Posted by Bob on November 30, 2009 under Daily Blogs | 
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Tonight’s (Monday, November 30, 2009) special meeting of the Board of Education has been moved to City Hill Middle School at 7:30 PM. Special meeting Nov 30 11-30-09.
Posted by Bob on November 24, 2009 under Daily Blogs | 2 Comments to Read
The Wright Pierce Odor Control Evaluation Report is now available online on the Borough’s website (www.naugatuck-ct.gov).
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The Borough of Naugatuck has reached agreement for an early retirement package with the United Public Service Employees Union (”UPSEU”) Local 424 Unit 15. UPSEU represents various white collar employees throughout several municipal departments in the Borough. The Memorandum of Agreement Regarding Early Retirement and the Early Retirement Incentive Program documents can be viewed by clicking the respective link. A financial analysis of the agreement can be viewed here. The Board of Mayor and Burgesses approved the deal at the November 3, 2009, regular meeting, and UPSEU membership recently ratified the plan. The original proposal was made by UPSEU to the Borough and negotiated throughout the past few months.
The most significant benefit to the Borough for this agreement is that all new hires into the bargaining unit will receive defined contribution pension benefits. This represents the second (2nd) bargaining unit this year to agree to such a provision, as The Borough’s Chapter 90 Supervisors Union approved such a plan this Summer. A defined contribution pension plan is similar to the 401 (k) plans made available in the private sector and will provide significant savings for taxpayers in years to come.
UPSEU also agreed to allow what amounts to approximately one and one half (1 1/2) positions to come out of the bargaining unit. In addition, those retiring on the plan will relinquish the five (5) personnel days granted to UPSEU in exchange for accepting a pay freeze for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.
As stated in the financial analysis referenced herein, the Borough will begin to achieve savings under the plan in the 2012-2013 fiscal year. While there are slight increases in 2010-2011 and 2011-2012, the agreement is expected to save the Borough just under FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND and 00/100THS ($500,000.00) DOLLARS over the course of the next ten (10) years, with additional savings continuing into the future. This is primarily caused by the change to the pension plan. The cost to the 2009-2010 budget is expected to be less than ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED and 00/100THS ($1,500.00) DOLLARS.
We are grateful to all retiring Borough employees who have devoted their time and talent to municipal government throughout the years. Their dedication, work ethic and friendship will be dearly missed. We wish much happiness and great health to all.
Posted by Bob on November 23, 2009 under Daily Blogs | Be the First to Comment
Our office received a phone call indicating that tonight’s Board of Education meeting has been canceled due to the fact that information had not yet been received from the insurance company.
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The Odor Control Evaluation Report regarding Naugatuck’s sewage treatment facility has been completed and is available to the public. The report is a result of a Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (”DEP”) consent order requiring the operator of the facility, Veolia Water North America Naugatuck (”Veolia”), to research and investigate strategies to reduce and/or eliminate odors emanating from the treatment facility. The Wright-Pierce consulting firm conducted the study, which will be available on the Borough website shortly. (The file is currently too large to link to this site.)
The Water Pollution Control Board will meet to discuss the report this evening, Monday, November 23, 2009, 6:00 P.M., at Town Hall in the Commissioners Corner.
Posted by Bob on November 17, 2009 under Daily Blogs | 23 Comments to Read
For the past six (6) months the Borough of Naugatuck has been consumed by the 2008-2009 Board of Education budget deficit followed immediately by a shortfall in the 2009-2010 budget. Instead of enacting necessary reductions during the Summer before the beginning of the new school year, we are now left with a shortfall of approximately TWO MILLION and 00/100THS ($2,000,000.00) DOLLARS just shy of halfway through the fiscal year. That cost could grow if changes are not made to the current, self-funded health care system.
There are many reasons why we are where we are, but the latest proposal from the Superintendent attempts to resolve the shortfall by eliminating approximately sixty (60) to seventy (70) teachers. This includes among other cuts the elimination of all music, art, library and physical education programs through the middle school level and the elimination of freshman sports at the high school level. Gains made to achieve adequate yearly progress as required by No Child Left Behind (”NCLB”) will be in jeopardy as well as sustaining accreditation at the high school.
While there are those who would advocate that the Borough teach education officials a lesson and let the proverbial chips fall where they may, I can not support this position. This will not only have a drastic impact on our students and parents, but will negatively effect the entire Borough in terms of property values, image and our ability to attract business. We have made mistakes as a community in terms of allowing this situation to deteriorate to where it is now, but we need to now reach a proactive resolution and move forward.
The following proposal will be difficult and require sacrifice, but will allow the Borough to complete the school year, minimize costs to taxpayers and prepare us for making difficult decisions for the coming 2010-2011 fiscal year. The details are as follows:
JOINT BOARDS ASSISTANCE
I will ask the Joint Boards of Finance and Mayor and Burgesses (”Joint Boards”) to provide the following financial assistance to the Board of Education:
In addition, I will personally agree to take five (5) furlough days through June 30, 2010.
While the feasibility of such cuts have been discussed with the Borough Controller, these are my personal recommendations and subject to the detailed scrutiny and approval by the Joint Boards. Said assistance totals approximately ONE MILLION TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND and 00/100THS ($1,200,000.00) DOLLARS, and would be conditioned on the following:
In exchange for:
None of these solutions are ideal or without sacrifice. The financial assistance provided by the Borough will require reducing costs across the board in municipal services and projects already burdened by a tight, zero (0) based budget. This will not be easy, but I call on the Joint Boards to join with me to develop a plan to effectuate the same. Our municipal departments have done an outstanding job managing their difficult budgets, but will be asked to do more. By managing this increased cost through restraint and/or cutbacks to our existing budget, the Borough will be able to avoid using our Fund Balance and maintain its financial health.
I realize I am asking much of our educators as well. Whatever one’s position on the recent NTL collective bargaining agreement, the contract was negotiated in good faith and arbitrated in accordance with the law. Significant concessions were made by NTL with regard to health care, and now we ask for additional assistance. I understand the reluctance to accept concessions when many educators rightfully believe they have not caused the problem. We ask, however, that educators be part of a solution that will save their colleagues from layoffs and protect our students from significant disruption to their educational experience. The givebacks requested from NTL are made in exchange for concessions that have been discussed by NTL but not offered by the Board of Education. As stated above, I am willing to share in the sacrifice by personally agreeing to five (5) furlough days, the savings from which will be transferred to the Board of Education budget.
If we are successful in navigating this difficult year, coming years will require difficult and controversial decisions. A change in leadership is necessary to restore the confidence in our school system. Taxpayers, students, parents and educators need to believe that all efforts are being made to enact long-term solutions which will minimize the impact to all. Currently that confidence does not exist. I do not enjoy asking for a change in educational leadership or do so without great deliberation. Unfortunately I do not believe we can solve our problems moving forward without such a change.
Campaigning for office I told our citizens that we can no longer do business as usual and expect a different result. While no one discussed the significant financial issues facing our educational system during election season, we had to assume that difficult decisions would present themselves during these unprecedented and uncertain economic times. We need to now come together as a community, resolve the immediate crisis in a responsible manner, and offer difficult but necessary solutions which will provide long-term improvements. I ask all involved to join in this effort.
Posted by Bob on November 13, 2009 under Daily Blogs | 4 Comments to Read
Last night’s Board of Education workshop revealed an operating deficit in the approximate amount slightly above TWO MILLION and 00/100THS ($2,000,000.00) DOLLARS. Said amount would increase if the Board follows the recommendations of the business manager to add approximately EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND and 00/100THS ($800,000.00) DOLLARS to the self-funded health insurance account as a appropriate reserve.
The Naugatuck Teacher’s League (”NTL”) has withdrawn its proposal posted on its website earlier in the week due to the overall size of the budget shortfall as compared to proposed concessions. NTL rejected a proposed concession package at a vote of its membership last week.
Four (4) months into the fiscal year and two (2) months into the school year, we finally now the extent of the financial situation facing our district. The possibility of widespread layoffs is the most likely option to balance the education budget and eliminate the shortfall. While all attempts are being made avoid layoffs, viable alternatives are few. A complete financial analysis of the number of layoffs required to close the gap is being conducted, but initial projections suggest that a large number of positions will need to be sacrificed. This will have devastating effects on our school system and the quality of education we provide to our students.
The Borough has a responsibility to its taxpayers during these drastic economic times to live within its means and conduct its financial operations professionally. No one wants layoffs to occur, but we have a duty to live within the our budget. Should we be forced to layoff educators at the expense of our students, there must be severe consequences for those responsible.
Posted by Bob on November 6, 2009 under Daily Blogs | 2 Comments to Read
Congratulations to both the Boys and Girls Naugatuck High School Greyhound soccer teams on their respective Naugatuck Valley League (”NVL”) Tournament Championships won last night at Ray Snyder Field at Municipal Stadium. In consecutive games, the boys defeated Watertown 2-1, while the Lady Greyhounds dispatched Torrington by a score of 5-1.
Manny Nobre was the most valuable player of the boys tournament while Danielle Charette took the honors for the girls. The NVL tournament championships culminated dominant regular seasons by both teams. With league championships in hand, each team will now set their sites on state titles in the coming weeks. Congratulations to Coaches Art Nunes and first year girls coach Jose Sendra on fantastic seasons and best wishes to the Greyhounds in bringing home two state championships. (information obtained from Waterbury Republican-American website www.rep-am.com).
Also deserving of praise are the numerous volunteers who have supported Naugatuck Youth Soccer (”NYS”) over the years. Many of the current champions received their start and developed their skills playing with NYS. Lots of Friday night footskils, pre-packaged snacks and juice boxes and countless hours of selfless devotion to players of all abilities have produced some great high school soccer players and outstanding young men and women.
Posted by Bob on November 5, 2009 under Daily Blogs | Be the First to Comment
The Board of Mayor and Burgesses unanimously approved a revised Borough Hiring Policy at our Board’s regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, November 3, 2009. The new hiring policy can be viewed here.
Naugatuck government has improved its overall employment functions in recent years by the creation of our human resource department. This department was created by Mayor Ron San Angelo and developed under Mayor Mike Bronko.
The purpose of the new policy is to define and clarify how the Borough recruits, promotes and/or hires qualified individuals for employment. Many hiring policies previously overseen by elected officials are now administered professionally by the human resource department and its director, Jeannette Deschesnes. While we are constantly attempting to improve the details, we have made and continue to make great strides to ensure a fair and equitable hiring process.
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What appears to be a closet fire at City Hill Middle School was contained and eliminated by the Naugatuck Fire Department this morning. Students and faculty are safe and no one was injured. All students have been evacuated to Naugatuck High School, where they may be picked-up or will receive transportation home later this afternoon. Fire Chief Charles Doback and Deputy Chief Ken Hanks were both on hand immediately with numerous firefighters who did an outstanding job securing the school.
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