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FINANCE / CLAIMS
COMMITTEE ACTIONS
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FEBRUARY 5, 2003
Approved FJG 06/12/03
ATTENDANCE: Bruce Kimmel, Chairman; Ken Baker; Doug Sutton; Carvin
Hilliard; Chris Perone (7:45PM).
STAFF: Jack Miller, Finance Director; Lisa Biagarelli, Tax Collector.
APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE FOLLOWING FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETINGS: JANUARY
8, 2003
Corrections to the Minutes of January 8, 2003:
Page 1, change " He said the owner could remain rent free
until June 2005" to "He said the owner could remain rent free
until June 2003".
Page 2, 4th paragraph, change " Mr. Kimmel said with these type situations"
to "Mr. Kimmel said with these type eminent domain situations".
Page 5, 1st paragraph change " Mr. Kimmel mentioned the 24,000"
to "Mr. Kimmel mentioned the 124,000".
Page 4, under Delinquent Tax Reportchange "9.9 million was collected"
to "99 million was collected"
** MR. KIMMEL MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS CORRECTED
** MOTION CARRIED WITH 3 IN FAVOR AND 1 ABSTENTION (MR. HILLIARD)
Mr. Perone arrived at 7:45PM
CLAIMS COMMITTEE: RECEIVE THE MONTHLY CLAIMS REPORT; REVIEW AND APPROVE CLAIMS AS REQUIRED FOR CLAIMS REPORT DATED FEBRUARY 5, 2003
Ms. Biagarelli stated that there were a number of assessment appeals that were settled in court. The special request response in each case was a court stipulation where the parties agreed that the tax payer was entitled to a significant reduction in their taxes. The reason it was being brought to the Committee's attention was because the amounts were over $5,000 and had to be voted on. Ms. Biagarelli further stated that though the taxpayers had the right to withhold 25% of their taxes until after the hearing, they chose to pay the entire amount. As a result, they are now due a refund.
** MR. KIMMEL MOVED TO SEND THE ITEM TO COUNCIL
** MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
DELINQUENT TAX REPORT: RECEIVE REPORT AND DISCUSS
Ms. Biagarelli said that she did not have the January breakdown as of yet, but she did run grand totals for January to compare to last years numbers. She stated that at the end of January this year the goal of 163 million was met, which was 89% of levy. The number was the same last year. She continued to say that for the first week of February an additional 9.6 million was brought in. However, bank transmittals and mail are still being processed and she anticipated that by the end of February, the tax levy amount should be at 96%. Also, she had done a run down of December's monthly report and it was slightly behind December 2001. December 2002 reported 56% of levy while December 2001 reported 59% of levy. Ms. Biagarelli added that the Mayor would be making announcements about delinquent taxes shortly so her office had to defer action to him. However, what is normally done this time of year is being done now: wage garnishment for City employees and Board of Education employees, health permit revocations, levy on personal property accounts. Fifty of the personal property accounts have already been assigned to constables that were going door to door. She stated that liens would be run early this year, maybe in March. Mr. Kimmel asked if there was any legal way to publicize all the businesses that owed taxes and suggest that the public do not patronize their establishments. Ms. Biagarelli said that a list could be publicized but it was up to the public to make their own choice. She stated that the main purpose the list of institutional levy was printed and now published by the newspapers was to let citizens know who owed.
RECEIVE PRESENTATION BY EXTERNAL AUDITORS ON AUDIT REPORT DATED JUNE 30, 2002.
Mr. Schuyler, a CPA with Scillia, Dowling and Natarelli was present to give this presentation on the audit report dated June 30, 2002. A copy of the report was given to each member of the Committee. He stated for the record that the audit was conducted according to generally accepted audit standards and government audit standards. Government standards required explicit as opposed to implicit reporting.
An in depth discussion of the content of the report took place. Mr. Kimmel then asked about Norwalk's standing in comparison to other municipalities. Mr. Schuyler responded that Norwalk had very clean books over all. Mr. Kimmel inquired if every municipality had to undergo an audit. Mr. Shuyler said that any municipality that receives over $300,000 of federal funding had to undergo an audit. Mr. Kimmel asked what the next step was. Mr. Miller said that once the Committee accepted the report, it was then referred to the Council for approval. Mr. Kimmel asked if the auditor needed to be present at the Council meeting to answer questions. Mr. Miller said it was not a requirement though in the past the auditor had been present. Mr. Kimmel said a decision would be made on Monday and that it would appear on the agenda.
RECEIVE BOARD OF ESTIMATE AND TAXATION SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS FROM FEBRUARY 3, 2003 MEETING.
Mr. Kimmel referred to the document for the document dated February 3, 2003, from the Board of Estimation and Taxation, which showed resolved items that were approved. Mr. Kimmel voiced that item #1 was transferred, item #2 was approved and he then asked Mr. Miller for some background on item #4. Mr. Miller said a number of towns had participated in a major case over the power lines. He said that he did not have any back -up with him. Mr. Kimmel said that it was his understanding that they were paying a fair amount more for this particular issue. Mr. Miller said that Wilton was paying some where around between $90,000 - $140,000. He continued to say that the other communities were more impacted than Norwalk but the Mayor felt that we should be involved at least in that one particular area. Mr. Kimmel said that a vote was not necessary and that the item would be moved over to the council. He then added that he was glad that the item regarding the Registrar's over-runs was tabled. He said he didn't want to put the Council in the same position they were a few months ago, when the rules and procedures established were violated by the Registrar's office. He asked Mr. Miller if he was looking into the matter. Mr. Miller stated that the Board of Estimate and Taxation had requested an audit of the times sheets. Also, they requested that the budget be bifurcated before it is separated into Republican and Democratic. He said he intended to do it for next year, but he has been asked to do it in the current year, which makes it difficult since there was no money left. Mr. Kimmel stated for the record that State law required two registrars, one Democratic and one Republican. He expressed strong dissatisfaction with this fact and indicated that State legislature should find a way to change it because it was nothing but a waste of money. Mr. Kimmel then said that the items would be moved to the Council for review.
** MR. KIMMEL MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING
** MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Michele Montgomery
Telesco Secretarial Services
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