Finance, Budget, Audit & Bonding Subcommittee - Regular Meeting

been here for a minute. Ken, I'm here. Can you hear me? Okay. Yes. Yes. So, we have uh three of the current members available and we anticipate a couple of others that will be coming. Are you going to begin?

Um, yeah, we can begin. We have a quorum. Um, and so we can begin. Um, but I do uh have to step out at 6:30. So, um, I think I told the deputy mayor uh asked her if she's able to join um for her to uh to take over. Um, so we'll roll call here. It looks like deputy mayor uh excuse me, the mayor's here, the chair's here, council merit. I think we're missing Council Waterhouse and Council Lloyd. Councelor Lloyd has just arrived.

Okay, perfect. Uh, so she's here. Um, and so I guess we'll get started with the first agenda item and I think that is the uh update to the audit. So I'll turn it over to Director Hill.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh good evening uh finance committee counselors, mayor, deputy mayor, uh chairman mccclary. It's a pleasure to be before you uh once again. Um the update for the fiscal 24 audit. Um trying to remember our last meeting. We know we had several uh last month. Um, just to recap, we have submitted all of our deliverables to CLA, including the trial balance, which is the most significant piece of the deliverables that allows them to begin their audit work. Um, CLA uh provided their initial review uh with uh several questions for us to answer that we are working through uh not only on our side, but also with the board of education. Um so we are in the actual auditing process. Um and you know in a typical audit year um the audit process takes about 2 and 1/2 months and the completion of the audit or finalizing and submission of the audit takes about a month. That time frame suggests about three and a half months but as I hope all of Bloomfield is aware we've been working uh to compress that schedule. Um, and given where we are, not only Bloomfield with regard to the 24 audit, but I believe I reported at the last finance committee meeting, you know, the entire state's in audit, albeit for the fiscal 25 audit. Um, and with uh CLA's expertise and deep roots uh not only here in Connecticut but I believe across the country uh they are working with uh all of their Connecticut clients on their audits uh including us with our 24 audit. So in the coming weeks um and I do believe

before the next finance committee meeting uh we will have a much clearer idea of when we will actually be done with the fiscal 24 audit. I say it that way because you know some may view that where we are in the audit process it's outside of our control because it's now at CLA's auditing. That's mostly accurate, right? It's not only CLA, but as they uh are auditing and reviewing the deliverables that we provided. Um it's natural to have questions or followup requests for additional information with their auditing standards. There may be additional samples that they uh need pulled. Uh so that is not abnormal. Um but uh again, we we are uh progressing towards completing the fiscal 24 audit. Um and I look forward to the the coming weeks uh which are really the the most challenging part in a normal audit process because while we prepare everything that we believe is complete and accurate uh as the auditors review they it's again natural for them to have questions and those questions uh will provide us with additional insights into not only their prior experience with Bloomfield but as we've been working very intentionally and deliberately not only to complete work that should have been done in 24, prepare all the deliverables for CLA, but also uh taking on the litany of research projects that have allowed us to correct um some of the accounting treatment um that had been the the prior practice. Um and you know with CLA's initial response to the trial balance the the one of the

two areas that they have uh had specific questions on um I think provides some insight into how not only we are doing a better job but uh they are holding us to a higher standard. Um, and that that's encouraging as well because um, while Bloomfield, myself included, have how we view and approach the work, uh, it's it's definitely good to have a partner that's holding us accountable for um the completeness and accuracy of uh, the information submitted. So, I do believe that uh, this is October. again at next month's meeting uh we'll have a much clearer picture and I'm optimistic that I will be able to provide you all with a date uh I'll say date range you know within a a rough week or so of when we anticipate completing the 24 audit uh but at this time um it's it's too soon to to put a date out there that uh I don't feel very confident No,

too soon. Kidding me. Oh, hello. Yes. Too soon in the auditing process. Oh, okay. Um, quick question. Uh, so CLA has all of the deliverables. This is question and answer period. This is the auditing period.

The auditing period. But they are coming back with questions, etc. Um, where are we with the 25 audit? Are we going to be on time? Have you begun to start that work since appear allegedly we fixed all of the accounting processes that were causing some of the delays of the 24? So, should we be in a better position for the previous year in what's that the 24 budget? 25 budget. So, audit. Yep. Will will we be on time?

Um I 100% expect that we will return to compliance. Um of of course those who know this work is that that's not you know intentionally nuanced. Right? Compliance is submitting before June 30th. Right? That's the letter that uh impact sent to the town back in the second week of July that we were non-compliant. So just to recap for the general public's benefit, the statutory filing deadline is December 31st and then OPM allows six uh one-mon extensions which gets through 6:30 or June 30th. And if on June 30th the audit isn't filed with OPM, you become non-compliant. So for the fiscal 25 audit, we will be compliant. Um it is somewhat related to the fiscal 24 audit believe that our auditors or auditing standards don't allow two audits to be open at one time. So not until the 24 audit is complete can open the 25 audit. So uh that's a little bit of background. We have been, as I've reported month over month, pulling been pulling along fiscal 25 with the 24 audit. Um, you know, from a reconciliation standpoint, reconciliation, as you heard me talk about fiscal 24 and work that should have been done that wasn't done. Large part of that was the reconciliation or lack thereof. You may recall that uh when Deputy Stewart and I uh joined the town back in August that there hadn't been a reconciliation for 14 months. Um on the town side with regard to fiscal 25, we are current on our reconciliation save the general fund which is the largest fund and we're through uh April

for the general fund. For the general fund. No, that one's a little bit further behind the data. So, you know, not having the issue of work that should have been done in 25 that wasn't completed in 25 save some that we're aware of. Um, as the fiscal 25 audit is opened, the portal is open by CLA. Uh, in very short order, we will uh populate with our deliverables. Um, and um I do you have the trial list? Do you have the trial list of the things that they're going to be requesting from you?

Well, one second and I'll get to that. I I I feel pretty confident in saying that um unless there are hurdles, right? Uh I think that we'll be able to file the fiscal 25 audit by the end of April, right? So that would actually dovetail well in the bigger picture because bear with me as I cross three years of audits or audit work as we complete fiscal 24 and right on the heels of fiscal 24 is being filed with the state we spin up and begin fiscal 25 um and with that completion by the end of April that's naturally right in a normal al uh annual audit process in May is when we begin our pre-close activities. So we finish 24, we roll into 25, we finish 25 by late April, and then we roll in right on schedule for 26's audit. In May of 26, we begin pre-closing 26, which is what should happen, which will allow us for fiscal 26 to not only uh remain compliant, assuming the 25 is filed in April, uh but also to meet the statutory deadline of December 31st for the fiscal 26 audit. Um and your question about the list of um deliver just very quickly yes or no cuz I I

Yeah.

Okay. Perfect. Thank you. Um and then I have a question. How are you going to submit and very brief brief how are we going to submit next year in April when you're going to go through budget and you don't have the staff? I would have was hoping that the 25 audit would be a little bit more sooner than that since we fixed what we've been hearing was that the staff needed to understand the process and understand what was broken so that they can fix it. It should be fixed in order to do so. And so unless you're not going to be able to file the 24 audit with the state until December of this year, which is totally unacceptable, um I don't see how you're going to even get through April. But it ain't going to be my problem after this meeting cuz I'm not going to be here. But I would just advise the folks on this committee to just please keep your foot um on the gas pedal to like really make sure um that we get this thing as soon as possible um because it is the only true source document to put all of the conspiracy of oh there's some type of corruption, there are monies being hitting, etc. Um, I think somebody mentioned something on Facebook today that was absolutely ridiculous. Uh, this has been a very transparent process. Um, and I don't even see him on the line tonight. Um, was hoping that he would come and ask questions during public comment um, and not in email, but um, yeah, I would just hope that we would just uh, the folks that are going to be remaining if reelected in November um, that they would just make sure that they keep tracking tracking this. But that's it. Any other questions for Director Hill?

If I could, I mean, I I I can't stand here as a a finance professional and a seasoned administrator and have a suggestion that there's fraud or uh mismanagement of funds, missing funds without uh responding to that. Right. I've seen nothing that suggests any of those things and I'm on the inside. I agree. But counselor if you would I agree I agree with you.

I understand that anybody with a keyboard can say something but anybody who thinks that there is fraud missing funds right I I encourage them to come see me share me share with me what it is that they're basing that on if they have something that they're basing it on. Late audit the a year almost a year late. That's the only thing that they can base it on. Right.

Right. The late audit doesn't suggest missing funds. Well, they it not missing funds, but some that some something nefarious is happening, right? And so and that we're waiting for after the election because something nefarious is happening. And you know, I think to to their to their point, that's the only thing that they can go off of because we have a late audit and that month after month after month after month after month after month after month, we keep after year after year after year.

Yeah. Right. But we're not talking about a year. We're talking about this. We talk about this administration and you know after six months to a year, you own it, right? You own it. You can't keep saying it's the can is kicking down the road that it was somebody else's problem. I say all that to say just keep working. Get it done when you can get it done. Hopefully it's soon so that the public can have some sense of confidence um that they can see the facts that you and I have been talking about uh for months. So that's all I have to say. Um, is there any additional questions on the dis? If not, yes. Um, go ahead, uh, deputy mayor and I'll just let you Yep. And I'll just let you um take over the meeting. Okay.

Oh, all right. That's fine. Um, and in the comment that it's ridiculous, I will backtrack and say that it's ridiculous that going back to 2021, which I don't uh fool with the social media as much any longer, but going back to many many years back, we've had some disconnects um due to lack of leadership, due to transition of leadership and and a plethora of things that were going on um ineffective staff here or there that have now been rectified. So, we do have to understand that sometimes it takes a long time to do the catch-up work. So, I'm going to give credit where credit is due to say that I know that that has been going on while simultaneously performing the daily activities of running the town. So, I do want to say that and and I really um value what the public has to say, but I don't necessarily give as much weight or credence to the pundits and the critics when it is baseless. Um to councelor McClary's point, if there are comments that are made about some belief of fraudulent activity, uh money's missing, please please remmit that information to the town through the uh through Director Hill's office or the town manager's office so it can be looked into. But we cannot allow these uh baseless allegations just based upon a late audit to um fuel and incite a rhetoric or perception that may not be true. So if there's something out there, please do let us know. Don't relegate it to Facebook. Don't relegate it to social media only, but share that information so it can be thoroughly investigated and in that once a complaint has been made, transparency will ensue, right? So, so let's work together as a community because I haven't heard of anything of that nature either, but if it is something to that extent out there, I would like to know and I want it to be investigated and rectified. So moving on, if we have any other comment Yes. Yes. Yes. Councelor Merritt, thank

you so much for waiting.

Well, thank you. Uh I um I agree. I I've been around here a long time and really these stuff on Facebook is is people that don't know what they're talking about. Frankly, all of them. And even when they do know, they're just making a point for it's election time and you get some real trash now. And I I I think you guys deserve a lot of credit for the job you've done. And you you haven't been there that long. So you correct everything that was so far behind so quickly. You actually did a pretty good job. So I I think you deserve some credit. And u I I know I I don't think u you needed all the hounding we've we've done to you, but uh you're trying as hard as you can and we know you're underst staffed and we probably should be taking care of that in the near future, but uh I don't think we'll do that tonight, but uh uh it's certainly we want to get on. We've been we've been behind for many many years. So to try to catch up in one year is pretty tough. So thank you for the job you've done.

Thank you councelor. Thank you council mayor Harrington. So I'm I'm going to commend you as well. But I I had a question uh just in reference to uh board of ed. So they're now uh for lack of a better term on board with uh the finance with with Munis. Um they've uh we've migrated or they've migrated their accounts payable into Munis. Um not payroll yet. Okay.

Yes, it's a plan. And based on this, have you found the information to be more uh uh usable, more uh in other words, in terms of planning for you know the next year or so because quite naturally after this election becomes the time that we start working on the next budget. So I'm just wondering uh how it looks. Um it's it's definitely positive. um you know prior well there's half and half I'll call it right AP is in munus payroll is not so before AP migrated into munis from uh the board of ed's legacy system I believe it's called ads um they would enter information into their system ads and then they would send us transactions to enter in munis right with them in Munice. There's no need for that duplicative work on our side repeating what they've done in their system. They're doing it in Munice.

So, yes, we we're definitely starting to see the the progress. We are in the early stages though. Um I think we created the new accounts and cut over a couple months ago, right? So, it's learning, right? It's a new system for them. it's training u getting familiar with it but having both of us on the same platform and being able to see the information um the lack of the need to do duplicative reconciliations going forward right they reconcile and then we have to reconcile right going forward they will reconcile and that reconciliation is in our system so it's done great

right so going forward we're already realizing some of the benefits of being on the the same system and that'll continue to grow uh as one they get more experienced in Munis and become more familiar with it, but also as payroll migrates over and we're truly in one system, right? And that doesn't happen when payroll comes over, but in the next or full fiscal year where we're both in Munice for the full year, right? That's when the efficiency particularly from an audit perspective uh is achieved. So for those who might uh not know what that means, I'm saying that's a couple years from now,

right? It's not them migrating over in a couple years, but the benefit of being in one system, right, is a couple years away. Thank you. So maybe mid 2026, end of 26. Um we knew there was a training gap. They had been introduced in Munis some years ago um but it was not um it was not adopted as as robustly or um in the timing that one would have liked. So with that said, AP has been um brought over into Mun, but you're still waiting for payroll. How does that intersect or cross reference with your ability to utilize the budget software and and no impact? None.

Their budget is separate from ours, right? So, they develop their budget, we develop our budget, the software will be used to develop our budget. Okay? So, it doesn't have any impact on what we're doing. So, you guys are coming up to speed rapidly. And I and the day-to-day, like I said, I'll mention is still getting done. Even while they're trying to catch up on audit 24 and actually inputting on 25 as much as they can, um it won't hold anything up. That's good.

Cons. Yeah, I um on the same topic of uh getting things up to date, uh we've we've heard that our um monthly financial reports are not always perfectly accurate because stuff isn't entered right away. Hasn't been. Um and I suspect that will be true uh until Munus is really complete to some degree. I mean, are you telling me now I'm I'm noticing in this current report for September 30th that we have spent a million and a half less as of September 30th this year than we did as of September 30th last year, but we've gotten in income of 10 million more. I mean, that's fantastic. But can I believe it?

Uh, yes. You can believe it. all that's why I care about I've told before that one of the problems with not being up on it that stuff lags in getting inputed but you're saying this is pretty accurate information it's it's um it's it's always been accurate based on what's been in there entered

right so what's improving is the timeliness right we're not seeing a month or a quarter go by before revenues or expenditures are entered, right? It's not a, you know, snap your fingers and because Daryl said 48 72 hours and everybody's complying. It it's evolving. There's increased compliance and it's and it's growing, right? But if you have a office or a department or division that, you know, prior practice was they would send transactions, earn a transactions on a quarterly basis

and now they're doing it every week or two. That's better. It's not 4872 hours, but it's better. And as you look at the report, in particular, comparing it to reports from last year, as I mentioned at last month's meeting, you can see in the report that there's better information, right? Um, not only from the timeliness of revenues being recorded. Um, I think last month's example was the, uh, permits year-over-year. last month's report from a year ago, I think there was like $7,000 in permit revenue. Um, and then magically the next month it was two or 30 hund,000. Why? It just hadn't been entered. They'd been received and collected, right? They were in the bank, but they just hadn't been recorded in Munis, so they wouldn't show up in the report. Now, they're showing up in the report. So, um, are we on the report or

No, we are. Well, I I just wondered if that same problem existed. You said it does, but it's dwindling away, right? And you know, the idea that and even as uh in the last conversation for the status of the 24 audit update, um you know, a couple of counselors made comments that we've fixed everything. No, no, no, no. We haven't fixed everything. We've fixed the things that we found. No. Right. It's a ongoing process. I call it continuous improvement. But as we find something that looks odd, you know, when you the proverbial when you see the string, pull on it. Yeah. Every string we see, we pull on. What is it? How is it being done? It's my favorite first question. Why do we do what we do the way that we do it?

Right. And particularly in finance and accounting, um there is a way to do it. There's different ways you can do it, but there's a way that it needs to be done to satisfy the completeness and the accuracy of it. Okay. And I understand that the board of eds payroll is not you aren't those that isn't put into daily or weekly basis. No, they're recording in their system. Um and they are still we're still receiving transactions to record in Munas for payroll.

They're just recording um they're just recording on their books. Their books are whole. Our books are whole. We add them together and then but how late are we getting that in our monthly report? I believe there uh Donna if you would to the mic. Uh Donna Stewart, deputy director.

Uh my understanding is they have uh do the entries immediately after the payroll. Uh so it should should every be everything should be in there. And also regarding the timing of when they're going to be moving the payroll to Munis, it'll likely be at a calendar year end for W2 P purposes. So we only have to produce one W2. So just wanted to add that. That's good. Yeah, thank you. And when Miss Stewart mentioned they're entering it, entering in their system. It doesn't go into your system by the way.

No. Right. And I mean the board of ed is a they're separate from the town. They have their own controlling body and in our budget they are one line. Yes.

Right. And we can't reduce that line. So you know every year there the projection should flow that they're going to spend their budget right. So for this report received information from their system that I input to accurately reflect the board of ed's expenditures through the end of September. So that is accurate based on the data entered in their system which our system will manage.

Any further questions? Any questions online? Okay, seeing none. Oh, I didn't see you. I'm sorry. Sorry. Should have raised my hand. Thank you. Oh, yeah. Go ahead. Council Cooper,

I do have a question about the um the reports that come in from the board of ed. Is there a scheduled time for during the year or or have they set up with um uh town staff um their reporters reportables um throughout the year? and and you know should you expect to receive them at a certain time so that everything can be uh entered or is entered into Munis and you know do you check um those dates to ensure it's there so that uh anything that's due for the audit uh is timely number one and I just want to step back a little bit and ask number two uh you have your your schedule and for the reportables that are due for our audit, uh, the town side. Um, and you know, is everyone aware of that so that these things can be met, right? So, you want to be able to address it with the standard operating procedures. If something is not there, you want to know it's there. You don't want to know why it's not there. And hope hopefully that's understandable. But, you know, I I there was a lot of talk about, you know, over the years it being late, but also now we have an opportunity uh to correct this and how best do we move forward with that. I don't want to rehash anything uh director, but you know, I think it's imperative that we lock this down.

Thank you, counselor. I think you're you're spot on. Right. It's it's scheduling and planning, right? Um what we've been doing for over the past year has been under duress, right? Um I affectionately refer to it as the hamster on a wheel non-stop for 14 months or whatever it is now. Audit, completing work, day job, budget, bond issue, audit, right? We're in three fiscal years now and about to be in four, right? because the 27 budget development's about to spin up. So, we'll be in 24, 25, 26, and 27. Right now, 24 will go away. So, we'll return to only being in three fiscal years. Um, the natural cycle is that at most you're in two and there's a gap in between where you're actually for part of the year only in one fiscal year. Um, looking forward to next calendar year and returning back to that reality. Thank you, sir.

Any other questions online? Any questions in the room? Okay. Thank you, Director Hill. Uh, moving on to old business B. Discussion regarding the increase in commercial building fees. Believe we have uh Mr. Carlson here for that. Yes, I'm here. Awesome. You have the floor.

Okay. I think um the proposal is to raise the per the commercial permit fees to uh roughly cover the affordable housing which is a 10% increase. Um so the proposal is to move it up to around uh currently we are at see here currently we are at674 per thousand and the proposal is to move it up to $1874 per thousand. um that should cover the the cost or the what does that say the movement of the 10% of the commercial fees into the um affordable housing trust. Um now what the total payment will be because the state charges also a 26 cents per thousand. Um, so the final fee would be $19 per thousand and that is currently up $2 from $17 per thousand, which I don't think is unreasonable. Um, we haven't raised our fees in a few years. I think the last time was uh maybe 2020. So, it's been a while. Um any questions uh on this?

Any questions in the room? Councelor Merritt? Uh yes. How do we compare with other towns?

Well, that's a really good question. Um I think uh I haven't really done a um exhaustive research on this. I know Hartford charges um quite a bit more. They charge for certificate of occupancies, certificate of approvals, plan review. Um, but that's Hardford. Um, South Windsor was um I'm not sure. We'd have to I'd have to go back to that, but they're within the $17 per thousand range, but I think they also charge and I'd have to double check. I could report back on this, but I believe they also charge for a certificate of occupancy or a certificate of completion or approval.

And we do not we do not on that. Is that something that's ever been pondered?

Uh well, no. Um my position on that is to I mean there's several ways to look at this. um you want to cover the ex the expenses of running the department um with the building permit fees typically um there are times where we are we will contract out some of the plan review um but it's not not as um it was more so during the boom last year we had a and we had a extensive uh personnel staffing issues. Um the certificate of occupancy um with those fees should be included in my position that I mean that's all part of the whole process.

Um we can certainly push that onto you know the applicant i.e. our residents. Um but um I haven't really pushed for that.

Okay. and not suggesting that we do. I was just asking maybe if there was any thought around that within the department or within uh you know the leadership conversations. So if we are in alignment and in good standing and we don't want to discourage you know with our fees um construction and renovation etc. So um we lean upon your expertise but I just asked the question just to ask um to find out where we were with that. It's not a problem. Thank you so much, Council Cooper.

Uh thank you, ma'am. You know, to follow up um on uh the deputy mayor's quot line of questioning, and this is certainly not about um increasing fees. What it is is a question about the uh fees asis. We we've had questions from folks about, you know, how do we um help out our residents? um uh and we should we create some sort of you know mechanism or or vehicle in order to um you know have funds available for them. We we've already done that with the housing trust fund and so um we know that these fees will will go towards uh that fund. Have you figured out maybe based on the previous year's uh intake? Uh what's a good question I have is how much of that will at some point, you know, based off of past president uh be generated and and go towards our housing trust fund. You don't that's not an answer for now, but you know, it's just good to know. Um number one, that we have that trust fund. number two that these fees will go towards that.

Well, uh well, I'll get I can give you some raw numbers. Um I think last year um see here uh last year's numbers were uh 2020 2025 we we we came in at 1.4 4 million. Mhm.

Uh now out of that the commercial fees were approximately $748,000. So 10% of that would be a significant chunk of change. Um the year before that was our banner year, uh 2024. We brought in $1.8 $8 million of permit revenue and the commercial fees of that were 1 million84. Okay. So, so uh so one about 1 1.2 million.

No, actually yeah, close to actually closer to 1.1. Okay. Okay. So I mean um you what I try to do in my office is we try to be sensitive to our residential taxpayers and also our commercial taxpayers. Uh we want to be fair. Um uh I want to be consistent or competitive with other towns. Look at what other towns are doing. Um and for the service that we provide. So, um,

you know, you could start to get into the weeds on that, but I can certainly provide more context later on if the council needs that for their decision.

Sure. Right. you know, and again, it it was the question certainly was not to um to to talk about the increase of fees, but but merely to gather some um some color as to, you know, what may uh be expected, you know, within a within a range. And so I that is definitely appreciated. And um you know the other piece to this is is that you know let residents know that this council has thought about um housing in this town um and how we best keep all of our residents in there. And so I certainly want to thank our leadership uh both former and current uh in in making these things happen. Thank you so much.

Absolutely. And I get it. I mean it's it's definitely a challenge to weigh that out. Um, and this is why I haven't entertained the value of going with every CO or every certificate of uh approval to also add an addition additional fee on top of that andor plan review. So, um, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Couch. Sure. I'm going to go to Deputy Mayor Harrington and then Councelor Oliver. Mayor Harrington. That's fine. That's fine. So sorry. So sorry.

So what I wanted to do was uh we know that we have a project that is uh potentially going to be approved. It hasn't been approved yet. So everyone, you know, hold on your horses. Um what I want to do is find out um we've been told that there is potentially $1 million that will go directly to building fees. So, of that $1 million, is that 10% that is set aside for this? So, we

So, uh, couple things on that. Uh, first of all, the entire 1 million does not go to commercial. Gotcha. the portion of that project would be designated or slated as commercial, but I believe last I counted there was four buildings out of the 12 that are um commercial buildings. The rest would all be um a residential uh fees. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Sure. Good question, Mayor Harrington. Thank you. Councelor Oliver, you're next.

Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Uh, how you doing, Dwight? I'm good, Council Oliver. How are you? I'm I'm good, too. Thank you. I appreciate you. Uh, just curious, what are the closing out fees? I wasn't sure you said you knew or you didn't know. I was losing reception there from other towns. So, I mean, I can certainly provide that. I don't I mean if you had asked me about

just roughly it even if for $2 off I just want to know kind of what ballpark I think uh South Windsor is and Windsor are very competitive to us. Hartford's another whole um fee schedule. Um, a lot of municipalities are getting more on board with I think Windsor also charges for certificate of occupancy and also um certificate of approvals um as well. So they charge for all of those things.

Correct. And roughly if you totaled up all those things, how much would those fees I mean I know it depends on the size of the project and things like that, but um what is the average closeout fee for a commercial project? So for for Bloomfield, there is no uh closeout fee. You pay a permit application fee that's based on the construction value of the property or the project. And then um I guess at that part I I meant like sorry to cut you up. Um if it was for for like the one of the towns that do have the close offices, do you know roughly what that bulk of money is?

Um I don't know what the bulk of the money is. I do know that they do charge I think it's a $50 fee in that range of $50 to $30 um for a certificate of occupancy and or a um certificate of approval. Okay. So, it's not too large of a of a fee. Um, and then I know one more question I have. Thank you for answering that by the way.

At what point does a residential um development stay residential or turn to commercial? Like for instance, is it after three floors, five floors, six floors, eight floors? Is there um any type of determination of the two? Yes, it basically goes by the um the floors and it would be two floors. So, typically a townhouse uh would be built underneath the IRC which is the international residential code which would be Yeah. which would be that. Okay. So, anything over two stories in Bloomfield is commercial. Is residential. Residential. Yes.

All the way up. Yeah. Anything over two stories for the most part is uh commercial. That's okay. Thank you. Sure. That's commercial. Okay. Just so I can catch that over two floors is commercial, correct? Correct. Yeah.

Okay. Now, one thing you got to also look at too is out of those commercial fees comes the town projects and we don't collect a fee on those. But yet the question you would have to understand is how would that work from this process. So it would be I guess it would be just out of that um since we don't charge a fee we wouldn't be getting any fee on that. So, I guess I answered my question. Any other questions in the room? Any other questions online?

I have. Okay. Uh, one second. Councelor Oliver, is that a legacy hand? No, I got one more question. I'm sorry. Thank you, Deputy Mayor. On the average, how many projects do we put out a year? And I I don't I know that's a number to pull on yet, but just roughly. Okay, so the year uh last year for year 25, we there was a total of 2020 2235 permits. 35 permits.

No. Uh 2,235 permits. And then out of 2024, it was 2,250 permits. Okay. So, you're looking at close to a little over 100 grand a year if we charged $50 extra for closeout fees. So, it's I mean it it seems like a lot, but it's not a lot for attracting business.

Well, I'll tell you I'll tell you this. We So, if you remember, I came before you guys um I don't know, 2024 maybe. Um we were we went over what we call reinspection fees. We went over investigation fees and we also went over um

uh occupying a house without uh certificate of approval or occupancy. And um since that was been implemented, we've netted uh about n roughly $19,000 just in those additional fees. And just to give you an idea what those fees are, those are um cancelling a u an inspection less than 24 hours. So the day of they'd call to cancel an inspection. Uh work without permits. um you know those kind of things. So there are additional fees that we do charge with regard to that.

Thank you. Okay. Council Merritt. Yeah. I was going to ask I think your your recommended increase of what $2 or something like that was very reasonable and I I I would hope we go ahead with that. But uh I do you need permission from us to do it? And if you do, we need to pass that on to the council. Is there some reason I shouldn't move it? Is that a motion? I would make it a motion. Yes. Okay. Just to be clear, is this ju this is just for commercial fees or is this the total fees? What you recommend? It was just for commercial, wasn't it? Correct. Yes. Yes, that's fine.

Okay. Yes. So, uh, typically we'll have the material written up with a proposal to review and discuss here and then make a motion or recommendation that it goes to full counsel, but I did not see that in writing in the um, we don't need in the packet. But if you could prepare that for the next council meeting for consideration, would you be able to do that? Sure. Usually I'm a little bit better prepared, but No, not at all. Not at all. We just want to make sure and and do it the right way. No, I get I didn't have much time to prepare, so I apologize. No, but you verbalized it quite well, so we get what you're saying, and thank you for that. Okay. Okay.

Thank you, Joe. Make a motion. I I Well, I I make the motion that we approve the $2 increase in commercial rates and all favor. All in favor to go to councel for review to vote to for it to council as everything we do is okay thank you all in favor I opposed nays I vote I motion passes we'll be forwarding that up to council for the next regular council meeting uh Mr. Carlson, if you have that in writing for us, we will be ready to review and take action. Thank you so much. No problem. I will I will prepare that.

Thank you. And then maybe uh some of the same questions may come up um at council meeting around uh what has been brought up by some of the counselors. Um some folks may asked about comparative pricing and other fees at other towns. So it might be helpful just to have that for perspective. Exactly. I would appreciate Thank you so much. Thank you. Yum. Make sure I get that. Thank you. And if we're moving along, old business see discussion regarding small business development fund.

See director Coleman. Come on down. Mr. Mayor, Madame Mayor, Madame Deputy Mayor, acting chairperson, councelor Merritt, counselors on the on the uh call in um John Coleman, director of building and land use on your prior item that you just considered. Um we will working with um Attorney Cromby's office, prepare a full package. It's going to require an ordinance amendment. Uh so we will work with him to draft the proper ordinance um together with um uh the appropriate memorandum and have that for you um and um obviously be prepared to answer the comparison questions that you may have and we can probably put some of that in the report so it's you get it beforehand so we take care of it then.

Right. Regarding the small business development fund, I think we were we are where we were before which is we aren't there. Um we're still um um working on preparing the policies and guidelines for it um and also um looking and searching for you know you know additional funding all the time but we have not put the uh put any of the policies and procedures in place yet. Um that is yet to be done. So I cannot give you a uh a um positive progress report on that at this moment but um it is on our radar.

Okay. Um if you could give us a little context on um and I believe this was a brainchild of councelor mccclary. So if you could give us a little bit of context on the purpose of the small business development fund as we continue to work on those policies. It was basically to help them um you know help both um existing businesses uh with um short-term issues that they might have in terms of um both their operations but also their facilities and to help um um entrepreneurs in terms of developing their developing their businesses in terms of some initial startup costs. So it was supposed to help existing and startup.

Okay, great. Thank you. Um, and I'm sure this is already underway, but um, DEECD works with a lot of entities throughout the state that also um, assist small businesses with identifying funding. And I guess it sounds like we would be one of those funding sources.

We would be we also we work with businesses now to do that. I mean, the idea is to have some of our local funding. We did apply for a CIF grant to do that that we were not successful in receiving. Uh so now we need to um you know seek other ways to put a fund in place. Um and um and um but we do now as best we can working with Goldman and York do provide all of the uh information in terms of a bill of other sources of funding both state and federal. Uh but I think there's always been a desire to have a local fund as well so that we could um we could be directly related to the mix particularly for our local small businesses which we all know is the is when all said and done the heartbeat of the community on the business side.

Absolutely. Um are there any questions online?

Clear online first. Any questions online? Okay. In the room, Mayor Harrington.

So, my question is more directed to organizations like Headco um which sort of operates through the state's boost program or something of that sort. Is there some way, in other words, we always seem to have a hard time locating funding for, you know, these small businesses and I know this is geared to help in that manner, but are we able to incorporate some of these organizations and

Headco is certainly one of the resources that we go to all of all the time. Um, it's my understanding at the moment they're having some of their own challenges uh in terms of available funding, but Headco I mean, Headco was formed as an independent um organization many many years ago and um has had I when it initially started it had a combination of some private sector funding and state funding. I think it's now basically primarily utilizing on state funding but it's my understanding that it's still an independent organization but gets all of its funding from the state but is one of the you know is certainly a resource that um is available

um when it is itself properly funded. So I attended a um ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday organization titled New Creation Foundation and it's a daycare center but it's been expanded uh over 10,000 square feet and met a couple of folks from DEC and some other locations uh that provided funding and they talked about HECO. They talked about the boost program. I haven't really talked much about it in our discussions here because I was told that it was very difficult to get it done, but they were able to, this is uh Charles Pink and and his family. They were able to secure that and the facility is beautiful. And in thinking of them, I was thinking of others in the community that could possibly uh be a benefit, you know, in addition to this small business development fund because it it seems like we have to locate several of these types of programs in order for things to really work. Um, but I I was really proud. Uh they are very excited and I I believe they're looking to expand in the basement which is another 10,000 square feet. Um and they have a lot of ideas that they will probably will be forthcoming to try to talk to our board of ed and things of that sort. But in terms of the fund itself, um I just thought maybe there would be some other options for us to, you know, take

advantage of. Um you know, we have the uh Bloomfield uh Chamber of Commerce. That's one area, but we don't have funding for them to like provide a whole lot of assistance to businesses. Um, but I think once we get the small business development fund going, I think we can really um see some great things that could come out of it. So hopefully we can do this soon.

I think you know, ever and um our CFO knows a lot about financing businesses as well and is a great resource. He's smiling. But uh it's true. But um one of my great frustrations is that we um we talk a good talk, but we're unable to locally back it up. And I, you know, I think that we're really searching to try and find a way to do that better. One of the things um offline like to have conversations with both you all and I intend as part of um the budget process which is about to begin to maybe put some suggestions um forward to the CFO and the town manager uh that might enable us to be much more effective with small businesses than we have up till now.

Thank you. because I think it's um very much needed. Council Merritt.

Yeah. I I've having started a couple small businesses myself over the years. Um, and I've tried to help people who are starting them several times myself and found that it would be nice if we could kind of off ought to be a kind of a project where the biggest thing they people starting a business seem to lack is a business plan. They don't really know that they don't aren't able to sit they don't want to probably don't take the time to sit down and say okay this is the money I'm going to have coming in I expect and this is why and this is the money I'm going to need to spend and the two ought to have some relationship with each other and they don't go through that process and if you want to go get money from a bank to start a business you starting capital you certainly need to have a business And uh if we could kind of I know there are people out there that that actually do that kind of thing and all all these things that you need starting a new business. We could probably package it together somehow and help them out. That would be great. I think the business plan is obviously essential, but also um you know a really good um guide to how to get through all the processes, the land use processes, the permitting processes for related to whatever business you're starting up. Um that can be exceedingly confusing and complex

to an entrepreneur who just wants to run a business. Yeah. And um I think we we need to put that whole package together and that is um hopefully you know as we get through the budget process we'll have something um exciting to present to you on that front. Okay.

And I know that DEC um will work with anyone looking for assistance from starting their business um from concept to business plan um funding. They have several organizations that they work with that I think may fit well within our um program of putting this small business um initiative together. Um because if we don't necessarily have all the funding because it will be limited obviously up front um they'll have at least the ability to be led to the resources. So I look forward to that. Mayor Harrington, actually it was answered.

Oh, okay. Well, what I will add is I think that part should we should find a way to include that in the small business development fund where there's a way that we can refer individuals to an agency or to an individual that will help them cultivate their their business plan.

Yes. And DEECD refers many people and businesses that want to get started, even those that are in business and doing well but want to scale up and they provide these referrals to services that will assist Connecticut businesses uh many times for free. So I I think uh we have the start of something great here and thank you. We look forward to updated reports on some progress there. Looks like there's no other comments online. New business discussion of September 2025 FY26 monthly financial report.

Good evening again. Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Um, tonight's uh monthly financial report covers the full first quarter of fiscal 2026. That's through the end of September. Uh as you'll see in the cover letter, um our strong financial performance continues. Uh total revenues received are right at 60% of the budget, slightly higher than last year. Uh with our tax collections for the current year's levy uh just over 62% which is slightly down compared to last year. Um of course we all know we're in a declining interest rate environment. Uh our interest uh earnings for this fiscal year are just above $240,000 or 40% over just over 40% of the budget. Uh but down from last year uh as Mr. Carlson mentioned earlier, uh the building uh permits are uh coming in favorable this year, about $11,000 below the mark of last year at 33% of the budget. Uh with our real estates conveyance coming in at just under $600,000, which is a few dollars shy of 100% of this year's budget. uh all speaking positively for the revenues uh for this fiscal year. On the expenditure side, um you'll see we are currently at actual expenditures through the end of September at 18%. But when we include the incumbrances, which is one of the nuances uh councelor Merritt and I were speaking of earlier with regard to munice uh and it being embraced in a a larger way. Um with incumbrances we're showing 36% uh expenditures. Encumbrances uh for those who may not be familiar with the term are uh commitments to pay things uh

but also includes with our implementation of position budgeting in Munis. Now personnel is encumbered through the year. Uh I'll point out a a couple of bright examples uh on the next page. Uh next page, yes, two pages back of where you would see the impacts of not only the incumbrance but the position budgeting incumbrances. Uh the second page shows a summary of the revenues and expenditures by line item. Um you will see the third column from the right shows the uh year to date. Um, and of note in the revenues, right, that's $68.2 million of year-to- date revenues, that does include the uh fund balance that the council has appropriated. So, the 3.75 million of fund balance for this fiscal year is included in that 68 million. So, you'd back that out to look at pure revenues that have been collected. Instead of uh speaking to the expenditures on the bottom of the page, I'll flip to the third page uh which is the more detailed presentation of the expenditures across um the broad departments uh and then town administration and uh individual boards and other fixed charges. Um the examples I wanted to point to for uh incumbrance, we're looking at the page that has title up top status of expenditures by activity. Uh you'll see public safety and public works, right? One, two, three, four. The four columns and five columns from the right. The fifth column from the right is year-to- date actuals. And to the immediate right of that are the encumbrances. So looking at public safety as an

example, you'll see the actual expenditures of just under 2.2 million with encumbrances of just under 5.8 million. Those incumbrances of just under 5.8 million include all of the um purchase orders that the police department has created for expenditures that are inactuals. and the remainder of a purchase order that hasn't been liquidated or paid yet is a remaining incumbrance for the rest of the year representing the expenditures that will come out during the remaining three quarters of the year. Um similarly down uh in under town administration, this is a uh an example really not only of the purchase orders but because uh the town manager and finance administration the purchase we have purchase orders it's just not to the magnitude of one of the operating departments. So what you're seeing in the difference between the year-to- date actuals and the encumbrances is mostly not all but mostly the incumbrance of personnel through the end of the year. So while I'll use my department instead of anyone else finance administration is showing at 96.7% used that includes the incumbrance right through the end of the year. So those are all the things that it's not only our human capital our most important asset um but also the ex the purchase orders for expenditures to pay invoices through the end of the year. So, you know, going forward, second quarter that we're in, third quarter, as we get to or start to approach the fourth quarter, as we go throughout the year, each month, we'll have a a better representation of how department's budgets are managed and where we need to move monies around. Now, we do know that um there are some

unanticipated expenditures that have been incurred this year. Um but in addition to uh what I spoke to previously in response to councelor Merritt's uh comments about munice or conversation about munice you know one of the additional directives I've provided is um one we have to do requisitions purchase order and uh we have to get information into munis timely um but we we also need to make sure that uh our budgets are being actively managed as opposed to passively managed, right? Um the idea that when we go and look in Munice that there are line items that are negative, right? They've overspent the budget for that line is not acceptable. Right? Before a line item swings negative, budget management or active budget management, we would transfer from a line, transfer funding from a line that has available dollars to the line that needs money, right? So that no line is allowed to go negative without specific approval and understanding why that line needs to go negative. for example. And then there's there's one if you look down in the middle of the page that town administration section, not the total at the bottom, but two lines above it for town attorney. And uh forgive me attorney Crumby, but it is our reality, right? We see that we have a budget of 268, just over 268,000. Um and to date, we've already spent more than that, right? when you look at the actuals and incumbrance, right? And now we know we've had a very abnormal year, not only from completing

the audit perspective, but with regard to lawsuits. Um, those are expensive. Um so at the end of the first quarter uh we have exhausted our legal budget and we know that as we progress through the year not only for the contractual services of the town attorney but the ongoing uh legal matters right that that's going to grow. So it's on our budget mitigation list. We're tracking it as one of the things that we'll have to address during the fourth quarter. Um and you know so that's not necessarily bad news. because it is the reality. It is the work. Um but coupled with the revenues that we've received and are projecting to receive through the end of the year, um we'll have the ability to address the overages uh related to the increase in legal services. Um and I'll stop there unless anyone has questions for me.

Any questions in the room? Councel Merritt, I almost wish I shouldn't Brian bring us up, but the the $4 million that we um um have given to our FIN economic development fund um which made our total budget 117 million not 113 million um for I'm not sure the expenditure But that's what the total budget was. Um, you have the 113 on on your set. I just wonder what you did with that for me.

Uh, I haven't done anything other than what council I I I I know I didn't mean to sound that way. No, no, no. I didn't take it that way. Wonder how you accounted for it. Right. So, what's been done is exactly what council approved during the budget process. Uh the distinction between the 113 and 117 million is that the 113 plus is the operating budget. The $4 million that council authorized being moved from our unassigned fund balance to our committed fund balance for the economic development trust is not an expenditure. It's not part of the operating budget, but it was part of the budget process. Yeah.

Right. Um, so the 4 million in the economic development trust is still sitting invested unspent and cannot be spent as I understand unless council acts to authorize expenditure from the economic development trust. So yes, 117 plus million of budget decisions by the council during the budget process with 113 million of it being for the operate the annual operating budget that not only includes the town but the board of ed. You've answered that very well. Thank you. I try. Thank you for that question, councelor Merritt. Councelor Oliver Oliver.

Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Uh, director, can you tell me um maybe you can't uh maybe you can the things that have been over spent? Is that like previous stuff before you came into off into the position or is this now? Are you referring to the legal expenses? No, besides the legal expenses like over people overspending. Um, I'm not clear what overspending you're referring to. Well, you said they were over going over what they were budgeted for line item, correct? Something like that.

Right. So, line items I was referring to, you know, in a hypothetical department is, you know, pick a department, larger, more robust departments will have more lines in the department. Um, so I'll use finance as the example. And in finance, we've got five segments, but but looking at the department, there's probably three dozen or so individual line items in my department. So, I wasn't referring to a department being uh over and a line item, but one of the sublines in the department being over and that that that department can request and should request a budget transfer so that the expenditure hits the line. item that's appropriate for the expenditure. Right? Now, I'll try and say that in something closer to English. If we are paying for newspaper, right, the newspaper account, and the new the line item for media is at budget and can't accommodate the $50 for the newspaper. I'm not allowing that line item to be hit with the $50 expense for the newspaper, which would send it over budget. Before that expenditure can hit the media line item, another line item in that department needs to give up some money so that media has the capacity. That's all happening within a department, right? Which the town manager has the authority to do. Only council can move amongst departments. So it's not suggesting that a department is over spent, but a line item has been overspent. And the importance of having the expense in the correct line item is so that when we get a year or two, maybe even three from now, and we start to use Munis's budget projection, all of the expenditures are in the right line item.

Right? In that same hypothetical where the newspaper bill for $50 needs to hit a media line, but it doesn't have enough budget to absorb that $50, so we just charge it in payroll. No, bad example. Uh other contractual services, food, right? It's somewhere that it's not. When we then start projecting it, it's going to suggest that that $50 for media is in food, right? Everything's got to go where it's supposed to go for us to use more of the suite of modules that MUN has available to us. So the example of being over was for the town attorney related to the legal activities this fiscal year.

Yeah, thank you. So what are the typical uh things on those line items that are Can you name a couple of the things that were added that weren't there before that were added? Yeah, that the new line items newly well we we wouldn't add a a new line item but we're adding to existing line items,

right? So, you know, most all departments will have uh contractual services or other contractual services where we pay vendors out of. Um and um we eliminated it's not that we've added new lines but the budget management to make sure that one we're operating within council's appropriation not only overall but every individual department and office but within my department if I see that I've exhausted my office supplies and I've paid another line item and don't anticipate any more expenditures for that other line item. Any available budget I could move to office supplies

within my department. So, I'm not adding a new line. I'm moving funding for budget management. So, is it the office supplies? I was just curious how what was added. Well, it wasn't speaking to a specific uh uh line item this year, right? I'll I'll I'll for reference and perspective, I'll provide you with my first look just over a year ago. Um I I was very surprised to see that the vast majority of the lines were red across all budgets. right now.

That's that that that helps me out because that's basically was it before you came on and you're just catching up with stuff or

Well, I think it's just budget management, right? So, it it's not as though I've, you know, done anything magical other than um applying what is best practices and good government, right? There's lots of ways to do it. the way it was been done before has worked with you know some some obvious issues particularly uh the delays in the audit but you know setting the standard we are finance the finance department in the finance department we have accounting and control which is where do uh deputy stewart and I sit that control part is what I'm speaking to it's internal controls it's budget controls right and the structure that finance ance administers across the town creates how it is that the finances are administered or accounted for. Right? So that standard of what we can do and can't do is how and this is a budget management conversation how we can manage the budget centrally. Right? Departments are looking at their budget and when they have an expense and they know the line it's supposed to hit, they call and say, "I can't pay for this. I need to." Well, what line do you have that has available funding?

Right? Looking not only at the now, but knowing what's left for the year and dovetailing with the prior conversation, thank you again, Councelor Merritt, for bringing up Munice and its increased or expanded use,

right? As we manage budget and are using Munice, we have the information there that allows us to be good managers of it, right? It just takes a little bit of attention and holding to what are our processes and procedures. Can it be done? Yes, it can be done, but there's no reason for a budget to be negative. As I stand here tonight, uh I believe there is around a handful of lines that have gone negative. Now, we could have moved budget so that those lines wouldn't be negative, but that would be creating an issue for a future quarter in this fiscal year. We know what it is and we know why that line is over. So, as I pull reports now and look, just a quick scan for anything red, the things that are read, I see them and I know exactly what they are,

right? That's good budget management. You're welcome.

So, two things. um good budget management. And the question I had was does MUNS, if the staff person is regularly contributing to Munis, does MUN do detailed tracking for them? If they look weekly, can they see how much they've spent? You're seeing it in the red in your review. Can that manager or director or staff person say in the widget department, can they also track their budget through Munice? Right. They should be able to see that. Okay. So, um I'm not sure what the policies call for. I know that you guys are coming in and you've been revamping a lot of them and certainly in the areas of accountability which hopefully have been disseminated or will be soon to the directors so that going into next budget year they'll have a better capacity to stay on top of their budget. Additionally, it comes down to budget preparation in which we are heading into that season as well. Um certainly directors should be gearing up their brain to figure out what their needs are going into the next year, right? And so you have to be sure and request the proper amount and you have to be able to really project do solid projections on that budget so when it gets approved and you're tracking it I like and no less than every two weeks or something and you're watching it in munis you're staying on track and you're not going in the red and things like that. So, I know you guys have had a lot of work to do as it relates to um the revision or creation of policies and procedures since you've been here as well. I know you're still working on that also. So, I I know that that is happening and it is continuous improvement on finding those disconnects, right, and affording training even if it's just from your expertise to the directors um or otherwise. So, I'm glad to hear that Munus does have that robust feature and that those that use the system can

actually benefit from keeping a better eye on things. Good, good, good, good. So, more comment than a question, but you you answered it. Thank you. Thank you. Are there any other questions? Any other questions? Okay. Thank you, Director Hill. I appreciate it. And we'll be going into public comment. Do we have any public comment in the room? Public comment on the none in the room. Yeah, they have to come up here and the room. Yes, in the room. That's you. Okay. Well,

thank you for switching it up and coming in person. Um, it's always good to have people in the room. Um, and as you approach the podium, please announce your name and your address, and you'll be given three minutes to make your comments. See getting the Yeah. support

is a musical group. No. Okay. All right. Kind of figured it out from the context, right? Okay. Yes.

Uh, good evening. Um, thank you for having us tonight for public comment. Uh, my name is Quinton McDougall. I'm a Bloomfield lifelong resident. Uh, my address is 18 High Hill Road. Um, I come tonight with Bloomfield chair as a representative for to ask for potential funding. Um, just to give you a backstory, we're in year five for the Bloomfield Junior Warhawks. This is the fifth year of existence. Um, in 2022, we sent our first Oh, we sent our first cheer team to nationals and we've been trying to get back, get back, get back. Um, I brought with me our VP of chair, two cheerleaders. We actually this year had three teams qualify for nationals, so they're on their way to Charlotte. So, I just want to have them speak about potential funding that we could request if possible.

Hi, I'm Ashai Mendes. This is my first year at Bloomfield Warhawks cheer team and I'm really excited for nationals and it would really mean a lot to go to nationals to me. Hello, I'm TJ Gordon and I'm a thirdyear veteran for cheer and I'm also one of the captains for varsity. And going to nationals this year would mean a lot to us, especially because we've been working so hard this year. Like all the girls are really excited and we have a lot of first years. So, it's really exciting seeing everybody come together and being really excited for competition. And it's also because last year we came really close to being able to go, but we came short for funding. So being able to get funding from town hall would be amazing and it would really help us spread cheer to everybody else that might be interested to try it out. I want to say thank you for even giving us this opportunity. Um, as you can see, we had other girls that were here, but they're younger, and so we sent them back to practice. We have girls that are as young as three years old, and we go all the way up to 16. This year, um, we were outside representing the town of Bloomfield. Uh, we've participated in almost everything. Every festival, food truck festival, every parade, we participated and we were outside so much that other towns invited us to come spread cheer. So, we were in Middletown, we were in Harford, we were in Windsor at the dome, we were everywhere. Um, these girls, they just love cheer. They love what they do. We've been fundraising all year. They fundraised so much to get new uniforms. And so, now we're just looking to actually send

them. They won two competitions so far this year. They have three more to go and another one next year. The one in Nationals, we're looking to cover expenses as far as transportation to get there, transportation when they're there. Um, nationals, uh, for each girl to go, like Quinton said, we had three teams that qualified, but we're looking at sending the older girls because a lot of them, this will be their last year, and we don't want them to fail on that um, opportunity to experience something big. So, we just want to spread cheer like she said. We just want to, you know, expand the program. We want to reach other people and have other people be a part. Uh, we put a good foot forward and we just show a lot of energy, a lot of spirit, and we're hoping that we can get support so that we can just show our best effort. And I thank you for your time. Thank you. Thank you for coming out and congratulations. Congratulations and thank you for coming out and showing up for Bloomfield every time because I see you out there.

Thank you, Council Meritt. Um, two questions. How much do you need? And secondly, has the board ed contributed anything toward your

Um, because we are a private entity, we're not affiliated with the school system. Um, we haven't Well, I didn't know there was a possibility. Um we're looking for approximately 10,000 to cover the gap that we have so far. Um we just finished a popcorn fundraiser which we raise money for cheer and football. Um if for those that don't know, we have seven football teams and four cheer teams. So it gets expensive and pricey. Um we just had an event. We probably had about 2,000 people at Bloomfield High School on Saturday um that's serving the community that's patronized different businesses throughout the community. So it's just a continual thing that we're building and growing with the Bloomfield Junior Warhawks. Okay.

So, I do have a question. It was said that you're looking for um money for transportation to get there and transportation on the ground when you get um to Did you say Nashville? Um we're going to Charlotte. Charlotte. Great city. Nashville, too. But anyway, um what about the room and board? Is that paid for by nationals or

so? No. So, in addition to the transportation, um we would need we would use this funding for our room and board. Um, as you can see, we fund raise for new uniforms, but 2022 to now, we want to go and represent. So, that would also contribute to funds that we're raising for new uniforms to go to nationals to represent. Um, and different cheer competitions that we go to, we see all the bedazzle closed and everything. And we want to stand out because even as a cheer team of six, they went and won the competition this well or two weeks ago. And they go against cheer teams that are 20, 30 sometimes um quite in size. And with our six, we went and dominated. So, we want to continue to go and make sure we show out for Bloomfield when we do go.

Okay. Got it. Mayor Harington.

So, you need a total of 10,000. That's That's what you're asking. Yes. That would cover it again. And when is the competition? Um, we leave this first week of December. first week of December. Yes. Okay. And so at what point if it was like the best of scenarios, when would that money need to be our last payment that would we need? Probably the end of uh November. Just trying to give Oh, I'm sorry. Let me have the expert speak.

Um so we're part of Pop Warner. So, Papa owner have strict deadlines and so this year they have given us a absolute deadline of November 17th. So, that's the last payment. Um, they have it. So, that payment is open right now, which of course we haven't done, but we're fundraising for that. But the absolute last day to pay would be November 17th. So, we came up so far with the deposit is what we put forward, which was $1,500. So, the girls, you know, they did different fundraisers to pull that, but um we're just still trying to get the funds together because as of that date of November 17th, if we don't pull all the funding, then we just lose whatever we already paid.

Right. Right. Well, I know that a decision would not be made tonight, but we definitely appreciate you coming and uh sharing the story and tell letting us know um you know your past uh accomplishments um and the the kind of talent that you have on the team right now. So, it sounds very encouraging and I'm hopeful that uh we'll have some conversation, you know, about it. Uh just so you know, there have been a number of instances the past couple of years where Warhawks have come uh for funding. And at that time, I think we're probably in a better position, but

anything for our kids. So, you know, we we will definitely exhaust all possibility to see what we can do. We appreciate that. Thank you. And we appreciate the time. Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you.

So, are there any other public comments online or in the room? Okay. So, uh, we thank the Bloomfield Junior Warhawks cheer squad for coming out. Um, Bloomfield, you've heard a call to action. Um, as Mayor Harrington mentioned, there was a couple of years ago where we did finance um, some assistance to Bloomfield Junior Warhawks as well as Bloomfield Junior soccer team. Um, and and we were in a little better fiscal position, I would say, as well. Um, but we've heard a call to action that was Quentyn McDougall. Um, and if anyone is interested in reaching out to them to help with this cause, please feel free to reach out to the town and we'll get you connected. Uh, moving on in the agenda, we're looking at the approval of minutes. Minutes from September 16th, 2025.

Okay. Moved by Council Merritt, seconded by Mayor Harrington. All in favor? I. All opposed? Abstensions. I vote I motion carries. It's old business. Is there any old business? That's all. No. Yeah, exactly. No, we did that already. No more old business. Um, motion carries for the approval of the minutes. Do we have a motion to adjurnn? So move. Move. Moved by Council Merritt, seconded by Mayor Harrington. All in favor? I.

All right. We are adjourned at Somebody's got the time.