|
REPRESENTATIVE TOWN MEETING
TOWN OF GREENWICH
EXPLANATORY COMMENTS FOR
SEPTEMBER 2003 MEETING
ITEM NO.:
1 – postponed from June 2003 meeting
DEPARTMENT: Board of Estimate & Taxation
CONTACT: Ed Gomeau – 622-7720
REFERRED TO: Finance, Legislative & Rules Committee
VOTES: Board of Estimate & Taxation 12-0-0
Resolved, that Section 2 of the Town of Greenwich Charter be and the same is hereby amended to read as follows:
Sec. 2. Membership; qualification.
(a) The Board of Estimate and Taxation shall consist of twelve (12) electors nominated and elected at large. Members shall be sworn, and shall hold office for two (2) years from January 1 following their election and until their successors shall be elected and shall have qualified.
(b) They shall be taxpayers, shall hold no other elective office in the Town government, and shall serve without pay.
(c) Members of the Board of Selectmen shall be ex-officio members, without vote, of the Board of Estimate and Taxation.
(additions bold)
The foregoing proposal for home rule action requires an affirmative vote of a majority of the entire membership of the Representative Town Meeting and approval at a referendum.
DEPARTMENT: Selectmen 0003se019
CONTACT: Richard Bergstresser 622-7710
REFERRED TO: Appointments, Land Use Committees
VOTES: Board of Selectmen 3-0
RESOLVED, that the following named person, nominated by the Board of Selectmen, be appointed an alternate member of the Planning and Zoning Commission for a term expiring 3/31/05.
PAMELA M. FREDERICK
EXPLANATORY COMMENTS
Pamela M. Frederick. 44 Woodland Drive, Greenwich. New nomination as an alternate member of the Planning and Zoning Commission for a term expiring 3/31/05.
BA University of Michigan, MBA – University of Michigan.
Currently, Vice President of GE Commercial Finance . Member – Women’s Foreign Policy Group, Financial Women’s Association, NY.
ATTACHMENTS
None
DEPARTMENT: Selectmen
CONTACT: Richard Bergstresser 622-7710
REFERRED TO: Appointments, Land Use Committees
VOTES: Board of Selectmen 3-0-0
RESOLVED, that the following named person, nominated by the Board of Selectmen, be appointed a member of the Inland Wetlands Agency for a term expiring 3/31/04.
MARTIN KAGAN
Explanatory Comments
Martin Kagan. 32 Lockwood Avenue, Old Greenwich. New nomination as a member of the Inland Wetlands Agency for a term expiring 3/31/04.
Harvard University, Diploma from Institute in Arts Administration, York University, Downsview, Ont., Masters in Environmental Studies and Waterloo Lutheran University, - Honor B.A.
Former member, California Presenters, Chair – OMG Center for Collaborative Learning, , former Chair – South Pasadena Cultural Heritage Commission. Member, south Pasadena Gold Line Arts Advisory Committee. Former board member – AGMA Health and Pension Fund, NY and former advisory board member – Madison National Bank, Washington, D.C
ATTACHMENTS
None.
DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation, Griffith E. Harris Golf Course
REFERRED TO: Parks & Recreation Committee
VOTES: Board of Estimate and Taxation – Vote
RESOLVED, that the Town of Greenwich and the Griffith E. Harris Golf Course accept a gift of scorecards valued at approximately $3,500 from the “Friends of the Griffith E. Harris Golf Course”.
EXPLANATORY COMMENTS
The Griffith E. Harris Golf Course would use this gift of approximately $3,500 from the “Friends of Griffith E. Harris Golf Course” for yardage/scorecard books. Each hole on the golf course would be laser measured from various strategic points to the green. Markings would then be provided and installed from these points. A booklet would then be developed with each hole on a separate page showing the markings and tips on how to play the hole from the course PGA Pro. The booklet will include a scorecard in the center and will have advertising in it. They will be given out, for example, at shotgun outings held at the course where many golfers are playing the course for the first time.
Attachments
None
DEPARTMENT: Selectmen
CONTACT: Richard V. Bergstresser 622-7710
REFERRED TO: Finance, Legislative & Rules, Town Services
VOTES: Board of Selectmen 3-0-0
To consider and act upon the following resolution requested by the First Selectman.
RESOLVED, that the following tax abatement relief for surviving souses of Police and Firemen be approved and enacted by the Representative Town Meeting.
ARTICLE 5.
TAX ABATEMENT FOR SURVIVING SPOUSESOF POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS
The Representative Town Meeting ("RTM") of the Town of Greenwich ("the Town") finds and determines as follows:
(1) The Greenwich police officers and firefighters provide a valuable service to the Town.
(2) The Town wishes to honor those police officers and firefighters employed by the Town who die while performing their duties as police officers or firefighters during their scheduled working hours. Scheduled working hours shall include overtime.
(3) Pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes Section 12-81x, the Town is authorized to provide for an abatement of real property taxes with respect to real property owned by the surviving spouse of a police officer or firefighter employed by the Town who dies while performing his duties for the Town during his scheduled working hours, which real property is occupied by the surviving spouse as his principal residence at the time of the police officer’s or firefighter’s death.
Section 12-17 Tax Abatement for Surviving Spouse of Police Officers and Firefighters.
(a) In accordance with Connecticut General Statutes Section 12-81x, there is hereby established effective October 1, 2003, an abatement of 100% of municipal real property taxes due with respect to real property owned by the qualifying surviving spouse of a police officer or firefighter employed by the Town who dies on or after the date of approval of this Resolution by the RTM, while performing his duties for the Town during his scheduled working hours, which real property is occupied by the surviving spouse as his principal residence at the time of the death.
(b) This tax abatement will remain in effect until the surviving spouse remarries or until the spouse conveys his interest in the subject residence.
(c) A "qualifying surviving spouse" means the person who was married to the police officer or firefighter employed by the Town at the time of his death and who owns and occupies as his principal residence at the time of the police officer’s or firefighter’s death.
(d) The Chiefs of the Greenwich Police Department and Greenwich Fire Department shall compile a list of all qualifying surviving spouses and submit this list to the Greenwich Tax Assessor no later than April 1 of each year.
(e) Upon the death of any person entitled to tax relief pursuant to this Section, the tax relief hereunder shall end the following June 30.
(f) If any person is entitled to a tax abatement hereunder conveys the property with respect to which the tax abatement hereunder has been granted, the tax relief shall be suspended as of the date of conveyance and the non-qualifying purchaser of such property shall pay the Town a prorated share of taxes thereby due and owing as provided by Connecticut General Statutes Section 12-81a.
(g) The property tax relief provided for in this Section may, in any case where title to real property is recorded in the name of the qualifying surviving spouse and any other person or persons, be prorated to reflect the fractional portion of such qualifying spouse or, if such property is a multiple family dwelling, such relief may be prorated to reflect the fractional portion of such property occupied by the qualifying spouse.
(h) Persons qualifying in accordance with this Section shall be eligible if they are unit owners and occupiers of a cooperative. The amount of annual property tax relief in accordance with this Section to any such person shall be determined in relation to an assumed amount of property tax liability applicable to the assessed value for the dwelling unit which such person owns and occupies as determined by the assessor which may be based on the number of cooperative shares attributable to the unit compared to the total number of shares in the cooperative. For purposes of this Section, the assessor shall determine the assumed value for the dwelling unit of each such person who is otherwise eligible under this Section, but such determination shall not constitute a tax bill for purposes of property taxation of such cooperative or any individual dwelling unit thereof. Annually not later than the 1st day of June, the assessor, upon receipt of an application for such relief, shall determine, with respect to the assessment list of the assessment year commencing October first immediately preceding, the portion of the assessed value of the entire cooperative, as included in such assessment list, attributable to the dwelling unit occupied by such person. The assumed property tax liability for purposes of determining the amount of such relief shall be the product of such assessed value and the mill rate in such municipality as determined for purposes of property tax imposed on said assessment list for the assessment year commencing October first immediately preceding. The amount of relief to which such person shall be equivalent to the amount of tax reduction for which such person would qualify, considering such assumed property tax liability to be the actual property tax application to such person’s dwelling unit and such person as liable for the payment of such tax.
(i) The tax collector and tax assessor shall prescribe with regard to their respective duties under this Section, such forms and procedures as may be necessary to implement this Section. The assessor, in addition, shall take such steps necessary to satisfactorily establish the facts as to the qualifying surviving spouse’s interest in the property, by requesting such documents as the assessor deems necessary. This documentation shall not be open to the public inspection.
(j) The tax collector of the Town shall maintain a record of all taxes abated in accordance with this Article.
(k) This Article shall take effect and be applicable to taxes owing beginning with taxes on the Grand List of October 1, 2003.
EXPLANATORY COMMENTS
In light of the tragic events which occurred on September 11, 2001, there has been increased awareness of the need to honor those brave men and women who make supreme sacrifices to keep our community safe.
In accordance with Connecticut General Statutes Section 12-81x, the Town of Greenwich is empowered to adopt an ordinance to provide tax abatement to surviving spouses of Police and Firemen who give their lives in the line of duty to keep all of us safe.
DEPARTMENT: Selectmen
CONTACT: Richard Bergstresser 622-7710
REFERRED TO: Education Finance, Legislative & Rules
VOTES: Board of Selectmen 3-0-0
To consider and act upon the following resolution requested by the Board of Selectmen:
RESOLVED that, the Town of Greenwich enter into agreements with the State of Connecticut, Department of Economic Development concerning the State grant of $175,000.
Explanatory Comments:
The Town’s Bruce Museum of Arts and Science is seeking to expand the current the facility in order to allow the museum to accommodate larger audiences for school and public programs and to present larger exhibitions. A master facilities and needs architectural analysis study (“Expansion Feasibility Study”) was required before building plans could be prepared or a building or capital campaign considered. A grant application was filed with the State for financial support in connection with the costs of such study.
Under our Charter and Management Agreement applicable to the Bruce Museum of Arts and Science, the Museum (building and grounds) are under Town control and the Town has the right to title ownership of the Museum collections as well. The Town has a management agreement with Bruce Museum, Inc. pursuant to which Bruce Museum, Inc. administers, manages and operates the business of the Museum.
The State of Connecticut, Department of Economic Development, requires that Town of Greenwich enter into the relevant agreements with the State concerning the grant in question.
The RTM has already authorized the First Selectman on behalf of the Town to accept the State grant in the amount of $175,000.00 to conduct an Expansion Feasibility Study for the Bruce Museum. This occurred on April 14, 2003 (158 In Favor – 1 Against – 2 Abstentions ). This resolution was required by the State to permit the First Selectman to execute the State’s Grant Proposal which occurred in June.
Subsequent to receiving the executed Grant Proposal, the State Department of Economic Development (“DECD”) has now forwarded its formal Assistance Agreement and related documents to the Town for review and execution. These are attached. Because Bruce Museum, Inc. operates and administers the Museum, and the feasibility study as part of those duties, a parallel agreement between the Town of Greenwich and Bruce Museum, Inc. has been drawn up so as to ensure that Bruce Museum, Inc. will comply with all requirements placed on the Town. That agreement is also now submitted for RTM approval.
The State requires indemnification from the Town with regard to potential hazardous waste on the site. See Assistance Agreement paragraph 2.10 (E). The State requires this provision and has indicated it is not negotiable. There is an indemnification clause in favor of the Town from Bruce Museum, Inc. in the Town-BMI agreement with regard to the hazardous waste issue as well, although limited to environmental issues “caused” by Bruce Museum, Inc. We believe this is fair light of the fact that the Town maintains the grounds and the building.
Note that under the Town’s agreement with the Bruce Museum, Inc., the Bruce Museum (not the Town) is responsible for the State’s counsel’s fees through closing of the transaction.
The Board of Selectmen approved the two agreements at their meeting on August 7, 2003.
Separate packet:
Attachments:
Re: Grant for Feasibility Study, Bruce Museum of Arts and Science
1. Agreement by and Between the State of Connecticut (Department of Economic and Community Development) and Town of Greenwich and related documents
2. Agreement Between Bruce Museum, Inc. And Town Of Greenwich Regarding Bruce Museum Expansion Project – Planning And Grant and related documents
DEPARTMENT: First Selectman
CONTACT: Adrianne Singer 622-7710
REFERRED TO: Finance, Legislative & Rules
VOTES:
RESOLVED that the Town of Greenwich continue to accept grants from the Area Nine Cable Council (ANCC), which provides the Town with funds to purchase and upgrade equipment and associated services necessary to communicate with its citizens over a government-access television channel. Grants are passed to Greenwich through the Area Nine Cable Council from SNET Personal Vision and Cablevision.
Explanatory Comments
Area Nine Cable Council, of which the Town of Greenwich is a member, distributes grants to towns in Fairfield County to purchase equipment for government-access cable television operations. The Town already has received two grants and is setting up its government-access channel. Additional grants provide us with cameras, services and other equipment that will streamline the process and permit Greenwich to broadcast. The majority of municipalities in Fairfield County already have successful government-access channels to communicate with citizens.
The Area Nine Cable Council is a state-mandated governmental body made up of appointed volunteer representatives in ten municipalities. It serves as an advisory group representing community interests to the area’s Cable Television providers and the State of Connecticut’s Department of Public Utility Control. Its mission is to advocate the best possible service for Cable Television customers and to promote the utilization of program services through public, education and government access.
The Town of Greenwich Board of Education regularly accepts these grants for its education-access channel and the channel has been up and running for some time.
A government-access channel gives all the citizens of Greenwich the opportunity to view such meetings as the RTM, BET, P&Z, special meetings that are called that focus on a particular issue, and other important government events. Television is an important communications vehicle and the government-access channel would provide a view into the workings of Town government, especially for those who are not members of town bodies. It may also serve to encourage those who do not currently volunteer to get more involved in our Town.
Grants would be used for such equipment as cameras, tripods, microphones, cables, microphone mixers, tapes, controllers, and video recorders and to upgrade equipment as the technology is replaced or equipment is not functional. The equipment resides in Town Hall and programs are televised through a fiber optic receiver that was installed by Cable Vision. All cable subscribers would have access to the Town of Greenwich government-access channel.
The Office of the First Selectman is responsible for the overall strategy, planning and implementation of the programming. A volunteer committee – Friends of Government Access – would assist in taping meetings and showing them on the government-access channel.
Attachments
None
DEPARTMENT: Health Department 0308HD08
CONTACT: Caroline C. Baisley (203) 622-7836
REFERRED TO: Health & Human Services
VOTES: Board or commission name vote (y/n/a)
To consider and act upon the following resolution requested by the Director of the Health Department:
RESOLVED, that the Town of Greenwich accept a gift of a piece of laboratory equipment, a microcentrifuge, from Time for Lyme, Inc., to be used solely for the Health Department Laboratory’s tick testing program.
EXPLANATORY COMMENTS
We respectfully request the acceptance of a gift in the form of a piece of laboratory equipment, a microcentrifuge valued at $1,466, which will be used in the laboratory’s tick testing program. This new microcentrifuge is more efficient in processing tick samples than the one currently being used in the laboratory. This new piece of equipment will not require any additional funding for maintenance. Since Greenwich is an endemic area for Lyme Disease, this gift will enhance the Department’s capability to process tick samples, which will in turn assist residents in providing pertinent information to their physicians for the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme Disease.
Attachments
Letter
| 
