It is 7 01 p.m.

It is Monday, February 23rd.

And this is the fiscal committee meeting of the 32nd Board of Representatives.

Present with us this evening are committee members co-chair Andrew Zachary, Representative Tom Bouchard, Representative Virgil Dela Cruz, Representative Kira Dorsey, Representative Parker Johnson, and Representative Noah Lepine.

Missing for the moment are Representatives Goldberg and Graham.

I don't see any other members of the board who are not members of this committee with us at the moment.

So we will get started.

Do I have a motion to pass item one, F32.043 for 50,945?

Additional appropriation operating law department to appropriate funds from contingency to pay current year wage settlements that were recently agreed upon via a tentative agreement between the city and the attorney's union.

Do I have a motion to pass item number one?

I so move.

And a second, please.

Second.

Second.

Thank you.

Chair Merit Morrison.

Yes, Coacher Zachary.

I see a hand raised from uh Representative Dela Cruz.

Yes.

I will get to I'm going to call on Representative Della Cruz after I ask um uh Tony Romano if he has anything he'd like to um point out on this item in uh director Russell's absence.

Uh yeah, I'm sorry, Eric.

I I don't have anything more that I can add to this.

Um I can um try to get a hold of uh Paul Russell if there's any questions to be answered.

Okay.

Thank you.

I appreciate that.

Representative Dela Cruz, you have the floor.

Uh thank you, Chair Morrison.

Uh I was wondering if this is the same tentative agreement that the personnel committee rejected based on the negative opinion from the Board of Finance.

Uh this one apparently says via the tentative agreement between the city and the attorney's union.

And it says approved by the Board of Finance.

So I'm a little confused.

Uh can anyone show clarity on that?

Yes, I I spoke with uh the Board of Finance.

They issued a negative opinion yet, passed the financing for this by a vote of 420.

Um, but as the personnel committee did uh by unanimous vote reject um this uh this agreement.

Uh my my thought is we can uh recommit this item or on the chance that our board doesn't listen to the uh vote of the personnel committee and passes it anyway.

Uh it would take another month for the uh for us to go ahead and um approve this appropriation.

So uh I would say we could pass it.

And if the item fails at person uh with the personnel report at our next monthly meeting, the appropriation stands, uh, but it can't be spent until um arbitration takes place and the final number after thereafter is determined.

And unless it comes in at exactly 50,945, this item will come before us again anyhow with a corrected number.

But on the off chance, it does pass our board.

Uh maybe we don't necessarily want to uh not have approved the appropriation.

Uh I'll open the floor for further comments and thoughts on this item.

Yes, may I uh do I still have the floor?

Representative Dela Cruz.

Yes.

Uh would only be more prudent to wait until the outcome of uh mediation or arbitration, so that then the actual amount of whatever settlement will have will have been agreed to is known, and then we can pass the item with the known amount.

Yes, that's uh that's what I was saying.

If our board does pass it against the will of the personnel committee, which I don't expect, uh we will have we will have uh passed the appropriation tonight and it goes right through.

If it comes if it comes back with a different amount, we have to vote on it anyway.

So I frankly, I am fine with doing either one, whatever the will of the committee is, I'm fine with.

May I make a motion?

We have a motion on the floor to approve item one already, which has been seconded.

What motion would you like to make, Representative Delacruz?

Well, given the uncertainty, I would make a motion to recommit this item to steering.

And by then, by the time we revisit it, we will probably know what the settlement has been and the amount of the appropriation known.

Okay, we have a motion to recommit item one.

Is there a second?

I second that.

I second second okay, many seconds.

Any further discussion?

All those in favor recommitting item one, F32.043 to steering, please say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Any abstentions?

Okay.

That item is passed.

That item is passed uh in fact.

Sorry, the motion to recommit item one passes unanimously.

Uh and I will note that uh representative Graham has joined us.

Okay.

Item two, F32.044, $650,000.

Additional appropriation operating snow removal, salt for storms, requesting funds from contingency to maintain city salt domes at safe salt levels for the remainder of the 25-26 winter season.

I'll entertain a motion to pass item two.

So moved.

Second.

Moved and seconded.

Floor is open for discussion.

And we have uh road maintenance division manager Tom Turk with us to answer any questions.

Tom, do you have anything you want to add?

I think this winter speaks for itself.

And just as a side note, the plow guys have been out for 31 hours straight now.

So they're working on it.

I just asked for everybody's patience.

This was not a normal storm.

It was much worse than the last big one we had.

Even the plow trucks had trouble getting around in this one.

So we'll be here again all night trying to clean things up for tomorrow morning.

Okay.

So that being said, I've already spent all our money ordering salt for this season.

I'm literally out based on current orders, so I need more money.

It's that simple.

Okay.

Representative Johnson, go ahead.

Uh first off, thanks, Tom, to you and your team for uh pulling us through.

But uh question, uh not that it matters or changes my opinion here.

I think uh we need salt, we need salt.

Uh, but just out of curiosity, are we paying any sort of premium by buying it during winter versus uh when we would normally stock up and say summer fall, whenever it is?

No, we're we piggyback off the state contract, which is I think the most bulk in the state, because it's not just the state, it's a lot of other towns.

So I think we're getting the best price we possibly can.

Which that being said, it's gone up $20 over the last five years.

So the buying power is a little weaker.

That's another reason why I need more money.

Of course.

All right, thanks.

I yield okay.

Thank you, Representative.

Representative Delacruz, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair Morrison.

Uh Thomas, uh, first, let me thank you and your crew for the excellent work you do.

I know it's a very tough job.

Uh now I just learned from the evening news before this meeting that there are two more significant storms coming our way uh this coming week.

So I'm wondering, is the $650,000 contemplate those two additional storms?

Or uh what what are your thoughts on that?

Well, that this money was put in a month ago, so no.

Uh these two storms come in what is it, Wednesday morning and Thursday?

They're they're like an inch or so.

They're not much of anything.

So I'm not worried about it.

But the 650 should get us through the rest of the season, which hopefully ends mid-March like normal, could go to April.

But no, I I think we're okay.

Those storms won't affect us that much.

Yes, okay.

Thank you, Tom.

Uh, I yield.

Thank you, Representative.

Representative LePine, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair Morrison.

Uh, Tom, also echoing huge thanks for you and the crew's work.

Uh and uh just uh for context, um how out of the last however many years you want to look back, how often do we get into an additional appropriation situation like this, or is this a real uh exception of a winter?

It's not normal.

The last three years we've had surpluses.

It's all up to the weather.

But typically we haven't had to ask for this, but we were at a million dollar budget, we're down to 750, and the price went up.

So between a little less budget, a little higher costs, and then a really crazy winter, it just all came to a head this time.

So it's not a normal thing to have to come back.

I did ask for a larger budget in the operating uh procedures that we got coming up back up to a million again for obvious reasons.

So you'll see that in the budget cycle, but it's it's not a normal thing typically.

Okay.

And if we if we overbuy, let's say or have a mild winter, there's no uh there's no shelf life to the salt, is there?

So it's it rolls next year and we're gonna go.

No, we're digging we're digging out salt that's been back there for like eight years.

So it still works just fine.

So no issues.

No.

Shelf stable.

Yeah, it might get a little crunchy, but we can deal with that.

All right, great.

Thank you.

I yield, appreciate it.

Thank you, representative.

Uh Director Kinonis, please.

Thank you, Chair.

I just wanted if it you'll allow me, just one plug.

Um, because oftentimes when additional appropriations are sought for salt, uh, that item is often looked at during the budget season as a potential for a cut.

Um, however, you know, making sure that that item uh remains in the operating budget is critical.

It's actually what saved us this year.

The fact that uh we had the full budget and Thomas was able to order early in the year and made that call um allowed us, especially when deliveries were um no longer flowing to municipalities in Connecticut uh because those orders were placed early in the year.

Um that was something that allowed our assault domes to be full.

So I just wanted to just kind of give the committee that perspective because a logical line of thinking might be that if we're filling the the salt domes now, that we don't need the funds for next year.

But um that's something that gives us the ability to make sure that they remain full before the uh winter season comes.

So I just wanted to give everyone that awareness.

Thank you, Matt.

Is there any more discussion on item two?

Seeing no hands.

All those in favor of approving item two, please say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Any abstentions?

Okay, item two is approved unanimously.

Thank you, everybody.

Be safe.

Thank you, Tom.

Great work.

Thank you for everything you're doing.

Good night.

Night.

Item three, F32.045 for 144 million six hundred eighty-six thousand one hundred twelve dollars.

Additional appropriation capital, project CP 1471, West Hill High School Replacement Project, amending the fiscal year 25-26 capital budget for the construction of a new West Hill High School, state and city funded.

Do I have a motion to approve item three?

So moved.

Second.

Anyone very good.

Moved and seconded.

Uh director of school construction, Catherine Labalbo.

How are you?

Anything you'd like to enlighten us on on this item, please.

Oh, good uh good evening, Chair um members of the board.

This project goes all the way back to 2021.

Um when in 2022, um, when the Board of Education, the Board of Reps, the Board of Finance identified uh the need for a new West Hill High School.

Um there is a there's an authorization that was in place um for 301 million, but in 2024, um, due to escalation, which many municipalities around the state also saw similar, you know, similar escalation uh post-COVID.

Um we were seeing the cost estimates rise to um a total project budget of uh 461 million, which we were able to um bring down to 446, which is we are asking for the uh the difference between the 301 to the 446 this evening.

The state um has authorized this project at 446 million with uh 80 percent reimbursement.

Um so we've been able to retain a strong reimbursement again.

That means our local share is 20 percent.

Um I believe you'll see that in the in the next item on the resolution where you can see the split out of the uh 144 million.

Um the West Hill High School's about 450,000 square feet.

Um it's um highest year enrollment is uh uh 2,000 uh 400 uh or 2,000, yeah, uh 248 students.

Sorry, not 400.

Um and uh we are looking forward to uh commencing breaking ground this year um as soon as April um with this board's authorization this evening.

So uh in most simple terms, before we break broad ground, we need what the state has authorized for us.

That's that additional effectively uh 144 million.

Um we need our local authorization to match our state authorization, which is why we're here tonight.

So that I know that was a lot, but um happy to answer any any questions.

Any questions for direct filavaldo?

Uh side note, Christina, could you please promote representative Hayat to a panelist?

Yes, as we're trying, um I think she's just gonna have to accept.

Uh I'll try there.

She is.

She's in.

I guess she's here.

All right, representative Hyatt and Representative Walston have joined us as well.

Is there any more discussion on item three?

On this momentous vote.

All those in favor of approving item three, please say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Any abstaining.

That vote passes unanimously.

Item four, F32.046 resolution amending the fiscal 2526 capital budget to appropriate 144,686,112 for the West Hill High School replacement project and authorizing 36,171,528 in city general obligation bonds and authorizing related school construction grant.

Entertain a motion to approve item four.

All right, so move second, moved and seconded.

Floor is open for discussion.

Director Romano is here.

Tony, anything you want to add before we go to the committee.

Um no, to no what you said is is perfect.

We're we're uh amending the 26 capital budget by the 144 million and uh and the 36 million dollars um gives us this authorization gives us the permission to uh issue bonds for the 36 million.

Okay.

Representative Delacruz, you have the floor.

Uh thank you, Chair.

Uh hello, Tony.

Uh Tony, normally the emissional appropriation on the resolution have the same amount, which is the case here.

But then we have the 36 million in general obligation bonds.

Can you help me understand uh the role that plays in the 144 million?

Yeah, so so um the 36 million is the bond portion.

If you look at the actual um document that we submitted, um so the this resolution gives us permission to issue 36 million in bonds.

We we don't want to put 140, you know, we're not gonna issue 144 million in bonds.

Um, you know, the uh 108 million is you're marked as grants, so that's why you have two different numbers there.

So it's an increase of our capital budget by 144 million, but the caveat there is that 36 million of it is bonds.

And um, you know, you're you're when you approve this, you're actually giving us permission to issue bonds for 36 million, not the 144.

So it's a good thing.

That's a good thing.

Yes.

Okay, thank you, Tony.

That helps.

Okay.

Oh yeah.

Thank you, Representative.

Coacher Zachary, you have the floor.

Uh thank you.

Uh thank you, Chair Morrison.

Uh Tony, do you have any idea?

Uh this is sort of a technical question.

Do you have any idea what interest rate we have to pay to get these bonds approved uh bought in the marketplace and what the demand is right now for these kinds of bonds?

Um we we have a general idea, you know, obviously we we you know we can't predict the market.

Um we um with the board of finance, we approved uh uh 75 million dollars and bonds, which we uh if everything goes well, we'll uh issue sometime in May.

Um looking at uh let's see Greenwich uh issued 140 million a month ago at a little around three percent.

Um there's some other towns in uh in the Fairfield area that roughly it's roughly around three percent, three and a quarter.

I mean, that's that's where we think we're gonna be, but again, we don't know what the market's gonna be like in May.

I see.

And do what's the duration of these bonds?

There's what's the maturity?

Uh 20 years.

20 years.

Okay, thank you very much.

Uh I yield.

Thanks, Andrew.

Is there any more discussion on item four?

Seeing none, we'll move ahead with a vote to approve item four.

All those in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

All right.

All part.

All opposed.

Any abstentions.

Okay, that passes that passes unanimously.

Representative Walston, you had a point.

I had I just had uh question of clarity.

Go right ahead.

Um I just want to know.

Did we identify the need for a new school or was this new school for the mold remediation?

That was the only question I had.

Director Lobalbo.

Um, the Stanford Public Schools, the district did a long-term facilities plan.

Um, in that plan, they identified schools that were needed for for replacement that have been beyond their useful life.

But that is probably the shortest way to describe that plan because there are also items like roof replacement, window replacement, um, asbestos abatement flooring.

Um wasn't here in 2022, so I can't tell you if it was directly out of um what occurred with the molds and the mold task force, but um with the capital planning now and school construction, we are trying to work in lockstep to both take advantage of the reimbursement rate we have and make sure that we are maintaining all of our physical plan, all three million square feet of physical plan.

So all schools.

Um, but part of the long-term plan includes the new West Hill High School across the street, Roxbury K through eight, and two schools that are south of 95 that are effectively K through eight as well.

Okay, thank you so much.

Okay, yes, of course.

Thank you, Representative Walston.

Item five.

Excuse me.

Item five, F32.047, 41,107.

Additional appropriation grants, Stanford Police Department drug recognition expert DRE instructor grant, 100% federally funded to cover overtime associated FICA and travel for a certified DRE instructor to conduct statewide training.

I'll entertain a motion to approve item five.

So we mean we have a motion.

Many seconds.

Discussion.

Any discussion on item five.

Representative Delacruz, you have the floor.

Uh the item ends by saying instructor to conduct statewide training.

I'm speculating that the 41,000 is for the training in Stanford, not the statewide program.

Is that correct?

Anita.

Good evening.

Anita Carpenter is our grants officer.

All right.

Thank you.

Good evening, everyone.

And representative Dela Cruz.

So this grant is from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

It actually funds a Stanford police officer who is a certified instructor to travel around the state and provide this drug recognition training and the certification.

So it is gonna pay for 100% of their time to go provide that training, which is one of the requirements for um for the Connecticut Academy.

Uh oh, I see.

So the 41,000 is for the entire state, not just for Stanford.

Correct.

It'll it'll pay for one of our officers to provide that training because there aren't a lot of drug recognition experts in the state.

So we will there the funding is paying for one of our officers who is an expert to provide that training around the state at no cost to Stanford.

I see.

I understand.

Thank you, Anita.

Thank you, Representative.

Is there any more discussion on item five?

Seeing none.

All those in favor of approval for item five, please say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Any abstentions.

Okay.

Item five is approved unanimously.

Item six, F32.048 resolution authorizing the mayor to sign an agreement with the Department of Transportation for Financial Assistance for the Drug Recognition Expert Instructor Project.

And I'll entertain a motion to approve item six.

So moved.

Second.

Moved and seconded.

Any discussion on item six.

Seeing none.

All those in favor, please say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

And any abstentions.

Okay.

Item six is approved unanimously.

Item seven, F32.049, 24,500.

Additional appropriation grants.

Department of Health CDC pilot grant via the Connecticut Department of Health to develop the local heat and air quality preparedness and response plan, LHAQP.

100% grant funded, no indirect or administrative funds.

I'll understand a motion to approve item seven.

So moved.

Do you have a second?

Second and second.

Many seconds.

Floor is open for discussion on item seven.

Representative Delacruz, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair Morrison.

As you know, I've been pursuing air quality for five years now.

So I'm quite interested in all these projects.

So at the moment, uh we have an air quality program, monitoring program that is being put together, I guess, based on the report of Mr.

Hofneigel.

Then there are there is another monitoring program limited to the south end and the east side.

And there is another uh another effort going on for air quality.

So I'm wondering how do these small effort to provide a response plan.

So Anita, can are you able to uh explain how this additional $24,000 effort goes along with the other things that are going uh in place, for example the heat and air quality preparedness and response plan is supposed to be part of what uh the health department is is preparing based on Mr.

Hofnagel's report.

So do we have a duplication of effort?

Uh uh least does one know what the other one is doing?

Anita, can you uh shed some light on this for us?

I I will do my best, and if I don't do it justice, I will certainly get information and get that back to you.

Um so what I know, I mean, it is all coordinated through Jody Bishop Poland, the director of uh health and human services.

So there is uh knowledge and and awareness of everything that's going on related to all of the air quality.

What I know about this one is and what I would uh what I would consider this to be is a complement to all the existing efforts that are happening.

This is to create the or do the plan portion for air quality and focusing on reduction of vehicle related emissions.

Um so I think you know, because it's funded through the congestion mitigation and air quality improvement program, it really is focusing on um that vehicle piece, which I think or the transportation piece, and so I think that it will complement and dovetail nicely with everything else that's going on.

I think it's uh it's just one more piece of the puzzle.

That's the effort to try to get it all in together.

Does that uh address your question, Representative Delacruz?

Uh uh, thank you, Anita, for for uh for trying.

Um, um a little there seem to be disjointed efforts that have been started, and that's why we yet do not have a credible air quality monitoring program.

Uh you know, Anita, what the deliverables from this effort would be.

So they're concussing.

What I do know, I mean, it's uh you know, to develop that preparedness and response plan um related to traffic flow improvements and congestion rejection, diesel admission, um infrastructure related to transportation modes.

So my understanding is that it's going to complement and tie into all the other existing efforts.

Now, I understand what you're saying that we have a lot of moving pieces out here, but I think what we're trying to do is get the funding where we can um to bring it all together, and Jody's coordinating all of that so that we can have a nice robust air quality preparedness and response plan.

Um, but you know, I would have to defer to her to to all of the inner workings on how it all you know is coming together.

Uh okay, because talking about the disjunctive disjoint of efforts.

We have the purple layer monitors, not only mission particulate 2.5 uh micron and uh particular emissions.

We have these two monitors.

Representative de la cruz, if I may.

Yes, go ahead.

Going over the different parts uh and different efforts that we've already undertaken.

Uh I'm not sure is key to whether or not we accept uh the appropriation, pass the appropriation to accept this grant money.

May I suggest that we that you pose your questions uh in writing to uh uh both Ms.

Carpenter and Director Bishop Pullen uh and get the specific answers uh that you're looking for because they seem to uh they seem to uh focus on the holistic nature of of air quality monitoring, not necessarily the uh acceptance of this grant.

Yeah, uh I I concur with you.

In fact, uh my intentions will be to uh submit uh an item for the public health and safety committee to get a better understanding how how all these little efforts are going to come together to have a credible air quality monitoring program that uh emerges out of all this little apparently disjointed efforts.

Uh so with that I yield, but I will submit an item for uh steering.

Uh thank you.

Thank you, Representative.

And uh let me know if I can uh assist with uh your um uh inquiry with uh director director Bishop Pullen.

Yeah, certainly.

I uh I saw thank you, Representative.

Is there any more discussion on this item?

I saw a hand up, but it went down.

Okay, seeing no further discussion.

Uh all those in favor of approval of item seven, please say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Any abstentions?

Okay, that passes unanimously.

Item eight, f32.050.

Resolution authorizing the mayor to sign an agreement with the Connecticut Department of Public Health for the Environmental Health Grant.

Do I have a motion to approve item eight?

So moved.

Second.

A motion and a second.

Thank you.

With floors open for discussion on item eight.

Seeing no discussion, all those in favor of approval of item eight, please say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Any abstentions?

Okay, that passes unanimously.

Um sorry, I failed to note.

Did I fail to notice earlier that that Representative Hyatt has joined the meeting?

Sorry about that.

Item nine, F32.051, 25,000.

Additional appropriation grants, youth services bureau, senior internship program, unpaid experiential learning program to fund a seasonal hire and related FICA for administrative support funded by internal transfers from the mayor's budget, general fund, and board of education.

I'll entertain a motion to approve item nine.

Second, second.

Moved many seconds.

Floor is open for discussion.

Anita, do you want to add anything?

Unless there are any questions.

I think this appropriation request, though, is to appropriate the uh Connecticut Department of Education portion of funding.

So to hire the uh seasonal.

Okay.

Seeing no hands.

All those in favor of approval of item nine, please say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed.

Any abstentions.

Okay.

That item passes unanimously.

And item 10, F32.052.

A resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into and sign agreements with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Deep for the Hatchfield Park Improvements Project.

Do I have a motion to approve item 10?

Well moved.

Motion.

Second.

Seconded.

Floor is open for discussion on item 10.

Representative LePine, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair.

Um, just a question for Anita.

I didn't see it in the uh associated materials of this.

Is there any kind of match commitment required on behalf of the city, or is it fully funded by um by this agreement?

So there is no math requirement for this funding.

Um, I don't know the full budget of this project, Hatchfield Park Improvement.

Um, but I do I can tell you that there is no match requirement for this funding.

Thank you.

I yield.

Thank you, Representative.

Any further discussion on item 10.

Okay, seeing no hands, we'll take this to a vote.

Uh, all those in favor of approval of item 10, please say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Any abstentions?

Item 10 passes unanimously.

And that brings thank you.

Thank you to uh all of our guests this evening and your input and your time.

And with that, our business is concluded.

And I'll call this meeting of the fiscal committee adjourned at 7:38 p.m.

Everybody stay warm, stay safe, and may we have as little snow as possible the next couple of days.

Please on.

Thank you, Eric.

Very short meeting with this local meeting.

Thank you.

Have a good night, everyone.

Good night, everyone.

Thank you.