Logo for: Rotary Old Saybrook

OS Rotary Meeting 4/25/18

Pledge:  Sam Fulginiti

Prayer:  Rev. Edward M. Cornell

Cards:    Low Hand won by Jan Perruccio


Raffle
:    Wine – Brent Taylor; Oil - Rev. Edward M. Cornell; and Candy -  Jan Perruccio

Happy Bucks:  Guest – First Selectman Carl P. Fortuna, Jr.; Spring; Tuesday’s nice weather; safe passage for Westbrook High School student trip to France; Red Sox finally losing; and Brent’s acute hearing.

Observation by Rev. Edward M. Cornell during Happy Bucks:  April showers bring May flowers and the Mayflower brought the Pilgrims.

Program: A Conversation with Carl P. Fortuna, Jr., First Selectman of Old Saybrook.  Sam Fulginiti introduced First Selectman Fortuna and thanked him for his generous donation to the Rotary Club.  First Selectman Fortuna then shared his thoughts and observations:

The Good:  Old Saybrook is a vibrant community with train and bus transportation services and an active commercial district within walking distance for many.  Old Saybrook is in great financial condition for the following reasons:

  • Town and school budgets remain flat even though Old Saybrook continues to invest in infrastructure and maintenance.
  • Taxes will be going down in the upcoming fiscal year due to:The mill rate will also be going down in the upcoming fiscal year due to Post & Main Apartments being added to the Grand List.
    • savings realized from redeployment of administrative positions among departments;
    • attrition and retirement openings being staffed with lower cost replacements;
    • 90% of Old Saybrook pension costs being funded;
    • new hires having a 401(k)-type defined contribution plan instead of a defined benefit plan; and
    • health insurance costs being mitigated by high deductible plans.
  • Revaluation every five years is mandated by State law.
    • This cost has to be borne by Old Saybrook but $200,000 has been segregated for this purpose
    • The revaluation will be out-sourced resulting in a reduced cost.

The Bad:  State payments to Old Saybrook have been reduced significantly and additional reductions are expected.  Changing demographics have resulted in an increased older population and a reduction in the number of students in the school system.  Shoreline East train service and 9 Town Transit bus service are being reduced significantly and 9 Town Transit bus fares are expected to increase.  Although a community college campus would add to the attraction of living in Old Saybrook, the State is consolidating its higher education facilities in order to cut costs and no new funding is available.  Similarly, there are cuts in Federal funds available to fund the lunch program previously offered to students during the summer.

The Ugly:  The State will continue to operate in crisis mode.  Over the past nine years there has been zero growth in the State’s domestic product.  The State will continue to face significant budget deficits for the foreseeable future (at least ten percent of the budget) including significant unfunded pension costs and the costs of providing generous health care benefits.  The State’s Special Transportation Fund soon will be out of money and it can no longer borrow.  It will go out of business in 2019 unless tolls are implemented.  Continued bad news about the State’s budget woes will significantly challenge the State’s ability to attract new business.

First Selectman Fortuna told the audience that the annual Old Saybrook Special Budget Meeting will take place on May 7th at 7:00 pm at the Old Saybrook Middle School auditorium (this meeting is expected to be streamed to the public on Facebook Live).  The referendum to adopt the budgets will take place on May 15th between the hours of noon and 8:00 pm at the Old Saybrook High School.  First Selectman Fortuna urged everyone to vote.

First Selectman Fortuna concluded his remarks by entertaining a question about a newspaper account of a license application for a medical marijuana dispensary to be located in Old Saybrook.  He explained that currently there are nine medical marijuana dispensaries throughout the State.  The State intends to license up to nine additional dispensaries for which 73 applications have been filed.  First Selectman Fortuna believes that the likelihood of a license being awarded for an Old Saybrook dispensary is remote.  Rev. Edward M. Cornell noted that although there are significant issues regarding the use of medical marijuana, one benefit is that it helps reduce the use of opiates.

Meals on Wheels:  Brent Taylor

Adjournment:  Sam Fulginiti

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