The Board of Finance heard reports from First Selectman Matt Riiska Tuesday night that concerned several issues of concern to the town, including the Manor House lawsuit, finance software woes and the formation of a fire district.
The lawsuit contesting the Planning and Zoning Commission’s approval of a special permit modification for Manor House has already cost the town about $50,000 and there is no end in sight.
First Selectman Matt Riiska told the Board of Finance Tuesday night that the first few months’ costs have been for attorney fees, about $43,000, and for transcribing all the transcripts of the P&Z proceedings, expected to be $6,000 to $7,000.
The town was sued by residents who opposed the expansion of amenities at the Manor House, which operates as a country inn.
Riiska told the finance members that he does not have a lot of information yet and thatno court date has been set. “Nothing will happen this year,” said Finance Chair MichaelSconyers, who is also an attorney. “Zoning cases take forever.”
Riiska said he has contacted the town’s insurer to see if any of legal costs can be reimbursed.
In addition, he told the finance members that setting up new software for the town’s finances has been “painful to this point.” The first firm hired was sold and the new owners proved to be incompetent. The town has now moved to SBS Accounting, a firm that “has helped tremendously,” Riiska reported.
Finally, he described the first steps in setting up a fire district, an independent agency that would be able to tax for emergency services. The tax would be levied on everyone, including non-profits who that currently do not pay taxes.
He said he has contacted the town of New Hartford, which has two fire districts, and is receiving information about how the fire district’s function there.
“There are a lot of components required by state statute,” he said.
Sconyers noted that a petition signed by at least 15 residents is required to start the legal process of forming a district.
“We need everyone in town who uses the services to pay for those services,” Riiska said. The fire district taxes would remove many costs for emergency services from the municipal budget and would require persons and entities , tax exempt or not, to pay for those services. “You’ve got to spread the pain,” said Riiska.