MINUTES: Special Town Meeting on School HVAC, Dec 10 @ 7pm

Special Town Meeting

on School HVAC & Electrical Project

December 10, 2024 @ 7 pm

Minutes

First Selectman, Tim Keeney, called the Special Town Meeting. He then requested that the Town Clerk, David Marti, to read aloud by the legal notice.

Town Clerk read the Legal Notice.

LEGAL NOTICE

TOWN OF SOMERS

NOTICE OF SPECIAL TOWN MEETING

AND REFERENDUM

All electors and persons eligible to vote in town meetings of the Town of Somers, Connecticut (the “Town”) are hereby warned that a Special Town Meeting of the Town is to be held at the Somers Town Hall Auditorium, 600 Main Street, Somers, Connecticut on Tuesday, December 10, 2024 at 7:00 p.m., for the following purposes:

To elect a moderator.
To consider and discuss (but not vote on) the following resolution:

AMENDMENT RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN INCREASE IN THE APPROPRIATION AND THE AMOUNT OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND NOTES OF THE TOWN TO FINANCE SAID APPROPRIATION FROM $10,500,000 TO $15,000,000 FOR THE HVAC AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT

The full text of the foregoing authorizing resolution is on file and open to inspection at the office of the Town Clerk, Town Hall, Somers, Connecticut for the use or inspection of any interested person.

All electors and persons eligible to vote in town meetings of the Town are hereby further notified that pursuant to Section 7-7 of the Connecticut General Statutes, as amended, the Board of Selectmen by resolution adopted at its meeting on October 17, 2024, removed the foregoing resolution from the agenda of this Special Town Meeting for submission to the voters for vote by voting machine.

The question to be voted upon is as follows:

“Shall the resolution entitled, ‘AMENDMENT RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN INCREASE IN THE APPROPRIATION AND THE AMOUNT OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND NOTES OF THE TOWN TO FINANCE SAID APPROPRIATION FROM $10,500,000 TO $15,000,000 FOR THE HVAC AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT’, be approved?

Yes ______ No ______”

The ballot label for said question shall read as follows:

“Shall the Town of Somers increase its appropriation and the amount of general obligation bonds and notes to finance said appropriation from $10,500,000 to $15,000,000 for the HVAC and electrical system improvements project?

Yes _____ No _____”

The vote will be conducted on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. at the following polling places:

Voting District Location of Polling Place

1 Town Hall,600 Main St, Somers

The location of the polling place for all non-resident property owners eligible to vote will be 600 Main Street, Somers, Connecticut.

Absentee ballots will be available in accordance with applicable law. Absentee ballots will be counted at the following central location: Registrar’s Office, Somers Town Hall, 600 Main Street, Somers, Connecticut. Voters approving the resolution will vote “Yes” and voters opposing the resolution will vote “No.”

To adjourn the special town meeting to a vote by voting machine on the above question to be held on the date, during the time and at the noticed polling place referred to above.

Dated at Somers, Connecticut this 2^nd day of December 2024.

TOWN OF SOMERS, BOARD OF SELECTMEN

Tim Keeney, First Selectman, William Meier and Robert Schmidt, Selectman

First Selectman Keeney stated that the first order of business was to elect a moderator and he opened the floor to nominations. Selectman, Bill Meier nominated Tim Keeney to be moderator and Selectman, Bob Schmidt seconded it. Tim asked if there are any other nomination and with non a verbal vote of the nomination was affirmed by all saying yes.

Tim then stated that the next order of business is to consider and discuss , but not vote, on the following:

Selectman, Bill Meier made the motion to proceed and Selectman, Bob Schmidt seconded it.

Steve Krasinski, 55 Wells Road, stepped forward and asked for an explanation on the additional 5 million dollars being requested. Brian Wissinger explained that the recent study to complete the full project came in at a higher number than the original estimate. School Superintendent, Sam Galloway, then added that the Town did receive a 5.8 million dollar grant from the state so even though the request is for 15 million the actual amount spent would be 15 – 5.8 or under 10 million. Paul Bohonwicz, building Committee member, then gave the background on the project over the past two years. Explained that the town will not spend more than what was appropriated on the first round. Because of the 5.8 million grant the whole project will come in under the initial amount. For legal reasons the Town must appropriate the whole amount even though will not borrow that amount.

Steve Krasinski came back up and asked if the state would offer any more grant money to offset part of the additional money requested. Tim and Brian explained that no additional grant money will be available. Bottom line is that the town would be responsible for the 10 million. Bob Schmidt explained the importance of the project to provide clean air for the students’ health. Mike Marinacio explained that effect on taxes will be negligible because there are past bonds that are being paid off as the new ones will be added.

Susan Peck, 91 Skyridge Drive. Is this the project that started 2 to 3 years ago. Brian confirmed yes it will actually begin this spring.

Susan Cowan, 135 George Wood, stated that she is confused on how this was communicated to voters. Resolutions have been on the website, Legal Notice in paper, discussed in BOE, BOS and BOF meetings.

Joan Rivard, 74 Mapleridge Drive. Most people in Town are not aware of tonight’s meeting. Brian explained that we have 5.8 million from the state so the 15 million will not be bonded, 10 will be bonded. Superintendent explained that the company who provided the initial wrong estimate is being challenged. Since their estimate was flawed, they should refund the fees received

David Marti, 50 Springfield. We have all experienced inflation. Gave personal experience of homeowners insurance going from $3600 to $5000 a $1400 increase. Also explained that the State of CT mandates that all dog pounds must have climate control. If stray dogs get air conditioning our elementary school students should also.

Lisa Horan, 43 Shadydell Lane, I receive my information from BOE meeting. She explained how 3 professional organizations have been involved with getting the project to the point we are at. BOE, BOF and BOS have been involved in the whole process. She explained that a big factor of the increase was the additional time to do the work in an occupied building. Because of the state grant the project will still cost the town less than the original amount.

Ann Kirkpatrick, 79 Nutmeg Drive, clarified that our original project included air conditioning.

Bulk of the increase due to the project going from 8 months to 22 months. Town approved over 10 without guarantee of grant. So now with grant project still under the 10 originally approved.

Steve Krasinski, is this 15 million estimate or quote. Brian said we will not spend more than the 15.

Paul Bohonwicz explained that it is possible that the cost could be lower.

Tim Keeney says it is important to get the information to the residents but limited what we can do. We cannot advocate for either position.

Tim Keeney thanked everyone for attending and adjourned the meeting at 7:35 pm.

Minutes written and submitted by David Marti, Town Clerk