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REDDING BOARD OF FINANCE
MEETING
June 23, 2008
Filed subject to approval
Present: Alvarez (Chairman), DeSalvo, Dolan, Kearney, Simeonidis (7:55 pm), Viscio
Also present: First Selectman Ketcham, Selectman Takacs, Controller Hutvagner, Tax Collector Moisio, Treasurer O’Donnell, three members of the public and representative of the Redding Pilot.
Chairman Alvarez called the June 23, 2008 meeting to order at 7:35 pm.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion: move that the minutes of the May 28, 2008 meeting be approved as submitted. Kearney, DeSalvo. Approved. Unanimous.
PUBLIC COMMENT
James Miller: question regarding the removal of $22 million from the Grand List. Mr. Alvarez responded that the information is subject to litigation and cannot be discussed at this time.
Jeanne Wendschuh: request that copies of documents being discussed be made available to the public. Mr. Hutvagner did not have extra copies of the information, but would get copies to Mrs. Wendschuh.
REVIEW OF TAX COLLECTOR ANNUAL REPORT & SUSPENSE LIST
Tax Collector, Patricia Moisio, submitted the Suspense List for review. The list includes unpaid taxes for Personal Property, Motor Vehicle and Supplemental Motor Vehicle deemed uncollectible. She will assign the accents’ to a collection agency for follow up. Most of the accounts represent invalid addresses, death, move out of state/country.
The $17,028.11 includes $5,851.26 of Personal Property taxes, $10,305.50 of Motor Vehicle, and $871.35 for Supplemental Motor Vehicle.
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Finance accepts the Suspense List as presented. DeSalvo, Dolan. Approved. Unanimous.
Mrs. Moisio reported that two property will be sold for taxes in August. She added that the collection rate is currently 99.359% of the collectible taxes for the year.
Tax bills were mailed out last week. Since the mailing, she reported there have been adjustments to the Grand List. Mrs. Moiso will provide a running tally of the Grand List adjustments on a monthly basis for the board members.
STATUS OF 2007-2008 BUDGET SHORTFALL
Mr. Hutvagner reported the budget shortfall is getting better. There has been activity with house sales and building permits. Expense estimates are holding true to estimated numbers. The estimated current shortfall is $127,826.
Mr. Simeonidis arrived, 7:55 pm.
MAY 2008 YEAR TO DATE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Mr. Hutvagner reported he will attend a meeting of the fuel-purchase consortium on Tuesday, June 24, 2008. The consortium is made up of many Connecticut towns and boards of education. The group may opt to lock in a smaller quantity of oil/gas at this time, and the remainder at a later date.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
Mr. Simeonidis asked Steve Soler of GLDC for clarification of the senior housing set-aside in the planned project that has been found to be illegal. Mr. Soler reported that the senior housing set-aside was something that was negotiated by the attorneys for GLDC and the Town of Redding. It was since realized that the required 40% age restricted housing (55+), not in a gated community, is not legally binding. Mr. Soler added that 18 of the single family dwellings are being changed to townhomes, aimed at people with no children. He does not feel the community will be attractive or affordable to families with children. The entire project is geared toward “empty nesters.”
Work on the slab removal project is waiting for a letter of approval from the DEP. That phase is expected to take several months. The next step will be the sale of parcels to developers. Metro North is working on plans for the new railroad crossing and station.
AGENDA ADDITION
Motion: move to add a discussion of litigation to the executive session. Simeonidis, Kearney. Approved. Unanimous.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion: move to recess to executive session for a discussion of litigation and personnel. Simeonidis, Kearney. Approved. Unanimous.
Mrs. Ketcham, Mr. Takacs and Mr. Hutvagner were asked to be present.
The meeting recessed at 8:20 pm.
RECONVENE
The Chair reconvened the meeting in public session at 9:00 pm
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Finance approve a transfer of $73,767 from FY 08-09 contingency to the salary and benefits line items. Kearney, Viscio. Approved. Unanimous.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion: move to adjourn. DeSalvo, Dolan. Approved. Unanimous.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:01 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Maday, Recording Secretary
Mary
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