Board of Finance Adopts New Mill Rate

PHILIP THIBODEAU PHOTO

Southington Board of Finance Chair John Leary says the current state of financial affairs is “unprecedented.” Grand List growth, the rising cost of almost everything worldwide, an ever-developing town and the expensive need to keep things running means a tax hike for most people. Due to that Grand List growth, however, the mill rate for Southington payers drops this fiscal year to 23.29 from a previous number of 32.80.

As Leary pointed out during the discussion, the initial budget that came to his Board back in February anticipated a 9.5% tax rate increase. Through long discussions and some difficult decisions by town entities including the Town Manager, the Board of Education and the Town Council, that has been reduced to 3.71%.

Leary reiterated that a mandatory property revaluation saw “more modest” homes jump in assessed value due to market forces such as increased demand locally. This increase happened even as larger properties, including commercial properties, stayed largely the same in value. With an eye towards those property owners who can least afford it, the Board has tried to keep the tax increase to a minimum.

Town of Southington Assessor Erin O’Connell reported that many owners successfully appealed those new home assessments, leading to a small reduction from the initially announced Grand List value. Nine larger owners, with properties assessed at over $1 million, were also seeking to appeal, in what could be a much longer, legal process. However, in her estimate, the current Grand List number was unlikely to change significantly at this point. The Grand List, representing the overall value of real property in town, stands at roughly $6.85 billion. The Town approved budget for the 26-27 fiscal year is just over $196 million.

Each year, Leary explained, the Board looks to have a “cushion” of at least 1.5% over what is needed, tax-wise, in order to cover any revenue shortfalls or other contingencies. Any money left over goes into the Town’s “rainy-day” fund. The Board voted to keep that excess in place. That vote, like the others taken Monday, was unanimous of those present.

The Board had plenty of other business at its May 18 meeting as well. The scandal surrounding Erin Stewart, the former Gubernatorial candidate and New Britain Mayor, prompted Leary to ask for a report on how Southington handles its municipal credit card privileges. Finance Director Kristina Marino offered an overview, saying that there are six people who have Town-issued credit cards, each of which has spending limits under $10,000 and is restricted from being used at certain businesses such as package stores. Department heads approve and review any spending, while she approves the spending of Town Manager Alex Ricciardone. She estimated that around $300 a month gets approved per department. Leary requested those credit card statements for review at the next meeting.

As the Board voted to approve renewing the auditing services of CLA for another year, Leary mentioned that the Board has the right to seek additional audits, such as internal controls, if it chooses to do so.

The Board took over the duties of the Town Council’s Self-Insurance Committee earlier this year and heard from consultant Joe Spurgeon during the meeting. Spurgeon reported some savings he was able to negotiate with insurance provider Anthem. When Jennifer Mellitt, Director of Business and Finance for Southington schools, asked if some of that money could be used to offset the contributions her members pay, the Board and Ricciardone said it was too late to change for this year’s budget. Leary suggested that any self-insurance savings could be reflected in next year’s budget, however.

On the revenue side, Board member Katie Wade reported that $90,000 in past-due sewer bills had finally been paid after the Town took a more aggressive stance in collecting them. Leary pointed out that failure to pay those bills is far from a “victimless crime.”

Work rebuilding Berlin Street was also the subject of discussion after Ricciardone gave an update. The state has mandated a lengthy process for the reconstruction of the street, something he characterized as “better in a month, perfect in a year.” In the meantime, Leary suggested that Southington residents try to support the businesses there that are affected by the ongoing construction.

STELLAR Store Moves One Step Closer to Opening

The STELLAR Store opens its doors for the first time. PHILIP THIBODEAU PHOTOS

The transformation of the retail space at 48 North Main Street is largely complete. The former dress shop is now home to a store run by the Southington School System’s STELLAR program, which serves young adults with disabilities. Last Thursday, transition teacher Effie Cahill gave visitors a preview of the shop, which will open on a regular basis in October, around the time of the Apple Harvest Festival.

Located directly across the street from the Barnes Museum, the gift shop is a clean, colorful, well-lit place. On the left as a customer enters are shelves stocked with children’s books, puzzles, games, and DVD’s – all donations in ‘like new’ condition – along with newly-made jewelry, socks and tote bags on wall displays. Above the shelves are framed photographs of Southington scenes taken by STELLAR students.

Ellie Cahill shows off the store space to visitors

Cahill said that while the shop welcomes donations, its storage capacity is limited, since the rooms in the back have to serve as classrooms. So far STELLAR has only solicited donations from staff in the school system, which has provided enough to get the business going. Prospective donors should first contact Cahill to see if their items are a good fit for the business.

Under the windows that face the street are stacks of Southington-themed sweatshirts, t-shirts and hats, along with wooden trays and boxes. Most of these items were made by Southington High School students in the DECA program and the manufacturing department.

BOE member Lisa Cammuso checks out a Southington-branded hat

Cahill said that she has been moved by the generosity of the teachers and the students in these programs. She added that the DECA students not only helped to market and price items in the store, they also volunteered to steer the STELLAR students through the intricacies of the customer service ritual: “At the beginning of the year we would open and play store with them,” she said of the students in the transition program. “If I’m a customer and come into the store, what do you say to me? And they’re like ‘I don’t know!’ They’re having this life changing moment where they think, it’s on me, I have to do this. I told the DECA students about it. At the next class they said ‘We wrote a script for them! Should we practice it, do we need visuals?’ It was amazing.”

The digital payment system was purchased with the help of a grant from the Southington Education Foundation – the District covers the rent for the shop and the salaries of the educational staff, but otherwise the business has to stand on its own two feet. Behind the register a bright neon sign that reads ‘Stellar’ serves as a focal point for the room.

While the store looks ready to go, there is still the matter of training the students who will operate it, a process that will take more time. Cahill plans to hold another one-day opening on May 29, and to begin holding regular business hours in October. That leaves plenty of time to prepare and to experiment.

“We have a room to explore lots of ideas,” Cahill said. “The store concept has been created. Now it’s all about finding out what sells. We could have a feature item where some business has an overstock item and says ‘can we sell these’? We shall see. It’s very exciting.”

Water Commission Approves Rate Hike

PETER PROHASKA PHOTOS

With its lakes, rivers, streams, brooks, ponds, and Long Island Sound, Connecticut’s water resources can seem endless and sometimes be taken for granted. And while water costs are not among the nation’s highest, increasing demand, infrastructure needs as well as state and federal mandates are all escalating the costs of providing water to residents and users.

The Southington Board of Water Commissioners voted unanimously to raise rates by 4.5% at its meeting on Thursday, May 14. The price of 100 cubic feet of water, about 780 gallons, increased from $4.91 to $5.13, or 22 cents per unit for users of 0-1000 CCF, and from $4.59 to $4.80 for users of more than 1000 CCF, billed quarterly. No member of the public came to speak during a half-hour long public hearing on the rate hike, one that puts Southington in line with other communities in the region.

Service Charges also increased:

Meter Size

5/8” from $36.28 to $37.91

3/4” from $36.28 to $37.91

1” from $53.77 to $56.19

1-1/2” from $95.67 to $99.98

2” from $137.52 to $143.71

3” from $239.51 to $250.29

4” from $385.16 to $402.49

6” from $683.79 to $714.56

The average household uses about 300 gallons per day, and the cost of a gallon of drinkable water from the municipal supply remains far less expensive than a gallon purchased commercially. Still, for many households on stricter budgets these days, the change may be significant.

The Water Department website does feature a list of EPA tips for conserving water. A leaky toilet for example, can waste as much as 200 gallons per day, while newer, more efficient washing machines and dishwashers can save as much as 50% per usage. Planting native grasses, which are more drought-tolerant among other benefits, can also reduce the need for watering a non-native grass lawn. In addition, disposing of unwanted pharmaceuticals or other potentially dangerous substances through a disposal program, rather than flushing them, helps avoid contamination of the drinking water supply. In a program run through Southington STEPS, residents can dispose of unwanted medications through a drop box at the Southington Police Department.

Even with consumer behavior cutting down on waste and pollution, the costs of keeping water safe to drink remain considerable, with treatment, delivery, labor and other costs continuing to grow.

However, Superintendent Douglas Arndt reported to the commissioners that the federal government has followed through on efforts to keep Southington’s water safe. A check for $1.35 million was delivered to Arndt for PFAS – perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals” – remediation efforts. These funds, totalling $3 million, were secured in part thanks to the efforts of Congressman John Larson and announced back in January.

“Everyone deserves access to clean and safe drinking water,” said Larson at the time. “I have worked closely with the Southington Water Department over the last few years to improve the town’s water supply, and am proud to announce $3 million in new federal funding that was just signed into law to support the construction of a new treatment facility that removes harmful, cancer-causing PFAS chemicals polluting the water residents rely on. I’ll continue to work with all my colleagues in Congress to invest in our communities and protect families from these dangerous chemicals.” 

A separate pilot program aimed at removing PFAS materials with a lower-cost filter will be taking place in Cheshire, under the Regional Water Authority per the discussion. If the program proves effective, Arndt mentioned that Southington could be next in line to install and utilize the technology, with state aid available and without upfront investment from his office.

Commission President Robert Berkmoes mentioned that though the PFAS remediation funds would be put to good use, PFAS levels in Southington water are not currently a cause for worry, at less than one part per trillion. Recently reissued EPA guidelines have a threshold ten times that level.

A lead remediation program is also in effect with Southington, to eliminate any lead service lines that remain. Arndt said that this process is being assisted by VODA, an artificial intelligence program designed for helping water authorities nationwide. The AI can more efficiently detect possible problems and even predict failures, according to its website. Field inspections are still being used to verify the machine’s work, Arndt said.

The Commission also approved up to $25,000 for the redevelopment of Well 3. Work on the West Main Street water main was awaiting final approval from state authorities but bids were approved.

Southington's first fire hydrant, installed on Marion Avenue in 1884.