TOWN OF EAST WINDSOR
CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION
Regular Meeting
September 25, 2008
***** Draft Document - Subject to Commission Review *****
The Meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Co-Chairman George Butenkoff in the Town Hall Meeting Room, 11 Rye Street, Broad Brook, CT.
ATTENDANCE (Establishment of Quorum):
Present: Co-Chairman George Butenkoff, Members Claire Badstubner, Karen Gaudreau, Scott Riach, Charles Riggott, and Bonnie Yosky.
Absent: Co-Chairman John Matthews, Donald Arcari, Edward Farrell, Joyce Phillips, and Madeleine Thompson
Guests: None.
A quorum was established with the presence of six members. Co-Chairman Butenkoff chaired the meeting this evening.
ADDED AGENDA ITEMS: None.
Chairman Butenkoff suggested a discussion of “leasing” be added as an Agenda item under DISCUSSION OF TOP 5.
MOTION: To ADD to the Agenda under DISCUSSION OF TOP 5 discussion of “leasing” as Item (d).
Yosky moved/Riggott seconded/VOTE: In Favor: Unanimous
PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES/comments and acceptance:
MOTION: To APPROVE the Minutes of September 11, 2008 as written.
Riach moved/Badstubner seconded/VOTE: In Favor: Unanimous
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - The public is encouraged to provide their thoughts as succinct as possible. CRC Members will not comment on the merits of an idea at this meeting but may ask questions to clarify the proposal. A time limit may be imposed.
No one requested to speak.
WRITTEN INPUT SUBMITTED TO CRC:
An e-mail correspondence from Commissioner Farrell had been forward to the Charter Revision Commission from First Selectman Menard. Commissioner Farrell continues to review the Commission Minutes and offered his thoughts on the following issues: clarification of the association between the Town and the Cemetery Association, the Ambulance Association, and the Warehouse Point Library and a suggestion for a mechanism for funding same; and discussion of the approval process for the First Selectmen.
Discussion occurred as to how the organizations mentioned in Commissioner Farrell’s e-mail fit into the Town with regard to funding, services provided, and operation. Research determined there appear to be no ordinances with regard to the Cemetery Association or the Ambulance Association. Discussion continued regarding how the assets of each organization are held/managed, what benefit the Town receives from those assets, and what services these organizations provide for the Town. The Commission considered that each organization has a vendor relationship with the Town, similar to the contract negotiated with the trash hauling vendor. With regard to the Cemetery Association the Town owns 6 of the 7 local cemeteries; St. Catherine Cemetery is privately owned by St. Catherine Church, and
privately maintained.
Review of the current Charter found the Cemetery Association and the Ambulance Association are listed under CHAPTER VII: BOARDS, AUTHORITIES, COMMISSIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS, as Subsection 7-19 Ambulance Association, and Subsection 7-20 Cemetery Association but are not Boards or Commissions responsible to the Town.
MOTION: To REMOVE Subsection 7-19 Ambulance Association and Subsection 7-20 Cemetery Association from CHAPTER VII: BOARDS, AUTHORITIES, COMMISSIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS.
Riggott moved/Gaudreau seconded:
DISCUSSION: It was suggested Subsection 7-21 Fire Protection and Subsection 7-22 Nursing and Health Services were similar organizations and should also be deleted.
REVISED MOTION: To REMOVE Subsection 7-19 Ambulance Association and Subsection 7-20 Cemetery Association, Subsection 7-21 Fire Protection and Subsection 7-22 Nursing and Health Services from CHAPTER VII: BOARDS, AUTHORITIES, COMMISSIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS.
DISCUSSION: Commissioner Gaudreau disagreed with the deletion of the Fire Departments (Fire Protection) as the Town is sitting with two stations fully equipped with apparatus. It was noted the Town owns the equipment; fire personnel are volunteers who are paid an incentive to answer calls. The Ambulance Association is also paid for calls made on behalf of the Town. Commissioner Badstubner noted the Town has a contract with the Vernon Visiting Nurse Association for health care. Commissioner Riggott noted the Broad Brook Fire Department leases the station from the Town for $1/year but pays utilities throughout the year on that building.
Commissioner Yosky volunteered to e-mail First Selectman Menard for clarification if the
Cemetery Association is considered a permanent Board, and requesting direction as to the type of relationship the Town should seek with this association.
Commissioner Riggott RESCINDED his motion, Commissioner Gaudreau RESCINDED her second.
ADMINISTRATIVE HOUSEKEEPING/(a):
Commissioner Gaudreau requested Commissioner Yosky sign a Code of Ethics document regarding her service on the Commission. Commissioners Riach and Riggott have signed similar documents previously. Commissioner Badstubner has signed a similar document with regard to service on the Elderly Commission; that document would extend to the Charter Revision Commission as well.
ADMINISTRATIVE HOUSEKEEPING/(b) Query members for other items: None.
REVIEW OF CRC MEMBERS input for proposed revisions: Nothing received.
DISCUSSION OF TOP 5/(a) Clarify the ability to sign contracts for the Town lies with the Selectman, set specifics on the contract obligations, i.e. a cap on the amount of monetary obligations (Gaudreau/Hoffman):
Commissioner Gaudreau requested an extension on a proposal for revision of language for signature authority.
MOTION: To EXTEND the presentation of language revision for signature authority to the next meeting.
Riach moved/Riggott seconded/VOTE: In Favor: Unanimous
DISCUSSION OF TOP 5/(b) Review of present charter, and currently proposed changes, section by section for review of consistency, clarity, and compatibility.
Commissioner Yosky suggested that the Commission consider review of the present Charter chapter by chapter beginning with the next meeting. It was noted Commissioner Philips had made a similar suggestion at the September 11th Meeting.
MOTION: To REVIEW CHAPTERS I THROUGH V OF THE CHARTER, including current revisions proposed, for the next meeting.
Gaudreau moved/Yosky seconded/VOTE: In Favor: Unanimous
DISCUSSION OF TOP 5/(c) Report of Ordinance Sub-Committee (including review of addition of the Code of Ethics)(Yosky/Badstubner):
Commissioner Yosky reported she has highlighted anything in the current Charter referencing the Connecticut General Statutes, and then has downloaded same for comparison. Both Commissioners
Badstubner and Yosky agreed it would be cleaner to reference the CGS generally rather than specifically as the source documents are amended or rescinded frequently. Commissioner Yosky hopes to have the Ordinances applicable to Chapters I through V available for review at the next meeting.
DISCUSSION OF TOP 5/(d) Leasing:
Chairman Butenkoff reported that discussion occurred at a Board of Selectmen’s Meeting regarding the pumper truck for the fire department; a member suggested if the truck were leased then the expenditure would not require a Town Meeting. Commissioner Riggott reported that during the term of First Selectman Ed Hastillo the department went through a Town Meeting; the lease was subsequently signed by Selectman Hastillo. Commissioner Riggott felt the Town Meeting route was appropriate as significant sums are being considered; the remainder of the Commission members concurred.
BRAINSTORM FOR ADDITIONAL ITEMS, NO COUNTER POINTS:
No additional items offered for discussion.
nd PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: No one requested to speak.
GUIDANCE FOR NEXT MEETING:
a) Clarify that the ability to sign contracts for the Town lies with the Selectman, set specifics on the contract obligations, i.e. a cap on the amount of monetary obligations (Gaudreau/Hoffman):
b) Review of present charter, and currently proposed changes, section by section for review of consistency, clarity, and compatibility.
c) Report of Ordinance Sub-Committee (including review of addition of the Code of Ethics)(Yosky/Badstubner):
d) Discussion of response from First Selectman regarding status of Cemetery Association.
ADJOURN:
MOTION: To ADJOURN this Meeting at 8:07 p.m.
Gaudreau moved/Riach seconded/VOTE: In Favor: Unanimous
Respectfully submitted, ______________________________________________________________________
Peg Hoffman, Recording Secretary, East Windsor Charter Revision Commission
FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION:
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