A very Merry Christmas from my family to yours or a very Happy Hanukkah. Enjoy this time of the season to appreciate the things that God has given to us and spend time with family and loved ones that you might not normally have the time to relax with. All the best in 2006 !
Sincerely,
The Lengs
Monday, December 26, 2005
Saturday, December 10, 2005
First Meeting and School Building Committee
First Meeting and Info on the New School Building Committee
Season’s Greetings from the Leng Family!
I thought I would take a few moments to write about the first Council meetings of the new session for the 2005-2007 term.
The first meeting set-up the leadership - returning were the entire team from last term:
Al Gorman – Council President
Carol Noble – President Pro Tem
Matt Fitch – Majority Leader
Betty Wetmore – Minority Leader
The team is a good one, with dedicated, hard working council members and I think they will be great for the new Administration to work with.
At this meeting, President Gorman announced that he was appointing me as the School Building Committee Chairman. I was honored to be placed in such an important role of responsibility and look forward to working with school, Town and construction professionals to make sure that our School Building improvements occur on-time and on-budget. I am very much looking forward to this new assignment.
At the second meeting we got down to regular business and tackled the agenda that I posted here earlier. Nearly all the items passed, with the exception of a request for a large financial transfer for a “change order” payment for Center One construction that was approved for way more than it should have been by a previous Administration individual. The Council tabled this item pending some additional back-up.
We saw some significant comings and goings at the meeting, as well.
Longtime Traffic Director Lee Davies and Police Chief Robert Nolan, both excellent Department Heads, retired and collected their accrued benefits. I decided to abstain from the vote because there were some questions about the Comp Time policy that I don’t think the Town was able to answer clearly. Though I abstained, I think both of these men, along with the rest of the retirement group, Skip Dunham and others, were terrific Town workers and I hope they enjoy their retirement.
Coming onboard on the new team was Mike Betz, our new Finance Director, and Leslie Creane, the Assistant Town Planner who was promoted to Town Planner.
I look forward to working with both of them. They each have serious challenges to face in their respective Departments and I think they are up to the task. It was certainly nice to have a Finance Director with over a decade of municipal Finance Experience being recommended for assignment at our first meeting. This was an impressive beginning to the Henrici Administration.
In my next posting I will talk about my other Committee assignments so that you know what I will be working on and where I might be most helpful working with you.
As always, please continue to call and write – councilmancurtleng@sbcglobal.net .
Enjoy and be careful with the snow,
Curt
Season’s Greetings from the Leng Family!
I thought I would take a few moments to write about the first Council meetings of the new session for the 2005-2007 term.
The first meeting set-up the leadership - returning were the entire team from last term:
Al Gorman – Council President
Carol Noble – President Pro Tem
Matt Fitch – Majority Leader
Betty Wetmore – Minority Leader
The team is a good one, with dedicated, hard working council members and I think they will be great for the new Administration to work with.
At this meeting, President Gorman announced that he was appointing me as the School Building Committee Chairman. I was honored to be placed in such an important role of responsibility and look forward to working with school, Town and construction professionals to make sure that our School Building improvements occur on-time and on-budget. I am very much looking forward to this new assignment.
At the second meeting we got down to regular business and tackled the agenda that I posted here earlier. Nearly all the items passed, with the exception of a request for a large financial transfer for a “change order” payment for Center One construction that was approved for way more than it should have been by a previous Administration individual. The Council tabled this item pending some additional back-up.
We saw some significant comings and goings at the meeting, as well.
Longtime Traffic Director Lee Davies and Police Chief Robert Nolan, both excellent Department Heads, retired and collected their accrued benefits. I decided to abstain from the vote because there were some questions about the Comp Time policy that I don’t think the Town was able to answer clearly. Though I abstained, I think both of these men, along with the rest of the retirement group, Skip Dunham and others, were terrific Town workers and I hope they enjoy their retirement.
Coming onboard on the new team was Mike Betz, our new Finance Director, and Leslie Creane, the Assistant Town Planner who was promoted to Town Planner.
I look forward to working with both of them. They each have serious challenges to face in their respective Departments and I think they are up to the task. It was certainly nice to have a Finance Director with over a decade of municipal Finance Experience being recommended for assignment at our first meeting. This was an impressive beginning to the Henrici Administration.
In my next posting I will talk about my other Committee assignments so that you know what I will be working on and where I might be most helpful working with you.
As always, please continue to call and write – councilmancurtleng@sbcglobal.net .
Enjoy and be careful with the snow,
Curt
Friday, December 02, 2005
Council Agenda - December 5th
AGENDA
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
COMMITTEE-OF-THE-WHOLE
DECEMBER 5, 2005
1. CALL OF THE MEETING & TAKING OF THE ROLL
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND MOMENT OF SILENCE
3. PUBLIC INPUT SESSION
4. CORRESPONDENCE
5. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
6. REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT
7. NEW BUSINESS:
1. REFUND OF PROPERTY TAXES PAID PRIOR TO 7/1/05 (2)TOTALLING $173.86
2. REFUND OF PROPERTY TAXES FOR CERTIFICATES OFCORRECTION ISSUED AFTER 7/1/05 (74) TOTALLING $22,630.94
3. APPROVAL OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS:Lee Davies (Traffic Dept.) $34,810.96Robert Nolan (Police Dept.) $75,759.63Richard Dunham (Police Dept.) $35,009.86Gustav Gertz (Police Dept.) $47,669.96James Kalkowski (Police Dept.)$14,878.01Frank Critchett (Fire Dept.) $20,970.48William Coppola (Fire Dept.) $44,632.56Robert Anthony (Fire Dept.) $38,142.72
4. TRANSFER OF FUNDS - L/C OFFICE - $312,000. (AccruedBenefits/Retirement) FROM E & C ACCOUNT
5. TRANSFER OF FUNDS - COMMUNITY SERVICES - $6,000.(Family Relocations) FROM E & C
6. TRANSFER OF FUNDS - TAX OFFICE - $550.(Pay Differential)INTERNAL TRANSFER
7. TRANSFER OF FUNDS - BUILDING DEPT. - $500. (Temp.Wages)INTERNAL TRANSFER
8. TRANSFER OF FUNDS - L/C OFFICE - $65,184.35 (SpecialProjects) FROM E & C ACCOUNT
9. APPOINTMENT TO THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION (CathrynReynolds) for term ending August 31, 2011
10. APPOINTMENT OF J. MICHAEL BETZ AS FINANCE DIRECTOR
11. APPOINTMENT OF LESLIE CREANE AS TOWN PLANNER
12. APPROVAL OF MODIFIED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT WITHANTHONY F. CIVITELLO AS THE TOWN'S CONSTRUCTIONMANAGER
13. APPROVAL OF BUSINESS INCENTIVE AGREEMENTS:(International Realty, d/b/a International Provisions(Food Manufacturing)(2373-2375 Whitney Ave., LLC - Renovations)(Karl Kieslich - Kieslich Realty - addition & siteimprov! ements)(Caring Bear Nursery LLC/Lenox Builders - Day Care)
14. APPROVAL OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED ILLUMINATINGCO. AND THE TOWN OF HAMDEN FOR INCENTIVES TO BE PAIDTO THE TOWN FOR ENERGY EFFICIENT MEASURES
15. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO APPLY FOR,ACCEPT & EXPEND FUNDING UP TO $8,500. IN STATEOF CT. LOCIP FUNDS FOR BROOKSVALE PARK IMPROVEMENTS
16. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FINANCE DIRECTOR TO BORROWUP TO $44,148. FROM THE GENERAL FUND FOR ADVANCEMENT OFOPERATIONAL EXPENSES FOR SLEEPING GIANT DAY CARE,PENDING RECEIPT OF STATE FUNDING FOR FISCAL YEAR 2006
17. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, THROUGH SLEEPING GIANTDAY CARE, INC TO APPLY FOR, ACCEPT & EXPEND A GRANT INTHE AMOUNT OF $176,592. FROM THE STATE OF CT. DEPT. OFSOCIAL SERVICES AND TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT FOR ACHILD DAY CARE PROGRAM FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY 1, 2006TO DECEMBER 31, 2006
18. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ACCEPT AND EXPENDA GRANT FROM HOUSEHOLD HAZWASTE CENTRAL, A JOINT PROJECTOF THE REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY AND THE SOUTH CENTRALREGIONAL COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $500.FOR A COMMUNITY EDUCATION PILOT PROJECT
19. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO APPLY FOR, ACCEPTAND EXPEND A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $20,000. FROM THESTATE OF CT. OFFICE OF POLICY & MANAGEMENT
20 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTOA CONTRACT WITH THE STATE DEPT. OF MENTAL HEALTH &ADDICTION FOR ADULT MENTAL HEALTH
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
COMMITTEE-OF-THE-WHOLE
DECEMBER 5, 2005
1. CALL OF THE MEETING & TAKING OF THE ROLL
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND MOMENT OF SILENCE
3. PUBLIC INPUT SESSION
4. CORRESPONDENCE
5. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
6. REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT
7. NEW BUSINESS:
1. REFUND OF PROPERTY TAXES PAID PRIOR TO 7/1/05 (2)TOTALLING $173.86
2. REFUND OF PROPERTY TAXES FOR CERTIFICATES OFCORRECTION ISSUED AFTER 7/1/05 (74) TOTALLING $22,630.94
3. APPROVAL OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS:Lee Davies (Traffic Dept.) $34,810.96Robert Nolan (Police Dept.) $75,759.63Richard Dunham (Police Dept.) $35,009.86Gustav Gertz (Police Dept.) $47,669.96James Kalkowski (Police Dept.)$14,878.01Frank Critchett (Fire Dept.) $20,970.48William Coppola (Fire Dept.) $44,632.56Robert Anthony (Fire Dept.) $38,142.72
4. TRANSFER OF FUNDS - L/C OFFICE - $312,000. (AccruedBenefits/Retirement) FROM E & C ACCOUNT
5. TRANSFER OF FUNDS - COMMUNITY SERVICES - $6,000.(Family Relocations) FROM E & C
6. TRANSFER OF FUNDS - TAX OFFICE - $550.(Pay Differential)INTERNAL TRANSFER
7. TRANSFER OF FUNDS - BUILDING DEPT. - $500. (Temp.Wages)INTERNAL TRANSFER
8. TRANSFER OF FUNDS - L/C OFFICE - $65,184.35 (SpecialProjects) FROM E & C ACCOUNT
9. APPOINTMENT TO THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION (CathrynReynolds) for term ending August 31, 2011
10. APPOINTMENT OF J. MICHAEL BETZ AS FINANCE DIRECTOR
11. APPOINTMENT OF LESLIE CREANE AS TOWN PLANNER
12. APPROVAL OF MODIFIED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT WITHANTHONY F. CIVITELLO AS THE TOWN'S CONSTRUCTIONMANAGER
13. APPROVAL OF BUSINESS INCENTIVE AGREEMENTS:(International Realty, d/b/a International Provisions(Food Manufacturing)(2373-2375 Whitney Ave., LLC - Renovations)(Karl Kieslich - Kieslich Realty - addition & siteimprov! ements)(Caring Bear Nursery LLC/Lenox Builders - Day Care)
14. APPROVAL OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED ILLUMINATINGCO. AND THE TOWN OF HAMDEN FOR INCENTIVES TO BE PAIDTO THE TOWN FOR ENERGY EFFICIENT MEASURES
15. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO APPLY FOR,ACCEPT & EXPEND FUNDING UP TO $8,500. IN STATEOF CT. LOCIP FUNDS FOR BROOKSVALE PARK IMPROVEMENTS
16. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FINANCE DIRECTOR TO BORROWUP TO $44,148. FROM THE GENERAL FUND FOR ADVANCEMENT OFOPERATIONAL EXPENSES FOR SLEEPING GIANT DAY CARE,PENDING RECEIPT OF STATE FUNDING FOR FISCAL YEAR 2006
17. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR, THROUGH SLEEPING GIANTDAY CARE, INC TO APPLY FOR, ACCEPT & EXPEND A GRANT INTHE AMOUNT OF $176,592. FROM THE STATE OF CT. DEPT. OFSOCIAL SERVICES AND TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT FOR ACHILD DAY CARE PROGRAM FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY 1, 2006TO DECEMBER 31, 2006
18. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ACCEPT AND EXPENDA GRANT FROM HOUSEHOLD HAZWASTE CENTRAL, A JOINT PROJECTOF THE REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY AND THE SOUTH CENTRALREGIONAL COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $500.FOR A COMMUNITY EDUCATION PILOT PROJECT
19. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO APPLY FOR, ACCEPTAND EXPEND A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $20,000. FROM THESTATE OF CT. OFFICE OF POLICY & MANAGEMENT
20 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTOA CONTRACT WITH THE STATE DEPT. OF MENTAL HEALTH &ADDICTION FOR ADULT MENTAL HEALTH
Thursday, December 01, 2005
From the NH Register
Betz tapped for Hamden finance director
Michael Gannon, Register Staff
12/01/2005
HAMDEN — Mayor Craig Henrici is calling on an ally from his days as Legislative Council president to help whip Hamden’s finance office back into shape.
J. Michael Betz, who served as finance director from 1987 to 1990, has been serving as interim finance director this week, and his nomination will be sent to the council for confirmation Monday. He is coming from North Branford, where he had been serving as manager of purchasing, central services and risk management.
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"He has extensive experience and a distinguished career in municipal finance," Henrici said. "I first met him when he was finance director and I was president of the council. We became close friends and we stayed in touch. When he heard that I was running (for mayor), we began talking more and more. He’s very competent; he’s a good friend and he already has the department humming."Betz, 59, is an Ohio native who was raised in Hartford. He has lived in the New Haven region for the last 35 years. His other posts include that of deputy comptroller in New Haven from 1990 to 1995.The finance office has been subject to turmoil, having eight separate interim, acting or permanent finance directors since December 2003.Along with the revolving door Betz has staff vacancies that are not budgeted to be filled until at least January; an outstanding audit report that will be submitted beyond its Dec. 31 deadline, and a council that by some accounts could not be counted on to support the office in tough times."I didn’t think I was walking into a situation where these things couldn’t be solved," Betz said.He said the audit of the 2004-05 budget, which former director Don Gray said in the fall could take until June to finish, is on track to be done by the end of January.Henrici said part of the solution to the staffing and audit troubles has been the addition of Robert Tait. Tait, currently the comptroller for Fairfield, has been working on the audit after hours and on weekends on a contractual basis since October. He added that Tom Pesce, Board of Education business manager, has been lending a hand on the town’s side of the books.
Michael Gannon, Register Staff
12/01/2005
HAMDEN — Mayor Craig Henrici is calling on an ally from his days as Legislative Council president to help whip Hamden’s finance office back into shape.
J. Michael Betz, who served as finance director from 1987 to 1990, has been serving as interim finance director this week, and his nomination will be sent to the council for confirmation Monday. He is coming from North Branford, where he had been serving as manager of purchasing, central services and risk management.
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"He has extensive experience and a distinguished career in municipal finance," Henrici said. "I first met him when he was finance director and I was president of the council. We became close friends and we stayed in touch. When he heard that I was running (for mayor), we began talking more and more. He’s very competent; he’s a good friend and he already has the department humming."Betz, 59, is an Ohio native who was raised in Hartford. He has lived in the New Haven region for the last 35 years. His other posts include that of deputy comptroller in New Haven from 1990 to 1995.The finance office has been subject to turmoil, having eight separate interim, acting or permanent finance directors since December 2003.Along with the revolving door Betz has staff vacancies that are not budgeted to be filled until at least January; an outstanding audit report that will be submitted beyond its Dec. 31 deadline, and a council that by some accounts could not be counted on to support the office in tough times."I didn’t think I was walking into a situation where these things couldn’t be solved," Betz said.He said the audit of the 2004-05 budget, which former director Don Gray said in the fall could take until June to finish, is on track to be done by the end of January.Henrici said part of the solution to the staffing and audit troubles has been the addition of Robert Tait. Tait, currently the comptroller for Fairfield, has been working on the audit after hours and on weekends on a contractual basis since October. He added that Tom Pesce, Board of Education business manager, has been lending a hand on the town’s side of the books.
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