Since the mayor has given the order to stop providing the Town Council and other meetings online, I have decided that in light of fact that there are other towns coming online to do this that I will provide the meetings as I am able to.
It’s your town – get informed and get involved.
Wallingford Inland Wetlands March 3, 2010 - PART 1
Wallingford Inland Wetlands March 3, 2010 - PART 2
Since the mayor has given the order to stop providing the Town Council and other meetings online, I have decided that in light of fact that there are other towns coming online to do this that I will provide the meetings as I am able to.
It’s your town – get informed and get involved.
Wallingford Town Council Meeting - February 23, 2010 - PART 1
Wallingford Town Council Meeting - February 23, 2010 - PART 2
Wallingford Town Council Meeting - February 23, 2010 - PART 3
Wallingford Town Council Meeting - February 23, 2010 - PART 4
Since the mayor has given the order to stop providing the Town Council and other meetings online, I have decided that in light of fact that there are other towns coming online to do this that I will provide the meetings as I am able to.
It’s your town – get informed and get involved.
Wallingford Planning and Zoning - February 8, 2010 PART 1
Wallingford Planning and Zoning - February 8, 2010 PART 2
Since the mayor has given the order to stop providing the Town Council and other meetings online, I have decided that in light of fact that there are other towns coming online to do this that I will provide the meetings as I am able to.
It’s your town – get informed and get involved.
Wallingford Inland Wetlands February 3, 2010 - PART 1
Wallingford Inland Wetlands February 3, 2010 - PART 2
Since the mayor has given the order to stop providing the Town Council and other meetings online, I have decided that in light of fact that there are other towns coming online to do this that I will provide the meetings as I am able to.
It’s your town – get informed and get involved.
Wallingford Town Council Meeting - February 9, 2010
By Dave Moran
Record-Journal staff
dmoran@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2224
As published in the Record Journal Wednesday March 24, 2010
Follow all the news directly on the Record Journal Website for the most up to date information. www.myrecordjournal.com
Write a letter to the editor letters@record-journal.com
WALLINGFORD— After a lengthy, at times spirited debate, the Town Council voted 5-4 Tuesday to accept an amendment to the educational administrators’ union contract that delays a pay increase in exchange for furlough days. The amendment is projected to save the school system almost $100,000 in 2010-11.
The council’s intense scrutiny of the issue, and the opposing ideologies it revealed among councilors, could foreshadow an even more intense debate in mid-April, when the council will review and vote on the school system’s budget request for the coming fiscal year. School Superintendent Salvatore Menzo and members of the Board of Education came to the council Tuesday seeking approval of an amendment and extension of the administrators’ contract. Menzo said the union, which represents 21 administrators in the school system, had a contract through the 2010-11 fiscal year. Earlier this year, the union offered to forgo a 3.75 percent pay increase in exchange for nine furlough days, a one-year extension of the contract and the guarantee of no layoffs.
Under the revised contract, the administrators would get the 3.75 percent increase in 2011-12, Menzo said, but the savings in 2010-11 would amount to about $100,000.
Members of the Board of Education praised the administrators union for voluntarily approaching the school system with the giveback and urged the council to accept the offer.
“This is a true, sincere effort to help our school community. We’re talking about $100,000 in givebacks,” said Roxane Mc Kay, a Republican who is vice chairwoman of the school board. “To not approve this is setting a precedent for other unions to not consider any concessions.” Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr., a Republican, urged the council not to approve the agreement because it still contained a wage increase. The increase would only be delayed a year, Dickinson said, and the budget is projected to be even worse then.
“It does set a bar, and it certainly is a high bar,” Dickinson said. “If you look beyond the one budget year, it creates a real problem for us in trying to control the cost of government and the cost of delivering services.”
After debating the issue for more than an hour, in closed executive session and in public, the council voted to approve the request. All three Democrats and Republicans Vincent Cervoni and John Le Tourneau voted to approve the agreement, while Republicans Jerry Farrell Jr., Craig Fishbein, Robert Parisi and Rosemary Rascati opposed it.
Those favoring the agreement said they voted for it because the administrators would get a pay increase anyway, and the concessions offered immediate savings.
After Dickinson unveils his budget on April 1, the council will hold workshops to review the plan department by department. Budget adoption is due by the second week of May.
The school system takes up about 60 percent of the town’s overall budget, and the school board has asked for a 4.56 percent increase over 2009-10 spending. Dickinson is expected to cut the request.
Menzo said the savings realized by the administrators’ concessions have already been factored into the budget proposal. “It’s already taken out,” Menzo said. “We would have had to put it back in” if the council didn’t approve it.
“We must hang together, gentlemen … else, we shall most assuredly hang separately.” — Benjamin FranklinMarch 23, 2010 6:30 P.M
Opening Prayer – Reverend Dean Warburton, First Congregational Church
1. Pledge of Allegiance
2. Roll Call
3. Consent Agenda
3a. Consider and Approve Tax Refunds (#624 - #669) totaling $23,785.74 Acct. # 001-1000-010-1170 - Tax Collector
3b. Reappointment of Robert Beaumont to the Public Utilities Commission for a three-year term effective immediately and expiring March 1, 2013 - Mayor
3c. Appointment of Dennis Murphy as an Alternate to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a three-year term effective immediately and expiring January 8, 2013 – Robert F. Parisi, Chairman
3d. Accept a Donation from the Napier Foundation and Approve an Appropriation in the Amount of $1,000 Youth and Social Services Special Fund to Donations Acct # 213-1042-070-7010 and to Expenditures Acct # 213-3070-600-6000 – Youth and Social Services
3e. Accept a Donation and Approve an Appropriation in the Amount of $50 Youth and Social Services Special Fund to Donations Acct # 213-1042-070-7010 and to Expenditures Acct # 213-3070-600-6000– Youth and Social Services
3f. Consider and Approve a Transfer of Funds in the Amount of $6,000 to Distribution Plant-Street lights/Signals Acct # 373 from Distribution Plant-Transformers Acct # 368 – Electric Division
3g. Consider and Approve a Transfer of Funds in the Amount of $30,000 to Injuries & Damages Acct # 431-8920-925 from Power Purchased for Pumping Acct # 431-8620-623 – Water Division
3h. Consider and Approve a Budget Amendment in the Amount of $9,000 to Use of Funds from Interest on Long Term Debt Acct # 431-8970-427 – Water Division
3i. Approve Minutes of Regular Town Council Meeting of February 23, 2010
3j. Approve Minutes of Regular Town Council Meeting of March 9, 2010
4. Items Removed from the Consent Agenda
5. PUBLIC QUESTION & ANSWER
6. Executive Session pursuant to §1-200 (6)(E) of the Connecticut General Statutes with regard to strategy and negotiation with respect to Collective Bargaining – Board of Education
7. Discussion and Possible Action with regard to a Memorandum of Agreement with the Educational Administrator’s Association of Wallingford (E.A.A.W.) on March 8, 2010 effective July 2, 2010 through June 30, 2012 as discussed in Executive Session – Board of Education
8. Acceptance of Land from State of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection to the Town of Wallingford, a fifteen (15) foot-wide Right-of-Way between Town land on the south and Warehouse Point Road on the north – Engineering
9. Consider and Approve Farm Land Lease Program as presented – Environmental Planner
10. Consider and Approve a Transfer in the Amount of $3,300 to Tools, Shop and Garage Equipment to Acct # 394 from Structures and Improvements Acct #390 – Electric Division
11. Request to use Request for Proposal (RFP) process to select Electrical Rate Consultant at an anticipated cost of $45,000 – Director, Public Utilities
12. Executive Session pursuant to §1-200 (6)(D) of the Connecticut General Statutes with respect to the purchase, sale and/or leasing of property – Mayor
13. Executive Session pursuant to §1-200 (6)(B) of the Connecticut General Statutes regarding strategy and negotiations with respect to pending litigation in the matter of Town of Wallingford v. Maria DiBartolomeo – Law Department
14. Motion to consider and approve the settlement of the Town of Wallingford v. Maria DiBartolomeo as discussed in Executive Session – Law Department
According to a story printed in the Record Journal on Thursday the 11th Wallingford is set to go to trial on March 24 at 10AM with respect to the town’s right to demolish the American Legion building since it decided against selling it.
It will be interesting to see the final ruling on this.
Certainly there would be a minor cost to demolish the building since it’s will probably collapse on its own in a short period of time since no funds at all have been committed to maintaining the building.
There would be the cost of removing the materials and any time and fees spent in court.
I’d love to get the final cost of the bills on this once all is said and done.
This week’s edition of FROM WALLINGFORD was written by my counterpart Stephen Knight“If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.”
This quote, attributed to President Harry S Truman, could also serve as good advice to those who serve on some of the boards, committees and commissions of local Wallingford government.
An interesting February 26th Record-Journal article on these local bodies begs for elaboration. The article focused on the few whose members receive some financial compensation, and referred to membership in others as patronage positions. I suppose that’s fine as far as it goes, but those are isolated aspects of a much larger subject. I want to expand on why these people serve and how they are chosen, and then include a discussion of other committees serving the town government.
1) Why do they serve? Well, it ain’t the money. If the people serving on these town boards were paid by the hour, the town would have to request exemption from state minimum wage laws. That includes Town Councilors, who receive $6,000 in annual compensation. The Board of Education works gratis, a strange anachronism of state law, by the way. Of the twenty-five boards, committees and commissions, only eight have compensation of any kind, and much of that is for reimbursement of expenses.
Patronage? Webster’s defines that as “the power to make appointments to government jobs especially for political advantage.” Consider the contentious mosque-on-Leigus-Road issue at Planning & Zoning, the potentially hundreds of tax appeals coming up in this revaluation year, or the recent fun of being a political football as a member of the Board of Ethics. I’m not sure what you would call it, but it isn’t political patronage. And even though the Town Council and Board of Education are elected positions that officeholders actually ask the voters for, you have to say that the hours spent at the fun filled Wooding-Caplan Town Council meetings or the recent Board of Education elementary school reconfiguration deliberations are not exactly rewards for doing anyone’s political bidding.
2) How are these folks chosen to serve on all these boards? Obviously, the Town Council and Board of Ed members are elected. Of the other twenty-three, twelve are Mayoral appointments and eleven are Council appointments. And even within those, only a handful of people are actually chosen with input from the political parties. Many are chosen because they have become well known as community volunteers; others because of their interest in the subject of concern to that board. Yes, you certainly have a leg up if you participate in local politics, but that is hardly the only avenue. But the old adage “If you want something done, ask a busy person” fits. Many get asked to serve for that reason alone.
3) Lastly, the discussion of those serving on Town of Wallingford boards and committees would be incomplete without mention of the ad hoc committees, especially building committees, formed to oversee a specific project or study a particular issue. Space does not allow for listing them all, but the three School Building Committees of the past fifteen years and the Library Expansion Building Committee will serve as the best examples. In each case, a relative handful of individuals provided the town with expertise which would have otherwise cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars to procure, and spent thousands of man hours overseeing huge and complex construction projects to a resoundingly successful conclusion. And, at the same time, answering to public officials, some of whom had lost sight of the fact that they were dealing, not with contracted vendors, but unpaid volunteers — if you get my drift.
So of the 150 or so individuals serving on twenty five boards, committees and commissions, 39 are compensated. And that compensation has no relationship to the responsibilities borne, the hours spent, or the javelin catching, chainsaw juggling work that these public-spirited people are often called on to perform. Kudos to them all.
This story ran in the Middletown Press titled Durham selectman exploring run for state rep
John is a Republican Selectman in Durham and is exploring a run for state representative for the 100th District, which covers all of Durham and Middlefield and part of Middletown.
Democrat Matt Lesser currently holds the seat for the 100th District and was elected to a two-year term in 2008. Lesser said that he is currently exploring a run for re-election according to the story.
The full story on this can be found online at MyRecordJournal.com in a story titled Wlfd. Democratic Town Committee endorses Malloy
Vincent Avallone, the newly reappointed chairman of the Democratic town committee, offered his own individual endorsement for Malloy as did State Representatives Mary Fritz and Mary Mushinsky according to the story by Dave Moran.
In addition to these personal endorsements, the committee in attendance voted to endorse Malloy for governor.
The Wallingford Democratic Town Committee unanimously re-elected all officers back for another two-year term at a special meeting.
Vincent Avallone was once again elected as Chairman, Peter Gouveia and Robin Hettrick were elected as vice chairmen, Samuel Carmody was elected as secretary and Mario Di Natale was elected as treasurer.
Read the full story in the Record Journal written by Dave Moran - Wallingford Democrats re-elect leaders
As found circulating on the Internet…
While walking down the street one day a US senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies.
His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.
"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."
"No problem, just let me in," says the man.
"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do
is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you
can choose where to spend eternity."
"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the
senator.
"I'm sorry, but we have our rules."
And with that, St . Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes
down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself
in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse
and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians
who had worked with him.
Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.
They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar
and champagne.
Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who
has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a
good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.
Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator
rises...
The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.
“Now it's time to visit heaven."
So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing.
They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.
"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now
choose your eternity."
The senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would
never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but
I think I would be better off in hell."
So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.
Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a
barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.
The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder.
"I don't understand," stammers the senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"
The devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning…
Today you voted."
Redistrict Schools - rebalance the current population across the eight elementary schools - 17 (20%)
Reconfiguration - doing away with K-5 schools for a K-2, 3-5 structure - 26 (31%)
Stand-by - take no action for the 2010 - 2011 budget and make plans for the 2011 - 2012 budget - 28 (34%)
Take whichever action that keeps the budget as low as possible - 11 (13%)
Votes so far: 82
Poll closed
MAYOR - ELECTED OFFICIAL
TOWN COUNCIL - ELECTED OFFICIALS
Town Council Secretary - towncouncil.wlfd@sbcglobal.net (203) 294-2155
As published in the Record Journal Wednesday February 17, 2010
2009-10 budget: $140,379,896
2009 grand list: decreased by 0.04 percent to $4.3 billion
Approximate loss of tax revenue: $300,000
School system budget, 2010-11: Expected to request $89 million, a 4.7 percent increase
A common misconception concerns the salary increase Wallingford teachers received as a result of the last contract negotiations. The belief that all teachers received a 4.2 percent increase in salaries this year is not accurate.
The 4.2 percent represents a percentage of last year’s salary account.This “pool” of money is then used to first pay the cost of increments that are part of the contractual salary schedule; the remainder is then applied to all teachers as an increase. Thus, a 4.2 percent increase does not add 4.2 percent to all salaries. In fact, the majority of teachers received a 2 percent increase this year, as opposed to the national wage increase average of 2.8 percent. Much time was spent during negotiations in determining how we could “fix” the salary schedule so that it would be more evenly balanced between the different steps, and to make Wallingford more competitive in attracting and retaining quality teachers.
In fact, Wallingford lagged behind almost every other town in New Haven County when salary schedules were compared. In order to make Wallingford’s salary schedule more equal with the other towns, the 4.2 percent increase was necessary. Additionally, the teachers also made several concessions to help this happen: a step freeze this year, and the addition of one step in the schedule. Teachers now have 13 steps; other town unions have between 3 and 5 steps.
The contract itself was approved by the Board of Education and the Town Council, during the worst of the economic crisis. Both had the opportunity to reject it; neither chose to do so. It was not long after this contract was passed last year that teachers were asked for givebacks. This year, again, we have been asked to make concessions. One has to wonder why agreements are made if the intent is not to honor them.
The process of negotiating a contract involves give and take. Wage increases are negotiated in the context of other components, such as insurance co-pays, premium shares, and other benefits. Aiming for this balance,the contract was negotiated in good faith, and we now look to the mayor and town council to honor their commitment to the education of our town’s children at the level of excellence they have always received from the teachers of Wallingford.
So here is the five minute summary:
The view from here is even dimmer; what this means is that an increases in costs and expenditures which include capital purchases as well as increases in salaries are going to come 100% on the backs of the tax payers as there is a loss of revenue instead of an offsetting gain from growth.
With revaluation coming up it will be interesting to see how much of that is going to land on the backs of Wallingford’s businesses and the residents of town.
Town Council Chambers
6:30 P.M
AGENDA
Opening Prayer – Father Gary Simone, Most Holy Trinity Church
1. Pledge of Allegiance
2. Roll Call
3. Consent Agenda
3a. Consider and Approve Tax Refunds (#563 - #596) totaling $9,025.60 Acct. # 001-1000-010-1170 - Tax Collector
3b. Consider and Approve a Transfer in the Amount of $2,000 to Fuel Crisis Community Acct # 001-3070-600-6810 from Contingency-General Purpose Acct # 001-7060-800-3190 - Mayor
3c. Consider and Approve a Resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with Capital Community College, 950 Main Street, Hartford, CT and the Wallingford Fire Department and designate Peter Struble, Fire Chief, as the administrator for the EMT-Paramedic internship program for the purpose of furthering paramedic education of students – Fire Chief.
3d. Acceptance of Grant Appropriation of $2,399.40 to Revenue Highway Safety Acct # 001-1050-050-5883 and to Police Overtime Acct # 001-2005-101-1400– Police Chief
3e. Approve Minutes of Regular Town Council Meeting of February 9, 2010
4. Items Removed from the Consent Agenda
5. PUBLIC QUESTION & ANSWER
6. Consider and Approve a Transfer in the Amount of $75,000 to Materials and Supplies Acct # 001-5015-401-4100 from Contingency-General Purpose Acct # 001-7060-800-3190 - Public Works
7. Discussion and Possible Action regarding the Board of Education requests for proposals for strategic plan, transportation analysis, facility use/redistricting – Superintendent of Schools
8. Discussion regarding outside advertising on Board of Education property – Councilor Economopoulos
9. Discussion and Action with regard to the Town Council Procedures – Chairman Parisi
10. Executive Session pursuant to §1-200 (6)(E), 1-210 (b)(5)(B), 1-210 (b)(7) and 7-232a of the Connecticut General Statutes to discuss the possible acquisition of transmission assets by CT TRANSCO – Director Pubic Utilities
11. Executive Session pursuant to §1-200 (6)(D) of the Connecticut General Statutes with respect to the purchase, sale and/or leasing of property – Mayor
