April 10, 2011
Lower Tax Rates In Vernon Connecticut. Jason McCoy Mayor explains ....
new+connecticut taxes+budget vernon+connecticut mccoy+video mayor
April 8, 2011
April 2, 2011
State aid for road repairs can't keep up with the potholes | The Connecticut Mirror
State aid for road repairs can't keep up with the potholes The Connecticut Mirror: "State aid for road repairs can't keep up with the potholes" We can understand this issue. The issue is where the real cost of the repair is, and why we can't afford it.
April 1, 2011
Moody's Strong Credit rating of Vernon Connecticut AA2
This week Moody's issued its credit rating of the Town of Vernon which was is strong at AA2. As a result of the strength of the credit rating, our first since last years re-calibration, the Town has strong market access which yielded low interest rates on this weeks municipal debt issues.
As a result 6 investors bid on the Town's muni bond issue this week. The muni bond interest rates came in at 3.15%. That was lower than the last issue. Which reduces the debt repayment schedule estimated in the Mayor's proposed budget.
Vernon also issues notes, 6 investors bids on the Towns bond anticipation notes. The Town's note rating was MIG1 the highest note rating. The interest rate on the notes was 0.522%. The was lowest than our last issue.
Taxpayer in Vernon will have another $54,000 reduction 2011-2012 debt budget tomorrow at the budget hearings.
Moody's indicated that Vernon's credit rating was based upon our conservative financial practices, our taxpayers willingness to pay due to the last three successfully passed budgets, our ability to pay due to solid collection rate, that we trend well with no budgetary gimmicks and the strength of the pension and funding of the pension.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
As a result 6 investors bid on the Town's muni bond issue this week. The muni bond interest rates came in at 3.15%. That was lower than the last issue. Which reduces the debt repayment schedule estimated in the Mayor's proposed budget.
Vernon also issues notes, 6 investors bids on the Towns bond anticipation notes. The Town's note rating was MIG1 the highest note rating. The interest rate on the notes was 0.522%. The was lowest than our last issue.
Taxpayer in Vernon will have another $54,000 reduction 2011-2012 debt budget tomorrow at the budget hearings.
Moody's indicated that Vernon's credit rating was based upon our conservative financial practices, our taxpayers willingness to pay due to the last three successfully passed budgets, our ability to pay due to solid collection rate, that we trend well with no budgetary gimmicks and the strength of the pension and funding of the pension.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Location:14 Park Place, Vernon, CT 06066
March 30, 2011
March 27, 2011
Tina Around Town WFSB interviews Mayor McCoy about Vernon's Budget
Click on this link to watch the interview:
http://www.wfsb.com/news/27311650/detail.html?taf=hart
http://www.wfsb.com/news/27311650/detail.html?taf=hart
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5
March 23, 2011
The TALK of Connecticut - Audio- Vernon Mayor Jason McCoy tells Brad Davis how he did it!"
The TALK of Connecticut - Audio: "Vernon Mayor Jason McCoy
Mayor McCoy has cut the taxes in Vernon while the town budget continues to rise... He tells Brad how he did it!"
Mayor McCoy has cut the taxes in Vernon while the town budget continues to rise... He tells Brad how he did it!"
The TALK of Connecticut - Audio - Vernon Mayor Jason McCoy tells Brad Davis how he did it!
The TALK of Connecticut - Audio: "Vernon Mayor Jason McCoy
Mayor McCoy has cut the taxes in Vernon while the town budget continues to rise... He tells Brad how he did it!"
Mayor McCoy has cut the taxes in Vernon while the town budget continues to rise... He tells Brad how he did it!"
March 20, 2011
The TALK of Connecticut - Dan Lovallo interviews Mayor of Vernon, Jason McCoy, in regards to McCoy's 2011-2012 budget presentation
The TALK of Connecticut: "Dan Lovallo interviews Mayor of Vernon, Jason McCoy, in regards to McCoy's 2011-2012 budget presentation. Although the budget has increased, taxes in Vernon will actually decrease this year.
Click : Jason McCoy to Listen
Return to Dan Lovallo's Audio Page
Click : Jason McCoy to Listen
Return to Dan Lovallo's Audio Page
March 19, 2011
Budget Meeting Saturday
First Review of the Budget Set for Saturday. - Vernon, CT Patch
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5
March 18, 2011
Patch Reports Vernon's CT Proposed Budget
Budget Proposal Would Lower Taxes - Vernon, CT Patch
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Vernon's Budget is In the Patch
The Budget is in - Vernon, CT Patch
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5
Vernon CT - Mayor's Budget Proposal Would Mean A Decrease In Taxes - Courant.com
Vernon Mayor's Budget Proposal Would Mean A Decrease In Taxes - Courant.com: "Courant.com
Vernon Mayor's Budget Proposal Would Mean A Decrease In Taxes"
By JOSEPH A. O'BRIEN JR., Special to The Courant
VERNON — Residents and businesses would see slightly lower property taxes under the budget proposal that Mayor Jason McCoy presented to the town council Tuesday night.
The $25,571,655 that McCoy is recommending for general government spending in 2011-12 is $98,596, or 0.38 percent, less than the current budget.
When combined with the $47.5 million proposed for education, $6.3 million for debt service, and $55,000 for capital improvements, the total budget would be $79,352,355, an increase of 0.8 percent from the current budget.
"This budget lowers taxes and reduces the tax rate to under 30 mills," McCoy said at the town council meeting.
With the reduction, taxpayers would pay $2,996 instead of the $3,002 they now pay on each $100,000 of assessed property value.
McCoy also said that the sewer budget proposed by the Water Pollution Control Authority for the next fiscal year is $5,543,768, which is $58,775, or 1.06 percent, lower than this year's sewer budget. But what effect that will have on next year's sewer rates won't be known until July when the sewer authority sets its rates, with payments due quarterly.
McCoy said there was no sewer rate increase for the current year and he anticipates no increase for the coming year, but that decision lies with the sewer authority, not the mayor and town council.
The town's grand list of taxable property rose an anemic 0.0085 percent to $1.91 billion during the year that ended on Oct. 1, 2010. The town estimated collecting $53.74 million, 70 percent of its total revenue, from local property owners during the current fiscal year that ends on June 30.
The school board initially requested a budget of $47,632,358, but McCoy reduced that figure by $170,000 before presenting the combined budgets to the council. McCoy's recommended amount for education would be a 0.2 percent decrease from the current year's budgeted amount.
Overall salary and wage expenses for the school district, which account for 63.5 percent of education spending, total $30,250,471 for 2011-12. Employee benefit costs will increase by 0.6 percent to $7.4 million. Wage and benefit costs total $37.6 million, or 79 percent of the total budget.
A main reason the town was able to hold the line on spending was the relatively small 2.9 percent increase in health insurance costs for town, school board and sewer authority workers. In the current budget, health insurance costs are 22 percent higher than in the previous fiscal year. McCoy said that the increase "accounted for nearly all of the increase in spending in the 2010-11 budget."
Vernon Mayor's Budget Proposal Would Mean A Decrease In Taxes"
By JOSEPH A. O'BRIEN JR., Special to The Courant
VERNON — Residents and businesses would see slightly lower property taxes under the budget proposal that Mayor Jason McCoy presented to the town council Tuesday night.
The $25,571,655 that McCoy is recommending for general government spending in 2011-12 is $98,596, or 0.38 percent, less than the current budget.
When combined with the $47.5 million proposed for education, $6.3 million for debt service, and $55,000 for capital improvements, the total budget would be $79,352,355, an increase of 0.8 percent from the current budget.
"This budget lowers taxes and reduces the tax rate to under 30 mills," McCoy said at the town council meeting.
With the reduction, taxpayers would pay $2,996 instead of the $3,002 they now pay on each $100,000 of assessed property value.
McCoy also said that the sewer budget proposed by the Water Pollution Control Authority for the next fiscal year is $5,543,768, which is $58,775, or 1.06 percent, lower than this year's sewer budget. But what effect that will have on next year's sewer rates won't be known until July when the sewer authority sets its rates, with payments due quarterly.
McCoy said there was no sewer rate increase for the current year and he anticipates no increase for the coming year, but that decision lies with the sewer authority, not the mayor and town council.
The town's grand list of taxable property rose an anemic 0.0085 percent to $1.91 billion during the year that ended on Oct. 1, 2010. The town estimated collecting $53.74 million, 70 percent of its total revenue, from local property owners during the current fiscal year that ends on June 30.
The school board initially requested a budget of $47,632,358, but McCoy reduced that figure by $170,000 before presenting the combined budgets to the council. McCoy's recommended amount for education would be a 0.2 percent decrease from the current year's budgeted amount.
Overall salary and wage expenses for the school district, which account for 63.5 percent of education spending, total $30,250,471 for 2011-12. Employee benefit costs will increase by 0.6 percent to $7.4 million. Wage and benefit costs total $37.6 million, or 79 percent of the total budget.
A main reason the town was able to hold the line on spending was the relatively small 2.9 percent increase in health insurance costs for town, school board and sewer authority workers. In the current budget, health insurance costs are 22 percent higher than in the previous fiscal year. McCoy said that the increase "accounted for nearly all of the increase in spending in the 2010-11 budget."
Town of Vernon - 2011 - 2012 Mayor McCoy's Proposed Budget
Town of Vernon, CT - Budget 2011-2012
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5
March 16, 2011
Mayor McCoy’s Budget Address: Budget to Lower Taxes and Reduce the Tax Rate | Mayor Jason L McCoy
Mayor McCoy’s Budget Address: Budget to Lower Taxes and Reduce the Tax Rate Mayor Jason L McCoy
Mayor McCoy today delivered his budget address to the Vernon Town Council. Mayor McCoy’s recommendations highlighted proposals that would lower taxes and reduce the tax rate to under 30 mills. The text of Mayor McCoy’s budget address is below:
“Good Evening!
I want to thank you for allowing me to serve as your Mayor for the past four years!
This evening, it is my privilege to provide you with some of the highlights of the 2011-2012 proposed Town of Vernon budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
As your Mayor I believe that government has a responsibility to provide solid fiscal budgeting which considers protections in the areas of public health, public safety and public education.
I believe that we must be able to afford to live in Town, and as a result, the government must be accountable to our citizens for its spending. As your Mayor it is that very responsibility and accountability that will keep our Town moving forward.
We must control taxes and strive to have the best schools and the safest streets.
We must support sensible environmental policies to reduce our reliance on fossil fuel.
As Mayor, I have found that good environmental policy supports good fiscal policy as well.
As Mayor, I have created a sensible budget and developed new programs to bring in additional revenue to the Town.
I want to talk about Economic Development in a minute, but first, let me tell you a story.
Last week, my son Patrick came home and said:
‘Dad, I took my CMTs today and one of the questions was to be answered in an essay format. The question said that we were supposed to write a letter to the Mayor recommending what he should support for development on a large piece of land and why.’
Patrick tells me:
‘We were given three choices: an amusement park, an athletic field, or a teen center’
So Patrick tells me what he wrote.
‘Dear Dad:
The ideal choice for the property is an amusement park. By supporting the amusement park, you will increase or expand the tax base in real estate, expand the personal property tax base, and increase job opportunities for people in the area. As a result, you will expand the tax base, which will increase tax revenue to the town.
With this choice, you will accomplish three things: Everybody’s property taxes will be lowered, the town can repair and re-develop an athletic field, and the town can upgrade the existing teen center.’
He also pointed out that we might pass our budget at referendum – the essay topic was true, but the rest is an illustrative just in case someone assumes that there is a developer with an amusement park coming to town – really-
I would now like to talk to you about economic development.
We have come to a point where our municipal service costs are out growing our tax base.
As a result of that determination this next budget will commit resources to the expansion of the tax base by increasing the investment in economic development. This is a necessity and we have an economic development plan that needs to be fully implemented.
These resources are necessary for the implementation, which will increase jobs and job opportunities in the area, as well as expand the tax base and repopulate abandoned store fronts and businesses.
In this budget, I have balanced what we want and need with what we can afford.
Despite the challenges inherent during a slow economic period, I want to ensure that Vernon remains stable and affordable to its taxpayers and residents.
This budget does not call for the reduction of any services provided to our residents.
My recommendation is a responsible budget, accountable for all costs and services, as well as taking the responsibility to meet these difficult times with a historically low spending increase.
The budget that I am proposing this year increases spending by 0.80 percent, in-other-words, just more than three quarters of one percent.
This budget lowers taxes and reduces the tax rate to under 30 mills (from 30.02 to 29.96 mills).
In regards to the sewer budget and sewer rates, the current budget is $5,602,523.00. The proposed budget is $5,543,768.00, resulting in a reduction of $58,775.00 or -1.06%
The WPCA reviews and sets the rate in July and the first quarterly billing of the fiscal year is in October. It is done this way so that all revenue projections can be based on actual billing amounts from the current fiscal year as well as any income derived from interest income, septic disposal fees, transported waste, and delinquent interest. Right now, there has been no discussion of a rate reduction.
There was no increase in the rate last year (for the current year) and I would anticipate no increase in the rate for next year, but that will be a decision for the Authority later this year.
Now, I would like to talk to you about how we got to this point.
To achieve savings we have done a number of things:
We have invested heavily in technical infrastructure to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the delivery of services.
We have moved our bridge projects ahead; now many of our bridges are completed. Of the final three, West Main Street is in Design Phase, Talcottville Bridge is ready for Design and Phoenix Street is ready for construction. I would like to note that each time we finish a bridge project it lowers future costs.
We have established policies that support our environment, reduce fuel usage which in turn works to reduce our nation’s reliance on foreign fuel, while lowering spending on energy.
We have consolidated costs throughout government, working hand in hand with our Board of Education, ferreting out soft spending figures from real figures.
Over the past three years of my administration, the focus has been on how to address our largest fixed cost, which is labor, keeping in mind the state and national economy as well.
Over the last three years, we were able to successfully negotiate reasonable labor contracts with an eye on not just the upcoming fiscal year, but also many fiscal years down the road.
We have implemented pension reform, wage controls and health insurance caps.
We have held the line on contractual wages over the past three years and will continue to do so in this fiscal year.
Negotiations are difficult, but, we are faced with an economy that cannot support the contracts of the past.
Now, I would just like to touch upon a few budgetary highlights.
This year, I have been able to negotiate health insurance for the Town of Vernon which includes the School Department and the Sewer Department at a mere 2.9 percent increase which is equal to $ 290,140.76. This is in stark contrast to the Town’s 2010-2011 fiscal years’ health insurance increase of 22 percent which accounted for nearly all of the increase in spending in the 2010-2011 Budget.
This year I have been able to negotiate the Property and Casualty insurance rates and that rate has decreased for a total savings of $32,000.00 this year.
Recently Vernon responded to the emergency involving eminent roof collapses which cost our taxpayers over $300,000.00; Good thing we have that insurance to — The Travelers has thus far covered $100,000.00 of that expense and we continue to pursue reimbursement for the remaining difference from The Travelers.
In this budget with those savings from Property and Casualty I am proposing that we increase our reserves in our Worker’s Compensation fund. I firmly believe this is necessary because we are self-insured and it is crucial that the reserves are fully funded.
In the last three budgets the Town of Vernon, including the Education Department and Sewer Department, has funded the pension at an appropriate level. In keeping with good fiscal management, this budget funds the pension at those levels to keep our pension on track with the appropriate amortization schedules.
This has been a conscious effort since I was elected to avoid future swings in funding due to short falls. Why? It is being done to protect the taxpayers from poor practices that have resulted in the State and Federal government pensions having bills due at a time when there is no money available to pay them.
In my first term, I asked that the Town Council pass an ordinance that would establish an Energy Improvement District (EID) in Vernon. This ordinance would allow the Town to produce green energy, including an investment in fuel cells to lower our operating expenses and help the environment.
Now in my second term, the Ordinance was passed and now the hard work has begun, starting with the recent appointment of an EID Board of Directors to move the project forward and investigate all of the options for energy savings and put into place the necessary funding.
This initiative provides an option to our local business community to reduce their energy costs as well, making Vernon more attractive to new business and industry, re-development and most importantly, it works to retain existing employers.
Infrastructure improvements have been a standing priority for my administration. An appropriation of $800,000.00, realized from cost savings in the School Department and Police Department Budgets, were appropriated for road improvements in Vernon along with $500,000.00 of CDBG funds for road improvements in the Rockville section of Vernon. Those funds are being administered in the 2010-2011 fiscal year, meaning the past fiscal year we are finishing now.
To keep my promise during that $800,000 dollar road improvement appropriation public hearing, in this upcoming fiscal year, I am proposing in the 2011-2012 capital improvements plan to designate $131,000.00 of town aid for roads funds and $242,000.00 of LOCIP funds for road improvement projects in the Vernon section of town; as well as $ 450,000.00 designated from CDBG funds for road improvement in the Rockville section of town.
Further, we will complete Hatch hill road repairs in 2011-2012 totaling $954,000.00 from the 2004-2005 bond. Lastly, the West Main Street Bridge will be funded with 80% State, 20% Local Funding; the Local match equaling $34,000.00.
Now, I would like to talk to you briefly about debt service.
This year is the final conversion of the outstanding notes to bonds for the 2004-2005 School and Road Bond authorization. $7,000,000.00 will be added to the total bonding debt, which will increase the debt service payments by $665,000.00 in the 2011-2012 budget year.
This budget supports an investment in Education by maintaining our small class size, supporting curriculum initiatives, supporting sports and extracurricular activities for students and supporting the superintendent’s initiative for student success in grade nine, especially.
Public Safety is fully funded. There are no budgetary reductions that will affect public safety services.
This past fiscal year, we saw a 16% decrease in crime against property.
The head count at the Police Department remains at 49 with 51 authorized and funded, sworn-in Town of Vernon Police department employees, with overtime fully funded.
In 2011 the police vehicle fleet was funded. It is now fully up-to-date and replacements are on track, allowing officers to be able to respond quickly and safely.
Our Environment is protected and we remain committed to our recycling and trash initiatives. Both have been very successful and continue to pay dividends.
We will continue to support the trash and recycling initiatives started in the 2010-2011 Fiscal year.
Since this programs implementation, we have significantly reduced our tipping and hauling fees, and we have increased our revenue from recycling.
We have seen our recycling increase by approximately 24% which has reduced Vernon’s trash going into landfills by over 8%.
This budget includes an appropriation of funds for the trash and recycling initiative to be expanded town-wide, which is certainly a better service to our residents with a large fiscal savings.
In regards to other important services, our Animal Control Department now services multiple towns in our region and is partially funded by those same municipalities.
The Town’s 311 City Alert System has received over 1800 calls for service and information. The software system is called q-send. Folks should know they can register requests and complaints, at the Vernon web site Vernon-ct.gov and that each inquiry is directed by the system to the appropriate department and a return email or call is generated back to the person requesting the information.
A request ticket number for your reference is given. You can ask for a reference number when you call for a service or with a complaint as well, so don’t forget to ask for your reference number.
Through the Town of Vernon’s website you can: Sign up for Parks and Recreation Programs, pay your tax bill, pay for a recreation program, fill out and file your personal property tax listings with the Assessor, or view your property card – All with just a click of your mouse.
This budget will be on-line on the Town of Vernon website and available for you at the Town Clerk’s Office or the Rockville Public Library.
I encourage our citizens and taxpayers to call me or any department head and to ask questions about this budget or a departmental section of the budget.
I encourage our citizens and taxpayers to attend one or more of the upcoming public hearings on this proposed budget during which you will have an opportunity to be heard regarding appropriations for the ensuing fiscal year.
I will be happy to speak to members of the press about this budget or the departmental sections of the budget.
If you have any questions or comments about the proposed budget, you may call or email me directly.
In summary, this budget balances needs, real estate property values and affordability.
I ask the Town Council and the citizens and taxpayers of Vernon to please support this budget.
Thank you for allowing me to serve as your Mayor.”
jmccoy@vernon-ct.gov
Facebook: Mayor McCoy
Twitter: Mayor McCoy
Mayor McCoy today delivered his budget address to the Vernon Town Council. Mayor McCoy’s recommendations highlighted proposals that would lower taxes and reduce the tax rate to under 30 mills. The text of Mayor McCoy’s budget address is below:
“Good Evening!
I want to thank you for allowing me to serve as your Mayor for the past four years!
This evening, it is my privilege to provide you with some of the highlights of the 2011-2012 proposed Town of Vernon budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
As your Mayor I believe that government has a responsibility to provide solid fiscal budgeting which considers protections in the areas of public health, public safety and public education.
I believe that we must be able to afford to live in Town, and as a result, the government must be accountable to our citizens for its spending. As your Mayor it is that very responsibility and accountability that will keep our Town moving forward.
We must control taxes and strive to have the best schools and the safest streets.
We must support sensible environmental policies to reduce our reliance on fossil fuel.
As Mayor, I have found that good environmental policy supports good fiscal policy as well.
As Mayor, I have created a sensible budget and developed new programs to bring in additional revenue to the Town.
I want to talk about Economic Development in a minute, but first, let me tell you a story.
Last week, my son Patrick came home and said:
‘Dad, I took my CMTs today and one of the questions was to be answered in an essay format. The question said that we were supposed to write a letter to the Mayor recommending what he should support for development on a large piece of land and why.’
Patrick tells me:
‘We were given three choices: an amusement park, an athletic field, or a teen center’
So Patrick tells me what he wrote.
‘Dear Dad:
The ideal choice for the property is an amusement park. By supporting the amusement park, you will increase or expand the tax base in real estate, expand the personal property tax base, and increase job opportunities for people in the area. As a result, you will expand the tax base, which will increase tax revenue to the town.
With this choice, you will accomplish three things: Everybody’s property taxes will be lowered, the town can repair and re-develop an athletic field, and the town can upgrade the existing teen center.’
He also pointed out that we might pass our budget at referendum – the essay topic was true, but the rest is an illustrative just in case someone assumes that there is a developer with an amusement park coming to town – really-
I would now like to talk to you about economic development.
We have come to a point where our municipal service costs are out growing our tax base.
As a result of that determination this next budget will commit resources to the expansion of the tax base by increasing the investment in economic development. This is a necessity and we have an economic development plan that needs to be fully implemented.
These resources are necessary for the implementation, which will increase jobs and job opportunities in the area, as well as expand the tax base and repopulate abandoned store fronts and businesses.
In this budget, I have balanced what we want and need with what we can afford.
Despite the challenges inherent during a slow economic period, I want to ensure that Vernon remains stable and affordable to its taxpayers and residents.
This budget does not call for the reduction of any services provided to our residents.
My recommendation is a responsible budget, accountable for all costs and services, as well as taking the responsibility to meet these difficult times with a historically low spending increase.
The budget that I am proposing this year increases spending by 0.80 percent, in-other-words, just more than three quarters of one percent.
This budget lowers taxes and reduces the tax rate to under 30 mills (from 30.02 to 29.96 mills).
In regards to the sewer budget and sewer rates, the current budget is $5,602,523.00. The proposed budget is $5,543,768.00, resulting in a reduction of $58,775.00 or -1.06%
The WPCA reviews and sets the rate in July and the first quarterly billing of the fiscal year is in October. It is done this way so that all revenue projections can be based on actual billing amounts from the current fiscal year as well as any income derived from interest income, septic disposal fees, transported waste, and delinquent interest. Right now, there has been no discussion of a rate reduction.
There was no increase in the rate last year (for the current year) and I would anticipate no increase in the rate for next year, but that will be a decision for the Authority later this year.
Now, I would like to talk to you about how we got to this point.
To achieve savings we have done a number of things:
We have invested heavily in technical infrastructure to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the delivery of services.
We have moved our bridge projects ahead; now many of our bridges are completed. Of the final three, West Main Street is in Design Phase, Talcottville Bridge is ready for Design and Phoenix Street is ready for construction. I would like to note that each time we finish a bridge project it lowers future costs.
We have established policies that support our environment, reduce fuel usage which in turn works to reduce our nation’s reliance on foreign fuel, while lowering spending on energy.
We have consolidated costs throughout government, working hand in hand with our Board of Education, ferreting out soft spending figures from real figures.
Over the past three years of my administration, the focus has been on how to address our largest fixed cost, which is labor, keeping in mind the state and national economy as well.
Over the last three years, we were able to successfully negotiate reasonable labor contracts with an eye on not just the upcoming fiscal year, but also many fiscal years down the road.
We have implemented pension reform, wage controls and health insurance caps.
We have held the line on contractual wages over the past three years and will continue to do so in this fiscal year.
Negotiations are difficult, but, we are faced with an economy that cannot support the contracts of the past.
Now, I would just like to touch upon a few budgetary highlights.
This year, I have been able to negotiate health insurance for the Town of Vernon which includes the School Department and the Sewer Department at a mere 2.9 percent increase which is equal to $ 290,140.76. This is in stark contrast to the Town’s 2010-2011 fiscal years’ health insurance increase of 22 percent which accounted for nearly all of the increase in spending in the 2010-2011 Budget.
This year I have been able to negotiate the Property and Casualty insurance rates and that rate has decreased for a total savings of $32,000.00 this year.
Recently Vernon responded to the emergency involving eminent roof collapses which cost our taxpayers over $300,000.00; Good thing we have that insurance to — The Travelers has thus far covered $100,000.00 of that expense and we continue to pursue reimbursement for the remaining difference from The Travelers.
In this budget with those savings from Property and Casualty I am proposing that we increase our reserves in our Worker’s Compensation fund. I firmly believe this is necessary because we are self-insured and it is crucial that the reserves are fully funded.
In the last three budgets the Town of Vernon, including the Education Department and Sewer Department, has funded the pension at an appropriate level. In keeping with good fiscal management, this budget funds the pension at those levels to keep our pension on track with the appropriate amortization schedules.
This has been a conscious effort since I was elected to avoid future swings in funding due to short falls. Why? It is being done to protect the taxpayers from poor practices that have resulted in the State and Federal government pensions having bills due at a time when there is no money available to pay them.
In my first term, I asked that the Town Council pass an ordinance that would establish an Energy Improvement District (EID) in Vernon. This ordinance would allow the Town to produce green energy, including an investment in fuel cells to lower our operating expenses and help the environment.
Now in my second term, the Ordinance was passed and now the hard work has begun, starting with the recent appointment of an EID Board of Directors to move the project forward and investigate all of the options for energy savings and put into place the necessary funding.
This initiative provides an option to our local business community to reduce their energy costs as well, making Vernon more attractive to new business and industry, re-development and most importantly, it works to retain existing employers.
Infrastructure improvements have been a standing priority for my administration. An appropriation of $800,000.00, realized from cost savings in the School Department and Police Department Budgets, were appropriated for road improvements in Vernon along with $500,000.00 of CDBG funds for road improvements in the Rockville section of Vernon. Those funds are being administered in the 2010-2011 fiscal year, meaning the past fiscal year we are finishing now.
To keep my promise during that $800,000 dollar road improvement appropriation public hearing, in this upcoming fiscal year, I am proposing in the 2011-2012 capital improvements plan to designate $131,000.00 of town aid for roads funds and $242,000.00 of LOCIP funds for road improvement projects in the Vernon section of town; as well as $ 450,000.00 designated from CDBG funds for road improvement in the Rockville section of town.
Further, we will complete Hatch hill road repairs in 2011-2012 totaling $954,000.00 from the 2004-2005 bond. Lastly, the West Main Street Bridge will be funded with 80% State, 20% Local Funding; the Local match equaling $34,000.00.
Now, I would like to talk to you briefly about debt service.
This year is the final conversion of the outstanding notes to bonds for the 2004-2005 School and Road Bond authorization. $7,000,000.00 will be added to the total bonding debt, which will increase the debt service payments by $665,000.00 in the 2011-2012 budget year.
This budget supports an investment in Education by maintaining our small class size, supporting curriculum initiatives, supporting sports and extracurricular activities for students and supporting the superintendent’s initiative for student success in grade nine, especially.
Public Safety is fully funded. There are no budgetary reductions that will affect public safety services.
This past fiscal year, we saw a 16% decrease in crime against property.
The head count at the Police Department remains at 49 with 51 authorized and funded, sworn-in Town of Vernon Police department employees, with overtime fully funded.
In 2011 the police vehicle fleet was funded. It is now fully up-to-date and replacements are on track, allowing officers to be able to respond quickly and safely.
Our Environment is protected and we remain committed to our recycling and trash initiatives. Both have been very successful and continue to pay dividends.
We will continue to support the trash and recycling initiatives started in the 2010-2011 Fiscal year.
Since this programs implementation, we have significantly reduced our tipping and hauling fees, and we have increased our revenue from recycling.
We have seen our recycling increase by approximately 24% which has reduced Vernon’s trash going into landfills by over 8%.
This budget includes an appropriation of funds for the trash and recycling initiative to be expanded town-wide, which is certainly a better service to our residents with a large fiscal savings.
In regards to other important services, our Animal Control Department now services multiple towns in our region and is partially funded by those same municipalities.
The Town’s 311 City Alert System has received over 1800 calls for service and information. The software system is called q-send. Folks should know they can register requests and complaints, at the Vernon web site Vernon-ct.gov and that each inquiry is directed by the system to the appropriate department and a return email or call is generated back to the person requesting the information.
A request ticket number for your reference is given. You can ask for a reference number when you call for a service or with a complaint as well, so don’t forget to ask for your reference number.
Through the Town of Vernon’s website you can: Sign up for Parks and Recreation Programs, pay your tax bill, pay for a recreation program, fill out and file your personal property tax listings with the Assessor, or view your property card – All with just a click of your mouse.
This budget will be on-line on the Town of Vernon website and available for you at the Town Clerk’s Office or the Rockville Public Library.
I encourage our citizens and taxpayers to call me or any department head and to ask questions about this budget or a departmental section of the budget.
I encourage our citizens and taxpayers to attend one or more of the upcoming public hearings on this proposed budget during which you will have an opportunity to be heard regarding appropriations for the ensuing fiscal year.
I will be happy to speak to members of the press about this budget or the departmental sections of the budget.
If you have any questions or comments about the proposed budget, you may call or email me directly.
In summary, this budget balances needs, real estate property values and affordability.
I ask the Town Council and the citizens and taxpayers of Vernon to please support this budget.
Thank you for allowing me to serve as your Mayor.”
jmccoy@vernon-ct.gov
Facebook: Mayor McCoy
Twitter: Mayor McCoy
March 8, 2011
Potholes Make This An Awful Year for Drivers and the State - New Haven Advocate
Potholes Make This An Awful Year for Drivers and the State - New Haven Advocate: "Potholes Make This An Awful Year for Drivers and the State"
The third cold-weather method is called asphalt recycling. Old asphalt that's scraped up during summertime road repaving projects is stockpiled, then reheated to about 250 degrees in a special recycling machine, and laid down to cover a pothole. Vernon Mayor Jason McCoy says the asphalt recycler his town bought for about $56,000 works “much better” than simple cold patch.
The third cold-weather method is called asphalt recycling. Old asphalt that's scraped up during summertime road repaving projects is stockpiled, then reheated to about 250 degrees in a special recycling machine, and laid down to cover a pothole. Vernon Mayor Jason McCoy says the asphalt recycler his town bought for about $56,000 works “much better” than simple cold patch.
February 27, 2011
Vernon: Less Than 1 Percent Increase In 2010 Vernon Grand List - Courant.com
Vernon: Less Than 1 Percent Increase In 2010 Vernon Grand List - Courant.com
By JOSEPH A. O'BRIEN JR., Special to The Courant
The Hartford Courant
9:12 PM EST, February 26, 2011
VERNON —A less than 1 percent increase in the assessed value of all taxable property in town last year is another reason local officials will be looking to hold the line on spending in the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.
Mayor Jason L. McCoy said the value of the Oct. 1, 2010, grand list is $1,910,783,339 — an increase of $16.1 million, or 0.85 percent, over the list's value on Oct. 1, 2009.
Residential real estate increased by $8.16 million, but the value of industrial and commercial property went down. Industrial real estate fell in value by $1.29 million in just one year and commercial real estate fell by $127,060.
The total value of apartments and other rental properties increased by $2.01 million.
The value of personal property, which includes machinery and business equipment, also fell last year, by $2.15 million to $72.29 million, a decrease of 0.29 percent.
There are 25,996 motor vehicles listed that account for roughly 8.5 percent, or $163,075,129, of all the taxable property in town. The $9.54 million increase in value of motor vehicles was due primarily to used vehicles, which increased in value by $7.91 million. Vehicles added to the list, new or used, increased the total value of the motor vehicle list by $1.62 million.
The total value of motor vehicles on the list is just under the combined assessed value of property owned by the town's top-10 taxpayers. The total assessed value of property owned by the top 10 is $186,378,330.
The top 10 taxpayers in town are:
The Mansions, $47,754,460;
Tri City Improvements LLC, $30,295,590;
Woodbrook LLC/EKE/EES, $21,516,740;
Connecticut Water Co., $20,011,880;
Connecticut Light & Power Co. & Yankee Gas, and Connecticut Natural Gas, $19,022,250;
CE Vernon LLC $15,571,120;
Chapman Acres, $9,004,930; BostonVernon/BostonRockville, $8,662,150; Park West Residents Association, $7,684,030; and
Kerensky, Schneider Trustees, $6,855,180
February 23, 2011
Town Tackles Pothole Woes With New Technology - Connecticut News Story - WFSB Hartford
Town Tackles Pothole Woes With New Technology - Connecticut News Story - WFSB Hartford: "Town Tackles Pothole Woes With New Technology"
"VERNON, Conn. -- Vernon is patching its potholes with a new machine called the Hot Box, which can fill annoying potholes in the half the time and for less money, according to town officials.
The Hot Box is outfitted with a box on its back that heats asphalt to 350 degrees and can hold up to 4 tons of resued asphalt.
Road crews said the Hot Box makes it easier to move around town, and that the asphalt remains hot and lasts much longer than the cold patch.
"The old asphalt we use gets heated the night before we come in,"said Kevin Gardner with the Public Works Department.
Town officials said the machine will save taxpayers money in the long run.
"My constituents know that there's always problems with potholes in Vernon. We like to be a little ahead of everybody else and look for cost savings everyplace we can get them," said Jason McCoy, Vernon's mayor.
The town leased the Hot Box for five years at a cost of $48,000.
Nearby towns are interested in purchasing the machines, officials said"
"VERNON, Conn. -- Vernon is patching its potholes with a new machine called the Hot Box, which can fill annoying potholes in the half the time and for less money, according to town officials.
The Hot Box is outfitted with a box on its back that heats asphalt to 350 degrees and can hold up to 4 tons of resued asphalt.
Road crews said the Hot Box makes it easier to move around town, and that the asphalt remains hot and lasts much longer than the cold patch.
"The old asphalt we use gets heated the night before we come in,"said Kevin Gardner with the Public Works Department.
Town officials said the machine will save taxpayers money in the long run.
"My constituents know that there's always problems with potholes in Vernon. We like to be a little ahead of everybody else and look for cost savings everyplace we can get them," said Jason McCoy, Vernon's mayor.
The town leased the Hot Box for five years at a cost of $48,000.
Nearby towns are interested in purchasing the machines, officials said"
February 19, 2011
Shoveling roofs a first for local Connecticut National Guard - Journal Inquirer
Shoveling roofs a first for local National Guard: "Shoveling roofs a first for local National Guard"
By Suzanne Carlson
Journal Inquirer
Published: Monday, February 7, 2011 10:11 AM EST
A rash of roof collapses has spread like dominoes across the state since last week’s winter storms, but while some towns struggled to clear snow from schools and other buildings with whatever resources they had on hand, others were able to secure help from the National Guard.
“We have never in the past been asked … to shovel snow off of roofs from previous snowstorms. Even when we go back to ’78, storm Larry, the Guard did not go out to clean off roofs,” Lt. Col. John Whitford, spokesman for the National Guard, said Friday.
During the infamous blizzard of 1978, which shut down the state for a week, Gov. Ella T. Grasso utilized the Guard to help clear roads, but Whitford emphasized that, “This is something unique. With the amount of snow that we’ve received since Christmas, it’s just unbelievable.”
Whitford said service members were activated to help clear school roofs in Vernon, Tolland, and Naugatuck, but only after a lengthy request and review process by the state Department of Emergency Management, and Homeland Security, and the office of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.
“We in the Guard have two missions: We have a mission from the president for federal call-up where we have soldiers and airmen deployed overseas, and we also have the governor. If he declares a state of emergency and activates the Guard, then we go out. He’s our boss, and we respond to state emergencies, hurricanes, floods, snowstorms,” and the like, he said.
But Whitford stressed that town officials first must declare a state of emergency and prove that they’ve exhausted all of their local resources before the state will step in.
“It’s a very tedious process, it is a very long process they have to go through in order to get an approval,” Whitford said. “We’re the last guys to come out to provide some kind of relief and support because they’ve exhausted everything else at their fingertips prior to us.”
‘What about us?’Other towns have expressed outrage that some municipalities received assistance while others did not, and Whitford acknowledged that “maybe the towns didn’t know” that requesting help was an option available to them.
“I think there’s a misconception out there by some of the towns that all we need to do is call the Guard and they’ll come. That’s not the case, and we’re hearing it from the other towns. For example, Ellington’s saying, ‘Hey, how come these towns got the OK?’ All of a sudden the other towns have been, ‘What about us, what about us?’”
Whitford said that while many towns have contacted the Guard to ask for help, municipal leaders must coordinate such requests with state officials.
Others have suggested that service members simply begin clearing all school roofs in the state, rather than focusing on specific towns. But with almost 1,700 schools in Connecticut and only 5,000 troops in the Guard, Whitford said, that isn’t an option.
“That’s not the makeup, design, or the role of the National Guard. It may sound great, but there are legal pieces in place and the towns should be aware that when it comes to something like this, they have to justify it,” Whitford said. “And there is a price tag. When all is said and done, the billpayer is the town. It’s not just free labor — there is a price that is associated with us coming.”
That expense is what’s kept some towns from requesting the Guard.
First Selectwoman Christina Mailhos of Willington said her town is pooling its resources to try to take care of the issue without outside help.
“We had closed the schools on Thursday to work on the roofs,” Mailhos said. “We had teachers, custodians, public works crew, the superintendent, and even myself on the roofs trying to clear the snow.”
Mailhos said the Fire Department hauled snow blowers to the rooftops as well as used roof rakes. “Together, it was an amazing effort,” she said.
“We managed to get the snow removed from the major areas of concern on the buildings,” Mailhos said. “Right now, it’s unnecessary to call in the National Guard, but if the weather continues like this for the rest of the season, we might have to.”
Per day: $20,000 to $60,000According to Mailhos, town officials had tried contacting the National Guard early last week, but were informed there was a possible activation fee of $20,000.
Rich Harris, spokesman for the state Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, said towns must agree in advance to reimburse the National Guard for its services — and it can be costly, depending on the type of work needed.
Shoveling snow from roofs costs municipalities from $20,000 to $60,000 per day, Harris said.
Using the National Guard is really an option of last resort, Harris said.
Deployment is approved by the governor’s office for towns that can’t to do the job on their own and are unable to find a private contractor to do the job for them, he said.
Guardsmen are not to supplant town public works crews or replace town resources, Harris said.
In Manchester, Mayor Louis A. Spadaccini said there has been “constant monitoring” of school and town building roofs, which were being cleared of snow by staff and private contractors. An engineer has inspected several buildings, and officials were taking action, he added.
Snow and ice were removed from the High School and Washington School roof early last week, and on Friday the Botticello garage at the landfill, and the water and sewer treatment plant on Spring Street were cleared, he said.
There are some concerns about the Lutz Children’s Museum, which might also need its roof shoveled, he added.
“We are doing everything to monitor the condition of the roofs and ensure the integrity of the buildings and the safety of the public,” Spadaccini said, adding: “We’re getting rid of the snow and ice where we deem it necessary.”
For now, the National Guard is not being tapped for work. Using private contractors is expensive, at about $100 an hour for labor, he said.
Drifts were 5 to 7 feet tall
Vernon's Mayor Jason McCoy was the first town to request emergency assistance after structural engineer James Silva determined that its schools’ roofs were carrying more than twice the recommended weight limit.
Whitford said the first shift of 85 Army and airmen started shoveling roofs there at 1 a.m. Thursday and worked for about 12 hours. Another shift of 75 troops arrived at 10:30 a.m., so “at one point in time we had 150 people on the ground at one time,” he said, adding that the second shift worked until 9 p.m.
Many of the troops that responded to Vernon’s schools had just returned from Afghanistan in November. A different crew from the 103rd Airlift Wing in East Granby responded to Tolland’s schools Friday morning.
A hundred airmen began work at 6 a.m. and Whitford said he expected the crew to turn cleanup back over to the town around 7 p.m.
“We’re extremely grateful for the assistance they’ve provided — they’ve been moving a tremendous amount of snow,” Tolland Town Manager Steven R. Werbner said Friday.
An engineer who examined the schools told town officials “we shouldn’t have loads in any one area that exceed 22 to 24 inches. We’ve got areas where it’s drifted 5 to 7 feet deep, so you’ve got to disperse that snow into other areas where you’ve already shoveled in order to balance out the load,” Werbner said.
Werbner said officials were left with “a very small window” to clear roofs before even more snow accumulated. He added that the cleanup likely would cost the town more than $20,000, but that figure is a pittance compared with the expense of a collapsed school.
Civilians on roof is ‘calculated risk’Tolland fire officials asked residents to provide their shovels and equipment for the Guard’s efforts, and about 22 people loaned snow blowers, Werbner said. On Thursday night, officials were forced to travel all the way to Norwich to purchase 50 additional shovels because all other local stores have sold out.
Werbner said town employees would pick up work where service members left off, but as for local volunteers, “we couldn’t have any civilians on the roof because of liability.”
In Vernon, however, officials sent reverse 911 calls to residents at noon on Friday and Saturday, and emergency e-mail messages to teachers requesting “the assistance of able-bodied residents with shovels or snow blowers to assist with clearing snow from the roof of Rockville High School.”
At least 45 residents had responded as of Saturday, according to Director of Emergency Management Michael Purcaro.
Town Attorney Harold Cummings said inviting residents onto the roof of a building covered in snow was a calculated risk.
“We’re weighing the risks of what is the potential cost for a school roof collapsing on 100 children, damage to the building, damage to the kids, versus potentially having a compensation claim for somebody that slipped off the roof and broke a leg. We will take care of the broken leg as a fair tradeoff for keeping our kids safe,” Cummings said.
He added that the job of removing thousands of pounds of snow from massive school roofs requires a lot of work, and town employees who have been shoveling and plowing for days on end simply need a break.
Shoveling not glamorous, but an honor
Vernon emergency officials met with the Town Council and Board of Education at a special meeting Saturday, during which Town Finance Officer James Luddecke gave an update on snow removal expenses.
The National Guard charged the town for 88 service members at a unit cost of $200, for a total of $17,600, which Mayor Jason L. McCoy called, “an excellent deal,” adding that he tried to get the Guard to return over the weekend.
Purcaro and other officials said they’ve put in requests for reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and Rep. Timothy Ackert, R-Vernon, said that, “we’re hoping to hear something this week,” regarding potential funding.
Schools in Tolland and Vernon remained closed today so snow removal could continue.
Whitford said that much of the state’s Guard force consists of part-timers who took time off work from their civilian jobs to help with the cleanup.
He listed some of the other incidents for which the Guard has been called out, including Hurricane Katrina, the flooding last March in Griswold, and the snowstorm a few weeks ago when 20 troops and two wreckers were used to pull Hartford city buses out of snowdrifts.
And while shoveling snow off school roofs may not be as thrilling as rescuing victims of a national crisis like Katrina, “We’re honored to do it,” Whitford said. “We bring another set of expertise to the table when we have a mission like this, because we have a lot of guys who live in the community and work in the community. This is one of the reasons why they joined, to help out the community, so we’re trying to help out and bring some normalcy back.”
Town officials and businesses organized meals for the troops and other workers, and Whitford said that many Guard members have been laughing and enjoying themselves during the last few days’ whirlwind efforts.
“Despite the cold, despite the shoveling, despite all that snow, I think the morale is very high,” he said.
Journal Inquirer staff writer Kym Soper and intern Zachary Perras contributed to this story.
mayor jason mccoy
By Suzanne Carlson
Journal Inquirer
Published: Monday, February 7, 2011 10:11 AM EST
A rash of roof collapses has spread like dominoes across the state since last week’s winter storms, but while some towns struggled to clear snow from schools and other buildings with whatever resources they had on hand, others were able to secure help from the National Guard.
“We have never in the past been asked … to shovel snow off of roofs from previous snowstorms. Even when we go back to ’78, storm Larry, the Guard did not go out to clean off roofs,” Lt. Col. John Whitford, spokesman for the National Guard, said Friday.
During the infamous blizzard of 1978, which shut down the state for a week, Gov. Ella T. Grasso utilized the Guard to help clear roads, but Whitford emphasized that, “This is something unique. With the amount of snow that we’ve received since Christmas, it’s just unbelievable.”
Whitford said service members were activated to help clear school roofs in Vernon, Tolland, and Naugatuck, but only after a lengthy request and review process by the state Department of Emergency Management, and Homeland Security, and the office of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy.
“We in the Guard have two missions: We have a mission from the president for federal call-up where we have soldiers and airmen deployed overseas, and we also have the governor. If he declares a state of emergency and activates the Guard, then we go out. He’s our boss, and we respond to state emergencies, hurricanes, floods, snowstorms,” and the like, he said.
But Whitford stressed that town officials first must declare a state of emergency and prove that they’ve exhausted all of their local resources before the state will step in.
“It’s a very tedious process, it is a very long process they have to go through in order to get an approval,” Whitford said. “We’re the last guys to come out to provide some kind of relief and support because they’ve exhausted everything else at their fingertips prior to us.”
‘What about us?’Other towns have expressed outrage that some municipalities received assistance while others did not, and Whitford acknowledged that “maybe the towns didn’t know” that requesting help was an option available to them.
“I think there’s a misconception out there by some of the towns that all we need to do is call the Guard and they’ll come. That’s not the case, and we’re hearing it from the other towns. For example, Ellington’s saying, ‘Hey, how come these towns got the OK?’ All of a sudden the other towns have been, ‘What about us, what about us?’”
Whitford said that while many towns have contacted the Guard to ask for help, municipal leaders must coordinate such requests with state officials.
Others have suggested that service members simply begin clearing all school roofs in the state, rather than focusing on specific towns. But with almost 1,700 schools in Connecticut and only 5,000 troops in the Guard, Whitford said, that isn’t an option.
“That’s not the makeup, design, or the role of the National Guard. It may sound great, but there are legal pieces in place and the towns should be aware that when it comes to something like this, they have to justify it,” Whitford said. “And there is a price tag. When all is said and done, the billpayer is the town. It’s not just free labor — there is a price that is associated with us coming.”
That expense is what’s kept some towns from requesting the Guard.
First Selectwoman Christina Mailhos of Willington said her town is pooling its resources to try to take care of the issue without outside help.
“We had closed the schools on Thursday to work on the roofs,” Mailhos said. “We had teachers, custodians, public works crew, the superintendent, and even myself on the roofs trying to clear the snow.”
Mailhos said the Fire Department hauled snow blowers to the rooftops as well as used roof rakes. “Together, it was an amazing effort,” she said.
“We managed to get the snow removed from the major areas of concern on the buildings,” Mailhos said. “Right now, it’s unnecessary to call in the National Guard, but if the weather continues like this for the rest of the season, we might have to.”
Per day: $20,000 to $60,000According to Mailhos, town officials had tried contacting the National Guard early last week, but were informed there was a possible activation fee of $20,000.
Rich Harris, spokesman for the state Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, said towns must agree in advance to reimburse the National Guard for its services — and it can be costly, depending on the type of work needed.
Shoveling snow from roofs costs municipalities from $20,000 to $60,000 per day, Harris said.
Using the National Guard is really an option of last resort, Harris said.
Deployment is approved by the governor’s office for towns that can’t to do the job on their own and are unable to find a private contractor to do the job for them, he said.
Guardsmen are not to supplant town public works crews or replace town resources, Harris said.
In Manchester, Mayor Louis A. Spadaccini said there has been “constant monitoring” of school and town building roofs, which were being cleared of snow by staff and private contractors. An engineer has inspected several buildings, and officials were taking action, he added.
Snow and ice were removed from the High School and Washington School roof early last week, and on Friday the Botticello garage at the landfill, and the water and sewer treatment plant on Spring Street were cleared, he said.
There are some concerns about the Lutz Children’s Museum, which might also need its roof shoveled, he added.
“We are doing everything to monitor the condition of the roofs and ensure the integrity of the buildings and the safety of the public,” Spadaccini said, adding: “We’re getting rid of the snow and ice where we deem it necessary.”
For now, the National Guard is not being tapped for work. Using private contractors is expensive, at about $100 an hour for labor, he said.
Drifts were 5 to 7 feet tall
Vernon's Mayor Jason McCoy was the first town to request emergency assistance after structural engineer James Silva determined that its schools’ roofs were carrying more than twice the recommended weight limit.
Whitford said the first shift of 85 Army and airmen started shoveling roofs there at 1 a.m. Thursday and worked for about 12 hours. Another shift of 75 troops arrived at 10:30 a.m., so “at one point in time we had 150 people on the ground at one time,” he said, adding that the second shift worked until 9 p.m.
Many of the troops that responded to Vernon’s schools had just returned from Afghanistan in November. A different crew from the 103rd Airlift Wing in East Granby responded to Tolland’s schools Friday morning.
A hundred airmen began work at 6 a.m. and Whitford said he expected the crew to turn cleanup back over to the town around 7 p.m.
“We’re extremely grateful for the assistance they’ve provided — they’ve been moving a tremendous amount of snow,” Tolland Town Manager Steven R. Werbner said Friday.
An engineer who examined the schools told town officials “we shouldn’t have loads in any one area that exceed 22 to 24 inches. We’ve got areas where it’s drifted 5 to 7 feet deep, so you’ve got to disperse that snow into other areas where you’ve already shoveled in order to balance out the load,” Werbner said.
Werbner said officials were left with “a very small window” to clear roofs before even more snow accumulated. He added that the cleanup likely would cost the town more than $20,000, but that figure is a pittance compared with the expense of a collapsed school.
Civilians on roof is ‘calculated risk’Tolland fire officials asked residents to provide their shovels and equipment for the Guard’s efforts, and about 22 people loaned snow blowers, Werbner said. On Thursday night, officials were forced to travel all the way to Norwich to purchase 50 additional shovels because all other local stores have sold out.
Werbner said town employees would pick up work where service members left off, but as for local volunteers, “we couldn’t have any civilians on the roof because of liability.”
In Vernon, however, officials sent reverse 911 calls to residents at noon on Friday and Saturday, and emergency e-mail messages to teachers requesting “the assistance of able-bodied residents with shovels or snow blowers to assist with clearing snow from the roof of Rockville High School.”
At least 45 residents had responded as of Saturday, according to Director of Emergency Management Michael Purcaro.
Town Attorney Harold Cummings said inviting residents onto the roof of a building covered in snow was a calculated risk.
“We’re weighing the risks of what is the potential cost for a school roof collapsing on 100 children, damage to the building, damage to the kids, versus potentially having a compensation claim for somebody that slipped off the roof and broke a leg. We will take care of the broken leg as a fair tradeoff for keeping our kids safe,” Cummings said.
He added that the job of removing thousands of pounds of snow from massive school roofs requires a lot of work, and town employees who have been shoveling and plowing for days on end simply need a break.
Shoveling not glamorous, but an honor
Vernon emergency officials met with the Town Council and Board of Education at a special meeting Saturday, during which Town Finance Officer James Luddecke gave an update on snow removal expenses.
The National Guard charged the town for 88 service members at a unit cost of $200, for a total of $17,600, which Mayor Jason L. McCoy called, “an excellent deal,” adding that he tried to get the Guard to return over the weekend.
Purcaro and other officials said they’ve put in requests for reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and Rep. Timothy Ackert, R-Vernon, said that, “we’re hoping to hear something this week,” regarding potential funding.
Schools in Tolland and Vernon remained closed today so snow removal could continue.
Whitford said that much of the state’s Guard force consists of part-timers who took time off work from their civilian jobs to help with the cleanup.
He listed some of the other incidents for which the Guard has been called out, including Hurricane Katrina, the flooding last March in Griswold, and the snowstorm a few weeks ago when 20 troops and two wreckers were used to pull Hartford city buses out of snowdrifts.
And while shoveling snow off school roofs may not be as thrilling as rescuing victims of a national crisis like Katrina, “We’re honored to do it,” Whitford said. “We bring another set of expertise to the table when we have a mission like this, because we have a lot of guys who live in the community and work in the community. This is one of the reasons why they joined, to help out the community, so we’re trying to help out and bring some normalcy back.”
Town officials and businesses organized meals for the troops and other workers, and Whitford said that many Guard members have been laughing and enjoying themselves during the last few days’ whirlwind efforts.
“Despite the cold, despite the shoveling, despite all that snow, I think the morale is very high,” he said.
Journal Inquirer staff writer Kym Soper and intern Zachary Perras contributed to this story.
mayor jason mccoy
Providing a safe environment - Journal Inquirer > Archives > Letters To The Editor > Feb. 14 Vernon CT
Journal Inquirer > Archives > Letters To The Editor > Feb. 14: "Feb. 14
Published: Monday, February 14, 2011 12:06 PM EST
Providing a safe environment
Providing a safe learning environment for students and staff is a critical piece of the Vernon Board of Education’s mission statement. The winter weather has broken records and has put us in a situation that we have not dealt with in the past.
On behalf of the Board of Education, I would like to thank the mayor, the emergency management director, the superintendent, the director of Public Works and his entire staff, the director of the Parks and Recreation Department and his entire staff, Jim Silva and his structural engineering firm, the Connecticut National Guard, the Vernon Fire Department, the Vernon Youth Service Bureau, the Board of Education maintenance and custodial staff, the Board of Education cafeteria director and her staff, our EMS volunteers, the Cemetery Commission, the WPCA, CERT, our local businesses, the many citizen volunteers, and anyone else I may have missed who helped the Vernon public schools through this unusual event of clearing extreme snow loads from our school roofs."
Once the determination was made by our structural engineer that the snow loads needed to be removed because they were exceeding structural tolerances for our buildings, the mayor was notified. He immediately put the gears in motion to address our predicament. This was an absolutely arduous task for all and one that our school resources could never have undertaken on our own.
A great job was done by all those involved and the Vernon Board of Education thanks everyone. The citizens of Vernon can be proud of the town departments and resources, businesses, and citizens that sprung into action to solve this crisis.
Anne Fischer
Vernon Chairwoman Vernon Board of Education
The writer is chairwoman of the Board of Education.
mayor jason mccoy
Published: Monday, February 14, 2011 12:06 PM EST
Providing a safe environment
Providing a safe learning environment for students and staff is a critical piece of the Vernon Board of Education’s mission statement. The winter weather has broken records and has put us in a situation that we have not dealt with in the past.
On behalf of the Board of Education, I would like to thank the mayor, the emergency management director, the superintendent, the director of Public Works and his entire staff, the director of the Parks and Recreation Department and his entire staff, Jim Silva and his structural engineering firm, the Connecticut National Guard, the Vernon Fire Department, the Vernon Youth Service Bureau, the Board of Education maintenance and custodial staff, the Board of Education cafeteria director and her staff, our EMS volunteers, the Cemetery Commission, the WPCA, CERT, our local businesses, the many citizen volunteers, and anyone else I may have missed who helped the Vernon public schools through this unusual event of clearing extreme snow loads from our school roofs."
Once the determination was made by our structural engineer that the snow loads needed to be removed because they were exceeding structural tolerances for our buildings, the mayor was notified. He immediately put the gears in motion to address our predicament. This was an absolutely arduous task for all and one that our school resources could never have undertaken on our own.
A great job was done by all those involved and the Vernon Board of Education thanks everyone. The citizens of Vernon can be proud of the town departments and resources, businesses, and citizens that sprung into action to solve this crisis.
Anne Fischer
Vernon Chairwoman Vernon Board of Education
The writer is chairwoman of the Board of Education.
mayor jason mccoy
Town rallies to help re-open schools Article | ReminderNews Vernon CT
Article ReminderNews: "Town rallies to help re-open schools"
Vernon students had an unexpected week of vacation from Feb . 1 to Feb . 7 , as winter storms piled so much snow on the roofs of school buildings that officials wanted to be sure of their safety before allowing students inside .
Before the Board of Education’s special meeting on Feb . 7 to officially approve its budget for 2011-2012 , all schools were expected to re-open on Feb . 8 . Despite another snowfall that morning , they all did .
Mayor Jason McCoy sent out emails at approximately the same time , stating that the schools were safe .
“ I am proud to announce that the school buildings no longer face imminent structural danger , as a result of dedicated workers and volunteers from throughout the community , ” McCoy said . “ After a briefing from my staff and the BOE’s structural engineer , I have decided to close down emergency operations and the Emergency Operations Center , as there is no longer an emergency situation or threat from imminent danger . The snow loads on the buildings have been inspected and certified by the engineer and they are within the code limits prescribed by Connecticut Code . ”
Conway said when the emergency had been declared over , the control of the remaining cleanup at the schools was turned back over to her office .
Town workers began clearing the roofs on Feb . 2 . By Feb . 4 , the task had seemed so large that town employees were asked to volunteer , and members of the National Guard were deployed to help , via town requests to the state .
On Feb . 4 , the town also sent automated phone calls asking Vernon residents to volunteer to help , and many did . McCoy said the volume of snow on the schools and town buildings was calculated , as were the man-hours required to remove it all , and it was clear that more people were needed .
An estimated 17 . 4 million pounds of snow were removed from roofs of municipal buildings , McCoy said , calling that estimate conservative .
“ People just showed up with snow shovels at the high school , ” Conway said . “ It was just phenomenal . ”
On Saturday , Feb . 5 , McCoy had convened an emergency meeting of the Town Council to appropriate additional funds for snow-removal efforts . The council approved an amount of $ 90 , 000 .
Of larger concern was Maple Street School , which had received significant water damage to four of its classrooms .
Conway said several options were considered for the remediation of the damage , including possibly having students utilize another school building temporarily , or perhaps the Board of Education building itself .
However , late in the afternoon on Feb . 8 , it was determined that Maple Street School could re-open along with the rest of the district , and students in the four damaged classrooms would learn their lessons in other parts of the building . A reading room , a computer lab , and a boys’ bathroom also were damaged . Conway said the floor in the computer lab was also heavily damaged . Dehumidifiers are being used in the classrooms , and painters were being called to correct the cosmetic damage to ceilings and walls .
“ The roof is cleared , and the building is safe , ” Conway said . “ We are 100 percent in our own schools , and we are delighted with that . We expect the cleanup to be less than three weeks . ”
At Skinner Road School , there was concern over snow on the large canopies at the entrance of the school . Students were entering and exiting from the rear doors of the building until the snow was removed .
McCoy said the impetus for the school closing was that engineers had determined that some roofs were carrying loads upwards of 50 pounds per square foot – well above the general standards of 21 pounds per square foot , although he added that several schools and town buildings are rated higher .
Tests of the weight load on the roof of Vernon Middle School were at or near limits in a few areas as of Feb . 7 , but Conway said cleanup was continuing in the areas of the roof where snow was still heavy , especially since the possibility of more snow could put those areas over the limit .
Conway thanked the district’s custodians , many of whom had worked extra shifts , as well as contractors , who were still continuing the efforts .
Once all the schools are totally cleared of snow , Conway said she hoped such an effort would not be necessary again this winter .
“ I can’t imagine we’re going to get another 80 inches between now and April 1 , ” she said . “ We’re not anticipating having to do this again . We will be talking about roof maintenance , as part of our preventive maintenance , as we go along . ”
As of Feb . 10 , Vernon schools had accumulated nine snow days . At a meeting on Feb . 9 , the Board of Education voted to revise the school year, eliminating the vacation week from Feb . 21-25 . This would allow for school to end on June 23 , with RHS graduation taking place on June 22 . If more than two more snow days occur , the plan is to begin to cut days from April vacation .
mayor jason mccoy
Vernon students had an unexpected week of vacation from Feb . 1 to Feb . 7 , as winter storms piled so much snow on the roofs of school buildings that officials wanted to be sure of their safety before allowing students inside .
Before the Board of Education’s special meeting on Feb . 7 to officially approve its budget for 2011-2012 , all schools were expected to re-open on Feb . 8 . Despite another snowfall that morning , they all did .
Mayor Jason McCoy sent out emails at approximately the same time , stating that the schools were safe .
“ I am proud to announce that the school buildings no longer face imminent structural danger , as a result of dedicated workers and volunteers from throughout the community , ” McCoy said . “ After a briefing from my staff and the BOE’s structural engineer , I have decided to close down emergency operations and the Emergency Operations Center , as there is no longer an emergency situation or threat from imminent danger . The snow loads on the buildings have been inspected and certified by the engineer and they are within the code limits prescribed by Connecticut Code . ”
Conway said when the emergency had been declared over , the control of the remaining cleanup at the schools was turned back over to her office .
Town workers began clearing the roofs on Feb . 2 . By Feb . 4 , the task had seemed so large that town employees were asked to volunteer , and members of the National Guard were deployed to help , via town requests to the state .
On Feb . 4 , the town also sent automated phone calls asking Vernon residents to volunteer to help , and many did . McCoy said the volume of snow on the schools and town buildings was calculated , as were the man-hours required to remove it all , and it was clear that more people were needed .
An estimated 17 . 4 million pounds of snow were removed from roofs of municipal buildings , McCoy said , calling that estimate conservative .
“ People just showed up with snow shovels at the high school , ” Conway said . “ It was just phenomenal . ”
On Saturday , Feb . 5 , McCoy had convened an emergency meeting of the Town Council to appropriate additional funds for snow-removal efforts . The council approved an amount of $ 90 , 000 .
Of larger concern was Maple Street School , which had received significant water damage to four of its classrooms .
Conway said several options were considered for the remediation of the damage , including possibly having students utilize another school building temporarily , or perhaps the Board of Education building itself .
However , late in the afternoon on Feb . 8 , it was determined that Maple Street School could re-open along with the rest of the district , and students in the four damaged classrooms would learn their lessons in other parts of the building . A reading room , a computer lab , and a boys’ bathroom also were damaged . Conway said the floor in the computer lab was also heavily damaged . Dehumidifiers are being used in the classrooms , and painters were being called to correct the cosmetic damage to ceilings and walls .
“ The roof is cleared , and the building is safe , ” Conway said . “ We are 100 percent in our own schools , and we are delighted with that . We expect the cleanup to be less than three weeks . ”
At Skinner Road School , there was concern over snow on the large canopies at the entrance of the school . Students were entering and exiting from the rear doors of the building until the snow was removed .
McCoy said the impetus for the school closing was that engineers had determined that some roofs were carrying loads upwards of 50 pounds per square foot – well above the general standards of 21 pounds per square foot , although he added that several schools and town buildings are rated higher .
Tests of the weight load on the roof of Vernon Middle School were at or near limits in a few areas as of Feb . 7 , but Conway said cleanup was continuing in the areas of the roof where snow was still heavy , especially since the possibility of more snow could put those areas over the limit .
Conway thanked the district’s custodians , many of whom had worked extra shifts , as well as contractors , who were still continuing the efforts .
Once all the schools are totally cleared of snow , Conway said she hoped such an effort would not be necessary again this winter .
“ I can’t imagine we’re going to get another 80 inches between now and April 1 , ” she said . “ We’re not anticipating having to do this again . We will be talking about roof maintenance , as part of our preventive maintenance , as we go along . ”
As of Feb . 10 , Vernon schools had accumulated nine snow days . At a meeting on Feb . 9 , the Board of Education voted to revise the school year, eliminating the vacation week from Feb . 21-25 . This would allow for school to end on June 23 , with RHS graduation taking place on June 22 . If more than two more snow days occur , the plan is to begin to cut days from April vacation .
mayor jason mccoy
February 16, 2011
A tale of two cities: leaders from the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities came to praise Malloy's budget, GOP mayors and selectmen came to rip it - Capitol Watch
A tale of two cities: leaders from the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities came to praise Malloy's budget, GOP mayors and selectmen came to rip it - Capitol Watch
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Municipal leaders from across the state gathered in one room of the legislative office building to heap praise on Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's budget.
A few feet away and a half hour later, Republican local officials came together to criticize the governor's proposal.
"We certainly want to applaud him for the enhanced revenue options that he's providing in the budget,'' Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton said. "We want to thank him for his forthrightness and candor in today's speech. But let's be clear about what's been proposed.''
Boughton and the other Republicans say Malloy's plan to give .10 of the 6.35 sales tax on retail purchases won't offset other potential losses. "While it's nice to say all these different revenue streams may back fill that dollars [lost], we're still not sure about that,' said Boughton, who was his party's nominee for lieutenant governor in 2010.'
And Torrington Mayor Ryan Bingham said Malloy's budget has plenty of pain for the state's residents. "This budget helps ... municipalities but hurts the residents that live in those towns and cities,'' he said."
mayor jason mccoy
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Municipal leaders from across the state gathered in one room of the legislative office building to heap praise on Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's budget.
A few feet away and a half hour later, Republican local officials came together to criticize the governor's proposal.
"We certainly want to applaud him for the enhanced revenue options that he's providing in the budget,'' Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton said. "We want to thank him for his forthrightness and candor in today's speech. But let's be clear about what's been proposed.''
Boughton and the other Republicans say Malloy's plan to give .10 of the 6.35 sales tax on retail purchases won't offset other potential losses. "While it's nice to say all these different revenue streams may back fill that dollars [lost], we're still not sure about that,' said Boughton, who was his party's nominee for lieutenant governor in 2010.'
And Torrington Mayor Ryan Bingham said Malloy's budget has plenty of pain for the state's residents. "This budget helps ... municipalities but hurts the residents that live in those towns and cities,'' he said."
mayor jason mccoy
February 10, 2011
Vernon Fire Station Closed Because of Heavy Snow Load On Roof - CTnow
Vernon Fire Station Closed Because of Heavy Snow Load On Roof - CTnow
Crews were on the firehouse roof earlier this week trying to clear snow, but could not do it safely because of the roof's slant, said Mayor Jason L. McCoy.
The engineer examining the building is also concerned that removing snow in one section at a time could increase the load on the building and damage it, McCoy said. The engineer plans to do computer modeling to develop a snow removal plan, McCoy said.
In the meantime, the fire engines stored at Nye Street have been moved to other firehouses, he said.
mayor jason mccoy
Crews were on the firehouse roof earlier this week trying to clear snow, but could not do it safely because of the roof's slant, said Mayor Jason L. McCoy.
The engineer examining the building is also concerned that removing snow in one section at a time could increase the load on the building and damage it, McCoy said. The engineer plans to do computer modeling to develop a snow removal plan, McCoy said.
In the meantime, the fire engines stored at Nye Street have been moved to other firehouses, he said.
mayor jason mccoy
February 8, 2011
February 5, 2011
January 31, 2011
Connecticut Mayors and Connecticut's Governor
Connecticut's Mayor:
Right: Hartford, Trumbull, Fairfield, Norwalk, Stamford,
Center: Governor of Connecticut Connecticut
Right: Vernon, Shelton, New Haven, Bridgeport
January 29, 2011
Town of Vernon, CT - News, Events & Press Releases
Town of Vernon, CT - News, Events & Press Releases: "NEWS, EVENTS & PRESS RELEASES"
mayor jason mccoy
mayor jason mccoy
January 28, 2011
January 24, 2011
Mayor McCoy: Dangerously Cold Weather; Urges Residents-In-Need to Seek Shelter
Mayor Jason L. McCoy today is urging residents-in-need of shelter due to the dangerously cold weather to call 2-1-1. Mayor McCoy is also reminding residents to use precaution and to be safe when going outdoors.
“Today’s dangerously cold temperatures should be taken very seriously by every member of the community,” Mayor McCoy said. “I ask that residents who are in-need or know someone in need of shelter call 2-1-1, a state system to help Connecticut residents who are seeking shelter. It is important that residents take precaution by avoiding prolonged periods of time outdoors to help ensure that residents are protected from the extremely cold temperatures.”
“I would also like to remind Vernon residents that local relief is available at the Cornerstone Soup Kitchen on Prospect Street until 6:00 p.m. tonight,” Mayor McCoy Said. “I urge residents to seek help if they need it and to help others who may be in need. We are prepared to open a warming shelter if one is needed. In the event of an emergency, residents should contact the Vernon Police Department.”
Mayor McCoy would like to remind residents that Vernon has two homeless shelters: Tri-Town Shelter Services and the Cornerstone Shelter. The Cornerstone Soup Kitchen is located at 15 Prospect Street in downtown Rockville. For more information and non-emergency inquiries, residents should contact the Vernon Social Services Department at 860.896.2375 or the Vernon Senior Center at 860.870.3680.
January 17, 2011
Wall Street Journal - Raising the Debt Cap
January 15, 2011
Article | ReminderNews- "Mayor looks ahead to new year"
Article ReminderNews: "Mayor looks ahead to new year"
Just after attending the inauguration of Gov . Dan Malloy , Vernon Mayor Jason McCoy said he was hoping the new governor’s speech would include more information about what the state plans to do , as far as finding ways to keep its funding to towns . But , the mayor said , Vernon is prepared to do what it has to .
“ We’ll deal with it , ” McCoy said last Wednesday afternoon , after looking over a long list of fiscal indicators .“ There are a few changes in there , but Vernon won’t likely be as impacted as some of the smaller towns in the area , ” McCoy said .
Recent and upcoming contract negotiations with unions look like they will help the town’s bottom line , as will the recent consolidation of the schools’ and town building maintenance .
ECS funding , which is always a concern , appears that it will be the same , along with the state funds across the board .
“ I was expecting to lose $ 1 million , ” McCoy said . “ Last year, they funded this with federal money . In this upcoming year, the federal money is gone . They must be seeing some type of increased revenue that I’m not aware of . ”
In general , the early town budget outlook is good , as long as the state funding remains what it is projected to be . “ Last year, ” he said , “ we really didn’t spend any more money , other than our health insurance . The problem is our grand list . We’re going to try to control the spending as much as possible . We want to maintain the services and control the taxes . ”
McCoy , who has aimed at growing the town’s grand list through commercial development , said that the recent survey done by the commission re-doing the town’s Plan of Conservation and Development , showed support for development in some areas , but against it in others , which he expected .
“ Fifty-one percent of the people would be fine with any development at exit 67 , ” he said . “ That’s what I was hoping for . [ Exit ] 66 has always been a problem . Nobody has ever wanted to see any development there . But , 67 is a key area for development . I think there is going to be some [ benefits ] for us there . ”
Another challenge for Vernon will be the unemployment rate of 7 . 7 percent – one of the top 50 in the state . “ Our median income is lower , ” he said . “ I think we’re 150 out of 169 . That tells youabout what the community has the ability to pay . I think we have to create economic opportunities for those who are unemployed . Hopefully the studio in South Windsor will help . If we’re able to bring in any type of distribution , that will give people an opportunity for gainful employment . ”
McCoy said he is working on funding to “ clean up” certain sites , to make them more attractive to businesses . As for downtown Rockville , the mayor said bringing in more businesses and jobs is the key , and the revitalization of Roosevelt Mills is a good start .
Rockville General Hospital , although it recently closed its maternity unit , is looking to expand , with the possibility of using more of the space in nearby buildings that are currently unused or underused .
In response to criticism over decorum at council meetings , McCoy said he’s unsure how to improve that , but said it is better than in the past .
“ I don’t mind being questioned or grilled on substantive things , ” he said . “ The amount of decorum people are complaining about is nothing compared to 10 or 12 yearsago , or even three or four . This is “ friendly” Vernon Town Council , compared to what it used to be . ”
mayor jason mccoy
Just after attending the inauguration of Gov . Dan Malloy , Vernon Mayor Jason McCoy said he was hoping the new governor’s speech would include more information about what the state plans to do , as far as finding ways to keep its funding to towns . But , the mayor said , Vernon is prepared to do what it has to .
“ We’ll deal with it , ” McCoy said last Wednesday afternoon , after looking over a long list of fiscal indicators .“ There are a few changes in there , but Vernon won’t likely be as impacted as some of the smaller towns in the area , ” McCoy said .
Recent and upcoming contract negotiations with unions look like they will help the town’s bottom line , as will the recent consolidation of the schools’ and town building maintenance .
ECS funding , which is always a concern , appears that it will be the same , along with the state funds across the board .
“ I was expecting to lose $ 1 million , ” McCoy said . “ Last year, they funded this with federal money . In this upcoming year, the federal money is gone . They must be seeing some type of increased revenue that I’m not aware of . ”
In general , the early town budget outlook is good , as long as the state funding remains what it is projected to be . “ Last year, ” he said , “ we really didn’t spend any more money , other than our health insurance . The problem is our grand list . We’re going to try to control the spending as much as possible . We want to maintain the services and control the taxes . ”
McCoy , who has aimed at growing the town’s grand list through commercial development , said that the recent survey done by the commission re-doing the town’s Plan of Conservation and Development , showed support for development in some areas , but against it in others , which he expected .
“ Fifty-one percent of the people would be fine with any development at exit 67 , ” he said . “ That’s what I was hoping for . [ Exit ] 66 has always been a problem . Nobody has ever wanted to see any development there . But , 67 is a key area for development . I think there is going to be some [ benefits ] for us there . ”
Another challenge for Vernon will be the unemployment rate of 7 . 7 percent – one of the top 50 in the state . “ Our median income is lower , ” he said . “ I think we’re 150 out of 169 . That tells youabout what the community has the ability to pay . I think we have to create economic opportunities for those who are unemployed . Hopefully the studio in South Windsor will help . If we’re able to bring in any type of distribution , that will give people an opportunity for gainful employment . ”
McCoy said he is working on funding to “ clean up” certain sites , to make them more attractive to businesses . As for downtown Rockville , the mayor said bringing in more businesses and jobs is the key , and the revitalization of Roosevelt Mills is a good start .
Rockville General Hospital , although it recently closed its maternity unit , is looking to expand , with the possibility of using more of the space in nearby buildings that are currently unused or underused .
In response to criticism over decorum at council meetings , McCoy said he’s unsure how to improve that , but said it is better than in the past .
“ I don’t mind being questioned or grilled on substantive things , ” he said . “ The amount of decorum people are complaining about is nothing compared to 10 or 12 yearsago , or even three or four . This is “ friendly” Vernon Town Council , compared to what it used to be . ”
mayor jason mccoy
December 29, 2010
Wall Street Journal- pensions push up property taxes
Wall Street Journal 12/28/2010
By JEANNETTE NEUMANN
Cities across the nation are raising property taxes, largely citing rising pension and health-care costs for their employees and retirees.
In Pennsylvania, the township of Upper Moreland is bumping up property taxes for residents by 13.6% in 2011. Next door the city of Philadelphia this year increased the tax 9.9%. In New York, Saratoga Springs will collect 4.4% more in property taxes in 2011; Troy will increase taxes by 1.9%.
Property-tax increases aren't unusual, in part because the taxes are among the main sources of local revenue. But officials say more and larger increases are taking hold. "This year we have seen a dramatic increase in our cities and towns having to increase property taxes" for pensions and other expenses, said Jack Garner, executive director of the Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities.
Local officials and government workers say a confluence of factors is driving the increases, including the need to make up for staggering investment losses from the financial crisis and rising costs as more workers retire. In addition, benefit increases promised in flush times are coming due as revenue flounders, and some cities have skipped payments to their pension funds over the years.
In Illinois, towns have been raising property taxes to keep up with pension and health-care costs for several years, but the scale and scope of the increases this year are unprecedented, said Joe McCoy, a lobbyist with the Illinois Municipal League.
Representatives of government workers, including for unions, don't deny that pension costs are rising. But they blame local officials for failing to fund pensions adequately in better times.
"The main driver is the irresponsibility of local public officials who for years and years have not been funding their pensions," said Henry Bayer, executive director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 union, which represents 72,000 employees in Illinois.
Some cities have also pushed unions to reopen contracts in an attempt to pare benefits or raise workers' contributions for pensions and health care. They have faced stiff resistance from some unions that argue it's unfair to penalize workers for a financial crisis that isn't their fault. Others have agreed to some cutbacks.
State aid to many local governments and other revenue remain below precrisis levels. Nearly half of states reduced aid to local governments in 2010, and 20 states have proposed additional cuts in 2011, according to a December report by the Congressional Budget Office.
"Unless governments really want to squeeze essential services…there are likely to be a lot more property tax increases" across the country, said Don Boyd, a senior fellow at the nonpartisan Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government at the State University of New York.
Tax increases and budget cuts are raising pressure on state politicians to tame growing pension costs, and the topic has become a significant issue in elections.
Many states have already increased the retirement age and required years of service for new hires, bumped up the amount new workers pay toward their benefits and reduced annual cost-of-living increases. This month, for example, Illinois lawmakers approved legislation requiring newly hired police and firefighters to retire at age 55 instead of 50 to receive full benefits, among other changes. The governor is reviewing the bill.
The tax increases are coming to light now because many local governments plan their budgets at the end of the previous year.
In Upper Moreland, a township of about 26,000 near Philadelphia, the Board of Commissioners voted this month to raise its 2011 property tax for residents by 13.6%, the first such rise in five years. That means a $67 annual tax bump on a $135,000 home, the average value there.
Pension and health-care costs are likely to make up more than a fifth of the town's $17.8 million operating budget for next year, said finance director John Crawford, a Republican.
In 2005, Upper Moreland contributed around $100,000 to its pensions. This year, it contributed $681,000. In 2011, it will pay an estimated $1.1 million. Healthy investment returns used to cover a large portion of the town's contribution to its pension funds. Now, lower returns—coupled with higher costs as more workers retire—mean Upper Moreland is paying more.
In addition to those figures, the state of Pennsylvania annually contributes $250,000 to Upper Moreland's pensions, Mr. Crawford said. Local Pennsylvania governments only receive pension aid from the state if they make the payments to their pensions recommended by actuaries.
Upper Moreland's payments on current workers' health care were $2 million in 2010 and are estimated to reach $2.63 million in 2011, Mr. Crawford said.
"If it hadn't been for the escalating costs," in pension and health-care benefits, he said, "the board may have succeeded in going through another year without a tax increase."
Many of the same issues are hitting Philadelphia, which earlier this year increased its property tax by 9.9%, the first bump since the early 1990s. That's a $270 annual payment increase for residents living in homes valued at $100,000, said Rob Dubow, city finance director.
Philadelphia's pension fund is 45% funded—meaning its assets represent 45% of its long-term liabilities—and the city's payments are projected to increase to $600 million in 2015, up from $230 million in 2004. Actuaries recommend pension systems be 80% funded.
Rolling Meadows, a Chicago suburb, is raising its property taxes next year by 9.8%, on top of a 16% jump in 2010, due to increased police and fire pension costs, said Mayor Ken Nelson. Those increases are the largest in nearly 20 years, he said. The local police and fire pension funds are around 45% funded.
Chris Lee, a firefighter paramedic and president of the city's pension fund, says the pensions must be paid because they are "promises the city made to us."
Rolling Meadows has paid less than it should into its pension fund by relying on higher assumed rates of returns than those recommended by the Illinois Department of Insurance, Mr. Lee said. Lower annual contributions mean the fund has trouble staying abreast of ballooning costs, leading in part to the underfunding, Mr. Lee said. The city recently changed to the Department of Insurance's recommended annual contributions, Mr. Nelson said.
The 70,000-person village of Palatine, near Chicago, recently voted to raise property taxes 3.99%, the most in at least five years. That's an average increase of $40 per home. "But for the pensions, [the property tax] would not have gone up at all," said Village Manager Reid Ottesen.
The increase comes after cost-cutting steps in the past two years, including a hiring freeze and not replacing three firefighters and several police officers who retired, said Mr. Ottesen. "There is nothing left to cut if you still want to deliver the services that make you the community you are."
Printed in The Wall Street Journal, page A1
By JEANNETTE NEUMANN
Cities across the nation are raising property taxes, largely citing rising pension and health-care costs for their employees and retirees.
In Pennsylvania, the township of Upper Moreland is bumping up property taxes for residents by 13.6% in 2011. Next door the city of Philadelphia this year increased the tax 9.9%. In New York, Saratoga Springs will collect 4.4% more in property taxes in 2011; Troy will increase taxes by 1.9%.
Property-tax increases aren't unusual, in part because the taxes are among the main sources of local revenue. But officials say more and larger increases are taking hold. "This year we have seen a dramatic increase in our cities and towns having to increase property taxes" for pensions and other expenses, said Jack Garner, executive director of the Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities.
Local officials and government workers say a confluence of factors is driving the increases, including the need to make up for staggering investment losses from the financial crisis and rising costs as more workers retire. In addition, benefit increases promised in flush times are coming due as revenue flounders, and some cities have skipped payments to their pension funds over the years.
In Illinois, towns have been raising property taxes to keep up with pension and health-care costs for several years, but the scale and scope of the increases this year are unprecedented, said Joe McCoy, a lobbyist with the Illinois Municipal League.
Representatives of government workers, including for unions, don't deny that pension costs are rising. But they blame local officials for failing to fund pensions adequately in better times.
"The main driver is the irresponsibility of local public officials who for years and years have not been funding their pensions," said Henry Bayer, executive director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 union, which represents 72,000 employees in Illinois.
Some cities have also pushed unions to reopen contracts in an attempt to pare benefits or raise workers' contributions for pensions and health care. They have faced stiff resistance from some unions that argue it's unfair to penalize workers for a financial crisis that isn't their fault. Others have agreed to some cutbacks.
State aid to many local governments and other revenue remain below precrisis levels. Nearly half of states reduced aid to local governments in 2010, and 20 states have proposed additional cuts in 2011, according to a December report by the Congressional Budget Office.
"Unless governments really want to squeeze essential services…there are likely to be a lot more property tax increases" across the country, said Don Boyd, a senior fellow at the nonpartisan Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government at the State University of New York.
Tax increases and budget cuts are raising pressure on state politicians to tame growing pension costs, and the topic has become a significant issue in elections.
Many states have already increased the retirement age and required years of service for new hires, bumped up the amount new workers pay toward their benefits and reduced annual cost-of-living increases. This month, for example, Illinois lawmakers approved legislation requiring newly hired police and firefighters to retire at age 55 instead of 50 to receive full benefits, among other changes. The governor is reviewing the bill.
The tax increases are coming to light now because many local governments plan their budgets at the end of the previous year.
In Upper Moreland, a township of about 26,000 near Philadelphia, the Board of Commissioners voted this month to raise its 2011 property tax for residents by 13.6%, the first such rise in five years. That means a $67 annual tax bump on a $135,000 home, the average value there.
Pension and health-care costs are likely to make up more than a fifth of the town's $17.8 million operating budget for next year, said finance director John Crawford, a Republican.
In 2005, Upper Moreland contributed around $100,000 to its pensions. This year, it contributed $681,000. In 2011, it will pay an estimated $1.1 million. Healthy investment returns used to cover a large portion of the town's contribution to its pension funds. Now, lower returns—coupled with higher costs as more workers retire—mean Upper Moreland is paying more.
In addition to those figures, the state of Pennsylvania annually contributes $250,000 to Upper Moreland's pensions, Mr. Crawford said. Local Pennsylvania governments only receive pension aid from the state if they make the payments to their pensions recommended by actuaries.
Upper Moreland's payments on current workers' health care were $2 million in 2010 and are estimated to reach $2.63 million in 2011, Mr. Crawford said.
"If it hadn't been for the escalating costs," in pension and health-care benefits, he said, "the board may have succeeded in going through another year without a tax increase."
Many of the same issues are hitting Philadelphia, which earlier this year increased its property tax by 9.9%, the first bump since the early 1990s. That's a $270 annual payment increase for residents living in homes valued at $100,000, said Rob Dubow, city finance director.
Philadelphia's pension fund is 45% funded—meaning its assets represent 45% of its long-term liabilities—and the city's payments are projected to increase to $600 million in 2015, up from $230 million in 2004. Actuaries recommend pension systems be 80% funded.
Rolling Meadows, a Chicago suburb, is raising its property taxes next year by 9.8%, on top of a 16% jump in 2010, due to increased police and fire pension costs, said Mayor Ken Nelson. Those increases are the largest in nearly 20 years, he said. The local police and fire pension funds are around 45% funded.
Chris Lee, a firefighter paramedic and president of the city's pension fund, says the pensions must be paid because they are "promises the city made to us."
Rolling Meadows has paid less than it should into its pension fund by relying on higher assumed rates of returns than those recommended by the Illinois Department of Insurance, Mr. Lee said. Lower annual contributions mean the fund has trouble staying abreast of ballooning costs, leading in part to the underfunding, Mr. Lee said. The city recently changed to the Department of Insurance's recommended annual contributions, Mr. Nelson said.
The 70,000-person village of Palatine, near Chicago, recently voted to raise property taxes 3.99%, the most in at least five years. That's an average increase of $40 per home. "But for the pensions, [the property tax] would not have gone up at all," said Village Manager Reid Ottesen.
The increase comes after cost-cutting steps in the past two years, including a hiring freeze and not replacing three firefighters and several police officers who retired, said Mr. Ottesen. "There is nothing left to cut if you still want to deliver the services that make you the community you are."
Printed in The Wall Street Journal, page A1
December 27, 2010
Vernon: Town Will Care For Board Of Education Buildings - Courant.com
Vernon: Town Will Care For Board Of Education Buildings - Courant.com: "Courant.com
Vernon: Town Will Care For Board Of Education Buildings
Consolidation Expected To Save Taxpayers Money
Follow Your Town News On The Courant's Vernon Facebook Page
By JOSEPH A. O'BRIEN, Special to The Courant
The Hartford Courant
5:17 PM EST, December 24, 2010
VERNON —"
The town has agreed to take over management of custodial and maintenance services of the board of education's buildings and grounds.
The town council this week approved the school board's request that the town assume management control of those services as outlined in a Dec. 2 letter from School Superintendent Mary P. Conway to Mayor Jason McCoy.
Consolidation of management services for town and school board buildings and grounds under the town public works department is expected to lower the overall cost of these services to taxpayers.
As part of the agreement, the details of which will be finalized by McCoy and Conway, the school board will transfer $30,000 to the town's budget to cover the town's cost of administering the services through the department of public works over a 12-month period. Extension of the pilot agreement would require re-adoption of the resolution by the town council.
McCoy said that when the proposal was initially brought to the board of education, it was met with "union pushback," but after months of negotiations, an agreement with labor was reached.
The town benefits from the increased buying power and the added storage space for purchases in school board facilities, McCoy said.
"We will see better facilities because our focus at the town is on management of grounds and facilities and the [school board's] is on education of our kids," McCoy said.
Vernon: Town Will Care For Board Of Education Buildings
Consolidation Expected To Save Taxpayers Money
Follow Your Town News On The Courant's Vernon Facebook Page
By JOSEPH A. O'BRIEN, Special to The Courant
The Hartford Courant
5:17 PM EST, December 24, 2010
VERNON —"
The town has agreed to take over management of custodial and maintenance services of the board of education's buildings and grounds.
The town council this week approved the school board's request that the town assume management control of those services as outlined in a Dec. 2 letter from School Superintendent Mary P. Conway to Mayor Jason McCoy.
Consolidation of management services for town and school board buildings and grounds under the town public works department is expected to lower the overall cost of these services to taxpayers.
As part of the agreement, the details of which will be finalized by McCoy and Conway, the school board will transfer $30,000 to the town's budget to cover the town's cost of administering the services through the department of public works over a 12-month period. Extension of the pilot agreement would require re-adoption of the resolution by the town council.
McCoy said that when the proposal was initially brought to the board of education, it was met with "union pushback," but after months of negotiations, an agreement with labor was reached.
The town benefits from the increased buying power and the added storage space for purchases in school board facilities, McCoy said.
"We will see better facilities because our focus at the town is on management of grounds and facilities and the [school board's] is on education of our kids," McCoy said.
December 22, 2010
Thank You - Vernon Town Council and Board of Education
I want to thank the Vernon BOE and Vernon Town Council for working together for the benefit of Vernon's Citizens. Last night the Town Council adopted the proposal to allow the consolidation of management of maintenance of Town Facilities and School Facilities and Grounds. When the concept was originally brought to the BOE there was union push back but after several months an agreement was reached with labor. The BOE adopted the proposal after evaluation as a pilot and sent it to the Vernon Town Council. Last night the Town Council adopted the proposal.
Now educator can educate, taxpayers save, Vernon benefits with a huge boost in buying power for the town, increased BOE storage for purchases. We will see better facilities because our focus at the town is on management of grounds and facilities and the BOE is on Education of our kids.
Really historic. Vernon is the first . Again thank you Town Council members and Board of Education members. Amazing cooperation and patients.
Now educator can educate, taxpayers save, Vernon benefits with a huge boost in buying power for the town, increased BOE storage for purchases. We will see better facilities because our focus at the town is on management of grounds and facilities and the BOE is on Education of our kids.
Really historic. Vernon is the first . Again thank you Town Council members and Board of Education members. Amazing cooperation and patients.
December 1, 2010
Working on jobs For Vernon
Read this about a zone correction at highway I 84 exit 67
http://www.courant.com/community/hc-community-articleresults,0,3669522,print.formprofile?Query=36925HC
http://www.courant.com/community/hc-community-articleresults,0,3669522,print.formprofile?Query=36925HC
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