Timberlin celebrates 50 years in 2020
Council moves $1.4 million into pension fund
By Devin Leith-Yessian The Citizen
By Devin Leith-Yessian The Citizen
Fifty years after former First Selectman Arthur Powers sent the first golf ball soaring over Timberlin Golf Course, it remains one the town’s best-known assets.
Berlin’s nearly depleted pension fund would be returned to 17 percent financed with a $1.4 million allocation approved by the Town Council, which now awaits a sign-off by the Board of Finance.
“I think it’s one of the greatest places in Connecticut, we get a lot of remarks on it,” Powers said.
Less than $500,000 remains in the pension account after two town employees opted for lump sum buyouts during this fiscal year, which began in July, said Finance Director Kevin Delaney. He anticipates another two employees will also retire this fiscal year and expects all of the remaining 11 active members of the pension plan will take buyouts rather than annuity payments.
The 50th anniversary celebration for the 18-hole municipal course and adjoining Timberlin Park has been scheduled for July 18, with activities for golfers and the general public, including a performance by Connecticut Laser. The Golf Commission considered a fireworks display. However, after a commissioner saw a laser show in See Timberlin, A6
Thursday, December 26, 2019
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Volume 22, Number 44
Marc Bayram, head professional at Timberlin Golf Course, tees it up. File photo
Though the town’s general fund has more than enough to cover the $8 million liability the town could face if all members of the plan were to retire, Delaney said leaving the amount the town’s actuaries recommended putting into the fund this year, the actuarial determined contribution, would raise a number of problems.
File photo
If the allocation is approved by the Board of Finance, it would effectively reverse the board’s decision to not dedicate the funds to pensions outright while the budget was being deliberated in the spring. Board Chairperson Sam Lomaglio said he anticipates the body will approve the allocation and defended the decision to not put the money directly into the pension line item in the budget, saying Mayor Mark Kaczynski intended to divert a portion of the money elsewhere. The Town Council has the authority to transfer money out of the pension account, but needs Board of Finance approval to move money out of the general fund. “We took it out because we knew the mayor was going to use it — the mayor was going to use it to offset the mill rate and leave a gap in the pension fund,” Lomaglio said.
During the formation of this year’s budget in March, Kaczynski presented a plan to reduce the allocation being paid into the pension fund by $400,000, which would leave $1 million for the anticipated buyouts during the fiscal year and Moving funds out of the gen- $200,000 for annuity payments. eral fund and into the pension plan requires the approval of the Town Council See Pension, A7
Chief among them would be ensuring that money can be moved into the fund within the timeframe that the town is required to disperse payment for the buyouts, which can be as short as two weeks.
Opening day at Timberlin, 2018.
and Board of Finance, which could mean calling special meetings on little notice.