1:50:32] just me from true life town council
[1:50:34] experience. So
[1:50:36] >> yeah. Well, I respect your experience.
[1:50:39] >> Believe me, I was the one that pushed
[1:50:41] for it.
[1:50:42] >> Absolutely.
[1:50:43] >> It was no good.
[1:50:44] >> Yeah.
[1:50:45] >> And we and we looked at other bands. We we spoke to uh Peterbuilt. They were
[1:50:49] down at our shop and the trucks weren't
[1:50:51] the same. They were lighter duty
[1:50:53] transmissions and what they were trying
[1:50:54] to sell us wasn't it wasn't the same. It
[1:50:56] wasn't comparable. Not to mention, we
[1:50:59] have five newer Mac trucks. So we could
[1:51:01] keep the one power steering pump on the
[1:51:02] shelf and it fits all five trucks at 2
[1:51:05] in the morning when something goes down.
[1:51:07] We're there and um you know going out to
[1:51:10] bid especially on this one. We run the
[1:51:14] risk we're probably going to spend about
[1:51:15] $30,000 more because you're going to
[1:51:18] they're you're going to be buying a
[1:51:19] truck with that new emissions, not one
[1:51:22] that's already coming down the line.
[1:51:23] >> Right. I just bring that up just my
[1:51:25] experience with fleet management in in
[1:51:27] the corporations that I've been in and
[1:51:30] are still in,
[1:51:31] >> you know, the fleet the fleet management
[1:51:33] group goes out every year, you know, and
[1:51:35] they're they're buying hundreds and
[1:51:37] thousands of trucks every year
[1:51:40] >> and uh and slowly sometimes you see the
[1:51:42] fleet changing from this this [snorts]
[1:51:44] type of truck to that type of truck. But
[1:51:47] it's a it's a it's a revolving door kind
[1:51:50] of.
[1:51:50] >> Yeah. I just bring that up because
[1:51:52] >> But do they salvage to salvage their
[1:51:54] trucks like they do? They have a problem
[1:51:56] with one.
[1:51:57] >> They use parts from the other. They
[1:51:58] probably don't do that. So they have to
[1:52:00] >> You're right. I'm I'm I'm just I'm just
[1:52:01] bringing it up. You know that
[1:52:03] >> you put the specs out, you know that
[1:52:06] [clears throat]
[1:52:06] >> and and people come in. But
[1:52:08] >> that's just it's just a comment that I'm
[1:52:11] not
[1:52:12] >> No, [snorts] that's your job is to look
[1:52:13] at it from every angle. And
[1:52:15] >> we did this with the police department.
[1:52:16] If you remember, we we changed the
[1:52:17] fleet. You talked about going into
[1:52:19] different types of of vehicles for
[1:52:21] police as well and we found there were
[1:52:23] some longevity issues with that as well
[1:52:27] anymore.
[1:52:28] >> No, true.
[1:52:28] >> And we're all using SUVs now.
[1:52:31] >> Well, Tommy brought up a really good
[1:52:32] point and I wanted to hear about it and
[1:52:34] my job here is to listen to people with
[1:52:37] their opinions and Alice convinced me
[1:52:39] based on his experience that this is the
[1:52:41] right way to go. So, I'm listening to
[1:52:44] his experience and respect that. No
[1:52:46] offense.
[1:52:47] >> No. I think if we don't this now, we're
[1:52:50] going to get a higher price bill
[1:52:51] >> later.
[1:52:53] >> So,
[1:52:53] >> is there a motion on the floor?
[1:52:55] >> All right.
[1:52:56] >> Yeah.
[1:52:59] >> I move that the town council approve an
[1:53:01] allocation not to exceed $173,000
[1:53:04] from the town vehicle maintenance
[1:53:06] reserve fund for a new mech cab and
[1:53:08] chashy chashy from Gabrieli Truck Sales
[1:53:12] via Sourcewell.
[1:53:13] >> I'll second. Motion was made by
[1:53:16] councelor Diamond, second by Deputy
[1:53:17] Mayor McMillan.
[1:53:19] All in favor?
[1:53:21] >> I opposed. Abstain. Motion carries.
[1:53:26] >> Great. Thank you. Thank you.
[1:53:27] >> You're welcome. Thank you.
[1:53:28] >> So, this is not coming out of the public
[1:53:29] works reserve. It's coming out of that
[1:53:30] special pot of money.
[1:53:32] >> It's coming out of the special pot of
[1:53:33] money.
[1:53:34] >> Yeah. Gotcha. Reserve.
[1:53:35] >> There isn't any in public works for
[1:53:38] >> Gotcha. [laughter] So, well,
[1:53:41] >> so having said that and and listening to
[1:53:43] Tommy. So Danny, I think, and we'll talk to Franny, but I don't see
[1:53:47] anything wrong with So So this one was a leftover truck ready to go. So there
[1:53:53] was a savings to buy it, but
[1:53:55] >> for next year's truck or whatever,
[1:53:57] >> go out to bid. You don't have to buy
[1:53:59] one. You know, go out to bid and let's
[1:54:01] see what the difference is and know what
[1:54:03] it is.
[1:54:04] >> You know, you got to look for a used
[1:54:05] one. I mean,
[1:54:06] >> we don't have to take it. So yeah,
[1:54:08] >> using that truck, you know, somewhere
[1:54:10] around 2012 or 13, somewhere around
[1:54:13] here, the last 26 years, I think. So,
[1:54:15] >> yeah. Well, we we actually looked at a
[1:54:17] 2016 recently, but the town, they didn't
[1:54:20] walk they don't wash them like we do.
[1:54:21] And because they were just getting rid
[1:54:22] of it at the 10 year mark. So,
[1:54:25] >> a lot of times they're junks because
[1:54:26] they know they're getting rid of them
[1:54:27] every 10 years. They have
[1:54:29] >> the money in their operating budget to
[1:54:30] just
[1:54:31] >> rolling stock them.
[1:54:33] >> But, um, you know, can we go out to bid
[1:54:35] in the future? Yeah.
[1:54:38] the source. Well, you know, they know
[1:54:40] I'm just going to use a number 31% off
[1:54:42] MS MRSP. So, someone's going to come in
[1:54:44] at 30.5 or, you know, and it's going to
[1:54:47] take 90 days and
[1:54:49] >> and then it's not the guy who's building
[1:54:51] our truck all the time. It could be a
[1:54:52] different vendor and
[1:54:54] >> but Source Well, they have different
[1:54:56] kinds of trucks.
[1:54:57] >> At least check the price
[1:54:58] >> or is it just Mac?
[1:55:00] >> No, Mac is on source. Okay. Just like
[1:55:02] John Deere tractor, Ford. Okay.
[1:55:07] Yeah,
[1:55:07] >> thanks Dan.
[1:55:08] >> Thank you sir.
[1:55:09] >> Thank you.
[1:55:11] >> Okay. Next item. Authorizing resolution
[1:55:14] for renewal of household hazardous waste
[1:55:16] collection for July 1st, 2026
[1:55:20] through June 30th, 2029.
[1:55:25] » Uh yeah. So this is a program that the
[1:55:27] town currently participates in. It uh
[1:55:30] offers town residents the ability to
[1:55:32] dispose of hazardous materials
[1:55:36] uh from
[1:55:38] 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. from May to
[1:55:40] October at the regional water authority
[1:55:43] facility in New Haven. Um this is
[1:55:46] something that was in the budget uh that
[1:55:49] passed. There's 22,500 budgeted for this
[1:55:53] item. Uh and there is a resolution
[1:55:56] included in the packet as well.
[1:56:02] It's on page 39 and it's a long
[1:56:05] resolution. So you might want to just
[1:56:08] >> So I move that we approve the resolution
[1:56:10] as stated on page 39 which will be
[1:56:14] effective from June July 1, 2026 through
[1:56:17] June 30th, 2029.
[1:56:20] >> Is there a second?
[1:56:21] >> Second.
[1:56:22] >> Okay.
[1:56:24] Motion was made by councelor Diamond,
[1:56:27] seconded by councelor Rose.
[1:56:31] Any discussion?
[1:56:33] All in favor?
[1:56:34] >> I opposed. Abstain. Motion carries.
[1:56:39] Next is proposed fixed assessment
[1:56:43] agreement for 280 Brford Road, also
[1:56:46] known as Central Plaza.
[1:56:50] So, as uh the council may remember, uh
[1:56:52] the ownership of Central Plaza
[1:56:54] transferred uh at the beginning of the
[1:56:57] year. Um since then, we've been in
[1:56:59] frequent contact with the new owners. Um
[1:57:03] as you may recall, there were a number
[1:57:05] of outstanding
[1:57:07] um blight issues on the property as well
[1:57:10] as some building code violations. Um,
[1:57:14] and you know, we we did not anticipate
[1:57:17] that they would immediately correct
[1:57:18] them, that it would take them a little
[1:57:20] bit of time once the ownership
[1:57:21] transferred to line up contractors, etc.
[1:57:24] Um, and we're happy to report that, you
[1:57:26] know, the vast majority of the code uh
[1:57:29] violations have been remediated already.
[1:57:32] Um, in addition to that, they have a
[1:57:34] number of plans underway. they've been
[1:57:37] getting uh quotes for some additional
[1:57:39] projects trying to bring the plaza um up
[1:57:43] to a higher standard. Um around the time
[1:57:47] of the property transfer, the the new
[1:57:48] owners approached me and asked uh
[1:57:51] whether the town would be willing to
[1:57:53] consider any sort of assistance uh in
[1:57:56] terms of their tax burden. Uh, and so I
[1:57:59] took that request and brought it
[1:58:01] directly to the economic development
[1:58:03] commission the past several times that
[1:58:05] um [snorts] matters have come before the
[1:58:07] council like the economic development
[1:58:09] fund. The council had requested that the
[1:58:11] economic development commission weigh in
[1:58:13] on those and so I brought it directly to
[1:58:15] the commission to provide a
[1:58:16] recommendation to the council. Um
[1:58:21] due to the nature of the work that needs
[1:58:23] to be done there, uh it is not a good
[1:58:26] candidate for the town's existing
[1:58:28] assessment deferral program. Uh the
[1:58:31] requirements of that program include
[1:58:33] that the value of the property must
[1:58:36] increase uh by 30% or more as a result
[1:58:40] of that project. Um, and because we're
[1:58:43] mostly talking about
[1:58:45] uh roof replacement, uh, you know,
[1:58:48] really just remediation of existing
[1:58:50] issues rather than expansion and
[1:58:53] improvement. Uh, it would not meet the
[1:58:55] requirements of the program.
[1:58:57] Additionally, it it is not likely to be
[1:59:00] done all at once. It is something that
[1:59:02] is going to be done over a number of
[1:59:03] years. Um, so we started to look for
[1:59:06] other tools um the town could use. Uh
[1:59:10] and there is a state statute which
[1:59:12] allows the town to enter into uh an
[1:59:15] agreement of up to 30 years um with a
[1:59:20] property owner uh to do a fixed
[1:59:24] assessment agreement. And so what that
[1:59:26] would entail is um
[1:59:30] fixing the assessment for a number of
[1:59:33] years at a rate specified in the
[1:59:35] agreement. Um and so
[1:59:40] once uh I had introduced that idea to
[1:59:44] the economic development commission it
[1:59:46] became about what is the term of the
[1:59:48] proposed agreement and and what are the
[1:59:51] levels of the assessment to be included.
[1:59:54] Um so the goal of this agreement is to
[1:59:59] provide uh stability and predictability
[2:00:02] to the property owners in terms of their
[2:00:04] tax bill. Um, as a result, the Economic
[2:00:09] Development Commission settled on a
[2:00:10] 10-year period. They thought that was
[2:00:13] significant enough to provide the
[2:00:14] necessary stability uh without uh, you
[2:00:18] know, burdening the town long term. Uh,
[2:00:21] and then in terms of the amounts that
[2:00:23] they selected, the sale price on the
[2:00:26] property was $3.5 million.
[2:00:29] Um,
[2:00:31] 70% of that is approximately 2.45
[2:00:34] million. And so the first term uh was
[2:00:38] 2.5 million for three years.
[2:00:41] Uh the final term is a 4-year term at
[2:00:45] 4.1 million which was the assessed value
[2:00:48] after revaluation.
[2:00:50] Uh and the middle term is splitting the
[2:00:52] difference moving it uh halfway between.
[2:00:56] Um and so that was the vote that the
[2:00:59] economic development commission took at
[2:01:01] their meeting earlier this month. So,
[2:01:03] I'm presenting it to the council for
[2:01:05] consideration um and looking for some
[2:01:08] feedback as to any concerns that you may
[2:01:11] have.
[2:01:11] >> Okay. So, I I you know looked at all of the
[2:01:16] information in our packet as far as the field card and everything else
[2:01:22] based on that information.
[2:01:25] has the town assessor gone through like
[2:01:29] do we have information regarding current
[2:01:32] rents on the property that type of thing
[2:01:35] and has he gone through and done an
[2:01:39] assessment on this property uh or an
[2:01:42] analysis of this information
[2:01:46] >> because I know that I I believe on
[2:01:49] commercial properties and especially
[2:01:50] like this there are forms that have to
[2:01:53] be filled out annually especally
[2:01:54] Especially on I know on personal
[2:01:56] property on rentals it might be a little
[2:01:58] bit different
[2:02:00] given the history of the previous owner.
[2:02:03] I'm sure he didn't submit those.
[2:02:05] >> That is correct. [laughter]
[2:02:08] >> So so I'm I'm not sure that we have that
[2:02:10] information or that information was
[2:02:13] available to the person [laughter]
[2:02:16] the people that bought it. And so, you
[2:02:19] know, how would that relate to the
[2:02:22] information that I mean, I would be
[2:02:26] interested to see how those numbers
[2:02:28] relate to what economic development came
[2:02:31] in
[2:02:32] >> came in at.
[2:02:33] >> Yeah.
[2:02:35] >> The the new owners have been very
[2:02:37] forthcoming with information. Um, I
[2:02:39] handed out to you all tonight. It should
[2:02:40] be in your folders.
[2:02:42] >> It's this yellow. Yeah, this is
[2:02:45] >> so
[2:02:45] >> about central plaza in your packet.
[2:02:48] >> Economic development had asked them for
[2:02:51] um you know some information some
[2:02:54] justification for their request. Um so
[2:02:57] they provided that which includes a list
[2:02:59] of you know all of the deferred
[2:03:02] maintenance from the previous owners.
[2:03:05] um you know, for example, the roof. We
[2:03:08] there was one of the code violations
[2:03:12] um
[2:03:13] at the uh building that contains
[2:03:16] townline spirits uh was, you know, a
[2:03:19] persistent roof leak, which was just
[2:03:22] patch after patch after patch. And so in
[2:03:25] their preliminary investigation, they
[2:03:26] said that there are several layers of
[2:03:28] roofing material that have just been
[2:03:30] laid on top of one another. Um and so
[2:03:34] they they've been assembling quotes
[2:03:36] since they assumed ownership and that is
[2:03:38] what was presented to you tonight. Um
[2:03:41] additionally they provided uh copies of
[2:03:44] most of the leases. Um they expressed
[2:03:49] concern at providing some of the
[2:03:52] corporate lease documents. So uh the
[2:03:54] USPS and McDonald's. Um and so I I said
[2:03:59] understandable if you could provide the
[2:04:01] rest. So we have those um and we are
[2:04:04] going through them to provide
[2:04:05] announcement.
[2:04:06] >> Why is that understandable?
[2:04:09] >> Um you know they are
[2:04:12] >> they're paying rent on that property. So
[2:04:14] correct they provided understandable
[2:04:16] that we that the assessor wouldn't have
[2:04:18] that information to to to tell us what
[2:04:20] the difference is.
[2:04:22] >> Um
[2:04:24] they they are providing the rents but
[2:04:26] not the lease documents. As far as I
[2:04:28] know they are not
[2:04:29] >> so they're going to apply they're going
[2:04:30] to supply the rent. They did. They did.
[2:04:32] Um they just Okay.
[2:04:33] >> They're not required to supply the lease
[2:04:34] documents. So
[2:04:35] >> I misunderstood you.
[2:04:36] >> Yeah.
[2:04:37] >> Um
[2:04:39] and so I I've given that information to
[2:04:41] the assessor. Um at first glance, most
[2:04:46] of them seem
[2:04:47] uh well below market. Uh and that is
[2:04:51] part of uh the new owner's issue as
[2:04:53] well. they're in a position where um
[2:04:58] you know
[2:05:00] they need to raise the rents in order to
[2:05:02] generate the funds to do the work. Um
[2:05:07] but if they do so too quickly, they
[2:05:10] could lose the tenants, in which case
[2:05:12] they'll have even less money coming in.
[2:05:14] Um, and so, uh, I'm happy to have the
[2:05:18] assessor review that information, come
[2:05:20] back to the council with, uh, a more
[2:05:22] formal analysis. Um, but, you know, what
[2:05:26] we're looking to provide them is,
[2:05:29] um, you know, Central Plaza is a a key
[2:05:33] component of the town. It's been in bad
[2:05:36] condition for decades. Um, and so, you
[2:05:41] know, we
[2:05:43] we're glad that the town was able to
[2:05:44] play a role in facilitating the transfer
[2:05:46] of the property, but now that it is
[2:05:48] transferred, um, we're looking to, uh,
[2:05:54] be a good partner with the new owners,
[2:05:56] uh, and to the extent possible, um, see
[2:06:00] if we can provide them a little bit of
[2:06:01] breathing room so that we can see the
[2:06:03] improvements to the plaza, uh, more
[2:06:06] quickly. I, you know, in speaking with
[2:06:08] them, you know, I they're town
[2:06:11] residents. They own other businesses in
[2:06:13] town as well. Um, I believe that they want to do right by the town. They
[2:06:19] want to improve the plaza, but they're really in a difficult position
[2:06:22] at the moment. So,
[2:06:24] >> well, correct me if I'm wrong. They're
[2:06:26] [clears throat] looking for a fixed task
[2:06:28] assessment, but they still have the
[2:06:30] opportunity to go up on the square
[2:06:32] footage of the rents for each each
[2:06:35] particular tenant. Correct.
[2:06:37] >> How does that play a role into the fixed
[2:06:39] cost assessment?
[2:06:40] >> How do they benefit and how do we
[2:06:42] benefit?
[2:06:43] >> You know,
[2:06:45] over what the fixed assessment agreement
[2:06:48] would do is we we would know exactly
[2:06:49] what the town's tax income would be for
[2:06:53] the period of the agreement. It fixes
[2:06:55] the assessment and so the mill rate will
[2:06:57] change and the new mill rate will apply
[2:07:00] but the assessment remains the same.
[2:07:02] >> Understand that. But that's not my
[2:07:04] question.
[2:07:06] the tenants
[2:07:08] stand a chance of getting rental
[2:07:10] increases [clears throat]
[2:07:11] based on the square footage.
[2:07:12] >> Yeah.
[2:07:13] >> So that's a bigger profit for the
[2:07:15] landlord.
[2:07:16] >> How does that benefit us? How
[2:07:18] >> do you understand what I'm saying?
[2:07:20] >> Yeah. I mean
[2:07:21] >> we're helping them but how do we get
[2:07:22] paid back as well? So essentially by the
[2:07:28] plaza improving you know the the way
[2:07:30] that uh we structured the draft
[2:07:32] agreement is that between each period um
[2:07:36] it is not an automatic renewal. Uh
[2:07:40] there's three separate periods each
[2:07:42] period requires an affirmative vote of
[2:07:44] the council. So if after three years you
[2:07:47] are not satisfied with the progress at
[2:07:48] the plaza you can cancel the agreement.
[2:07:51] All right.
[2:07:52] We've often said and we've had speakers
[2:07:54] come before us. Part of our problem is we are a farming community
[2:07:59] >> and we need businesses if we can get
[2:08:01] them in to help offset the taxes that
[2:08:04] homeowners have to pay. Does isn't this
[2:08:07] the reverse of that that we're giving
[2:08:10] them a fixed assessment and they're
[2:08:11] paying less taxes to us and doesn't that
[2:08:14] make it more of a burden on the the the
[2:08:16] homeowners, the residents?
[2:08:18] um it is a longer term approach. Um so
[2:08:24] yes in the short term uh by reducing the
[2:08:27] assessed value there will be less less
[2:08:29] tax income coming in from the property.
[2:08:32] Uh the hope is that you know at at the
[2:08:34] end of the 10-year agreement um in
[2:08:37] addition to the the natural increase in
[2:08:39] the property value that would come
[2:08:41] through revaluation cycles.
[2:08:43] uh you will also see the value that
[2:08:47] comes from the the investments in the
[2:08:49] property. And so at the end of the
[2:08:52] 10-year period, basically it's a it's a
[2:08:54] cash flow solution. By reducing the
[2:08:56] amount of money that they need to
[2:08:57] allocate to taxes, they're able to
[2:08:59] invest more money into the property in
[2:09:01] the short term. And the pay for the
[2:09:04] [clears throat] town is on the tail end
[2:09:05] of that.
[2:09:06] >> But basically, we're paying for his
[2:09:08] upgrades. Basically, it's
[2:09:11] >> or what what I don't understand is
[2:09:15] the current value. I I'm just spinning
[2:09:18] around here trying to find it again. I
[2:09:20] thought it was it was approximately 6
[2:09:22] million, right?
[2:09:23] >> That that's what Yes. The
[2:09:25] >> the current
[2:09:26] >> the
[2:09:27] >> on the book
[2:09:28] >> the appraised value which was done as a
[2:09:33] mass, you know, during the reval.
[2:09:36] >> Yeah. Okay. So why would we go why would
[2:09:39] at the end of 10 years it it fall back
[2:09:42] to current market value? Why would why
[2:09:46] would it be a a lower rate?
[2:09:49] >> No, not the the then present market
[2:09:52] value. So whatever the market value
[2:09:54] would be in 10 years.
[2:09:55] >> Yeah. the the the property would be
[2:09:58] assessed as a part of the revaluation
[2:10:00] process, but the assessed value on which
[2:10:04] the taxes would be based would be the
[2:10:06] value in the agreement. At the end of
[2:10:09] that 10-year period, it goes to what the
[2:10:11] present assessed value is, not the
[2:10:14] current.
[2:10:15] >> Yeah, that Yeah, that's I'm sorry, I'm
[2:10:17] mixing terms up, but that's what I mean.
[2:10:18] Yeah. Okay. So,
[2:10:23] yeah, I don't know. I think we got to
[2:10:24] think about this a little.
[2:10:25] >> Well, I think I I think what we need is
[2:10:27] we need the assessor,
[2:10:28] >> right? I think we this this is like
[2:10:30] information that we got. We just got it
[2:10:32] tonight.
[2:10:32] >> We need some time to think through.
[2:10:33] >> I think I anticipate that the council
[2:10:36] would move this forward tonight. It's
[2:10:37] more if there are specific things you're
[2:10:39] looking for from the assessor to make
[2:10:41] sure you want two months, one month.
[2:10:44] >> No, the assessor probably couldn't have
[2:10:47] information for our July meeting.
[2:10:48] >> So, I'll make a motion to table. Just let me ask one question until
[2:10:52] >> Just let me ask one question.
[2:10:53] >> Oh, go ahead.
[2:10:54] >> The IGA space that's there that's
[2:10:56] vacant, it's been vacant for a long
[2:10:57] time.
[2:10:59] >> If they end up getting occupy that
[2:11:02] space,
[2:11:03] >> does that person end up paying taxes
[2:11:05] based on their business themselves too?
[2:11:07] Is that is that how that works or would
[2:11:08] they
[2:11:09] >> will depend? Um, so,
[2:11:12] uh, kind of the industry standard now is
[2:11:15] a triple net lease. And in one of those
[2:11:18] leases, yes, the the business owner is
[2:11:21] responsible for the property taxes. So,
[2:11:24] I mean, that's a good point. It would it
[2:11:26] would be passed on to uh the business
[2:11:28] owner, the tenant. Um,
[2:11:32] and that, you know, looking at the
[2:11:34] leases, the existing leases, none of
[2:11:36] them are triple net. I think I think
[2:11:37] maybe one
[2:11:40] >> the big focal point is occupying that
[2:11:42] big space.
[2:11:43] >> But the other thing is the tenant would
[2:11:45] pay personal property tax on the
[2:11:48] equipment and stuff. That's that's
[2:11:50] totally separate from the real estate
[2:11:52] tax. They would still be responsible for
[2:11:55] the person depending on the type of
[2:11:57] business.
[2:11:58] >> So they would pay they have to file a
[2:12:00] form. It's due every November 1st and
[2:12:03] they get charged against on the personal
[2:12:06] property and that's separate from the
[2:12:08] real estate.
[2:12:08] >> Part part of the other issue is that
[2:12:10] they are locked into some of these
[2:12:12] leases. These were negotiated by the
[2:12:14] prior owner. They inherited them and now
[2:12:17] you know they they have several years
[2:12:18] until the end of these lease terms. And
[2:12:20] so to your question, councelor Mace,
[2:12:22] they won't be able to renegotiate some
[2:12:24] of these leases for a number of years.
[2:12:26] So they're locked into their current
[2:12:28] cash flow.
[2:12:29] >> Oh, I understand that people. We're
[2:12:30] giving them a 10-year fixed assessment.
[2:12:34] In the meantime, they can still
[2:12:35] capitalize on their tenants by every
[2:12:38] month going up on the the price per
[2:12:40] square footage.
[2:12:42] >> No, no, that's what he just said.
[2:12:43] >> Not the lease. Not the lease.
[2:12:45] >> Not when the lease is expired.
[2:12:46] >> Some of the leases are expired. Some of
[2:12:48] them are still current. So, they will
[2:12:49] not be able to do that.
[2:12:50] >> I know eventually it happens.
[2:12:52] >> Yes. Yes, but but that we also have the
[2:12:54] right according to this is every so the
[2:12:57] first fixed assessment is for three
[2:13:00] years. So at the end of that three years
[2:13:02] we have the right to cancel the fixed
[2:13:05] assessment before you go to the next
[2:13:07] block of years on there. So we we that
[2:13:10] is written into the so we do have it's
[2:13:13] not an automatic like he said but I I
[2:13:15] think we need more information from the
[2:13:17] assessor. We need we need the assessor
[2:13:20] to tell us how many dollars we're
[2:13:21] talking because if I do the mental math
[2:13:23] on what is you know their from their 41
[2:13:26] to the 25 it's over half a million
[2:13:29] dollars in taxes over 10 years that the
[2:13:32] rest of the people in town are giving to
[2:13:35] them and you know I mean I did a lot of
[2:13:38] development in my life you know when you
[2:13:40] buy something you know what you're
[2:13:42] buying
[2:13:42] >> but it's not 25 for the whole two years
[2:13:45] you know
[2:13:45] >> what that well if I read this thing here
[2:13:47] and it's for 10 years. It's over 500,000
[2:13:50] and I got that from the assessor.
[2:13:52] >> No, no, no, no. I'm just saying that you
[2:13:53] said 2. It's not 2.5 because it goes up.
[2:13:56] So, I know there is a a reduction in the
[2:13:58] taxes, but it's it doesn't stay at the
[2:14:00] 2.5.
[2:14:01] >> What I'm saying is we need the assessor
[2:14:03] to do an analysis of
[2:14:06] >> whatever they're doing there.
[2:14:07] >> And we need more data
[2:14:08] >> and give us the proper amount. That
[2:14:10] would be my motion.
[2:14:10] >> Then we'd have to decide
[2:14:12] >> whether we want to give them 500,000.
[2:14:14] >> Okay.
[2:14:15] >> Or 400,000
[2:14:16] >> or 600. or 600,000.
[2:14:20] >> So that's what we have to decide because
[2:14:22] it is a burden on everybody else in
[2:14:24] town.
[2:14:25] >> Sorry to cut you off. Go ahead. Okay.
[2:14:27] >> I make a motion to table this year
[2:14:30] motion uh for the uh tax fixed tax
[2:14:33] assessment until the July 2026 town
[2:14:37] council meeting with the assessor to
[2:14:40] come before us with the town manager to
[2:14:42] explain to us all of the proprieties of
[2:14:44] the agreement for the fixed tax
[2:14:46] assessment for central plaza.
[2:14:49] >> I may be clear that would be a motion to
[2:14:50] postpone to a date certain. The date
[2:14:52] certain being that July date
[2:14:54] >> you don't want to table. You want to
[2:14:55] postpone it?
[2:14:56] >> Well, well, no, you don't. You if you
[2:14:58] table it, you can't table it to a
[2:14:59] specific date. If you want to have it a
[2:15:01] specific date, it's technically a motion
[2:15:03] to postpone to a date certain.
[2:15:06] >> All right. this table of this council. A
[2:15:08] motion to postpone
[2:15:11] the current fixed cost assessment for
[2:15:12] Central Plaza until the July 2026 town
[2:15:17] council meeting with the assessor to
[2:15:19] provide town manager with information to
[2:15:21] answer our questions at that July
[2:15:23] meeting.
[2:15:25] >> Is that our counselor?
[2:15:26] >> Yes, sir. That's perfect.
[2:15:28] >> Second.
[2:15:29] >> Motion [snorts] was made by councelor
[2:15:31] May, seconded by councelor Zampano. So
[2:15:34] for discussion purposes, so so since you
[2:15:36] must have information and I know you
[2:15:38] talked to EDC or whatever, but
[2:15:41] >> so this bottom line that reads request
[2:15:44] freezing property tax assessment at 2.5
[2:15:48] million for 10 years. So that's wrong.
[2:15:51] >> You're saying goes up?
[2:15:53] >> Yeah, that was not the recommendation of
[2:15:55] EDC.
[2:15:55] >> Wrong.
[2:15:56] >> Well, that this is from the owners of
[2:15:58] the plaza that what's in our
[2:16:01] >> document. What are we looking at? Well,
[2:16:03] but there's a memo there's the memo in
[2:16:05] our packet that laid out what the break,
[2:16:10] you know, how many years 1 through three
[2:16:12] it was 2.5, four through seven was goes
[2:16:16] to 3 point something and then
[2:16:18] >> that but that's the other thing then
[2:16:19] let's get one document that we're
[2:16:21] looking at.
[2:16:22] >> Well, this just gave us this was
[2:16:24] information from
[2:16:25] >> one document that's the right document
[2:16:26] at the next meeting
[2:16:28] >> that was provided
[2:16:29] >> you're going to get it
[2:16:30] >> for additional context. Yeah.
[2:16:33] >> Okay. Because it it's the deferred
[2:16:35] maintenance list for the
[2:16:36] >> propert.
[2:16:38] But also, I mean, isn't
[2:16:40] >> can't we trade partly a negotiation here
[2:16:44] too if we
[2:16:45] >> this is the the recommendation of the
[2:16:46] EDC?
[2:16:48] >> It is ultimately the council's decision,
[2:16:50] >> right? Yes, it it definitely
[2:16:52] >> Right.
[2:16:52] >> It's a starting point.
[2:16:54] >> Yeah. Yeah. Gotcha.
[2:16:56] >> It's a starting point for us.
[2:16:59] >> That's it. All in favor?
[2:17:02] >> I opposed.
[2:17:03] >> No.
[2:17:05] [snorts]
[2:17:05] >> Abstain.
[2:17:07] Motion carries.
[2:17:10] Okay.
[2:17:13] Tax refunds.
[2:17:21] Okay.
[2:17:27] [clears throat]
[2:17:31] I'll make the motion to approve the tax
[2:17:32] refund of $2,758.24
[2:17:37] to Leonard David and Herrera Lori.
[2:17:41] >> I'll second.
[2:17:44] » Motion was made by Councelor Diamond,
[2:17:47] second by Deputy Mayor McMillan. All in
[2:17:50] favor?
[2:17:51] >> I opposed.
[2:17:54] Abstain. Motion carries.
[2:18:00] appropriation transfers.
[2:18:03] >> You have uh some transfers in front of
[2:18:05] you from um EMD Amtrudo with the
[2:18:08] emergency management department moving
[2:18:10] some money around there. Um Louisa some
[2:18:13] money in social services for cover some
[2:18:16] mileage.
[2:18:17] uh the library covering some additional
[2:18:19] books and digital digital content and
[2:18:22] then some a transfer from the recreation
[2:18:24] department to public works that actually
[2:18:27] does the field uh recreation repairs.
[2:18:33] I'll make the motion that the Northtown
[2:18:35] Council hereby approve the following
[2:18:37] appropriation transfers as recommended
[2:18:39] by the town manager and the treasur
[2:18:40] finance director.
[2:18:42] Second
[2:18:44] >> discussion.
[2:18:47] All in favor?
[2:18:48] >> I
[2:18:50] >> opposed.
[2:18:52] Substain. Motion carries.
[2:18:55] Uh financial report.
[2:18:57] >> Financial report. Uh the departments
[2:19:00] that were over previously again we're
[2:19:02] working on the consolidated cost center.
[2:19:04] Getting that resolved would be a
[2:19:05] transfer before you next meeting. Uh the
[2:19:08] mayor and council and the zoning board
[2:19:10] of appeals are both over due to
[2:19:12] advertising.
[2:19:13] Uh the big one at the bottom, the
[2:19:15] operating transfers out is the
[2:19:16] reclassification of the fund balance
[2:19:18] transfers that we uh did a couple months
[2:19:22] ago. Uh on track for another year in the
[2:19:25] black with one more month left to go. We
[2:19:28] are uh starting the process. We signed
[2:19:30] the paperwork, the engagement letter for
[2:19:32] the auditors. They'll be coming in in
[2:19:34] the latter part of June to start the 26
[2:19:37] audit.
[2:19:39] No, no surprises as of yet.
[2:19:43] So, so I have a question in regards to
[2:19:48] accounts, departments that will have
[2:19:51] money left over.
[2:19:54] And I know it was brought up during
[2:19:56] budget season and the police department
[2:19:59] when they presented their budget at
[2:20:01] their workshop in March. Um the chief
[2:20:03] had talked about he knows of um
[2:20:08] contracts coming
[2:20:11] due in the next 2 3 4 years that are
[2:20:14] going to have an increase and he had
[2:20:16] asked if we could take some money that's
[2:20:20] left over in his account and put it into
[2:20:23] a non-lapsing account so that we can use
[2:20:26] that money when those contracts come due
[2:20:29] to lessen the tax increase. Is that
[2:20:32] possible?
[2:20:33] >> Typically operating expenses you
[2:20:35] wouldn't move that money for. I know he
[2:20:36] has some plans to purchase some vehicles
[2:20:39] uh this year with some savings that he
[2:20:41] has uh built up,
[2:20:44] >> right? But this was he specifically
[2:20:46] talked about contracts that were coming
[2:20:49] due in a couple years and wanting to
[2:20:53] establish like a a non-lapsing account.
[2:20:57] That's the best way to describe it. so
[2:20:59] that the money's there and we have less
[2:21:02] of a tax burden that year. So
[2:21:05] >> yeah, typically you don't want to do
[2:21:08] that. I I'll talk to uh Chief Lovely and
[2:21:10] get some more information from him.
[2:21:12] >> Is it allowed through GASBY
[2:21:17] regulations? If it's an operating
[2:21:18] expense, it should be operating expense
[2:21:20] in the year that it's incurred. You
[2:21:22] shouldn't if you have savings, you know,
[2:21:24] discussion we have every year about
[2:21:26] departments that have savings and what
[2:21:28] happens to that savings. Does it just
[2:21:29] fall back to fund balance, which we were
[2:21:31] teetering at a, you know, lower level
[2:21:34] than we, you know, been at previously.
[2:21:36] We want to bolster the fund balance a
[2:21:38] little bit. If people have savings,
[2:21:39] that's a great thing. Um, or do you want
[2:21:42] to allow them to move it to future
[2:21:43] years? It's ultimately the council's
[2:21:45] call.
[2:21:46] >> I just want to know if it's allowed.
[2:21:48] >> I I I would [laughter]
[2:21:50] I I'll do some research and get back to
[2:21:51] you. I my initial answer was no, but
[2:21:53] I'll I'll check on it.
[2:21:55] >> Okay.
[2:21:57] >> It's an operating expense in that year
[2:21:59] or so.
[2:22:00] >> Correct.
[2:22:00] >> Yeah.
[2:22:01] >> But kind of planning ahead.
[2:22:04] >> Yeah.
[2:22:05] >> And knowing that it's coming and not
[2:22:07] knowing what the conditions might be at
[2:22:10] that time.
[2:22:11] >> Yeah.
[2:22:11] >> I get it. I get it.
[2:22:13] >> So, I just wanted to know does the
[2:22:16] auditor allow it? is do all of the
[2:22:19] recommendations from the different
[2:22:20] organizations and I know municipalities
[2:22:23] are different than private sector. So
[2:22:25] that's why I'm asking the question.
[2:22:27] >> A couple things I want to touch on
[2:22:29] before I uh give it the floor back. Uh
[2:22:31] the opioid funds, we had some additional
[2:22:33] money come in today at $1,542.
[2:22:37] the transfer you uh approved times two
[2:22:40] for the life packs uh will leave $11,892
[2:22:45] in the opioid fund after uh these
[2:22:48] transactions occur.
[2:22:50] >> But do we get an annual have we been
[2:22:52] getting
[2:22:53] >> we get money all along
[2:22:54] >> due to the lawsuit and we get money that
[2:22:57] comes
[2:22:57] >> from each of each of the various whether
[2:22:59] it's Walgreens or all the various firms
[2:23:01] that have the schedules of when they
[2:23:03] have to remit. Um we get letters and
[2:23:07] shortly thereafter we get the money.
[2:23:08] Yeah.
[2:23:08] >> And and approximately
[2:23:10] >> we got 4 46,000 and 23 49,000 in fiscal
[2:23:15] 24 20,000 in fiscal 25 so far about
[2:23:19] 24,000 change in fiscal 26.
[2:23:21] >> Okay.
[2:23:22] >> So total of 140 roughly and we spent 100
[2:23:26] we spent 128 if you know the police and
[2:23:28] the life packs leaving about $11,800
[2:23:31] in that pot still.
[2:23:33] >> Okay. Thank you. Uh next item, there was
[2:23:36] discussion about the uh MBHS uh where we
[2:23:39] are on that budget. Uh a couple of
[2:23:41] items. There's some uh two different
[2:23:43] contingencies amount. There's a owner's
[2:23:45] contingency and the uh manager
[2:23:48] contingency, construction manager
[2:23:49] combined. It's about $360,000
[2:23:52] left on both contingencies. 69 on the on
[2:23:56] the owner's one and 290 on the overall
[2:23:58] contingency. So I got about $360,000
[2:24:01] left on that budget. Now, does that
[2:24:04] account for the money that's allocated
[2:24:07] for the athletic storage building? Is
[2:24:09] that already out of that? That's what's
[2:24:11] left after we took out the 89,000 or do
[2:24:14] we still have to take money out of that?
[2:24:16] >> That is a grand question. I I will get
[2:24:18] an answer for you.
[2:24:20] >> So, so the athletic storage building,
[2:24:22] >> I thought we were supposed to get an
[2:24:24] answer on that. What was
[2:24:26] all progress on it? Well, no. It's just
[2:24:29] the the funding of it comes out of the
[2:24:31] contingency. So, the numbers he just
[2:24:33] gave us in contingency, did they already
[2:24:35] take the the $89,000 out of that or is
[2:24:39] it just the money that was spent, which
[2:24:41] was probably around 30 $25,000.
[2:24:46] So, there might need to be more that
[2:24:47] comes out of that. And I know they're
[2:24:50] doing the green roof there. they're
[2:24:52] still doing work on and so it's not
[2:24:56] completely finished on that.
[2:25:00] So, okay. Um, one more thing,
[2:25:04] the U police station project
[2:25:09] is uh unfortunately over budget.
[2:25:12] Um, right now through uh the most recent
[2:25:16] report, we're about 16430.
[2:25:19] Uh the budget was 16250.
[2:25:22] Uh the largest item, one of the largest
[2:25:25] items that's over is the interest
[2:25:27] expense.
[2:25:29] And I pulled out the memo that was done
[2:25:32] back in um 20 2020 when we talked about
[2:25:37] financing and at the time the project
[2:25:40] was slated for um about $250,000 of
[2:25:45] interest cost. and that's what we
[2:25:47] budgeted and the game plan at that point
[2:25:49] was notes in 2020, notes in 2021, and
[2:25:53] then bond it permanently in 2022.
[2:25:56] Um, as we all know, the police station
[2:25:59] project dragged for a couple different
[2:26:00] uh reasons. We were not able to close
[2:26:03] the money. Uh, we had to put money out
[2:26:05] again. So that $250,000 estimate of
[2:26:09] interest, which again was predicated
[2:26:11] back when interest rates were low as
[2:26:13] well, ended up being closer to $524,000.
[2:26:18] Um the interest rates that helped on the
[2:26:20] investment side of our house went
[2:26:22] against us on the short-term financing.
[2:26:25] In 2021,
[2:26:27] we paid.13%
[2:26:29] for one-year bands, uh which went to
[2:26:32] 1.65 65 in 2022 and then 3.4 in 2023 and
[2:26:37] 3.3 in 2024. So, while it helped us on
[2:26:40] the investment side of our our
[2:26:42] investment, it hurt us on the short-term
[2:26:44] financing piece. Um, and in all honesty,
[2:26:47] the budget should have been amended
[2:26:50] once we realized we weren't going to do
[2:26:52] the two bands and one bond. We ended up
[2:26:54] doing four bands and and it dragged the
[2:26:57] project out. Um,
[2:26:59] >> is the project completely bonded? It's
[2:27:02] completely bonded. Uh, and what I'll try
[2:27:04] to do is we're going to work this came
[2:27:06] out to light as we went through the
[2:27:07] numbers to get some numbers for you
[2:27:08] tonight. We'll go through the entire
[2:27:11] police department uh budget line by line
[2:27:14] and we'll get firm numbers for you next
[2:27:16] month to see what the final number is.
[2:27:18] So, the good part of it is is that
[2:27:21] there's cash. Uh, we got bond premiums
[2:27:23] in. So, there's cash in in the fund.
[2:27:26] It's a matter of we're bumping against
[2:27:27] the bond resolution number which will
[2:27:30] need a probably a supplemental
[2:27:32] appropriation next year's CIP as well as
[2:27:34] modifying the bond resolution for
[2:27:36] whatever we got to draw a line in the
[2:27:38] sand and say okay we're done. I'm not
[2:27:40] sure if we're anywhere near the HVAC is
[2:27:43] I don't know where the u
[2:27:46] >> no
[2:27:47] >> they're waiting to get through the
[2:27:48] summer is my understanding to see how
[2:27:50] the air conditioning functions. So we as
[2:27:53] soon as we get firm numbers we can throw
[2:27:55] you know that's it final number what's
[2:27:57] the project cost come back to you guys
[2:28:00] modify the bond resolutions take the
[2:28:02] money out of out of the cash
[2:28:04] >> so so on a project like this you charge
[2:28:08] the project interest when on the
[2:28:11] short-term bands they don't get credit
[2:28:14] for the money that you earn. Oh, yeah.
[2:28:16] No, they do. I say there there's cash in
[2:28:17] this pot. There's over a million dollars
[2:28:19] of cash.
[2:28:21] >> So then how can they be overbudget?
[2:28:23] >> Because we've got bond premiums.
[2:28:31] Standby.
[2:28:38] [snorts]
[2:28:42] Well, I would think if the if the budget
[2:28:45] was a million and you spend a,100,
[2:28:49] you know, a,100,000,
[2:28:51] you're over budget.
[2:28:53] >> Yeah, but that but in that million 100
[2:28:56] is the interest they're charging you.
[2:28:58] >> No, I I understand that. But the the
[2:29:00] revenue you're going to generate from
[2:29:03] interest, that's over and above your
[2:29:06] budget. Right.
[2:29:07] >> Right. But the bond resolution remember
[2:29:09] does two things. It allows you to bond
[2:29:11] the 10 point I get the number 162 I
[2:29:13] think was the number at this point and
[2:29:15] spend 162. So if you want to spend more
[2:29:19] than 162 that bond that needs to be
[2:29:21] changed a resolution to whatever again
[2:29:23] we don't have a final number yet
[2:29:24] >> right the 162 is the the the theud
[2:29:29] >> so if we earn
[2:29:31] >> a million dollars of bond premium the
[2:29:32] million a million above the 162.
[2:29:37] No.
[2:29:37] >> Why?
[2:29:38] >> Because you can't spend more than the
[2:29:40] 16.
[2:29:40] >> No, no, no, no. What what what I'm
[2:29:42] trying to get at is if the bond is if
[2:29:44] the if the budget 162,
[2:29:47] >> right,
[2:29:47] >> and we build and we spend 172
[2:29:51] >> Yeah.
[2:29:51] >> we're a million dollars over budget.
[2:29:53] >> Right.
[2:29:54] So if we if we're 162 and we
[2:29:58] spend
[2:30:00] whatever but we have that other million
[2:30:03] dollars, we're still over budget,
[2:30:06] >> right?
[2:30:07] >> You're over budget on the expense side
[2:30:09] of the house but you have cash,
[2:30:11] >> right? But you budgeted. My point is you
[2:30:15] budgeted a number,
[2:30:16] >> right? We you know if we have whatever
[2:30:18] money we have in the kitty that that
[2:30:20] that's
[2:30:20] >> so what happens to that million dollar
[2:30:22] cash that we have
[2:30:23] >> that then will be used in subsequent
[2:30:25] years as other funding in capital plans
[2:30:28] to move forward like we do every year we
[2:30:30] close out prior capital projects. So
[2:30:32] it's so it is part of the capital
[2:30:34] project if we're going to close out that
[2:30:37] capital project and you have a million
[2:30:39] dollars and you're going to put it to a
[2:30:40] different one
[2:30:41] >> right when the time comes whe whether
[2:30:42] it's in time for 2728 budget I don't
[2:30:44] know depends on how long things get
[2:30:46] wrapped up same with the high school
[2:30:47] >> well the high school takes a little
[2:30:49] longer because of the state
[2:30:50] >> again so the same logic will apply
[2:30:52] though once we have everything firm
[2:30:54] wrapped up and put to bed whatever the
[2:30:56] money that's left in those two capital
[2:30:57] projects will be rolled forward in
[2:30:59] subsequent year CI
[2:31:00] >> are we are we bonded on the high school
[2:31:02] project
[2:31:03] >> 100%.
[2:31:04] >> So we're done bonding.
[2:31:05] >> We're done bonding as of last August.
[2:31:07] Both the final pieces were bonded.
[2:31:09] >> Okay.
[2:31:10] >> So now, like I said, we're in a a good
[2:31:11] position. You know, the bond premium is a revenue source for us. It stays in
[2:31:16] this fund. Uh and additionally, again,
[2:31:19] there was interest that was earned while
[2:31:20] the money was sitting there. Um
[2:31:23] >> I just that's what I don't understand.
[2:31:25] >> But the money is not just sitting there.
[2:31:27] You're doing something with that.
[2:31:28] >> It's invested.
[2:31:30] Yeah. There's 22 215,000 of interest as
[2:31:33] of last June. So between the million1
[2:31:36] 139 and the two change of interest,
[2:31:39] there's going to be a chunk of money
[2:31:40] there cashwise, not expense-wise,
[2:31:43] >> right?
[2:31:43] >> Unless you want to modify the bond
[2:31:45] resolution. And we will need to do that
[2:31:47] once we get every single cost finalized.
[2:31:50] Is it 164? Is it 165? Is it 166? I don't
[2:31:53] know until we get all the costs in.
[2:31:54] >> Right. But but if we go over the
[2:31:56] budgeted number, we're over budget
[2:31:58] regardless. You're right. You're right.
[2:32:00] Okay.
[2:32:01] >> And I think the lot the problem the the
[2:32:03] biggest culprit was the fact that we
[2:32:05] didn't modify the budget for the
[2:32:08] additional bonding.
[2:32:09] >> We had you know the the sheet that was
[2:32:11] done again showed 243. The motion we did
[2:32:15] was 250. Give a little cushion. Well
[2:32:16] again that was predicated on the
[2:32:18] interest rate back then of one and a
[2:32:20] half that they he predicated it on and
[2:32:22] two bands and one bond. And we ended up
[2:32:24] doing four bands. the money just kept
[2:32:25] getting held out there, held out there, while these construction
[2:32:28] delayed and everything else. There's
[2:32:31] time value of money, you know. So that's
[2:32:35] where we are.
[2:32:36] >> Okay.
[2:32:37] All right.
[2:32:40] Next item, citizen statements and
[2:32:42] petitions.
[2:32:47] [clears throat]
[2:32:48] Potter Northford. Uh, want to thank you.
[2:32:51] I believe I tried to listen as best I
[2:32:53] could. You did approve tractor poles two
[2:32:57] a year funded with insurance, right?
[2:33:00] >> Correct.
[2:33:01] >> Okay. Cuz I'm working because I was the
[2:33:03] original agricultural commission
[2:33:05] chairman. I'm working with the present
[2:33:07] group that's trying to start. We have a
[2:33:10] guy as long as he's got insurance, he
[2:33:12] will pick up where our other guy who for
[2:33:14] health reasons won't run it anymore.
[2:33:17] This guy just wanted to make sure he's
[2:33:19] safe. You know, he wanted to be insured.
[2:33:22] He's a great guy. He's picking right up.
[2:33:24] The polls will be successful. The
[2:33:27] agricultural commission that's present
[2:33:29] now will be happy with a spring and fall
[2:33:31] poll. And I believe I still got to get
[2:33:33] to Carrie. I still have projected dates
[2:33:36] for 2027.
[2:33:38] >> I mean, you could do one in October if
[2:33:40] you had
[2:33:41] >> Yeah, one in October and and I think I
[2:33:43] got a spring date.
[2:33:45] >> Okay.
[2:33:45] >> And that way that's because the
[2:33:47] commission's very busy. The members
[2:33:49] always were. That's why as a phone guy,
[2:33:52] I became the chairman, the original one.
[2:33:54] So these guys, they think it can work.
[2:33:57] We got the guy in position and uh we can
[2:34:01] go forward.
[2:34:03] One, I thank you for that. One thing
[2:34:07] that bothers me sitting back here,
[2:34:11] Franny's not here.
[2:34:14] I still call him a subject matter
[2:34:17] expert. You're losing another subject
[2:34:19] matter expert. Florio's leaving the the
[2:34:23] uh town. You're going to feel that hit
[2:34:26] you so hard
[2:34:28] because what he had here isn't on paper
[2:34:32] any worse. John and John Carrick, he got
[2:34:34] up every morning. Remember he was
[2:34:36] running around starting a school air
[2:34:37] condition.
[2:34:38] >> That's really the board of ed, not us.
[2:34:40] >> Okay. [laughter]
[2:34:41] Um,
[2:34:42] when Franny asks for something, he's
[2:34:45] done hours and hours and hours and hours
[2:34:48] of research. When his guys, And now
[2:34:51] Danny, when they're out plowing at 4:00
[2:34:55] in the morning in a blizzard,
[2:34:57] is that bargain basement truck you
[2:34:59] bought going to break down? Are you
[2:35:02] going to come out and help him get it
[2:35:04] back to the garage? Are you going to run
[2:35:06] for parts made by a different vendor to
[2:35:09] fix that truck? Franny has established
[2:35:12] what works.
[2:35:14] I know you're looking at the budget, but
[2:35:17] at the same time, look at the
[2:35:18] experience. Look at the history. North
[2:35:21] Brford's town roads are known and all of
[2:35:24] them have got such big crowns. I don't
[2:35:26] know how they don't fall off the off the
[2:35:28] center of the roads. are and I live on a
[2:35:31] state road so I don't get to enjoy this
[2:35:33] as much as you guys on town roads. But
[2:35:35] again, [clears throat]
[2:35:36] they've established what works. Don't
[2:35:39] mess with it. Find it. When you can get
[2:35:43] 30 plus years out of a truck and a plow
[2:35:45] and nobody gets hurt and the roads are
[2:35:48] plowed, I call that success.
[2:35:52] Wiggling into that and trying to nickel
[2:35:55] and dime it, I think you take away that
[2:35:58] success. And you also take away his
[2:36:00] integrity. Franny is known industrywide
[2:36:03] for what he does and what he doesn't do.
[2:36:06] He's established that there's a rapport.
[2:36:08] When somebody answers the phone and
[2:36:10] Fran's on the other end, they know he he
[2:36:13] knows what he's talking about. So again,
[2:36:16] I understand that you're worried about
[2:36:18] the money, but at the same time, in the
[2:36:19] middle of the night when these guys got
[2:36:21] support, they've got it because they
[2:36:23] bought a particular brand of truck
[2:36:24] that's interchangeable. And I mean
[2:36:27] again, we got good employees. When
[2:36:29] Franny retires, there's going to be
[2:36:30] another contact that's going to be hard
[2:36:32] to replace. And that that's not the
[2:36:34] board of ed headache. It's going to be
[2:36:36] all Everybody in town's going to feel
[2:36:38] it. There's I mean, and again, we're
[2:36:41] lucky we've got such great employees
[2:36:43] that stick with the town. I would, like
[2:36:45] I keep telling you, I won't live
[2:36:46] anywhere else because we've got skin in
[2:36:50] the game. Everybody's got skin in the
[2:36:52] game. We're proud to live in this town
[2:36:55] because you guys do a good job and gals
[2:36:58] got to be careful. Um, and we somehow
[2:37:02] always land on our feet and at the end
[2:37:05] of the year we still all like each
[2:37:06] other. I'll leave it like that.
[2:37:08] >> All right. Thank you.
[2:37:10] >> Now I know my mailbox is in the middle
[2:37:12] of my lawn where it go now.
[2:37:14] >> Okay.
[2:37:15] Well, you never find
[2:37:17] >> that knows if my mailbox is in the
[2:37:20] middle of
[2:37:22] Hi, Chuck Lurkins, Clear Lake. I just
[2:37:26] want to give you some information.
[2:37:28] Uh, Councilman Rose, you asked who owns
[2:37:31] the bottom of Cedar Lake. I live on
[2:37:34] Clear Lake 51 years. I can tell you the
[2:37:37] state owns the bottom of Clear Lake. I
[2:37:40] suspect Cedar Lake is the same. The
[2:37:42] deeds are on Clear Lake are you own to
[2:37:44] the high water mark of the lake and
[2:37:46] that's it. The bottom of the lake
[2:37:48] belongs to the state. The water belongs
[2:37:50] to the state.
[2:37:52] So that that's what I know about the
[2:37:54] water and and and I suspect Cedar
[2:37:57] Lindley I thought I think they're all
[2:37:59] going to be the same.
[2:37:59] >> I think Anthony had found on the deed
[2:38:02] who owns the
[2:38:03] >> Yeah. The lake itself actually is is
[2:38:05] just a null. There's no card for it.
[2:38:08] >> Right.
[2:38:10] >> Real estate agents that sell houses
[2:38:12] around at least Clear Lake, they'll tell
[2:38:15] you, "Oh, buy this house, you get deeded
[2:38:18] lake rights." No, you don't. That's
[2:38:20] [laughter] how they're not in it. You
[2:38:23] don't get deed like rice at all. So,
[2:38:26] it's a lot of uh rumors are out there
[2:38:29] and just crazy statements, but I was
[2:38:33] deep involved with the Clear Lake
[2:38:35] Association and I can tell you that's
[2:38:38] what I found is the state owns it.
[2:38:41] >> Thanks.
[2:38:41] >> All right.
[2:38:42] >> Okay. Thank you.
[2:38:42] >> Have a good night.
[2:38:43] >> You too.
[2:38:45] Any
[2:38:49] other citizen statements?
[2:38:52] Okay, we're ready to go into executive
[2:38:56] session.
[2:38:56] >> I'm going to uh ask, Madame Mayor, that
[2:38:59] I move we enter executive session as set
[2:39:01] forth in Connecticut General Statute
[2:39:03] section 1-200 in bracket 6 to discuss
[2:39:08] the appointment and employment of the
[2:39:09] town manager to include the acting town
[2:39:11] manager, the newly appointed town
[2:39:13] manager, and the town attorney. Yes.
[2:39:18] » Do you want do you want the newly
[2:39:19] appointed town manager for this?
[2:39:21] >> Yes.
[2:39:23] >> Scott, do you want to run?
[2:39:25] >> I'm good. [laughter]
[2:39:28] >> Can we
[2:39:30] call
[2:39:32] it laughing?