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DECEMBER 14, 2006

ATTENDANCE: Carvin Hillard, Gwen Briggs, Matthew Miklave, Kelly
Straniti, Douglas Sutton (8:20 p.m.)

STAFF: Thomas Hamilton, Finance Director, Frederic Gilden, Comptroller, Al Palumbo, Tax Collector’s Office

OTHERS: Thomas Aikenhead, Oak Hills Authority; Vincent Grillo,
Jr.; Oak Hills Golf Course

CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Hillard called the meeting to order at 8:10 p.m. and announced that there was a quorum present.

1. Committee: receive the monthly Claims report; review and approve claims as required for Claims Report dated: December 14, 2006

** MS. BRIGGS MOVED TO APPROVE THE CLAIMS AS REQUIRED FOR THE CLAIMS REPORT DATED DECEMBER 14, 2006.

Mr. Miklave recused himself from the discussion and the vote.

Mr. Palumbo from the Tax Collector’s Office greeted the Committee. Mr. Palumbo then distributed copies of the Claim Report for December 14, 2006 to the Committee members. He pointed out that there was a special request regarding a Norwalk property owner who had paid a tax bill but also had an escrow account that paid the same bill.

** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

2. Narrative on Tax Collections dated December 14, 2006- Receive Report and discuss.

3. Monthly Tax Collector’s Report dated November 30, 2006 - Receive Report and discuss.

** MS. STRANITI MOVED TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING AGENDA ITEMS:

NARRATIVE ON TAX COLLECTIONS DATED DECEMBER 14, 2006 - RECEIVE REPORT AND DISCUSS.

MONTHLY TAX COLLECTOR’S REPORT DATED NOVEMBER 30, 2006 - RECEIVE REPORT AND DISCUSS.

There was a brief discussion of the reports.

** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

4. Presentation on the Department of Environmental Protection water diversion project for Oak Hills Park Authority.

Mr. Grillo and Mr. Aikenhead introduced themselves to the Committee. Mr. Grillo explained that in 1982, the DEP had established a water diversion permit program, which had not been enforced for many years. In 2003, the State DEP began to notify golf courses and required the courses to obtain the permits. Mr. Grillo explained that the Course usually purchases water from the City of Norwalk and fills one of the ponds on the course. This pond supplies the sprinkler system for the course. The DEP stated that the water is not acceptable for the aquatic life that lives in the pond. According, Oak Hills has applied for a permit, which would require pumping water from one pond on the course to another. If this is denied or the DEP requires that a pumping station be built on the course, this will require a major financial investment. Currently, the course is in a dormant stage, but the Authority will not be allowed to water the course after March if permission is denied.

Mr. Aikenhead stressed to the Committee that this mandate is being imposed by the DEP. He also reminded everyone that it had been predicted that the restaurant would lose money, but that in fact, the restaurant was not. He reviewed some of the financial balances for the course and said that he felt Oak Hills had been forced into having the $150 thousand dollars escrow account. Mr. Hamilton disagreed and gave his reasons for doing so. Mr. Hamilton also reminded Mr. Aikenhead that the City had signed agreements from the Oak Hill Authority agreeing to the escrow account.

Chairman Hillard asked about the course deferring maintenance. Mr. Aikenhead stated that the course is a nice place to play. Mr. Grillo commented that if the maintenance is not kept up, the non-residents would be the first to golf elsewhere. The non-residents also pay the higher fee rate and provide a substantial portion of revenue for the course.

Mr. Miklave said that the course was a valuable resource for the City, but wondered if the problem might be under pricing.

In conclusion, Mr. Grillo said that the reason he and Mr. Aikenhead were presenting this issue now was to make the Finance Committee aware of what the DEP may require in the future. Mr. Grillo and Mr. Aikenhead thanked the Committee for their time and attention.

5. Authorize the Purchasing Agent to issue a sole source Purchasing order to Voting Machine Service Center for the misc. repairs & certification of voting equipment for a total not to exceed $17,145.00 Acct. # 01120-5262.

** MS. STRANITI MOVED TO APPROVE AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASING AGENT TO ISSUE A SOLE SOURCE PURCHASING ORDER TO VOTING MACHINE SERVICE CENTER FOR THE MISC. REPAIRS & CERTIFICATION OF VOTING EQUIPMENT FOR A TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED $17,145.00 ACCT. # 01120-5262
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

6. Authorize the Mayor, Richard Moccia, to execute an agreement with the Segal Company to perform a claims audit of Insurance Programmers, Inc. relative to the City’s processing of retiree health insurance claims in an amount not to exceed $23,500. Account # (169010-5253)

Mr. Hamilton explained that the Insurance Programmers, Inc. (IPI) handled the claims for retired City employees prior to 1999. Since 1999, all new retirements are handled by Sigma. Mr. Hamilton stated that in an informal audit, Segal found a number of IPI overpayments to City retirees. No overpayments have been noted from Sigma.

** MR. SUTTON MOVED TO APPROVE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, RICHARD MOCCIA, TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE SEGAL COMPANY TO PERFORM A CLAIMS AUDIT OF INSURANCE PROGRAMMERS, INC. RELATIVE TO THE CITY’S PROCESSING OF RETIREE HEALTH INSURANCE CLAIMS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $23,500. ACCOUNT # (169010-5253)
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

7. Receive Board of Estimate and Taxation Special Appropriations from November 6, 2006 and December 4, 2006 meetings.

** MR. MIKLAVE MOVED TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS:

RESOLVED, THAT A SUM NOT TO EXCEED $6,623 BE AND THE SAME IS HEREBY TRANSFERRED FROM INCREASED APPLICATIONS FEE REVENUE TO THE FIRST DEPARTMENT’S OTHER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ACCOUNT TO COVER THE COST OF THE ORAL SEGMENT OF THE ENTRY LEVEL FIREFIGHTER’S EXAMINATION. (ACCOUNT NO. 01-3140-4509).

RESOLVED, THAT A SUM NOT TO EXCEED $10,000 BE AND THE SAME IS HEREBY TRANSFERRED FROM CONTINGUENCY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS TO PAY FOR CITYWORKS TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES. (ACCOUNT NO. 01-4080-5255).

** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Mr. Hamilton gave a brief overview of the City’s General Financial Status to the Committee. He stated that although the City is in good financial standing, the Police Overtime continues to be an issue. He reminded the Committee member that the Police Department received the budget they requested, but Mr. Hamilton fully expects the Overtime budget to be used up. The Fire Department Overtime Budget is in good shape and it is still too early to tell about DPW. However, the Combined Dispatch will also have some overtime issues. Mr. Hamilton concluded by saying that the revenues were on target.

8. Approve the Minutes from the November 9, 2006 Finance Committee Meeting.

** MR. SUTTON MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 9, 2006 FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING.
** THE MOTION PASSED WITH FOUR IN FAVOR (SUTTON, BRIGGS, STRANITI AND HILLARD) AND ONE ABSTENTION (MIKLAVE).

ADJOURNMENT

** MS. STRANITI MOVED TO ADJOURN
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Sharon L. Soltes
Telesco Secretarial Services