M.A.R.B.
MUNICIPAL ACCOUNTABILITY REVIEW BOARD - 2018 IMPLEMENTER
RELATED INFORMATION, CT & ELSEWHERE, ON "BANKRUPTCY" PAGE
IN THE IMPLEMENTER INITIALLY IN 2017
M.A.R.B. APPOINTMENTS/MEMBERSHIP
Some resignations, terms ended...and now...
Barely re-elected in '21, Mayor Rossi not out of the woods yet.
Stand-in for OPM Sec'y, September 19, 2019.
Public input.
Not having received responses from last time...??? No answers given
HARTFORD TO THE PLATE
So is this why the OPM Sec'y did not run the meeting - teacher contract...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
A NEW DAY - BEST M.A.R.B. MEETING EVER - CLEAR AS A BELL!!! http://www.ctn.state.ct.us/ctnplayer.asp?odID=16593
AUG. 1, 2019 - http://www.ctn.state.ct.us/ctnplayer.asp?odID=16593
New Chair.- OPM Sec'y Melissa McCaw- sitting on the other side of the table now!
Public Comment
Senate Republicans, comments on how to improve minutes (add notice of meetings to CGS website).
HARTFORD
Review of their expenses with Mayor Bronin and department heads.
SPRAGUE (familiar face) 1st SELECTMAN
Going to Referendum, but M.A.R.B. favorably impressed.- it was a Board of Education problem, now hopefully resolved.
NEW FACES/FUNCTIONS TO M.A.R.B.?
Staff of Commission left takes a strong role, and new West Haven staff (r.).
West Haven: Oops time. City's own consultant had not dug deep enough (our analysis) to see all the complexities.
And no one ever remembers that it takes at least twice as long to make changes in public sector. Question asked by
AFL-CIO. Explanations by former head of C.E.A.
INTIMATION OF CHARTER BILL OVERRIDE NEXT SESSION
FIRE STUDY (MERGING 3 FIRE DISTRICTS) - ADD MILS TO NEXT BUDGETS?
Unfunded liabilities. Municipal Fiscal Indicators. Pension
liabilities. Merger needed because one of three is a poor
neighborhood. New legislation needed?
WEST HAVEN ANNUAL REPORT AND QUESTION FROM NEW MEMBER (WITH EXPERIENCE ON A POLICE COMMISSION)
"Canary in the coal mine" suggested by panel member (L.); Board of
Ed ordered to appear to explain to M.A.R.B. why they should be immune
from West Haven's woes...
CITY WILL APPEAR WITH BOARD OF EDUCATION
Mayor Rossi notes that the Fire Dept. had had a history of not reporting annually, but has been doing so the last 4 years.
Adjourned after more than 3 1/2 hours...
MUNICIPAL ACCOUNTABILITY REVIEW BOARD ("M.A.R.B.")
WE WATCHED THE BEGINNING...
F.O.I. Commission review for new MARB Board. Guess who's Chair.?
West Haven finally gets action out of M.A.R.B.
https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/State-MARB-approves-West-Haven-s-5-year-plan-13355865.php
SPECIAL JULY 17, 2018 MEETING OF M.A.R.B.
We watched after the fact in two separate sessions.
WEST HAVEN FIRST. O.P.E.B., CAPITAL BUDGET INDEPENDENT FIRE DISTRICTS
West Haven first at this Special Meeting. Audit. $230 billion
debt. Three fire districts separate funding plans. More
later...debt service an issue. Very interesting...OPEB
contributions are taken away by other needs...22% funded. Add
financial staff.
SYMPATHY FROM FORMER MAYOR OF HAMDEN
Mayor Rossi explains to deaf ears why municipal government moves as
slowly as it does - including unions and the "grievance" delays.
Will they go Level 4?
H A R T F O R D T I E R F O U R
JUST THE FACTS MA'AM
M.A.R.B. likes Tier 4. (Now post-election, Tier 3, apparently).They can avoid political realities that
way. Center for Public "Integrity" sounds like the CT MIRROR
series...without attribution to the MIRROR.
We note the symbolism of City of Hartford financial director being
appointed to head O.P.M. in the Lamont Administration. States
cannot go "bankrupt" - who will bail us all out?
Secretary Barnes Chairs. M.A.R.B.
He actually has Gov. Malloy's cadence
City of Hartford get OK for the next year's budget. Cloud based
service for all the data collection processes - sounds like Weston
Only one votes no. Police Department has to do a dog and pony show
to get body cameras. Lots of discussion about how wonderful
things are. Contracts reviewed.
WEST HAVEN
Threat to be Tier 4 - but...new Mayor at right has new financial people and makes good points.
M.A.R.B. IN THE NEWS
NH Register June 5, 2018
WEST HAVEN — Members of the state Municipal Accountability Review Board
praised city officials Monday for the work they’ve done so far to get
West Haven back on track, but will recommend leaving “Tier 4” status
open as a possibility, for now.
Tier 4 is a higher level of supervision under which the MARB would have
the power to pass and implement an interim budget, raise the city’s tax
rate or impose mid-year spending cuts and have greater latitude to
approve or disapprove new labor contracts.
“I appreciate that the city has made an effort to avoid that outcome by
enacting a set of budget provisions that, with a couple of areas of
uncertainty, largely accomplishes” the goals the MARB has set out for
the city, said state Office of Policy and Management Secretary Benjamin
Barnes, the MARB’s chairman...
https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/MARB-members-praise-WH-fiscal-progress-but-will-12970462.php
"NOT SO FAST" SAY INSURANCE COMPANIES...
Jan 5, 2018 COURANT article in business section. Isn't one of
these three leaving for NYC? At least before some takeover news???
Since "insurance" is a polite way of say "covering their bets"...read full report here: http://www.courant.com/business/hc-biz-insurance-hartford-aid-20180105-story.html
Oliver Twist come again?
http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/three_towns_seek_help_after_being_shortchanged_in_state_budget_2018_01_04/
M.A.R.B.
April 5, 2018
(Watching CT-N re-run)
OPM Sec'y Barnes Chairs. meeting (below left).- member, former First
Selectman of Simsbury, Mary Glassman, and former Mayor of Hamden (and CT
Labor Commissioner and Retirement Security Board Chair.) right.
Hartford Councilman for Public Comment - PILOT shortchanging.
Question (member Peter Goia, not pictured) on Hartford debt. $34 million
per year forever, I think that is what the Governor signed us up
for. Confirmed by Treasurer, not pictured.
Who's got the authority (member Scott Jackson)? Treasurer compels city to restructure.
We're out of here to live Legislature...
MUNICIPAL FISCAL INDICATORS UPDATE COMING IT WAS REPORTED AT THE MEETING
First meeting
December 8, 2017. Co-Chairs. Treasurer of CT. and OPM Sec'y
(below). Remember the request for information about Grand List, funds available, etc.?
HOW IS THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT LIKE THE STATUE OF LIBERTY?
If says hello and come on down to the hopeless, tempest tossed - we are the golden door. CTNEWSJUNKIE article here: http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/west_haven_hartford_would_qualify_for_assistance_12_8_2017/
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING - there should be something in writings here - OPM website will have this eventually, we would think.
Municipal Accountability Review Board has first meeting at 10am
at OPM
(we didn't see it live on CT-N live - but we watched it a few days
later) since it was not held at the Capitol). And according
to online source, Hans Brinker fairy tale includes this story about
Haarlem, the little Dutch boy who put his finger in the dike and kept it
there all night, to save the town from a flood.
Lots of q&a on this part of the agenda with everyone chiming
in. Who can really apply (asked by below member)? (Can the State of Connecticut
apply?)
Sec. 349 - 360. In 2017 Implementer - amended from 1993 deficit bonds bill - State backs bonds (haha); Chap 9. Eleven (11) members on M.A.R.B.
4 tiers - 3 & 4 highest. Bond rating; fund balance; mil rate;
increase in state aid. Membership - Gov. gets 5 members.
Unions get a lot of members. 6 year terms.
1 - some distress; gets info from MARB - limit to how long you can remain here.
2 - chief elected official applies. In addition monthly financial
reports, have a three year plan, tax collection and state aid number
can't be tricky, deficit bonds with CT ok. Restructuring funds.
Expenses for OPM staff charged to municipalities (3&4) - info must be provided. Appeal to /ag
3 - Chief exec or legislative body can apply for tier 3;
30 days to decide. OPM Sec'y can designate a tier 3.
Refunding bonds, 25 yr bonds. 120,000 pop, Caa or less rating can
fit immediately. Municipality or Board of Ed can check contracts
$50,000. Collective bargaining agreements can reviewed.
Binding arbitration award for town not teachers. Same requirements
as 1 & 2. Term of designation - 3 yrs positive surplus.
Restructuring funds available. Assistance from CT Treasurer and
OPM on contracts. $20 million in current budget.
4 - Same as 3 for designation. MARB could do it itself, too.
Must be approved by Governor. Review level upped - local budget
approval. Review and approve all bonding. Require changes,
approve all collective bargaining. Reqire budget transfer etc,
appoint financial manager. Same as tier three for terms of office.
ESTABLISH BYLAWS EVENTUALLY - draft presented. Majority rules - bylaws - constituencies could get screwed.
MEETING TWICE A MONTH START JAN 4, 2018 location to be determined especially if item on agenda is about a particular community.
