[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",5987328,"mediaKeyId","5772604-bcb299537525e4f5c7b901d07e8b0cd1","parentId",5772604,"title","City staff seek new five‑year contracts for municipal financial adviser and bond counsel; no committee vote due to lack of quorum","audioSeconds",938,"startMs",3524000,"endMs",4462000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5772604-bcb299537525e4f5c7b901d07e8b0cd1&start=3524&end=4462","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5772604-bcb299537525e4f5c7b901d07e8b0cd1/thumbnail_3524000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5987328/Norwalk-City/Fairfield/Connecticut/City-staff-seek-new-fiveyear-contracts-for-municipal-financial-adviser-and-bond-counsel-no-committee-vote-due-to-lack-of-quorum","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5987328-30b397e9776abf05dcee226bd4aac4ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771025400&Signature=hTT2Ynju6Zrhndf9buADYImuLG8Xj6WvMmPpd8nc3tJewB2NZzhEhaDzafGdtBySXyMZzrTHaW9kwAPY7mZyBDGqxehA655LTxu4maZbifd55pyGGVq-6c3mNCUKOUNF-ZoVoE98vHF1jMDTmj3mPjaqtyH9ERWcpgDFzkLaaVosCNxqBeHlU5hsvBD7JIzxNpqKS3AzI-mMjqh7wxAAWKlsrlOo4JH49sOTRHqiGs4pCUpzFYxw41P4NhC2e9-iFjZqNHeawDCNKx8dco0wRiLmVuCF9ZYFHAYiH98ewEopN~jHw09uEH8p~ucpBkgZ4wPXERgsiXoyDSJ~LAp6rA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Norwalk City, CT","date","2025-09-12T01:08:51Z","article","Staff presented two proposed five‑year professional services contracts related to bond issuance and capital financing to the Finance and Claims Committee on Sept. 11: one with the city’s municipal financial adviser (up to $370,500 over five years) and one with bond counsel (up to $477,500 over five years). The committee did not vote because there was no quorum.

A staff member described the municipal financial adviser’s role in preparing official statements, coordinating departments for bond sales, advising on timing, and working with rating agencies; the adviser also assists with capital‑planning decisions that affect credit ratings. The city received two RFP responses for municipal financial advisory work; the incumbent (referred to in the discussion as Munozat) and a second firm. The staff member said Munozat has substantial institutional knowledge of the city and proposed keeping the incumbent; the $370,500 figure is a five‑year cap and actual fees will vary by the size and type of issuance.

On bond counsel, staff said four firms responded to the request; three were interviewed and Shipman & Goodwin — the incumbent bond counsel — was recommended based on experience with Connecticut municipalities, responsiveness and price. The staff member explained bond counsel’s role at closing, the legal due diligence needed for bond sales and ad‑hoc assistance on language for special appropriations or bond authorizing resolutions.

Committee members discussed the broader connection between fund‑balance management, capital planning and debt issuance. Several members asked for a joint presentation after the municipal election that would explain how ratings agencies evaluate the city (debt metrics, fund balance usage, debt service ratios) and how the adviser’s work interfaces with the budget and capital calendar. Staff agreed to coordinate a joint briefing for the council, the Board of Estimate and Taxation and finance staff before the budget cycle.

Because no vote was possible at the Sept. 11 meeting, staff said they would circulate the contract materials to committee members by email and forward the items to the full council for formal action at a future meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Finance & Claims Committee 09-11-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Staff recommended renewing five‑year contracts with the city’s municipal financial adviser (Munozat) and bond counsel (Shipman & Goodwin) to support future bond sales and capital planning; committee discussion emphasized the adviser’s role in capital planning and proposed a joint briefing for council and finance oversight bodies.","taxTitle","Norwalk City, Fairfield, Connecticut","taxId",4245,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5987333,"Assessor’s office reports $2.45 million in automatic penalties, expands audits and tax‑sale collections",955,1837000,2792000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5772604-bcb299537525e4f5c7b901d07e8b0cd1&start=1837&end=2792","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5772604-bcb299537525e4f5c7b901d07e8b0cd1/thumbnail_1837000.jpg","/articles/5987333/Norwalk-City/Fairfield/Connecticut/Assessors-office-reports-245-million-in-automatic-penalties-expands-audits-and-taxsale-collections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5987333-d17703ae91c561716c2ee13bd4e7fa89/orig.mp4?Expires=1771025400&Signature=WU5~gCS6tZ4jfFW5RNd-2Cet3CeIkQg9PmQUb3GHQj~tATvB3HrS7jfD~jefhYr-PODhftQcAlyriI0AXVWrhn7nK15udr06QrhjikqDMHyIYxqp0p6msSEpxBHonH~QzXb1GiyD4bYKnfZpZBVmskjiOhy1nDOVVwLwmDxxCX37xX69IddbF-o4RgU6Td9SCesG6HhNtvcnHV07ec6eDzXy7uQBgT6NXvd0U3WSdkbHFq9qJM-bgdk7nifw9Gv4TlXovMNx-JKnbXaZZjaW7UPqzxsgMQhqYS2j2VOa8Y1V4ItGGqTwl4UdwuJ3gUakSwvSy9D7HY0~PJ2ZnuX2zA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The tax assessor’s office reported several revenue‑recovery efforts and collection updates to the Finance and Claims Committee on Sept. 11, including income-and-expense (INE) penalty assessments, an ongoing motor vehicle audit program with Municipal Tax Services, a rapid tax sale for zoning and blight fees, and updates on exempt organizations, business personal property filings and cannabis receipts.

Tax assessor Paul Gorman told the committee the office issued INE requests to about 1,900 accounts this spring; roughly 655 did not file and the office issued penalty bills in August that total $2,445,206. Gorman said the state statute governing INE filings requires the assessor to impose a 10% penalty on assessments when owners fail to return required income and expense statements and that local officials have no statutory discretion to waive the penalty. He said the assessor’s office will add a second mailing in future years to improve compliance.

On motor‑vehicle audits, the assessor said the city’s contract partner Municipal Tax Services (MTS) ran an initial billing sweep producing 486 bills; after the vendor fee the city’s net if all bills are paid would be about $85,771.13. Through August the city had collected roughly $49,000 (netting about $30,000 after fees) from early MTS work; the vendor’s first round has a Sept. 12 pay‑by date and a larger street‑sweep billing will follow.

Gorman described planned mailings for business personal property declarations (due Nov. 1 with extension to Dec. 15) and a quadrennial exempt‑organization filing (due Nov. 1 with a 30‑day extension). He said Norwalk maintains a local ordinance that can allow midyear exemption for qualifying organizations when they occupy property immediately for tax‑exempt uses.

Collections staff reported improved collection percentages: a 60‑day collection rate moved from 98.70% to 98.82% and the motor‑vehicle early billing strategy produced higher on‑time payments in June. Collections staff also reported the city has received over $400,000 in cumulative cannabis receipts since April; finance will direct those funds per state law once thresholds are met.

On tax sales the collections team said an expedited sale for zoning and blight fees started with about 15 properties, has generated more than $200,000 in revenue so far and is scheduled for Sept. 18; the office noted two remaining properties and that one owner has sought an injunction to halt a sale. Collections staff said the tax‑sale approach increased compliance and payments that likely would not have occurred otherwise.

Garbage billing adjustments: the assessor explained that once Public Works provides a final customer list, assessor software and the billing vendor (QDS) will issue certificates of correction to add or remove parcels from the garbage assessment. Staff cautioned that per‑parcel garbage charges are modest (example given: roughly $100 on a $500,000 assessed house) but that corrections will proceed after DPW finalizes the list.

Committee members asked whether the $2.45 million in INE penalties is recurring and whether it should be budgeted. Gorman and members agreed the amount varies year to year and should not be relied on as a stable budget line; the office will run historical reports to establish a conservative projection if councilors want to include a forecast in the budget.

No formal votes were taken because the committee lacked a quorum. The assessor and collections offices will continue billed enforcement, MTS audits and the scheduled tax sale and will report back to the committee with updated collections figures and historical trend data if requested.","The tax assessor and collections staff reported a broad set of revenue enforcement actions: 655 nonresponsive income/expense filings prompted about $2.445 million in 10% penalty assessments, municipal vehicle audits are underway, and a zoning/blight tax sale has collected more than $200,000 so far.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5987338,"Oak Hills posts $706,000 net income; committee asks for multi‑year capital plan",615,198000,813000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5772604-bcb299537525e4f5c7b901d07e8b0cd1&start=198&end=813","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5772604-bcb299537525e4f5c7b901d07e8b0cd1/thumbnail_198000.jpg","/articles/5987338/Norwalk-City/Fairfield/Connecticut/Oak-Hills-posts-706000-net-income-committee-asks-for-multiyear-capital-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5987338-d35f9e9604180f57dcd503e0213ced52/orig.mp4?Expires=1771025400&Signature=m4A0hespXrUEcMqOXFkUYMhXSk2XkmhJETUMi1vbDiPAKN6IQnh7D4~q7cbOOIzPcwNelfkoHevdf6ognCfvk8TeoWSvzbhQlla2qh7c1f5KNLG9W9CiEJC1vIc4xNQOHW7uEXp8cbcCOWJ~2HA1cqjIWpj5Zmllv6DyTalJ2pYvl~hJiZ19mQfFBbF3nRptO6P8mISc221jNNluDVo8CQUJWWL3wRJAH274S4ldjXZeowzzwxGYQGPzk0iqQGFO2XPqd6efbcgIzPZlJBhhExyJdTSj8Ab0ZVQ0rUc~HexVRbEKrvhjssGYHaxl7OFmYVdHJbPXogPmS~jDqnlm0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Oak Hills Park Authority reported $2,717,000 in total revenue for the fiscal year ending June and ended the year with $866,000 in cash on hand, Authority representative Alan Dutton told the Finance and Claims Committee on Sept. 11. The authority recorded $706,000 in net income after paying lease and debt costs and capital expenditures.

The committee asked why the authority was holding a large cash balance instead of using it to reduce debt or accelerate deferred maintenance. Dutton said the authority paid $133,000 to the city based on 46,000 rounds played, $157,000 toward commercial debt and leased equipment, and spent about $300,000 on capital projects including the first phase of a trap/bunker renovation program. After those outlays, the authority planned to carry approximately $100,000 into next year’s capital budget.

Committee members said the cash position appeared unusually strong at peak season and asked whether some of it could be used to pay down city debt or fund additional capital projects. One member said July cash totaled more than $1 million with roughly $550,000 in a single account. Dutton responded that cash is seasonal and that the authority typically draws on reserves during fall and winter; historically it has sometimes used a credit line in low months. He emphasized there remains a backlog of deferred maintenance, naming cart paths, the maintenance area roof, and equipment storage as outstanding needs.

Dutton told the committee the bunker/trap project is about 50% complete and that the authority expects to finish the majority of trench and bunker renovations by the end of the current fiscal year. He estimated the authority would budget about $320,000 for capital next year and said another roughly $180,000 remains to complete the bunker work. He also noted a $20,000 pump repair earlier in the summer and discussed evaluating on‑site water sources and potential aquifers to reduce future water purchases.

Committee members requested a formal capital needs analysis covering the next two to three years showing prioritized projects and cost estimates so the committee can consider whether to shift cash to pay down debt or accelerate maintenance. Dutton agreed to prepare and send that analysis to the finance committee for review ahead of a future meeting.

The authority also noted operational items: July started the new fiscal year with revenue about $49,000 over budget and expenses about $10,000 over budget; weather had helped rounds played during the reporting period. The committee discussed the upcoming request for proposals for the tennis program operator; Dutton said the RFP is out and a vendor should be selected within about two months.

Committee direction: staff from Oak Hills will prepare a 2–3 year capital improvement plan with estimated costs and return it to the Finance and Claims Committee for review at a future meeting.

No votes were taken at the Sept. 11 meeting because the committee did not have a quorum. The report and the request for a capital plan will be carried forward to the next meeting for formal consideration.","Oak Hills Park Authority reported $2.7 million in revenue for the year and $706,000 in net income. Committee members pressed the authority to produce a 2–3 year capital needs analysis to prioritize deferred maintenance despite a near‑term cash surplus.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City staff seek new five‑year contracts for municipal financial adviser and bond counsel; no committee vote due to lack of quorum

Assessor’s office reports $2.45 million in automatic penalties, expands audits and tax‑sale collections

Oak Hills posts $706,000 net income; committee asks for multi‑year capital plan