Board of Selectmen: Permit Fee Increases, Legal Fee Overruns, R20 Budget Concerns

10/08/24

Present: Carusillo, Olson, Kinsella (Zoom)

First Selectman Todd Carusillo advised residents to watch out for black bears as they prepare for hibernation. Carusillo received numerous phone calls of bears getting on to residents’ properties, going through trash, eating bird feeders, and going after livestock.

Goshen’s Deputy Animal Control Officer Matthew Perry submitted a letter of resignation from that position. Carusillo reached out to Bethlehem’s Animal Control Officer Nicholas Paproski who said they’ll be willing to help Goshen Animal Control Officer Kate Graham until another deputy officer is found.

New Business-- Selectman Dexter Kinsella motioned to add legal fees to the meeting’s agenda. This was unanimously approved. Before legal fees were discussed, Kinsella motioned to accept Public Works Supervisor Garet Harlow’s proposed rate increase for driveway permits and roadway excavation permits. Driveway permits would be increased from $100 to $150 and roadway excavation permits would be increased from $150 to $350. Before the motion was approved, Selectman Scott Olson asked what the exact purpose of these rate increases was. Carusillo responded saying they’re to help ensure “things are done right” and to help pay for travel and administrative costs. Olson claimed these increases could prevent people from being able to repair their driveway and other road projects, “Right now there are people who are struggling… I don’t think that the town should be imposing higher fees to try to profit off the people, especially in light of the fact that some of these driveways or aprons or pipes may be getting put in under a situation of hardship.” Carusillo disagreed that there would be any hardship if people are able to afford a $500,000 or $1 million house. Carusillo and Kinsella motioned to accept Harlow’s permit increase while Olson did not. The motion passed.

For legal fees, Carusillo wants to move $15,000 from Goshen’s general fund budget into the town’s legal fee budget. He explained that Goshen’s legal fee budget is already over by around $1,000. Olson suggested that $15,000 may not be enough for continued legal fees and recommended the board go back and review how much finances will be needed for legal fees for the remainder of the 2024-2025 fiscal year. This discussion was tabled for next week’s Board of Selectmen meeting.

In Public Comment, former Region 6 School District Board of Education Vice Chair Emily Cole addressed public concern regarding the Region 20 school budget and referendum. Cole requested the selectmen and residents support the Region 20 school system and give it time, “The merger passed, knowing we all would cover the debt of both Region 6 and Litchfield. This is not new information. The debt should not even be in the discussion. We brought the same amount of debt as Litchfield brought, so the shortfall is not as detrimental as people are really making it out.” Cole claimed Region 20 needs a loan to rebudget and suggested the school district can get back on track within a year or two if the referendum is approved. She further called Carusillo’s calls for people to vote down the referendum “ignorant and self-serving.” According to Cole, people who have $100,000 in assessed value would pay less than $8 a year towards the school’s budget deficit with 80% of the budget going towards staff salaries and benefits.

10/15/24

Present: Carusillo, Olson & Kinsella (Zoom)

First Selectman Todd Carusillo announced that a new, New York-based waste hauler Chris Jackson is interested in serving Goshen. Carusillo hopes this could help the town save money on tipping fees and invited the hauler to come to a Board of Selectmen’s meeting to present their offer. New windows are finally being installed at the Goshen Public Library. In May, Goshen Public Library Board of Directors President Henrietta Horvay told the board that eight windows need to be repaired in total. Replacement windows were first requested back in 2015 when it would have cost $6,000 for repairs. Carusillo further announced that the Region 20 referendum vote will be held on Tuesday, December 3rd.  He claimed that Region 20 additionally wants to clear their debt within 10 years which may cost Goshen residents $52 each per year. Carusillo preferred this payment option over having the town’s mill rate increase, “If we pass the referendum, and it's only going to cost us around $52 over the next 10 years per taxpayer, it's probably better than seeing our mill rate going up and up and up and up and continue to go up but that is for the voters to hopefully get it.” Goshen’s current mill rate is 14.2. Carusillo announced that the Board of Selectmen meeting on Tuesday, October 22nd would be canceled due to him being unable to attend with conflicting schedules from a mandatory state class he will attend. Due to this cancellation, multiple appointments will be made at the Tuesday, October 29th meeting.

Selectman Scott Olson announced that the Board rejected the $9,841 ballot surveillance camera bid from the New York-based A+ Technology & Security Solutions, Inc. Instead, the Selectmen had Gary Stango Jr. install a camera and supporting software for $2,400. Stango previously served on Goshen’s Broadband Advisory Committee alongside Olson and helped install fiber internet at Camp Cochipianee. The camera is now installed over the ballot box near the entryway of Goshen’s Town Hall.

For New Business, Carusillo announced that there’s one lawsuit, one outstanding complaint, and various attorney fees causing Goshen’s legal fees budget to go over by $7,000. He intends to request the Board of Finance add $19,999 to the legal fee budget to prepare for legal fees for the rest of the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Requests over $20,000 force the Selectmen to go to a town meeting for approval. Carusillo wants to get the funds soon in order to pay for legal fees before Goshen’s November Town Meeting. Olson thought the $19,999 request was too low due to other outstanding bills and being invoiced for $13,942 so far, this fiscal year, for legal fees, “If the first three and a half months are any indication of what's to come, it's just clear to me. I just don't see that asking for $20,000 is in the best interest of protecting the town.” Selectman Dexter Kinsella asked what other means there are to pay for these bills and fees and asked if they could be covered by the contingency fund. Carusillo claimed the finances would come out of Goshen’s unassigned fund instead of the contingency fund. After a brief discussion with the other Selectmen, Carusillo decided to request the Board of Finance to add $25,000 to the legal fee budget and determine if it would come out of the unassigned funds, contingency fund, or the general fund.

10/29/24

Present: Carusillo, Olson in person & Kinsella on Zoom

The City of Waterbury’s Water Department will be conducting inspections on Goshen’s Westside Road, Allyn Road, Bartholomew Hill Road, Breguet Road, Cottage Grove Road, Davidson Road, East Cornwall Road, Flora Road, Gray Lane, Hageman Shean Road, Hillhouse Road, Howe Road, Lake Shore Road, Kubish Road, Milton Road, North Street (Rt. 63); Park Road, Park Road Ext, Sandy Beach Road, Sandy Beach East Shore Road, Sharon Turnpike (Rt. 4), Tamarack Lane, Thompson Road, Tyler Lake Heights, Tyler Lake Heights Ext south, and West Side Road starting this week. Waterbury officials will be driving around Goshen in a blue Chevy pickup truck. According to First Selectman Todd Carusillo, the Water Department will be checking for contaminants along the roads and for manure piles near farms that may leak into the city’s water system, “The west side of Goshen covers Waterbury, the east side covers Aquarion Water [Company] and Bridgeport Hydraulics which got bought out.”

Jack Malahan expressed interest in becoming Goshen’s new Deputy Animal Control Officer. Malahan Previously served as the town’s Deputy Animal Control Officer in 2022 and as a member of Goshen’s Board of Fire Commissioners. Goshen’s most recent Deputy Animal Control Officer Matthew Perry resigned from the position in early October. Carusillo claimed that Malahan will be retiring from his primary occupation in spring 2025 and will be able to take animal control classes in August 2025. Selectman Scott Olson motioned to appoint Malahan as Goshen’s new Deputy Animal Control Officer. This was unanimously approved.

11/05/24

Present: Carusillo, Olson in person & Kinsella on Zoom

First Selectman Todd Carusillo reported that 40% of Goshen Solid Waste is derived from organic material while 25% of waste is generated from commercial businesses. To help reduce waste generation and tipping fees, Carusillo suggested that Recycling Coordinator Liza Albreada of the Recycling & Trash Committee offer residents five-gallon buckets for food scraps to use in composting and for other purposes. Carusillo contacted Recreation Department Director Erin Reilly requesting if she has a procedure for the senior bus if she’s unavailable to transport seniors to emergency rooms and other locations. The board received a letter from Patrick Lucas announcing his resignation from the Recreation Commission. Selectman Dexter Kinsella then motioned to add Knox Property Services, LLC to the meeting’s agenda under Old Business. This was unanimously approved.

For Old Business, Public Works Supervisor Garret Harlow submitted a letter of recommendation for the Goshen-based construction company Knox Property Services to conduct winter maintenance on Rock House Road. The company previously submitted a bid of $250 for salting and plowing services combined, $175 for salting only per trip, and $175 for plowing only per trip in September. Knox Property Services is registered to work in the state according to the Connecticut State Business website. Kinsella motioned to accept Harlow’s recommendation of Knox Property Services. This was unanimously approved.

For appointments, it was unanimously approved to re-appoint Adam Andrusiato to the Board of Assessors for three years till October 31st, 2027, to re-appoint Iain Kinsella as Chairman of the Conservation Commission for four years ending October 31st, 2028, to re-appoint Suzanne Rinaldi to the Conservation Commission for four years ending October 31st, 2028, to re-appoint Henrietta Horvay to the Water Pollution Control Authority for three years ending October 31st, 2027, and to re-appoint Theodore Panasci to the Water Pollution Control Authority for three years ending October 31st, 2027. The selectmen additionally announced that Harlow will not be running for his paid position on the Recreation Commission this year. This position will be addressed at Goshen’s Annual Town Meeting on Monday, November 18th.

Selectman Scott Olson motioned to add to the meeting’s agenda the announcement of Goshen’s Hybrid Annual and Special Town Meeting on Monday, November 18th starting at 8 pm in the Goshen Center School Gymnasium. This was unanimously approved. Carusillo then read the call for the meeting. November 18th’s Hybrid Annual and Special Town Meeting will

• Have residents accept the Annual Town Report for the fiscal year ending on June 30th, 2024
• Accept the Town Auditor’s Report for the fiscal year ending on June 30th, 2024
• Take action on the following resolution:
  “To authorize and instruct the Board of Selectmen to execute Town Aid agreements with the State of Connecticut pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 240, Part IIa for the expenditure of all funds available to the Town of Goshen under said Chapter 240, Part IIa for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025.”
• Goshen residents will further vote on authorizing the Board of Selectmen to apply for and receive any state or federal grants for the benefit of the town provided that any appropriation of municipal funds shall be approved in advance by the Board of Finance, and by a town meeting if the amount exceeds $20,000
• Electing two members to the Recreation Commission for terms of three years ending in 2027, electing one member to the Recreation Commission to fill a vacancy for two years ending in 2026, electing two members to the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission for three years ending in 2027, electing one member to the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission to fill a vacancy for one year ending in 2025, electing two members to the Economic Development Commission for three years ending in 2027, electing one member to the Economic Development Commission to fill a vacancy for one year ending in 2025, and electing one alternate member to the Economic Development Commission for three years ending in 2027.

Kinsella then motioned to adopt the call for the Town Meeting. This was unanimously approved. The proposed ordinance change to have Town meetings held at 7 pm instead of 8 pm will be voted on at a later Town Meeting.