Chair Report: Feb. 14th Review & Feb. 23rd Joint Meeting Preview

Good Afternoon, and a Happy Friday neighbors! Below is a review of our regular council meeting, held on Tuesday, February 14th and a preview of our special joint meeting with the Board of Education and Town Manager.

On Tuesday, February 14th, the Town Council has two new items of discussion at our meeting. The town council will first hold a discussion of our town’s health benefits plan with Seth LaVigne of Lockton. Mr. LaVigne provided a general update regarding increases in claims and the overall increase in insurance costs.

Following this discussion, the town council reviewed and discussed a proposal to acquire the Tolland Marsh from owner Adam Grossman as well as proposed trail systems and parking that could be developed within the parcel. This acquisition would be assisted through applying for a state grant, which would require the town to provide a 20% match to the purchase, which is currently estimated at $300,000. The town’s contribution would be $60,000 from our Open Space account, which has roughly $590,738.65 in their account. The town council unanimously approved the town moving forward with this grant and further study of the costs to the town prior to any expenditures from the Open Space account.

On Thursday, February 23rd, the Town Manager will convene a charter-required joint meeting between the Town Council and Board of Education to discuss the Board of Education’s proposed budget. After a review of the budget and discussion on potential cost sharing opportunities required per state statute, public participation will be allowed followed by questions and comments by councilmembers.

To view the minutes of the February 14th Town Council meeting, please visit - https://ecode360.com/TO1208/document/710216908.pdf

To view the February 23rd Joint Meeting agenda, please visit - https://ecode360.com/TO1208/document/710233365.pdf

To view the Board of Education Budget and detailed QnA document, use the following links -

(Budget) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MrXIxJJP3wYlrOzYeI7tXb5vg-H0hG3j/view

(QnA) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1267sKeZmt5zPHyiNdSgBjxpVDft48fwg21ko4PfKjN4/edit

For the Town Manager’s February Report, please visit - https://www.tollandct.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif3921/f/uploads/february_14_2023_managers_report.pdf

Thank you for taking the time to review this report and the attached links above. We strongly encourage attendance at the joint meeting next week and future budget meetings for the town’s 2023-2024 budget process. If you would like to submit any questions or comments to the Town Council, please email us at towncouncil@tollandct.gov.