BOARD OF SELECTMEN
JANUARY 28, 2019
Page 1 of 4
DRAFT
Attendance: First
Selectwoman Derrylyn Gorski, Selectman Donald Shea, Selectman Clark Hurlburt
Visitors: Nancy
McCarthy, Attorney Kevin McSherry
The Board of Selectmen meeting was called to order at 7:35
p.m. The meeting was held in the Selectmen’s
Conference Room of the Bethany Town Hall.
The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF MINTES
First Selectwoman Gorski called for approval of the minutes
of January 11, 2019. The motion of
approval was moved by Selectman Shea and seconded by Selectman Hurlburt. The vote taken was unanimous.
NON-PERMITTED
TYING INTO THE TOWN’S DRAINAGE SYSTEM
The request of Castleberry Construction to tie in drainage
from 374 Bethmour Road to the Town drainage was tabled because the engineer was
unable to attend this meeting.
TAX REFUNDS
Selectman Shea moved to refund to A M Fluid Equipment, Inc
the sum of $120.48, to JP Morgan Chase Bank the sum of $428.04, to Laurie Janul
the sum of $383.58, to Mary Ellen Unger the sum of $35.32 and to Susan Schilpp
the sum of $104.06 all for overpayment of taxes. Selectman Hurlburt seconded the motion. The vote taken was unanimous.
CARRINGTON
CEMETERY DEEDS
Cemetery deeds were signed by the Selectmen for George and Bette
Quinn and Edward and Jeananne Rostowsky. Attorney McSherry and June Riley witnessed the
signatures. Town Clerk Nancy McCarthy was present for the
processing of these deeds.
ICE STORM UPDATE
First Selectwoman Gorski updated the Board of Selectmen on
the recent ice storm damages. At the height
of the storm 96.7% of the Town was without power. This was due to the extreme cold and broken
and falling trees and branches. Most of the power was restored within a two day
period. Eversource will again be back in
Town to do another round of tree trimming around power lines. First Selectwoman Gorski was at the Emergency
Center at the Fire House during the storm, meeting with telephone and power
company representatives.
FEDERAL
WORKER TAX DEFERMENT
model
language to assist municipalities In Establishing a PROPERTY TAX DEFERMENT
program FOR CERTAIN FEDERAL WORKERS
In response to the passage of HB
5765, which (1) allows towns and cities to
establish a tax-deferment program for those federal employees’ real and
personal property or motor vehicle taxes (2) establishes a loan program for certain federal employees impacted by
the federal government shutdown, and (3) allows those federal employees’ to
receive unemployment compensation benefits, CCM in consultation with legal
counsel has drafted model language to assist municipalities that may choose to
enact a property tax deferment program.
The model language was developed through the collaborative efforts
of CCM members, staff and outside counsel for your municipality’s
consideration. CCM recommends that any municipality choosing to enact
this program consult with their municipal attorney before proceeding and
enacting a Tax Deferment Program to assist Federal Employees affected by the
Government shutdown beginning December 22, 2018.
The Federal Government Shutdown is now the longest in United States
history. These provisions will only last the duration of the shutdown and
participation by cities and towns to allow for deferment of these taxes is
voluntary.
Model Program:
Tax Deferment Program to Assist Federal Employees
Model programs are developed through
the collaborative efforts of CCM members, staff and outside counsel for a
municipality’s consideration. CCM
recommends that a municipality consult with their municipal attorney before
proceeding and enacting a Tax Deferment Program to assist Federal Employees
affected by the Government shutdown beginning December 22, 2018.
Municipal Program to defer the payment of taxes on
real property, personal property or motor vehicles, or water or sewer rates,
charges or assessments, owed by Federal Employees affected by the Federal
Government Shutdown that began December 22, 2018.
I.
PURPOSE
To implement the Municipal Tax
Deferment Program (House Bill 5765, Section 7) approved by the Connecticut
General Assembly and signed by Governor Ned Lamont on January 22, 2019.
II.
DEFINITIONS
1. "Affected Employee"
means a federal employee who, during the shutdown, is (A) a resident of this
state, and (B) required to work as a federal employee without pay or furloughed
as a federal employee without pay;
2. "Shutdown" means the
federal fiscal year 2019 partial government shutdown that began on December 22,
2018.
3. “Tax” for purposes of this
Program shall include the following:
taxes on real property, personal property or motor vehicles, and water
or sewer rates, charges or assessments.
Following discussion the
following resolution was moved by Selectman Hurlburt.
III.
TAX DEFERMENT PROGRAM
a) The Town/City of Bethany has approved a deferment program and shall not
charge or collect interest on any Tax or part thereof that is payable by an Affected
Employee and which became due during the period when such individual was an Affected
Employee.
b) Eligibility for the Deferment
Program shall be determined by the town/city.
Evidence of eligibility may include such proof as a paystub or bank
statement, a federal employee identification card, the federal tax
identification number of the employee's employer and a sworn affidavit from
such employee indicating that such employee (i) is currently a federal employee
residing in the town/city and (ii) is required to work as a federal employee
without pay or furloughed as a federal employee without pay..
c) The Town of Bethany may require
individuals to recertify eligibility on a periodic basis of not less than
thirty days.
d) Each Tax deferred under the
program, shall be due and payable without interest or penalty not later than
sixty days after the date on which an individual is no longer an Affected Employee.
e) Upon the expiration of the
deferred due date set forth in subsection (d), any Tax or portion thereof which
remains unpaid shall include all interest and penalties otherwise provided by
law calculated retroactively to the original due date for payment of the Tax or
any portion thereof that was deferred
f) All provisions of the general statutes
relating to continuing, recording and releasing property tax liens and the priority
in collection of taxes, rates, charges and assessments shall remain applicable
to any deferred Tax or portion thereof.
g) Nothing in this program shall
affect lien rights, interest or penalties on, or collection of, any Tax due
before December 22, 2018, or sixty days after the date on which an individual
is no longer an Affected Employee.
Selectman
Shea seconded the resolution. The vote
taken was unanimous.
OTHER MATTERS PROPER TO COME
BEFORE THE MEETING
First
Selectman Don Shea expressed his concern about the use and modification of the
Town Seal for a mail sent out by the Clean Energy Task Force.
ADJOURNMENT
Adjournment
was called at 8:10 p.m. after a motion was moved by Selectman Hurlburt and
seconded by Selectman Shea. The vote
taken was unanimous.
Respectfully
submitted,
June
G. Riley
Secretary,
Board of Selectmen
