2016-05-02
BERLIN CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION
May 2, 2016 – Special Meeting
** APPROVED MINUTES **
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Paul Argazzi at 7:05pm on Monday May 2, 2016 in Caucus
Room A of the Berlin Town Hall, 240 Kensington Road, Berlin, CT.
Those in attendance were:
Bart Bovee
Dennis Kern
Sam Lomaglio
George Millerd
Maggie Morelli
Brad Parsons
Paul Argazzi, Chairman
Kate Wall, Berlin Town Clerk
Jim Wren, Finance Director
AUDIENCE OF CITIZENS
No comments
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Sam Lomaglio made a motion to accept the minutes from the April 28, 2016 Special Meeting as
amended. Brad Parsons seconded the motion.
Motion was approved 7 – 0.
DISCUSSION ON THE CHARTER
Jim Wren, Finance Director invited into the meeting.
Discussion/suggestions from Jim Wren included:
CHAPTER 3 – THE TOWN COUNCIL
- Section 3-8-h Clarify contract language to include or exclude Board of Education and if
all labor and vendor contracts apply. Jim Wren would prefer to see Town Council approve
all labor and vendor contracts, and all bid-waivers, including BOE contracts and bid-waivers.
- Increasing threshold to $25,000.00 annual accumulated expenditures to a single vendor.
- Language to allow for possible consolidation of Town and BOE accounts payable and payroll
functions to allow for efficiency and cost savings.
- Suggestion to invite Board of Education Business Manager/Finance Director to future
meeting.
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BERLIN CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION
May 2, 2016 – Special Meeting
** APPROVED MINUTES **
CHAPTER 6 – APPOINTIVE OFFICERS AND BOARDS
- Under Department of Finance – should be clarified if Charter language that requires all
contracts be approved by Finance Director includes or excludes BOE contracts.
- Possible elimination of Pensions section 6-10-4 as most current employees are no longer in
pensions – most are currently in defined contribution/401k style plans.
- Finance Director no longer controls employee files. This is now a Human Resources
function.
- Lack of clarity in Charter language surrounding leases. Should leases be approved by Council
or ordinance? Are they included in section 6-10-6 and treated like a bond, or are they a
separate issue?
CHAPTER 7 – BUDGETARY PROCESS
- Suggest December 1 to submit budget requests to Town Manager
- Budget referendum process – possible alternatives to current one public vote.
- Strike “ability to tax 2 mils for capital non-recurring fund”.
- 3 day requirement in section 7-9
- Appropriations - raising dollar thresholds for approval at a Town Meeting
- Separate out revenue transfers and leave current wording for expenditures?
- Suggested cumulative budget transfers of $5000.00 from any single account require Town
Council approval.
- State Commissioner of Revenue Services be changed to Office of Policy and Management or
“appropriate department at State of Connecticut”.
Jim Wren was asked by the Commission to provide the Commission with suggested language on issues
discussed above.
Commission members discussed automatic referendums for large purchases and dollar thresholds and
majority vs supermajority votes of Council to move votes forward. Discussion also included adding
language to allow Town Council to vote to send projects to referendum by majority vote.
PREPARATION FOR NEXT MEETING
Chairman Argazzi stated that the next meeting would include a budget discussion and Chapter 8.
ADJOURNMENT
Dennis Kern made a motion to adjourn. Motion was seconded by Sam Lomaglio.
Motion was approved 7 – 0 and meeting was adjourned at 9:50 pm.
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BERLIN CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION
May 2, 2016 – Special Meeting
** APPROVED MINUTES **
Respectfully submitted,
Kari Drost,
Recording Secretary
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