Established -
1975
Statutory authority
- CGS Sec. 4b-3
Recurring operating
expenses - $391,169
Organizational structure - The State
Properties Review Board consists of six members, appointed on a bi-partisan
basis; three are appointed jointly by the Speaker of the House and the
President Pro Tempore of the Senate; and three are appointed jointly by the
Minority Leader of the House and the Minority Leader of the Senate. As of June 30, 2004 the members are:
Pasquale A. Pepe, Chairman; Lisa A. Musumeci, Vice Chairman; Edwin S.
Greenberg, Secretary; Paul F. Cramer; Bruce Josephy; and Bennett Millstein.
The mission of the State Properties Review Board is to provide oversight of State real estate activities, acquisition of farm development rights, and the hiring of architects, engineers and other construction-related professionals, as proposed by State Executive Branch agencies. In accomplishing this legislative mandate, the Board provides guidance and assistance to State client-agencies to ensure that transactions are done in a prudent, business-like manner, that costs are reasonable, and that proposals are in compliance with State laws, regulations and procedures.
The Board reviews plans for transactions involving the acquisition, construction, development, assignment to and leasing of offices and other facilities for various agencies of the State. The Board reviews proposals involving the lease or sale of State-owned real estate to third parties. The Board approves both the selection of and contracts with architects, engineers and other consultants for major construction projects proposed by the Commissioner of Public Works.
In addition, the Board reviews, evaluates and approves the acquisition of development rights for farmland proposed by the Commissioner of Agriculture.
The Board meets at least twice per week or as often as necessary to provide its services. The Board follows the Affirmative Action Plan prepared and administered by the Department of Administrative Services.
In reviewing and approving the various transactions proposed by the client-agencies, the Board has the
opportunity to modify and improve the proposals to ensure that they reflect market prices favorable to the State, are financially prudent, and conform to State laws. The Board typically achieves quantifiable savings to State taxpayers of $1.0 to $14.0 million per year.
A total of 449 proposals were reviewed by the Board, compared to 517 during the preceding fiscal year. The Department of Public Works submitted 39 percent of the proposals, while 57 percent came from the Department of Transportation, and 4 percent were from all other agencies. Due to a 33 percent staff reduction, the average time to review these proposals increased to 10.3 calendar days (including weekends and holidays) in the Fiscal Year ending 2004, compared with 8.33 days in 2002-2003 and 7.62 days in 2001-2002. Quantifiable annual taxpayer savings in transaction costs achieved of $797,391 were over two times the Board’s operating budget costs of $391,169.