The Shelton Board of Aldermen voted Tuesday to approve a slate of financial and administrative actions, including tax refunds, school HVAC assessments, a fiscal-year appropriation and the purchase of five used propane school buses.

The board approved the tax collector’s certified list of refunds totaling $30,960.23 and directed the finance director to make payments from the statutory refunds account. Alderman moved to waive reading and approve; the motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote.

The board also voted to appropriate $14,650 for state-mandated HVAC assessments at Blue Hill and Long Hill schools, with funding to come from automatic bonding pursuant to section 7.16 of the city charter.

In a separate vote, members approved an appropriation of $170,180 to cover fiscal-year 2024–25 overexpenditures, with funding drawn from the general fund surplus. During discussion, members noted some election-related costs and said portions have been or may be reimbursed by state grants.

On procurement, the board approved waiving the bidding process to buy five used propane-powered school buses for a total of $11,500. Fleet staff reported they located the buses in the New Haven area, described them as 40-seat models with roughly 72,000–109,000 miles each, and said they plan to have the vehicles inspected by the DMV before placing them into service. ‘‘They were first student buses...they fit our fleet perfect,’’ said the fleet supervisor, who described brakes, tires and other wear items as serviceable and noted the district could use the buses for special-needs routes and parts supply.

The board also approved an amendment to the cooperation agreement between the City of Shelton and the Shelton Housing Authority (originally executed in 1968 and 1980) to reduce the percentage of net shelter rent paid annually under that agreement. Legal counsel summarized the statutory authority, saying in part, ‘‘in lieu of real property taxes, a local housing authority may pay annually for elderly housing projects a sum that in excess of 10% of the net shelter rent for each occupied unit.’’ Board members discussed that the change represents a roughly 5% reduction from the historical 10% payment as described in the motion.

Votes at a glance

- Tax refunds (total $30,960.23): motion adopted (voice vote).
- HVAC assessments (Blue Hill and Long Hill schools, $14,650): motion adopted (voice vote).
- Fiscal-year overexpenditure appropriation ($170,180): motion adopted (voice vote).
- Amendment to cooperation agreement with Shelton Housing Authority (reduce percent of net shelter rent): motion adopted (voice vote).
- Purchase of five used propane school buses ($11,500 total): motion adopted (voice vote).
- Referral of Ordinance 7.12 amendment to public hearing: motion adopted.
- Appointment of Mark Rowan to the Trails Committee: motion adopted.

What’s next

The ordinance amendment to municipal citation hearing procedures (Ordinance 7.12) was referred to a public hearing; the board appointed Mark Rowan to the Shelton Trails Committee effective immediately. The meeting moved into executive session after the public portion concluded. The record did not include roll-call vote tallies for the motions; each item was carried by voice vote when taken.

Sources: Board meeting proceedings; legal counsel explanation of Conn. Gen. Stat. §8-118a and the city charter reference to automatic bonding.