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FINANCE / CLAIMS
COMMITTEE ACTIONS
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ATTENDANCE: Carvin Hilliard, Chair; Douglas Hempstead, Douglas Sutton,
Amanda Brown
STAFF: Thomas Hamilton, Finance Director; Frederic Gilden, Comptroller,
OTHERS: Laurel Lindstrom, Common Council; Richard Bonenfant,
Common Council; Lisa Biagiarelli, Tax Collector; Karen Del
Vecchio, IT Department Director; Alan DiPietro, Norwalk
Fire Department Maintenance.
CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Hilliard called the meeting to order at 8:07 p.m. There was not a quorum present.
Claims Committee: Receive the monthly Claims Report; Review and Approve Claims as Required for Claims Report Dated: November 8, 2007; December 13, 2007; January 10, 2008
Narrative on Tax Collections Dated January 10, 2008. Receive report and discuss.
Monthly Tax Collector’s Report dated December 31, 2007. Receive report and discuss.
Ms. Biagiarelli said that there were two refunds that were of note and briefly reviewed these with the Committee members.
Then Ms. Biagiarelli reviewed the reports and the delinquent tax properties. She said that the office had already collected almost $300,000 on the delinquent tax properties.
Ms. Brown joined the meeting at 8:10 p.m. A quorum was now present.
Ms. Biagiarelli then gave a quick overview of the delinquent property tax sales for the new Committee members. Mr. Hamilton said that Norwalk has one of the best collection rates in the State. Ms. Biagiarelli pointed out that prompt payment of property taxes stabilizes the mill rate. Mr. Hamilton said that every delinquent dollar in back taxes that is paid prevents the taxpayers who are paying promptly from paying more.
Ms. Biagiarelli said that the department is looking at those property owners who owe back taxes for three years or more or $12,000 in taxes as possible candidates for the tax sale. The preliminary letters regarding this were mailed to those property owners on December 5, 2007.
** MR. HEMPSTEAD MOVED TO APPROVE THE SPECIAL REFUND REQUESTS
FOR THE WELLS FARGO CMS AND MARIE JULIANNE BELIZAIRE FOR REFUNDS.
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Authorize the Purchasing Agent to Issue Purchase Orders for equipment and software to implement a Fleet Maintenance and Work Order Management System at the Fire Department Apparatus Maintenance Facility for an amount not to exceed $8,950.00 Accounts 010600-5269 & 0907066-5777-CO375 and forward such authorization onto the Common Council for further action. (Approved Operating and Capital Budget items; no special Appropriation required).
** MR. HEMPSTEAD MOVED THE ITEM.
Ms. Del Vecchio said that the current Fire Department Maintenance records process is done on paper. Mr. DiPietro said that while the Department does have a good track record for maintaining the records, they have been criticized for not having a computerized program. Ms. Del Vecchio said that this was identified as a critical need for the Fire Department last year. After evaluating the Public Works program, Mr. DiPietro and his team determined that the program would be sufficient for their needs. This will mean that only some additional licensing.
Mr. Hempstead asked if there would be training. Ms. Del Vecchio said that Public Works would be working with the Fire Department Maintenance crew for this.
Ms. Brown asked who would be entering the past records. Mr. DiPietro said that they would probably go forward and then work on entering the records from the past as time permits. Ms. Brown then suggested that helping with the data entry might be a good project for the Summer Intern program. Mr. Hamilton said that there are some systems when data conversion is essential. He said that in a situation like the Fire Department would not be as essential.
** THE MOTION WAS UNANIMOUS.
Receive Report on Street Lighting Purchase Feasibility Study.
Mr. Hamilton then said that he wished to review a report regarding a proposed purchase of the street lights from CL&P. The city has a system of separate taxing districts. some of the street lights in the various districts are owned independently, while others districts do not own their street lights. The City now has the option of purchasing the street lights owned by CL&P and assume their maintenance. The City would still be obligated to pay a delivery fee for the electricity. Mr. Hamilton then gave a quick overview of the various scenarios outlined in his memo on the subject. There are a number of other municipalities that have purchase their street lights from CL&P, including Stamford. He pointed out that when he spoke with the person who coordinating this in Stamford, she said that about her time is now taken up with street lights. Mr. Hamilton said that his recommendation at this time would be not to proceed any further with this proposal.
Mr. Bonenfant asked Mr. Hamilton why CL&P was making this offer. Mr. Hamilton then explained that there had been some legal issues previously regarding CL&P capital assets. Mr. Hempstead pointed out that there had been a large settlement because CL&P had been overcharging various municipalities for the number of street lights and such.
** MR. HEMPSTEAD MOVED TO MAINTAIN THE CURRENT STATUS QUO ON
THE CL&P STREET LIGHT ISSUE.
** THE MOTION PASSED WITH THREE IN FAVOR (HILLIARD, HEMPSTEAD AND BROWN) AND
ONE ABSTENTION (SUTTON).
Approve resolution with respect to the authorization, issuance and sale of not exceeding $60,000,000 City of Norwalk General Obligation Refunding Bonds.
** MR. SUTTON MOVED THE ITEM.
Mr. Hamilton said that there was a refunding opportunity for some of the debt recently. He said that there was a general rule that if there was the opportunity of 2% or greater, to refund the debt. Mr. Hamilton said that the current rate was 1.97%. However, there is a now a chance that people are expecting the Federal interest rates to continue to drop. A discussion of the details of the bond and the structure of the debt then followed.
Mr. Hempstead asked if there was a time limit on the formal resolution. Mr. Hamilton said that it was stated that the time limit was until December 31, 2008
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Receive Board of Estimate and Taxation Special Appropriations December 17, 2007
Mr. Hamilton said that there were a number of contracts that had been settled recently with various unions. Some of the settlements covered both this year and last year, which involves back payments.
There was also a transfer of funds from Contingency to the Historical Commission for a part time handy man to maintain historic properties. Ms. Brown asked who would have oversight. Mr. Hempstead said that he believe it would be the Chairman of the Historical Commission and the Museum Curator.
Ms. Brown asked what happened when the Committee receives this type of report. Mr. Hamilton explained that the items would still go to the Council for final approval, but this was to allow the Committee to have an opportunity to discuss any issues with the appropriations and avoid doing Committee work on the Council floor.
** MS. BROWN MOVED TO RECEIVE THE REPORT FROM THE BOARD OF ESTIMATE
AND TAXATION SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS DECEMBER 17, 2007.
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Receive Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the Year Ended June 30, 2007
Receive Federal and State Financial and Compliance Report for the Year ended June 30, 2007.
Mr. Hamilton then reviewed the members of the ad hoc committee. The auditors are appointed by the Board of Estimate and Taxation. The audit is requited by State Law and is done annually. The auditors have stated that there were no qualifications, material weaknesses, or control deficiencies. Mr. Hamilton said that the City was better off on June 30, 2007 than it was on June 30, 2006. Approximately 85% of the City’s budget comes from property taxes. He pointed out that education was the most expensive portion of the City’s function.
Ms. Brown asked about the CDBG funding. Mr. Hamilton then reviewed the function of the Special Revenues Funds.
Mr. Hamilton then reviewed the Expenditure side of the Financial Report. This resulted in a positive operating surplus of 3.3 million. The surplus was from the real estate conveyance taxes and a few State refunds. Mr. Hamilton said that he expected the Fund Balance will be drawn down in the coming years, but did not expect it to go below 10% of the Operating Budget. Mr. Hamilton said that the City is expected to maintain Fund Balance between 5% and 10% of the Operating Budget. The bond agencies want the City to use the Fund Balance for non-recurring issues, like paying down debt or Capital improvements. Because of the significant increases in the debt service due to the school renovations, when the debt service plateaus and the Fund Balance will not be available, the City will be maintain the operating budget without a major increase in taxes.
Receive Quarterly Capital Project Reports.
Mr. Hamilton said that this report was a summary of the various projects that were underway in the City.
Approve the Minutes of the following Finance Committee Meetings: October 11, 2007
** MR. HEMPSTEAD MOVED THE MINUTES OF OCTOBER 11, 2007.
** THE MOTION PASSED WITH TWO IN FAVOR (SUTTON AND HEMPSTEAD) AND ONE ABSTENTION
(BROWN).
Mr. Hamilton said that February 26th would be when the cap would be set on the budget. Mr. Hempstead asked about the two State funding amounts and how they were represented in last year’s budget. Mr. Hamilton said that this year there would be a set of numbers including the State allocations and a set of numbers without the State funding.
ADJOURNMENT
** MR. SUTTON MOVED TO ADJOURN
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon L. Soltes
Telesco Secretarial Service
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