Meeting Minutes

Financial Advisor Sharon Maloney arrived at 7:45 p.m.

1. CALL TO ORDER
   Chairman Gallitto called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
   The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

3. OPEN PUBLIC SESSION
   Chairman Gallitto opened public session at 7:03 p.m.
   No one wished to speak.

4. CLOSE PUBLIC SESSION
   Chairman Gallitto closed public session at 7:03 p.m.

5. MINUTES TO BE APPROVED
   A. REGULAR MEETING OF MAY 11, 2009
   MOTION to approve minutes of May 11, 2009 Regular Meeting by Comm. Roberts/
   Comm. Gregorio. Unanimously approved.

6. TAX COLLECTOR'S REPORT
   The Commission reviewed the Tax Collector's Report submitted by Tax Collector Cindy Gotta. Mrs. Gotta answered questions of the Commission members.

   Mrs. Gotta brought forth one taxpayer issue to the Commission. In July of last year a town benefit of $50.00 appeared on our bills in error. The error was corrected and new bills were sent out. A delinquent taxpayer came in who claimed she had never been notified of the error previously but did receive her last statement. The amount in dispute is $41.75 which are penalties and lien fees. Mrs. Gotta's suggestion was to waive the total as it was an error on our part.

   MOTION to wave the total due for the above mentioned taxpayer by Comm. Russo-Driska Comm. Roberts. Unanimously approved.

   Commissioner Roberts asked Mrs. Gotta about an amount of $625.00 that was a paid to Lee Mattarazzo who is the Tax Collector for the City of Middletown. This is a consultant fee paid to her for consultant services.

   MOTION to approve Tax Collector's Report by Comm. Gregorio/Comm. Russo- Driska. Unanimously approved.

   A. TAX REBATES
   MOTION to approve tax rebates in the amount of $446.55 by Comm. Gregorio/ Comm. Roberts. Unanimously approved.

7. MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORTS
   The Commission reviewed the reports submitted by Financial Advisory Sharon Maloney. Chief Badamo answered questions of the Commission members.

   Chief Badamo commented that overtime has come down, we are at full staff and no one is is out on Workman's Comp.

   Commissioner Gregorio commented that to date we have taken in 101.78% of our budget.

   Commissioner Russo-Driska stated that the NRG deal is almost finalized and we should be receiving our first payment of approximately $120,000 in January.

   MOTION to approve Monthly Financial Reports by Comm. Gregorio/Comm. Russo-Driska. Unanimously approved.

   Commissioner Roberts commented on the STIF account which is currently at .56%. and asked for an update on it. Chief Badamo responded by saying that Sharon Maloney would be looking at options at the beginning of the fiscal year.

8. CHIEF'S REPORT
   Chief Badamo reviewed his report and answered questions of the Commission members.

   Chief Badamo stated that our two newest Firefighters have been sworn in, are online and doing very well. We also recently swore in Cindy Gotta as our Tax Collector and Brother William from Xavier High School was sworn in as an honorary Firefighter in honor of his retirement.

   Chief Badamo added that the final check for the LOCIP roof replacement has been received. Marine 3 is now in the water. We have purchased a set of mooring whips to hold the boat off the poles that secure the dock. This will ensure a spot at the dock for the future.

   Commissioner Gregorio asked if there is anything we could do to assist Chief Ouellette from Middletown with the extension of the dock that would benefit us.

   Chief Badamo stated that he has offered assistance in many areas including power washing the dock and assistance in paying for electricity and he has not been taken up on any offers to date.

   Chief Badamo has begun the hiring process for the three new Firefighters. Conditional offers have been made. All three are recruit certified and have completed training at the CT Fire Academy. One of the recruits is a female.

   Chief Badamo stated that the only modification needed to accommodate a female Firefighter is for showering which is already in place. No modifications are necessary for sleeping arrangements.

   Commissioner Roberts asked Chief Badamo if there are any personnel rules that should be in place relative to the male/female hiring. Chief Badamo said there is a Sexual Harassment policy in effect and he not expecting any issues.

   Chief Badamo advised the Commission of a new grant that is available from President Obama as part of his Economic Stimulus Package that is a firehouse/fire station construction grant. They are shovel ready project grants. Although we are not in need of a new fire house, there is funding available through this grant for additions or work on current stations. Chief Badamo is going to review the grant and see if there is anything applicable that we might benefit from. There is no cost share. It is 100% funded so there would be no burden on the Taxpayers.

   MOTION to approve Chief Edward Badamo's Report by Comm. Russo-Driska/ Comm. Gregorio. Unanimously approved.

9. DEPUTY CHIEF/FIRE MARSHAL'S REPORT
   Deputy Chief/Fire Marshal Steven Krol reviewed his report and answered questions of the Commission members.

   Deputy Chief Krol updated the Commission on the Kleen Energy project. He advised that between the middle to the end of June, three transformers will be brought into the public safety dock. That will be the end of the heavy haul pieces.

   Deputy Chief Krol went on to say that the blasting on River Road should be completed soon.

   Commissioner Roberts asked Deputy Chief Krol if there had been any issues with the most recent blasting. He stated that a neighbor of his had a complaint regarding a possible contamination issue with his well and had to get the state involved. Deputy Chief Krol responded by saying this complaint never went through him and he had received no complaints during the most recent blasting.

   MOTION to approve Deputy Chief/Fire Marshal Steven Krol's report by Comm. Gregorio/ Comm. Roberts. Unanimously approved.

10. DEPUTY CHIEF OF OPERATIONS REPORT
    Deputy Chief of Operations Marc Fongemie reviewed his report and answered questions of the Commission members.

    Items completed for the month of May included Firefighting Foam Review Class, Natural Gas Emergency Awareness presented by Yankee Gas and Firefighters have been continuing "pre-plans of local businesses.

    The two newest Firefighters who are now online have completed new Firefighter training and orientation.

    MOTION to approve Deputy Chief of Operations Marc Fongemie's report by Comm. Gregorio/Comm. Sarcia. Unanimously approved.

11. COMMISSIONER REPORTS
    Commissioner Roberts stated that in regards to the boat launch issue, geographic boundaries of the river should be looked at to address coverage for the whole distance of the river. He stated that he has suggested this to the Chiefs in the area and would like to see the idea kept open.

    Chief Badamo added that other boat launch possibilities have been looked in to. NRG and Pratt and Whitney both have launch sites but there is no dock space anywhere between the two. He went on to say the potential for new dock space at the O & G well area is being reviewed.

    Further discussion ensued.

12. OLD BUSINESS
    A. DISCUSSION REGARDING POSTAGE, CHARGING FOR COPIES AND
    MEETING PACKET DISTRIBUTION
    Discussion ensued regarding charging for postage and copies for FOI requests. FOI requests would include charging for anything recreated on a CD as well.

    MOTION to charge for excess postage beyond the normal US postage mail rate and 50 cents per page for any document requested in print or the cost of recreating the electronic item effective July 1, 2009 by Comm. Russo-Driska/Comm. Gregorio. Approved. Commissioner Roberts voted nay.

    MOTION to make the Commissioners meeting packets available online on the District's website and one original available for the public to review at meetings by Comm. Russo-Driska/Comm. Gregorio. Unanimously approved.

13. NEW BUSINESS
    A. APPOINTMENT OF FORMER COMMISSIONER DAVID DARLING TO
    INCIDENT REVIEW COMMISSION
    Chairman Gallitto stated that at a recent Common Council meeting a concern was raised in regards to former Commissioner David Darling sitting on the Incident Review Commission. It was the ruling of the Corporation Council that if it came as a recommendation from the South Fire District he can.

    MOTION to appoint David Darling to the Incident Review Commission of the City of Middletown as the South Fire District Resident Representative by Comm. Russo-Driska/Comm. Roberts. Unanimously approved.

    (Financial Advisor Sharon Maloney arrived at 7:45 p.m.)

    Commissioner Roberts asked Ms. Maloney in regards to unrestricted funds of $912,357 if she felt that was a comfortable number. She stated she is comfortable to hold at $600,000.

    Commissioner Gregorio stated that he had spoken to two accountants and asked them how much money we should have. He was told that ideally, we should always have three months of operating expenses.

    Commissioner Roberts added that the District's auditor has always said we should have between 5 -15% of the operating budget.

14. EXECUTIVE SESSION
    MOTION to go into Executive Session at 7:59 p.m. by Comm. Russo-Driska/ Comm. Gregorio for a personnel issue, pursuant to Statutes Section 1-200(6)(A) and Section 1-225(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes, as amended. Unanimously approved.

    In attendance at Executive Session were Commissioners Gallitto, Russo-Driska, Roberts, Gregorio and Sarcia; Chief Badamo and Financial Advisor Sharon Maloney.

15. CALL BACK TO ORDER
    Chairman Gallitto called the meeting back to order at 9:06 p.m.

16. ADJOURNMENT
    MOTION to adjourn by Comm. Russo-Driska/Comm. Sarcia.

    Meeting was adjourned at 9:06 p.m.
    

Cheryl H. Creem
Recording Secretary