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OCTOBER 1, 2003

 

ATTENDANCE: Bruce Kimmel, Chairman; Chris Perone, Ken Baker, Doug

Sutton, Carvin Hilliard

STAFF: Tom Hamilton, Finance Director; Ken Whitman, Tax Assessor, Frederic Gilden, Comptroller

CALL TO ORDER

The Chairman called the meeting to order at 8:12 p.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR AUGUST 6, 2003

** MR. KIMMELL MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS DISTRIBUTED.

** MOTION PASSED WITH ONE ABSTENTION (MR. PERONE).

Claims for Committee: receive the monthly Claims report; review and approve claims as required for Claims Report dated:

September 3, 2003: Mr. Kimmel asked Mr. Hamilton to forward backup to the Committee. He said that he would like to forward this information to the Council as long as the background information was available.

** MR. KIMMEL MOVED TO APPROVE THE REPORT AND FORWARD TO THE COMMON COUNCIL ALONG WITH THE APPROPRIATE BACKUP.

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

October 1, 2003: Mr. Kimmel asked Mr. Hamilton to forward backup to the Committee. He said that he would like to forward this information to the Council as long as the background information was available.

** MR. KIMMEL MOVED TO APPROVE THE REPORT AND FORWARD TO THE COMMON COUNCIL ALONG WITH THE APPROPRIATE BACKUP.

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Delinquent Tax Report: receive report and discuss.

Mr. Kimmel said that the City is ahead with collections this year. Mr. Hamilton said that the City is at 98.5% collection rate at year-end. He added that Norwalk was one of the largest cities for best collection rates in the state. He said the city is currently at 51.2% collection rate. Mr. Hamilton also stated that the city is ahead of the delinquent tax collection compared to last year.

** MR. KIMMEL MOVED TO FORWARD THE DELINQUENT TAX REPORT

TO THE COMMON COUNCIL WITH APPROPRIATE BACKUP.

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Approve Fee Schedule related to Delinquent Motor Vehicle Taxes

Mr. Kimmel asked Mr. Hamilton what the changes were with the motor vehicle tax.

Mr. Hamilton responded that the state is charging the cities fifty cents for every delinquent tax account. He added that the cities in turn could charge each person that is delinquent $5.00. Mr. Hamilton said the state is trying to raise $350,000 to run the program. He added the state OPM and CCM would discuss possible changes to this law. He said there may be some technical changes. Mr. Hamilton projected that this procedure would cost about $18,000 but will the city should recoup the cost. He said that one issue might be that a small town might not have any delinquent taxes while a large town may have a lot more.

** MR. KIMMELL MOVED TO TABLE THIS ITEM UNTIL THE NOVEMBER

MEETING.

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Authorize the Mayor, Alex A. Knopp to sign a contract for Pension Actuarial Consulting Services to Millman, USA for the period of July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2006 for a sum not to exceed $123,000; $50,000 for Fiscal Year 2003-04, $20,000 for Fiscal Year 2004-05, and $53,000 for Fiscal Year 2005-06 with option to renew for Fiscal Year 2006-07 for $21,000 and Fiscal Year 2007-08 for $56,200.

Mr. Hamilton said that currently the Siegel Company has been the actuary for the last ten years. He added that the City put out a request for proposal for another actuary. He said that the panel consisted of both city and pension board members. He added that both parties felt that Millman was best suited for job.

He added that there is an option to renew for $21,200 in 2006-07.

Mr. Perone asked if this was a fee for services only. Mr. Hamilton responded that this fee is for core services only, which is the annual pension plan services. He added that those numbers are needed soon for budget planning. Mr. Hamilton said that there are other issues such as post employment benefits. He added that the city expects to amend the contract, which would come back to this Committee, when the city wanted to engage those services.

** MR. KIMMELL MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, ALEX A. KNOPP, TO SIGN A CONTRACT FOR PENSION ACTUARIAL CONSULTING SERVICES TO MILLMAN, USA FOR THE PERIOD OF JULY 1, 2003 TO JUNE 30, 2006 FOR A SUM NOT TO EXCEED $123,000; $50,000 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2003-04, $20,000 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2004-05 AND $53,000 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2005-06 WITH OPTION TO RENEW FOR FISCAL YEAR 2006-07 FOR $21,000 AND FISCAL YEAR 2007-08 FOR $56,200.

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

Discussions on logistics of revaluation.

Mr. Whitman of the Tax Assessor’s office reviewed the procedure for revaluation of property. He said that any consultant in his office reports to him and each step is approved by him. He also said that all information is confidential. Mr. Whitman said there are specific guidelines that must be followed.

Mr. Whitman said that there are twenty local realtors that volunteer their time to give advise about certain properties. He added that these are specialized realtors in their area. Mr. Perrone asked how they determined how to aggregate in terms of size or style of house. Mr. Whitman responded that they stratify by type, use, neighborhood and size. He added that there is a 40 component database that is used and is very helpful in this process. Mr. Whitman said that there is an advisory group to help taxpayers understand legal and other viewpoints. Mr. Kimmel asked if possible sewer expansion would make property go up. Mr. Whitman responded that the revaluation is not done on what might occur. He added that there was no basis for a decision based on what might occur. Mr. Whitman said that data is needed to make decisions on revaluation.

** MR. PERONE MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Jean Lane for

Telesco Secretarial Services