Cheshire Town Council Advances Security Upgrade, School Capacity Plan, and Capital Budget Review

Town Council · Meeting of May 23, 2023

CT CHESHIRE — Cheshire Town Council unanimously approved five resolutions Tuesday and heard warnings of growing school overcrowding and a ballooning culvert bill. The council signed off on a 7 percent salary increase for the town clerk, bringing pay to $94,273 effective January 1, 2024, and authorized Tax Collector Anne-Marie Brewer to assign tax and sewer liens to FIG Capital Investments LLC at a bid of 105 percent — beating a rival bid by roughly $3,600. Board of Education representative Vin Masciana presented a $263,000 Mutual Link security software proposal, jointly backed by Cheshire Public Schools and the Police Department, that would overlay school floor plans with live camera feeds at police dispatch; a 50 percent state grant application was filed April 28.

Masciana also flagged a potential worst-case cost of $1.2 million for portable classrooms at overcrowded Highland and Doolittle elementary schools, where Highland enrollment has climbed to roughly 850 and is projected to reach 878 next year. Public Works staff disclosed that the Industrial Avenue culvert project has outgrown its $860,000 appropriation and will require a new referendum for an estimated additional $460,000.

In the full story:

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Source: the Town Council meeting of May 23, 2023, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

CHESHIRE — May 23, 2023 — The Cheshire Town Council approved five resolutions Tuesday, including a salary adjustment for the town clerk, assignment of tax liens to a private investor, and new public-works job descriptions, while spending much of the evening on a wide-ranging capital budget workshop covering school overcrowding, road and sidewalk programs, culvert repairs, police cell renovations, and a proposed school security software system.

Council Chair Peter Talbot presided over the meeting in Room 207-209 at Town Hall. The council voted unanimously on each formal action before shifting to extended presentations from Board of Education representative Vin Masciana and Public Works staff on first-year capital priorities and emerging needs not yet in the proposed budget.

The Full Story

The evening opened with quick action on administrative matters. The council unanimously approved adjusting the town clerk's salary by 7 percent, from $91,974 to $94,273, effective January 1, 2024, under Resolution 052323-1. The Personnel Committee had reviewed the adjustment in advance, and Council Member David Veleber noted it was consistent with prior guidance.

The council then approved Resolution 052323-2, authorizing Tax Collector Anne-Marie Brewer to assign tax and sewer liens under Connecticut General Statutes sections 12-195H, 7-254, and 7-258, and awarding the assignment to FIG Capital Investments LLC at a bid of 105 percent. Brewer, presenting her first lien assignment since joining Cheshire, said two bids came in above 100 percent. She recommended FIG based on an established working relationship dating to 2017, a 24-7 tracking portal, and her inability to reach references for the competing bidder, Tower Capital Management. The financial difference between the two bids, based on a lien list dated May 19, amounted to approximately $3,600. Two water assessments totaling $5,300.40, outstanding since 2017 on properties on Lost Farm Road, were included in the assignment.

"I was not expecting anything over 100% because I noticed for this past year or two, maybe even longer, it was simply 100% bid for the assignment. So I was happy to see that both of the bids came in over that." [No timestamp index provided] — Anne-Marie Brewer, Cheshire Tax Collector

The council unanimously approved Resolution 052323-3, adopting updated job descriptions for several positions including a new Mechanical/Electrician combination role at the water treatment plant, an Operator in Training position intended to build a succession pipeline ahead of a retirement, and a Senior Library Associate title carrying supervisory responsibilities. Town staff described the combination mechanical-electrician position as a way to retain a valued employee identified only as Greg and to reduce the need for an operator to be present when electrical work is performed.

Resolution 052323-4 adopted amendments to the town's personnel rules and regulations, aligning the town's 457 and 401 retirement plan employer contributions for non-union employees with union contract levels. Town staff explained non-union employees had remained at a 6 percent employer contribution while union contracts had moved to 7 percent, with an increase to 8 percent scheduled for the coming July. The total financial impact is approximately $43,000, of which roughly $20,000 was already assumed in the budget, leaving an estimated additional $23,000 in new cost.

Resolution 052323-5 called a public hearing for 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Council Chambers at Town Hall, 84 South Main Street, to discuss the potential acquisition of 19 Wallen-Critter Road.

The council unanimously appointed Laura Monte to the Environment Commission, filling the vacancy left by Lynn Dawson. Monte, a Democrat, will serve from May 23, 2023, through January 31, 2024. Council Member Jim Jinks clarified that the appointment had been tabled at a prior meeting due to questions about charter requirements governing political-party succession in appointed vacancies, and that those requirements had since been reviewed and confirmed.

The capital budget discussion that followed covered two new Board of Education items. Masciana presented a joint schools-police proposal called the Mutual Link School and Town Security Improvement Project, a $263,000 software-and-hardware system that would allow police dispatch to view school floor plans overlaid with live camera feeds across all eight school buildings. A state school security grant application was submitted April 28; if approved, it would reimburse 50 percent of installation costs. The council did not vote on the item Tuesday; it is under review as part of the capital budget process.

"The reason it's on the capital budget is because it's a $263,000 request before the security grant reimbursement." [No timestamp index provided] — Vin Masciana, Board of Education representative

Masciana also updated the council on a potential portable-classroom need at Highland and Doolittle elementary schools, where enrollment is rising. Highland currently enrolls approximately 850 students, up from 838 at the start of the school year, with projections of 878 for next year. A study by Antonazzi Associates estimated a worst-case scenario of roughly $1.2 million to purchase and install four portable classrooms at Doolittle. Council members expressed reluctance to purchase permanent units given the town's ongoing elementary school construction program, and Masciana said he would return with a specific budget recommendation.

Public Works staff flagged a significant cost increase on the Industrial Avenue culvert project, where the appropriated amount of $860,000 has been overtaken by a final design estimate substantially higher, requiring an additional approximately $460,000 and a new referendum. Staff also discussed priorities for the police station — swapping the order of a boiler replacement and a parking lot resurfacing — and the condition of police holding cells, which Chief of Police indicated present safety and maintenance concerns at an estimated $70,000 per cell to renovate.

"We've had one or two non-serious threats of self-harm where somebody's kind of knotted their t-shirt. It's a lot easier to do it in a cell like that." [No timestamp index provided] — Chief of Police (name not stated on record)

The council discussed targeting a June 6 workshop to consolidate capital decisions ahead of the June 13 public hearing, with a goal of adopting the capital budget around June 20.

Why It Matters

Cheshire's capital budget is tracking toward approximately $10 million to $12 million in first-year spending, above the five-year average of roughly $9.6 million excluding the school construction years. Council members are weighing how many referendum questions to bring to voters — the current list stands near seven — and are looking for items to consolidate or defer. The Industrial Avenue culvert now requires a new voter appropriation, and the portable-classroom question for overcrowded elementary schools carries a price tag that could reach $1.2 million in a worst case, a cost the council wants to manage carefully while two new elementary schools remain three years from opening. The June 13 public hearing on both the potential land acquisition at 19 Wallen-Critter Road and the capital budget will be the next public opportunity to weigh in before a likely vote around June 20.

Key Motions & Votes

- Vote: Resolution 052323-1 — Town clerk salary adjustment from $91,974 to $94,273, effective January 1, 2024 Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Resolution 052323-2 — Authorization to assign tax and sewer liens; award to FIG Capital Investments LLC at 105 percent bid Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Resolution 052323-3 — Approval of updated job descriptions (Mechanical/Electrician, Operator in Training, Operator 1 and 2, Mental Health Substance Abuse Clinician, Senior Library Associate) Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Resolution 052323-4 — Amendments to personnel rules and regulations, including retirement contribution alignment for non-union employees Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Resolution 052323-5 — Call for public hearing June 13, 2023, on potential acquisition of 19 Wallen-Critter Road Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Appointment of Laura Monte to Environment Commission (term May 23, 2023 – January 31, 2024) Tally: Approved unanimously

• Action: Executive session to discuss security strategy matters, including Chief of Police and town attorney — Convened at close of meeting

Source

Cheshire's community access TV: Town Council meeting, May 23, 2023