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THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2005

ATTENDANCE: Bruce Kimmel, Chairman; Matt Miklave; Doug Sutton; Ken
Baker (8:07 p.m.); Carvin Hilliard (8:16 p.m.)

STAFF: Tom Hamilton, Finance Director; Fred Gilden, Comptroller;
Ken Whitman, Tax Assessor; Lisa Biagiarelli, Tax Collector
Gerald Foley, Purchasing Agent; Karen DelVecchio, Director of IT

CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Kimmel called the meeting to order at 8:05 p.m.

Mr. Baker joined the meeting at 8:07 p.m.

1) CLAIMS COMMITTEE: RECEIVE THE MONTHLY CLAIMS REPORT; REVIEW AND APPROVE CLAIMS AS REQUIRED FOR CLAIMS REPORT DATED: APRIL 14, 2005

Ms. Biagiarelli and Mr. Whitman reported on the Roton Point/Pine Point Settlement. The background is that the association contended that a certain percentage of their sales prices included a membership in the association itself, and it was separate from the real estate interest. In their deeds and declaration, it says that membership is included. None of the deeds include the membership as a percentage. Mr. Whitman said that the City agreed in the settlement that a certain portion of the sale prices did include membership. There were 400 units @$100,000 each over a 5 year period. Mr. Whitman said that it is a real win situation. The original amount that was appealed was over $1M. The settlement of $200,000 was reasonable. It was a class action suit. One refund check is being issued to the attorney for the association for distribution to the members. Mr. Miklave wanted the records to reflect that his firm represents Chase Manhattan Auto Finance Corporation, and he won’t be voting on the Claims Committee Report. Mr. Miklave asked if the Common Council had approved the settlement, or will it be asked to approve the settlement at the next Council Meeting. Mr. Whitman replied that it is a core stipulation, and it was being passed on to Council.
Ms. Biagiarelli stated that they don’t issue the checks until it’s been through Council, and the City Clerk has said that it is approved. This is the next step in the process. Mr. Hamilton asked if this settlement goes before Council as a separate vote. Mr. Whitman said that it doesn’t. It’s part of the Claims Committee recommendation. The Law Department and the Court have approved it. Chairman Kimmel said that there were several options. They could reject the whole report, or they could separate it out. Mr. Miklave said it made sense to separate it out.

Mr. Hilliard joined the meeting at 8:16 p.m.

Chairman Kimmel stated that before the next Council Meeting, he needs the claims report from Ms. Biagiarelli, with the Roton Point/Pine Point Settlement separated out, so that it can be voted on, and any legal information that can be obtained from Corporation Counsel. Mr. Hamilton confirmed that all special requests get voted on, and he wanted to confirm that this was the vote they wanted. Mr. Miklave stated that when a case has already been settled, you can’t say no because there is a court enforced decision that says you’re obligated to pay the money. Mr. Whitman stated that he would confirm with the Law Department that they have the final say. Mr. Miklave had a question regarding DiScala. Ms. Biagiarelli replied that they paid their tax bill in December, and then again in January with a credit card in order to get the frequent flyer miles.

** MR. KIMMEL MADE MOTION TO APPROVE CLAIMS REPORT AS PRESENTED WITH CHANGES AND MODIFICATIONS
** MOTION PASSED (MR. MIKLAVE ABSTAINED)

2) NARRATIVE ON TAX COLLECTIONS DATED APRIL 14, 2005 –
RECEIVE REPORT AND DISCUSS

3) MONTHLY TAX COLLECTOR’S REPORT DATED MARCH 31, 2005 –
RECEIVE REPORT AND DISCUSS

Ms. Biagiarelli reported that the numbers for the end of March are a bit behind last year at the end of March. We are at almost 98% of current collections. Work has begun on the tax sale. The date has been moved to July from June. Notices went out April 8. Several properties have been paid in full; $200,000 has been received in four days. There aren’t any properties in excess of $100,000. Mr. Miklave had a question on the narrative report. The report stated that we were ahead approximately $12M than last fiscal year. There was a projection in the growth of the grand list when we did the operating budget for this year. Is this ahead of the projection, behind it, or on track with it? Mr. Hamilton replied that they expected to end the year with tax collections in excess of what was budgeted. The collection rate was very strong, thanks to Ms. Biagiarelli’s efforts. They budgeted based on 98.2%, and they expect to exceed that. The grand list that the budget is based on is a projected one. The budget is set prior to the completion of the Board of Assessment appeals. There could be some additional revenue as a result of updated numbers. Mr. Miklave asked for a ballpark dollar amount. Mr. Hamilton replied that the projection number was $1.5M more than was projected, subject to update, revision, and tax appeals that could be settled by June 30.

7) REVIEW AND DISCUSSION ON THE PROPOSED GARAGE ON WEST AVENUE

Chairman Kimmel gave some background information on the proposed garage on West Avenue. For a number of years, various aspects of the West Avenue project have come before the Council. There were some concerns about the amount of public financing (now changed TIFF), whether or not there was $5M in the Capital budget, and eminent domain. Mr. Tony Doumlele, a Norwalk resident for 23 years, discussed some information done by consultants regarding the parking garage on West Avenue. The quality of the financial work being done on Norwalk’s parking garages by the consultants is a concern. There are various issues regarding projected revenues vs. actual revenues. Chairman Kimmel asked Mr. Doumlele if he had presented this publicly to Redevelopment Agency. Mr. Doumlele replied that he had, but with no reaction from them. He had also presented this to the Parking Authority for their review. Chairman Kimmel stated that this was not under the Finance Committee’s authority, and he suggested that it be brought to the Redevelopment Agency. He thanked Mr. Doumlele for doing such a great public service for the City of Norwalk.

4) LOCAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND (LOCIF)

** MR. MIKLAVE MADE MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, ALEX A. KNOPP, TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT FOR GRANT FUNDS PROVIDED UNDER THE STATE OF CONNNECTICUT’S LOCAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND FOR 2005 ENTITLEMENT.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

5) IKON

** CHAIRMAN KIMMEL MADE MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, ALEX A. KNOPP, TO EXECUTE A THREE (3) YEAR MASTER LEASE AGREEMENT FOR OFFICE COPIERS WITH IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS AND AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASING AGENT TO ADD OFFICE COPIERS TO THIS MASTER AGREEMENT FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $146,661.47.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

6) MUNICIPAL AREA NETWORK (MAN)

** CHAIRMAN KIMMEL MADE MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, ALEX A. KNOPP, TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT WITH ADVANCED COPORATE NETWORKING, INC., (d/b/a/ DIGITAL BACKOFFICE) FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A WIRELESS BRIDGE CONNECTION TO THE NORWALK TRANSFER STATION AS PART OF THE MUNICIPAL AREA NETWORK (MAN) FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $9,500.00, ACCOUNT #09050600 5777 C0286. THE COMMON COUNCIL AUTHORIZES THE CITY TO PROCEED WITH THE TRANSFER STATION IMPLEMENTATION AS PART OF PHASE I OF THE MAN. AUTHORIZE THE CITY OFFICE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO ISSUE CHANGE ORDERS ON CONTRACT FOR A TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $1000.00.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

7) APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE FOLLOWING FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING:
MARCH 7, 2005

The following changes need to be made to the March 7, 2005 minutes:

Add Carvin Hilliard’s name to the attendance list (7:15 p.m.);
Remove one mention of Doug Sutton’s name from the attendance list (it was mentioned twice).

** CHAIRMAN KIMMEL MADE MOTION TO ADJOURN MEETING.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Carolyn Marr
Telesco Secretarial Services