Board of Selectmen: School Budgets, Speed Enforcement, Town Employee Benefits Costs, Referendum vs. Town Meeting Votes, Title 67 Rescindment?
4/15/25
Present were 1st Selectman Todd Carusillo, with Scott Olson and Dexter Kinsella (via zoom).
In his 1st Selectmen's report Carusillo said he is questioning where the Region 6 pension money is. Because Region 6 has been dissolved, it will require a special act of the legislature to have the Governor call a special meeting for Region 6 regarding the pension fund. He said he spoke to the Attorney General, our Town Counsel, Representative Maria Horn and Senator Steven Harding in that regard.
Carusillo advised that he also spoke to the town attorney about the Board of Education election. While a previous public comment called for a change in the election format so that informational meetings could be held in advance of the Town Meeting election, the state statute says the seat must be filled within 30 days and interested parties are to be nominated and elected at the Town Meeting.
The first Code of Ethics Committee meeting was scheduled for April 16th at 6pm.
The Goshen Stampede is set for the first weekend in June. The special application motion was accepted and approved pending the fire department’s plan submission.
During public comment, Sue Wheeler gave a Board of Education (BOE) update, that the board voted to put forth a budget increase of 4.79%. The towns were to vote on adoption of the budget on May 6th. Krista Rizzo (BOE) stated Dr. Villar was open to hosting a meeting in Goshen to present the budget.
4/22/2025
Todd Carusillo and Scott Olson were present, with Dexter Kinsella participating via zoom
The 1st Selectman’s report--Carusillo said the town was notified that speed enforcement would be present on Rt. 63, Beach Street, Lyman Lane, and Belshyre Lane. There will continue to be a heightened police presence in those areas.
The Board of Education budget hearing was held on April 21st at Lakeview HS. Goshen’s share of the proposed $43M budget is $8.4M.
Old business: three budgets were received: employee benefits, elections, and miscellaneous.
Employee benefits will include a substantial increase in insurance this year. In the past, the town had been part of a group plan that lowered costs to the employees, but Anthem is no longer offering those group packages and Goshen will have to get its own plan. This increase will potentially double employee contributions, which is of concern to both the employees and the town leadership.
There was an increase in the Elections budget this year of 18k due to the early voting payroll, mileage reimbursement, office supplies, registrar pay increase and software required by the state “that’s to make sure you’re an American”, Todd explained.
A letter was received from Public Works Director Garrett Harlow, signed by seven town employees, regarding the increase in benefits costs. While employees currently contribute 5% towards their benefits, they do not want it to double, as it would negatively impact morale and could negate any pay increases received this year.
Todd emailed the letter to the Board of Finance (BOF) for discussion. Dexter does not support a doubling of the percentage of employee contributions. Scott said he understands the value of retaining employees and that means providing benefits and showing gratitude. He agrees with Dexter that doubling the benefits will be too much to bear.
Todd made a statement valuing town workers, specifically our Public Works department.
In public comment, Janet Hooper asked who has the final decision with regard to the cost and percentage contribution for benefits? Todd told her that the BOF makes the final decision.
During public comments, Audrey Blondin asked if there was going to be any consideration given to having the town budget voted on via referendum. The town budget vote is at the end of May and happens at a town meeting. She feels that a town meeting is not sufficient for such an important vote and therefore is suggesting a referendum vote.
Marianne Stilson was adamant in her comments that she thinks the mill rate increase is going to be a problem. She agreed with Audrey Blondin that a referendum was needed for the town budget vote. She knows it’s an expense but it’s a required expense to make sure we get it right. “We are going to see a substantial increase in our taxes because of this. We were promised one thing and now we are in a completely different scenario. I’m disgusted.”
4/29/25
Present: 1st Selectman, Todd Carusillo, Scott Olson and on Zoom, Dexter Kinsella.
Carusillo began with an update on the reported car break-ins on April 23rd. A white BMW with 2-3 men was reported being seen on West Street, Westside Road, North Street, Tamarack Lane and Ivy Mountain Road. Todd is urging Goshen residents to lock their car doors. An air compressor stolen from one of the cars was recovered from a pawn shop in Waterbury.
Todd reiterated that the State Police are upping their presence throughout Goshen and have been issuing tickets in Woodridge Lake for running stop signs on Shelbourne Drive.
Regarding the Region 20 budget, Carusillo said the town made a flyer notifying everyone about the school budget vote and it has some budget numbers on it. Scott Olson mentioned that the flyer includes a chart on how taxes can be impacted by the vote. He said there is an abundance of information on it and it’s “strictly facts.”
Dexter Kinsella said he heard from a number of people in town who are concerned about the Goshen town budget and the accessibility to being able to vote. He is recommending a referendum vote. This budget is complex in nature, and he feels it’s in the best interest of the community that the vote happens this way. He is happy with the overall town budget as it stands and is in favor of passing it. He suggested receiving the budget at the town meeting and then adjourning to a referendum for the vote.
Carusillo responded that there is already a referendum for the school vote that Goshen is paying for, and a referendum for the town budget vote is a waste of money. Goshen has been voting for the budget at a town meeting for 200 years and we don’t need to change it. He said we don’t have the money, and he would vote against doing it that way.
Scott Olson said he knows that a referendum would appeal to the town, but he feels that the town budget should be voted on in the meeting. The Goshen budget is down to its bare bones and it would not be helpful to incur a referendum cost. While he supports the Region 20 budget going to a referendum, he does not support the Goshen budget being voted on via referendum.
In public comment Audrey Blondin stated she was disappointed that the referendum option was rejected and said she would be organizing a petition to gather support for a referendum. She has alerted the town clerk that one will be coming.
Sue Wheeler (BOE) let everyone know that there was a fire at the Warren school and the kids will be coming to Goshen Center School until clean up finishes. She then asked Todd for a list of Goshen/Region 6 bills that are being included in the 2.3M of the proposed loan. There was a meeting scheduled for May 12th to review the bills with Region 20 and leadership from the four towns.
There was a question posted regarding whether Goshen or Region 6 is considering a forensic audit. Todd explained that he has been in contact with the other towns’ selectmen and that he is in favor of it. He wants to know who wrote the checks and feels “someone needs to be held accountable.”
05/06/25
Present: Todd Carusillo, Dexter Kinsella, and Scott Olson.
Regarding speeding issues and complaints of residents around town, Carusillo has earmarked $5k in the budget under capital for speed cameras. The BOF asked to seek approval from townspeople about having speed cameras in Goshen. Todd spoke to selectmen in Washington Depot about their speed cameras, and said they were highly recommended. He believes that the cameras will curb people’s speeding and generate revenue for the town via the speeding tickets that will be issued.
The BOF asked Todd to have Title 67 (the land acquisition fund) rescinded and to transfer the funds back to the general fund. Currently, approximately one million dollars is in that fund. Todd explained that Title 67 accumulates funds from land sale conveyance taxes and several other sources. The fund was intended to be spent on housing, open space, and recreation.
Olson thinks it should be put on a future agenda as it’s a sensitive issue to a lot of people in town. He feels it’s the only vehicle that the town has that earns interest and continues to build at no cost to the taxpayers. The BOF may want it to go to a town vote to dissolve and move the money to the general fund, but the Selectmen are waiting for a legal opinion on whether it must be used for open space, recreation & housing. Kinsella agreed with Olson that we should keep it where it is and discuss it in depth.
Carusillo related his call with Attorney General Tong about the MIRA transfer station in Torrington. The 11 towns that use the station have worked hard to get control of the station. All the documents were signed contingent upon a phase 2 (environmental study) of the transfer station.
In correspondence, Woodridge Lake is requesting stop signs and speed humps in the community. Todd said the town is currently on a spending freeze and humps are not in the budget. He is willing to provide the stop signs, that will go up as requested.
There was an update on board appointments for the Zoning Board of Appeals. Dan Kobylenski is willing to retain his position on the board. Clyde Breakell will be submitting a resignation letter to the town clerk.
Sue wheeler asked Todd to explain the speed cameras. Who pays for them? How does the collection of fines work? Todd said it’s all through the State of CT, and will be facilitated through their system. Cameras would be placed in the places getting the most complaints: Beach Street and East Hyerdale Drive.
Carusillo replied that to implement traffic cameras we have to have an ordinance. It’s not something we have at the moment so these conversations are a bit premature. The ticket is not the kind of ticket that will show up on your license and it won’t go against your record because it only captures the license plate without identifying the driver. It’s a civil penalty without the ability to go to court and fight it.
Dexter wants to see what other towns are gaining from this. Todd said he has the information from Washington Depot and will look to get info from other towns that also have traffic cameras.
