TOWN OF EAST WINDSOR
BOARD OF SELECTMEN MINUTES
Regular Meeting of August 16, 2005
I. TIME AND PLACE OF MEETING
Ms. Roberts called the meeting to order on Tuesday, August 16, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. at the East Windsor Town Hall
II. ATTENDANCE
Linda Roberts, First Selectman
Al Regina, Selectman
Kenneth Crouch, Deputy First Selectman
Thomas Sinsigallo, Selectman
Michael Balf, Selectman
III. ADDED AGENDA ITEMS – None.
IV. PREVIOUS MINUTES
A. Regular meeting minutes of July 19, 2005
MOTION: To accept the regular meeting minutes of July 19, 2005, as submitted
Made by Mr. Sinsigallo, seconded by Mr. Crouch
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED
V. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
William Loos, Melrose Road, Broad Brook
Mr. Loos wanted to know how, under East Windsor’s Town Charter, the First Selectman could enter into a contract with the East Windsor Ambulance on June 17, 2005, without the funding in place for $250,000 over two years? He also outlined that the contract indicated a Town Employee could not be on the East Windsor Ambulance. How then can firemen in town be employed by the Ambulance? The Chief of the Ambulance Association is a town employee.
Secondly he indicated there is a contract with a developer in town for sewers. A North Road developer wants to put 220 units on North Road, 22 buildings, 22 acres, 10 units per building. If the development gets put in, the WPCA gets money for the sewer hook-up(s), over a five year contract, $1.9 million. There should be no development on the road and sewer should be for commercial not housing.
VI. COMMUNICATIONS - - Distributed and discussed
A. Eastern Connecticut Resource Conservation & Development
Area, Inc. information
B. Election information
C. St. Catherine’s Church invitation
D. State of Connecticut General Assembly re: Eminent Domain
E. Connecticut State Library re: Historic Documents Preservation Grant
F. CRRA news release
G. DOT Town improved and unimproved roads
H. Credit/Tax Deferral Homeowners Forum
I. Allied Community Services newsletter
J. CCM/Late Town Aid Road Payments to Municipalities
VII. SELECTMEN’S REPORTS - NO REPORTS GIVEN
A. L. Roberts, First Selectman
B. K. Crouch, Deputy First Selectman
C. A. Regina, Selectman
D. T. Sinsigallo, Selectman
E. M. Balf, Selectman
VIII. BOARD AND COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATION
A. Vacancies:
American Heritage River Commission:
Five reg. R, D or U vacancies; two vacancies to be filled; one term expiring 11/1/2006 and one term expiring 11/1/2007; three regular 4-yr. terms available.
Four Alt. vacancies, 4-yr. terms
Conservation Commission:
One alt. R & U, vacancy, 4-yr. terms
Economic Development Commission:
Four Reg. R, D or U, vacancies to be filled, two terms expiring 11/1/2005 and two terms expiring 10/1/2007
Municipal Building Code Board of Appeals:
Five Regular Members
Natural Resource Preservation Committee:
Two Reg. R or D, vacancies to be filled, 18 month term to expire 07/31/2006
Property Maintenance Code Bd. Of Appeals:
One Reg. R or U, vacancy, 4-yr. term
B. Resignation: None
C. Re-Appointment:
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANNING COMMITTEE
MOTION: To re-appoint to the following individuals to the Capital Improvement Planning Committee for a ten month term to expire 6/1/2006: Edward Farrell, Edward Filipone, Gilbert Hayes, Len Norton, Linda Roberts, Mary Szabo, and Dave Tyler
Made by Mr. Sinsigallo, seconded by Mr. Crouch
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED
New Appointments, Applications to be considered:
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
MOTION: To appoint Sharon Aprea to the Economic Development Commission for a four year term expiring 9/1/2006.
Made by Mr. Crouch, seconded by Mr. Balf
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED.
NATURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
MOTION: To appoint Douglas R. Wilson to the Natural Resource Preservation Committee, 18 month vacancy to be filled, term expiring 07/31/2006
Made by Mr. Sinsigallo, seconded by Mr. Regina
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED.
MOTION: To appoint Michael Kovalcek to the Natural Resource Preservation Committee, 18 month vacancy to be filled, term expiring 07/31/2006
Made by Mr. Crouch, seconded by Mr. Balf
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED.
IX. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Proposed Scenic Road Ordinance
A copy of the proposed ordinance, as well as the corresponding Connecticut General Statute was distributed for the Board. The Town Attorney’s comments in correspondence dated August 12, 2005 was also distributed and discussed. The main points the Attorney covered were:
· Recommendation of a comprehensive general policy, not with specific roads named, but an authoritative board could make designations after a public hearing, one road at a time;
· PZC would have authority;
· Incorporation of statute characteristics into the ordinance; and
· Residents of the road pursue a scenic road designation, not a body of people seeking to make a road part of the ordinance.
The Board will review a copy of the town of Bethany’s ordinance and then decide on the authority, as well as incorporation of more specific statute language, where necessary. No action taken tonight.
MOTION: To table this item to the next meeting.
Made by Mr. Crouch, seconded by Mr. Balf
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR. MOTRION CARRIED.
B. Natural Resource Preservation Committee, Resolution to authorize
issuance of Bonds
This proposed Resolution went before the bonding attorney to review with an eye toward the wording, as well as providing the Board with an idea of time frame parameters that need to be followed. The Board discussed the Attorney’s response. Mr. George Grant came before the Board for this discussion, but had not new information to provide.
The next steps in this process is for the Selectmen to adopt or pass on the Resolution on or before September 8. If adopted by the Selectmen, then the Board of Finance will view the Resolution and adopt or pass on it. Again, if adopted, next follows a Town Meeting for an adjournment to a ballot question, so it can be a town wide referendum vote question. The Board of Finance will be reviewing the Resolution, pending approval by the Board of Selectmen, on August 17, 2005.
Past Surveys of town residents have outlined this as a high priority item. This is an opportunity for the question to be put to the town residents to see if the general consensus on surveys is a correct consensus, with voter input, and thereby allows the town to move in this direction. The action by the Board at this meeting, should it pass the Resolution, is recommending approval of the resolution and recommended adoption by the legal voters. Action tonight is a natural step to getting this question on a ballot in November. The Board was polled individually and it was felt unanimously this was a question that the voters should decide.
MOTION: That the following resolution be adopted:~
~
RESOLVED:~ That the resolution entitled "Resolution Appropriating $5,000,000 For the Acquisition of Land or Interests In Land~~~ for Open Space Preservation, Recreation, Conservation or Agricultural Land Preservation and authorizing the Issuance of ~$5,000,000 Bonds of the Town to Meet said Appropriation and Pending the Issuance Thereof The Making Of Temporary Borrowings For Such Purpose" a copy of which is attached hereto, be approved and recommended for adoption by the legal voters of the Town.
~
~~~ Made by Mr. Regina, seconded by Mr. Crouch
~~~ Ayes:~ Sinsigallo, Balf, Roberts, Crouch, Regina
~~~ Nays:~ n/a
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR.~ MOTION CARRIED
~
MOTION: Pending approval by the Board of Finance of the Resolution entitled: "Resolution Appropriating $5,000,000 For the Acquisition of Land or Interests In Land for Open Space Preservation, Recreation, Conservation or Agricultural Land Preservation and authorizing the Issuance of $5,000,000 Bonds of the Town to Meet said Appropriation and Pending the Issuance Thereof The Making Of Temporary Borrowings For Such Purpose", ~that the First Selectmen be authorized and directed to call a Town Meeting, date, time and location to be determined, ~to consider the~above referenced~ Resolution to be submitted for approval or disapproval at referendum to be held in connection with the general election on November 8, 2005.
~
Made by Mr. Crouch, seconded by Mr. Regina.
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED.
~
C. Ethics Ordinance
In a memo dated August 8, 2005, the Chairman asked that this item be on the October 4, 2005 Board of Selectmen agenda.
D. Tax Relief for the Elderly
Elizabeth Burns came before the Board to discuss the work done to date by the Elderly Commission and the need for a Tax Relief Committee to be put in place to officially suggest specific action. The Tax Relief Committee will be a diverse group of five residents, not to exceed a term of 60 days. The Elderly Commission is sponsoring a forum on this issue, which will provide information and determine the interest in this proposal. The Tax Relief Committee should be appointed after this forum, as at that time there might be names of potential members generated by the interested parties gathered at the forum, as well as a view of what the residents’ interest is in this venture. At that time it can be determined for sure how many individuals should serve on the Committee. The Tax Relief Committee will
likely hold one public hearing.
The Elderly Commission forum will be advertised through the usual media avenues, as well as on the Town web site. The relief will apply to residents over 65, or on Social Security Disability and applies to homeowners, not renters. It was stated that members of the Elderly Commission can be members of the Tax Relief Committee as well.
Ms. Burns outlined that the Assessor has worked closely with the Elderly Commission as information was gathered and was a great help to the Commission.
MOTION: To table this item to the September 20, 2005 meeting
Made by Mr. Regina, seconded by Mr. Crouch
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED.
X. NEW BUSINESS
A. Proposed Building Moratorium & Request for appropriation for consulting Fees
Ms. Whitten, Town Planner, came before the Board of Selectmen to outlined the Planning and Zoning Commission’s recent action to put a nine (9) month moratorium on residential construction. Ms. Whitten went into detail as to what this moratorium will cover and time frames for new applications, pending projects.
In connection with the Plan of Conservation and Development, the PZC needs to focus on getting the regulations up to date and corrected. At a special meeting on August 11, 2005, the PZC had special meeting and set the following priorities:
· Redraft/revise/adopt Zoning Regulations;
· Re-evaluation of open space standards;
· Consideration of alternative density factors, revision of density standard;
· Revision of Residential Districts.
Ms. Whitten outlined that hiring a consultant would be the most efficient and timely action to allow the PZC to begin and finalize their current plan of action as outlined above. It also provides a type of moderator during the meetings, an unbiased party and true professional, to help the Commission in their decision making process.
Ms. Whitten distributed the quote from Planimetrics, the same company that did the Plan of Conservation and Development. The $17,000 - $18,000 request will allow for the consultant, as well as the printing costs after the project is completed. The PZC did not see the quote from Planimetrics as yet. Ms. Whitten will get another bid.
The time frame of nine months was discussed. It was felt that the first three months will be finishing pending/current applications, especially those that will be submitted in the final hour before the moratorium is in place. If the PZC finishes their tasks before the nine months moratorium is set to expire they can discontinue the moratorium sooner than the nine month expiration. Ms. Whitten did research regarding the time frame and the nine month marker appears to be the timeframe most upheld in appeals. Outrageous time frames tend to be shot down, while nine months is generally accepted period of time.
The idea is not to stop development, but to be able to direct it in a better fashion in the future. Problems have been discovered through using the current regulations and those need to be addressed.
Selectman Sinsigallo hoped that the PZC will look at the adult housing complexes and requirements of sidewalks, as that age groups likes to take walks. Also the idea of looking at granite curbing versus amosite, which is more expensive for the developer, but looks nice in the Town. Ms. Whitten invited all in present and the public to attend workshops as the community involvement is very important to this process.
MOTION: To recommend to the Board of Finance an added appropriation of $17,000 to cover the cost of updating the zoning regulations.~
Made by Mr. Crouch, seconded by Mr. Regina
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR.~ MOTION CARRIED
~
B. Tax Refunds
MOTION: To approve the tax refunds in the amount of $77.15 as recommended by the Tax Collector.
Made by Mr. Sinsigallo, seconded by Mr. Regina
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED
** CANCELLATION SEPTEMBER MEETING
MOTION: To cancel the Board of Selectmen meeting for Tuesday, September 6, 2005.
Made by Mr. Sinsigallo, seconded by Mr. Balf
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED.
XI. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: To adjourn at 8:30 p.m.
Made by Mr. Balf, seconded by Mr. Sinsigallo
ALL MEMBERS IN FAVOR. MOTION CARRIED.
Respectfully submitted
Cynthia D. Croxford
Recording Secretary
*Starred items will not be discussed, but will remain on agenda pending receipt of additional information.
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