TOWN OF EAST WINDSOR
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
April 19, 2005
I. TIME AND PLACE OF MEETING
Mrs. Roberts called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. at the East Windsor Town Hall.
II. ATTENDANCE
SELECTMEN PRESENT:
Linda Roberts, First Selectman
Al Regina, Selectman
Kenneth Crouch, Deputy First Selectman
Thomas Sinsigallo, Selectman
Michael Balf, Selectman
III. ADDED AGENDA ITEMS
MOTION: To add to the agenda New Appointment of Albert Floyd, American Heritage River Commission
Made by Mr. Sinsigallo, seconded by Mr. Balf
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR.
MOTION CARRIED
IV. PREVIOUS MINUTES
a. Regular meeting minutes of April 5, 2005
MOTION: To accept the regular meeting minutes of April 5, 2005, as submitted
Made by Mr. Sinsigallo, seconded by Mr. Balf.
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR
MOTION CARRIED
b. Special meeting minutes of April 5, 2005
MOTION: To accept the special meeting minutes of April 5, 2005, as submitted
Made by Mr. Sinsigallo, seconded by Mr. Crouch
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR
MOTION CARRIED
c. Budget workshop minutes of March 29 and March 31, 2005
MOTION: To accept the budget workshop minutes of March 29, 2005 and March 31, 2005, as submitted
Made by Mr. Sinsigallo, seconded by Mr. Balf.
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR
MOTION CARRIED
V. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - None
VI. COMMUNICATIONS
The following items were for the Board’s information:
A. Connecticut Labor Force Data January 2005
B. East Windsor Rotary Club/Citizen of the Year
C. Community Day May 7th
VII. SELECTMEN REPORTS
A. L. Roberts, First Selectman
· Marie & Carlos DeSousa were named Citizens of the Year by the Rotary Club Tom Sinsigallo agreed to present the Proclamation.
· Community Day is May 7th, the Parade is at 10:00 a.m.
· Memorial Day is May 30th, the Parade is at 10:00 a.m.
· Trolley Museum will celebrate 65th anniversary on Sunday, May 22nd
· General Assembly recommendations for the state budget net the Town $79,692 more than the Governors budget.
· Continued lobbying at the legislature for the following:
o Keep the Town’s share of the conveyance tax
o Keep ethics requirements realistic
o Agree with the governor’s request to form a blue ribbon commission to study unfunded mandates.
· Sad notes, recent deaths of various town employee family members were relayed and condolences expressed.
· Broad Brook Town Center Shops has changed hands and the new owners will be negotiating a lease for the police department
· Mill Book Clean up is progressing – public hearing to be in June.
B. K. Crouch, Deputy First Selectman
· Building Committee
o Volunteer Park additional lighting will be put up. They are working with the power company on that, as well as power to the building. If there is power there Park and Recreation might be able to hold concerts there.
o Police Department Renovations: Due to high bids received the committee is going to general contract the project themselves.
· Veterans Commission: They are working with the schools to get children to march in the Memorial Day Parade.
C. A. Regina, Selectman
· No Report
D. Tom Sinsigallo, Selectman
· No Report
E. M. Balf, Selectman
· No report
VIII. BOARD AND COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
A. Vacancies:
American Heritage River Commission:
Six reg. R or U vacancies, 4-yr. terms, with two vacancies to be filled, terms expiring 11/1/2007
Four Alt. vacancies, 4-yr. terms
Cable Television:
One reg. R, 2-yr. term
Conservation Commission:
One alt. R & U, term to expire 11/01/04
Economic Development Commission:
One Reg. R, D or U, vacancy to be filled, term expiring 11/1/2005
Municipal Building Code Board of Appeals:
Five Regular Members
Natural Resource Preservation Committee:
Two Reg. R or D, 18 month term to expire 07/31/2006
Property Maintenance Code Bd. Of Appeals:
One Reg. R or U, 4-yr. term
B. Resignation: None.
C. Reappointment:
VETERANS COMMISION
MOTION: To reappoint Fred McDermott to the Veterans Commission for a four (4) year term to expire May 1, 2009.
Made by Mr. Regina, seconded by Mr. Crouch
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR.
MOTION CARRIED.
D. New Appointments, Applications to be considered:
AMERICAN HERITAGE RIVER COMMISSION
MOTION: To appoint Al Floyd to the American Heritage River Commission for a four year term, to fill a vacancy, term to expire 11/1/07
Made by Mr. Crouch, seconded by Mr. Sinsigallo
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR.
MOTION CARRIED.
IX. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Park and Recreation Director Search
Nicole Hayes came forward on behalf of the Parks and Recreation Commission. She presented the history of interviewing for the Parks and Recreation Director position and provided details as to the candidate they are recommending, Melissa Green. A copy of Ms. Green’s portfolio was provided to the Board for their review. Ms. Green introduced herself and provided details as to her background, current employment and her enthusiasm at the chance to join the recreation department.
MOTION: To officially offer the Parks and Recreation Director position to Melissa Green.
Made by Mr. Crouch, seconded by Mr. Sinsigallo
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR.
MOTION CARRIED.
*Ms. Green is to start May 2, 2005
B. Request for Reassessment of Land Use Enforcement Position
Laurie Whitten, Director of Planning and Development and Nancy Rudek, ZEO came before the Board and presented a detailed job description of an “Assistant Town Planner/Zoning & Wetlands Compliance Official”. They felt the current ZEO position needed to be reassessed due to the extensive job duties currently covered by Nancy, which encompass more than zoning enforcement. Ms. Rudek assists with land use applications and the public, including coverage for the Planner if she is out of the office. More often coverage for the Planner is necessary when the Planner is occupied in a meeting or with a resident. Ms. Rudek fields the inquiries that arise in those cases and acts accordingly. Another item to add to the job description is: “perform different
associated duties as needed.”
Ms. Whitten outlined that the Town would be hard pressed to find a new suitable candidate with the knowledge and experience to cover the duties currently covered by Ms. Rudek in her position at the salary currently in place. She referenced CASIO information as to salaries as well. The suggested job description has various titles, job duties, and salaries in surrounding towns. Research will be done to get a feel for what other towns have in place for this type of position, as well as a salary survey, and the information will be given to the Board for their review.
MOTION: To table the Request for Reassessment of Land Use Enforcement Position to the next meeting to be discussed in Executive Session.
Made by Mr. Regina, seconded by Mr. Crouch
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR.
MOTION CARRIED.
C. Budget FYE 2006
The Board of Finance has reviewed the Selectmen’s recommendations and reduced them by less than $25,000. They are currently reviewing the Board of Education budget.
D. Services for/Small Cities Community Development Application Grants
Two grant writers expressed interest in serving the Town of East Windsor, Larry Wagner & Associates and Urban Engineers. The candidates and their qualifications were discussed. Larry Wagner has a history of obtaining grants for the Town and he is paid if the grant is received. Urban Engineers charge whether the grant is approved or denied. Ms. Roberts outlined potential grants the town can apply for.
MOTION: To appoint Larry Wagner as the grant writer
Made by Mr. Sinsigallo, seconded by Mr. Balf
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR.
MOTION CARRIED.
E. Ordinance Regulating Alarm Systems
Chief DeMarco of the East Windsor Police Department came before the Board. The public hearing comments were reviewed and discussed. The Board went through the Ordinance line by line and made changes as outlined below in bold and italics:
· Section V. Registration
o Item A., subsection 2.: “Such registration shall be renewed on an annual basis by September 1st of each year provided that any new registration which is filed pursuant to A.1 above on or before July1 of any calendar year shall not be renewed until September 1st of the following calendar year.
o Item D.: “Each monitoring company shall register within thirty (30) days of the effective date of this ordinance with the East Windsor Police Department. Any monitoring company ….”
· Section IX. Penalties
o Item A. Subsection 2: “For the fourth false alarm in the course of a twelve-month period, the alarm user shall be fined fifty dollars ($50.00). . . .”
o Item A. Subsection 3.: “For the fifth to eight false alarms received during a twelve-month period, the alarm user shall be fined one hundred dollars ($100) per false alarm.”
o Item A. Subsection 4: “For the ninth to twelfth false alarms received during a twelve-month period, the alarm user shall be fined two hundred dollars ($200) per false alarm.”
· Section XIII. Violations
o Item A: “Any person who performs, or causes to be performed, any of the following acts may be subject . . . .”
· Section XIV. Surcharges
o Section B: “Any alarm installation company and/or repair company shall be assessed a surcharge of three hundred dollars ($300) if the officer . . .”
· Section XVI. Alarm Funds
o This section was removed as the Town has policies in place. The sections should be renumbered as appropriate.
Discussions took place on how to notify new residents of the Town’s alarm ordinance, including stickers or shields on the systems to notify homeowner of the same. The false alarms received from the schools and state facilities were discussed, as well as ideas to proactively approaching the parties to discuss proper alarm usage and maintenance of equipment. The effective date for the ordinance and eight week time frame in which it will take to put the ordinance procedures in place were discussed.
MOTION: To forward the Ordinance Regulating Alarm Systems, as amended, to Town Meeting, date to be determined by the First Selectman
Made by Mr. Regina, seconded by Mr. Sinsigallo
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR.
MOTION CARRIED.
F. *East Windsor Ambulance (verbal update)
G. *Charter Revision (verbal update)
H. *Park and Recreation Director Search (verbal update)
I. *Ethics Ordinance (referred to Ethics Commission)
J. *Employee Handbook
X. NEW BUSINESS
A. Request for added appropriations
Chief DeMarco of the East Windsor Police Department came before the Board to discuss the need for added appropriations to salary lines due to newly negotiated contracts.
· Police Department
MOTION: To recommend to the Board of Finance an added appropriation of $50,224 to the East Windsor Police Department Salary Lines
Made by Mr. Regina, seconded by Mr. Sinsigallo
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR.
MOTION CARRIED.
· Animal Control
MOTION: To recommend to the Board of Finance an added appropriation of $6,005 to the Animal Control Salary Lines
Made by Mr. Regina, seconded by Mr. Sinsigallo
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR.
MOTION CARRIED.
B. Review Purchasing Policy
The existing purchase policy and the parameters currently in place for bid processing need to be adjusted as costs of services have increased since the policy was put in place. More realistic numbers need to be in place to allow for ease in administration.
The following changes (bold and italicized) are recommended:
PURCHASES
1. Purchases over $5,000 will require three (3) written quotations prior to purchase*
2. Purchases over $25,000 will require sealed bid prior to purchase*
*The use of CRCOG and/or State bid figures is allowed as an alternative to this policy.
MOTION: To revise the Policies and Procedures – Purchase Orders and Vouchers as recommended.
Made by Mr. Regina, seconded by Mr. Sinsigallo
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR.
MOTION CARRIED.
C. Tax Refunds, Tax Collector
MOTION: To approve the tax refunds in the amount of $10,160.78 as recommended by the Tax Collector
Made by Mr. Crouch, seconded by Mr. Sinsigallo
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR
MOTION CARRIED
XI. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: To adjourn at 8:55 p.m.
Made by Mr. Balf, seconded by Mr. Sinsigallo
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR.
MOTION CARRIED.
* Starred items were not discussed, but will remain on the agenda pending receipt of additional information.
Respectfully submitted,
Cynthia D. Croxford
Recording Secretary
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